...and now for something completely different?

[VincentNC313]

Hi fellow DVCers!

I purchased in '93 and with each visit, I've tried to present something 'different', something 'new' to the family as a surprise. In recent years, we did things like an Illuminations Cruise or the Segway/Epcot tour. And now, I'm sorta' wondering what's next? What haven't we done? I'm actually thinking about doing the Illuminations Cruise or perhaps some other similar cruise, but I knew if I asked seasoned DVC veterans there might be some golden ideas here for me to pluck from? So -- are there? Please feel free to pitch anything and everything. Thanks!

Vincent

 

[WDWbeat]

Can you tell us the general ages of the family members staying with you and some of the other things you've done in the past so you don't get too many repeats? Do you have a budget for these "new" things?

 

[jara1528]

I'm not a seasoned DVC member but I've been to Disney a bunch of times!
I'm not sure what you have done in the past but I thought I throw a few ideas out there...
We went on the steam engine tour at Magic Kingdom and we really enjoyed it. Our tour guide was great. We've also done the Family Magic tour but it is definitely geared toward younger children.

I would love to have lunch with an Imagineer...someday I'll convince my hubby that it will be fun!

I've also read about about a private dining experience at the Grand Floridian where you would dine on a balcony with a specialty menu and your own wait staff.

My boys are 15 and 14 and I can't wait until they are both sixteen and we can do some of the backstage tours and the segway experiences. Should be fun!

 

[HockeyMomNH]

I have been trying to do this with my DD for the last several trips too. Next up for us is the surf board lesson at TL. She also wants to do the diving at the Living Seas in Epcot.

Other ideas:
horseback riding at FW
Cirque du Solei
AK savanna tour
pirate makeovers

 

[Escape Artist]

Our new "things" on this last trip were the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party (a great last-night-of-the-trip thing) and the Wild Africa Trek. Both were wonderful and worth it!

Happy planning!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi fellow DVCers!

I purchased in '93 and with each visit, I've tried to present something 'different', something 'new' to the family as a surprise. In recent years, we did things like an Illuminations Cruise or the Segway/Epcot tour. And now, I'm sorta' wondering what's next? What haven't we done? I'm actually thinking about doing the Illuminations Cruise or perhaps some other similar cruise, but I knew if I asked seasoned DVC veterans there might be some golden ideas here for me to pluck from? So -- are there? Please feel free to pitch anything and everything. Thanks!

Vincent

Have you done the Wild Africa Trek? We did that in October and had a ball. I could do it again. We also have done the Backstage Safari that was very interesting. We toured the kitchen at AK where the meals for the animals are prepared as part of the tour. Also the veterinary area.

 

[DisneyBill]

We made it a point to experience one of the 3 mini golf courses during separate trips.

 

[SamSam]

We have done many of the tours and have enjoyed all of them. Wild Africa Trek was our latest and it was amazing, we're actually going to do it again.

Backstage magic,Segway in Epcot, Backwoods Segway (starting in Fort Wilderness), Epcot tour (don't remember the name), Backstage Safari, Savannah tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Honestly, just pick a tour..we've never been disappointed.

 

[WDWbeat]

We've tried to do something new also the last few years but couldn't do the tours we wanted until my DS turned 16. Now we've done UnDiscovered Future World (Epcot) and will soon be doing Keys to the Kingdom (MK). Before that we had tried one of the mini-golf courses and one of our most fun "new" events was archery at FW.

 

[Pakey]

We've done almost all too and we've rented a beachcomber shack at Typhoon Lagoon the last 2 times and have enjoyed our family water park days.

How about parasailing at the Contemporary. My group loved that.

Our favorite experience was a scavenger hunt through MK arranged through Gifts of a Lifetime.

 

[spruce]

We had a dining experience on a pontoon in the 7 seas lagoon then watched the fireworks. I always wanted to do this again but on the yacht insead
.

