We are planning a quick weekend trip (Thursday pm-Monday am) to get away from the cold and snow. Got a great rate at All Stars Music. We've been to Disney many times so not going to the Parks is fine. We will have a rental car. Any suggestions for parks and beaches that are close (60-90 minutes)that are nice. We enjoy museums and flea markets. Would love to go to Harry potter but don't want to spend the ticket price.
Free and cheap things to do near Disney
- Thread starter Tink3815
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lakelandcallsme
Earning My Ears
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hit the campfire and movies at fort wilderness. take your own stuff for s'mores and enjoy the sing-along then a couple of good movies. it's our favourite thing to do!
DisneyAndRedSox
I still call it a WEDWay PeopleMover!
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At the end of the day if it is not too cold, watch Wishes from the Poly beach. Plus you can get a Dole Whip inside!
DisneyAndRedSox
I still call it a WEDWay PeopleMover!
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When is the trip? You can contact your Congressman up to 6 monts out for free tickets to Kennedy Space Center. I did it for my parents exactly 6 months out to the day since it fills up fast- depending on the time of the year. It took a month of back and forth emails with an intern (she was also working on launch tickets for people), but they got the tickets. Other people have reported getting them in much less time.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2402626
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2402626
adventure_woman
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Did you want NON Disney activities? I have a HUGE list of things to do on property that are free....I mean you could stay 2 weeks and never go into the parks and still not do it all!
I second the fort wilderness campfire and sing a long OR the Beach club campfire and movie on the beach!
Depending on time of year - if Spring Training for baseball has started - there are a bunch of games in the area (I wouldn't do the ones at WDW- too expensive) but there are a few places within that range that you could catch a game.
Depending on time of year - if Spring Training for baseball has started - there are a bunch of games in the area (I wouldn't do the ones at WDW- too expensive) but there are a few places within that range that you could catch a game.
summerrluvv
<font color=darkorchid>Work Hard. Have Fun.<br><f
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This was going to be my suggestion too!! So fun!
Mickeypooh99
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Morse Museum of Tiffany Glass in Winter Park is $5 a person and is beautiful! Well worth the trip! There is also a boat tour that is $12 a person http://scenicboattours.com/home.htm
It talks mostly about the houses on the lakes, but was very interesting and fun!
It talks mostly about the houses on the lakes, but was very interesting and fun!
adventure_woman
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First - this list is about 2-3 yrs old. Some things may have changed...I haven't gone through it in a while...but this will give you an idea. =)
Disney's Boardwalk
Often there are street performers (jugglers, comedians, fire-eaters, jazz ensembles, etc.) -- stroll around and watch them!
There are lots of vendors selling inexpensive food treats.
You can try your luck at a carnival-style game (small cost).
Sit and watch the Friendship Boats come and go.
Downtown Disney
Check out the wonderful interactive fountains where children (and adults who have the guts) may enjoy playing and getting wet.
The Lego Imagination Center has a FREE 3,000-square-foot outdoor play area filled with thousands of LEGO blocks, plus some absolutely amazing and huge Lego sculptures for you to admire!
Check out the FREE magic demonstrations at the Magic Masters shop -- learn a card trick!
Most of the restaurants are quite expensive, but you can get a meal (sandwich, side and drink) at Earl of Sandwich for under $10 per person.
Visit the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop and enjoy a sundae (about $6.25) or shake (about $3.95).
In the evenings, Downtown Disney Pleasure Island is now an un-gated area, allowing guests to free-flow through Pleasure Island during evening operations without purchasing a Pleasure Island admission. That means anyone can enjoy Pleasure Island shops and restaurants at no charge.
Disney's Resort Hotels
Every one of the Disney hotels is themed and some of them are literally breathtaking. All of the Moderate and Deluxe resorts, especially, have extraordinary theming and are well worth a visit.
The pools are amazing: at Coronado Springs the pool looks like a Mayan ruin; the Stormalong Bay pool at the Yacht/Beach Club includes a huge "shipwreck" that contains a slide; the pool at the Wilderness Lodge starts as a "spring" in the lobby, passes under a bridge, then cascades down a waterfall into the pool and ends in a geyser that goes off once an hour! (Note that use of the pools is for the hotel's guests only, but you can certainly walk around and "ooh and ahh" for a few minutes.)
The Deluxe resort lobbies also have amazing elements and displays that fit with the theme, and a few (including the Grand Floridian) sometimes have a pianist performing.
If you're looking for a fun photo opportunity, consider visiting the All Star resorts or Pop Century. These hotels feature enormous "pop culture" icons. Take a family photo in front of a 35-foot Buzz Lightyear!
Several of the resorts, including Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, and Yacht Club, offer FREE tours that are open to any Disney resort guest (whether you are staying at that particular hotel or not). Some of the tours require a reservation, so inquire in advance.
*Animal Kingdom Lodge- This is one of my favorites. It is built next to the Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and carries over an African theme. The massive lobby is filled with cool stuff like bridges spanning with width of the room between the upper floors and giant ostrich lamps. All of that is good, but the best part about the Animal Kingdom Lodge is by far the animals. The hotel has its own recreated African Savannah, so the hotel guests can see gazelles and zebras grazing outside of their rooms. For the people that aren't staying at the hotel, you can walk around the outside of the hotel and some of the indoor hallways and get wonderful views of the animals. It's like a free zoo. If you pay admission into Animal Kingdom next door, you'll get to see one of the world's best zoos, filled with all sorts of impressive animals. Here you are limited to slightly less exciting animals like zebras, giraffes, and other grazing animals.
