Free/cheap things to do if not doing parks at all?

[Jenny-momof3]

DH and I are pondering an idea...

We are looking at maybe taking the kids to the Disney area during their spring break. We were just at Disney for Christmas and will be returning again in July and buying AP's again at that time. We'll take 4-5 Disney trips on those AP's.

So we're looking at doing a trip there...without actually going in the parks. Hoping to find an offsite resort with great pools for the kids. And still doing some Disney type things....Downtown Disney, Boardwalk, fireworks at Poly,etc.

Any other suggestions? Has anyone ever done a trip like this? It is sooo cold and dreary here in Ohio right now that we're just dying to go someplace warm for a few days the end of March!

 

[FINFAN]

we did this one Christmas, took a 3 day stop over on our way down to visit family. Now let me start by saying it was VERY hard to be so close and not let the kids in, we were on site tho, at the Dolphin...but here's what we did:
Toured resorts to see decorations and hit the Fort Wilderness petting zoo/campfire movie
rode the monorail just for fun
rented a watermouse, that was a lot of fun, so it every trip now
Went to the character meal at the Swan
Spent a lot of time at AKL in the animal viewing areas, kids we allowed to do crafts they had there.
Hit DTD
planned to play mini golf but ran out of time

 

[leadfootlevi]

Fishing (POR for sure, not sure about others), bike - surrey or regular - rental (POR for sure, not certain about others), carriage rides (POR and FW), lots of resorts have movies at night, there are also pirate cruises from several resorts that I don't recall being too expensive.

 

[babydoll]

We did a trip to Alligator Zoo. Never seem so many in my life. Boys loved it.

 

[fakereadhed]

Character dining- maybe Chef Mickey's? Not super cheap, but lots of Disney for your money.

 

[encinc]

We picked oranges at Showcase of Citrus on the first day of our trip and enjoyed our pickings for the rest of our stay. The kids still talk about picking oranges!

 

[TNKBELL]

I second the resorts!! We love Carribean Beach, the kids bring sand toys purchased at the DollarTree on 192 and play in the sand, they also loved the playground on Parrot Cay Island. We ate beignets at Port Orleans, Sampled Gelato and played with Lilo and Stitch at Beach Club. Ate Nachos while walking up and down Boardwalk, Rode the ferry boats at a few of the resorts. Rode in the front of the monorail...don't forget to ask for your "Driver's License, a really fun photo op with the conductor, Played in the arcade at Contemporary Resort and watched the Electric Lights Water Pageant from the docks there also, Love Animal Kingdom, you can wander through the different animal areas and talk to the wonderful staff about the animals and about their native homelands, they also have one of the best giftshops, Strolled through the All Star resorts eating Mickey Bars and looking at all the HUGE characters, Play in the fountains at DTD, pick up our free chocolate at Ghiradelli, check out the animatronic alligator at Rainforest cafe and they also have great sales in the gift shop, played in the T-Rex cafe archalogical dig area, played at the Lego store. There is also a really cool Disney merchandise warehouse located about 20 miles away, they have awesome deals on Disney merchandise from the resorts, they have furniture, lamps, comforters, curtains, park merchandise, even some signs and ride parts.....it's a crazy place where you can make a deal. We bought some beautiful prints that had hung in the Grand Floridian, a bench, a Lighted Star from the All Star resort, and even some vinyl remnants. Don't forget about Pin Trading, my kids like this almost as much as the theme parks..almost.
Anyway...there is a myriad of Free activities!! Have Fun!!

 

[maggiew]

I guess I don't get it. If you have APs why not pop into the park??

While I think a no-park trip would be nice, its usually because people don't want to spend the money on park tickets.

Maggie

 

[csmommy]

pick up our free chocolate at Ghiradelli,

Free chocolate?!?

