Give Me Your Tips for a Non-Park Trip

[Bowen9475]

I am considering bringing my 3 kids 11, 8 and 5 to Disney for a few days over February school vacation but not visiting the parks. We've been many times, including last February vacation and for 2 weeks in August and had APs so we visited all the parks for several days. Our passes have expired so we'd be looking for non-park entertainment. I'm sure they'd love to even be able to do some swimming in February and just enjoy some warmer weather. I am thinking about visiting Seaworld for a day and doing the Pirate & Princess party if they have one while we are there. I've also thought about going to the campfire at Fort Wilderness and doing a character breakfast. What other suggestions do you have? Thank you!

 

[pooh4evr]

We went to St Petersburg Tampa earlier this yr and drove over to DTD for a day- it was about an hour nad a half - easy drive- anyway you could easily drive over there and do some of the activities on Tampa Bay- we went an a dolphin racer boat which was really neat - the dolphins jump behind the boat- really close- and we did a Pirate Cruise one evening I think it was maybe 2 hours or so you go out into the gulf - beautiful Sunset - they had music and activities for the kids (and a bar for the parents) Captain Nemo's Pirate Cruise-----
If you don't want to do that then maybe go to Cape Canavral and see the Space Shuttle.

 

[DisneyDotty]

I am thinking about visiting Seaworld for a day and doing the Pirate & Princess party if they have one while we are there.

Does Seaworld have a Pirate and Princess party, too? I thought that was just at the MK. I'm so out of the loop!
Anyway, definitely go to Fort Wilderness--campfire and movie is great fun. My kids loved Cirque du Soleil--we still talk about how amazing it was! And my DS9 really wants to go to Disney Quest. You could easily while away a day at DTD--mmmm, go have a brownie sundae at Ghiradelli's!
And enjoy the pools, and ride the monorail, and watch the Electric Light Parade from Poly's beach...Wow, there's a lot to do without the parks!

 

[Bowen9475]

We won't have a car so we'll be staying in the Disney area. If we go to Seaworld we would take the Lynx bus. The P&P party I spoke of is at the MK. I meant we would also do that one night of the trip if offered. Sorry for the confusion!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Okay--thanks for the clarification! I was going to have to check it out, otherwise!

 

[Mickeys_n_me]

The Pirates and Princess Party is usually in September isn't it?

THere is a ton to do even still. They do have a Pirates cruise that is held year round where your kids go out on a boat and search for the treasure. http://www.wdwinfo.com/just_for_kids/piratecruise.htm

Then there is Mini golf. Shopping at DTD. The fireworks can be seen from the beach at the Poly. A character meal at one of the resorts. The Campfire.

There is a ton going on without having to enter a park.

 

[Bowen9475]

The P&P Party was introduced last winter - we went to one in February. Disney brought it back for a few dates in mid/late August - we also went to one then. There are reports of it returning for this coming winter. Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[ZPT1022]

some of our favorite non park things:

I know it's technically still a park, but to kids from the northeast, being able to go to a waterpark in February would be amazing

Downtown Disney
Winter Summerland mini golf
Just hanging around the resort swimming and playing on the playground
visiting other resorts and walking around to see where we might like to stay next. Sometimes we'll arrange our times so that we have lunch or dinner there.
outlet shopping if that is your thing
my kids think that the A&W drive in in front of Target on 192 is just the coolest thing ever
visiting Celebration
riding the monorail
all the great restaurants at the WDW hotels
boat rentals
fireworks cruise
sleeping in on a vacation
walking around and taking silly pictures
beaches
movies

I'm sure there's more but we enjoy our days off from the park just as much as our park days. Sometimes its just nice to be there without a schedule and to have a loose plan but to do whatever catches our fancy at the moment.


Oh, another thing to look into would be if you have any sort of museum membership at home, check to see if there is a reciprocal agreement that lets you in to any museums or zoos or attractions in FL. We were surprised to find quite a few things that we could do for free just because of the memberships we hold at home