Besides the Parks ??

[Wags]

DW, DS (13 1/2) and I will be at WDW, Beach Club Villas during the last week of June. This will culminate a 7 day cruise, so I don't plan on being at MK, AK, EP, and MGM for long periods of time. Since we have been to WDW a few times in the past, never duirng Peak Season, I would like to get some suggestions of other "fun" things to do, since I don't want to contend with large crowds all day long.

I plan on Mini golf, TL or BB, Disney Quest, Pleasure Island, golf, but do you have other suggestions. Maybe something off the beaten path so to speak.

I thought maybe lunch at AKL to see the animals. Any suggested dining options there?

I guess I'm just looking for suggestions for other things to do, besides the theme parks all day. Don't get me wrong, we plan on fitting those in, but most likely just for the "major attractions" and late afternoon or evening

I'd appreciate your suggestions. Like I said, I'd like to build a list so we have some options.

Thanks.

 

[Luv4Disney]

We like having breakfast at Chef Mickey's and then renting the mouse boats from the Contemporary. It's awesome zipping around in the 7 seas lagoon.

 

[cindy_k]

Beach Club has a great pool that is almost a mini water park. It has a lazy river, a big slide, a whirl pool section, and a Sand bottom.

Renting the Water Sprites is fun. You can rent them at the Yacht Club, but you can't go as fast around that lake. Its more fun to go to Contemporary or Wilderness Lodge and rent them there. The Seven Seas Lagoon is much bigger.

For the evening there is a Campfire/Marshmellow Roast and Movie every night at the Fort Wilderness Campground. (bring the bug repellant.) I did this with my 11 year old last year and had a blast. The movie changes, usually there is a schedule on the top of the Camping board. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24
The movie we saw was Snowball Express. He had never seen it of course, for me it brought back fond childhood memories.

Its in EPCOT but Innovations isn't that crowded these days and its a lot of fun for kids. They have a section with Playstation 2's set up with Video games on them for the kids to play (there is even a bench for mom and dad to sit on at one end. ) Plus they have a lot of other tech stuff on display.
My son eats this place up, and it is usually over looked by people running off to ride the rides.

Another Evening activity is to go to Poly, Contemporary, or Wilderness Lodge, eat dinner at one of these hotels, and then go down to the beach and watch the Electric Water Pagent http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ewp.htm that sails passed them on the water each night.
From Poly you can also see the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom.

Eat Dinner on the Boardwalk (across the lake from the beach club) and then stroll along the boardwalk after dinner playing the games of changes and watching the entertainers. http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/brdwlk.htm

Hope this helps,
Cindy in NY

 

[Wags]

Bump. Thanks for the suggestions so far, hoping to get some more.

 

[pixiedust23]

I agree with the pool. you can leave at least an entire day just to hang out at the pool. Also why not try resort hopping...

 

[GEM]

We like taking an afternoon at Fort Wilderness to have lunch at Trail's End, see the petting zoo, visit the WDW horses at the stable, walk the swamp trail, etc. It's just a boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom, so it's easy to get there.

We also love spending an evening at the Boardwalk. They have lots of neat shops plus strolling entertainers, face painting, etc. We usually have dinner at Spoodles, spend some time strolling the boardwalk, and then walk over to Fantasia Gardens for some minigolf.

We like going over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and visiting the animals and touring the resort, then having dinner at Boma, and staying for the African storytelling around the firepit.

Also, don't forget just shopping at Downtown Disney!

Definately rent Water Mice from GF, Poly, Contemporary, or WL and explore Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. This is so much fun!

I'm sure there are lots more. I'll keep thinking!

 

[mjmcca]

Sometimes during the summer DTD has events at night. I think last summer they had a DJ at the dockside stage some nights. It isnt publicized so ask at the resort when you check in.

 

[LisaS]

My DH and I like going for a surrey bike ride. You can rent surrey bikes on the boardwalk and peddle around the lake. We actually rented one at Wilderness Lodge -- peddled over to the Fort Wilderness petting zoo, took a quick look at the animals and peddled back to Wilderness Lodge. It was great fun! We plan to rent one on the boardwalk on our next trip.

 

[mrscoobs]

We like to go around on the resort monorail loop and checkout the interior of the polynesian and possibly have a meal at Ohana, browse around the GF and sit in the lobby to listen to the band or have afternoon tea in the Garden View lounge, and at the contemp (usually our accomodations) enjoy eating at the Cali Grill (it is expensive, but the atmosphere is so wonderful, and the view of the fireworks while eating a delicous meal is to die for) as well as renting the water mice from the marina and going around both bay lake and the seven seas lagoon (love the little waterbridge thing). We also take the launch from the Contemp. marina to the wilderness lodge to watch the geyser erupt on the hour and half hour and rent a surrey to bike over to FW (as previously mentioned). The lobby of WL is so beautiful as well, just to sit and look at the fireplace that has the entire geologic history of the grand canyon is amazing (well...if your a geologist like myself )

Also the kids love just riding around the monorail with us (we find it pretty easy to get in the front cab when we ask on the contemporary platform), as well as any boat that goes anywhere

Hope this gives you some ideas