Favorite Disney Resort Activities

[kittylady1972]

So we are heading to Orlando for Easter break and plan to spend 2 days at the Universal Resorts before checking into Saratoga Springs Resort. We do not have WDW park tickets and don't plan to purchase any after many visits in 2018 and some in 2017. My husband and 14yo son will be staying on property without use of a car, but they are well versed in Disney transport to know how to get places.

I know there are always great activities at various Disney resorts, but I would like to know some of the favorites here to give them suggestions. Since we are at SSR, I suspect they will just head over to Disney Springs and maybe do bowling, a movie, or even The Void. Also since it's Easter, I think we'll at least do a trip over to the GF to see the Easter Eggs like we did last year. They may do a fishing excursion (which they have done a few times before) or rent speedboats (also done before). I'm looking for maybe some resort-specific things that we all might enjoy such as tours, etc.

Thanks!

 

[DWillowBay]

Wilderness Lodge used to do a tour of their lobby / facility. I don't know if they still do, but it's worth looking into. It was very interesting.

 

[Belleandtinker]

AKL - has a wonderful unique list of activities (night vision animal viewing, tours, etc) Our family spends one evening at AKL each visit because its beautiful, we love the restaurants and lots to do. When my son was young, he'd play on the play ground and put his toes in the pool.

Regular resort activities that our are favorites - smores (I can stop by that place every night), tie dye shirts and movie night (I don't think my son has seen a whole movie completely through but still likes to go).

I would love to try the painting nights. There is so much to do and seriously not enough time. Every trip we say we are going to relax more and stay at the resort - NOPE.

 

[Hoosier John]

We haven't done most of these, but some other options might be:

Miniature Golf (outside Typhoon Lagoon or Swan & Dolphin)
Celebrity Hall (outside All-Star Sports - Not sure what this is, maybe some one can help us out here)
Boardwalk Buskers (~6:30-10:30 nightly along Boardwalk, indoors during weather)
Culinary Tour at Boma/Jiko
Electrical Water Pageant (nightly from Poly toward Ft Wilderness)
Afternoon Tea (noon to 4pm, Grand Floridian)
Hidden Mickey's Hunt (Wilderness Lodge front desk)
Carriage Ride (Ft Wilderness and Port Orleans Riverside)
Horseback Riding (Ft Wilderness)
Archery Lessons (Ft Wilderness)
Yee Haa Bob sing-along piano entertainer (Port Orleans Riverside)
Fireworks viewing from chartered pontoon boat (MK or EPCOT)

 

[DisHmsklMom]

Last time we stayed at SSR we really enjoyed renting bikes and biking around the entire resort, the weather was perfect, I wouldn't recommend biking if it is hot.

 

[kittylady1972]

Wilderness Lodge used to do a tour of their lobby / facility. I don't know if they still do, but it's worth looking into. It was very interesting.

I think this is one we may try to look into for sure, since it's new to us and I love the WL Resort.

AKL - has a wonderful unique list of activities (night vision animal viewing, tours, etc) Our family spends one evening at AKL each visit because its beautiful, we love the restaurants and lots to do. When my son was young, he'd play on the play ground and put his toes in the pool.

Regular resort activities that our are favorites - smores (I can stop by that place every night), tie dye shirts and movie night (I don't think my son has seen a whole movie completely through but still likes to go).

I would love to try the painting nights. There is so much to do and seriously not enough time. Every trip we say we are going to relax more and stay at the resort - NOPE.

We have had several stays at AKL and we have done the night vision animal viewing and bonfire thre. I agree it's a lovely resort. We've done s'mores at Bay Lake Tower and we have dropped in on movie nights at Beach Club before, but I would love to try the tie dye shirts sometime. Painting nights sound fabulous also. I agree...we also never have the time to do the activities but I'm hoping this time, with no parks to visit, it will be easier.

We haven't done most of these, but some other options might be:

Miniature Golf (outside Typhoon Lagoon or Swan & Dolphin)
Celebrity Hall (outside All-Star Sports - Not sure what this is, maybe some one can help us out here)
Boardwalk Buskers (~6:30-10:30 nightly along Boardwalk, indoors during weather)
Culinary Tour at Boma/Jiko
Electrical Water Pageant (nightly from Poly toward Ft Wilderness)
Afternoon Tea (noon to 4pm, Grand Floridian)
Hidden Mickey's Hunt (Wilderness Lodge front desk)
Carriage Ride (Ft Wilderness and Port Orleans Riverside)
Horseback Riding (Ft Wilderness)
Archery Lessons (Ft Wilderness)
Yee Haa Bob sing-along piano entertainer (Port Orleans Riverside)
Fireworks viewing from chartered pontoon boat (MK or EPCOT)

GREAT list...we've done the mini-golf but that's definitely on the list of possibilities. We've strolled Boardwalk at night but it's been years...so this is also on the list. Culinary tour sounds great. We've seen the Water Pageant a few times...LOVE it! Never done Afternoon Tea or the Hidden Mickey Hunt...that's on the list as is the carriage ride maybe. We have see Yee Ha Bob...but my family wasn't into that sadly. We've done an Illuminations Cruise but I'm tempted to book a different cruise, but probably too late since it is Easter weekend. We may just hang out on the beach near the Poly and view them there instead.

Last time we stayed at SSR we really enjoyed renting bikes and biking around the entire resort, the weather was perfect, I wouldn't recommend biking if it is hot.

It's been a long time since we rented the bikes too, might be worth a revisit. As DVC members we are allowed to do some pool hopping so that does open up some possibilities if the weather permits for us too and it's too hot for biking.

 

[cruisin5]

Visit the Community Room at SSR early in your trip to paint pottery, it takes about 48 hours for the piece to be complete. There will be other arts and crafts available too, some for a nominal fee.

 

[2hapykdz]

So we are heading to Orlando for Easter break and plan to spend 2 days at the Universal Resorts before checking into Saratoga Springs Resort. We do not have WDW park tickets and don't plan to purchase any after many visits in 2018 and some in 2017. My husband and 14yo son will be staying on property without use of a car, but they are well versed in Disney transport to know how to get places.

I know there are always great activities at various Disney resorts, but I would like to know some of the favorites here to give them suggestions. Since we are at SSR, I suspect they will just head over to Disney Springs and maybe do bowling, a movie, or even The Void. Also since it's Easter, I think we'll at least do a trip over to the GF to see the Easter Eggs like we did last year. They may do a fishing excursion (which they have done a few times before) or rent speedboats (also done before). I'm looking for maybe some resort-specific things that we all might enjoy such as tours, etc.

Thanks!

Try and catch Yehaa Bob at POR ....depends on the night youre in??

 

[kittylady1972]

Visit the Community Room at SSR early in your trip to paint pottery, it takes about 48 hours for the piece to be complete. There will be other arts and crafts available too, some for a nominal fee.

Ah...awesome! We'll try to look into this one thanks!

 

[cruisin5]

You can do a spa treatment at SSR while they go fishing. The Void is great, we did it twice last month!

 

[Pmlocke]

My wife and I travel down every year in February. We live in Michigan so the weather is usually 60-80 degrees warmer at WDW. Our favorite resort activity is laying poolside every day between 2 and 5. It feels so good to feel that sun warming up our bodies while working on our tan to bring home and make everyone jealous. We also enjoy this activity because they have the staff offering games for the kids at the pool. Music is playing, children are having fun, I'm getting a tan. What in this world can top that?