*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
Did you know there are plenty of places to go for a run or walk at the Walt Disney World resorts?
Whether you want to get in a long walk or go for a short run, there are tons of options! Let's explore them!
Boardwalk Resort area
Running around the Boardwalk is my favorite for longer distances. It's beautiful, especially in the early morning when there isn't really anyone out and about except for people who want a super early morning cup of coffee or other runners, and you get to (sort of) experience two of the parks along the way - Epcot and Hollywood Studios!
I recommend starting at the Boardwalk Resort area and then you have two choices: left or right. I'd recommend making this decision based on the time of day; for example, if I know the sun will be rising around the time I'm heading to Epcot, I enjoy watching it so I'll plan accordingly. For article's sake, let's say you go right first!
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When you head right and follow the path along the lake and over the little bridge, you'll end up at the International Gateway entrance to Epcot, so rather than entering the park you'll want to head back to the Boardwalk. You can pass the Yacht and Beach Club and the Swan and Dolphin; each of these resorts also has their own running paths if you'd like to tack those on for extra mileage, or you can keep heading past the Swan and Dolphin and take the path that leads you to Hollywood Studios.
When you reach Hollywood Studios, again, you'll want to turn around to head back rather than enter the park (unless you bring your Magic Band or ticket and the park is open)! This part of the path gives you a really cool view of the Swan and Dolphin resorts and Tower of Terror. I like starting and stopping at the Boardwalk because once I'm back, I like to treat myself to a nice, fresh cup of coffee from the Boardwalk Bakery afterwords!
Parking options: If you're staying at any of these resorts, you have plenty of parking options given the loops are all connected around the lake. If you're not staying at this resort, I'd recommend parking at Hollywood Studios and having that be your start point (since I get free parking with my Annual Pass, this is what I do).
Polynesian Resort and the Grand Floridian Resort
This route is on the short side - a mile each way - but it is one of my absolute favorites due to the breathtaking sights and sounds. It's best enjoyed at sunrise, in my opinion; I think that's how Walt intended for us to admire the look of the Polynesian Resort since running this trail! However, at night sometimes you get great views of the electrical parade that they do on the Seven Seas Lagoon.
â If you're starting at the Polynesian Resort: Start at the Moorea building and go to the right of it. When you turn the corner, you'll see the ferry boats that take you to Magic Kingdom and the bungalows with a view of the Seven Seas Lagoon. You can see Cinderella Castle, the train station, Space Mountain, and Astro Orbiter as you run by the bungalows, and I recommend leaving your headphones behind for this route so you can enjoy the sounds of the Walt Disney World Railroad (yes, you can hear the train whistle!), the ferry boats, and the monorail.
When you reach the pool and boat dock, you're gonna head around the dock and then, once you're on the other side of the pond, take a left to go by the resort and follow the path to the Grand Floridian; if you see the Wedding Pavilion in the near distance, you're in the right spot because you're going to pass it. You'll then head like you're going into the Grand Floridian and going around the back of it so you're back by the Seven Seas Lagoon. You'll pass the pool at the Grand Floridian and then after going up the steps, you'll find your way in the resort near a fountain. If you want, you can turn around here, or you can keep going towards your right to head down to the boat dock for a nice view of Magic Kingdom and the monorail and then turn and go back the way you came.
If you're starting at Grand Floridian: It's basically just reverse from above. Start from the resort, head down towards the pools and once you hit the beach, just follow the path to the Polynesian, passing the Wedding Pavilion on the way. You'll head to the Polynesian's boat dock and go around the pool and then make your way by the bungalows. Head all the way down to the Moorea building and then turn and head back!
Parking options: If you're staying at Grand Floridian or Polynesian, you can stay there. If you aren't, park at Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and take the walkway to the Polynesian Resort. I like parking at the TTC and counting my walk from my car to the Polynesian walkway as my warm up.
Saratoga Springs
This route gives you a beautiful view of Disney Springs and actually takes you there! There are many ways you can take to tack on mileage so if you want something shorter or longer, you have your pick!
There's a path that's just shy of a mile long that takes you through The Springs and The Paddock areas that is mostly along the water (and beautiful!). This is where you're going to get stellar views of Disney Springs! You can also loop through the different sections of the resort and find new paths. Most roads eventually lead back to Disney Springs if you get lost!
And if you ever do get lost, there are tons of signs around the resort area with a map so you can eventually find your way back!
Parking options: If you aren't staying at Saratoga Springs, you can access the path from Disney Springs. The path near the golf course is tucked behind House of Blues and Cirque du Soleil, closest to the orange garage, but be careful of golfers! The other part (where I recommend starting) is tucked away behind Disney's Days of Christmas. The path there starts near where the "Happy Holidays" statue is behind the store. This side is closest to the lime garage.
