Help me with on-site non-park activities

[disneysteve]

For the first time ever, we are going to WDW for 2 weeks this year. As a result, we want to try and catch some things that we have either never done or don't usually leave time for. So hit me with everything: special tours (including those in the parks despite my thread title), evening activities at the hotels and campgrounds, shows, etc. We're not interested in the water parks.

I would like to see the Electric Water Pageant. I've seen it many times but my family has not. How do we get the schedule of where we can see it when?

I've read about the marshmallow roast at the campground. Any info on that?

What else? I'm an expert on the parks but not so much outside of them.

Thanks.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Hi from NJ!!!!!

We love "Keys to the Kingdom" tours.
Swimming with the dolphins is also a wonderful time.
Take a boat out for a few hours & head for Bay Lake, it's so quiet & there are so many types of birds where Discovery Island used to be.
Look into a Illuminations or Wishes cruise.......we love the movies at YC, but I'm not sure where your staying.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

We like to head over to Fort Wilderness and spend time there. They have nice grounds to wonder around on.. eat lunch at Trails end & even take the boat over to the Wilderness Lodge and walk around there... be sure to spend the evening at FW for the Campground Campfire. They have the sing-a-long with Chip & Dale, roast marshmellows & watch a movie.. I am not sure if they are still doing this, but they use to.. I think it starts about 7:30-8:30 time frame. If you contact guest services they may have that info...or call FW Campground directly.. If they are, we plan on doing this when we head up in Aug. oh, bring plenty of bug spray for that night...

 

[Brian Noble]

Lots to do at Ft. Wilderness.

You can rent surrey bikes at most resorts Moderate and higher. Several resorts also have marinas.

Cane pole fishing at Ft. Wilderness and POR.

 

[thumperjr9]

We played mini-golf on our last trip at Winter-Summerland...it was fun and very cute, all disney themed of course. They have a new tethered balloon ride at DTD that we wanted to do but never did manage to fit it in our schedule.

 

[KayR]

Outside of the parks there is Gatorland, Boggy Creek AIrboats, Cypress Gardens (recently re-opened, smaller, old fashioned park), Orlando Science Center (on my list for my upcoming non WDW park trip), plenty of national parks for wildlife watching / hiking. Beach day (its only an hour-ish to the beach), dinner shows (Pirate, Medieval Times etc - OK foods generally not great, but we go to get into the atmosphere of the evening). Horseback riding, zip lining. Warbird Museum and flights.

This is just off the top of my head. What types of things interest you?

-Kay

 

[melzseb]

Is the campfire fun for 4 year olds? It seems like roasting is something we can do anytime, but my DS loves to roast marshmellows and wants to do this badly with CHip and Dale. We will be staying at POP, can we still head over there? I know we will have to take a bus over from one of the parks, but how late do the buses run? What would be our best way to get back to POP afterwards?

 

[kokomos]

La Nouba is on my list of must do things. As many times as we have been never have been able to go there or Disney Quest.
We do enjoy hanging out around the boardwalk. ESPN Zone= happy husband.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Is the campfire fun for 4 year olds? It seems like roasting is something we can do anytime, but my DS loves to roast marshmellows and wants to do this badly with CHip and Dale. We will be staying at POP, can we still head over there? I know we will have to take a bus over from one of the parks, but how late do the buses run? What would be our best way to get back to POP afterwards?

Very buggy, people with hot stuff all around.....I wouldn't with a 4 year old. JMO

 

[Teacher03]

Some things we have done in the past-

* La Nouba-loved it, highly recommend it if you have never been.

*Tubing-This was crazy. I don't know what I was thinking that I could go tubing at the age of 45! I have never been, so I had no idea what it was going to be like. I lasted about 10 minutes, but my girls LOVED it! They had the best time. If you go, request Steve, he was alot of fun. (This was at the Contemporary-Sammy Duvalls)

*Parasailing-Also at the Contemporary. This was more my style. So peaceful!

*Water mice-Once again, at the Contemporary. Fun!

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Visit AKL to view the animals on the Savanah. PM movies with marshmallow roasts are also held at GF and Beachclub. View Wishes from the beach at the Poly. There is a musician named Elliott who is at Port Orleans at least a few nights a week. He is located outside of the foodcourt, just in front of the bar and he is great! He does vocals, plays sax, electric piano and a few other instruments. Very entertaining and fun! Grammy

 

[grammynelliebelle]

I forgot to mention, if you have a car, go into the town of Celebration. It is very enjoyable. They have a Farmers Market on Sunday am. We like to eat at Town Tavern. Delicious clam chowder! Gramm

 

[disneysteve]

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. We've done a number of them but there are several that we haven't and we've put them on our list.

How hard is it to get La Nouba tickets? Do they usually sell out? We're going the last 2 weeks of August. Do I need to order them now?

 

[Detailor]

Try www.undercovertourist.com for slightly discounted La Nouba tickets. I believe that they sell category 2 seating. We had great seats for our first time there this past winter. UTC has given us consistently excellent service when we've ordered tickets for our Disney trips.
For me, buying in advance is the right way to go for Cirque. For day of the performance seating you need to get there really early and there's no guarantee that you'll get tickets.
Of course you can also get tickets through the link at the Disney site.

Dick Taylor

 

[dgaston]

Just wanted to add that the FW movie schedule is posted at the beginning of the month here on the Camping Board.

We have also created great memories playing mini golf at WDW. If you have an AP, there is a significant discount.