Activities to do prior to Disney Package Begining

[LeeAnn]

Arriving prior to the our Disney Package start date. Trying to figure things to do that don't cost much and are not included in our Disney package.

At Disney Spring, any activities there? My three kids love to roam around there but my DH needs something a bit more.

Would hate to pay for Miniature golf when in a couple of days we have passes for four.

Need some ideas.

 

[mesaboy2]

Arriving prior to the our Disney Package start date. Trying to figure things to do that don't cost much and are not included in our Disney package.

At Disney Spring, any activities there? My three kids love to roam around there but my DH needs something a bit more.

Would hate to pay for Miniature golf when in a couple of days we have passes for four.

Need some ideas.

It's mainly a large outdoor shopping mall. There is some music, and a couple of small rides for toddlers. Outside of that not much.

 

[thevolcanogod]

Disney Springs, tour the different resorts - check out the fire pit and svannah at AKL, have a drink at Geyser Point at Wilderness, check out I-drive, drive to Tampa for the day and find a beach.

 

[nighttowll]

At Disney, check out the resorts and the campground. You can see the geyser at the Wilderness Lodge, ride the monorail, see the animals at the animal kingdom lodge, take pics with all the statues at Art of Animation, and check out all the stuff to do at the campground. Many of the hotels also offer scavenger hunt sheets you can get and games and activities for the kids.


Will you have a car? There are plenty of low cost activities you could do off property if you'll have a car. Visit an orange grove, day trip to the beach, visit a local park, visit the giant McDonalds.

I went with a friend to the Showcase of Citrus this year, and it seemed like a great low cost activity for a family, especially, one with small children. No cost to enter, minimal cost for a tour. There was a nice picnic area and a play ground, plus a few farm animals. You could walk the grove for free. Pick your own was sold by the bag. A small store offered free samples of everything from juice, to honey, to salsa. Lots of fun signs and statues to pose with, and they sold a number of frozen drinks to enjoy in the heat. I think they had a bar as well, but I may have made that part up. But I think I remember frozen alcoholic drinks for sale as well. Seemed like great place to let kids run around and burn off some steam, and the smell of the grove was amazing. Very nice place to walk around. The "monster" truck tour was fun as well. We got a groupon for it that wasn't bad. You got to feed water buffalo during the tour as well.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Why not add some days to your tickets and pick the tickets up early? Then you can just go to the parks.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Not sure if you mean for a few hours, a whole day??
If you decide on disney springs to walk about, you can always then hop on a bus to perhaps AKL, walk and see the animals on the savannah, see the lodge n gift shop ( where there's a table with a big wood tic tax toe to play) grab an easy quick snack and sit outside in the rocking chairs by the fire pit and enjoy. That certainly would take up a few hours by seeing some things and the Animals.
Or hop a boat to POFQ from Disney springs..lovely boat ride, then there's a small arcade for the kids, a wonderful gift shop and perhaps grab a snack or lunch at the food court... one of the best. Kids can play at the playground while you grab a soda or libation at the outside bar ( while watching the kiddos obviously)
So many options... or hop on the monorail and take a loop by stopping at the resorts and seeing them then grab a snack and just enjoy a few hours.
Enjoy ur visit!!

 

[lelew]

I added two days at a Disney resort before my package start as well. I was told I can ask to use my mini golf tickets early since I'm staying on property and it should't be no problem. Other than that I'm going to take those days and enjoy our resort before heading to the parks once our package start.

 

[Mickeymouseisking]

You don't mention how old your kids are, but there's a free sing along with chip and dale in the evening at Fort Wilderness, there's something free with Cinderella in the afternoon at the Grand Floridian where she and Prince Charming come and dance, there are live acts going on at Disney Springs and a play area at the Leggo store and at T-Rex, Yee Ha Bob performs at Port Orleans Riverside certain nights a week for free.

You can also rent bikes at a resort, my favorite is renting a bike at Wilderness Lodge and cycling over to Fort Wilderness. My family did that when I was a teen and it's one of my favorite memories.