*Wilderness Lodge- Another one of Disney's Lodge hotels. This one is themed to be somewhere in the American Northwest, specifically around the national parks. The setup of the hotel is very similar to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, only without the animals. It also has a massive lobby filled with all sorts of good stuff like giant totem poles, fireplaces, and hot springs. These fake hot springs bubble up into pools inside the lobby and then flows into a stream. The stream flows out of the lobby, where it forms a larger river outside. The river passes over several waterfalls and then flows into the Wilderness Lodge's swimming pool. It doesn't end there either. The water then flows out of the pool into another stream, and eventually flows out into Bay Lake. This whole water system is one of the highlights of the hotel, and it is very interesting to follow the flow of the water along it's whole path. Behind the hotel, along Bay Lake, there are some nature trails to walk around, and then their is the geyser. The geyser erupts every half hour and is a nice free show...
*Contemporary Hotel- This is one of the oldest hotels at Walt Disney World, but it still very cool to walk around. The Contemporary is one of the Magic Kingdom hotels, built between the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. The hotel was built using modular construction, meaning the frame of the building was constructed here, while all of the rooms were constructed off site. The rooms were then lifted up to their proper place with a crane and slid into the frame. This was done to make renovating the hotel easier when it started getting old since they would be able to pull out an old room, and slide a new room in. It turned out that the building settled after construction though, making this impossible.
The Contemporary has a large open lobby, with all of the rooms on the upper floors above. The monorail passes and stops right in the lobby. Perhaps my favorite part of the Contemporary is the buildings stairs and rooftop. On the top floor of the hotel, there is a very expensive (and good) restaurant called the California Grill. Surrounding the restaurant, there are pathways going out onto the roof of the hotel, providing great views of the surrounding area. Depending on the time of the day, the hotel's elevators do not always go up to the top level of the building, and that's where the Contemporary's very cool stairs come into play. On each end of the building, there are two sets of stairs that go up to the top of the building. These dizzying stairs wind up the slanted outside walls of the building all the way up to the pathways going across the Contemporary's roof, even when the California Grill elevators aren't running.
The Boardwalk.
These are a few of my favorites, but there are plenty more Disney hotels to explore. There are the very cool Swan & Dolphin hotels, the Coronado Springs Hotel with it's Mayan Pyramid, the Pop Century hotels. The list goes on and on...
Ride the Monorail
Did you know you can ride up front with the monorail driver? Just let the Cast Member at the gate know that you want to do this. Usually the drivers are very friendly and will give the kids a special certificate. The best time to do this is in the middle of the day, when things are quiet because most people are in the parks -- you're less likely to have to wait.
Take the "inner" monorail that circles the three monorail resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian). This is a great way to orient yourself and get a look at the resorts and an overview of some of the parks. You can get off and explore each one, or just enjoy the ride and the view.
Take a Boat Ride
This is enjoyable any time of day, but particularly beautiful and romantic at night.
Cruise the loop around Crescent Lake, which visits Epcot, Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin, and Disney's Hollywood Studios without going into the parks.
Take the boat that visits the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness, or the boat that visits the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom (and you can get off at the Magic Kingdom and wander along the lake outside the gates, or hop on the monorail).
Cruise from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney and back, along the Sassagoula River.
*Downtown Disney to the Port Orleans Hotel- It's a nice long ride, starting in Downtown Disney's lake. You then enter a canal and travel past the Saratoga Springs Resort, through golf courses, past the very cool condemned Tree House hotels (although they are in the process of reopening), and then finally arriving at the hotel. Get out and explore a little, then take the ride back. If you get a good driver, the whole trip will be narrated too, with all of the good stuff being pointed out along the way.
*Seven Seas Lagoon Boats- To get to the boats here, follow the same method to get through the tolls for free that you use when riding the monorail. Then take the monorail either to the front entrance of the Magic Kingdom or to the parking lot. Get off and pick your boat. The big boats here are the ferries that transport people from the Magic Kingdom parking lot to the Magic Kingdom park entrance. These are some of the largest boats on Disney property. They are two levels, and you are free to walk around whatever level you choose while the boat is moving (always go for the second floor). There are some great views of the lake, it's many islands, and the surrounding sights. There are several smaller boats that go to some of the hotels that are on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake that are fun to ride too. Board these by getting off of the Magic Kingdom monorail station, and pick your boat. Taking a boat to the Wilderness Lodge is always fun, mostly because it is a nice long ride that takes you through the Seven Seas Lagoon, into a canal that passes over a road, then into Bay Lake.
If taking a boat here after dark, it's possible to see the Magic Kingdom Fireworks from the water and keep a lookout for the Electrical Water Pageant, which is a illuminated light show that floats across the Seven Seas Lagoon on barges.
*EPCOT Waterway Boats- These boats travel from the back entrance of EPCOT, up a canal into the lake surrounded by the EPCOT hotels, into another canal to the Swan & Dolphin Hotels, and then up to the entrance of Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM), and then turning around and repeating the whole trip. It's a nice long ride, but with all of the stops, it's quite slow going. There are pathways along the whole route so you can walk back if you choose not to ride round trip.
