Activities for Guests Who Don't Like Theme Parks

[lurkyloo]

OK, I think we all probabaly have at least one person coming to our weddings who says he or she doesn't like theme parks and can't imagine what to do at Disney or in Orlando before/after the wedding.

I thought we could start a running list of suggestions to give these people. Here's what I've come up with so far, edited to add in everyone's suggestions:

swimming
walking along the river
boating
bicycling
riding the monorail around the hotels
African art tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge
visiting the animals at AKL
horseback rides at Fort Wilderness
hayrides at Fort Wilderness
off-road Segway tour at Fort Wilderness
carriage rides at Port Orleans
exploring the BoardWalk
movie at Downtown Disney
Cirque du Soleil
Adventurer's Club
Pleasure Island
resort restaurants
malls
outlets
Discovery Cove (dolphin swim)
dinner shows
Kennedy Space Center
Ron John Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach (?)
House of Blues shows
fishing
golfing
touring Disney resorts
Universal
SeaWorld
Holy Land Experience
International Drive
Gardenview Tea Room
spas
Universal CityWalk
visiting Celebration, FL
Richard Petty Driving Experience
shops & restaurants of Winter Park & "real" downtown Orlando

 

[Kristen14]

Dont forget EATING!! My fav! Also there's lots to do in Orlando besides Disney. There's outlet malls, and some nice upscale malls as well. How bout swimming with the dolphins. And dinner shows like Dolly Parton's dixie stampede and Medieval Times. Orlando's only an hour or two from the Kennedy Space center and Cocoa Beach. People might want to take a trip to the Ron John surf shop.

 

[MistressOfAllEvil]

Okay first of all... how can people not like (Disney) theme parks?!? Aaarrrgggghhhh! It makes me a little crazy (and sound a bit like a ).

That being said...

don't forget the live entertainment at House of Blues. I loved just hanging out in the open area, listening to a band, enjoying a beverage.

And! What about all of the amazing shopping? The premium outlets? and the Millenia Mall.

oops, I see that Kristen beat me to it listing all the non-disney stuff that there is to do...

 

[purplegirl247]

Disney also has a golf course (both grown-up and putt putt, ha ha). And fishing too.

There's a movie/campfire combo at Fort Wilderness, as well as the Hoop Dee Doo Revue dinner show.

I know it sounds weird, but my grandparents always liked to take our extra days (when we didn't have park stuff planned) to just walk around the property hotels (not just the ones off the monorail). They're all very unique, and are decorated beautifully (especially during the holidays).

For non-Disney fans, there's also Universal (and City Walk), Sea World, and the Holy Land Experience, not to mention the crap load of stuff on I-Drive.

HTH!

 

[lurkyloo]

I know it sounds weird, but my grandparents always liked to take our extra days (when we didn't have park stuff planned) to just walk around the property hotels (not just the ones off the monorail). =

That's not weird - we actually have days planned to do that on our honeymoon!

Keep those suggestions coming!

 

[MistressOfAllEvil]

Disney also has a golf course (both grown-up and putt putt, ha ha). And fishing too.

There's a movie/campfire combo at Fort Wilderness, as well as the Hoop Dee Doo Revue dinner show.

I know it sounds weird, but my grandparents always liked to take our extra days (when we didn't have park stuff planned) to just walk around the property hotels (not just the ones off the monorail). They're all very unique, and are decorated beautifully (especially during the holidays).

For non-Disney fans, there's also Universal (and City Walk), Sea World, and the Holy Land Experience, not to mention the crap load of stuff on I-Drive.

HTH!

That's not weird - we actually have days planned to do that on our honeymoon!

Keep those suggestions coming!

It's for sure not weird... we always plan for a 'hotel hopping' day on our itinerary (at least when we're there for more than 5 days)

 

[autumnbride2B]

We had a golf tournament and a tea at the Gardenview tearoom for people who weren't as interested in the parks. WDW actually has 5 world class golf courses and hosts PGA events.

 

[Rora]

*The Hotel Spa
*As someone mentioned before, City Walk where they have clubs, Margaritaville, etc.
*The Outlet Malls (depending on transportation issues, of course)

That's all I can think of right now but you have a pretty good list going!! Good luck! I'll continue to post if I can come up with anymore..
Oh silly people who don't like Disney..*sigh*

 

[PrincessBrideKatie]

THE FLORIDA MALL!!!! And Mall at Millenia. I Love the Florida Mall! So much fun. Also Rora mentioned the outlets, there are tons everywhere... I love the Premium Outlets, there is a Coach outlet, Dooby and Burke, Guess, a Disney outlet, + a ton more all in one place! Yay! Florida and their amazing shopping! Can anyone tell that I am excited to be going back and being able to go shopping????

