Advice on DVC non theme park vacation requested

[DavidRoss]

Hi All,

We are taking a vacation 8/30 - 9/6, two adults staying at SSR. I am looking for recommendations of activities to do at Disney World outside of the theme parks. I am bringing my mother (mother / son trip) and being a member, we have been to the parks quite a bit. My mother is handicapped (walks slowly and uses a wheelchair / ECV). She is feeling like she would like to do something else besides the parks but she is worried we will run out of things to do for a week if we don't do the parks.

So - I am looking for suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

Well, you can visit some of the other resorts and tryout the restaurants. Grand Floridian Cafe is a nice place that my Mom always enjoyed. You could do the Luau at the Polynesian for dinner some evening, We did a lot of mother/son trips.

But my Mom also loved the theme parks, and she was also in a manual wheelchair because it was just too much walking after 3 surgeries on her hip, plus she had some heart issues. It sure didn't stop her from doing all the good rides, though. Even on our last trip together, when she was 86 years old.

Downtown Disney, in it's current state, is really only good for an afternoon and evening, not an all day destination. When Mom was in her early 70s we did a hot air balloon ride one morning. You might also enjoy Sea World and other non-Disney destinations. Since you're there several days, I'd recommend at least doing her favorite park and relax, don't rush from attraction to attraction, see her favorite rides/attraction, of course, but sitting on a bench (if you can find a shady spot) and people watching can be quite enjoyable.

Take the boat from SSR to DtD and then change to the OKW boat and enjoy a nice lunch together at Olivia's. There is a W/C ramp to/from the boat at the OKW dock, but it is kind of hidden, and is on the far side of the dock from where the boat will let you off. Just ask the skipper where it is.

 

[DenLo]

DTD, Cirque du Soleil, House of Blues, The Boardwalk for Busker entertainment and dinner; Raglan Road for Irish live music--good food there as well; have dinner at a different resort each evening; watch the fireworks from the Poly or take a fireworks cruise; AMC theater is DTD.

Reminder:

Valet parking is available at select locations. Vehicles displaying a valid disability parking permit will not be required to pay the parking fee and will receive complimentary service.

Many of the deluxe Disney Resorts have valet including the DVC resorts attached to a Disney cash deluxe resort. SSR and OKW do not have valet.

We always tip the valet attendant when we pick the car up after dinner.

There is shopping areas nearby including an Outlet Mall.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You can visit AKV - either Kidani or Jambo. Perhaps have lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants and then do some animal watching from any of the overlooks.

Visit the TOTWL lounge to view the MK fireworks one evening and also catch the EWP.

Visit BCV or BWV and watch the Epcot fireworks from the bridge heading to Epcot.

Watch a movie at DTD - maybe do the Fork and Screen Dine-in. There's also the Cirque de Soleil at DTD.

You could take the boat to DTD and then the boat to POR and enjoy Bob Jackson one evening.

If there's any interest in a spa treatment you can enjoy that at SSR.

And I'd also considering going into the parks at least a couple of days if you like. When my mother went with us she also was in a wheelchair and still enjoyed them very much.

 

[rlovew]

I don't know if she would be comfortable doing it but you could try mini golf at one of the 2 courses. It will depend on how mobile she is able to get for golfing and getting up and down. I like winter/summerland better for just a fun silly course.

 

[disneynutz]

Epcot, DTD, DTD boat rides, and Epcot resort area tour.

Bill

 

[ldo]

our favs:
AKL has tons of activities everyday--pop over and get a schedule.
At AKL, decorating cookies at Boma's at AKL--everyday at 1pm--free
animal enrichment activities at AVL-alternates between Jambo and Kidani--assist in making edible things for animals to encourage natural instinct--such as dipping pine cones in honey and and then rolling in seeds for ostriches to peck at, wreaths of leaves for giraffes. The workers are all on special visas from Africa and it is interesting to talk to them about their country as you make things for the animals.
go to the community hall at Kidani and sit out on the balcony with coffee and watch animals (they also have crafts, games ketc.--usually it's kids doing them--but certainly open for adults--play a fun Wii game--they have every Disney/pixar title==Clue looks pretty fun--you can sit and view animals down the hall at Kidani lounge with rockers, but I really like the balcony at the CH--spent a lot of hours there while kids did crafts.
Glass of wine and sit at the fire near the lobby at AKL--I think they have it going in the summer.
go to Grand Floridian for afternoon tea (assume they still have it), before/after sit in lobby and people watch.
outdoor movies at many DVCs and hotels--you can go to any. FT W has movies every night with campfire and Cip/Dale character sing a long--schedule on the camping BB. We take hotdogs and roast our dinner, finish with smores. Call the bike rental or cart rental office and ask if there is a hard trail for ECVs--I think so, as I seem to recall seeing some at the campfire area.
Go to Seaworld for a change--get an annual pass for about the same $ as a day and just go in the AM for a few hours and then the PM another day---most things are HC accessible and the shows are very good.
EAt at Kat Koura's (sp?) and then walk/scooter around BW area after dinner and get coffee/dessert later at outside place at BW.

 

[Deb & Bill]

DTD, Cirque du Soleil, House of Blues, The Boardwalk for Busker entertainment and dinner; Raglan Road for Irish live music--good food there as well; have dinner at a different resort each evening; watch the fireworks from the Poly or take a fireworks cruise; AMC theater is DTD.

