When most people think of going to Walt Disney World, they are thinking of what resort they are staying at, which theme park to do which day, what rides they want to tackle, and what food they are wanting to consume. BUT, Walt Disney World is so much more than that! Have you considered a Walt Disney World Staycation?
Walt Disney offers a wide variety of resorts to stay at, from Value up to Deluxe Villa Resorts, and each group of resorts offers different amenities. But why would you go to Walt Disney World for a Stay-Cation? Well, here are 7 different reasons to try one!
#1 Enjoy the Resort
You actually get to spend time in your resort and take advantage of the resort amenities. You can actually swim at the pools, take advantage of the hot tubs and/or water slides. Most people say they are going to take a day and take advantage of these items, but by the time their resort day comes, they are too exhausted to actually truly enjoy it
#2 Dining Experiences
Food!!!!! Did you know that moderate up to the Deluxe Villa resorts have a table service restaurant and even signature dining locations on the actual property where you are staying? You can even eat at dining locations at other resorts from quick service up to signature dining experiences.
This is a huge perk in doing a Stay-Cation in itself. You are not locked into staying at your resort. You are not locked into doing a dining reservation at a theme park because that is where you are for the day. No – you get to go ANYWHERE!!!! Want to check out some of the resorts to see if you want to stay at a different one next time? This is the best time to do this. You can make a reservation for over at Animal Kingdom Lodge even if you are staying at Coronado Springs! Logistics might sound complicated, but we can help with that. The way I look at it, most people go for the rides, so take the different modes of transportation around! One of the things I like doing is taking a boat to a theme park, taking the monorail to another park, taking a bus to another and then taking the skyliner. By doing this, you still get to go on rides!
#3 Fun Runs
Okay, now that you have been eating, some may feel they need to work off those extra calories (but really, calories do not count in Disney!). There are several resorts that offer a fun run on certain days of the week. Currently these are on hold, but Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter offers a fun run with Beignets as the prize!!!! There is also one at Boardwalk and one at Yacht Club, so always check these out!
#4 Outdoor Experiences
Did you know that Walt Disney World offers some of the greatest outdoor activities that do not require a park reservation or ticket?
Some of these include horseback riding at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, taking the little SeaRaycer boats out for a spin, and one of my families favorite activities – FISHING!!!!! Yes, you can go fishing on Bay Lake by the Magic Kingdom Resorts. Fishing is also offered over by the Yacht & Beach Club and Boardwalk Area. Also, it is offered by Old Key West and Saratoga Springs by Disney Springs.
Miniature Golf – there are TWO different miniature golf courses and they are both different and both lots of fun! And with your hotel packages, a free round of miniature golf is included!!! There are also regular golf courses and foot golf to try!
Movies under the stars, special events taking place at your resort (tie-dye t-shirts is a popular one), scavenger hunts and so much are all available. You can even enjoy one of the activities at the other resorts since many are open to any resort guest.
#5 Spas
There are some great spas available to book for relaxing at some of the Deluxe Resorts. Currently these are not available but we hope they come back soon.
#6 Fireworks
Yes, you really can still see fireworks. Depending on where you are staying, you may be able to watch from your balcony (wonderful to do when staying at Wilderness Lodge). Step outside your resort when they are about to go off, or make it extra special, book a dining reservation at a location with a great view. You can see Magic Kingdom Fireworks from several places near Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary as well.
#7 Relaxation
By the time you are done with your Walt Disney World Staycation, you can actually go home feeling rested. I don’t know about you, but whenever my family and I go to Walt Disney World, we always need to go, go, go! Do a stay-cation and just enjoy the great service Disney is known for, relax, and go home recharged!
Ready for a Walt Disney World Staycation?
This is just the tip of the iceberg with things you can do during your Disney Staycation. You can find out more ideas at 3 Surprising Activities at Walt Disney World as well as some ideas at Disney Springs for everyone and Disney Springs for Kids. Our Magical Memory Planners can help you put together an amazing and relaxing stay. You may want to book a long weekend staycation with a loved or friend or maybe you want to add a staycation on the end of a Disney Vacation or Disney Cruise. Maybe a split stay to experience two different resorts would be fun for you. The possibilities are endless. Let us help you plan your next Walt Disney World Staycation.
