2 weeks in Orlando - what can we do before Disney?

[mog]

We will be spending our first week in Orlando at a timeshare resort and not getting Disney tickets until we move to Shades of Green for our 2nd week there. I'm trying to figure out what we can do before we get our tickets to save our "on-site" time for doing the parks, etc. We were thinking we can go to Downtown Disney to shop and see Lego world, etc. I don't think you need tickets for that. We would also like to see some of the Disney resorts and maybe eat at a couple of the restaurants the week before we move over there. I'm assuming that is okay to do without Disney tickets, too?? If we make reservations for dinner I guess they will let us park at the resort where we are eating so we could look around while we are there. Any other ideas? What about Fort Wilderness? Don't they have neat stuff there to do? Do you need Disney passes for those things (renting canoes, hayrides, etc.)?
Thanks!

 

[Pooh67_68]

You don't need tickets for Downtown Disney or for visiting
the resorts. If you like arcades, then there is Disney Quest
but if you don't have an UPHP then they will charge you an
admission, not sure of the price though.
Also have you considered Universal Studioes/Island of Adventure?

 

[turnlisa]

What about a dinner theater? We have done Arabian Nights and also Medieval Times. Of the two, I prefer Arabian Nights. It was fun and the food wasn't bad.

How about Old Towne in Orlando? This is just a collection of shops set up that you can wander through. No admission price and it is fun. Last time we were there, they also had kiddie rides.

Other things might be Church Street Station, SeaWorld, Wet 'n Wild, and Universal Studios (already suggested). You might want to check out the following website for some neat ideas: www.go2orlando.com Have a great time!

 

[Tank]

there are so many things to do in orlando you will find plenty to keep busy. It is not to far from the beach to do a day trip, either the gulf or atlantic are an easy drive from orlando. Kennedy space center makes a nice day trip. Something i thought was campy and didn't want to see was Gatorland, but my wife was persistant and i loved it. It was amazing to see all those alligators in on place. And like the posters above said Universal, IOA and Seaworld are all amazing parks. You will have a great time.

 

[Skylarr29]

If you go to www.wdwig.com Deb's page It gives more info than you will ever need. Just click on the section on top that says beyond the parks. Also, her page has all the disney menues and prices which can be very helpful in planning meals and decieding which ones you would like. At DTD there is a bunch of great shops, some water fountains the kids can run through and get soaked in (they love it ) and you can get a mickey ice cream bar. I also love the rainforest cafe there and the kids love the thunderstorms that erupt every few min.Also try Ft wilderness, there are boats a petting farm, pony rides , and hayrides. Have a character breakfast at a resort. A suggestion, depending on what kind of tickets you are going to purchase you should compare the price with the AP especially if you are going back within one year. You save on parking, hotel, shops , and some restaurants. Then you could go as you like for the whole 2 weeks. The price is not much more than the 7 day hoppers.

 

[mog]

Wow! Thanks for all the great suggestions. It sounds like we can do lots of "Disney" things, too, before we even get our tickets - DTD shopping, meals at resorts, Fort Wilderness, etc.
I will also check into the price of AP's to see if we should do that and have tickets for the whole 2 weeks - great idea!
We are staying at SOG for the 2nd week - does anyone know if there is a military rate for AP's?
thanks again

 

[Skylarr29]

Also there are 2 mini golf courses, fantasia , and winter summerland if you like mini golf and they are loads of fun, its around 8-10 bucks for a round and the courses are fantastically themed as is everything disney. Also fort wilderness has horseback riding for anyone over 9yrs, oh and there is a pirate cruise ( children go w/out parents around 7 seas lagoon in search of treasure), a wonderland teaparty(alice and the mad hatter attend while the children decorate cupcakes and play games), and a cooking adventure(kids decorate a apron and a chefs hat, and make a creation) available to children potty trained over 4 at disneys grand floridian.The kids can do that while you and hubby have a romantic lunch.

 

[beatnik]

We would agree with Skylar29, the mini golf at Fantasia Gardens is great and very fun.

We have also had a great time renting mini-speedboats at Disney resorts (called watersprites). They will seat 1 adult or 1 adult and 1 small child nicely (older children can drive their own). If you decide to go this route, we'd recommend renting from a resort which is on the monorail-- because the lake adjacent to these resorts is bigger and you can whiz around more. There are a variety of boat rental options if the mini speedboats don't appeal to you...

I belive there is also a pretty inexpensive cane pole fishing experience at Port orleans as well. Catch and release is encourgaged.

I see a number of happy looking families renting those "surry" bicycles. Might be fun to do over at the Boardwalk, because there are also a number of (expensive) Boardwalky things to do (games of chance and so forth).

Takaing in a meal at a resort and then meandering the grounds is very nice as well. The Wilderness Lodge is a great option for this, as are the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. The WL has a geyser that goes off from time to time, the AKL a firepit and animal viewing, the Poly has a "jungle with parrots in its atrium and is lit by tiki torches at night, and the GF has nice gardens and a great lobby.

We were just at the world and I remember hearing something about ladybug releases at the Wilderness Lodge and maybe the Beach Club. I got the impression it was a brief program for kids and only occured certain days of the week. It is part of Disney's integrated pest management program.

Have fun!

Beatnik

 

[mog]

Well, my kids would love the min-golf idea. I never thought of that! I would like to try eating at one or more of the resorts before we move over to disney while we have more time. Then we could wander around and sightsee without feeling like we were "wasting" time that we should be spending at the parks!
Thanks again for the great ideas!
Oh, btw, we will be spending one of our pre-disney days at Discovery Cove so that will be awesome!

 

[Skylarr29]

you might already know this but along with the price you pay for admission to discovery cove you recieve 7 days in seaworld(they haveto be consecutive) also, you can go to seaworld before you go to discovery cove just show them your conformation papers from discovery cove. you still have to pay for parking at sea world.So you might be able to go there a few days also.

 

[nikitta28]

how about a day on the monorail. stop for swimming at some of the pools (probaly need your own towel) . have a character meal (say at the grand floridian) color with mary poppins. go to the hoop dee do review. some of the other parks have deals like at marineland- if you purchased a one day pass you could return the next day free. (this may be over) do alittle research

 

[mog]

skylarr29,
Yes, that is already a definite plan. We have been to Discovery Cove before, so we did know about the Sea World pass. Last time we ended up going to Sea World during our Disney stay since we were only there for one week total so it will be nice this time to go before we move over to Disney.
thanks

 

[Mickey527]

My boys like the Pirate Cove golf places that are all around Orlando much more than Fantasia and Summerland mini golf. And the off site places are MUCH cheaper too. You can pick up one of those little coupon books and get 2 for 1 or one person plays free type of stuff.
One year we did all the hokey Orlando stuff with the coupon books. Air boat rides, mini golf, race car tracks etc. There are some coupons for a lap on the track for free. My boys have always been happy with one lap, it is a long track.
Of course there is always shopping at the outlets too. Peggie

 

[safetymom]

Pool hopping is not allowed so don't plan on checking out the resort pools. They are only for resort guests.

 

[mog]

safetymom,
Don't worry - I know that rule. We're staying at the Sheraton Vistana that week so I think we'll have plenty of pools to keep us busy!!
Mickey527,
HMMM, shopping at the outlet malls....I had forgotten about that little bonus!! It's been a couple years since we were there!

 

[safetymom]

mog, glad to hear that you will have plenty to do. I posted that in case others thought that pool hopping was OK. I am sure you will have a great time.