Disney on a Budget

[Dimples1973ca]

This has probably been asked before but what are some cheap and or free things we can do at the Disney Resorts that don't require park admission.

We are booked Aug 20-27 POR. We are having trouble finding decent flights for Saturday to Saturday. I called Disney to see if we can get in early under the Free Dining code. Unfortunately she said no. I was mulling over coming in early and taking advantage of a night or two at a Deluxe with the discount on now.

So if we book a room for a couple of days without park or paying the Dining plan we may be able to swing it.

Thanks

 

[GoofyFairie]

I would pick a place with an awesome pool or water area to enjoy and cool off in the heat. You could also make this the time to do the DTD area and check out Fort Wilderness. I think they have a horse barn there where you can see the horses from MK and for a fee your DD could take a pony ride. HTH.

 

[SGMCO]

Staying a POR is a Wonderful Resort--touring the grounds is beautiful.
POR is our favorite Resort and we love to take the boat ride (free) to DTD or over to POFQ (eat Beignets or swim at their pool--you can swim at POFQ pool because they are Sister Resorts).


Love DTDFun to window shop and there are sometimes free shows. Best Sandwich is found at Earl of Sandwich in DTD.

You can also tour any Disney Resort (free)--I like visiting the Deluxe resorts--we were able to stay at AKL last trip but you can take a bus (AKL bus--get off at JAMBO HOUSE--sometimes 2nd stop) over from DTD to AKL and view the Animals and the lobby is amazing--there are also several free activities there.

 

[SGMCO]

I would pick a place with an awesome pool or water area to enjoy and cool off in the heat. HTH.

PO has 2 awesome Main pools plus several quiet pools that can be used by those staying at the resort.

 

[JCMHutch]

This is a lot to do outside of the parks. Some items have a cost (bike rentals, horseback riding, carnival games, boat rentals, mini golf) but the hotels offer a lot of different things - storytimes, group activities for kids at the pools - that don't cost anything. Downtown has a show that is always entertaining (they grab audience members to participate).

A few things that don't require park admission are

• Spend time at Downtown Disney
• The Boardwalk (you can explore 3 resorts around the lagoon & play carnival games)
• Spend time exploring the Wilderness Lodge
• Spend time at Animal Kingdom Lodge
• POR has horse & carriage rides around the entire PO resort
• Hop the monorail and visit all the resorts around that lagoon. They are fun to wander around in.

 

[amyy]

We stay at Disney sometimes and don't do the parks if it is a quick trip. A lot of great ideas have been mentioned. We have only ever stayed at the moderate resorts.

I love seeing Bob Jackson at POR in the bar at night. It is a family friendly sing along/comedy show.

We also love going to the movies at DTD. Plus just people watching/wandering around DTD and the Boardwalk. The entertainment at the Boardwalk is free at night-magic acts, jugglers etc.

Have a fun trip.

 

[Bell30012]

Why not extend your park tickets by a couple of days and then pick them up early? Additional days are not expensive to add to the park tickets about $5 -$8, I think.

 

[crisi]

Hang at Dowtown Disney. (free)

Dock fish at POR. (cheap)

Tour resorts. (free)

Get a kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream (cheap)

Go to a movie at DTD (well, its a movie...cheap?)

Do the resort activities - AKL usually has good resort activities through the day. BCV has a movie on the beach at night (weather permitting).

(If its affordable, I'd be tempted to take those two days and spend them at Universal).

 

[marie1203]

Mini golf is not free but it is not too bad. We love it we go every time we are in disney.

 

[pigletto]

We had initially planned for two Universal Days at the start of our trip. So we booked a room only at a Value and will switch to POR a few days later to start our package. However our first full day is listed as a 7 on Touring Plans as it is the tail end of Presidents Day week and I have no interest in fighting crowds all day. So we will go on the Sunday (which is listed as a 2.. so it drops right off). That leaves us with a full day with no park tickets and at a Disney resort.
I asked a similar question a few days ago.
So far the plans are to swim if it's warm enough, check out the arcade, go to Downtown Disney to browse and shop, have a meal in Downtown Disney and to play Mini Golf at Winter Summerland

Why not extend your park tickets by a couple of days and then pick them up early? Additional days are not expensive to add to the park tickets about $5 -$8, I think.

I was under the impression that you can't start your park tickets until you start your package? Maybe I am wrong on that one.

 

[bigmama67]

We went to Winter Summerland when we were there and it was a blast! DS got a huge kick out of playing Mini Golf at 9:30 at night too! (He was just shy of 5).

 

[Bell30012]

You need to check on when you can pick up the park tickets. I picked mine up a day early without any trouble. I believe you can pick them up two days early. Call and ask.

 

[Dimples1973ca]

Thanks for the information.
Here is a thought. If I opt to stay at the POR for a couple of nights before the free dining promo, can I add a day or two of tickets onto the existing reservation with out having to pay alot. Can I add the quick service dining for the two days as well?

Thanks,

 

[DawnM]

Adding 2 days to a 5 day pass is cheap. I don't see why you couldn't do this. As far as quick service dining, I believe you will come out about the same if you just pay as you go for eating those two days.

Dawn

Thanks for the information.
Here is a thought. If I opt to stay at the POR for a couple of nights before the free dining promo, can I add a day or two of tickets onto the existing reservation with out having to pay alot. Can I add the quick service dining for the two days as well?

Thanks,

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Absent park admission,

There is the luau, BBQ, and hoop dee doo. They require a ticket, but not park admission.

There is hotel hopping and downtown disney to explore.

You can ride in the balloon at DTD, or you can rent a mouse boat or whatever they call those little things. You can rent it there or at any number of resorts including all the deluxe resorts. Boating on Bay lake is fun as long as you mind your safety and the safety of others (i.e. watch out for ferries and shuttle boats!)

There are 2 mini golf places: Winter/Summerland next to Blizzard Beach (but not in the water park itself) and The mickey one by the swan/dolphin that I cannot recall it's name.

You can rent a bike at Fort Wilderness.

You can rent a surry (I think that is what they are called) on the Boardwalk.

The boardwalk "comes alive at night"--with games and different activities. Some free, some not. The carnival games cost money.

There is jellyrolls I think it is called--dualing pianos. Love it!

There is the piano guy at...Port Orleans Riverside.

There is so much to do without adding tickets. It isn't all free. But it is another hidden gem of Disney. I haven't even scratched the surface, but hopefully mentioned some things not already mentioned.

ETA: Not sure of the age of your DD--but there used to be, not certain if there still is, pony rides at Fort Wilderness. My kids did this years ago. We haven't been recently, so I'm not positive they are still there. It was fairly inexpensive.

 

[Dimples1973ca]

These suggestions are great. Thanks Disers.

 

[Arkansan]

What about the (free) movies on the beach at BC/YC? If you walked the Boardwalk area for awhile, ate at Beaches and Cream (BC) or the Boardwalk Bakery or Hurricane Hanna's, then you could watch the movie on the beach. I think other resorts also have evening movies. I know that YC/BC also has an evening campfire (maybe with marshmallows or smores) right before the movie. It is right around dusk.

Have a fun trip!

 

[TNKBELL]

Hi!! Just click my link below, there is a myriad of things to do!!
Have a great time!!