Reminder: Many of the deluxe Disney Resorts have valet including the DVC resorts attached to a Disney cash deluxe resort. SSR and OKW do not have valet.

We always tip the valet attendant when we pick the car up after dinner.

There is shopping areas nearby including an Outlet Mall.

And if you have a handicap tag for your car, you can valet for free (just the tip).

 

[DenLo]

And if you have a handicap tag for your car, you can valet for free (just the tip).

Thanks for adding that detail, Deb & Bill.

 

[csharpwv]

I have always wanted to go see Bok Tower Gardens - but we can't seem to pull ourselves away from the parks long enough!

One of these days we will make it over there!

Don't know if you are Catholic or not - but we absolutely love visiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. It is on Vineland Ave. next to the Outlet Mall.

You could take a drive over to the coast one day (Atlantic or Gulf) and spend the day.

There are tons of things to do in the area - you might spent a few hours in the car each day getting there and back, but Central Fl really has become a great destination - even aside from the theme parks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

...Don't know if you are Catholic or not - but we absolutely love visiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. It is on Vineland Ave. next to the Outlet Mall....

When we brought Bill's parents alone a few years ago, they took one day to visit the shrine and thought it was beautiful.

 

[graueMaus]

Epcot I think would be a great park to visit

other than that


Boat rides from SSR to DTD that you can do to Old Key West, Port Orleans - Riverside or French Quarter
Monorail rides along the differned loops
Down Town Disney
Visit the Boardwalk
if you are DVC member Welcome Wednesdays
POR's Bob Jackson
Luaua at Poly
Hoop-De-Doo Review at Fort Wilderness
Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness
Visit Animal Kindgdom lodges(Kidani and Jambo)
Take a behind the scenes tour of one of the parks
Spa visits
Dinner at California Grill and to experience the Fireworks from there
A day at the pool, most of the resort pools have a lift if needed for folks needing help getting in the water (zero entry pools help a lot too)
Resort tours (some resorts I believe have guided or dself guided tours of some of the interesting things at the resorts)

Outside Disney/Orlando:
Take a trip to the Dali Museum in St Pete
Go to the Kennedy space Center
if youhave little ones with you, Legoland
Sea World fro all ages

 

[Carl'n'Ellie'sDad]

Boating on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake is a peaceful way to enjoy the magic. Make a reservation for a Poly or Contemporary restaurant, than reserve a boat at the resort's dock. It can be a bit hot in the open on sunny days, so the Weather might need to cooperate, but it was one of the most memorable Disney things we've done.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Right at SSR, there's a tour of the GF DVC models-I don't know if Mom would be interested in that. I'll be doing a non-parks trip the following week, and seems as if lots of options have been covered here.

 

[Mazz519]

We just did a non park DVC vacation two weeks ago, I have three kids so we did alot of kid things, somethings you can do is go on a fireworks cruise, go to Cirque du soleil, Downtown Disney, Just hang by the pools (very relaxing) go to a few nice dinners at the resorts.

 

[roumic]

We have done several non-park trips. AKL has restaurant tours of Boma and Jiko for free and there are samples of some of the dishes served. The Water Pageant is a must for us in addition to Wishes on the Poly Beach. We also enjoy the movies at the resort each night and if the weather isn't cooperating, then we like to check out movies from the gift shop. We have rented bikes and explored between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Campground. We also venture out to other areas of Florida and use WDW as our home base. One year we headed east to Daytona and rode North on A1A to St. Augustine to see the Fountain of Youth and the Golf Hall of Fame. He had never seen the Atlantic Ocean before so we checked that off the bucket list as well. Also visited Celebration and the Outlet Malls. Over the years I've done Cape Canaveral, Sea World and Universal

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Will you have a car?
Any interest in a day trip up to St Augustine?

 

[Dean]

We've done this both on and off property. For on property non park trips we use the opportunity to concentrate more on resort restaurants combined with resort exploring, dinner shows, DD activities and the like. The one thing I didn't see mentioned was Carriage rides at PO.

 

[LSchrow]

some of my mom & dad's favorites (both used ECVs):
- renting a movie from CH (free for DVC), hanging out in the room watching it with a bucket of popcorn and a pail of nonsense
- at the BWVs (their preferred resort), strolling the BW in the evening, watching performers, eating ice cream, playing carny games. they enjoyed the belle vue lounge and ADH - both are nice for conversing & meeting new people (in-resort lounges usually are ). just to note: neither cared for jellyrolls (too noisy & crowded bar atmosphere).
- dinner at Boma, exploring the lobby and vistas

SSR is a perfect resort for quiet, beautiful strolls, turf club is excellent (a hidden gem).

you can both have a wonderful time by doing less: turning the focus away from the external stimulation (parks, shopping, touristy to-dos) and focusing on one another instead. conversing, taking lots of photos of "stuff" (make sure you both bring cameras), hanging out together, maybe drinking a little with the "where" being only a backdrop, the "whom" being most important. do a bit less planning, and go with more impromptu moments (ECV/foot races, talking to total strangers & ducks;, touring the resorts, stopping to see/hear/smell the little things you may have overlooked before).

some of my favorite times with my parents were spent simply sitting on our BW balcony with a glass of wine, doing nothing other than reminiscing and making new, wonderful memories.

i'm sure you'l have a fantastic time together