Food and Drink
Eat at an inexpensive but well-themed restaurant. At many of the Disney World resort hotels it's possible to have a light meal or snack for about $10 per person (plus tax & tip at the sit-down locations) while soaking up the atmosphere. (Don't forget, most of the bars and lounges also serve snacks.) Here are the dining locations where you get the most theming or entertainment for the lowest cost:
Animal Kingdom Lodge - Mara
Boardwalk Inn - Boardwalk Bakery, Seashore Sweets, Spoodles (tapas, flatbreads), Spoodles Pizza Window, Big River Grille & Brewing Works (appetizers, light entrees)
Contemporary - Food and Fun Center (best arcade games)
Coronado Springs - Pepper Market, Siesta's Pool Bar & Grill (pool bar open to guests of the resort only)
Dolphin - Dolphin Fountain and Snack Shop (live 50s entertainment)
Grand Floridian - Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea (order a pot of tea and one or two items a la carte)
Old Key West - Olivia's Cafe (lunch only)
Polynesian - Kona Cafe (lunch only), Captain Cook's Snack & Ice Cream Company
Port Orleans French Quarter - Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (try the beignets and/or the gumbo!)
Port Orleans Riverside - Riverside Mill
Wilderness Lodge - Whispering Canyon Cafe (light lunch only)
Yacht & Beach Club - Crews Cup, Beaches and Cream, Hurricane Hanna's Grill (at Stormalong Bay pool - open to guests of the resort only)
Have a drink at one of the wonderful themed bars and lounges in the Moderate and Deluxe resort hotels. Remember, you don't have to drink alcoholic beverages to enjoy the atmosphere -- order a coffee, mineral water, soda or virgin drink if you want!
Most of the bars and lounges also serve snacks or light meals, some of which are excellent quality for the money. For instance, the snacks at the Territory Lounge at Wilderness Lodge come out of the Artist Point kitchen, while Crews Cup at Yacht Club serves an inexpensive but substantial menu including burgers. The River Roost at Port Orleans Riverside has appetizers and steak sandwiches, not to mention an excellent sing-along pianist performing several nights a week.
Animal Kingdom Lodge - Victoria Falls
Boardwalk Inn - Belle Vue Room
Contemporary - California Grill Lounge (great place to watch Magic Kingdom fireworks)
Coronado Springs - Francisco's
Dolphin - Lobby Lounge (live pianist in the evenings)
Ft. Wilderness - Crockett's Tavern
Grand Floridian - Mizner's Lounge, Summerhouse
Old Key West - The Gurgling Suitcase
Polynesian - Tambu Lounge
Port Orleans French Quarter - Scat Cat's Club
Port Orleans Riverside - River Roost (live sing-along pianist some evenings)
Swan - Kimono's Sushi Bar (karaoke in the evenings)
Wilderness Lodge - Territory Lounge
Yacht & Beach Club - Crews Cup Lounge, Martha's Vineyard
Ft. Wilderness
Visit Tri-Circle D Ranch (home of the draft horses used to pull the trolleys down Main Street at the Magic Kingdom) at Ft. Wilderness. There are a few farm animals to see and pony rides for very small children from 10 am to 5 pm for $4. There is FREE day parking at Ft. Wilderness and you can get from the day guest parking to the farm area by special buses that run only in the "Settlement."
Take a stroll
There are lovely walkways or nature trails around almost all of the resorts.
At night you can wander along the Polynesian's beach, sit in a cabana and watch the Electrical Water Pageant and the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom. Walk through the tiki-torchlit gardens between the Great Ceremonial House and the beach. It's all very romantic. (Please keep in mind that the beach and particularly the cabanas are primarily intended for guests of the Polynesian, though there is nothing to prevent the general public from using them.)
Watch the Wishes Fireworks from the Grand Floridian boat dock. Narcoossees restaurant is nearby and receives the audio soundtrack from the Magic Kingdom, so you can enjoy the fireworks synchronized to the music. There's a little bit of delay due to the distance, but it still works. Seeing the fireworks reflect off of the lake is beautiful.
From the Boardwalk, meander up to the back gate of Epcot, or over to Disney's Hollywood Studios around closing time and enjoy the music and perhaps a glimpse of IllumiNations or Fantasmic!. The bridge that goes over to the Swan and Dolphin sometimes has nice views at that time.
During the day, explore the woods from the Wilderness Lodge to Ft. Wilderness.
Stroll from the Grand Floridian to the Wedding Pavilion and poke your head in. (Unless there's a wedding in progress, of course!)
At Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can walk out to the viewing areas and see the exotic African animals roaming free. Note that the animals come out around dusk -- you won't see any during the day. (Please keep in mind that hotel guests' rooms open right out onto the viewing areas, so quiet is very much appreciated.)
Visit the Butterfly Garden located behind Acadian House in Port Orleans Riverside's Magnolia Bend section.
Magic Kingdom
Watch the Electrical Water Pageant. This floating parade is visible nightly from the Magic Kingdom-area resort hotel docks and beaches. The pageant moves slowly around the lake, stopping at each resort including the Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, and Ft. Wilderness. Cost: FREE
Investigate special kids' programs at your Disney resort hotel. The Deluxe resorts usually have kids' recreation programs such as coloring, crafts, pool games, Hidden Mickey searches, and storytelling at various times. Cost: FREE to guests of the hotel.
