How Do You Relax in Disney

I have yet to relax at Disney! My daughter has me running from breakfast through the last firework!

However... in September my girlfriend and I are going for Food and Wine Expo as an adults only trip. I believe we will get some 'relaxing' time.. though as you have said.. there is ALWAYS so much to do.

I have come to realize though.. I don't have to do everything on every trip because there is ALWAYS a next time!!

Over the past few trips, we've made an effort to slow down a little bit, which is easy for Benn and very hard for me. My favorite "slow" activities are pool time, sitting on the balcony if we have a good view, Top of the World, a leisurely dinner, and walking slowly down Main Street to take in all of the street entertainment (especially the Dapper Dans).

Relaxing always involves an alcoholic beverage and people watching.
Favourites include Mojitos in Bongos at DTD, listening to live music outside HOB, Champagne in France at WS, Bar outside Brown Derby in HS.

Yes, yes, yes and yes!

We try and do all of this during our trips, especially grabbing drinks with friends at the end of the night. If there are fireworks involved it's all the better. Since we're DVC owners I also make sure that I enjoy a soak in the Whirlpool tub a couple times. It's a luxury that I just don't get at home.

ADRs are generally our way to relax. We are go, go, go in the parks so a nice sit down meal is the perfect way to get us to chill for an hour or so.

Relaxing? What is this strange word you speak of? We have never relaxed on a Disney trip, but every year we have booked longer and longer trips. This year we are going for 6 full days as opposed to our usual 4 or 5. With that being said, I really want to take some time to just take it down a little. I always say I need a vacation from my Disney vacations, but this year I am committed to sitting by the pool, taking strolls around the resort and riding the PeopleMover over and over again taking it all in.

We do signature dining every night as our way to relax. Also, hubby likes to golf. He usually books 1 or 2 tee times during our trips. I spend those 5 or 6 hours leisurely strolling one of the parks, people watching while enjoying a snack or beverage (preferably an adult beverage) and riding rides that I know he has absolutely no interest in riding, such as Dumbo or TTA PeopleMover.

The most relaxing thing I usually do is chill out during an ADR or spend a little time writing up trip report notes at the end of the day. When we went in September, we took midday resort breaks to escape the heat and humidity, and on my most recent trip Robyn and I spent some time at Top of the World Lounge, which was very relaxing. At Animal Kingdom Lodge we spent a little time on the balcony watching the animals. But I never spend tons of time relaxing. I can relax at home!

When at WDW, I've found sitting at Casey's Corner, munching on a hot dog and listening to the honky tonk pianist is fairly relaxing - till I get itchy feet and rush off to find a new photo or something to ride on. Otherwise I'll pick a day where I wake up later than normal, have a relaxed morning then wander round DTD for a few hours.

I have to say it's never fully relaxing - there are too many manic families chasing after kids to make it a truly relaxing day

We are always go go go on our trips. However, we're going for 2 weeks in September so we will have to take mid day breaks with the heat. We plan on napping or relaxing on the balcony. Maybe hit the pool ( well definatly do this for our week at Beachclub!)

Usually a morning stop out on the balcony with a mug of tea/coffee and some fruit to watch the sun stretch over the top of the trees and the birds singing... And if there's no time for that, then popping out there later in the evenings after showering off the parks for the day XD

Nothing quite like catching a few minutes of calm and quiet before your start or finish your day.

And during the day? I guess going on the slower rides XD Nothing like a trip through it's a small word to get you looking forward to running around again!!!

I relax by going to our room at the latest possible hour and sleeping for a couple hours before starting all over again!

Great topic!
This last trip we took we made a very conscious effort to slow down and relax. We always take a mid day break to nap, but we made sure to enjoy the pool, get a drink at our resort bar (CBR), stop and get a snack and sit, and enjoy our dinners. It was the best trip we've had. I loved it. I didn't feel like we "missed" anything but I went home feeling calm and rejuvenated.

We wake up and sit on the balcony in the morning, watching a fiery sunrise wake up the day. Drinking our coffee, listening to the MK come to life.

The howling of the wolves and moans of the ghostly ghouls awaking.

To hear Big Thunder Mountain start its test runs and the music of "Song of the South" coming from Splash Mountain.

To watch and hear the Steam Train firing up its engine and seeing that trail of steam going by the train station, and the boats and ferries starting to blow their whistle for the morning start.

If we are at the Poly, we hear the reminiscent background music get a little bit louder as the resort wakes up, those south seas melodies strumming away, always calling you and beckoning you never to leave.

That is how we relax, or should I say, thats the start.

So excited to hear all this in a few weeks!

