Fun things to do outside of rides

[cmorris303]

This year my kids will be 6 and 8 when we're in DW. Now that they're older, I am looking for ideas for fun things to do in and around the parks besides the rides. I didn't know if anyone had any little games they play, fun things they do, or anything like that. I've gotten so many great tips and ideas on these boards, I figured I give this a shot.
Thanks!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This year my kids will be 6 and 8 when we're in DW. Now that they're older, I am looking for ideas for fun things to do in and around the parks besides the rides. I didn't know if anyone had any little games they play, fun things they do, or anything like that. I've gotten so many great tips and ideas on these boards, I figured I give this a shot.
Thanks!

MK has Sorceror's of the Magic Kingdom. All of my kids love it.

EPCOT has Phineus and Ferb that replaced Kimpossible where you to on a mission.

Animal Kingdom has Wilderness Explorers, which features activity stations.

As far as other things..
DHS has streetmosphere performers while EPCOT has performers in the various countries.
MK has the shooting arcade, I think.

 

[sharadoc]

There are lots of shows at Epcot in the countries; the Jammitors are awesome in Future World. We like to watch Jedi Training at DHS, my daughter did it when she was younger and loved it. In MK on Main Street there's the Trolley Show in the morning, the street parade/show, the Philharmonic marching band and the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet, then the Pirates show in Adventureland, the Banjo/Tuba trio in Frontierland, a dance party in Tomorrowland. A ton of little pop-up performances and characters are everywhere.

 

[Shmily01]

MK has Sorceror's of the Magic Kingdom. All of my kids love it.

EPCOT has Phineus and Ferb that replaced Kimpossible where you to on a mission.

Animal Kingdom has Wilderness Explorers, which features activity stations.

As far as other things..
DHS has streetmosphere performers while EPCOT has performers in the various countries.
MK has the shooting arcade, I think.

THIS! My then 7 and 10 year olds loved these missions!

 

[nilla]

Take the time to watch the street performers in HS and Epcot!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I agree with taking the time to stop and watch the performers.

Finding Hidden Mickeys is fun, too. You could make a point of taking pics of them, or there are even books to help you find them.

Have you done some of the quieter, slower-paced attractions - like the Swiss Family Treehouse and Tom Sawyer's Island?

What about mini-golf? I haven't done that in a long time, but I think there are two courses on the Disney grounds - Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland.

 

[PA Disneymania]

Take them to Tom Sawyer's island to explore and run off some energy, especially if they have been waiting in lines. DHS has plenty of shows. My kids, when they were younger and still today, enjoyed Lights, Motor, Action at DHS.

 

[FreddyMercury]

The Sorcerer's game in MK is extremely popular. Just go to the fire station in Town Square or behind the christmas shoppe in Liberty Square. They'll set you up. The kids get a pack of cards and they walk around the different lands looking for "portals" and "battling" various villains. Collecting the cards is fun.

Also in MK, in Adventureland there is a Pirates themed treasure hunt type game. I prefer this game to the Sorcerers game. They get to interact with different aspects of the scenery around Adventureland while completing 5 'quests'. I. Love. This. Game… It may be because I worked there, but I think it is so much fun. The maps you collect are really nice and the effects can often times be very advanced and surprising. Just look for the small building just on the other side of the Adventureland/Frontierland gate. "A Pirates Adventure: Treasure of the Seven Seas" is the official name.

In Epcot, the Agent P game is very similar to the Pirate game, and I also highly recommend trying this one out. They have a large station set up at the entrance to the World Showcase along with smaller carts located throughout the showcase.

Other than games, I would suggest purchasing the most recent Hidden Mickeys book and searching for those. That can keep kids busy for days. Also, a large number of the Hidden Mickeys are in the rides/queues, so that'll give you something to do while waiting in line.

 

[disnut8]

One of our favorite things is to just take the boats around Bay Lake/Seven Seas Lagoon. Get on the one that goes to Fort Wilderness, get out there, walk to the nearby Trading Post, get some beverages and snacks from there, then go out to the marina and sit on the beach and relax. Kids can play, adults can visit.

You can also just take the boats around to the monorail resorts without using the monorail. Same plan as above but closer.

Exit out of Epcot via the International Gateway and walk around Crescent Lake. Get a piece of pizza at the Boardwalk or a snack from Boardwalk Joe's.

Take the Friendship Boat from the Studios to Epcot and then back.

See Rafiki's Planet Watch and/or Flights of Wonder at Animal Kingdom.

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

The Pirate Adventure game in Adventureland is my personal favorite. It's loads of fun and makes you pay attention to so many of the little details that you would have just walked past otherwise. Also I recommend doing it at night, just because the effects are even more fun in the dark.

 

[Flamingeaux]

Animation Academy in DHS.

 

[cmorris303]

Thank you so much for all of the great ideas and explanations of them!! This is why I love these boards. I'm excited to try these this trip.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Agreed with the Adventureland Pirates game, play it at night, I think the effects work best then.

Also, you can set up little challenges for yourself. Last trip we tried to see how many characters we could meet in a day.

 

[stormer]

My boys love the Agent P game in Epcot. They enjoy many of the performers around World Showcase also.

We love to look for Hidden Mickeys. I have the app on my phone and it gives you clues and lets you keep track of which ones you find. We use it every trip and it keeps track so you can add from trip to trip. A lot fun.

Have you ever done the campfire at FW? That was fun too. Chip and Dale come out and they have a sing-along. We haven't been in a while but at that age we enjoyed it.

 

[ditsypixie]

We LOVE Animation Academy!!

 

[Pinkos]

My boys love the Agent P game in Epcot. They enjoy many of the performers around World Showcase also.

We love to look for Hidden Mickeys. I have the app on my phone and it gives you clues and lets you keep track of which ones you find. We use it every trip and it keeps track so you can add from trip to trip. A lot fun.

Have you ever done the campfire at FW? That was fun too. Chip and Dale come out and they have a sing-along. We haven't been in a while but at that age we enjoyed it.

What is the name if the ap? This sounds like fun

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Ride Characters in Flight hot air balloon at DTD.

 

[stormer]

What is the name if the ap? This sounds like fun

We use Steven Barrett's Hidden Mickeys. I think it cost about $6, but we really like all of the features it offers, especially being able to keep track from one trip to the next. It shows what percentage of HM you have found in each park, resort, etc. It gives you clues, also, which helps the kids when they can't find some of them. It is great for passing the time on line for a ride or waiting for a dining reservation.