Down Day Activities

[ama_george]

I'm sure this is a regular topic on here but I am curious about your favorite "day off" activities? We are taking one day to not be in the parks. We will be staying at AoA during mid-March. We will have adult time arbitration Disney Springs that night but some day activities for all ages would be great! We were thinking of water park time or exploring the Boardwalk but we are open to anything!

 

[kmb584]

I'm sure this is a regular topic on here but I am curious about your favorite "day off" activities? We are taking one day to not be in the parks. We will be staying at AoA during mid-March. We will have adult time arbitration Disney Springs that night but some day activities for all ages would be great! We were thinking of water park time or exploring the Boardwalk but we are open to anything!

We always like to visit the monorail resorts (we stay at BLT so it's an easy trip for us) and my daughter's favorite activity is visiting the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Fort Wilderness.

 

[glassslippergirl]

Rent a golf cart or surrey bike at Ft. Wilderness
Rent a boat at Contemporary, Beach Club, Ft. Wilderness and explore the waters: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/motorized-boats/
Explore WDW transportation-- ride a monorail, boat, bus, tram, etc. all in one day
Visit the Boardwalk
Dive into the Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream
If you have kids, visit the Lego Store at Disney Springs
Visit AKL and see the animals
Try some new food like poutine from Daily Poutine or bread service at Sanaa

 

[Sophie_2003]

Visit the grand floridian
See a movie at Disney springs
Play a round of mini golf
Visit AKL
Walk the boardwalk between the swan/dolphin and Epcot

 

[DisneyCAL]

You can explore Boardwalk then walk over to the Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

You can explore Boardwalk then walk over to the Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf.

I didn't realize that the mini golf was that close to the Boardwalk area. How long is the walk?

Also, for away-from-the-park days, go to Wilderness Lodge and explore. The lobby is beautiful and you could combine a fun breakfast or lunch at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. Then take the boat over to Ft. Wilderness and check out the horses, or you could play volleyball on the beach area. I think they may also have archery at Ft. Wilderness. You could head over to Pop Century and explore. They used to do The Hustle every day at set times - you could time your visit so you can join in!

 

[anniemae]

oh I would love to go to WL and just explore. Like the pp said, a lunch at Whispering Canyon would be so fun! I also like the idea of taking the boat to Ft. Wilderness. Have never explored this area, may have to do this next trip.

I would also think about AKL. I have never been here either, but have heard it is worth a visit. The restaurants are supposed to be wonderful. I wonder if you can see the animals.

 

[DisneyCAL]

I didn't realize that the mini golf was that close to the Boardwalk area. How long is the walk?

Also, for away-from-the-park days, go to Wilderness Lodge and explore. The lobby is beautiful and you could combine a fun breakfast or lunch at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. Then take the boat over to Ft. Wilderness and check out the horses, or you could play volleyball on the beach area. I think they may also have archery at Ft. Wilderness. You could head over to Pop Century and explore. They used to do The Hustle every day at set times - you could time your visit so you can join in!

There's a cross walk that goes to the mini golf place from a path on the far side of the Swan hotel by the pool. I would say 15min walk maybe depending on pace.

 

[Allie B]

You can rent a family bike at AoA and ride around the resort plus go across the bridge to Pop taking pics with all the awesome statues.

 

[Accident]

Things I like to do are more centered around a disney break not just a park break. Some family time a different way. Most suggestions you can get to with under $25 uber/lyft round trip when it's not on property depending on the size of car you need (larger is more and maybe renting for a day is better in that case to save money)

- Sleeping in and not trying to keep a schedule
- Bowling at splitsville
- Movie at amc
- Seeing something central florida and leaving property (and getting a wallet rest with lower cost and better tasting food). I wish I did this a lot more as we were the disney property only family for any vacation trip to florida and now that we live here, we're kicking ourselves for not venturing out a lot more when we did come down.
- Checking out one of the smaller amusements parks (or maybe gator land for some ziplining)
- Seeing a performance at dr phillips performing art center (check out their calendar, very diverse list of options. it's a hidden gem that's right next door).
- check out ft wilderness, another often overlooked gem of WDW.
- renting boat(s) and enjoying the lakes, especially around bay/seven seas lagoon.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We like to do a big breakfast on our down day and then spend time at Disney Springs.

 

[raytheyounger]

Since you are at AoA, you could also take part in the drawings class that is offered there.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The water parks are fun, but I don't know if I would consider it a down day as you really need to get there early before lines build up and you will still be walking a lot. We prefer Blizzard Beach because we like to play mini-golf at WinterSummerland when we are done with the park.

There is not much going on at the Boardwalk during the day. If you really want to see the Boardwalk in action with entertainment and carnival games you would need to go in the evening.

A monorail tour is fun! You could bus to MK and monorail around the resorts, get some lunch and maybe a dole whip at Poly?

We really enjoy Ft. W. Trail's End lunch is good for lunch and there is a playground and the horse stables right next door. If your kids meet the height requirement, they can ride a pony.

 

[Rivergirl2005]

We love the drawing classes at AOA! We stayed at CBR but traveled to AoA just to take the classes twice!!! And they are free!!!

 

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

We like to make our off days a resort day / Disney Springs day . Love to just hang by the pool and relax and then head to dinner at the springs !

 

[cgattis]

You could possibly catch a Braves spring training game at ESPN Wide World of Sports. You can check the schedule on the WWoS website. You can sit in the grass for cheaper seats and if you want to wait until day-of to decide (although some regular seats could be available day-of also, depending on who's playing).

 

[baildrk]

We attempt to get away totally from our accommodations if we are taking a break from what we are doing for our vacations
I've only been to Disney once but my wife has been several times, and since the trip we are taking this year is a split between Disney and Universal we are hitting Disney everyday that we are there and taking a few break days when we are at Universal.
We usually have a rental vehicle(when we go on any vacations) as we like to roam and not be tied down to one place,
but we hit shops or shopping centers
My parents are coming with us and my Dad wants to go to Kennedy Space Center as he said that was fantastic the last time they went to Florida
Last time we went we went to Cocoa Beach went to the Ron Jon shop there was pretty cool(from MN its currently below zero so anything warm and beach like is fun to look at)
Golf but only because it drives my wife nuts and I love golf

 

[Meriweather]

We always have 3 free days.
We usually go to Disney Springs for shopping and a movie and dinner
Sometimes have a leisurely breakfast somewhere......yesterday it was at The Wave.
One day this trip we are going back into a park for a tour, but that is it. Then leaving and going to DS.

During the holidays we do like to tour the resorts to look at their decorations.
Bowling, mini golf are good.

 

[aretha30]

Character breakfast at a monorail resort and then exploring for the rest of the day. This year we plan on hitting Ft. Wilderness for the Ranch. We also love the water parks, mini golf, and Disney Springs.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'm sure this is a regular topic on here but I am curious about your favorite "day off" activities? We are taking one day to not be in the parks. We will be staying at AoA during mid-March. We will have adult time arbitration Disney Springs that night but some day activities for all ages would be great! We were thinking of water park time or exploring the Boardwalk but we are open to anything!

-Monorail tour (eat/drink and tour each monorail resort and watch wishes from someone out of MK)
-Chip and Dale's Campfire (Ft Wildnerness)
-Swimming at the resort
-Disney Springs (movie or splitsville)
-If i plan any "nice" resort dinners we do so on a non park day so we can get dressed up and don't have to worry about rushing from the park back to our room to shower/change then head back out for dinner.