Fun Non-park things to do?

[Guatemommy]

DD and I are going to meet my BFF for a few days - DH has to work and we wont do the parks without him. I booked the Liki Tiki Village for the nice pool, etc for DD. A friend recommended Wonderworks and the cmedy dinner show they have. Just wondering what other non-park things you all would recommend.

 

[Goseethemouse]

There are loads of different miniature golf places that might be fun. Gatorland would be another nice place (I guess it is kind of a park though so not sure it is what you are looking for).

On Disney property (but not in the parks) you could go and spend some time at Downtown Disney or at Fort Wilderness (hay ride, movie, singalong, etc.)

Of course if you ask me kids they would say Chuck E. Cheese. I think they actually prefer it to the parks (but then we don't have anything similar where we live and I usually don't let them play in arcades)

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We love visiting the non theme park attractions in Orlando. There are some great things to do in the area!!

Gatorland is great fun for a half-day, and good for both kids and adults.

We had an amazing time on an airboat ride on our December trip. We booked with Wild Willy's in St. Cloud and would highly recommend them.

We have done the Outta Control Dinner Show at Wonderworks and LOVED it!

If you're history buffs, the Titanic Experience on International Drive is worth a visit (but pricey....check for coupons).

You don't say when your trip is, but if it falls during the holiday season, ICE! at Gaylord Palms is amazing.

We love mini golf for a family fun activity. Our favourites (in order) are Pirates Cove and Congo River (tie for first), Hawaiian Rumble, Gator Golf, and Volanco Island.

Showcase of Citrus looks like fun (tour a real orange grove, take the monster truck eco tour). We are doing this for the first time on our August trip in 3.5 weeks!

What about shopping? The Premium Outlets are great for bargains, and the Florida Mall can be fun too.

Cocoa Beach is only an hour away.

Groupon and Livingsocial are great places to find some deep discounts on activities in the Orlando area. We snag some fantastic deals for our travels!

 

[ParkHopperFan]

Cirque De Soleil at Downtown Disney is an absolutely amazing show! I can't recommend it enough. Truly entertaining! I wasn't sure if I would like it but am so glad we went.

Blue Man Group in Universal is great too. Really fun and you can grab dinner at CityWalk before the show. Great atmosphere with plenty of choices!

Good Luck!

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Arabian nights!

 

[wiigirl]

Arabian nights!

 

[Guatemommy]

Thanks everyone! We have a mini golf course at our resort and we have done Pirates Cove in the past so I'll see if we will try Congo River. I have a few days planned already.
Our first day we will get settled and wait for BFF to arrive and just chill at the resort.

We decided to take DD to 1900 Park Fare for the Cindy/PC dinner - it was her favorite last time so we plan to spend an evening at GF - dinner, fireowrks, water pageant. That will be our dose of Dismagic.

Another night we will do Wonderworks and the comedy show. The next morning (last with BFF) we are going to the Peabody to watch the ducks march!

I am just missing ICE by about a week or so, darn! DD didnt seem interested in the Titanic thing, though. We will be left with one night and one last day for just the two of us so I promised her some Disoutlet shopping and a few people suggested there are fun thngs to do at Citywalk so we may try that.

Thanks again!

 

[nono]

I'd suggest a lunch or dinner in Celebration. Fun "downtown" area to poke around with a few shops, a pond, etc.

 

[GadgetTheInventor]

One year we went up to Blue Springs State Park to see the manatees up close, a natural Florida spring, and took an amazing nature boat tour of the St. John's river that left from the park there...defiantly some of Florida's finest nature encounters and the captain was absolutely amazing with her vast knowledge and attention to detail!

We also stopped at a park along the way that was home to the largest bald cypress tree in the country and the 5th oldest tree in the world...3,500 yrs old! A meth addict burned the tree down shortly after we saw it, but there is a shorter, though still impressive cypress a little bit farther down the trail.

NASA is a bit of a drive, but my parents made a day trip there one time and felt there was still plenty of time to tour the facilities there.

 

[atwmommy]

The beach!

 

[BeerMe]

Seaworld is offering $50 weekday tickets until December. A good deal

 

[thr33boys]

Seaworld is offering $50 weekday tickets until December. A good deal

That's a great deal but I don't understand why it's only valid for US residents?

 

[aidansmom0406]

Seaworld is offering $50 weekday tickets until December. A good deal

That is a good deal. Does it include parking? Do you have to go to a special link online to get this deal or can you get it at the park gate?

 

[BeerMe]

That is a good deal. Does it include parking? Do you have to go to a special link online to get this deal or can you get it at the park gate?

Parking isn't included and I believe it is an internet only option but I'm not sure.

http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Book-Online/Tickets/AllTicketsTourists

 

[kamanda]

We visited Showcase of Citrus today so I thought I'd give a quick review in case anyone was considering going.

1. Do not pay full price - there is a $10 off per adult coupon in the Florida attractions booklet or you can get the Groupon coupon for $10 each adult, $5 for child.

2. Time spent is 1 hr to MAX 2 hr. This is not a whole day activity.

3. Take the 10AM or 6pm tour to see the most animals. The afternoons get too hot and the animals will stay hidden in the shade.

4. Print the coupons from their website for the buy 1 get 1 free slushies.

Overall, both the adults and kids loved it. For the discounted price, I think it's definitely worth it to go at least once. It is not an attraction that you would do over and over again.