Favorite non-park Disney experience?

[Jajone]

We are planning a trip in July to do Discovery Cove, Seaworld, and maybe Busch Gardens. I am a huge disney fanatic and can not go all the way there and not do something Disney. I am looking for inexpensive activities fun for the kids that are not in the parks as we won't be buying Disney tickets. Already considering: mini golf, Ft Wilderness sing along campfire, shopping at DTD, ESPN club, and maybe a character meal. The meal is more than we want to spend, but considering it. Just FYI, we have a November trip planned for our Disney fix. I wouldn't give that up all together. My kids have been fortunate to go many times already, so missing things is not a big deal. So, what is your favorite budget non-park activity?

 

[pantherlj]

We are planning a trip in July to do Discovery Cove, Seaworld, and maybe Busch Gardens. I am a huge disney fanatic and can not go all the way there and not do something Disney. I am looking for inexpensive activities fun for the kids that are not in the parks as we won't be buying Disney tickets. Already considering: mini golf, Ft Wilderness sing along campfire, shopping at DTD, ESPN club, and maybe a character meal. The meal is more than we want to spend, but considering it. Just FYI, we have a November trip planned for our Disney fix. I wouldn't give that up all together. My kids have been fortunate to go many times already, so missing things is not a big deal. So, what is your favorite budget non-park activity?

We did that last time (no disney tickets). We had a great night at the boardwalk one evening - lots of street shows (magician, juggler) and you can see fireworks from there. Another morning we had breakfast at the Poly with Lilo and Stitch and then went around on the monorail and walked around at Contemporary and Grand Floridian.

 

[AlaskaMOM]

Citrus picking!
We have only done this the last couple of times we've gone to Florida, but we love it and will probably make it a must do every time. Especially the 1st or 2nd day, so you have all that yummy, fresh fruit to snack on.

Here's a link to the place we've gone

http://www.showcaseofcitrus.com/

 

[Dizneydaz]

We are planning a trip in July to do Discovery Cove, Seaworld, and maybe Busch Gardens. I am a huge disney fanatic and can not go all the way there and not do something Disney. I am looking for inexpensive activities fun for the kids that are not in the parks as we won't be buying Disney tickets. Already considering: mini golf, Ft Wilderness sing along campfire, shopping at DTD, ESPN club, and maybe a character meal. The meal is more than we want to spend, but considering it. Just FYI, we have a November trip planned for our Disney fix. I wouldn't give that up all together. My kids have been fortunate to go many times already, so missing things is not a big deal. So, what is your favorite budget non-park activity?

What are your kid's ages?

 

[Jajone]

Dd11, ds9, ds5

 

[fortwildernessishome]

We love Fort Wilderness, so would certainly spend a day there. We also love to spend part of a day riding the monorail around the loop and visiting the three resorts. We enjoy going to the Polynesian at night to watch the fireworks on the beach. Browsing the shops and pin trading at Downtown Disney/Marketplace. We always spend a night at the Boardwalk watching the shows. Lots to do for sure!!!

 

[dmank]

On non park days we like to rent a bike or sea racer and like the movies at night. Akl has a nice camp story Bon fire and then you can see the animals using night googles. Sea dos from wl or poly would be my favorite though. Followed by hanging on the beach for a bit.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

We don't live terribly far from Busch Gardens Williamsburg so our children have been there quite a few times. They always have a great time. Sea World was fabulous as well. My children really enjoyed the shows and the exhibits.

 

[auralia]

I enjoy the camp fire/movie with chip and dale at fort wilderness and then watching the fire works over magic kingdom at the beach after if the times line up.

 

[williamson_ja]

Our favorite is watching the fireworks on the beach at the Poly. We watched the fireworks twice on our last trip. Once on the beach at the Poly and once on Main street. We far preferred watching them on the beach! No crowds, comfy chairs, relaxing.... ahh it was one of our favorite things now!

 

[tobs2]

we stayed at old key west my family and my sister we had a pool day and night it was great we grilled lunch and dinner. It was my best non park day

 

[FINFAN]

Mouseboats...but not really budget. My DS could drive one all day long.

 

[truedisneyfan]

Does anyone know if you have to be a Disney guest to attend the Ft Wilderness sing along campfire with Chip and Dale?

