7. Go transportation sightseeing

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)

Disney transportation doesn’t always have to be about dull bus rides and crammed Friendship Boats. If you have time around mid-day when crowds are concentrated in the parks, take a sightseeing tour on Disney transportation.

The most obvious candidate for this is taking a monorail ride. Even if you aren’t heading to a specific destination, there’s something so iconic about riding the monorail, particularly if you do the full loop from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom resorts. Another great option for sightseeing is taking a ride on the Magic Kingdom ferry. We don’t normally recommend the ferry for speed, but if you’re looking to take a tour of Bay Lake or the Seven Seas Lagoon, the ferry makes for a very pleasant ride between Wilderness Lodge and the Magic Kingdom.

Finally, despite some initial shaky press, we really have been impressed with the arrival of Disney’s Skyliner, connecting Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios with the Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century, Disney’s Art of Animation, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. The Skyliner cabs are quite comfortable, move quickly, and offer unsurpassed views of Epcot, Disney’s waterways, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A trip from one park to the other takes between 20 and 30 minutes depending on waits at the transfer stations. Definitely give it a try on your next visit!

8. Take a walk

Image: Disney

Walking may be the last thing you want more of on a Walt Disney World vacation, but if you’re looking to get away from the crowds and take a peaceful stroll, Disney offers several delightful walking trails guests can enjoy away from the bustle of the parks.

The most popular is probably the walkway that stretches between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The path is just under a mile long, and though it can prove tricky to find the first time, it does offer a very pleasant alternative to the friendship boats if your feet are up for it. In our experience, the walk takes about the same amount of time as the Skyliner, but you don’t have to speed along that fast. Other walking trails include the Conch Flats / Old Key West Trail that stretches between Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, and Disney Springs, as well as the nature trail at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, where guests can see local wildlife like rabbits and even deer.

9. Character watching

Image: Disney

All Disney characters are fun to watch, but some are real gems if you have time to slow down. Instead of speeding past Disney’s most colorful characters like Gaston, the Evil Queen, or Cinderella’s stepsisters, find somewhere to stand back and enjoy their antics. Gaston, in particular, is a comic relief gold mine in his cavalier interactions with both men and women who brave his tavern—anything from a push-up contest to insult swordfighting with a ten year old dressed as Belle could take place. Grab some popcorn and have your phone ready.

One place that really caught us by surprise for character watching was Galaxy’s Edge. Keeping with the land’s immersive theming, Galaxy’s Edge brought back the concept of wandering characters, and a number of different “scenes” play out throughout the day if you just slow down and watch. These can range from Rey and Chewbacca recruiting kids to join the Resistance or repairing an X-wing to stormtroopers arresting Leia’s top spy, Vi Moradi. The stormtrooper patrols, in particular, are seriously fun to watch, especially if either Kylo Ren or a First Order officer is with them. We’ve seen some of the First Order lieutenants give James Bond-villain-level monologues about their ardor to crush the Resistance “like a spider whose legs are plucked off one-by-one”. You’ll completely miss moments like this if you speed through the land. Slow down, sip a blue milk, and watch the story play out.

10. Explore the resorts

Image: Disney

Finally, an opportunity to slow down at Walt Disney World means you aren’t confined to the parks. If you have time, take an afternoon break and go explore Disney’s beautiful resorts. Take the monorail over to the Grand Floridian, The Contemporary, and Disney’s Polynesian to take in some of Disney’s most iconic theming. Take a stroll at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to watch giraffes and ostriches on the resort’s savannah. Enjoy an ice cream at the Yacht and Beach Club or sit on the porch at Disney’s Boardwalk.

Oh, and if you’re looking for dining, don’t count out The Swan and Dolphin. Even though these two hotels are not Disney-owned, they have some of the best restaurants on property, including the il Mulino Italian Restaurant, Shula’s Steakhouse, the outstanding 24-hour quick service eatery Picabu Market, and the best coffee you’ll find on property at The Swan’s Java Bar.

Besides taking a much-needed rest, what would you do at Walt Disney World if you had time to slow down?