Any vacation usually involves the not-so-fun side effect of gaining weight. Disney vacations seem to guarantee this with the assortment of sweet treats, Epcot festivals, and indulgences we normally avoid at home.
To try to minimize the “Disney weight gain” we’ve come up with a list of some fun ways to stay active on your Disney vacation, and hopefully keep some of those Dole Whip or Mickey Pretzel pounds from adding up!
Pedal off the Pounds: Bike Rentals
If you are staying at or visiting the following resorts you can rent a bicycle (available on a first come, first serve basis) to ride around and explore the resorts.
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- The Cabins and Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Bike helmets are included with your rental, and some bikes are available with training wheels for the kids just learning to ride.
If you and your family prefer to pedal together give a two- or four-person Surrey Bike a try at the following resorts:
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Paddle off the Pounds: Canoe and Kayak Rentals
Stop by the Bike Barn at the Meadow Recreation Area in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to rent either a canoe or kayak. Canoes can hold up to three, and kayaks up to two guests. Set out to enjoy the waters of Bay Lake around Fort Wilderness.
Canoes and kayaks are available on a first come, first serve basis from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Life jackets are included in the rental fee and must be worn.
Putt off the Pounds: Mini Golf, Golf, and Foot Golf
Disney is home to four miniature golf courses, four golf courses, and one FootGolf location. Whether you are into themed miniature golfing, serious golfing, or want to give FootGolf a try there is sure to be a golf course for you.
Select from:
- Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf
- Winter Summerland Miniature Golf
- Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course
- Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course
- Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
- Disney’s Palm Golf Course
- FootGolf at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
Want to learn more about FootGolf? We have all the information on Disney’s newest sports offering and fun way to stay fit here!
Pound the Pavement to Work off the Pounds: Jogging Paths at Disney Resorts
Most Disney resorts offer walking and jogging paths. The paths are generally marked on the resort map you receive when you check in, or are available at the registration desks. Some resorts have signs along their paths as well to keep you on track. You’ll find the following paths and distances:
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- A 1-mile-long, paved jogging trail connects all 3 Resort hotels.
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- This 0.75-mile-long promenade loops around Lago Dorado.
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas
- Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
- These Resort hotels feature several jogging paths, including loops around Crescent Lake and Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts.
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Enjoy a 0.8-mile loop around Crescent Lake. For a more challenging trek, 2-, 3- and 4-mile routes are also available.
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- The 0.6-mile course offers views of Barefoot Bay.
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Explore a 3.1-mile-long pathway that winds through the shaded, scenic back country surrounding Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
- Jog along the Sassagoula River on a 1.7-mile promenade connecting the Riverside and French Quarter Resort areas.
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Run on paved pathways through this Resort and along the greens of Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. Designated jogging trails include 1.44-mile and 0.8-mile loops.
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- A 1.37-mile-long path winds along the canal and the fairways of Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Wander along Hourglass Lake and through the Resort on a 1.1-mile or 1.38-mile loop.
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Jog on the 1.38-mile trail that curves along Hourglass Lake and passes colorful courtyards inspired by Walt Disney and Disney•Pixar classics Cars, Finding Nemo, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid.
Catch a Wave to Surf off the Pounds: Surfing Classes and Experiences
Typhoon Lagoon Water Park offers both surfing lessons for the beginner, or private surfing sessions for the experienced surfer in the parks wave pool. Both are offered on select days prior to park opening.
The surfing lessons are led by professionals ready to teach you from scratch, or just give you some pointers. By the time the lesson ends, you could be riding waves up to 6 feet tall. To set up a surfing lesson, you can call (407) WDW-PLAY or (407) 939-7529.
Experienced surfers can enjoy North America’s largest outdoor wave pool for three hours. During the session you will get 100 waves — broken into sets of 25. You also get to choose the direction if you have a preference between left breaks and right. To learn more about private sessions including pricing and availability visit www.disneyparks.com/surf
Shoot, Spike, or Serve off the Pounds: Basketball, Volleyball, and Tennis Courts
There are eight sand courts for volleyball dotted around Disney resorts, seven Disney resorts offer tennis courts, and seven Disney resorts offer basketball courts ranging from quarter- to full-size.
Basketball courts can be found at:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Kidani Village
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Access to and equipment for basketball courts are complimentary to those staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and can be obtained using a valid Resort ID.
Sand Volleyball courts are located at the following resorts:
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Contemporary
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
- The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan Hotels
Any Disney Resort hotel guest may access the volleyball courts, and obtain equipment with a valid Resort ID. Disney Vacation Club members may check out equipment free of charge; for all other Guests, an associated fee applies.
Tennis courts are found at the following locations:
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas
- The Campsites and Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Disney’s Old Key West
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Any Disney Resort hotel guest may access the tennis courts, and obtain equipment with a valid Resort ID. Disney Vacation Club members may check out equipment free of charge; for all other Guests, an associated fee applies.
What is your favorite way to stay fit in Disney? Let us know in the comments below!
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The old FastPass system was the best workout for me. Running from land to land to get new FastPasses when the time window opened up. It was brutal, but in a crazy way it was fun.