Why Every Orlando Holiday Needs a Rest Day

After visiting Orlando many times over the years, I’ve realised that one of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to visit a theme park every single day and not having a Rest day on an Orlando holiday. In my experience, scheduling a dedicated rest day makes the entire holiday more enjoyable, gives everyone a chance to recharge and helps you appreciate the parks even more when you return.

When I first started visiting Orlando, my holidays were completely different.

I’d wake up before sunrise.

Spend twelve hours walking around Disney.

Get back to the hotel exhausted.

Go to bed.

Repeat.

After a few trips, I realised I wasn’t actually enjoying the holiday as much as I could.

I was trying to squeeze every possible attraction into one visit instead of slowing down and enjoying Florida.

Now, every single Orlando holiday I book includes at least one full rest day.

Ironically, it’s become one of my favourite days of the entire trip.

One of the biggest reasons is that I always stay in a villa.

Having your own private space completely changes what a rest day looks like. Instead of sitting around a hotel room, you can spend the morning beside your own pool, enjoy lunch outside, fire up the BBQ and relax before another exciting day at Walt Disney World.

If you’re currently planning your Florida holiday, I’d recommend taking a look at our Luxury Orlando Vacation Homes, Luxury Family Vacation Homes, Orlando Vacation Villas and Holiday Villas in Orlando. In my experience, having your own villa transforms the entire holiday—not just the days you spend at the parks.

My Perfect Orlando Rest Day

A rest day doesn’t have to mean doing absolutely nothing. For me, it’s about slowing down, spending quality time together and enjoying everything that makes a Florida villa holiday so special.

This is almost exactly how my ideal rest day looks.

Time	What I’m Doing
9:00am	Wake up naturally and enjoy breakfast outside
10:00am	Relax beside the private pool
12:30pm	BBQ lunch at the villa
2:00pm	Games room competition
4:30pm	Drive to Ford’s Garage
6:00pm	Mini golf or Disney Springs
Evening	Early night before another park day

Some people might think this sounds like a quiet day.

To me…

It’s perfect.

After several days walking more than 20,000 steps around Disney parks, your body genuinely appreciates the break.

Sleeping In Is One of the Best Parts of the Holiday

One of my favourite things about an Orlando rest day is switching the alarm off. After several early starts for rope drop at Disney, waking up naturally feels like a luxury.

Normally, Disney mornings start ridiculously early.

We’re usually out of bed before sunrise.

Quick breakfast.

Straight into the car.

Then a full day of rides, shows and walking.

A rest day couldn’t be more different.

I’ll wake up naturally.

Make a coffee.

Sit outside beside the pool.

Watch everyone else slowly wake up.

There’s no pressure.

No queue to join.

No Lightning Lane to book.

It’s probably one of the few times during the holiday where you genuinely switch off.

That’s another reason I love staying in one of our Private Orlando Villas for Rent or Luxury Orlando Villas.

The villa itself becomes part of the holiday.

Why a Private Pool Makes Every Orlando Rest Day Better

If I could only choose one luxury feature for an Orlando villa, I’d choose a private swimming pool every single time. In my experience, it’s the feature that gets used the most and creates some of the best family memories.

Some of my favourite Orlando memories haven’t happened inside Disney.

They’ve happened back at the villa.

Floating around the pool.

Playing with the kids.

Listening to music.

Watching the Florida sunshine.

It’s amazing how something so simple can completely change the pace of your holiday.

This is exactly why I nearly always recommend booking one of our Private Pool Villas Near Disney World, Luxury Private Pool Villas Orlando, Villas in Orlando With Private Pools or Villas With a Private Pool in Florida.

If your budget stretches to a private pool, I genuinely think it’s the best upgrade you can make to your holiday.

A BBQ by the Pool Beats Another Fast Food Lunch

One of my favourite Orlando traditions is having a BBQ on a rest day. It’s something that’s difficult to do in a hotel but incredibly easy when you’re staying in a villa.

We’ll usually stop at Publix the day before and pick up:

• Fresh burgers
• Steaks
• Chicken
• Sausages
• Salad
• Drinks
• Ice cream

Then we’ll spend the afternoon eating outside while everyone jumps in and out of the pool.

Sometimes we’ll spend four or five hours without leaving the villa.

Some people might think that’s wasting a day.

I completely disagree.

I actually think those slower moments are the ones I remember most when I look back on an Orlando holiday.

One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that holidays aren’t just about attractions.

They’re about spending quality time together.

And that’s something villas do far better than hotels.

Why I Always Have a Rest Day on My Orlando Holidays Before Visiting Disney Again

One of the biggest reasons why I always have a rest day on my Orlando holidays is because it allows me to enjoy the Disney parks even more afterwards. Taking one day to slow down means I return feeling refreshed, energised and ready to make the most of another full day of attractions.

I’ve tried doing ten or twelve park days back-to-back before.

By the end of the holiday, I wasn’t enjoying the parks as much because I was simply tired.

