Baby It’s Cold Outside – Spring Break at Disney

I can remember many a Spring Break during my youth that Mother Nature ruined by bringing the cold to Florida. It isn’t fair right? It would always be nice and warm the week prior to and the week after Spring Break, but the moment our week to be off finally came around, BAM, here comes a cold front. The good news is, if you’re from up North then weather in the mid 60’s isn’t too bad. But if you’re a Florida Native, like me, then it’s tough to muscle through. And here we are, it’s the height of Spring Break season and Florida is chilly and frosty.

The good news is there are plenty of fun ways to warm up in Orlando. For this particular list, I will focus on the magic of Disney.

Walt Disney World

Each of the Disney Deluxe Resorts offer a little firepit and nightly marshmallow roasts. Double check the schedule with the hotel’s front desk, but they usually take place around 6pm. The Fort Wilderness Resort takes it up a few notches since it is a campground, of course. A larger campfire with sing-a-longs, appearances by Chip and Dale, and followed by an outdoor screening of a Disney flick will certainly give you the warm and fuzzies.

Of course, you can also partake in one of my favorite traditions, if you are of drinking age…. The Monorail Pub Crawl! Start at the Contemporary Resort and enjoy a round at the Outer Rim lounge with sweeping views of Bay Lake. Then hop onto the monorail and head over to the Polynesian Resort. Heed the call of the tiki gods and enjoy some tropical libations. Sorry to say all Disney lounges have the same printed menu (BORING!!!!!!!!), but Polynesian’s Tambu Lounge does offer traditional tiki bar drinks like the ‘zombie’, ‘mai tai’, or ‘lapu lapu’, just ask your bartender about the traditional drinks. Finally, it’s back on the monorail to the Grand Floridian for some class and sophistication at the second floor Mizner’s Lounge.

Since Orlando is the ultimate family destination there are plenty of places to satisfy your sweet tooth. With a little nip in the air you may crave a hot chocolate and one of the absolute best places to grab a decadent dose of hot chocolate goodness is Ghiradelli Chocolate Shop at Downtown Disney. After you’ve grabbed a steamy cup of hot cocoa, warm up by browsing the Disney shops or head over to Splitsville to experience luxury bowling at its finest. It’s a good idea to make an advanced reservation.

Finally, the coziest of Disney Resorts is Wilderness Lodge. You will feel transported to the wild Pacific northwest. Cozy up to the oversized fireplace embedded in a column of rock work that pays homage to the Grand Canyon. Take a tour of this impressive resort either on your own or during the free scheduled tour, which is usually Wed – Saturdays at 9am. If you choose to go it alone, be sure to head over to the entrance of Whispering Canyon Cafe, then head up the stairs facing the restrooms to the left of the cafe. This will take you over the entrance to the resort itself, at the top of the stairs turn right and you will find a little seating area with a fireplace. This place is almost always empty and ready to welcome you. Keep exploring, there’s more stairs to climb and more hidden sitting areas. You can find some great views too!

Walt Disney World is the most magical place on Earth. The best part of this list is no park admission is required for any of these activities! That’s sure to warm you up!

Related articles

• Theme parks packed during Spring Break (clickorlando.com)
• Tips for Attending Fort Wilderness Campfire (orlandosentinel.com)
• A Brief Evening in Splitsville (thisfloridalife.com)