Staying at a Disney Resort is perfect for kids of all ages – each resort is a almost a park in itself! No, there won’t be the rides, but with great food, entertainment and shops, your family will find tons of things to do during the afternoon breaks, after leaving the park at night and even if you decide to take an entire day off during your visit. Whether you are staying in a value, moderate, or deluxe, there are lots of things for kids (and adults) to explore!
Let’s start with the food! Each hotel has a food court or restaurant (or several!) that can cater to small kids, tweens and teens. There are kids menus available at all sit-down restaurants and the value and moderate hotels have food courts or quick service locations where there is a variety of food for even the pickiest eater. You can find uncrustable sandwiches, mac and cheese, pizza, yogurt, apple sauce, a variety of fruit, juices, milk, fries and even ice cream and pastries and cookies. Of course, you’ll also find the ever popular hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and pasta. The hardest part – figuring out what to get!
Each hotel also has a shop (or several) with a large selection of souvenirs, snacks, pins and even essentials you may need for baby or toddlers. The ones at the deluxe villas will also carry food staples so you can cook in your villa kitchen (super helpful with kids!). If you don’t see what you are looking for, just check with a cast member. Some items are kept behind the counter since a lot of them are not big sellers. While they may not have the exact brand you normally buy, you should be able to find something that can work. You can also find gallon bottles of water for formula.
For fun, there will usually be an arcade for those tweens and older kids that need their game fix! The arcade is usually in a room by itself and has a huge selection of games and arcade games for them to play.
The biggest draw for most families is generally the pool – after-all you are in Florida! Each resort will have a larger pool near the main building/front of the resort, but you can will also find quieter and more private smaller pools scattered around most of the resorts as well. Looking for entertainment beyond swimming? Check out the main pool for games and activities in the late afternoon. You may find movie trivia, music, games and other activities to keep the kiddos busy, while the parents relax a little.
If you are looking for something else for those evenings you don’t spend in the parks, why not enjoy a movie under the stars? On selected nights, you can find a family movie playing on a huge screen located somewhere central in each resort. Check the schedule and weather though, as times can change and if it is raining, they will cancel. This si such a fun and relaxing way to spend an evening. I have seen some of my favorite Disney movies while sitting under the stars!
If all that wasn’t enough to convince you that Disney Resorts are perfect for kids, check out the themes in each resort – ranging from fun to nostalgic, to beautiful, to dramatic, to elegant, there is something that will appeal to everyone. And with so much to do at your resort, be sure to plan some time while there to enjoy it – after all, you are in the most Magical Place on Earth!
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Debbie and her husband live in Chattanooga, TN. They both are huge Disney fans and try to visit the most Magical Place on Earth at least once a year, if possible. They are enjoying taking each of their now 10 grandchildren and hope to also take their great granddaughter in the near future. One of their favorite trips has been visiting Disney with adults only, including one trip when their son proposed to his girlfriend. Each trip begins with the planning, which can take up to a year, beginning with how to get the grandkids excited about their upcoming trip. They have surprised some of them the day before they left, while the latest one had “presents” every 10 days starting at 90 days all leading up to an exciting trip with her parents along also. Their philosophy on Disney Trips? “Each trip is completely different, like visiting Walt Disney World for the first time.” They both enjoy all that Disney has to offer, but enjoy Animal Kingdom and EPCOT the most. It is their goal that everyone who visits Walt Disney World has a magical trip with lots of memories to last a life time.
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