Disney Activities without Park Admission

[sprmom]

Hi there, I am a Disney Veteran. I am going to Orlando next week for a conference. I wont have time to go into the Parks, but I know there is lots to do without having to pay the price of admission. Post your best ideas of how to enjoy Disney without going into the Parks.

My favourite is Fort Wilderness and dining at the Trails End. I love walking the beach there. Of course I also will hunt for Dole Whips and a Mickey Pants Sundae at the resorts. Whats Your favourite Non Park activity? Lets get a list going....happy posting!

 

[richmo]

Obviously, there's always Downtown Disney.

Mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens (across from Swan/Dolphin) is fun.

Ride the monorails...at least you can pass over Epcot.

While finding Dole Whips, presumably at the Polynesian, watch Wishes from their beach.

Not sure if they're still doing it and not sure if you have to stay there, use the night vision goggles at AKL to see the wildlife.

 

[kjs1976]

Obviously, there's always Downtown Disney.

Mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens (across from Swan/Dolphin) is fun.

Ride the monorails...at least you can pass over Epcot.

While finding Dole Whips, presumably at the Polynesian, watch Wishes from their beach.

Not sure if they're still doing it and not sure if you have to stay there, use the night vision goggles at AKL to see the wildlife.

I second all of those. So much to do at Downtown. We always go to AKL to hang out and watch the animals, even if we are doing the parks.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

Not sure if they're still doing it and not sure if you have to stay there, use the night vision goggles at AKL to see the wildlife.

I don't believe you have to stay. When we stayed there recently they never checked to see if we were really staying there to let us use them.

 

[a742246]

Here is a good site to check out for Free and Cheap stuff:

http://www.mousesavers.com/free-and-cheap-stuff-to-do-at-walt-disney-world/

 

[Marionnette]

Hidden Mickeys! I love searching for them! I have the app on my ipod touch and go hunting for them wherever we are on property.

 

[rbrainerd]

We will be there also, for the NAVC conference. We like to do all the things listed and more. We like to visit the Boardwalk and go to various resort restaurants. DTD was a mess when we were there in October. We have a condo
down there and visit every 3-4 months. The construction at DTD is moving along but there is so much. We also like the boat ride to Port Orleans from DTD. If we don't eat at DTD we go to Riverside and eat pasta in their food court area..very good

 

[danygirl]

Watch the fireworks at night! You can see them from the poly or contemporary

Can you still get a shopping pass to enter the parks ?

 

[Marionnette]

Watch the fireworks at night! You can see them from the poly or contemporary

Can you still get a shopping pass to enter the parks ?

No more shopping passes. People abused the privilege, so Disney did away with the courtesy.

 

[mhf]

Shopping and a drink at the Grand Floridian, then ride the monorail and watch the fireworks.

Watch the opening ceremony at MK.

 

[Minnesota!]

We love non-park trips. Fave is also Fort Wilderness. Hanging on the beach, the kids playing on the playground.

We also really enjoy Splitzville early in the AM - when we were there last March it was 5/hour/person, so we let the kids bowl for a few hours, we had sushi and bloody mary's....cannot wait to do that again!

We also love Winter Summerland, Fantasia Gardens, and just hanging around the Boardwalk..

 

[chalee94]

the beignets at POFQ don't compare to the real ones in n'orleans, but they are fun.

parking might be a bit of a challenge but you can shop at the boardwalk at night...maybe grab some sushi at kimonos in the swan...watch the performer (magic/juggler)

the food trucks in DTD give you a little taste of the parks without the $90+ admission fee.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/12/08/review-fantasy-fare-food-truck-brings-hand-dipped-corn-dogs-to-downtown-disney/

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/11/24/news-and-review-downtown-disneys-namaste-cafe-food-truck/

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/11/11/news-and-review-downtown-disneys-superstar-catering-food-truck/

 

[sprmom]

These are some great ideas. I love the mouse savers link. Some great ideas there. I am still hoping I can order a dole whip at the poly and get the mickey pants sundae at beaches and cream (without a Ressie). Fingers crossed.

 

[Marionnette]

These are better suited for child-free touring, although younger guests are welcome. Free resort tours:
Culinary Tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge
The Wonders of the Wilderness Lodge Tour
BoardWalk Ballyhoo Guided Tour
African-Inspired, Disney-Designed

 

[crisi]

Two things I've done for conferences - both involving food (conferences involve expense reports!)

Eat at Jiko or Boma, then go see the animals using the night vision goggles - with some timing, you can see the animals in daylight before dinner and with goggles after dinner.

Eat at Flying Fish, then stroll the Boardwalk for entertainment.


I'm not a DTD fan - I'm not a shopper.

 

[bearzabout]

We like to watch the orchestra play from the lobby at the Grand Floridian then watch the fireworks from the boat dock and stay for the Water Pageant.

We stroll through the Polynesian then walk to the Grand Floridian. Dole Whip is available at the Polynesian Lanai from noon to 9 or 11pm.

In good weather, watching the movies at the resorts is fun. Our favorite is on the beach at the Beach Club after enjoying a sundae at Beaches and Cream.

The AK lodge is always worth a visit. We have soup at Mara before viewing the animals and checking out the landscaping. They have great talks by African castmembers in the lodge during the evenings.

At Wilderness lodge, we relax in front of the fire before getting a bowl of mushroom soup from the lounge. Then we watch the geyser and ride the boats around on a slow day.

We head to Celebration for a day to enjoy the 1905 salad at the Columbia (Cuban restaurant) and sit by the water. We try to go to events like car show in town as well.

 

[Harters2WDW]

We like to watch the orchestra play from the lobby at the Grand Floridian then watch the fireworks from the boat dock and stay for the Water Pageant.

We stroll through the Polynesian then walk to the Grand Floridian. Dole Whip is available at the Polynesian Lanai from noon to 9 or 11pm.

In good weather, watching the movies at the resorts is fun. Our favorite is on the beach at the Beach Club after enjoying a sundae at Beaches and Cream.

The AK lodge is always worth a visit. We have soup at Mara before viewing the animals and checking out the landscaping. They have great talks by African castmembers in the lodge during the evenings.

At Wilderness lodge, we relax in front of the fire before getting a bowl of mushroom soup from the lounge. Then we watch the geyser and ride the boats around on a slow day.

We head to Celebration for a day to enjoy the 1905 salad at the Columbia (Cuban restaurant) and sit by the water. We try to go to events like car show in town as well.

Great question! We are staying at ASMu before our cruise just to soak it all in and not going to the parks. Keep the ideas coming!

 

[swilshire]

My son loves the drum circle they have at least one night a week at AKL. We go for it even when we aren't staying there.

Sheila