Make the rounds of the Disney resorts and collect something! You can make your own scavenger hunt for little or nothing:
Make a list of every Hidden Mickey you can find
Get a pressed penny (.50 - $1.50) or a pin (about $6) for each resort.
Have a drink in the lounges and save the swizzle sticks (some of them have fun themed designs).
Go on a bargain hunt. Most of the resort hotel shops have at least one shelf or table of marked-down items. You might find a great deal.
Fireworks
Walt Disney World puts on nightly firework shows at all of it's major theme parks with the exception of Animal Kingdom. If you have already paid admission into one of these parks, by all means watch the show from the inside. But that's not why you are reading this Instructable. You want to know how you can see the fireworks for free.
Don't waste your time attempting to watch Hollywood Studio's Fantasmic firework show from outside of the park. You won't see much since this show is set in a stadium and really has very little fireworks. All you may see from outside of this park is maybe a few fireworks passing over the treeline in the direction of stage while hearing blasting Disney movie music.
EPCOT's Reflections of Earth Firework show can be seen from the bridge near the back entrance of the park in the Boardwalk hotel. You will see a lot more fireworks from this show for free than you would at Hollywood Studios, but it still isn't ideal. This show involves a whole lot of video on a floating globe that isn't visible outside of the park for a good part of the show. You will get to see some fireworks in the beginning of the show, a big break in between, and then some more fireworks at the finale. You'll be able to hear some drifting audio, but nothing great.
Wishes at the Magic Kingdom is the ideal Disney firework show to watch for free. Go to one of the Magic Kingdom hotels as described in the previous step. The Contemporary is my personal favorite to watch the show from (15th floor). The Polynesian Hotel and the Grand Floridian Hotel both provide about equal view of the show. In the Contemporary, go outside on the side of the building facing the Magic Kingdom anywhere from the bottom of the staircase up to the roof. You will not be alone when doing this and some of the better spots on the side of the building fill up fast, mainly the floors close to the lobby and the rooftop. They play the audio for the show, although I have noticed it is never loud enough to hear clearly at this hotel. It is very cool though to be higher than where most of the fireworks are exploding...
In the Polynesian or Grand Floridian, head towards the beaches on the lake. On most nights audio is played and it is normally much clearer than at the Contemporary. Most of the restaurants on the lake have view of the show and also play the audio.
Spend time on the beach at one of the MK resorts, paddle your feet in the lake or relax in a hammock.
Take the free tour at the Wilderness Lodge, or ask for the list of hidden Mickeys, & go on a hidden Mickey hunt.
Visit the petting farm at Fort Wilderness.
Take a boat ride from one of the resorts - Wilderness Lodge to MK; Boardwalk to Epcot or MGM; Dixie Landings to Downtown Disney, etc.
Take the free garden tour at the Yacht & Beach Club Resort, or the free tour of the Grand Floridian.
Visit the BoardWalk in the evening to watch the entertainment & take in the atmosphere.
Walk along by the Sassagoula River from Port Orleans Riverside to French Quarter.
Go on the nature walk at Fort Wilderness.
Free souvenirs from Disney. At Innoventions East, guests can send a 10-second, video e-mail message to friends back home (Video D-Mail booth located at the Innoventions Internet Zone). At Innoventions West, guests can send a picture postcard of themselves by e-mail, provided by IBM's Networked Living Exhibit.
"Take the free lobby tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Very informative and fun! Plus you get to see numerous Hidden Mickeys."
"Walk around the "Walk around the World" path that circles Seven Seas Lagoon. Look at the names of the people and see if there is anyone from your hometown or near your hometown."
"Hidden Mickey tour at Animal Kingdom lodge will give you a free trading card if you manage to get them all right."
"If you go to the Animal kingdom you can do a tasting tour where you get to try some of the recipes made in their two main service restaurants"
"People watch in your hotel. You may be surprised at how much you see."
"The walk from Old Key West to Downtown Disney to Saratoga Springs Resort. It's a long walk to be sure, but it doesn't have to be undertaken all at once. A beautiful stroll along the canal (OKW portion) and an easy walk from DTD to SSR around the perimeter of the "lake."
"Watch the wonderful magic performed at Magic Masters in DTD."
"Try out the playgrounds @ the Coronado Springs and Port Orleans."
You can also enter Epcot after the fireworks free through the International Gateway. You will not be able to ride on any of the rides, but the park is open for another hour and so are the shops
Nature Trails at Fort Wilderness
Free garden tour at the Yacht and Beach Club
Free lobby tour at DAK Lodge
Disney's Boardwalk
Often there are street performers (jugglers, comedians, fire-eaters, jazz ensembles, etc.) -- stroll around and watch them!
There are lots of vendors selling inexpensive food treats.
You can try your luck at a carnival-style game (small cost).
Sit and watch the Friendship Boats come and go.
Downtown Disney
Check out the wonderful interactive fountains where children (and adults who have the guts) may enjoy playing and getting wet.
The Lego Imagination Center has a FREE 3,000-square-foot outdoor play area filled with thousands of LEGO blocks, plus some absolutely amazing and huge Lego sculptures for you to admire!
Check out the FREE magic demonstrations at the Magic Masters shop -- learn a card trick!