 

[Deesknee]

To celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary we did a private dessert party held at the UK during illuminations. We had 11 people ranging in age from 8-52. Everyone very much enjoyed it.
We've also done the balloon at DTD. That was a lot less expensive. Pick a pearl in Japan, mini golf, Disney Quest, Typhoon Lagoon - shark encounter, (although the last two most dvc'ers do more regularly than us).

Like a pp said, it really depends on what your budget is and the ages of your family. I know it can be a challenge finding things special to add to an already spectacular vacation. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Kidanifan08]

One thing we really enjoyed recently was a beachcomer shack at Typhoon Lagoon. We loved having some shade, privacy and elbow room and it was nice having the locker right in the shack. The rental also included free towels, a refillable mug and bottled water in a cooler in the shack. There is a CM attendant who can bring lunch and other food or beverage orders to the shack.

It runs about $319 for a full day, which includes up to 6 guests. You can have more than 6, but they change another $25 for each additional person. The pricing high, but it was really nice not having to scramble for chairs and worry about leaving personal items alone while off using the park. We're getting one for our July trip and surprising my brother's family, who will be joining us on this trip.

 

[Brian Noble]

Here are a few of the things I have not yet done, but really want to try:

A couple hours of water skiing/rafting with Sammy Duvall (summer)
Archery lessons at Fort Wilderness
The Steam Train tour at MK
The early morning fishing trip that goes into World Showcase.

 

[Simba's Mom]

If you love animals and Sanaa, have you done Lunch with the Animal Keeper, the luncheon at Sanaa resturaunt with one of the people who supervises animal keepers at AKL? I've done it twice and loved it both times. Also, I've enjoyed the Wanyama sunset safari, touring the savannas at both Kidani and Jambo. That includes dinner at Jiko, and is kind of expensive at $190, but really nice. Unlike the sunrise safari, you don't have to be concierge, but I think, unlike the luncheon, you do have to be staying at AKV.

 

[zavandor]

One day in Discovery Cove and swim with the dolphins.
It's not in WDW but it's wonderful.

 

[DeeCee735]

Archery Lessons at Fort Wilderness? Awesome! How do I get info on this?
Thanks,

 

[Brian Noble]

Archery details:
http://wdwpionears.com/website/archery-lessons.aspx

As I think about it, archery has fallen down the list a little; my son did a week of target sports at his summer camp last year, and we bought him a recurve bow, target, etc. for the holidays this year.

One more thing came to mind: Dine with an Imagineer. I'm waiting for my kids to be a little older for that one.

 

[WDWbeat]

Archery Lessons at Fort Wilderness? Awesome! How do I get info on this?
Thanks,

From allears.net

Archery Experience: Whether novice or expert marksman, an archery guide at the Bike Barn offers training and tips on how to hit the bulls-eye with a Compound Bow. Open to resort guests and non-guests alike, ages 6 and up, the 90-minute experience costs $25 (plus tax) per person, includes equipment and instruction and can be booked up to 90 days in advance by calling 407/939-7529. Credit card information is due at the time of booking. Walk ups are accepted. Offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons from 2:45 - 4:15pm; the class has a maximum number of 10 people.

It is lots of fun!

 

[DeeCee735]

From allears.net

Archery Experience: Whether novice or expert marksman, an archery guide at the Bike Barn offers training and tips on how to hit the bulls-eye with a Compound Bow. Open to resort guests and non-guests alike, ages 6 and up, the 90-minute experience costs $25 (plus tax) per person, includes equipment and instruction and can be booked up to 90 days in advance by calling 407/939-7529. Credit card information is due at the time of booking. Walk ups are accepted. Offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons from 2:45 - 4:15pm; the class has a maximum number of 10 people.

It is lots of fun!

Thank you. I just watched the video on the link posted by OP. My only concern is that we are two adults, just a friend and myself. I'd feel a little funny that it's mostly kids....