Which sounds more like your typical Walt Disney World vacation? Do you start at rope drop, rushing from ride to show to parade, trying to bag as many attractions as possible while you walk tens of thousands of steps across the parks? Or do you take time out to enjoy sit-down meals at favorite restaurants, further breaking up the day with plenty of stops for unique theme park snacks?
I suspect that, for many of us, our days at Disney are a mix of the two. But there's one, sure-fire way to know which style of visit you tend toward.
Just step on the scale at the end of the trip.
Calories might not count on vacation, as some try to rationalize, but the scale will count the result when you get back home — no matter what you might have told yourself when a waiter asked, "how about dessert?"
Are you one to gain weight from taking full advantage of those extra desserts and snacks on the Disney Disney Program or at Epcot food festivals? Or does a trip to Disney mean a full cardio workout and lost weight, thanks to all those extra steps each day?
And let's not forget about dehydration. The biggest rookie mistake at Disney might be to forget about drinking an adequate amount of water in that often-hot Florida sun, leaving you to sweat off a lot of weight but putting you at risk for heat exhaustion, or worse.
For me, I usually focus on rides when visiting a theme park, but I totally understand fans who see the food as an attraction, too. Especially at Disney, where eating and drinking around Epcot probably draws more fans than anything else in that park these days.
So what about you?
Please tell us in the comments how the "eat more v. exercise more" question plays out for you when you're at Disney.
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because it is exciting, i tend to eat less (yes it is all food that is bad for me but it is ever so tasty :D ) couple that with all the extra walking and I lose weight... if only I could afford a Disney diet.. i would be slim
10 years ago was the first time I ever checked, and I gained 4 pounds.
I’ve been a little more careful (but still enjoying the moment) since, and have either weighed in the same or lost a pound or two.
Stay the same. We usually take snacks with us and eat on the go (pre Covid, when you could walk and eat at the same time), but when we do sit down it’s often at a buffet outside the park. We average about 25,000 steps on a typical park trip.
I get a fair amount of exercise every day at home, so I tend to stay about the same after a Disney week. I definitely eat a little more junk food, but what helps me is that I'm basically a cheapskate...so forget all about those $8 snacks and $12 desserts!
I tend to stay the same, and even lose sometimes. I try to eat well for the most part. Will I have some cookies and deserts...of course I will. But there is a lot of walking around the parks, which helps to burn it off. I usually workout at the gym in the morning, before we hit the parks. I tend to drink a lot of water, since it very hot, and only have diet soda during dinner.
I work all day on my feet, but usually only have one meal a day (which isn't great for metabolism). At Walt Disney World I at least double the amount of steps I usually take, and I tend to have two meals a day, plus a snack or two. That kicks my metabolism into gear, and I usually come home lighter than I was when I started my trip.
Then, of course, I go back to my graveyard work schedule on my feet, eating once a day, and gain it all back.
I've struggled with my weight my whole life and it's safe to say that I've tried a LOT of diets. This diet is the only one I've managed to stick to and the weight is literally melting off my body.
Unlike other diets where I am feeling hungry all day and food is constantly on my mind, This Natural diet has completely eliminated this, I actually NEVER feel hungry with this way of eating!
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https://youtu.be/MYAeRjx9h1M
I'm here now, and trust me I'm gaining lol
Hanger Bar
Homecomin
Dole whips
Gingerbread cookies
Gideons (drove to the Orlando location)
The Salty (Orlando)
Ganachery (four s'mores devoured so far)
Usually stay the same. I definitely eat and drink more on vacation, but I'm not a huge person for sweet food, so I don't dive into all the pastries and dessert type treats that are so loved in the theme parks.
My heavier consumption usually comes in the form of bigger dinners, and extra beers or exotic drinks around the pool. As Disney has offered a wider range of lunch options from typical Burgers-and-fries, I can usually find something reasonably healthy to order during the day.
All of the extra calories seem to be off-set by the extensive walking.
I guess it's the fact I have a more "European" tast but most of the food doesn't appeal. I have a hard time finding decent food that isn't overly sweet, fat or deep fried. So I never gain weight.
I had to tighten my belt in the airport flying home from Orlando last week. My suitcase is a backpack that was pushing down, but I didn't have to tighten it flying east. Fast walks from Cabana Bay couldn't have hurt.
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I do tend to stay the same as yes, can eat some snacks and more junk food but then walking so much around the parks it burns off pretty well, plus gyms at the hotel to use.