Most of the restaurants are quite expensive, but you can get a meal (sandwich, side and drink) at Earl of Sandwich for under $10 per person.
Visit the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop and enjoy a sundae (about $6.25) or shake (about $3.95).
In the evenings, Downtown Disney Pleasure Island is now an un-gated area, allowing guests to free-flow through Pleasure Island during evening operations without purchasing a Pleasure Island admission. That means anyone can enjoy Pleasure Island shops and restaurants at no charge.
Disney's Resort Hotels
Every one of the Disney hotels is themed and some of them are literally breathtaking. All of the Moderate and Deluxe resorts, especially, have extraordinary theming and are well worth a visit.
The pools are amazing: at Coronado Springs the pool looks like a Mayan ruin; the Stormalong Bay pool at the Yacht/Beach Club includes a huge "shipwreck" that contains a slide; the pool at the Wilderness Lodge starts as a "spring" in the lobby, passes under a bridge, then cascades down a waterfall into the pool and ends in a geyser that goes off once an hour! (Note that use of the pools is for the hotel's guests only, but you can certainly walk around and "ooh and ahh" for a few minutes.)
The Deluxe resort lobbies also have amazing elements and displays that fit with the theme, and a few (including the Grand Floridian) sometimes have a pianist performing.
If you're looking for a fun photo opportunity, consider visiting the All Star resorts or Pop Century. These hotels feature enormous "pop culture" icons. Take a family photo in front of a 35-foot Buzz Lightyear!
Several of the resorts, including Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, and Yacht Club, offer FREE tours that are open to any Disney resort guest (whether you are staying at that particular hotel or not). Some of the tours require a reservation, so inquire in advance.
*Animal Kingdom Lodge- This is one of my favorites. It is built next to the Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and carries over an African theme. The massive lobby is filled with cool stuff like bridges spanning with width of the room between the upper floors and giant ostrich lamps. All of that is good, but the best part about the Animal Kingdom Lodge is by far the animals. The hotel has its own recreated African Savannah, so the hotel guests can see gazelles and zebras grazing outside of their rooms. For the people that aren't staying at the hotel, you can walk around the outside of the hotel and some of the indoor hallways and get wonderful views of the animals. It's like a free zoo. If you pay admission into Animal Kingdom next door, you'll get to see one of the world's best zoos, filled with all sorts of impressive animals. Here you are limited to slightly less exciting animals like zebras, giraffes, and other grazing animals.
*Wilderness Lodge- Another one of Disney's Lodge hotels. This one is themed to be somewhere in the American Northwest, specifically around the national parks. The setup of the hotel is very similar to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, only without the animals. It also has a massive lobby filled with all sorts of good stuff like giant totem poles, fireplaces, and hot springs. These fake hot springs bubble up into pools inside the lobby and then flows into a stream. The stream flows out of the lobby, where it forms a larger river outside. The river passes over several waterfalls and then flows into the Wilderness Lodge's swimming pool. It doesn't end there either. The water then flows out of the pool into another stream, and eventually flows out into Bay Lake. This whole water system is one of the highlights of the hotel, and it is very interesting to follow the flow of the water along it's whole path. Behind the hotel, along Bay Lake, there are some nature trails to walk around, and then their is the geyser. The geyser erupts every half hour and is a nice free show...
*Contemporary Hotel- This is one of the oldest hotels at Walt Disney World, but it still very cool to walk around. The Contemporary is one of the Magic Kingdom hotels, built between the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. The hotel was built using modular construction, meaning the frame of the building was constructed here, while all of the rooms were constructed off site. The rooms were then lifted up to their proper place with a crane and slid into the frame. This was done to make renovating the hotel easier when it started getting old since they would be able to pull out an old room, and slide a new room in. It turned out that the building settled after construction though, making this impossible.
The Contemporary has a large open lobby, with all of the rooms on the upper floors above. The monorail passes and stops right in the lobby. Perhaps my favorite part of the Contemporary is the buildings stairs and rooftop. On the top floor of the hotel, there is a very expensive (and good) restaurant called the California Grill. Surrounding the restaurant, there are pathways going out onto the roof of the hotel, providing great views of the surrounding area. Depending on the time of the day, the hotel's elevators do not always go up to the top level of the building, and that's where the Contemporary's very cool stairs come into play. On each end of the building, there are two sets of stairs that go up to the top of the building. These dizzying stairs wind up the slanted outside walls of the building all the way up to the pathways going across the Contemporary's roof, even when the California Grill elevators aren't running.
The Boardwalk.
These are a few of my favorites, but there are plenty more Disney hotels to explore. There are the very cool Swan & Dolphin hotels, the Coronado Springs Hotel with it's Mayan Pyramid, the Pop Century hotels. The list goes on and on...
Ride the Monorail
Did you know you can ride up front with the monorail driver? Just let the Cast Member at the gate know that you want to do this. Usually the drivers are very friendly and will give the kids a special certificate. The best time to do this is in the middle of the day, when things are quiet because most people are in the parks -- you're less likely to have to wait.
Take the "inner" monorail that circles the three monorail resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian). This is a great way to orient yourself and get a look at the resorts and an overview of some of the parks. You can get off and explore each one, or just enjoy the ride and the view.
Take a Boat Ride
This is enjoyable any time of day, but particularly beautiful and romantic at night.
