Your Disney World Trip Can — and Should — Include a "Do-Nothing Day"

While the main point of a Disney World vacation is to visit the resort’s four theme parks, there are some days when it’s better to do NOTHING but kick back and enjoy one’s hotel.

Pool at Polynesian

These Do-Nothing Days usually consist of spending time relaxing at one’s hotel and taking advantage of its amenities, including pools, walking trails, bodies of water, and dining establishments. While some guests may initially recoil at the idea of “wasting” one of their vacation days outside of the parks, there are some definite benefits.

Enjoying the Pools

As we mentioned above, one of the best uses of a Do-Nothing Day is the ability to take advantage of your hotel’s pool. From heavily themed slides and spacious bathing areas to funky pool bars and even elements that bring them close to being a full-on water park, numerous Disney hotels across all three price tiers offer outstanding feature pools (and other, more docile, quiet pools) that guests should take a day to enjoy.

The Dig Site

Rest Your Body

Speaking of relaxing in the pool, one of the best uses of a Do-Nothing Day — especially in the middle of your trip — is to rest your body after a few theme park days, so you’ll be feeling relaxed for your final few theme park days. This is especially true for us 90s kids, who are getting older whether we like it or not.

Beau Soliel Pool Chairs

Kids Can Still Get Their Character Kicks

As part of the returning Cool Kids Summer promotion — which runs from May 26th to September 8th — Disney characters will be appearing in scheduled meet & greets at select Walt Disney World hotels.

First introduced in 2025, this game-changing perk allows guests to experience character encounters that were previously park-exclusive on days when they choose not to leave their hotels. This can be especially helpful for parents who want to have a bit of a cool-down day at their resort, while still being able to appease kiddos who are yearning for some Disney magic.

Character Meet and Greet sign at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

Dine at a Hotel or Disney Springs Restaurant

After spending a few relaxing hours by the pool, you can cap your Do-Nothing Day by dining at an out-of-park restaurant, either in your own hotel, at another, or even at Disney Springs. So, what’s the best way to choose said restaurant? Our Guide to Disney World Dining pulls it all together so you can stop stressing and focus on the best meal for your family.

California Grill

Next time you find yourself at Walt Disney World, it might be wise to carve out a day to simply “do nothing” at your hotel. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney takes.

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