Regarding relaxing, we have never been "go, go, go" while we visit the parks, especially now with FP+. We usually do return to our room mid day and then head out again after a little while. And the only time we make rope drop is when we have a tour planned.

I use a combination of meditation, various controlled substances, hard liquor, and pixie dust.

We don't tend to sit still much, but we do take a mid-day break for an hour or so where we go back to the resort and hit the pool to refresh. Then back we go! We're early risers naturally, so we're up and at rope drop every day. We make a few ADRs which helps us slow down a bit.

Probably the most relaxing activity is to stroll through the Maharajah Jungle Trek or the Pangani Forest Trail at AK. That's usually so quiet and peaceful and relaxing.

We once tried to relax in the hammocks at the Caribbean Beach Resort, but after 5 minutes we both got bored and moved along. Haha.

Another relaxing thing we enjoy doing is to resort hop during the day, as the resorts are destinations in themselves. Plus, they are usually very quiet during the day with everyone at the parks.

Taking a stroll around POR is really nice. Haven't checked out Wilderness Lodge yet? Hop on a boat from MK and head over to hang out there for an hour or two. Or take a walk around Fort Wilderness where it is very tranquil. Take a seat in the lobby at the GF and listen to some relaxing music. Perhaps head to AKL and see the animals with very few people around. Each time we've done this, we end up having a nice chat with one of the CMs that are from Africa who can tell you all about their country and the animals too.

There definitely is a very relaxing side to Disney.

Good question...Probably my favourite relax moment is a signature dining experience ...Good food and wine and family...

I find the whole holiday pretty relaxing to be honest as its two weeks just me and DW thousands of miles from home with no phone or internet to disturb us.
As for specific things i wouldn't say anything in particular but its the little moments we enjoy the most.Like just sitting people watching whilst eating an ice cream or even the simple act of browsing the shops .Because it is just the two of us we tend to go at our own pace and not rush at many points.

We never really are frantic. We take our time at meals especially ADRs. I like to sit and watch people in EPCOT or DHS by the Tower of Terror. We often will go back to the resort during the heat of the day and take a nap. Sit by the pool if it is not engulfed with kids. Ride things like the WDW MK Train, TTA People Mover, The boats in EPCOT across the lagoon.

In the morning it is nice to go to DTD before the crowds get there and stroll around looking at the shops or at the construction, trying to peak behind the enclosures. It is a good time to chat with a CM in DTD.

I happened up by a seating area near TOT last year and sat down and rubbed my feet with lotion and ended up by a Cast Member Exit - the CMs stopped and chatted with me, asking me about what I was rubbing on my feet. You know since they are on their feet all day, they seemed interested.

I like lunch time adrs for relaxing, particularly at the resorts. To sit in a restaurant with a/c and have food brought to you, is a perfect way to escape the crowds and the heat.

I also use Disney Transport as a time to relax. I always try and allow plenty of time to get anywhere so I'm not stressing about being late for a reservation. It's a chance to sit and chat to people around me or just admire the scenery if I'm on a boat.

My favourite spot in the parks for relaxation is the not-so-secret-but-still-very-quiet paths round the tree of life, AK. There's plenty of shade and all the beautiful carvings to admire.

I relax by having BREAKFAST at BOG!! Yup I just snagged a reservation for our first full day back in the bubble!! YAY!!

Relaxing is why we go to Disney. We don't worry about seeing everything (there is always next year). We plan relaxing signature dinners and we go back to the room in the afternoon to either hang by the pool or take a nap. I would love one of these trips to book a spa day now that would be a relaxing day!

With my last couple of trips being solely park oriented, I will admit it was very hard to relax and smell the roses because of the pressure to cram everything I wanted to do in so little time. That said, in terms of relaxing, my go to spot is probably in the France pavilion on a bench near the gazebo.

My newest relaxing thing is to have Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian. I also find taking a lap or two on the railroad relaxing. I've also been known to go in to a qs, get something to drink & maybe a snack & then sit down, put in ear plugs & read for 20 or 30 minutes. I also enjoy wandering around Downtown Disney or just relaxing in my room watching tv. I don't have cable or satelite tv at home which might explain why I enjoy watching tv in my room.

I *so* want to do this! I keep trying but never quite land a reservation.

An afternoon at the pool, or a slow stroll through DTD is a great way to relax. I love hanging out by the great bodies of water in Disney. We always stay at a MK resort so watching the water from the resort in the morning is a great way to relax before a busy day. Sometimes just hanging out in the lobby and people watching is fun before you have to get to your destination.

I have been known to take a lil nap during the movie in France... Better yet, an adult beverage while people watching.