Take a day off from Disney World’s theme parks for a resort day – the best way to spend some quality time with your tween.

Sure, Disney World theme parks are busy and bustling (and filled with tons of attractions!) But a day off, or a resort day, can be just as magical as park days.

In fact, a day at a Disney Resort provides a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of busy park days. Whether you start your trip with a resort day, use a resort day to break up your park visits, or end your magical vacation with a day spent relaxing at the resort, it’s an essential part of visiting Disney World, in my opinion. If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, I recommend setting aside at least one day to relax; you’ll appreciate the break, and there’s so much magic to experience outside of Disney parks! 

Of course, as the parent of a tween, my resort days have transformed. In the past, my not-so-little one used to spend hours at the resort pool; swimming all day long was his favorite activity! We’d find a great spot by the pool, set up for the day, and lose track of time, staying there from morning to night.  Nowadays, the pool is only fun for a limited time.

Whether your tween still enjoys spending hours in the pool or wants a more adventurous resort day, I’m sharing my tips to help you plan the perfect resort day that’s entertaining – but still relaxing for parents and kids alike.

1. Explore Your Resort’s Amenities

Most Disney World Resorts have more than just amazing pools to enjoy. Whatever resort you call home for your trip, always check in the lobby on your planned resort day. You’ll find a list of the daily activities, and you never know if something offered at the resort might catch your tween’s interest! 

While staying at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, after my tween had grown tired of the waterslide, we explored the lobby at Port Royale to find out what activities were available that day. Most of them didn’t interest us, but we were intrigued when we saw that making tie-dyed T-shirts at the pool was scheduled for the afternoon. We signed up with a Cast Member, and the activity was a lot of fun for both of us. Plus, we got a new souvenir!

2. Head to the Arcade

The arcade inside Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. Photo by Cliff Wang

In all the years my family has been traveling to Disney World and staying at the different resorts, we’ve paid little attention to the arcade, despite its availability at most resorts. Until recently, that is. 

Now that my son is a young gamer, the resort arcade has a fresh appeal. During our recent resort day, he enjoyed playing the games and made new friends, with whom he continued to play for hours. I also enjoyed talking to other Disney families while our kids enjoyed the games! It was a surprisingly great way to meet new people for both tweens and adults. 

All Disney World Resorts – with the exception of the Polynesian and Riviera Resorts – have arcades.

Want to check out an arcade with your tween but happen to be staying at one of the two arcade-less resorts? You can visit a neighboring Disney hotel to access arcade games. It could be an excellent way to explore other Disney properties! (In fact, I’ll touch on this more in just a bit.) 

One important tip I picked up during my first visit to the arcades with my tween is they are not free. You must buy a game card in order to play. It’s important to consider this additional cost when planning and budgeting for your trip.

3. Visit a New (or Different) Resort 

I personally think there’s no better way to spend a non-park day than to explore the Disney bubble. Sure, there are four theme parks and two water parks – but there are also 25 different Disney Resorts you can explore, in addition to cool areas like the BoardWalk, golf courses, and even mini golf courses, all of which can provide a ton of resort day fun for tweens.

Need some inspiration to get you and your tween’s day planned? Here are some of my favorite ways to explore with my son:

• Book a table-service restaurant at a Disney Resort you’ve never been to before. It’s a fantastic way to visit a new resort and eat at a restaurant you might never experience otherwise.
• Seek out other Disney Resorts with amenities your resort doesn’t have, like large chessboards or pool tables.
• Take the Skyliner over to the EPCOT area resorts, all of which are so beautiful! You can walk around Crescent Lake and grab a sandwich at the Boardwalk Deli or a pretzel at Boardwalk Joe’s.
• Catch busker shows and carnival entertainment on the Boardwalk if you visit during the evening (watching the Buskers show was a highlight for my son, who thoroughly enjoyed it!) 

If your tween has a sweet tooth, I suggest walking to Disney’s Beach Club Resort and grab something to eat at the Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. This place has the best desserts! You can join the walk-up list or try to snag a reservation in advance if you want the whole Beaches & Cream experience.

I also recommend checking out the miniature golf course nestled behind the Swan Reserve Resort if your kiddo loves mini putt.

You can also venture over to the Magic Kingdom and ride on the monorail to explore all of the fantastic resorts in that area. My son loves venturing to all the other Disney resorts; it’s become one of our favorite non-park adventures, and it’s a wonderful, easy way to fill an entire day at your own pace.

4. Venture to Disney Springs 

Photo by Andy Sanchez

If you’ve decided to venture beyond your resort or other resorts, taking a ride over to Disney Springs is an excellent idea for a fun day. There is plenty to do, see, and eat at Disney Springs.

It’s kind of the perfect place to take tweens, no matter what they’re interested in. Your tween might especially enjoy the shopping and the vibrant atmosphere. My kiddo loves to check out the Marvel and Star Wars stores; the LEGO store always has the best sets and offers great photo opps inside and outside the store. 

Disney Springs also has a bowling alley, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, which is a fantastic way to spend the day enjoying family fun and staying cool. There is also a movie theater, making it the perfect place to catch the latest releases if there is a film you and your family want to see. 

Ultimately, no matter how you and your tween choose to spend the day, don’t skip out on a resort or adventure day together. You’ll both enjoy discovering fun new ways to experience Disney World (and you don’t have to get in nearly as many steps!)