Any suggestions for something new and different to see at Disney?

[lovingthemouse]

We have been fortunate enough over the years to take a number of backstage tours, an illuminations cruise at Epcot, eat at a few great restaurants and try many new rides. I am looking for new ideas of something new and different - either an exhibit, restaurant, etc.. while we are there during President's week. Have been reading Deb Wills board for suggestions, chatted with people who have offered some great suggestions and am still looking.
For those of you who are more familiar with WDW, can you provide any suggestions to those of us veterans who are traveling there? On this trip, we have no kids or grandchildren but still enjoy the magic Disney provides to all ages. Thanks for any tips you might provide.

 

[KristaTX]

You could get Steven Barrett's book - Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets. He posts here occasionally on the boards under "Steven Barrett". We went on each of the Hidden Mickey tours he conducted at each park during Mousefest last month. It was fun and we noticed lots of details (Hidden Mickeys and otherwise) that we had never seen before. We went into places we usually overlook or even purposely skip (e.g. the Dinosaur dig area, etc.). Looking all around for the Hidden Mickeys just makes you look at everything more closely. While he was conducting the tour at the MK we even came across a family who happened to be carrying his book around looking for Hidden Mickeys. It was neat for them to meet the author of the book they were using right then and there and also for him to come across someone using his book.

 

[Donald23]

Where can you get the book?

 

[KristaTX]

Go to http://www.theotherorlando.com for info on the Hidden Mickeys book.

 

[Baloo]

How about taking a look around at the different resorts and having dinner at one of them? Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge both have Hidden Mickeys that are all over those resorts.You can get a list at the front desk.Bomas at AKL is a great place to eat!

 

[Xtine76]

One thing i'm going to do next time is check out the Gaylord Palms-it's just south of disney world right off of I-4. It is sort of like the opryland hotel in Nashville they have different glass covered atriums with different themes in each atrium. If it is anything like Opryland hotel it should be really neat.

www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordpalms

 

[CamColt]

We did 4 things that were new to us on this trip.

We resort hopped, mainly to check out the decorations but it was nice to see the resorts in general too.

We went miniature golfing to avoid the park crowds on Christmas, and the kids had a blast doing this.

We took a sleigh ride from WL. I believe those are just seasonal, but Ive also heard of carraige rides at FW or POR

And we rented a Surrey Bike at the BW.

Have you done the Hoop Dee Doo Revue? Thats always a lot of fun!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Parasailing at the Comtemporary, luau at the Ploy, water mice at many of the resorts, Lunch with an Artist at MGM, Mickey's Bar-B-Q at FW

 

[lovingthemouse]

Wow, you have offered many things we have not done before - i am writing them down and hope to try and experience some of them. We usually take our kids - not really kids anymore - or 5 yr old grandson, but this is a solo adult trip. Keep the ideas coming, please! Thanks so much for all your suggestions. Caroline

 

[mouseclick1]

How about Cirque Du Soleil or the Richard Petty Driving Experience? We did both of those on our trip last week and thought they were great! (DH actually did the driving thing, I did the video taping!)

 

[cruisnfamily]

What a great thread this is!

We're always looking for new things to try too!

On our last trip we did 3 things which were new to our family. We did the Hoop-De-Doo Revue, a MK fireworks cruise and the family Magic Tour in the MK. All three were huge hits! Our family is 2 adults and 2 kids ages 11 & 8 but we all love disney.

One thing we've never done is to check out the resort restaurants. We've never even eaten at Chef Mickeys!

Oh, another thing that we really enjoyed that was a first for us was having lunch in the castle. Great food and a great break from the heat(it was summer).

Good luck in your quest for new and exciting stuff. I'm sure you'll find plenty and I'll be anxiously reading too.

 

[ellieb]

cruisnfamily- How did you like the MK fireworks cruise. I have heard many mixed reviews on this cruise and am hesitant to book it. How far away are you. Can you hear the music. Can you see Tinkerbell. What is the fee and how long was it. I Have done the Illuminations one many times and am looking for something different.

By the way a fishing excursion is soo much fun. I thought I hated fishing until we booked one with Disney off the Yacht Club marina. The day was incredible. I caught nine fish, and my daughter 7 and husband only 3 but the fun we had. Will be doing it again, definately. Another thing we always do when we are there is we always hit Disney Quest. This is another day of fun, virtual games, free arcade, kept us busy for hours.
We also love renting those multiple passenger bikes over at Boardwalk. They are an awesome challange going up that hill let me tell you.