Now I deliberately schedule a rest day every four or five days.

I genuinely think it improves the whole holiday.

When I walk back into Magic Kingdom or EPCOT after a relaxing day by the pool, I’m excited again rather than exhausted.

For me, that’s one of the biggest reasons why I always have a rest day on my Orlando holidays.

Why I Always Have a Rest Day on My Orlando Holidays Instead of Visiting Another Theme Park

People often ask why I don’t just visit another attraction instead of taking a day off. The answer is simple—my Orlando holidays aren’t about ticking off as many attractions as possible. They’re about enjoying time with family, relaxing and making memories together.

Some of my favourite memories from Florida haven’t happened inside a theme park.

They’ve happened:

• Sitting beside the private pool.
• Cooking a BBQ together.
• Playing pool in the games room.
• Laughing over mini golf.
• Having burgers at Ford’s Garage.
• Walking around Disney Springs in the evening.

Those slower moments are just as important to me as riding Space Mountain or Expedition Everest.

That’s exactly why I always have a rest day on my Orlando holidays.

Why I Always Have a Rest Day on My Orlando Holidays When Staying in a Villa

Staying in a private villa completely changes what a rest day looks like. In my opinion, that’s one of the biggest advantages villas have over hotels and another reason why I always have a rest day on my Orlando holidays.

If I stayed in a hotel, I’d probably end up sitting around the room wondering what to do.

In a villa, it’s completely different.

You can:

• Swim in your own private pool.
• Watch a film in the home theatre.
• Challenge everyone to a games room tournament.
• Enjoy lunch on the patio.
• Relax in complete privacy.
• Spend quality time together without rushing anywhere.

The villa becomes a destination in its own right rather than simply somewhere to sleep.

That’s why I always recommend planning at least one full day to enjoy it properly

Frequently Asked Questions About Taking a Rest Day on an Orlando Holiday

Should you have a rest day on an Orlando holiday?

Yes. I genuinely believe every Orlando holiday should include at least one rest day. Taking a break between theme park days gives your body time to recover, helps you avoid burnout and often makes the rest of your holiday far more enjoyable.

Why do I always have a rest day on my Orlando holidays?

I always have a rest day on my Orlando holidays because it gives me time to relax, enjoy the villa and recharge before heading back to Disney or Universal. Some of my favourite holiday memories have happened on these quieter days rather than inside the parks.

What do I do on a rest day in Orlando?

My perfect Orlando rest day usually includes sleeping in, relaxing beside the private pool, enjoying a BBQ, visiting Ford’s Garage for a great burger, playing mini golf and finishing the evening at Disney Springs. It’s a slower pace that balances out the excitement of the theme parks.

Is a villa better than a hotel for a rest day?

In my opinion, yes. A private villa gives you far more ways to enjoy your rest day than a hotel room. Having your own swimming pool, outdoor space, kitchen and games room means you can genuinely relax without feeling like you need to leave the property.

How many rest days should you have during an Orlando holiday?

For a two-week Orlando holiday, I’d recommend at least two rest days. If you’re spending ten days in Florida, one dedicated rest day is usually enough, but adding another can make the holiday feel much more relaxed.

Is Disney Springs good for a rest day?

Absolutely. Disney Springs is one of my favourite places to visit on a rest day because there’s no pressure to rush between attractions. You can browse the shops, enjoy a great meal, listen to live music and simply take your time.

Helpful Resources for Planning the Perfect Orlando Rest Day

If you’re planning your own Orlando holiday, I always recommend using official resources alongside your itinerary. Whether you’re checking park opening hours, looking for live entertainment or planning a day away from the theme parks, these websites are the best place to start.

If you’re thinking about spending part of your rest day exploring Disney Springs, it’s worth checking the official website before you visit. You’ll find the latest restaurant opening hours, live entertainment schedules and new shopping experiences.

• Disney Springs: https://www.disneysprings.com/

If you decide to spend your rest day shopping, dining or simply relaxing around Orlando, the official Visit Orlando website is packed with ideas for attractions beyond the theme parks.

• Visit Orlando: https://www.visitorlando.com/

One thing I always do before travelling is check the weather. Florida is known as the Sunshine State, but afternoon showers are common during the summer months, so it’s worth planning your pool time and BBQ around the forecast.

• National Weather Service (Orlando): https://www.weather.gov/
• The Weather Channel – Orlando: https://weather.com/

If you’re staying at Margaritaville Resort Orlando or nearby, I also recommend taking a look at the official Sunset Walk website. It’s one of my favourite places to spend a relaxed evening, with excellent restaurants, live music and entertainment just a short drive from many of our villas.

• Sunset Walk: https://sunsetwalk.com/

Finally, if your rest day includes a great meal, I’d definitely recommend Ford’s Garage. It’s become one of my favourite burger restaurants in Florida and is somewhere I visit on almost every Orlando holiday.

• Ford’s Garage: https://www.fordsgarageusa.com/