One of the questions that I get asked a lot during the Disney planning process is about the necessity of a rest day built into an itinerary. Do we need one? Why do we need one? The list goes on and on. So I want to delve into my thoughts on building in that rest day, the things you can do, and why I feel it’s in your best interest to have one even on a first-time visit!
Do we need a rest day during our Disney visit? My short answer for this is always…if it fits in your budget and time off, then yes! I know Disney is an exciting adventure and the temptation to go go go from rope drop to fireworks is very strong, BUT the truth of the matter is tired equals cranky, and cranky is a recipe for disaster for little ones, older ones, and moms and dads alike!
The fact of the matter is that whether we believe it or not, the memories of a Disney trip last and last. That being said, taking the time for resting and recouping mid-trip could be the very thing that ensures those memories won’t be of a family or friend war during your trip! Park days, especially when the temps are high can literally drain everyone. And even a good night’s rest may not be able to do the trick to bring you back to life and be ready to head out to do it all over again for multiple days straight!
But I don’t want to waste time while I’m visiting Disney! To this one, I say, enjoying your resort, its amenities, the pools, etc. is most definitely not wasting time! It’s vacation! Taking a pool or lounge around day at your resort can be one of the most enjoyable times of your entire stay! Pools. Splash pads, kids activities, sunbathing, movies under the stars and so much more can be part of a leisure day and can prove to be just the breather your family needs to get ready to head back to the parks later in the stay!
Ultimately, as I said before if it fits in your time and budget, downtime and a rest day can be just the game changer you need to make it through the duration of your stay in great spirits! I usually say I have two types of guests: Those who are thankful they included that “rest day” and those that wish they had! So this is definitely something to consider when you are in the planning stages of any trip really!