Cruise the loop around Crescent Lake, which visits Epcot, Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin, and Disney's Hollywood Studios without going into the parks.
Take the boat that visits the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness, or the boat that visits the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom (and you can get off at the Magic Kingdom and wander along the lake outside the gates, or hop on the monorail).
Cruise from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney and back, along the Sassagoula River.
*Downtown Disney to the Port Orleans Hotel- It's a nice long ride, starting in Downtown Disney's lake. You then enter a canal and travel past the Saratoga Springs Resort, through golf courses, past the very cool condemned Tree House hotels (although they are in the process of reopening), and then finally arriving at the hotel. Get out and explore a little, then take the ride back. If you get a good driver, the whole trip will be narrated too, with all of the good stuff being pointed out along the way.
*Seven Seas Lagoon Boats- To get to the boats here, follow the same method to get through the tolls for free that you use when riding the monorail. Then take the monorail either to the front entrance of the Magic Kingdom or to the parking lot. Get off and pick your boat. The big boats here are the ferries that transport people from the Magic Kingdom parking lot to the Magic Kingdom park entrance. These are some of the largest boats on Disney property. They are two levels, and you are free to walk around whatever level you choose while the boat is moving (always go for the second floor). There are some great views of the lake, it's many islands, and the surrounding sights. There are several smaller boats that go to some of the hotels that are on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake that are fun to ride too. Board these by getting off of the Magic Kingdom monorail station, and pick your boat. Taking a boat to the Wilderness Lodge is always fun, mostly because it is a nice long ride that takes you through the Seven Seas Lagoon, into a canal that passes over a road, then into Bay Lake.
If taking a boat here after dark, it's possible to see the Magic Kingdom Fireworks from the water and keep a lookout for the Electrical Water Pageant, which is a illuminated light show that floats across the Seven Seas Lagoon on barges.
*EPCOT Waterway Boats- These boats travel from the back entrance of EPCOT, up a canal into the lake surrounded by the EPCOT hotels, into another canal to the Swan & Dolphin Hotels, and then up to the entrance of Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM), and then turning around and repeating the whole trip. It's a nice long ride, but with all of the stops, it's quite slow going. There are pathways along the whole route so you can walk back if you choose not to ride round trip.
Food and Drink
Eat at an inexpensive but well-themed restaurant. At many of the Disney World resort hotels it's possible to have a light meal or snack for about $10 per person (plus tax & tip at the sit-down locations) while soaking up the atmosphere. (Don't forget, most of the bars and lounges also serve snacks.) Here are the dining locations where you get the most theming or entertainment for the lowest cost:
Animal Kingdom Lodge - Mara
Boardwalk Inn - Boardwalk Bakery, Seashore Sweets, Spoodles (tapas, flatbreads), Spoodles Pizza Window, Big River Grille & Brewing Works (appetizers, light entrees)
Contemporary - Food and Fun Center (best arcade games)
Coronado Springs - Pepper Market, Siesta's Pool Bar & Grill (pool bar open to guests of the resort only)
Dolphin - Dolphin Fountain and Snack Shop (live 50s entertainment)
Grand Floridian - Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea (order a pot of tea and one or two items a la carte)
Old Key West - Olivia's Cafe (lunch only)
Polynesian - Kona Cafe (lunch only), Captain Cook's Snack & Ice Cream Company
Port Orleans French Quarter - Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (try the beignets and/or the gumbo!)
Port Orleans Riverside - Riverside Mill
Wilderness Lodge - Whispering Canyon Cafe (light lunch only)
Yacht & Beach Club - Crews Cup, Beaches and Cream, Hurricane Hanna's Grill (at Stormalong Bay pool - open to guests of the resort only)
Have a drink at one of the wonderful themed bars and lounges in the Moderate and Deluxe resort hotels. Remember, you don't have to drink alcoholic beverages to enjoy the atmosphere -- order a coffee, mineral water, soda or virgin drink if you want!
Most of the bars and lounges also serve snacks or light meals, some of which are excellent quality for the money. For instance, the snacks at the Territory Lounge at Wilderness Lodge come out of the Artist Point kitchen, while Crews Cup at Yacht Club serves an inexpensive but substantial menu including burgers. The River Roost at Port Orleans Riverside has appetizers and steak sandwiches, not to mention an excellent sing-along pianist performing several nights a week.
Animal Kingdom Lodge - Victoria Falls
Boardwalk Inn - Belle Vue Room
Contemporary - California Grill Lounge (great place to watch Magic Kingdom fireworks)
Coronado Springs - Francisco's
Dolphin - Lobby Lounge (live pianist in the evenings)
Ft. Wilderness - Crockett's Tavern
Grand Floridian - Mizner's Lounge, Summerhouse
Old Key West - The Gurgling Suitcase
Polynesian - Tambu Lounge
Port Orleans French Quarter - Scat Cat's Club
Port Orleans Riverside - River Roost (live sing-along pianist some evenings)
Swan - Kimono's Sushi Bar (karaoke in the evenings)
Wilderness Lodge - Territory Lounge
Yacht & Beach Club - Crews Cup Lounge, Martha's Vineyard
Ft. Wilderness
Visit Tri-Circle D Ranch (home of the draft horses used to pull the trolleys down Main Street at the Magic Kingdom) at Ft. Wilderness. There are a few farm animals to see and pony rides for very small children from 10 am to 5 pm for $4. There is FREE day parking at Ft. Wilderness and you can get from the day guest parking to the farm area by special buses that run only in the "Settlement."
