Cheap Non-Park Day?

[Minnies Boy Toy]

My suggestion is to park at the Polynesian (tell the guy at the gate that you are visiting the Tambo Lounge - and just make sure you buy at least one drink so you are not fibbing. - and then go monorail hopping to the different resorts. Riding the monorails is free. Riding them and walking around exploring the themed resorts is a treat in itself - especially the main hall in the Grand Floridian, or checking out the rooftop area at the Contemporary; I'd recommend being at the Grand Floridian when the MK fireworks start - you can walk down to the 7 seas lagoon and get a great view of the fireworks without having to be in the park....

 

[gilesmt]

Disney things that I like to do on non park days that I think are cheap, fishing at POR. I would go to DtD and ride the boat up to POR and for $12 you get 6 poles for fishing my granddaughter loves it. Then as mentioned mini golf that $12 a person. Or back at POR you can rent a surrey bike, you would need two. I think that is under $20. You could make it a day between DtD and POR because at night you could stay and watch the free Disney movie on the grass near the mansion.

Over at wilderness you have pony rides, I think $3 to $5. And I like to eat over there. I think they have a petting barn still for free, double check because it has been years for me.

I know the poly has free movies at night also and you can watch wishes from the sand and the water electric parade, do they still have that, I think so.

 

[nichanda]

Another vote for Downtown Disney. Free admission. So much to do. DTD is one of my favorite Disney attractions. Just walking around is nice. Watching a movie in the AMC, renting a boat and cruising around on the lake is so fun! Always something to see, and lots of choices for dining/shopping. Lots of places to sit and relax, eat a pretzel or an ice cream. I love it.

 

[lodgelady]

Great post! We love the parks, but have been enough to want to slow down and see other things too.

 

[wolf29]

Groupon has been fabulous for us. In the past, or upcoming this August, we have done the Dade City Giraffe Ranch (SUPER COOL!), Safari Wilderness Ranch (upcoming), Airboat rides, Showcase of Citrus, Mini Golf, Gatorland. Register at Groupon and list Orlando as a favorite location and you will find lots of things.

 

[leebee]

Have a Disney Transport Day! Here's what we did, but you can tailor this at several different points according to how much fun everyone is having!

Park at DTD, and take a Disney bus to any resort hotel. Swap to a bus to Epcot. Once at Epcot, hop the monorail to the TTC. At the TTC, swap from monorail to the ferry boat to MK. At MK, get on the boat to WL. Visit the Lodge, then take the boat back to MK. Hop on a bus to DHS, then take a Friendship for a cruise around the waterway between DHS and Epcot. Once back at DHS, take the bus to POFQ or OKW, and then take the boat back to DTD.

You can stop almost anywhere along the way and get a CS lunch, snack, whatever. There are different orders to do this, too. Just remember that there isn't a bus from DTD to the theme parks; DTD busses only go to hotels. Also, when at resorts, we didn't just swap modes of transportation; we took the time to look around the resort, maybe get something to drink, etc. When on a Friendship, you can get off at the Boardwalk and check that out, too. Unless you buy something to eat or go shopping, this is all entirely FREE!

Nighttime is also a Disney freebie. Go to a monorail resort and tell the parking guy that you are there to see the Electric Water Pageant. Check online to see what the MK fireworks times and EWP times are, but from all three monorail resorts, you should be able to see both the fireworks and the pageant- just coordinate the times. If you are at the CR, go up to the 5th(?) floor and go outside onto the deck and watch the fireworks from there... amazing!!

Totally non-Disney, go to Cocoa Beach for the day. It's about an hour and 20 mins east of Orlando, GREAT beach, decent Boardwalk, etc. Not entirely free as you will have to pay for gas, tolls, maybe parking and whatever you eat, games on the boardwalk, etc., but DEFINITELY cheaper than a theme park ticket, much less theme park tickets for everyone!!