Activities for a non-park day??

[JennyR]

Hi all,

We (me, DH, DD4, DS2) are headed to WDW next week (yay!!! ) I think we will probably want to take one day "off" somewhere in the middle of the week so that the kids can recharge and have a bit more of a normal schedule. The only problem is .... I don't know what to do with them on a day when we don't go to the parks. We will spend some time by the pool, but what else?? Any suggestions for non-park activities for two small kids? Thanks!!

~jen

 

[LadyShea]

I scheduled us a day off as well for our trip starting the 22nd. We plan to hang at the pool, of course, but also shop DTD, walk the Boardwalk, and take a look at some of the resorts for future stays.

I also made dinner reservations at Artist Point for that night.

 

[Kanda]

We stay for 8 days and have 3 down days. We do the pony rides and boat rides at Fort Wilderness. Our son loves it. Also, ride the resort monorail and see all the resorts. There's also Downtown Disney. Check out the campfire at Fort Wilderness too.

 

[cjsmom5]

Keep in mind that each resort also has a playground. Depending on where you are staying you can hop transportation and visit a couple of resorts -- breaking it up with a trip to the playground. You can make an adventure out of it. POFQ has a great one for little kids and they love the alligators that are on the walkway to the pool.

The other thing to do is hop transportation to AKL. You can walk around and see all the animals. It is better to this in the earlier part of the day or later part of the evening.

Also, most of the resorts have some type of kids activities...for example at AKL they have cookie decorating and it is perfect for your age kid. To take part in these activities you would need to do some "timing" so you are there when it happens -- of course that will depend on your kids nap schedule also.

I also agree with the other posters on what they have put down.

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

If you are looking for something to do completely off Disney property and you have a vehicle while you're there...I have a really fun idea for you.

There is a place in Tampa called Kid City. It is in Lowry Park, just outside of Tampa. It's a park with miniature buildings for kids to play in. There is a pretend grocery store, McDonald's, library, fire station, etc. It just looks like a miniature town and the kids can do lots of pretend play there. It's very quiet there and not crowded at all (at least it never has been when we've gone). If you want more info, PM me and I can have my husband send you a PM back...he knows more than I do about it.

Another thing we've done on off Disney days is go down International Drive all the way to the end of it, there is an Outlet mall. We've also gone to another place in Kissimme called "Old Town" and it's got regular little carnival rides. But, again, I can have my husband give directions to these places because he's always the one driving...I don't like to drive...it gets too congested and it freaks me out!

If you're not able to leave Disney property it's really nice to just hang out at the pools at the hotel. And if you get tired of doing that, it's really neat "resort hopping" and seeing the lobby of each different Disney Resort. That could take up an entire day in itself!!! There is SO much to see outside of the parks.

 

[westjones]

You could go to DTD, then take the ferry over to POR and rent one of those family bikes for 4 and ride around the resort. We did that last time and our kids loved it (they have wanted to do it for a long time). You can do this over at the Boardwalk too.

There is also minature golf (we haven't done this, but it is on our list to do next time on our day off).

The campfire at FW is fun because Chip and Dale come out and interact with the kids. They also have a fire pit and the kids can make s'mores.

We always did our character meals on days off, so if you are planning to do one of those, you could go to one at the CR, GF, Poly or BC.

Visiting other resorts can be a lot of fun. Someone posted that Lilo and Stitch have been coming to the BC Lobby in the afternoons. I haven't seen that, but it would be fun if they did (we are staying there next summer so I hope they do this). If you go there, try to have lunch at Beaches and Cream, and if you can handle it, order a Kitchen Sink for everyone to share. We did this once and it is a great memory! The four of us couldn't finish it.

Anyway, those are just some ideas. We love our days off. Sometimes we find them more fun than the days we go to the parks.

DJ

 

[Perditamarie]

If you head to Downtown Disney, there are Lego building stations and a playhouse outside of the Lego Store -- kids love these and you can get time for a nice coffee break too! Also, at Downtown Disney there is a movie theater, tons of shopping and a lot of dining selections (including McDonalds for the kids!). There is even an interactive fountain and a train ride (I think it is $2).