â Bonus: Every Thursday morning, there's the Derby Dash 5k at Saratoga Springs! Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the fun run starts at 8 a.m. in front of Community Hall. Registration is only $15 - just inquire with the front desk! You don't have to be staying here to participate. There is also a free walking league through the resort area - no registration required - on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m., meeting in front of City Hall and walking for about 1.75 miles through the resort. Read more about events like this here. Contemporary Resort
This trail is a 0.9 mile loop around Bay Lake Tower and the South Garden Wing. You can add on some distance if you go by the tennis courts. You could also go from the Contemporary, head towards the Magic Kingdom, and run past the boat launches and monorails down a brick road. This brick road - which you may have seen from above while waiting for a monorail - leads to nowhere so it's a good turn around point, but this is a super busy area between foot and road traffic, so exercise caution (and maybe save it for early mornings).
Parking options: Contemporary Resort if you're staying there, or park at TTC and take a monorail over. Pop Century and Art of Animation
Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter
Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter have a loop about 1 mile long that connects the two resort grounds! It takes you around a majority of the resort buildings, so no matter where you're staying, you likely have access if you're at one of the Port Orleans hotels. This run has a really pretty view, as it goes around some lakes, and the buildings for this resort are a very pretty, southern style.
â Bonus: Every Sunday morning for $15, you can participate in the 1.5 mile Beignet Dash! Registration is at 7:30 a.m. at French Quarter with the fun run beginning at 8 a.m. You get beads, some other freebies, and a coupon for three free beignets. Read more about this here!
Wilderness Lodge & âFORT WILDERNESS CAMPGROUNDS
This is a great trail for nature lovers! There are signs posted throughout that let you know where the bike and jogging trail are, but it weaves through Fort Wilderness and takes you eventually to the Lodge. You can weave different ways depending on the mileage you want to get, and parts of the path are either paved or just nicely packed dirt. And because of the location, you've got a good amount of shade here!
You can start near Tri Circle D Ranch at Fort Wilderness, near the main lobby at Wilderness Lodge (where you'll see some signage), and a path near the bike rental building at the Villas. If you get lost, there are some New Balance maps around! Old Key West Resort
This designated running path is just shy of a mile and a half long, and it starts over near some of the other sporty resort amenities. You can take a few different routes: Peninsular Road, South Point Road, and/or Old Turtle And Road. If you'd like to scope it out before you run, it's marked on the map for Old Key West as the New Balance Running Trail.
Caribbean Beach Resort & Riviera Resort
Caribbean Beach Resort is a pretty big property, so I highly recommend going here if you want a longer run! This property is gorgeous and covers a lot of ground, and it also connects to smaller-sized Riviera Resort. This also connects to the Skyliner, so if you want to hop on and run elsewhere, the main hub is at Caribbean Beach.
Coronado Springs
You can cover at least 1.7 miles at Coronado Springs - where they also have their own fun run - whether you're jogging or biking. This path takes you around the lake, but you can also add a little more distance by following some other paths around the resort.
All Star Resorts
Similarly to the Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts, this is another fun spot to go for a jog because of all the fun little photo opportunities tied in to the resort's theme and different sections of the resort. There's a course that takes you through Sports, Movies, and Music, and you can even take part in the All Stars and Icons fun run! It's about 1.2 miles long.
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*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
Coming off the heels of the Festival of the Holidays at Epcot is the International Festival of the Arts! From January 17 through February 24, Epcot will turn into a giant artist showcase - and, because it's Disney, they'll have some seasonal food options around the world.
Festival of the Arts is my second favorite festival (only behind Flower and Garden!) for two reasons: it's colorful and highlights some amazing talents, but also because they don't go as heavy on the food offerings as some of the other festivals (while still having samplings all around the world), which is a relief for Weight Watchers wanting to sample without dipping into too many Weekly SmartPoints. Let's dive right in to the menu for this year's festival! Worth noting that I'll be sharing my Magically Fit recommendations of Disney's menu for just the food: I don't drink alcohol so it's not my expertise, and if you are looking to cut back on SmartPoints then I always recommend going for a non-alcoholic option as that will down on it quite a bit,
The Deconstructed Dish
Food:
Magically Fit's recommendation: The Deconstructed BLT sounds like it packs a good amount of protein thanks to the pork and egg without sacrificing on flavor thanks to the tomato jam. The Deconstructed Reuben has a few extra things like the Jarlsberg Cake and dressing that are probably sneaky when it comes to calories, so the BLT is the champ here. â
Cuisine Classique
Prepare to be amazed with these hearty braised bites and traditional Old World delights! Food:
The Artistâs Table
Satisfy hunger with these savory platesâall prepared using oven and stove-top techniques! Food:
Pop Eats!