 

[caryndisneydiva]

celebration! there is the celebration hotel, the lake and a cute little shopping area! during the fall they have a fall celebration where they put fake paper fall leaves on the streets!

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

subscribing

 

[disprincessatheart]

The Richard Petty driving experience (for racing fans)

 

[lurkyloo]

Keep 'em coming, everyone - these are great! I updated the first post to reflect all your suggestions. I will love handing my non-Disney guests a list of alternative activities this long!

 

[pat9283]

The clearwater screamer is loads of fun and you can get a package day with transport to and from your hotel. You get lunch at the Hilton hotel on Clearwater beach (this is where Neil proposed) then you have plenty of time to go on the beach and then the screamer is a large speedboat which creates a big wake which the dolphins play in. It also states that is you don't see a dolphin you get your next trip for free. There are alot of other things to do at clearwater beach as well. So this is a good one that we will be doing!

 

[KQAN]

I live in downtown Orlando, there is plenty to do that is not only non-theme park, but also non-Disney and non-touristy. Most of the people I know here never even go to the I-Drive, Disney, Universal area. Here are my suggestions of cool, unique stuff to do:

Downtown Orlando
- walk around Lake Eola
- rent a paddle boat on Lake Eola
- check out the trendy boutiques, restaurants, bars, and historic homes in Thornton Park, just north of Lake Eola (Restaurants/bars include Dexters, Hue, Wildside, Shari Sushi)
- check out the antique shops, funky boutiques, vintage clothing stores, restuarants, bars in the burgeoning ViMi neighborhood /Orange Avenue (a cool bar and live music venue is Peacock Lounge)
- nightlife for 20-30 somethings is esp good on Th, Fri, Sat in the heart of downtown: cool bars include I-Spy, Independent Bar, and the Social and Backbooth for live music. Wall Street is also popular.
- go to College Park, north of downtown, for antique shops, historic neighborhoods, and good restaurants and bars (Harmoni, Nonna, Jax, Alfonso's , Jade, K Restaurant)

Winter Park
- Winter Park is a suburb of Orlando, but is adjacent the historic center of Orlando and is just off I-4. It is a historic, affluent, attractive little town.
- Go to Park Avenue for trendy, upscale shopping and restuarants. There is also a nice park along Park Ave called Central Park.
- Just west of Park Avenue is an up-and-coming neighborhood called Hannibal Square. It is home to the best bar in the area, Red Light Red Light.

I know it is unlikely that many will want to venture here on their Disney vacation, but if you have young friends coming to your wedding looking for some non-Disney attractions, believe me, there is a whole city to explore. Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions!

 

[DisBride2007]

Holy cow! What great ideas, everyone! I don't have anything to add, but I'd like to suggest that maybe these people who don't "think" they like Disney would like it, even love it if they gave it a chance! My parents, and all the older guests were in that boat, and pretty much just went to Downtown Disney on their free day. They enjoyed it, but I wish I had just gotten them 1 day tickets or something, so I could have shared the parks with them.

Interestingly enough, a number of my relatives who "thought" they didn't like Disney, were talking about buying into DVC by the end of their three-day trip!

 

[DLR2WDW]

I agree with disbride...most people that say they don't like theme parks may have only been to one or two and perhaps hae not experienced all that a larger Resort property such as WDW or even Universal. My parents enjoy the parks when the grandkids are around but probably wouldn't go on thier own...but they love exploring the resorts and restuarants.

 

[lurkyloo]

Here are my suggestions of cool, unique stuff to do:

Downtown Orlando
- walk around Lake Eola
- rent a paddle boat on Lake Eola
- check out the trendy boutiques, restaurants, bars, and historic homes in Thornton Park, just north of Lake Eola (Restaurants/bars include Dexters, Hue, Wildside, Shari Sushi)
- check out the antique shops, funky boutiques, vintage clothing stores, restuarants, bars in the burgeoning ViMi neighborhood /Orange Avenue (a cool bar and live music venue is Peacock Lounge)
- nightlife for 20-30 somethings is esp good on Th, Fri, Sat in the heart of downtown: cool bars include I-Spy, Independent Bar, and the Social and Backbooth for live music. Wall Street is also popular.
- go to College Park, north of downtown, for antique shops, historic neighborhoods, and good restaurants and bars (Harmoni, Nonna, Jax, Alfonso's , Jade, K Restaurant)

Winter Park
- Winter Park is a suburb of Orlando, but is adjacent the historic center of Orlando and is just off I-4. It is a historic, affluent, attractive little town.
- Go to Park Avenue for trendy, upscale shopping and restuarants. There is also a nice park along Park Ave called Central Park.
- Just west of Park Avenue is an up-and-coming neighborhood called Hannibal Square. It is home to the best bar in the area, Red Light Red Light.