 

[lovingthemouse]

EllieB - we have been on the fireworks cruise, and had a wonderful time. It was on our Feb vacation 2 years ago, the air was cool but they had plenty of blankets and the warmth of the fireworks and great company on the boat made it all worthwhile. I had the good fortune of booking at 7 am exactly 3 months before we arrived - it was sheer luck but worth the wait. Our boat docked under the bridge between England and France. If you have a chance to try it, do. Caroline

Thanks for more wonderful ideas. I think so many are new because we have familt with us and do the together things so often but some of these are awesome. Never been to Hoop=de-Doo - will call and see if it is too late for ressies.

 

[Cinderella37]

You could try the afternoon tea at the GF or Victoria and Albert's if you haven't before.

 

[meeko_33785]

Resort hopping can be a lot of fun. There are really a lot of little things at each resort that are fun to see (musicians at GF, Parrot Cay at CBR, the geyser at WL, torch lighting cerimonies at the Poly, etc.) Also, the Electrical Water Pagent, if you haven't done that.

If you've never taken the Sassagoula River Cruise that goes between Port Orleans Riverside and the Marketplace, that's another great lesser-known attraction. It's so peaceful at night and very relazing.

Also, if you have never been in the Expo Hall at MK, maybe you could give that a try. It's a nice spot to sit down, watch a few cartoons, and take a few pictures (they have lots of photo opertunities in there).

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by ellieb
cruisnfamily- How did you like the MK fireworks cruise. I have heard many mixed reviews on this cruise and am hesitant to book it. How far away are you. Can you hear the music. Can you see Tinkerbell. What is the fee and how long was it. I Have done the Illuminations one many times and am looking for something different.

I thought it was good but wouldn't do it again. We booked this only because we couldn't get an illuminations cruise which was what I really, really wanted. I believe the cost was about $120 which we split with two other families from this board. The boat ride was fun and my favorite part was seeing the Electrical Water Pageant, or whatever it's called, several times during our trip. We had never seen that before and could hear music from that and enjoyed that probably more than the fireworks. In answer to your questions, you are pretty far away and you can't hear the music or see tinkerbell. It was fun, I'm glad we did it but next time it's illuminations or nothing.

 

[InstImpres]

One thought is to join a group on the bord and make a grand gathering. The AK tour is getting rave reviews. (We are doing the new Wishes cruise this way).

Take the tours at WL or AKL (the free tour was M-F at 3:30 and led by a man from South Africa)


Hear the AK storyteller around the firepit 7:30pm

Watch the flag ceremony in MK 5:20pm most nights (quick thing)


I have not done it yet but on my "next time list" is: Visit the Butterfly Garden in the back of the Arcadia House at PO-R.


Spend extra time in WS, I have found the entertainment to be incredible but really never took the time until my solo trip.

Enjoy
Sandy

 

[wld]

We enjoyed our fireworks cruise very much last year. We aren't big illumination fans but love the MK fireworks. I booked it as a suprise for Dh for his birthday and our captain was wonderful. We cruised bay lake under a sky full of stars and it was so quiet and peaceful. We cruised 7 seas lagoon as well and got up close to the wedding chapel and other things. We then parked for our own private viewing of the fireworks. We could hear the music quite clearly but we didn't see tink that I remember. It was kind of cool out so our captain, who was with the college program, had brought blankets. Our captain then cruised us around after the fireworks. She and my teen daughters had a great time chatting and we enjoyed it as well, but she never forgot her job and was professional also. She even hugged the girls as they got off the boat and I had to talk her into taking the tip. Said she didn't want it as she had a good time too!!!

If you want to get away from the crowds and noise for a hour or so and enjoy your peace and quiet with great fireworks and music I recommend it highly and would do it again. In fact that just gave me an Idea!!!

 

[lovingthemouse]

Thank you for so many great ideas!!!
We have decided to go after hidden mickeys; do some resort hopping, definitely catch the flag ceremony and try a lunch at the Wilderness Lodge!!

Dan- knowing how height phobic we are, we'll skip the parasailing . Did you really try it? Caroline

We're still game for more ideas....

 

[ncbyrne]

I've jotted down my notes from this thread. Now I'm bumping it up in hopes of more ideas.