Fun things to do at Disney when not at the Parks

[DisneyMum4]

We are going to be in Disney in two weeks and do not plan to spend every day at the park. Please share some things that you and your family do that is free or not very expensive.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Visit the other resorts especially AKL and see the animals. Rent a bike and ride around FW.

 

[bababear_50]

Hi
A few things we have done.

Visit Disney Springs and go on a Hidden Mickey Hunt.
Challenge:
Take pictures of self and Hidden Mickeys.
When 10 pictures have been taken (phone or camera) meet up and share your photos and celebrate with a sweet treat at your favorite restaurant.

Go to the Movies in Disney Springs
I usually try to pre buy tickets.
Take your own snacks to save on $
Morning Matinee is cheaper.

Make up your own Disney Trivia game.
Play game beside the pool.
Prizes can be small things you've brought from home.

Chip and Dales campfire sing along / movie
S'Mores kit can be purchased.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/recreation/chip-n-dale-campfire-sing-a-long/

Also you don't say if you are staying onsite or not. If you are many of the resorts have activities going on.


Have fun planning
Hugs Mel

 

[Narnia_girl]

We always enjoy the monorail resort tour to the Contemporary, Grand Floridian and Polynesian. We usually get lunch at one of the resorts and explore the lobbies/activities, etc.. Next time we go we are going to listen to the Grand Floridian orchestra perform. From the contemporary you can also take a boat ride over to Wilderness Lodge and explore it.

The Boardwalk area is also nice.

 

[OhMari]

We like to play minerature golf.
There is a path that goes between The Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness.
For a fee and certain times and days, you can shoot bow and arrows at Fort
Wilderness.
You can take a boat ride between all the Resorts on Bay Lake. That alone would take all day if you visited each resort.

 

[leebee]

We ride Disney transportation. We make it a game to see how many modes of transportation we can take without duplicating. There is the monorail to both Epcot and MK, as well as the ferry to MK, boats to WL, Contemporary, and GF. There are the Friendships that cruise between Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Also the boat from OKW or POFQ to Disney Springs... and there are always the buses.

 

[LovesTimone]

There are lots of things to check out.

First one for us is a pool day, sit and relax, most offer some type of entertainment for the kids, you will need to check the hours for this.

Head over to the boardwalk area, these should keep you busy for a while, like most of the day, and you could end up Beaches and Cream for a Kitchen Sink to share...

Disney Springs, Movies, bowling, window shopping, balloon ride, or the car boats at Boat House, if you go to Disney Springs at night there is all sorts of free entertainment going on all over, music, bands, performers, at times local dance groups, and choirs performing.

During Christmas, our family gets together and goes from resort to resort checking out all the decorations, and looking for the hidden Mickeys, then we have dinner somewhere all together... Nothing to fancy... Kona one year, Spoodles at the boardwalk but its something else now, Grand Floridian Cafe which we have been to a few times, a Splurge dinner at Chef Mickeys, sometimes we just quick serve somewhere...

Animal Kingdom lodge, but normally we go for a meal, and then check out the Resort...

Fort Wilderness is another fun spot just to check out.

 

[Communicore1991]

We ride Disney transportation. We make it a game to see how many modes of transportation we can take without duplicating. There is the monorail to both Epcot and MK, as well as the ferry to MK, boats to WL, Contemporary, and GF. There are the Friendships that cruise between Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Also the boat from OKW or POFQ to Disney Springs... and there are always the buses.

I like that idea! I've done the full monorail route on EPCOT, Resort, and Express but never thought about doing all the boat routes. Normally I stay at POR so will take the Sassagoula River Cruise to and from Downtown Disney, but seldom take the boat to/from WL, Contemporary, and GF!

 

[Marionnette]

You could do a progressive dinner (or lunch) at the resorts. Monorail or Epcot-area resorts work best for this but any itinerary would do. Appetizers at one resort, entree at the next, dessert at the last one. You could even do this with QS if you don't want to take the time for TS. In between, explore each resort that you visit. If your group is all adults, consider going to the lounges instead. Order food off of the menu and a specialty drink to go with it.

