Adding an inexpensive dash of Disney magic?

[DisneyCAL]

I agree with the afternoon tea at Grand Floridian or some pampering at the spa there.

 

[BelleBriarRose]

A lot of good suggestions here! Are you celebrating anything in particular? We wore our anniversary buttons when we went for our 7th anniversary and got lots of free pixie dust: free desserts, serenaded by the Dapper Dans and others, special character interactions, etc. That definitely made our trip special!

For a regular family trip, though, some free pixie dust can be found by staying in Magic Kingdom for the Kiss Goodnight or riding certain outdoor attractions during Wishes (the view from Splash Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, or the Astro Orbiter is especially amazing). One of my most magical memories was riding the monorail around Seven Seas Lagoon and passing Magic Kingdom during Wishes. In Epcot you could try eating around the world and trying a special snack in each pavilion, which is a fun and relatively inexpensive treat. In Hollywood Studios you could become Honorary Citizens of Hollywood at Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, which doesn't cost anything. I agree with the others who have said trying to finish the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream would be a fun group activity, a shopping trip to Disney Springs, or maybe a pedicure at Senses Spa. It really depends on the people you're traveling with and what they're interested in, but there are definitely ways to make a trip memorable for everyone!

 

[tlmadden73]

When I did a Universal only trip 4 years ago, I needed that sprinkle of Disney so we went to Downtown Disney ... it was just enough without having to enter the park.

Especially if you haven't been there in a while .. the new shops and restaurants (and theming) are worth the trip. Just simply walking around the World of Disney is a great splash of Disney magic .. get some pixie dust (literally).

The resort options I feel will be too "painful" .. as in they are too close to park entrance and you'll just want to go in.

 

[rwdavis2]

At that age my daughters liked Universal as much and never cared if we went to WDW while on a Universal-only trip. Although we usually visited Downtown Disney for an evening.

 

[McKelly]

Thanks for the great ideas! I plan to suggest some of these ideas to the girls and let them decide. Does anyone know what time Chip and Dale's Campfire starts?

http://www.themouseforless.com/tripplanning/resorts/wdw/pdf/FWCalendar.pdf

I was also going to add, if you do the Boardwalk, the girls could rent a surrey bike. They are fun, but hard work!

 

[Skywise]

Thanks for the great ideas! I plan to suggest some of these ideas to the girls and let them decide. Does anyone know what time Chip and Dale's Campfire starts?

Realize you're required by law to come back and tell us what happened...

 

[LuvOrlando]

You can get inexpnsive CZ silver Mickey earrings at Walmart as mementos, go to the TTC and do a free monorail ride, get off at the Contemporary and take to boat to the Campgrounds to explore the stables, then take the boat to wilderness lodge and check out the animal footprints in the walkway, watch the pool volcano erupt, take the boat back to the contemporary then back to the monorail. Get off of the monorail at the Polynesian, it's late you can watch the MK fireworks from the beach. Check out Grand Floridian. Check out the menus at All the resorts and pick an inexpnsive option. Easy breezy inexpensive but totally Disney

You can also see EPCOT fireworks from the Carribean Beach walk and the Boardwalk hotel

 

[tstidm1]

How about AMC Dine in at Disney Springs if there is a good film there? Most areas don't have a Dine in theater near them. I don't know their tastes in movies or what is going to be playing there next weekend.

 

[Jess30]

Don't discount how much fun universal and city walk are!

I would really try to make the most of the trip you're taking.

 

[Accident]

because it's 3 days, your doing universal and seaworld, and because they are 15, unless they are asking for something at disney I'd spend more time at universal/citywalk.

 

[Accident]

hmm double post

 

[bumbershoot]

How would you infuse a dash of Disney magic for three 15 year old girls? We will be in Orlando over MLK weekend without Disney park tickets. We are visiting Universal/ SeaWorld but I feel the need to sprinkle the kids with some pixie dust (on the cheap). I think a character meal would be way too expensive.

I don't see why it is needed. Universal is awesome and has its own brand of fun and "magic". As the other poster said, embrace the trip you have.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

You could watch the Star Wars fireworks from the walking path between DHS and the BW/BC/YC area. Then you could follow it up with a late meal or snack at Beaches and Cream.

 

[cheerky]

I don't see why it is needed. Universal is awesome and has its own brand of fun and "magic". As the other poster said, embrace the trip you have.

Universal is awesome! My daughter's friends have never been. So excited!!!

 

[cheerky]

You could watch the Star Wars fireworks from the walking path between DHS and the BW/BC/YC area. Then you could follow it up with a late meal or snack at Beaches and Cream.

Is there a pretty good view of the Star Wars fireworks from there? I love the boardwalk area. We watched Epcot firework from our room at the Dolphin once but the view wasn't that great.

Are the Star Wars fireworks impressive like Wishes?

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Is there a pretty good view of the Star Wars fireworks from there? I love the boardwalk area. We watched Epcot firework from our room at the Dolphin once but the view wasn't that great.

Are the Star Wars fireworks impressive like Wishes?

I haven't done it, but I know other people have. I think they walk down the path a fair way, so that they are actually very close to the DHS parking lot. If you check you tube, you can probably find footage of other fireworks from that vantage point.

 

[cheerky]

The girls chose to watch the Star Wars Fireworks from the Boardwalk walkway. We headed over to Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club for the Kitchen Sink. I didn't think we'd need a Reservation for ice cream but I was wrong. So no Kitchen sink. Instead, the girls ordered sundaes and we sat outside (53 degrees) and enjoyed it. The girls had a blast. We all really enjoyed it

 

[TXDisneyFan1]

The girls chose to watch the Star Wars Fireworks from the Boardwalk walkway. We headed over to Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club for the Kitchen Sink. I didn't think we'd need a Reservation for ice cream but I was wrong. So no Kitchen sink. Instead, the girls ordered sundaes and we sat outside (53 degrees) and enjoyed it. The girls had a blast. We all really enjoyed it

That's awesome! Thank you for taking the time to come back to let us know what happened!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Has Disney started that $20 parking fee for its non resort specific guests? I am not sure if they are doing that. If so, you may have to take a parking fee into consideration. Maybe someone here knows if they did

 

[larryz]

Next time, there'a always a little discount Disney shopping at the Character Warehouse.