The Bonus "Worth It" Tip: Plan a Rest Day in the Middle of Your Trip 🤍
If you caught my "5 Things Worth the Money at Disney" series, you know I love a good worth-it tip. But this bonus one doesn't cost a thing (other than maybe an extra night depending on your travel plans), and it might be the most important one on the list.
Plan a rest day. In the middle of your trip. On purpose.
How We Plan Our Week
When our family does a week at Disney World, our trip looks like this:
Day 1: Park day
Day 2: Park day
Day 3: Full rest day 🛌
Day 4: Park day
Day 5: Park day
Two parks, a rest day, two more parks. That's it. And it has changed our trips.
Why the Rest Day Matters So Much
Disney is magical. It is also a LOT. You're walking 10+ miles a day, you're up early for rope drop, you're out late for fireworks, and you're in the Florida sun the whole time. By day three, everyone is running on fumes, adults included.
Here's what happens when you push through without a break:
Meltdowns happen. Little ones (and big ones 🙋♀️) get overtired and overstimulated.
Your last park days get worse. You paid the same for day four and five as day one. You deserve to enjoy them just as much.
You stop being present. You're so tired you're just checking rides off a list instead of soaking in the moments.
A rest day in the middle resets everyone. You go into days four and five with fresh legs and better attitudes, and honestly, those back-half park days end up being some of our favorites.
Why the Middle, Not the End
A lot of people save their "easy day" for the last day of the trip. But by then, the tiredness has already caught up with you. Putting the rest day in the middle means you never hit that wall to begin with.
What We Do on Our Rest Day
Rest doesn't have to mean staying in the room all day (though sleeping in is a must). Some of our favorite rest day ideas:
Sleep in. No alarm. No rope drop.
Pool day at your resort. Disney resort pools are part of the magic and they're included with your stay.
Disney Springs. Shopping, snacks, and a sit-down meal with zero lines to stand in. One of my personal favorite rest day spots.
Disney's BoardWalk. A slow stroll, a treat, maybe a midway game, and an easy walk over to EPCOT later if you get the itch.
A nap. For everyone. No shame.
Character Breakfast. There are so many character meals outside of the parks at other resorts. This is a great day to schedule one of these without wasting precious park time. Ohana at the Polynesian, Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary and Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviara are a few great options.
The rest day still feels like Disney. It just doesn't feel like a marathon.
Does a Rest Day Waste a Ticket Day?
Nope! Multi-day Disney World tickets come with a window of days you can use them in, so a 4-day ticket doesn't have to be used four days in a row. You can build a rest day in without paying for a park day you don't use. (I'll check your exact ticket window for your dates when we plan.)
Let Me Help You Pace Your Trip
Pacing is one of the biggest things I talk through with every family I plan for. Which parks go on which days, where your rest day fits, and how dining and Lightning Lanes line up around it.
If you want a Disney trip that feels magical from day one all the way to the last fireworks, head to thatkatiefath.com/travel and let's build it together.
xoxo,
Katie