Hey there, Disney families! Over the years, my family and I have spent quite a bit of time in resort and hotel rooms, and let me tell you, some are definitely more accommodating than others! But I’ve also picked up a handful of little tricks along the way that can help pixie dust your room into feeling a whole lot more comfortable and refreshing. And honestly, some of them might not be what you’d expect!
1. Don’t Overdo the Air Conditioning
September and October can still be seriously hot months to visit Walt Disney World. Just when the rest of the country is starting to get cozy with sweaters, cooler temperatures and pumpkin spice, the Disney Parks seem to have a special way of holding onto that summer heat as though it’s part of the magic!
One of the biggest mistakes I see guests make is turning the air conditioning up as cool as it will go. Yes, those first few moments when you walk through the door and get hit with that glorious blast of cold air feel absolutely perfect. But once you acclimate to it, every time you leave the room can feel even more brutal.
I prefer setting the room somewhere around the middle of the available temperature range rather than going straight for the coldest setting. It keeps the room comfortable without making that transition back into the Florida heat quite so dramatic.
2. Get That Fridge Nice and Cold
Given the lingering heat, you’re going to want refreshments ready to go when you get back to the room. If your resort room has a fridge, and many do at least have a small one, take a peek inside for a temperature dial. You may be able to turn it down and get those drinks and snacks considerably colder.
If you can’t find a dial or any way to adjust the temperature, one little hack I’ve used a few times is filling a zip-top bag with ice and placing it inside the fridge. It can quickly cool down that small space and help keep everything inside nice and chilled.
Stock it with cold drinks, fruit, and a few snacks, and you’ll have a little refreshment station waiting for you when you stumble back through the door.
3. Cold Face Washcloths
As someone who has spent quite a bit of time in the hot and steamy tropics of Asia, one trick I have always brought home with me is the humble cold towel.
When you’re keeping the air conditioning at a reasonable level, you don’t necessarily get that glorious gush of cold air when you walk back into the room, so this makes up the difference!
Grab a few of those little towels from the bathroom, wet them, roll them up and pop them into a bag in the fridge. You can even wrap a little ice inside them to help keep them extra cold and wet.
Then, when everyone gets back to the room, hand one out to each person. Wiping your face and neck with a cold, damp towel after a hot day in the parks feels like absolute heaven. Trust me on this one!
4. Maximize Your Surface Space
The bathroom can become a chaotic little battlefield when the whole family is sharing it. Finding time for everyone to shower and use the bathroom is one thing, but finding space for everyone’s toiletries, hair products and other essentials is another challenge entirely.
I always take a lightweight, fold-out toiletry bag that can hook over the back of a door. It gives me hanging storage for my own things without taking over what little counter space we have.
If you’re staying for an extended trip, a few other simple additions can make a surprisingly big difference too. A lightweight pop-up laundry basket, a hanging shoe organizer, or even a small foldable storage basket can help keep everything organized and make your room feel much more livable.
5. Keep Snacks on Hand
Sometimes I take a little snack box with me, other times it’s a shopping bag or whatever simple container I have handy, but I always like to keep a selection of snacks in the room.
They’re perfect for those early starts, midday breaks and late-night returns when you’ve been out for hours and dinner feels like it happened approximately three Disney days ago!
Having a little something to nibble on while everyone winds down can make all the difference. We usually keep things like apples, tea, individual treats, protein bars and anything else that helps keep hungry tummies happy and everyone’s energy levels up.
It’s also a great way to avoid the inevitable, “I’m starving!” declaration at 11 p.m. when everyone is already in pajamas.
6. Set Up a Charging Station
There is SO much technology involved in a Disney vacation these days, and keeping everything charged can become a job in itself.
I like to designate a space on a desk or another flat surface, safely away from water, as our charging station. That way, everyone knows exactly where to put their devices and accessories at the end of the night.
I always pack multi-device charging cables, which may not necessarily be the fastest option, but they are perfectly capable of slowly and steadily recharging everything overnight. Phones, portable chargers, MagicBands and all those other little gadgets can get plugged in before bed, and hopefully everyone wakes up ready to go again in the morning.
Because the last thing you want is to discover your phone is sitting at 8% battery just as you’re walking out the door for rope drop!
So those are a few of my favorite little resort-room tricks that have made family Disney vacations just a little easier over the years. They’re simple, inexpensive, and, in many cases, use things you probably already have packed. And speaking of packing, once everything is out of that suitcase, some resort rooms have ample space to slide it under the bed to keep it out of the way.
Now I want to hear from you! What are your favorite resort-room tips for making life a little easier once you’re back from the parks?
