Favorite things to do at your resort...besides swimming!

[Jonfw2]

For me, every night I try to go to one of the bars and have one or two beers. I always strike up a great conversation with someone sitting near me or the bartender. It's a great way to get a couple of tips and maybe learn something about WDW you didn't previously know. My favorite spot on campus is the Ale and Compass Lounge at Beach Club.

 

[igrsod]

At AKL, obviously hanging out watching the animals but also going around the resort looking at the art
At BC/BW, the nighttime entertainment on the boardwalk is fun
At OKW, we love hanging out on the mini boardwalk listening to the live music that is there and having a few drinks, chatting with passerbys/castmembers
That's pretty much the places we've stayed since covid.

 

[Jonfw2]

At AKL, obviously hanging out watching the animals but also going around the resort looking at the art
At BC/BW, the nighttime entertainment on the boardwalk is fun
At OKW, we love hanging out on the mini boardwalk listening to the live music that is there and having a few drinks, chatting with passerbys/castmembers
That's pretty much the places we've stayed since covid.

Yes! Whenever there is live music anywhere at my resort, I'm in. Shoot, at GF, I'd just sit in the lobby and listen to the pianist.

 

[DVacationer]

Sitting on the Polynesian beach during golden hour (an hour before sunset) or in the early morning overlooking the lake/Cinderella’s castle.

 

[Smugpugmug]

At AKL, I LOVED having a savannah view. I would spend some mornings sitting out on the balcony with a coffee and watch the animals.

At Wilderness Lodge, grabbing a breakfast at Roaring Fork and going to sit at the chairs right on the water at Geyser Point was my hidden secret. Absolutely no one out there and it was very relaxing and peaceful. Also just Geyser Point in general - a very underrated restaurant/lounge IMO.

Not counting resorts I've stayed at recently, I liked heading over to Polynesian at night and going to Trader Sam's. Not only is it way more fun when it's 21 and up only (when I was there they started only letting people 21 and over join the waitlist at 7 pm), but while I waited for the text back I sat at the chairs on the beach. Not as relaxing since the beach was crazy crowded but I loved the music in the background and the cool sand on my feet.

 

[Jonfw2]

At AKL, I LOVED having a savannah view. I would spend some mornings sitting out on the balcony with a coffee and watch the animals.

At Wilderness Lodge, grabbing a breakfast at Roaring Fork and going to sit at the chairs right on the water at Geyser Point was my hidden secret. Absolutely no one out there and it was very relaxing and peaceful. Also just Geyser Point in general - a very underrated restaurant/lounge IMO.

Not counting resorts I've stayed at recently, I liked heading over to Polynesian at night and going to Trader Sam's. Not only is it way more fun when it's 21 and up only (when I was there they started only letting people 21 and over join the waitlist at 7 pm), but while I waited for the text back I sat at the chairs on the beach. Not as relaxing since the beach was crazy crowded but I loved the music in the background and the cool sand on my feet.

I have got to stay at Wilderness Lodge one of these days. That sounds amazing.

I love Trader Sam's for the experience, but it's very difficult to wind down there. SO much stimulus.

 

[DLgal]

For me, every night I try to go to one of the bars and have one or two beers. I always strike up a great conversation with someone sitting near me or the bartender. It's a great way to get a couple of tips and maybe learn something about WDW you didn't previously know. My favorite spot on campus is the Ale and Compass Lounge at Beach Club.

We like to do the same. It's very enjoyable.

 

[PalmettoPath]

Lots of things, lol, but mainly getting up before the crack of dawn and walking the resort grounds taking photos. Pre-dawn early morning before anyone is up is my favorite part of any Disney day. So quiet, great lighting for amazing photos as the sun rises. Almost no one to be seen (except the occasional CM or morning runner).

 

[Her Dotness]

We caught the GF Housekeepers Parasol Parade completely unexpectedly one morning. https://collinsrace1.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/sk1-2.jpg?w=736&h=495&zoom=2

It was done every Monday and Friday at 8:00 a.m. so understandably didn't draw huge crowds.

About 50 stroll from near Narcoosees to the GF main building, carrying and twirling ruffled parasols similar to Mary Poppins's jolly holiday one. They're merrily chatting and laughing as they go, waving to any guests out that early.

Such a cheery tradition since the GF opened in 1988. I do hope it's still done!

 

[Jonfw2]

Lots of things, lol, but mainly getting up before the crack of dawn and walking the resort grounds taking photos. Pre-dawn early morning before anyone is up is my favorite part of any Disney day. So quiet, great lighting for amazing photos as the sun rises. Almost no one to be seen (except the occasional CM or morning running).

