There is a lot of prep when it comes to a Walt Disney World vacation. You’ve got to book your dining 180 days out, reserve FastPasses 30-60 days in advance, figure out Extra Magic Hours, book flights… .

But there are some important steps you need to take to really maximize your vacay. Ones you might not think of but we promise will help make you a Walt Disney World champion.

So cue the Rocky workout montage music, we’re sharing how to train like a champion for your Disney Vacation!

1. Shoulder Presses

Specifically with your dominant side. Specifically so you can crush your family on Toy Story Mania.

Trust us, that pull-string gets tiresome so any shoulder press reps you can get in beforehand will likely help significantly.

2. Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast

Let’s be honest, half the reason you’re going to Disney World is to eat delicious treats. (Maybe more than half for us.) But you likely don’t eat as much at home as you do at Disney — there are just so many options. Dole Whip! Mickey Ice Cream Bars! Popcorn! Pretzels! I WANT IT ALL.

A week before your trip, start eating ice cream for breakfast. And then eat again in like… an hour. Repeat. Slowly start upping that calorie count and get your tummy ready for all the sugary goodness coming your way.

Bonus tip: chew gum all day every day for a week to improve jaw strength.

3. Power-walk… with Quick Stops

Prepare yourself to battle down a crowded Main Street after fireworks by heading to the mall on a busy Saturday afternoon. Get your power walk on, but practice stopping on a dime.

Additionally, work on your your stroller maneuvering at 6PM on Fridays at your local grocery store. Practice starting and stopping at a moment’s notice and weaving in and out of the frozen food section. Bonus points if no heels are crunched.

4. Carry a Tray Full of Drinks

After ordering for your fam at a Quick Service spot, you may find yourself carrying a tray full of food and drinks navigating your way to a table. Sure, if you spill, Disney will likely replace the items. But when you’re hangry you may not have minutes to spare. Practice carrying a tray full of un-lidded drinks around your house to prepare. Have your kids set up obstacles and run around for added reality.

5. Finger Exercises

While you shouldn’t spend the WHOLE trip on your phone in an effort to enjoy your family, it’s no secret that you’ll need to use the My Disney Experience app during your vacation. We always recommend checking it for last minute reservations, and, if you fiddle-faddle enough, you can score tons of great FastPasses!

To prepare for this, we recommend doing some Finger Stretches the days leading up to your trip to work on your quickness and dexterity.

6. Walk on Nails

A day in Disney World likely means walking thousands of steps and several miles. Most of us aren’t used to that, so you gotta prepare! First and foremost, make sure you have a good pair (or two!) of shoes. Get some Dr. Scholl’s inserts if you need them. Second, make sure they are broken in! And third, walk across a bed of nails or hot coals to make sure your feet are ready.

Ok, maybe we are being dramatic with the nails and the coal. But we are being VERY serious about the breaking in the good shoes part.

7. Sit in a Sauna

It is hot in Florida. VERY HOT. Like 100% humidity, looks like you just jumped in a swimming pool but really you’re just sweating hot. We suggest visiting a sauna a few times before your trip.

Bonus if you wrap yourself in Saran wrap to simulate the feeling of a sticky poncho.

8. Sprinkler Test

In the summer, it can go from a bright and sunny day to a torrential downpour within minutes. You have to be ready at a moment’s notice to get those ponchos out of your bag and on your body!

We suggest time trials in your backyard. Have the sprinklers go off at random intervals and make sure everyone stops what they’re doing to get their poncho on. Wear it for the entire time the sprinklers are on. Once they’re off, take off the now soaking wet ponchos, and shove them back into your bag. Have the sprinklers go off again and repeat. This activity will be increasingly harder now that the ponchos are wet.

But you’ll thank us when you can get your toddler in a wet poncho in three seconds flat.

9. Princess Practice

Your little princesses are likely dying to dress up like their favorite royalty at Disney World! And we totally encourage it — there’s nothing cuter than a baby Cinderella meeting the real Cinderella. But we highly recommend buying that dress BEFORE you go. (For starters, you can probably get it cheaper.) Kids will be kids, and no matter how pretty the dress, it can still be “hot and itchy.”

Make sure the kids have worn the dress (preferably during the aforementioned sprinkler trials and in the sauna) and are very used to the materials. This way, if you need a backup, you’ve got time to get one!

But also, because toddlers can change their mind at any moment, practice getting them in and out of the dress mid-tantrum. And even still, practice shoving the dress into your backpack when they want their backup clothes… just in case.

10. Wake-up Call

Randomly wake up your entire family at four in the morning yelling that they are gonna be late for Extra Magic Hours at Hollywood Studios. While you’re at it, make sure everyone gets their morning routine down to a cool five minutes while sharing a single sink.

Well, there you have it, our Disney Champion workout regime? Will you be practicing your Disney fitness before you go? Let us know in the comments!

Comments (2)