Our Family’s January 2026 Trip Report: Our “Rest” Day

January 19th, Rest Day?

Much to my shock, both kids slept in until almost 7 a.m. It was cold outside, with a predicted high of 54 degrees Fahrenheit. We had all accepted that pool time would be off the table for this non-Park Day.  

I started a load of laundry and walked back to the Cabin to check on the family and see what they might like to do with the morning. The consensus was to play for a bit and then head over to Meadow Trading Post to check for Resort merchandise, hunt for Chip and Dale and maybe visit the playground. After I popped the wash into the dryer, we boarded the Golf Cart.

At first the girls felt it was maybe too cold to do anything but shop, but after we exited the Meadow Trading Post they decided they wanted to try and get another sticker for their Scavenger Hunt button, so we traveled toward the Bike Barn in search of Chip and Dale.

Tip IncomingAll Walt Disney World Resorts have activities that anyone can participate in. Pool hopping, in general, isn’t allowed. However, crafts and activities at Community Halls and other Recreation areas are open to everyone. Every Resort has a character Scavenger Hunt. You earn a sticker on a Resort themed button when you can show a selfie with said Character Prop. At Fort Wilderness you are hunting for Chip and Dale. At Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House, keep an eye out for Pumba and at Kidani you may spot Timon. 

To learn more about Resort Offerings check out https://www.magicalresortguide.com/resort-activities-main

We found Chip and Dale but folks decided it was too cold for the playground. Instead we swung by the Laundromat to get our clean clothes and went back to the Cabin to relax and play. While I folded laundry, Eric went for a run. Soon it was time to call a Minnie Van to make our way over to our breakfast reservation at Topolino’s Terrace: Flavors of the Riviera. 

Did You KnowMinnie Vans are themed rideshares you can order through the Lyft App. They are far pricier than a regular Lyft (our ride to Riviera was around $40 pre-tip.) However, they can drop you off and pick you up at more locations than a traditional ride share. They are driven by knowledgeable Cast Members, they come equipped with two car seats or boosters. As I mentioned in a previous post, we still need two booster seats for our household. This is the main reason I chose a Minnie Van. Stay tuned to hear of the included transportation methods we could use to go from the Cabin to another Resort. 

Topolino’s is a prix-fixe table service restaurant at Disney’s Riviera Resort. Breakfast is served until 12:15pm. We had scheduled ourselves for this last seating. Dinner service begins at 5:00pm but Characters only appear during the Breakfast service. 

Eric had never been before, and the girls and I were excited for him to experience it. The food is delicious and you get to see Mickey, Minnie, Daisy and Donald. I am not typically a steak eater but the “Wood-Fired Steak and Eggs” is my go to. The girls love their “Mickey-Shaped Waffle Dippers” that come with two sides. At time of publishing, you can get eggs as one of the sides, even though it is not listed on the menu. 

This day, we saw 3 of the 4 characters before our mains even arrived. We had some sweet interactions, got autographs, and took photos before digging into our food. Morgan was still picking at her food a bit, but this is the most she’d eaten since our arrival so I was happy. Maggie was eating enough for both of them. Our generous and attentive server brought her another round of bacon when he noticed how quickly she gobbled it up. 

Once we wrapped up our meal we  headed out to the deck to enjoy the vista from the top of the hotel. The girls spotted the Tower of Terror, the peak of Everest, the hot air balloon located in Disney Springs and, of course, “The EPCOT Ball!” That’s Spaceship Earth. Though a Disney purist about many things, I just love that the girls have been calling it that since their first trip. 

Feeling very full, we decided to take a stroll to Caribbean Beach Resort. During lunch a plan had been hatched for a Rest Day Transportation Challenge. We’d already ridden in a Golf Cart and a Minnie Van. We decided to see if we could ride all the other forms of Disney Transportation in one day! First, some beach and playground time. 

Disney’s Caribbean Beach sits next to Disney’s Riviera Resort on Barefoot Bay. Both are Skyliner Resorts. The Skyliner is an enclosed gondola system that travels to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and was the next mode of transportation we had our eye on.

While Eric stretched out on a recliner, the girls played in the sand and on a hammock. I was just taking in the view when I saw…Pluto, Donald and Goofy walking along the sidewalk by the beach. 

“Mama! It’s Goofy, your favorite. Let’s go meet him!” Maggie yelled with glee. We had been discussing that the only thing really missing from Topolino’s was my buddy Goofy. This spontaneous interaction was pure Pixie Dust. 

After we waved to Pluto and Donald, hugged and conversed a bit with Goofy, we headed down the road to Caribbean Cay, the location of the playground. Eric pulled up another recliner on the sandy portion of the play area to shut his eyes. The girls shed some of their layers and climbed and jumped and slid in the sunshine.

If you have littles who need to get some wiggles out, you can find playgrounds at almost all Walt Disney World Resorts. The one at Caribbean Beach is one of our personal favorites. There is some shade, some sand, seating for grown ups, and it is a decent sized option.

When my trusty timer went off, we headed for the Skyliner. We had a dinner reservation at Wailulu Bar and Grill and were going the long way.

Did You KnowThat Disney World offers complimentary transportation throughout Property? If you choose to drive a car, and are staying on site or have an Annual Pass, you can also park for free. However, you can not get direct transportation from one Resort to another unless those Resorts are along the Monorail or Skyliner. So, what were we going to do? 

A Skyliner ride to EPCOT, a walk along the Boardwalk, and we were aboard a Magic Kingdom Bus. When you want to go Resort to Resort, for free, you have to get yourself to a Park first. All the Parks will have transportation options to on-property Resorts. 

When we arrived at Magic Kingdom, we went through security and grabbed the Resort Monorail to the Polynesian. Though we definitely took a circuitous route, we made it to Wailulu Bar and Grill with minutes to spare and were seated shortly after we checked in at the desk. 

Tip IncomingAs I’ve mentioned in a previous blog post. Disney recommends allowing an hour to get to a dining reservation that is not located at your Resort or current Park location. 

We had a great server and wonderful food at Wailulu Bar and Grill. I think the highlight for the kids was their Dole Whip dessert. By the time we wrapped up, people were ready for bed. Each adult carried a kid part of the way back to the Monorail for our trip to the Boat Docks outside The Magic Kingdom. 

There is nothing more beautiful or relaxing than a boat ride to or from The Magic Kingdom. Despite the fatigue, it was my favorite transportation mode of the day. A quick Internal Bus ride later, we were back at our Cabin and our beds, with a day at EPCOT to look forward to in the morning.