One of the biggest things I see people worry about when planning a Disney trip is all the WALKING. I’m not surprised that people are hesitant about all the energy they’ll need at Disney. I’ve ranked up almost 20,000 steps in one day at the Magic Kingdom according to my Fitbit! Still, if you’re afraid of having to walk miles on end, does that mean Disney is not for you?
Of course not!
The trick is knowing when you need a break, and making sure you stop and listen to your body. Here are some tips I use to make sure I can survive my entire Disney trip. Remember, you won’t think about how sore your feet were, you’ll remember all the fun you had with your family!
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Take Shade Breaks Using Dark Rides
No matter how much sunscreen you wear, no one wants to stand in the beating hot sun for hours. Disney is pretty good about making sure that shade is available wherever you are, so make sure you hang out in the shade whenever you feel you’re heating up. A great way to do this is to take advantage of the dark rides. Need a break while you’re in Fantasyland? Hop on it’s a small world!
Another option is to step inside the quick service restaurants during off hours and just take a seat. If it’s around 4 PM, you probably won’t find a crowd in Pinocchio Village Haus and plenty of open tables. Take a second to head in the air conditioning and recharge!
Finally, if you want to make your own air on the go, pick up one of these adorable Mickey and Friends Misting Fans available at many areas of the parks. My family and I have picked up MANY of these little beauties on our trips throughout the years.
Know When To Head Back to the Resort
If you’re exhausted, don’t push yourself – head back to your resort for a nap or just call it a day. Remember to listen to your body, and if it is just too much for you to continue, head to the buses. Disney always allows you to re-enter the park, so if you go take a break in the hotel for a bit, you’re able to come back. My sister had to do this at our last trip to Disneyland when she was experiencing a migraine. She took a nap for about 3 hours and ended up being in a MUCH better mood when she came back. Ultimately, a few lost hours of ride time made the experience later in the day much better because she was FEELING better!
In addition, don’t feel rushed to get to the parks first thing in the morning. If you had a long day at Animal Kingdom the day before, take some time to recharge the next morning. Sleep in, head to the pool, book a massage at the spa or even have breakfast in your room. Your resort can be more than just a place to sleep. It can also be a great place to simply reinvigorate yourself for the day ahead!
Hydrate When Necessary!
It should go without saying that it’s incredibly important to hydrate! Stop and pick up a water bottle with one of your snack credits and use that to keep yourself cool all day long. I constantly refill my water bottle at any fountain I can find if it’s running low. This is especially important if you’re trying to “Drink Around the World” at Disney’s World Showcase at Epcot. You won’t make it more than two countries if you’re not hydrating and refueling your body!
Remember that it’s best to drink water. The sugary drinks available at many snack stands are delicious, like the Peter Pan Float, but remember that is mostly sugar and may make you feel worse.
Wear Appropriate Shoes
I’ve already discussed what the best shoes are to wear to Disney and if you don’t, you’ll be SERIOUSLY regretting it. The right shoe is the key to keeping yourself energized throughout the day. If your feet are sore just a few hours in to the day, you’ll end up crashing real quick. You may also find yourself with painful blisters the next day – putting a damper on whatever plans you had! No matter how much you love the Magic Kingdom, no one wants to wait 2 hours for Space Mountain with blistered feet!
Time Meals Appropriately
In addition to hydrating, it’s important to keep your blood sugar up by recharging and eating throughout the day. However, be sure you also plan accordingly. It’s NOT a good idea to eat a churro, turkey leg, AND Mickey pretzel 30 minutes before your Fastpass for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. You will not be feeling good after that, no matter how strong you think your stomach is! Basically, be smart about when you’re going to eat. If you eat too much at the beginning of the day you’ll be dragging all morning, and if you eat too much before heading out on a thrill ride, you could get sick!
There’s a lot that goes in to planning a day at Disney – and if you play your cards right and you’re smart about spending so much time in the beating heat, you’ll be able to spend time at the parks for hours without getting tired and burnt out! Plan out your meals around Fastpasses, make sure you’re hydrated, take breaks when you need it, and if you’re tired – just take a break! Trying to push yourself is the best way to get exhausted to the point where you won’t be enjoying yourself. You didn’t spend thousands to come to Disney just to be miserable, right?
Using these tips, my family and I have been able to stay out to the parks all the way till 1 AM! What tips do you have for staying energized and well rested at Disney? Let me know in the comments!
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