A Day for the Guys at Walt Disney World
Family time is the #1 reason folks travel to Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, families make up a very large majority of Disney’s annual theme park population- so much so that it’s the top destination for family vacations year after year. While Walt Disney World vacations can be customized to fill the desires of everyone in your family, a late night out with your spouse and adult time in general can be hard to come by, especially if you’re traveling with a group. Let’s take a look at a day for the guys at Walt Disney World!
Recently, a friend of mine escaped the cold and traveled to Walt Disney World with his wife and son, and they invited their entire extended family too! When the mid-week exhaustion set in, he wanted to kick his feet up and enjoy some quality time with his brother and brother in law, sans kids and wives.
Really, who can blame him? Spending time with your friends and adult family members is equally as important as being with your kids, especially on vacation! Luckily, Disney has so much to offer resort-wide, a guy’s dream day away from the family can be planned easily, if you know where to go and what to do!
A Secluded Hang
I don’t like to make anything gender-specific, but I have a feeling this first activity would appeal much more to a man than any girl I know. Crockett’s Tavern is one of my favorite off-the-beaten-path destinations across all of Walt Disney World property. Accessible by Disney transportation only, this rustic sunken bar is located on the water at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Although it’s a full-service bar, the hunter’s lodge-themed bar is known for its lengthy list of Moonshine offerings. Rally your guy friends and belly up to Crockett’s Tavern for a night you won’t soon forget!
Belly Up to the Pub
Men have more in common than they’d like to admit. One thing I always find true is they share a deep, deep love of eating and drinking– the way to their heart really is through their stomachs! If you really want to make them happy on your trip, suggest they go for a visit to the Rose and Crown Pub in the UK Pavilion in Epcot.
The menu at the Rose and Crown really couldn’t be more quintessentially British, or quintessentially ‘pub grub’; think fish and chips, bangers and mash, and traditional Welsh pub burgers. Pair any and all of the above listings with one of the many pints they’ve got on draught, and the boys will be smiling from ear to ear for the rest of their day! Moms and grandmas, aunts and sisters: offer to take the kids for a while and suggest the boys stop by the pub for a brew and grub…I bet they won’t hesitate to take you up on your offer!
Take to the Links!
Guys love golf. Girls like golf, too, but in my experience, not in the same way men do! Disney has 4 championship golf courses on property: Disney’s Palm, Magnolia, Oak Trail, and Lake Buena Vista golf courses continually rank among the country’s best for overall beauty, amenities, and of course, their impeccable playability thanks to the meticulous maintenance paid to the links by Disney Cast Members.
With sweeping views of seemingly endless greenery, sloping hills that add a challenge to the game, and some of the best-kept putting greens in the country, these courses are truly a magnificent place to play golf. You’ll have to book a tee time in advance, so be sure to plan your guy’s day away before you leave for your trip!
Sports and TV’s
Can you guess what ESPN Club is known for? Yup, watching sports, drinking beer, and eating game-day foods! Located on Disney’s Boardwalk, this is a great haunt for spending some quality guy time without having to leave the rest of the family behind! Take your wife and kids along with you to the Boardwalk where they can visit the Boardwalk Bakery, lick an ice cream cone from Ample Hills Creamery, shop, watch (free!) entertainment on the boards…they can even take a complimentary boat ride around Crescent Lake!
Of course, while they’re off having their own fun, you and your friends will be sipping on beers and specialty cocktails in the not-so-quiet comfort of ESPN Club. To really drive the idea of a men’s escape home, try the Macho Nachos! The crispy chips are loaded with all of the nacho fixings like beef, melted cheddar, sour cream, tomatoes, pico de gallo, and jalapeños!
Escape the Shopping
Women love to shop, especially at Disney Springs! Whenever I visit Disney Springs with a group, the women are always dying to pop in and out of the many shops in search of Disney apparel and merch to take home. In this case, I can relate to the eye-rolling gentlemen here as I, too, do not enjoy shopping. Whenever I find myself at Disney Springs with shop-happy people, I seek immediate refugee far away from the shops.
My favorite place to go is Raglan Road; more specifically, the outdoor seating area at Raglan Road. There is almost always live music happening outside on the patio, and whether you’re looking to knock back a few pints or to just sit and chat with the guys over some chips and pub grub, this is the place to be! With a lively atmosphere that also allows for private conversation, catch up with your friends at Disney Springs while the rest of your party spends their day in the stores.
Disney trips are exhausting and can require a vacation from the vacation when you return home, trust me! Disney vacations are especially exhausting when you spend an entire week in “go go go!” mode, neglecting that despite the huge spectrum of experiences to see and do, you are in fact on vacation! Set aside a day, a half day, or just an evening to spend some quality time with your brothers/friends/father when you visit Walt Disney World Resort and let me know in the comments which places you visit and which experiences you choose!
Are you planning to book a Disney vacation for you and your family? I’d love to help! You can find me over on Facebook, or contact me directly at msalerno@mickeytravels.com, or 800-308-6257