Vacationing in Walt Disney World for many of us means binging on Dole Whips, Mickey Waffles, and the Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar, but for others Walt Disney World is a chance to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You might be pleasantly surprised to know that Walt Disney World offers many healthy options. Here are my top 5 recommendations to stay healthy in Walt Disney World:
1) Look for Healthier Food Options
Like I said, for some it can be hard to pass up a Dole Whip, but Disney offers plenty of healthy options. For example, at Aloha Isle instead of eating the Dole Whip try the pineapple spears instead. Every park has a fruit stand. Choosing healthy snacks like an apple or a banana is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle in Walt Disney World. With recent changes to the Disney Dining Plan guests can now replace their dessert at many restaurants for a side salad, fruit bowl, or cup of soup. Skipping the chocolate cake for a side salad is a great way to maintain the healthier lifestyle you are looking for.
2) Volunteer to Push the Stroller
This might sound silly, but pushing a stroller through a Walt Disney World theme park is no easy feat. For many families a stroller can consist of two children, ponchos, extra clothes, and lots of other gear. When you add it all up most parents are pushing over a hundred pounds through the park. That is a work out!
3) Choose to Walk
There are lots of opportunities to ride a tram, train, or boat inside the theme parks when walking to the destination is a viable option. For example, walking around the World Showcase in Epcot is a lot healthier than riding the Friendship Boats across World Showcase Lagoon. In some circumstances I believe walking can be faster than some of the Disney transportation, in my opinion taking the trams from the parking lot to the front of the park is oftentimes slower than just walking. It can be hard to convince yourself to just walk instead of ride Disney transportation, but in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle you should always choose to walk.
4) Drink Bottled/Filtered Water
Drinking a lot of fluids is important. Refraining from the sodas, slushies, and other sugary drinks can be difficult, but drinking water and saving the calories is a much better option. With all the walking you are going to be doing it is important to stay hydrated. Worse case scenario, I recommend the free water offered at any of the quick service locations, but I do warn you that Florida tap water tastes odd. The chlorinated Florida tap water will probably be a shock to your taste buds, so I suggest buying bottled water or bring in a filtering water bottle.
5) Use the Fitness Centers and Pools
If you aren’t completely wiped out from walking around the theme parks all day, it is important to mention that there are fitness centers in some of the Walt Disney World resorts. To use the fitness centers, you must be staying at that hotel. The only exception to this rule is for guests at the Disney’s Polynesian Village, which allows guests to work out at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The hotels that give guest access to a fitness center include the Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Boardwalk Inn, Coronado Springs Resort, Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Wilderness Lodge, the Yacht Club, and the Beach Club. If your hotel doesn’t have a fitness center I recommend taking advantage of the quieter swimming pools or one of the jogging trails, which are a great way to work in some cardio without having to use a gym.