I know it is unlikely that many will want to venture here on their Disney vacation, but if you have young friends coming to your wedding looking for some non-Disney attractions, believe me, there is a whole city to explore. Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions!

This is great - I have at least four too-cool-for-Disney hipsters coming to my wedding who would probaby like to check these places out. I'd love any more info you have, like directions to downtown/Winter Park from WDW. Also, is there any chance there's an "Orlando for Hipsters" type web site that might tell more about these places?

Thanks!

 

[lurkyloo]

I'd like to suggest that maybe these people who don't "think" they like Disney would like it, even love it if they gave it a chance! My parents, and all the older guests were in that boat, and pretty much just went to Downtown Disney on their free day. They enjoyed it, but I wish I had just gotten them 1 day tickets or something, so I could have shared the parks with them.

I know - I wish I could afford to give everyone one-day park hoppers. I think a lot of the haters 3dglasses ON!) would find things they really enjoyed at some of the parks ...

 

[KQAN]

Lurkyloo:

Haha, most of my friends are hipster types who never go to Disney. I guess me and DF veer the hipster route somewhat too, but we also love Epcot (and the rest of WDW). Anyway, I am more than happy to help out.

The closest thing to Orlando for Hipsters (haha! maybe I should start that website) is the Orlando Weekly. They have listings for bars, music, etc. http://www.orlandoweekly.com/

Getting to downtown is a bit squirrelly because there is some construction going on, and I’m not sure which exits are closed. I think the Amelia Street exit off of I-4 East will be best – it will probably take about half an hour to get there from Disney. I think this is exit 83B. Once you (or your friends) see the collection of tall buildings, you’ll know it’s downtown. Google Maps is your best bet, though.

Orange Avenue is the main street in downtown. Eye Spy is a cool hipster bar (indie music, hidden passageways, and secret rooms!) and you get to it by walking through Bar-B-Q Bar, another cool hipster bar, at 64 Orange Avenue. They don’t seem to have a website, but it is the corner of Orange and Washington. Next door is Independent Bar, or I-Bar. http://www.independentbar.net/ This place plays good music and has dancing, and is SUPER hipsterrific (to the point that it kind of annoys me sometimes)! These are the three main places my friends and I go out downtown. There are a good collection of other bars in the Orange Avenue/Church Street/Wall Street area, but many of them get overly crowded with the 20-22 year-old-crowd, play cheesey music, etc.

The Social (http://www.thesocial.org/) at 54 N. Orange Avenue, gets a lot of good indie bands. Peacock Room (1321 N Mills Ave) gets good bands too, and also provides a laid-back, diverse crowd. www.peacockroom.com

To get to Winter Park, take I-4 east to exit 85, Princeton Street. Turn right onto Princeton, left onto Orange Avenue. Follow Orange Avenue for about 5 minutes, eventually it will turn into Fairbanks Avenue. A popular Irish pub is located here: Fiddlers Green www.fiddlersgreenorlando.com

Continue on Fairbanks another 5 minutes or so…on the right will be a cool restaurant and bar called Urban Flats: www.urbanflats.net

Turn left onto Park Avenue. This street is lined with upscale shops and restaurants. A fun wine bar is The Wine Room http://www.thewineroomonline.com/ where you can sample a huge variety of wines by the ounce.

Located a few blocks west of Park Avenue is Red Light Red Light. Most of Winter Park is upscale, but Red Light is definitely hipster-friendly. It is located in an attic above a French bakery; there isn’t even a sign, it just says “bar”. Inside you will find a huge variety of good beers, including a lot of Belgian ales, and a laid-back, diverse crowd listening to indie rock and watching weird movies on a projector. I go pretty frequently. http://www.myspace.com/theredlightredlight

I mostly lurk on these boards; I am planning a wedding, but not at Disney, so I haven’t really posted about my wedding planning (also, my wedding planning is still in its infancy – I’m mainly just doing research still). But I’m getting a lot of ideas from this board, and since DF and I are AP holders and go to Disney fairly frequently, I just love reading about everyone’s plans! Feel free to ask if you have any more questions!