Welcome to planDisney, Jeffrey! Thanks so much for coming to us with your question today.
Your vacation style sounds so much like mine. I love the Disney Parks, but my favorite thing to do on vacation is relax, enjoy time exploring resorts, and shop and dine to my heart's content! With all that in mind, I recommend spending two full days at the parks with a park hopper. You can arrive on Monday, have a leisurely day checking into your resort, and perhaps enjoy a dinner at
Disney Springs or walk to one of the restaurants or lounges at
Disney's BoardWalk or
Disney's Yacht Club. On Tuesday, you can spend a day at the theme parks followed by a rest day on Wednesday when you explore other resorts and do some shopping at Disney Springs. You'll be nice and refreshed for another park day on Thursday, and on Friday you also have plenty of time to do some more exploring before your evening flight! This plan blends the best of both worlds and allows for lots of time at the theme parks but prioritizes your desire to shop, dine, and explore.
While you're checking out resorts, I have to recommend some of my favorites! I recently visited the brand-new
Island Tower at the Polynesian and enjoyed an incredible dinner at
Wailulu Bar & Grill. It has the perfect view of
Happily Ever After! If you're at Disney Springs, take the
Sassagoula River Cruise to Port Orleans French Quarter for a stop at Scat Cat's Club - Café for some Mickey-shaped beignets. It's the perfect sweet treat on a resort day!
I hope this answers your question, Jeffrey, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation.
Jessica