 

[Narnia_girl]

Last time we were at Animal Kingdom Lodge we took the tour of Boma/Jiko. They explain a lot of the symbolism in the restaurant design, and you get free samples at both places. The tour was about 4 or 4:30 p.m.
Wilderness Lodge also offers a tour that I hope to take someday, I believe it's in the morning (it's never worked with our schedules).

 

[clutter]

Its not a visit to Disney without a trip to Winter-Summerland.

 

[Kae]

Electrical Water Pagent.

 

[ZellyB]

Like others have already mentioned, we spent a day with miniature golf and time at the Boardwalk. We rented one of those tandem surrey bikes on the Boardwalk and my kids loved it. Actually we had a great time with it too.

 

[leebee]

I like that idea! I've done the full monorail route on EPCOT, Resort, and Express but never thought about doing all the boat routes. Normally I stay at POR so will take the Sassagoula River Cruise to and from Downtown Disney, but seldom take the boat to/from WL, Contemporary, and GF!

It was fun, and we got to see a few of the resorts that we'd not been to before. It's also fun to ride the ferry from the TTC to MK- it's a really nice mini-cruise!

 

[Deffenm]

We enjoy the Boardwalk area, Monorail loop, and AKL. The AKL is fun to visit and enjoy a meal. You can view animals using night vision googles. During the day they also have activities that kids can do to earn "charms" for a bracelet. The Polynesian use to have a torch lightening ceremony in the evening. I am not sure if they still do or not. The boardwalk is great in the evening all lit up and has entertainers. My daughter also loves watching the movies they show at the resorts. We were staying at the AKL but was having dinner at the Yacht Club and stayed after dinner to watch the outdoor movie. So if you are staying off-site you could have dinner at a resort and then hang out afterwards to watch the movie. We spend time at Disney Springs as well.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I like to go to Pop Century in time to do the Hustle with the Cast Members. They love it when guests to it with them and for me it's the dance we did my senior year of High School so it brings back fun memories of dances from that year.
Then you can walk over the bridge to the Art of Animation for the free drawing class. For both of these, you will want to check times.

Go to WL and ask to do the Hidden Mickey Hunt - I haven't done this recently so I'm not sure if they still do it but they used to hand you a paper with Hidden Mickey's to look for.

Miniature Golf.

Disney Springs - bowling, movies, make lego creations for free (but your kids don't get to keep them).

In the Christmas Season tour the resorts to check out their holiday decorations.

 

[2boysnme]

Last time we were at Animal Kingdom Lodge we took the tour of Boma/Jiko. They explain a lot of the symbolism in the restaurant design, and you get free samples at both places. The tour was about 4 or 4:30 p.m.
Wilderness Lodge also offers a tour that I hope to take someday, I believe it's in the morning (it's never worked with our schedules).

I've never heard of this one, I'm adding it to my list. I googled it and found a review and it sounds like fun. Great suggestion!!

 

[4kids4karen]

Fort Wilderness Campground and
Chip & Dale Campfire.

 

[WaltDavisWorld]

We loved the Chip & Dale campfire and sing along/movie at Fort Wildernss. Definitely worth the trip there. If you get there early enough you can also see the horses at the stables. They have horseback rides and hay rides/carriage rides there also. You can watch the Electrical Pageant and Magic Kingdom fireworks from the monorail resorts. We had a quick dinner at Captain Cooks at the Polynesian and watched both of these and it was a really fun evening. We have also spent an afternoon at Animal Kingdom Lodge to see the animals and enjoyed that as well. We’ve went to Beaches & Cream for the kitchen sink which our kids loved. We love just exploring the resorts in general and try to have a meal or dessert at a few of them each trip!

 

[RangerPooh]

Here are some of the things we have done over the years. Keep in mind that some things may have been discontinued.

• POR: Cane pole fishing, Sassagoula River boat to DTD
• FW: campfire, touring the barns, inexpensive rentals of outdoor equipment
• WDW Resorts (of staying on property): pool deck activities, amny are free
• If a DVC member: we've enjoyed the community halls and checked out movies, played games, and participated in some of their activties
• AK: observing animals. You can create a scavenger hunt for your kids. There's more animals down the hallways and not just the central viewing deck
• WK: Hidden Mickey's in the lobby, and the geyser eruption
• Winter/Summer Land mini golf
• Poly/GF/WL/FW beaches: Electric Water Pageant