An Athlete’s Guide to Training and Working Out in Disney World
When I go on vacation, I’m all about relaxing, having fun, and taking a break from typical daily routines and obligations. But my husband and I are often training for marathons or triathlons – and sometimes, family vacation dates just happen to fall in the middle of training. Vacation can make it hard to stay motivated, but for those of you who would like to try, read below about how you can keep up with various workouts in Disney World!
Running
Disney has you covered if you need a running workout during your vacation – most resorts have a running trail, and you can find a full list of those here. These trails are usually short, so they are great for a quick run.
If you’re looking for a place to do a longer run, consider heading to the Wilderness Lodge running trail and continuing it into Fort Wilderness. Depending on the length of your run, you may have to do it a few times. But on the plus side, it’s quiet and beautiful!
Swimming
While my husband was training for an IRONMAN, staying at Coronado Springs was a lifesaver! Coronado Springs has a main pool and three leisure pools. One of the quiet pools, located in the Casitas section, is square with lanes painted on the floor of the pool, but no ropes. It’s slightly longer than a typical, 25-meter pool. When we tried to measure it, it seemed more like 30 meters.
It was excellent for doing a few swim workouts! It was best to go early in the morning before park touring time and before many guests woke up to start swimming. The main pool at Coronado Springs is also long and rectangular, and so is one of the pools at the Swan Hotel. Lastly, the “Big Blue Pool” at Art of Animation is just so big that it might work for swimming laps!
Biking
If you’re looking for distance and intensity, your best bet is probably a stationary bike in your resort. But if you just want some light activity in the sunshine, there are a handful of resorts where you can rent bikes for $18 + tax per person or 2- or 4-person surrey bikes for $25 (including tax) per person. All bikes are available on a first come, first serve basis and helmets are included with the regular bikes!
Here’s where you can find bike rentals:
- Caribbean Beach Resort
- Coronado Springs Resort
- Fort Wilderness
- Old Key West Resort
- Port Orleans resorts
- Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Wilderness Lodge
Here’s where you can find surrey bike rentals:
- BoardWalk Inn
- Coronado Springs Resort
- Old Key West Resort
- Port Orleans resorts
- Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Bikes have to stay within the resort they’re rented from, so consider renting at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, the BoardWalk Inn, or Fort Wilderness for the most ground to cover!
Strength Training
All of the deluxe resorts and one of the moderate resorts, Coronado Springs, have fitness centers. The one exception to this is the Polynesian, where you’re welcome to head over to the Grand Floridian for a workout if you would like, but personally, that seems a bit frustrating if you’re trying to squeeze in a workout during a busy vacation. There are typically free weights, weight machines, and cardio equipment in each of these fitness centers.
Planning Your Trip for an Athlete
If there’s an athlete in your family, I highly recommend staying at Coronado Springs Resort or a deluxe resort for access to fitness centers. For runners, I recommend Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness. For swimmers, get the best pool at Coronado Springs Resort. For cyclers, any resort with a fitness center for those stationary bikes.
But remember – sticking to a workout routine or training plan during vacation is important, but making memories with your family is even more important. Use this information to stay at a resort with convenient amenities for workouts, and that will help you squeeze them in. You’re only in the most magical place on earth for so long!
Thinking about planning a Disney vacation? Contact me today for a FREE quote!
Stephanie Matt
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner – PLATINUM LEVEL
MickeyTravels, LLC
Phone: (636) 634-0456
smatt@mickeytravels.com
www.mickeytravels.com