Welcome, Friends

Imagine this — It’s 2:00 p.m., and the sun is beating down as you trudge toward Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. Suddenly, your child asks a simple question. Can we go to the pool? You almost feel outraged. After all, you worked hard to bring your family to Walt Disney World, and they just want to go to the pool? 

After a reality check, you realize you’ve been up since 6:30 a.m. and have spent the better part of the day standing in line. The pool sounds like an oasis. But you have dinner reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table at 7:00 p.m. and plan to watch the fireworks afterward. If you leave now, will you even make it back in time?

You realize this is the first day of a week-long vacation. A week you’ve been stressing over for months. You’ve worked diligently to secure every single “must-do” dining reservation, and you’ve been practicing rope-dropping the grocery store every Friday for months!

And after a couple of hours in the park–the only thing your kids want to do is cool off in the pool!

Sound Familiar? 

You might be surprised if I told you it doesn’t have to be this way.

We believe you can have an incredible time exploring the resorts at Walt Disney World without ever setting foot in a theme park. 

By taking advantage of the amenities offered at your resort (and others), you’ll find your vacation is just that—a vacation. You’ll feel less stressed by having time to live in the moment without constantly having to be somewhere. 

“We used to think that our hotel room was only a place to sleep and shower when we visited Walt Disney World. Now we know better and spend as much time at the resorts as we do in the parks.” —Reader. 

“We love to visit the parks for a little while and not feel bad about leaving. We always look forward to spending time at the resorts.” —Reader.

“I’m not a big pool person, so I was surprised to find so many other hidden gems at Disney’s Resorts that were better suited for me. One of our favorite pastimes is touring the holiday gingerbread displays at the resorts. Christmas just isn’t the same if we miss a year.”  —Reader

Imagine Your Vacation Looking Like This…

Upon arrival at your resort hotel, you stop to inhale the scent of the lobby and admire the fresh flowers. After getting settled in your room, you decide to take a walk around the resort and find something to eat. 

As you tour the resort grounds, your children begin making a list of things they want to do during their trip. Who can blame them? This place is gorgeous! You’re confident you picked the right resort and can’t wait to see more!

After surveying your dining options, you order something from the resort’s counter service and take it to the pool. As you rest underneath the shade of one of those blue-striped umbrellas, you take in your surroundings.

The sun is shining, the kids are in the pool, and it feels so good to finally get away!

While you’re relaxing, a cast member comes by to make sure you know that the nightly movie starts in an hour and they’ll have marshmallows available for everyone to roast. Before you know it, you’re sitting in a lounge chair savoring a deliciously charred marshmallow as a Star Wars movie plays on a giant blow-up projection screen. 

You’ve only been at Walt Disney World for a couple of hours, and you’ve had more downtime than you’ve had in months. You’re also spending time with your family in a relaxed environment, and no one’s complaining. 

As you think about the week ahead, you look forward to more days like this. You’ve planned leisurely days where you’ll have fun in the parks that include the things that are important to your family. But you’ve also allotted time for relaxing and exploring the resorts. You’ve even planned dining at a couple of other hotels to see if they might be a good fit for your next visit. 

How Resorts Gal Started

A few years ago, I found myself exhausted at the end of a 10-day trip spent at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. This hotel stay was a splurge, but we hadn’t taken the time to enjoy it. So, I cancelled our park plans and spent the entire day lounging at the resort’s pool.

As I relaxed by the pool, my mood began to improve. Every so often, I would look up and smile as the busy Friendship Boats shuffled guests to and from the theme parks in the distance. We loved the parks, but our vacations had become too busy trying to do everything! What we needed was right in front of us—leisurely days spent at the resort. So, I vowed to change the way we spent our time at Disney. 

Now, I live only a short drive from Walt Disney World and visit the resorts weekly. Many of my days are spent exploring what the resorts have to offer, so I can share those details with you.

Whether it’s helping you decide which hotel best suits your needs or filling you in on where to find a fabulous brunch for that morning you plan to sleep late—I’ve lived it. My hope is that by the end of your vacation, you’ll feel rested and refreshed with a new resort on your list to try “next time.”

Here are a few of our most helpful resources:

If you’re looking for a hotel, start with our overview of the Walt Disney World Resorts.

• Disney World Resort Reviews (Provides an overview of each resort!)
• The Best Off-Site Hotels Near Disney World (Places we’ve stayed and recommend.)
• Benefits of Staying at a Disney World Resort (Things you need to know.)

Resorts are an attraction, too! 

Our email subscribers get insider details that we don’t share on the website. I would love for you to join us. 

You’ll get practiced advice as we share some of the more intimate details of our visits—like what went wrong versus right. Our readers have often found that our detailed trip reports help provide them with an overview of what to expect upfront, so there will be no surprises! 

“There is just something to be said about not being bound by a massive agenda! We just meandered around and lived in the moment! Every morning, we had room service, and honestly, it was my favorite memory!—Reader.