You can also go horseback riding at Fort Wilderness, depending on how much money you want to spend.

 

[Disney_Cindy]

Will you have a car? There are plenty of low cost activities you could do off property if you'll have a car. Visit an orange grove, day trip to the beach, visit a local park, visit the giant McDonalds.

Giant McDonald's!! Where is this at? I love seeing odd places, and how awesome would it be to say "I've been to the giant McDonald's" also I do feel like I might be a little overly excited about this, but I think I'm okay with that.

 

[kbmartin]

At Disney Springs, you could go bowling at Splitsville or to see a movie at the AMC theater.

 

[nighttowll]

Giant McDonald's!! Where is this at? I love seeing odd places, and how awesome would it be to say "I've been to the giant McDonald's" also I do feel like I might be a little overly excited about this, but I think I'm okay with that.

It use to be the largest in the world until a bigger one was opened in London. They also offer other foods not typically associated with a McDonald's.

http://attractionsmagazine.com/worlds-largest-entertainment-mcdonalds-opens-international-drive/

 

[scrapquitler]

add a couple extra days to your tickets and activate your park passes early. Depending on what tickets you already have, it might be as low as $15 a person per day to add extra tickets. For my family, that would be a bargain compared to doing things at Disney Springs or elsewhere in the Orlando area.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Giant McDonald's!! Where is this at? I love seeing odd places, and how awesome would it be to say "I've been to the giant McDonald's" also I do feel like I might be a little overly excited about this, but I think I'm okay with that.

If the idea of giant McD's gets you excited, then you'll also love Orange World on the 192 side of WDW. Citrus season is mostly Dec-April, so the fruit is best in those months, but the giant orange stand is there year round.

I also suggest eating off WDW property that day if you want better quality food at a lower price. The area has tons of options. Just about every chain and many non-chain options, too. Some of the places on I-Drive aren't that great, but many other spots are great.

We also sometimes use arrival day to buy a few groceries, sunscreen, or water. If you are flying and would pay luggage fees, a stop can be worthwhile.

Another possibility, if you have a whole week at WDW would be to visit Citywalk at Universal. Though the new Disney Springs has many more shops than old DTD used to have. It has changed a ton.

As another person said, many fine beaches are also relatively close. On the Atlantic side, Daytona is only about an hour east of WDW, while Tampa is only 90 minutes to the west (though actually getting ON Clearwater beach takes more like 2.5 hours with traffic/parking.)

Honeymoon Island is amazing near Tampa. If you like waves, go to the Atlantic beaches. If you like seashells, visit one of the quieter beaches on the Gulf Coast. Indian Rocks is a great beach for shells, easy parking, a bathhouse, and relatively easy traffic. All of I-4 has a fair bit of traffic, but the causeways of Tampa are kind of neat in themselves.

Between Tampa and Daytona there are at lest a 1,000 things to see/do.

When last we did an airboat ride, we went all the way to Everglades Park/Big Cyprus area (3-4hours drive from WDW), but there are airboat rides much closer to WDW.

 

[mamamelody2]

add a couple extra days to your tickets and activate your park passes early. Depending on what tickets you already have, it might be as low as $15 a person per day to add extra tickets. For my family, that would be a bargain compared to doing things at Disney Springs or elsewhere in the Orlando area.

This is probably what I would do, depending on cost. How many ticket days do you have?? If you can add an extra day for $20 or less, that seems the economical choice. Also, then you could get a jump start on your "must-dos" so maybe you could take it easy a bit more later.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

If you are looking to do something that specifically appeal to DH, you might consider a daytrip to NASA/Cape Canaveral. (towards Daytona). Then again, Daytona has some charm unto itself.

If you like history, St. Augustine is only 2 hours from WDW, an hour north of Daytona. St. Augustine has a number of things to see, but the old fort is especially fun, plus a whole street of shops in the old town area nearby. You can also walk around Flagler College a bit.

I've not been in many years, but there's also a Ponce de Leon park with a 'fountain of youth' neartT. Augustine.