We like going to Downtown Disney and ride the monorail to the different resorts.

 

[MNTwinsMom]

We love Fort Wilderness, so would certainly spend a day there. We also love to spend part of a day riding the monorail around the loop and visiting the three resorts. We enjoy going to the Polynesian at night to watch the fireworks on the beach. Browsing the shops and pin trading at Downtown Disney/Marketplace. We always spend a night at the Boardwalk watching the shows. Lots to do for sure!!!

Another fun activity (although a little spendy for 5 people) at Fort Wilderness is to rent bikes and ride around Ft. Wilderness and take the trail to Wilderness Lodge. We love the boat ride from Ft. Wilderness to the Contemporary (you go over the water bridge and see the old River Country and Discovery Island) . . . then you can hop on the monorail for a tour of the GF and Poly.

And you can't beat Wishes from the beach at the Poly! If it's a Christmas Party night when you are there you get to see the Holiday Wishes show which has incredible perimeter fireworks that look great from across the lagoon. (Grab a Dole Whip from Captain Cook's before you head to the beach and it's the perfect way to end your day) And don't forget about the Water Pageant on the lagoon. So much to see without ever setting foot in a park.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

In January we made a trip to Orlando to see Universal (mainly Harry Potter area). We ended up getting snowed in 3 extra days due to snowstorms in the Midwest. We used one of our extra days to go over to DTD which we've never visited in all our trips! We ate lunch at T-Rex and checked out the shops. Next we headed over to the Polynesian and did the resort monorail loop and the Epcot monorail loop and then ended our evening at Winter Summerland minigolf. We've played there many times and it is always a favorite. Even though we didn't set foot in the parks we got our Disney fix! Kids were 11, 8 & 5 so similar in age to yours.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Don't you have to be a resort guest to watch the fireworks at the Poly? Do you just tell them at the gate you are going to eat at the Poly and eat there/stay for fireworks?

We have eaten there before (not a resort guest) and were given a 3 hour parking pass but never late enough to see the fireworks.

 

[Jajone]

Great ideas, bumping to hopefully get more.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Yes, the Campfire and Disney Transportation are all perks of being a Disney guest.

However, what I would do (if I was going to Poly) would be to pay to park at the TTC and monorail it over to Poly. Then you could be parked there all day. You could ride around on the monorail, boats, etc. to your hearts content. We've found that Poly is one of the harder resort parking lots to park at. I would say about 1/2 the time we have gone there, they have asked us to pull away slowly so they could note our lic. plate #. And many times they will consult their list of ADRs to see if you are on there. I think they have to do this because people will park at Poly and then ride Monorail to MK.

Last time we were there, in Sept, we ate at Capt. Cooks and then watched the FW from the beach. We weren't given any problems when I told the guard we were eating at Capt. Cooks. All times we have been there we have been a guest at one of the resorts and had our parking paper on the dashboard. If you don't have one you may find it more difficult to get in.

There are pony rides at FW too that your younger one may enjoy. You will walk next to them as they make the (small) loop, twice, as I remember it. There are a few animals there as well to pet. Outside of the Ranch there is a playground that my DD (then about 5) enjoyed as much, or more, than the pony ride.

 

[Jex]

Not Disney related, but outside of Disney World, Gatorland is great.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Don't you have to be a resort guest to watch the fireworks at the Poly? Do you just tell them at the gate you are going to eat at the Poly and eat there/stay for fireworks?

We have eaten there before (not a resort guest) and were given a 3 hour parking pass but never late enough to see the fireworks.

Unless this is a new rule in the past few months, anyone can go to the Poly for any reason. Its not a private or member exclusive resort. We most always stay on property so have a Disney parking pass from our resort on our dash. However, one trip we stayed outside at a resort. During that time we visited the Contemporary, POFQ, Coronado, AKL, Wilderness Lodge, The Boardwalk and the Poly. I had absolutely NO problem parking at any of those resorts. In fact I was welcomed at all of them. The only reason I gave for being there was to look around and check things out. I know during busy times they will give a 3-hour parking pass. But I have had that happen when I was a resort guest and was going to another resort for a dinner reservation. So, like I said, unless there is some new rule about the Poly beach being private, you should have no problem driving there to watch the fireworks.