Any experience doing things onsite when staying offsite?

[Camno's Mama]

I am reading this book, Disney on a Dime, and there are suggestions for things that you can do inexpensively or for free onsite. It seems that you can go the the Wilderness Campgrounds and check out their petting zoo and hike the trails and stuff. Is that true? Has anyone ever done that? Sounds cool, but I guess I'm a little surprised that they'd let you hang out there for free when you're not staying at the resort.

Any other little gems like this that people can suggest?

 

[kimbac3]

You can visit any of the hotels even if you are staying off site. The campground has campfires and an outside movie too. The movie schedule is usually posted a week or so in advance on the Camping board.

Animal Kingdom lodge has many activities and you can view the animals.

Alot of these places have WONDERFUL restaurants you might want to try too!

Have Fun!

Kimba

 

[MomofKatie]

About the only thing you CAN'T do at the WDW resort hotels, if you aren't staying there, is use the swimming pools or hot tubs. Just about everything else- dining, shopping, boat and bike rental, classes, paid kids' activities, kids' clubs for child care, etc- are available to all.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Yes....we love going to the WL at night. We go out and sit on the chairs on the little beach area and watch the Electric Water Pagent---which I believe passes by the WL around 9:35 pm.

One time I got involved in a thread about something similar. Watching the MK firewors and EWP from the Poly. I had a few die-hard Poly fans really get angry that I would do such a thing. But fact remains, whether they like it or not, it is allowed. When we stop by the guard gate, we just tell them we're there to shop and grab a bite to eat. They will usually give you a 3 hour parking pass.

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ewp.htm

 

[ginnymac]

We did the petting zoo last time we were there...it's cute, not too big and if I remember correctly there were pony rides for a small fee. It was a nice, quiet break from the parks!

 

[spiceycat]

AKL and WL have tours that are free too.

I think the only thing that is for resort guest only is the garden tours - at BC/Yc.

 

[englishteacha]

I'd forgotten about the zoo at Fort Wilderness! A goat there tried to eat my shorts when I was 9!! The movie was lots of fun, too. I'm so glad they still do them.

I've never walked around the hotels/resorts before. Can you really see the MK fireworks from the Polynesian? We're always too busy to stake out "good" seats for Wishes, and end up seeing them from a really obstructed spot. I'd love to be able to see them well from somewhere outside of the MK on a "non-park" day.

 

[disneysteve]

Yes, you can do pretty much anything onsite that Disney guests can do (except as a couple of others have noted). We stay offsite but visit the onsite resorts regularly, have meals there (we love Beaches and Cream), browse the shops, watch fireworks from the Contemporary, rent boats at the Polynesian, feed the ducks at the Yacht and Beach Club, etc. You can enjoy all of the amenities of the expensive onsite resorts and then go back to your cheap offsite place when you're done.