We just got back from an amazing Disney World vacation and it was epic! The attractions, rides, food and fireworks were all phenomenal! Somehow, we successfully were able to avoid Disney weight gain. We really enjoyed ourselves with our food options, too.
We were not trying to change our weight in any way while on this trip. But, we had a good time enjoying all the good foods Disney has to offer.
Here are some points to consider if you are planning a trip and are a little worried you might get carried away.
Walking burns many calories at Disney
I believe this is the main way to avoid Disney weight gain
Over the course of our trip, we were in a park for some length of time for seven days. These were Disney parks and we even went to Sea World for a day. I was stunned by how much we had walked.
We averaged nearly 8 miles a day walking which totaled around 55 miles for the week! That is an insane amount of walking for a week in the Florida heat, but it is also around average for a visit to Disney.
Most people won’t even notice how much they are walking because the parks are so big with many attractions. I know with extended evening hours, we could have been in the Magic Kingdom for 17 1/2 hours straight if we wanted to! Since we have two kids that are younger, we did not, but we did make the most of our time there and stayed for the fireworks.
Getting into and out of the parks alone is several thousand steps. My fitbit claims I took 126,838 steps while my phone says 134,119.
You will burn many more calories than normal doing all this walking and standing. Maybe you will need to eat a little more to properly fuel your body and keep going as you take in all the Disney magic.
Sharing foods
There were several things we wanted to try in Disney but we didn’t want to have a ton of food. My husband and I would split a couple of things we both wanted. Overall, we ate less and felt better.
Some of the foods (pulled pork mac and cheese) we ended up sharing with the kids. We also tried some of theirs too. There were also many desserts we ended up wanting to try. We would split one or two desserts between the four of us.
It’s very hot
When you visit Disney World after April until November, it’s hot and humid. When I get hot like that, I don’t want to eat as much and my body will let me know when it’s time to eat. Listen to your body and grab that Mickey pretzel when you feel like you need some fuel.
Drinking water
My husband and I are not big on alcoholic beverages and I know Disney has a large variety. We avoided them and only drank water, and a couple drinks we would bring into the parks. Water is the best drink for guests at Disney due to the heat and all the walking.
Water is the best beverage to avoid Disney weight gain
If you want to enjoy in some other beverages, that is fine just remember, liquid calories still add up.
The water was a little weird tasting, but I brought drink mix packets and they worked great to mask the taste.
We bought some of our own water to put in our reusable water bottles with some ice and it stayed cold, especially in my Yeti.
Only eating 2 real meals a day
We ending up making some dining reservations and had some really large meals. Usually, I am more of a grazer and eat small meals, but I ate more than I needed at these meals.
I knew I needed the fuel and we were sitting in the air conditioning so I had more of an appetite. I also ate more than I needed because it was delicious and I had trouble stopping.
However, I didn’t eat to the point I was uncomfortable. These large meals were sustaining and I was able to skip the next big meal. We would just have a snack at night for dinner or skip lunch. It worked out for the waistline and the wallet.
Snacking
Disney allows outside food and beverages. We brought a small cooler packed with ice and some drinks every day into the park. Also, we brought many snacks. We knew we would need them and we wanted to save some money.
If you wanted to have a little more control over what you eat, bring your own healthy snacks into the park. We had some snack mixes, almonds, jerky and granola bars. These snacks were convenient, cheaper and healthier than a Mickey Bar every couple of hours!
Snacking can also help avoid Disney weight gain
Several times in the parks we had snacks instead of a full meal. For example, in Animal Kingdom, there was an ice cream stand tucked away called Dino-Bites and they had enormous ice cream sandwiches. The kids split one and my husband and I split one.
After that, we ended up not really needing much dinner and we split something when the park closed. We ended up eating less that day because we had a heavy snack and we got to enjoy a delicious treat we didn’t want to miss.
Staying busy all day
Personally, I know that I tend to overeat when I have downtime with nothing to do. When you go to Disney, there is so much to do, you might forget to eat! We were literally so busy running around the parks, we forgot to eat sometimes. But our bodies (and attitudes) let us know we had to stop and have a break.
Ask for modifications
Disney goes above and beyond with dietary modifications and wants guests to be overly satisfied. Don’t be afraid to request a sauce on the side or see if there is a smaller portion. Here are more options on what to look for when ordering at a restaurant.
Final thoughts to avoid Disney weight gain
When going on a vacation like this, the last thing you need to worry about is gaining weight. Try to enjoy yourself as much as possible within reason. The walking and standing will help burn lots of fuel. Disney has many exciting foods to try to enhance your experience and you shouldn’t worry about what it will do to the scale.
Just make sure to eat in a way that fuels your body well and have a great time!
Helpful links
How to Save Money at Disney World
Is Disney Genie Plus Worth It?
Essential Tips for an Amazing Dollywood Trip
Kings Dominion Review and Tips
12 Easy Tips for fun at Hersheypark