Favorite Non-Park things to do? What's not to miss?

[hockeyprincess]

Ok guys, help me with planning a minimal park trip for 8 nights with 2 kids. We've been to Disney several times, and will be celebrating Dad's birthday and our daughter Braxton's 5th birthday during our July trip. We are planning at least one Water Park day, and possibly one day at the parks for Braxton's birthday. Tell me what some of the best Non-Park things to do are? Anything not to miss? We will not have a rental car (at least not at this point.) We really just want to plan a relaxing, hanging by the pool vacation. But want to check out some things outside of the parks in between the relaxing and hanging by the pool!

One big question....should we pool hop? We're staying at OKW and we love their pool. Would love to check out SAB but I understand that's not allowed? What about the pool at the Boardwalk?

Thanks a million! I'm a bit out of my league here, as I'm the pro at planning park trips!!

 

[jgazda]

I'm a big fan of the fun at Fort Wilderness. They have horseback riding, carriage rides, sing-a-long with Chip and Dale by a fire pit where you can roast hot dogs and smores, and then after that they show a movie on a big screen. You can also see the water parade on bay lake from there. Lots of good stuff!

 

[MnMomW3Boys]

We love the surry bikes on the Boardwalk, and we have heard great things about watching the fireworks from the Poly on the beach, we may try that this trip too. Have you been over to Animal Kingdom Lodge?? You could spend some time over there exploring the animal trails.

Sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned.

 

[mikron]

A trip to the GayLord hotel and walk thru the 5 acer lobby, quite an experiance. Old Town is a good take for both young and old, take 192 from Disney, just a short ride.

 

[daisyduck123]

If you are DVC members staying on points, then, yes you can pool hop over to the Boardwalk pool. SAB though is a big NO NO. You may want to check out the pool at CBR. We were there in January & the refurbishment is wonderful!

Our favorite non-park things:
renting a Surrey bike
renting a boat at one of the resort marinas
mini-golf (it's ok, not our favorite)
shopping in DTD (DD & I)
Disneyquest (DH & DS)

Have a great trip! Some of our favorite days in WDW are the non-park days we spend just hanging by the pool.

 

[mickeymom629]

My advice about mini golf in the summer - wait until the sun is going down! Renting bikes is probably best in the coolest part of the day, too!

 

[hockeyprincess]

Glad I asked about the pool hopping, I didn't realize we could hop to any Resort pool (with the exception of SAB...one day we will stay at BC just so I can check out that coveted pool!) I was thinking only the DVC resort pools allowed pool hopping. Not sure where that idea came from tho! That's something I will def. check out. Thanks for the info about CBR pool!

Forgot all about the bikes, but yes the kids mentioned they wanted to do that "someday" so I will put that on my list to check out!

Loved the rest of the ideas as well, I didnt' know about most of them, ie. AKL and animal trails, they will love that. We love AK it's probably our favorite park actually.

Is the Chip n Dale singalong every night at Ft Wilderness? That's right up their alley too, so to speak.

Any other ideas? I'm making a list! Thanks again.

 

[iluveeyore]

We love touring the other resorts, and you can check out their pools while there as well. We've used the pools at all the DVC resorts, and OKW is our favourite since they added the sand castle slide, so we don't even bother pool hopping.
The Fort Wilderness movie nights are fun - you can get a schedule if you visit that resort. There were also movies playing at SSR by the pool last month while we were there every night, so you could just take the DVC ferry over there to enjoy.
Mini golf is fun too - do you have AP's? It's half price for everyone (I think up to four people) per AP holder - DH and I played for only $6 each. And I agree, going later in the day or in the evening is better when it's hot. They're open until 11 p.m., but you'll need a car if you're going to the one by Blizzard Beach that late, unless the water park is open and you can take the bus.
We also enjoyed going to the Polynesian at night, sitting on the beach and watching the Electric Water Parade and Wishes. Lets you feel the magic even though you're not in the parks. Also lets you miss the 'exit shuffle' afterwards.
Also, just enjoying DTD - it's not busy during the afternoons, perfect time to shop, grab a nice lunch and maybe catch a movie at the AMC theaters.
Have fun whatever you do!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Ok guys, help me with planning a minimal park trip for 8 nights with 2 kids. We've been to Disney several times, and will be celebrating Dad's birthday and our daughter Braxton's 5th birthday during our July trip. We are planning at least one Water Park day, and possibly one day at the parks for Braxton's birthday. Tell me what some of the best Non-Park things to do are? Anything not to miss? We will not have a rental car (at least not at this point.) We really just want to plan a relaxing, hanging by the pool vacation. But want to check out some things outside of the parks in between the relaxing and hanging by the pool!

One big question....should we pool hop? We're staying at OKW and we love their pool. Would love to check out SAB but I understand that's not allowed? What about the pool at the Boardwalk?

Thanks a million! I'm a bit out of my league here, as I'm the pro at planning park trips!!

A PP mentioned Surrey Bikes. You can rent Surrey Bikes right at OKW, and the routes there are much flatter. Also, I think you can rent one of the boats (I can't remember what they're called) that holds the whole family, so you can go out on the water there. These rates are from spring, 2007-

I think the boats I was just talking about are the Pontoon boats.

 

[Silver Queen]

A quick note to hockeyprincess... I believe that pool hopping is also not allowed at AKV.

 

[edk35]

When we stayed at OKW the boys rented a paddle boat. THEY LOVED LOVED LOVED hangin at Community Hall at OKW. We played shuffle board one evening too. It is fun to take the boats over to DTD for dinner or Disney Quest. Oh and don't forget shopping.

My boys love the sea raycers too. Once we rented a pontoon boat that my husband drove. We did that over at CR. The boys got the sea raycer then too.

We have never pool hopped but you could do that.

Go to AKV and visit that resort.

You can always take a bus from DTD to any resort.

Mini golf

Borrow movies from CH and order pizza in one night.

Oh we even went to see a movie one night at DTD.

Sometimes just sleeping in, hangin at the pool, a nice dinner that night is sweet too.

Have fun.

 

[TinkRN]

We love going over to Celebration and walking around town and lake.
At times they will have special weekends (Octoberfest, Christmas time, antique cars, etc.)

 

[shelleym3]

hi folks

enjoying hearing about ideas for non park days.

was interested in AKL ideas. We have ADRs there one night. So looking forward to exploring that resort. Wondered if someone could tell me more about the animal trails at AKL?

thanks
shelley