Some of the shopping includes Goofy's Candy Store, a $10 and under store, an awesome Christmas store, a toy store (you can find the potato and pony parts there as well as build a light saber) as well as the ginormous World of Disney Store. It can be a great place to spend some time, but our favorite thing there is the Lego therapy!

 

[westjones]

There is even an interactive fountain

I think there are two fountains, one by the scrapbook store close to where you get off the buses, and one by the Earl of Sandwich and the Toy Store. Kids love playing in these. You may want to bring along a change of clothes and a towel because they will be soaked after playing in these. Maybe a plastic bad to put the wet things in also. I'm not sure how parents do it. We never went to DTD when my girls were young (didn't know about it), and now they are in middle school they just like to stick a foot in or something like that, but they don't go in a get wet like the little ones do.

DJ

 

[JennyR]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!!! My kiddos would love the cookie decorating at AKL or the pony rides at FW. We are staying at WL. How do I find out about the activities scheduled at the other resorts?

~Jen

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I have a resort day scheduled for our next trip, which isn't until April. Here are some of the possibilities for us - I'll probably let the kids choose:

swim at pool (we are staying at CSR - great pool!)
rent a surrey bike (the kids think they look cool)
rent a pedal boat
have dinner at Boma and look at the animals
go to DTD to shop and wander around


Allears.net has great descriptions of activities at the resorts - either under Overlooked Attractions - Resorts or on each resort Fact Sheet.

 

[Colinsmom]

Check out other resorts (animals at AKL, walk the Boardwalk at BWI, petting zoo at FW). Take a monorail ride. Play and run at DTD - the Lego store is a hit with the younger set. Take a boat ride from DTD to POR and back again.

We schedule a down day after 2-3 days in the park and always find enough to do!!

 

[mrstomrice]

WE went strong through the parks until day 6. We did a later breakfast at Chef Mickey, which was nice since we got more time with the characters as the restaurant emptied out. After eating, we went down to the out the back door at the first floor of the Contemporary to take a picture at the Mickey Head sculpture, when we saw the boats. I used to always go on them when I was young, so I suggested a speed boat for my DH and DS 3. DH noticed that we could rent a Boston Whaler boat, which fits 6, for only $36.00 for half an hour. It was so much fun to ride around Bay Lake. You can also rent them from WL. DS 10 mo was asleep in his stroller so we just put it right on the boat. I also recommend just riding the monorail around the resorts....ask to ride with the pilot Visit the GF hotel....that is a vacation in itself! Go to the campfire and movie night at FW too. Have fun!

 

[Mandychelle79]

We have a park free day built into our plan

We plan on sleeping in
Swim in the resort pool
Resort hop and see the other resorts
Down town disney

 

[cjsmom5]

JennyR - When you are there you can call the concierge desk at the different resorts. The WL will also have some activities for Kids like the AKL so be sure to ask when you check in.

 

[calliemom]

We love the Pirate's Cove Mini Golf on I Drive....along with a little shopping!

 

[momtomari]

i wasnt planning on any real down time since we are going in december and the parks close early like 6pm. i do though want to get to the outlet at the end of international

amanda

 

[Mandychelle79]

i wasnt planning on any real down time since we are going in december and the parks close early like 6pm. i do though want to get to the outlet at the end of international

amanda

You may want to check the hours again. Orginally they were to close early for us but now they are open later ( 1st week of Dec)

 

[momtomari]

You may want to check the hours again. Orginally they were to close early for us but now they are open later ( 1st week of Dec)

i am going dec 13-20 as a 4 generation trip with my dd, my mom, and my grandma and last i checked most of them closed early

amanda

 

[Lilo312]

R and R! Sleep in, pool, nap, dinner, boardwalk, acade (for the kids), beach and cream for ice cream.

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

JennyR - Just curious...what did you decide to do on your "non park" day? I tried looking for a trip report from you, but my "search" function isn't working!!! I hope you had a good trip!!