Help me plan out our 5 non-park days!

[Tiger926]

We are major park people - we don't do the parks commando, but we feel we need to be there everyday. Some days it's all day, some days it's 1 hour for dinner and other days it's just for fireworks. Regardless, we love the theme parks!

That being said, we have 5 non-park days scheduled for next trip in July at the end of 10 days at BLT and AKV. Due to a scheduling conflict (my school board changed our calendar), our APs expire before end of our trip. So, we currently have 1st night @ BLT in order to check out resort and catch fireworks, 9 nights 1 bed @ AKV and 4 nights @ BCV. Kids will be just turned 7 and just turned 3 years of age. We also have our own car, so we can drive around.

We have been going back and forth on what to do those last 5 days. We were first staying at AKV for 13 or 14 nights, and so we thought being away from parks those last few days would be easier - out of sight, out of mind. We thought we would do the Water Parks, pool hop and Downtown Disney. We nixxed this idea as the kids are still too small for Water Parks (son has ear tubes as well), and so we changed our ressie to 4 studio nights @ Beach Club as we love Stormalong Bay/beach/Boardwalk area. DD6.5 was disappointed at first about Water Parks, but she realized that she was still afraid of the big water slides, and that her baby brother couldn't do anything, so she is mucho excited for us all to be able to enjoy Beach Club/Boardwalk area as it's our fav area.

We plan on:

- sleeping in and eating late character breakfasts
- swimming
- hanging out at Community Rooms
- dinner at TS restaurants
- movies on Beach
- mini golf
- pool hop to Boardwalk, Saratoga and Wilderness
- watch Epcot fireworks each night
- hang out on Boardwalk
- Downtown Disney
- shopping
- eat at Kona for late dinner & watch Wishes from beach
- watch Water Pageant from beach

Have I missed anything else to do outside of parks? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated, Tiger

 

[BlakeNJ]

Chip & Dales Campfire Sing Along! Your kids will love it! It's at Fort Wilderness. There is a Sing a Along for about an hour with C&D, then a Disney movie follows. You can roast marshmallows. Similar to the movies on the beach at BCV but much more fun!!!

You have a good list. Will you have a car?

I don't think my kids would miss the parks much if I had things planned each day, like you seem to have. I am sure others will give you more suggestions but you have a great list. You are staying at the resort with the best pool so I am sure your kids will have a ball there. Take advantage of the pool activities, Wii games scheduled in the afternoons and your kids will have plenty to do.

 

[Teachckg]

You can rent a little boat at the yacht club and take it around crescent lake! You can also do the same at Contemporary and go around bay lake!

 

[sweetdana]

Firework cruise from CR. Sitting on a balcony watching animals at AKV. Taxi to dinner show off Disney. Arabian Knights, Medieval Times orlando, Poly Lau. Characters in Flight. If they are young, there is water splash things at downtown Dis. Disney Quest, Circus Du Soleil. Fishing at FQ or POR. Water craft rental couple of places. Princess tea party at GF. Mickys BBQ, or hoop - dee- do. .. Ohhh this is making me want to plan another trip.

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks for all suggestions! I did forget about the campfire at Wildnerness Lodge. Everytime we stay there, we have intentions to go, but we don't have time. We will now!

Thanks all, Tiger

 

[culli]

You can rent a little boat at the yacht club and take it around crescent lake! You can also do the same at Contemporary and go around bay lake!

I would suggest getting a pontoon boat and the whole family can go at Bay Lake. We got ours at WL and with DVC discount it was under $40 for an hour. It was something I always wanted to do, was neat to checkout the monorail resorts etc from the lake.

 

[ParrotBill]

Pontoon boat rental is a favorite of ours.

My daughter is after me to do one of the mini-golf places.

Tours resorts you haven't seen or hope to stay at someday.

Wilderness Lodge has a treasure hunt of secrets that takes hours to complete... good for the kids while the adults hang out in comfy lobby chairs or on a porch chair.

We often rent a car for a day (cheaper than many Disney activities) and go to the beach...or touristing around.... or to another park. (I can describe lots of beach options.)

(Later this year... watch for the 1,000 posts for "how to I get from WDW to Universal for Harry Potter????")

 

[Tiger926]

I would suggest getting a pontoon boat and the whole family can go at Bay Lake. We got ours at WL and with DVC discount it was under $40 for an hour. It was something I always wanted to do, was neat to checkout the monorail resorts etc from the lake.

We were thinking of that also - my baby is a wacko, and would probably jump out of the boat, so we'll have to see about that. LOL! I didn't realize how inexpensive that activity is - thanks.

Pontoon boat rental is a favorite of ours

My daughter is after me to do one of the mini-golf places.

We are going to mini golf for sure.

Tours resorts you haven't seen or hope to stay at someday.
We've stayed at every one except GF, and we spend a ton of time there, so touring resorts is not new for us. We are split stay junkies, so we've been to them all.

Wilderness Lodge has a treasure hunt of secrets that takes hours to complete... good for the kids while the adults hang out in comfy lobby chairs or on a porch chair.

We are going to do some of this stuff to - thanks.

We often rent a car for a day (cheaper than many Disney activities) and go to the beach...or touristing around.... or to another park. (I can describe lots of beach options.)

We have our own car, but we prefer to stay at Disney. We've done Cocoa Beach, and didn't care for it that much, but what other suggestions do you have?

(Later this year... watch for the 1,000 posts for "how to I get from WDW to Universal for Harry Potter????")

Thanks, Tiger

 

[christa112]

Not sure if this was mentioned but the stables at the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Duane]

Thanks for all suggestions! I did forget about the campfire at Wildnerness Lodge. Everytime we stay there, we have intentions to go, but we don't have time. We will now!

Thanks all, Tiger

Not sure if this was mentioned but the stables at the Wilderness Lodge.

Hey guys, keep in mind that these activities are at Fort Wilderness Campground and not Wilderness Lodge.

 

[missycj96]

During the day, stormalong bay is the way to go! We also enjoy the wagon ride at Fort Wilderness. You can have an early dinner at Trails End and then take the early ride (I think it is at 7). Plus Fort Wilderness has a good playground for the kids.

Saratoga Springs has the best community hall. They have a full crafts program for kids. Give a call or go over a day or so earlier and pick up the schedule to see what they have.

 

[backyardponder]

You could go over and check out Yehaa Bob (Bob Jackson) at Port Orleans River Country in the River Roost in the evening. The 7 year old will love it. It is a kid-friendly lounge and a lot of fun. Check out Bob's web page which includes his schedule and a ton of clips from his show. http://www.yehaabob.com/default.asp

 

[flipflopmom]

Let the kids play on the poly beach? Maybe a pirates and pals cruise? BBB at DTD for DD, lego building at DTD for 3 year old, Luau? Love the campfire and movie, wagon ride idea at Ft. Wilderness. Isn't there some sort of safari only avail to AKL/V guests? Mostly in July, that pool hopping will be your best friend! CH's on rainy days...

I am a teacher, and working on my Master's Degree, so I am scared to get AP's for those reasons. The thread makes me realize it might not be so bad to go for no parks, although I can't imagine going and not going in MK.

 

[mikeandkarla]

Ride the monrail around the resort loop and visit Poly and GF.

Try US/IOA if you can still get 7 day 2 park pass for $99. Sea World gives you 2 days for the price of 1 with a 20% discount if you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards card (free on SWA.com). Orlando area has a few decent outlet malls with stores to satisfy all.