Take a stroll
There are lovely walkways or nature trails around almost all of the resorts.
At night you can wander along the Polynesian's beach, sit in a cabana and watch the Electrical Water Pageant and the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom. Walk through the tiki-torchlit gardens between the Great Ceremonial House and the beach. It's all very romantic. (Please keep in mind that the beach and particularly the cabanas are primarily intended for guests of the Polynesian, though there is nothing to prevent the general public from using them.)
Watch the Wishes Fireworks from the Grand Floridian boat dock. Narcoossees restaurant is nearby and receives the audio soundtrack from the Magic Kingdom, so you can enjoy the fireworks synchronized to the music. There's a little bit of delay due to the distance, but it still works. Seeing the fireworks reflect off of the lake is beautiful.
From the Boardwalk, meander up to the back gate of Epcot, or over to Disney's Hollywood Studios around closing time and enjoy the music and perhaps a glimpse of IllumiNations or Fantasmic!. The bridge that goes over to the Swan and Dolphin sometimes has nice views at that time.
During the day, explore the woods from the Wilderness Lodge to Ft. Wilderness.
Stroll from the Grand Floridian to the Wedding Pavilion and poke your head in. (Unless there's a wedding in progress, of course!)
At Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can walk out to the viewing areas and see the exotic African animals roaming free. Note that the animals come out around dusk -- you won't see any during the day. (Please keep in mind that hotel guests' rooms open right out onto the viewing areas, so quiet is very much appreciated.)
Visit the Butterfly Garden located behind Acadian House in Port Orleans Riverside's Magnolia Bend section.
Magic Kingdom
Watch the Electrical Water Pageant. This floating parade is visible nightly from the Magic Kingdom-area resort hotel docks and beaches. The pageant moves slowly around the lake, stopping at each resort including the Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, and Ft. Wilderness. Cost: FREE
Investigate special kids' programs at your Disney resort hotel. The Deluxe resorts usually have kids' recreation programs such as coloring, crafts, pool games, Hidden Mickey searches, and storytelling at various times. Cost: FREE to guests of the hotel.
Make the rounds of the Disney resorts and collect something! You can make your own scavenger hunt for little or nothing:
Make a list of every Hidden Mickey you can find
Get a pressed penny (.50 - $1.50) or a pin (about $6) for each resort.
Have a drink in the lounges and save the swizzle sticks (some of them have fun themed designs).
Go on a bargain hunt. Most of the resort hotel shops have at least one shelf or table of marked-down items. You might find a great deal.
Fireworks
Walt Disney World puts on nightly firework shows at all of it's major theme parks with the exception of Animal Kingdom. If you have already paid admission into one of these parks, by all means watch the show from the inside. But that's not why you are reading this Instructable. You want to know how you can see the fireworks for free.
Don't waste your time attempting to watch Hollywood Studio's Fantasmic firework show from outside of the park. You won't see much since this show is set in a stadium and really has very little fireworks. All you may see from outside of this park is maybe a few fireworks passing over the treeline in the direction of stage while hearing blasting Disney movie music.
EPCOT's Reflections of Earth Firework show can be seen from the bridge near the back entrance of the park in the Boardwalk hotel. You will see a lot more fireworks from this show for free than you would at Hollywood Studios, but it still isn't ideal. This show involves a whole lot of video on a floating globe that isn't visible outside of the park for a good part of the show. You will get to see some fireworks in the beginning of the show, a big break in between, and then some more fireworks at the finale. You'll be able to hear some drifting audio, but nothing great.
Wishes at the Magic Kingdom is the ideal Disney firework show to watch for free. Go to one of the Magic Kingdom hotels as described in the previous step. The Contemporary is my personal favorite to watch the show from (15th floor). The Polynesian Hotel and the Grand Floridian Hotel both provide about equal view of the show. In the Contemporary, go outside on the side of the building facing the Magic Kingdom anywhere from the bottom of the staircase up to the roof. You will not be alone when doing this and some of the better spots on the side of the building fill up fast, mainly the floors close to the lobby and the rooftop. They play the audio for the show, although I have noticed it is never loud enough to hear clearly at this hotel. It is very cool though to be higher than where most of the fireworks are exploding...
In the Polynesian or Grand Floridian, head towards the beaches on the lake. On most nights audio is played and it is normally much clearer than at the Contemporary. Most of the restaurants on the lake have view of the show and also play the audio.
Spend time on the beach at one of the MK resorts, paddle your feet in the lake or relax in a hammock.
Take the free tour at the Wilderness Lodge, or ask for the list of hidden Mickeys, & go on a hidden Mickey hunt.
Visit the petting farm at Fort Wilderness.
Take a boat ride from one of the resorts - Wilderness Lodge to MK; Boardwalk to Epcot or MGM; Dixie Landings to Downtown Disney, etc.
Take the free garden tour at the Yacht & Beach Club Resort, or the free tour of the Grand Floridian.
Visit the BoardWalk in the evening to watch the entertainment & take in the atmosphere.
Walk along by the Sassagoula River from Port Orleans Riverside to French Quarter.
Go on the nature walk at Fort Wilderness.