It just smells so clean and the sense of anticipation for the day ahead is actually in the air.

 

[Jonfw2]

We caught the GF Housekeepers Parasol Parade completely unexpectedly one morning. https://collinsrace1.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/sk1-2.jpg?w=736&h=495&zoom=2

It was done every Monday and Friday at 8:00 a.m. so understandably didn't draw huge crowds.

About 50 stroll from near Narcoosees to the GF main building, some carrying and twirling ruffled parasols similar to Mary Poppins's jolly holiday one. They're merrily chatting and laughing as they go, waving to any guests out that early.

Such a cheery tradition since the GF opened in 1988. I do hope it's still done!

That is INSANE!

 

[carbonF1]

CR - walking is my favorite activity, a treasure trove of artefacts and history, there is something to see on every floor. But I am biased as it's my favorite resort
WL - sitting in the lobby and looking up in the atrium. A couple of floors up there's also some nice nooks with big rocking chairs and fireplaces overlooking the lobby that are warm and inviting even when it's 100F+ out. GF comes in a close 2nd for either the live piano music or during the holidays to watch bakers build gingerbread houses.
Dolphin - riding the elevators
CBR - special mention as I have fond memories of the Port Royale building in the 2000's. Now it feels like a shell of what it used to be

 

[Her Dotness]

That is INSANE!

We stood and watched it pretty much mouths hanging open, we were so surprised.

It was as beautifully sunny that morning as in the linked photo.

Oddly, despite often eating an early GF Cafe or a 1900 PF breakfast, we've never made it a point to go see the parade again. Seemed like one of those magical surprises best left to memory.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I have got to stay at Wilderness Lodge one of these days. That sounds amazing.

I love Trader Sam's for the experience, but it's very difficult to wind down there. SO much stimulus.

WL is my favorite resort out of any of them. It feels less crowded than other deluxe resorts, has beautiful theming and has an overall laid back feel to it. I would love to own DVC there someday in the future.

That's my issue with the Polynesian as a whole. It's insanely crowded with resort guests and people visiting (yes I'm included in that). The walk from the lobby to the beach and back was so hard to do with the amount of people walking around. I was actually somewhat relieved to head back to the middle of nowhere AKL xD

Also agree with that. I just enjoyed being in one of the only adult only spots in WDW more than anything else.

 

[PalmettoPath]

It just smells so clean and the sense of anticipation for the day ahead is actually in the air.

Exactly. It's like a different world.

 

[Her Dotness]

Geyser Point, the newish WL outdoor lounge, is a great place to grab drinks/eats and relax until time for fireworks.

There's a pretty good view of them from the lakeshore nearby. Not the castle projections, but the aerials are just as stunning even though from more of a distance.

WL very much reminds me of the Old Faithful Lodge at Yellowstone. Disney really captured the architecture and aura of the OFL lobby. The mini-Old Faithful geyser near the main pool is more cute than anything else but still a nice nod to the original.

And WL is really quite impressive during the holiday season (although not more than my GF home! ). Interestingly, I found the BRV lobby tree prettier than the WL one. Go figger. Lots quieter in the seating area nearby which has the train models and other railroad memorabilia replicas. A lovely place to soak up some quiet in fat squishy chairs that can have you dozing off in no time.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Sort of building on the early morning theme above (which as a runner I agree is the absolute best feeling around the resorts).... granted it costs $, but one of the 7am guided fishing excursions is also a great way to capture that feeling, especially one of the Bay Lake/Seven Seas Lagoon excursions. You're out before most of the rest of the boat traffic and you slowly start to see the Magic Kingdom and MK resort area come alive around you. Amazing views and scenery.

Plus you get to fish.

And a bonus... bus drivers don't hold a candle to fishing captains when it comes to Disney gossip and rumors.

 

[Mandy Poppins]

Shopping!

 

[cjlong88]

We just did the Sangria University experience at Three Bridges while staying at GDT. Awesome event!

 

[jaiminee krikit]

I also enjoy wandering the grounds in the mornings at whichever resort I'm staying. I'll usually take the long way to the food court to fill our water bottles while the rest of my family is getting ready. It's so pleasant!
We usually stay at POR, so Yehaa Bob is a must. I miss when he wasn't so popular and we could actually get a table! Our last trip before covid we stayed at POFQ and loved the live entertainment there, too. We had a couple drinks and sat there for hours. But I can't wait to see the new entertainment there when I'm down for my solo birthday trip in August!