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

We did this and stayed at swan for several days prior to a universal trip. THere is so much to do. Sign on to a site like groupon.com etc. for orlando deals and check out restaraunt.com for coupons for swan and dolphin dining also. YOu could do a super cheap meal and boardwalk etc. ALso look for deals on putt putt etc. YOu could do a movie at downtown disney or citiwalk etc. so many great resorts there is lots to do. YOu can also find deals on waterparks etc. My brother in law teases us each trip that we have not been to gatorland(he loves it-but he is a unique individual). YOu can have a great time not doing disney parks. It is easier when you know you will be back in a couple months. We also went in between annual passes and had recently hit disney. We love going and riding the monorail loop and hit the arcades and get a dole whip at poly. You can check out fort wilderness lots to do. We also enjoyed a day in Celebration. They are supposed to have a great Disney wildlife sanctuary near there but we did not have time to do it.
You can find deals to wet n wild if you search.

 

[living20057]

I plan to do a non park visit. These are some good ideas. We did that last year, and it gave a chance to see what else Disney has to offer besides parks which is a lot. We got a chance to drive the boats for free , because we were the family of the day. It was really great. I want to try the bikes, but it was too windy for me last time.

 

[gillenkl]

lists of free/cheap things to do:

http://www.mousesavers.com/freestuff.html


Fort Wilderness has pony rides - $5 (I think) for small kids and at night they have a movie and campfire - you can buy smores to make there.

 

[pearlieq]

I guess I don't get it. If you have APs why not pop into the park??

They're not buying their APs until July. This trip would be before that.

Celebration is a nice diversion. You can stroll around and check it out. I think they sometimes have night events as well.

Also, you could drive out to Cocoa Beach one day. There's the beach, the Ron Jon shop, and if you timed it right you could wave one of the DCL ships out to sea from Jetty Park.

 

[pearlieq]

There is also a really cool Disney merchandise warehouse located about 20 miles away, they have awesome deals on Disney merchandise from the resorts, they have furniture, lamps, comforters, curtains, park merchandise, even some signs and ride parts.....it's a crazy place where you can make a deal.

I would love to hear more about this! Where is it and what is it called?

 

[Yoshi]

Sounds like Mouse Surplus, if it is them, the warehouse is closed http://www.mousesurplus.com/directions.html

Hopefully they continue to get new items if they sell them on EBay. I bought a tray from the Land and Liberty Inn menu board from them online and am always looking at their listings to see if anything else looks interesting.

 

[TNKBELL]

Free chocolate?!?

Yes, everytime you walk in, they hand you a chocolate square with a caramel center.

 

[TNKBELL]

Sounds like Mouse Surplus, if it is them, the warehouse is closed http://www.mousesurplus.com/directions.html

Hopefully they continue to get new items if they sell them on EBay. I bought a tray from the Land and Liberty Inn menu board from them online and am always looking at their listings to see if anything else looks interesting.

Yes, that's it!! Thanks for posting the link!! Do they still sell on ebay?? I purchased things on ebay before, but I thought they discontinued doing that? Do you know the shop name on ebay??

Found it...here it is...http://mousesurplus.myshopify.com/

It also looks like there is NO warehouse at present, this is on their site:


MOUSESURPLUS CLOSING WAREHOUSE INDEFINETLY...

Until we find a new home!

SATURDAY JANUARY 15, 2010 IS THE LAST DAY - EVER!!!


Everything Must Go!!! MouseSurplus warehouse in Haines City is Closing. Our last day is Saturday, January 15th, 2010. We are open 12pm to 4pm or by appointment through the rest of the week. We are in the process of liquidating all inventory. For more information, please call or text our Warehouse Manager, Donald, at 313-268-8757. Check back here for updates on our New Location to open in 2011.

 

[buzz2400]

Yes, everytime you walk in, they hand you a chocolate square with a caramel center.

This is one of my highlights of the trip. I actually go in first while at the marketplace and then go again before leaving.

 

[serenita05]

You can find get deals on international drive it runs for many miles

 

[Jaycey'smom]

You could stay at Nickelodeon or Cocokey and have a water park at your hotel. I-Drive has LOTS of stuff to do.