Unearth the tasty treasures and tantalizing textures of modern art-inspired eats! Food:
Decadent Delights
Indulge in a gallery of divine delectables that transform dessert into a fine art! Food:
âThe Masterpiece Kitchen
Raise your glass and celebrate this fabulous fusion of food and wineâcheers! Food:
And now, let's head to the World Showcase!
Magically Fit's recommendation: This is one of my favorite booths, both because the sushi donut is a great, colorful, and protein-packed choice, but the taiyaki is a fantastic option if you really want a sweet treat since it's small and, per My Fitness Pal, only roughly 210 calories or so. Plus it's something out of the norm from what you get at a grocery store, so you'll be treating yourself to something that is special if you're like me and try to avoid sweets.
El Arista Hambriento â Mexico Pavilion
Food:
Refreshment OutPost â Outpost
Food:
Refreshment Port â Showcase Plaza
Food:
The Painted Panda â China
Food:
LâArt du Cuisine Francaise â France
Food:
Mosaic Canteen â Morocco
Food:
LâArte di Mangiare â Italy
Food:
And, of course, if you're worried about temptation sneaking up on you, then I always recommend brining a snack! I love having a Built Bar handy since I have such a sweet tooth, and most flavors are only 3 SmartPoints on Weight Watchers (but they max out at 4 SmartPoints, and that's really just for the peanut butter bar!). I like to keep them in the fridge, so if I pack it with me to the parks, it doesn't get super melted unless its a really hot day (as any product with real chocolate would). If you're worried about melting, you could even freeze it prior to leaving for the park! Get 10% off your order of Built Bar and their other products (like Built Boost, a flavor packet loaded with vitamins for your water) when you shop with the coupon code MAGICALLYFIT.
Another reason I love this festival is there are a ton of fun photo opportunities, so its another great way to distract yourself if you are worried about raking in the SmartPoints. Focus on enjoying the experiences and you'll find yourself pretty occupied between the art and the interactive ways you can become art (photos below from 2019's Festival of the Arts)!
Which Epcot festival is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
As promised in myreview of Paddlefish for Christmas, it’s time to review its next door neighbor at Disney Springs: Terralina Crafted Italian! Italian food can be admittedly really difficult to eat out when you’re on any sort of meal plan. Pasta and cheese can be high in Weight Watchers SmartPoints no matter what plan you’re on (because, even if you’re on myWW Purple, it’s only the whole wheat variety that is Zero SmartPoints!); if you’re on a plan like the South Beach Diet or keto there are carbohydrates abound; and even if you’re just tracking your calories or macros on an app like MyFitnessPal, it’s very easy to go overboard at an Italian restaurant.
But, there’s no need to fear at Terralina - there are a few options that you can make work, especially if you are mindful. However, I recommend just enjoying your night and using this restaurant as a “cheat meal.” Don’t forget, you’re likely getting a ton of walking in on your Disney vacation - even if you’re a local who visits often like me, it’s easy to rake in over 10,000 steps without trying at Disney in a relatively short period of time.
Related articles: Ways to get more steps at Walt Disney World! ![]()
There aren’t a lot of options at Terralina that are Weight Watchers friendly, however you can get a salad and add a grilled protein (my recommendations are the chicken or shrimp). I’m trying to cut back on my refined carbohydrates and incorporate more healthy fats into my diet, so I switched to the myWW Green Plan for the 30 Daily Points and opted for the Terralina Crafted Italian Salad topped with grilled chicken. It was super delicious and filling! The fresh mozzarella made for a filling fat to replace any carbs, but there wasn’t so much of it that it was overkill. Also worth noting that this salad also normally includes salami and pepperoncini, but I’m not a fan of either, so I asked for them to be omitted (hence them not being in the photo). I tracked it as 10 SmartPoints using some generic foods I found in the WW app. I found that the salad was lightly dressed with red wine vinaigrette, but you could also try asking for it on the side and measuring it out with some tools you bring yourself if you wanted to get really specific with your tracking.
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If you aren’t avoiding carbs, I also recommend trying one of their pizzas. My mom got their margherita pizza, which was very flavorful. It's a larger sized personal pizza with six slices, so if you’re concerned about portions, consider splitting it with your family or a friend! The crust was thin, too, so that knocks another SmartPoint off of it in your tracker! You could probably also ask for a grilled protein to be placed on top of the pizza; not sure if they do that, but it’s always worth asking! Plus if you are worried that you won’t have enough, you can get a side of broccoli for an additional $8 (a bit pricey for a side, in my opinion, but that’s Walt Disney World for you!).
What’s your go to Italian dish when you’re trying to stick to your plan as best as you can? Let’s discuss!
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SearchAuthorJessica is a huge Disney, anime, and Star Wars nerd who channeled that love into motivation to lose 75 lbs. Categories
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