Free souvenirs from Disney. At Innoventions East, guests can send a 10-second, video e-mail message to friends back home (Video D-Mail booth located at the Innoventions Internet Zone). At Innoventions West, guests can send a picture postcard of themselves by e-mail, provided by IBM's Networked Living Exhibit.
"Take the free lobby tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Very informative and fun! Plus you get to see numerous Hidden Mickeys."
"Walk around the "Walk around the World" path that circles Seven Seas Lagoon. Look at the names of the people and see if there is anyone from your hometown or near your hometown."
"Hidden Mickey tour at Animal Kingdom lodge will give you a free trading card if you manage to get them all right."
"If you go to the Animal kingdom you can do a tasting tour where you get to try some of the recipes made in their two main service restaurants"
"People watch in your hotel. You may be surprised at how much you see."
"The walk from Old Key West to Downtown Disney to Saratoga Springs Resort. It's a long walk to be sure, but it doesn't have to be undertaken all at once. A beautiful stroll along the canal (OKW portion) and an easy walk from DTD to SSR around the perimeter of the "lake."
"Watch the wonderful magic performed at Magic Masters in DTD."
"Try out the playgrounds @ the Coronado Springs and Port Orleans."
You can also enter Epcot after the fireworks free through the International Gateway. You will not be able to ride on any of the rides, but the park is open for another hour and so are the shops
Nature Trails at Fort Wilderness
Free garden tour at the Yacht and Beach Club
Free lobby tour at DAK Lodge
California Jenn
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2009
- Messages
- 95
@ adventure_woman - your list is amazing! Thanks for sharing; I am saving the ideas for our next trip!
@ OP - One of the beaches that we enjoyed was Cocoa Beach near Cape Canaveral. It's about an hour drive from the parks. Though, next time we may try Clearwater Beach (but it's about 2 hours from WDW)
@ OP - One of the beaches that we enjoyed was Cocoa Beach near Cape Canaveral. It's about an hour drive from the parks. Though, next time we may try Clearwater Beach (but it's about 2 hours from WDW)
DCLbrideSept2009
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2008
- Messages
- 833
I'm wondering why it's necessary to rent a car? You can use DME and on-site transportation and save the cost of a rental car - use that for park tickets or other things instead!
We think the car rental saves us so much in time its worth it and allows us to travel anywhere. I have a 4 day for only 115.
Thank you adventure_woman for the wonderful list. In our numerous visits to Disney we have done about 90% of your list. Thats why I'm looking for things outside of Disney I would add Jelly Rolls as a favorite. It's a 10.00 cover but well worth it.
I most want warm weather and a break from winter.
Thank you adventure_woman for the wonderful list. In our numerous visits to Disney we have done about 90% of your list. Thats why I'm looking for things outside of Disney I would add Jelly Rolls as a favorite. It's a 10.00 cover but well worth it.
I most want warm weather and a break from winter.
We always enjoy a little time away from Disney activities. On our most recent trip we went to IKEA near the Mall of Millenia. They have a lot of unique things to look at and a pretty cheap little cafe. We were able to each eat an entree, dessert and fountain drink for under $20 for all of us. There was something about the place that was just fun! 
herdtoDisney
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2010
- Messages
- 1,124
If you like factory tours, the Regal boat factory gives free tours. It's 15 miles from Disney, in fact we are going to check it out on our trip (dh has a very used Regal that he's gradually fixing up).
I've heard that there are a couple of good flea markets. Flea World, I think is one?
Manatee Springs State Park is amazing! It's in Cheifland.
I've heard that there are a couple of good flea markets. Flea World, I think is one?
Manatee Springs State Park is amazing! It's in Cheifland.
racechick8293
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2010
- Messages
- 273
I haven't had a chance to see either of these yet, but I've heard positive things about Wekiwa Springs State Park and the Winter Garden farmer's market on Saturday mornings.
Mt. Dora is a cute town to spend a few hours in- mainly cute shops and restaurants. Also a small park with a great view of a lake, with a really nice sunset.
Mt. Dora is a cute town to spend a few hours in- mainly cute shops and restaurants. Also a small park with a great view of a lake, with a really nice sunset.
turning40withMickey
I will never be too old for Disney!
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2007
- Messages
- 20,861
Belle599
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 18, 2010
- Messages
- 617
Hi there!
I have many ideas but will start with AKL. Not sure if this has been mentioned already (sorry did not read the big long list yet).
Head over to the Boma podium at 4pm for a free restaurant tour. Currently you will sample soups from Boma, then zebra domes, and cap things off with bread and dips at Jiko.
Depending on the season and how long you have to wait for sunset, you can explore the resort (beautiful lobby and I love the shop there - many unique items). Also have a walk around out back and visit the animals.
At sunset, head over to the far side past the pool and check out the free nightvision goggle viewing of the animals!
I have many ideas but will start with AKL. Not sure if this has been mentioned already (sorry did not read the big long list yet).
Head over to the Boma podium at 4pm for a free restaurant tour. Currently you will sample soups from Boma, then zebra domes, and cap things off with bread and dips at Jiko.
Depending on the season and how long you have to wait for sunset, you can explore the resort (beautiful lobby and I love the shop there - many unique items). Also have a walk around out back and visit the animals.
At sunset, head over to the far side past the pool and check out the free nightvision goggle viewing of the animals!
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