Help planning a trip without rides!

[pkpope]

Hi all, I’m beginning planning a summer WDW trip in June for me and my boyfriend. We’re going for 4 days and I’d like to take advantage of the florida resident 3 day pass they’re offering. I’m a lifelong Disney go-er, but he’s only been a few times. I know my way around property BUT the trick is he doesn’t like rides. So for one of our park days we’re going to do EPCOT and enjoying world showcase (thankfully he can manage the boat rides lol), and our other day we’ll head to HS because fantasmic is my favorite show. Any ideas on what would be best for our third park day? Animal Kingdom without rides isn’t much, but Pandora is beautiful at night and I think I might be able to convince him to get on FOP since it’s too amazing to pass up, and MK is IMO unbearable at any time of year much less in June. Should we just do another EPCOT evening and maybe focus more on a nice dinner than hoping around the countries?

 

[Peppeperoni]

I personally would think Epcot would be the coolest place for someone who doesn’t like rides.

 

[Peppeperoni]

Stop by Disney springs too!

 

[mkla2015]

I can't imagine going to WDW and NOT going to MK but if you are going to do no rides, I'd probably pick AK for day 3. Festival of the Lion King, Nemo, It's tough to be a bug are all fun shows. You can walk around and look at animals- take the train to Rafiki's. Pandora is beautiful especially at night. I don't think I'd take someone who doesn't like rides on FOP though- it might be too intense depending on why he doesn't like rides... does he get motion sickness?

 

[pkpope]

I can't imagine going to WDW and NOT going to MK but if you are going to do no rides, I'd probably pick AK for day 3. Festival of the Lion King, Nemo, It's tough to be a bug are all fun shows. You can walk around and look at animals- take the train to Rafiki's. Pandora is beautiful especially at night. I don't think I'd take someone who doesn't like rides on FOP though- it might be too intense depending on why he doesn't like rides... does he get motion sickness?

No motion sickness, just doesn’t really enjoy them lol. That’s why I considered AK because i love Pandora at night, I just really dont think either of us would enjoy MK and since he’s only been a few times I’d also like for him to get to see 3 parks instead of just 2.

 

[angierae]

I am doing Disney with DH who doesn't like rides next year, but he's a sleep in kind of person so I'll head to the parks in the mornings and do rides, and then hang out with him in the afternoon/evenings.

 

[wdw&sonny]

If he's never been to WDW, does her really understand "rides" are attractions? He may think that the rides are like those of an amusement park or county fair. My wife does not like "rides", but she loves Disney attractions.
Explain to him that it is not a ride. It is an attraction, an adventure, a fantasy, an immersive experience. Watch Pirates of the Caribbean and other movies he may like. Then discuss the attraction themed for the movie. Get him immersed into the Disney spirit before the trip.

 

[Peppeperoni]

The thought of someone just simply not liking rides for no other reason is mind blowing to me

 

[Skippyboo]

I would do AK. Would he be up for the Safari? You have the two nature trails, Festival of the Lion King, Nemo show, Tough to be a bug. Hit in the morning and then go back to hotel and then if you want go back at night for a walk around Pandora, tree of life lighting and ROL.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I could not imagine going to Disney and not going on a single ride.
What does he have against something like IASW, HM, PP, POTC, JC, LWTL, SSE, Figment, etc...?
If he's super into the countries I guess I'd go to Epcot again.
If he's super into zoos then I guess go to AK.
I just don't see enough in any park to literally not go on a single ride at all all day long.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

If he's never been to WDW, does he really understand "rides" are attractions? He may think that the rides are like those of an amusement park or county fair. My wife does not like "rides", but she loves Disney attractions.
Explain to him that it is not a ride. It is an attraction, an adventure, a fantasy, an immersive experience. Watch Pirates of the Caribbean and other movies he may like. Then discuss the attraction themed for the movie. Get him immersed into the Disney spirit before the trip.

And there's the rub! Excellent point! I STILL call them rides...but when you really think about it...fairs and Six Flags have "rides" Universal and Disney are attractions...they are centered around some central theme.

Hi all, I’m beginning planning a summer WDW trip in June for me and my boyfriend. We’re going for 4 days and I’d like to take advantage of the florida resident 3 day pass they’re offering. I’m a lifelong Disney go-er, but he’s only been a few times. I know my way around property BUT the trick is he doesn’t like rides.

May I ask why? Because as stated above....what Disney has are not rides.

 

[TwinkleKS]

At AK he could do Navii River as a test on a calm theme in Pandora experience versus a ride. Then Kilmanjaro Safari isn't really a "ride" its a Jeep. Then you can walk around on the nature trail (brain dead on the name). So that would be neat to do at night to see Pandora glow. Plus you have a couple of shows like Up!, Nemo, and Lion King.

Epcot you already mentioned the World Showcase. Then Spaceship Earth and The Living Land are more educational than "rides" so you could try those two.

HS there a quite a few shows to see there - Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Fantasmic, Indiana Jones, etc.

MK it is hard to hate the classics without having tried them ... I mean who can not like It's a Small World

 

[hereforthechurros]

The thought of someone just simply not liking rides for no other reason is mind blowing to me

Or being against every ride! Like, a boat cruise through small world or the Na’vi river journey are hardly rides. What about people mover? Gran Fiesta? Soarin? Star Tours?

 

[dbb727]

I would definitely do Animal Kingdom as that is the park with the least “rides” anyhow but I think you can still fill a whole day with all the beautiful scenery and animals. There are plenty of non-ride attractions: animal trails, exploring the animals and carvings around Tree of Life, FOTLK, Up Show, Rafiki Train(takes at least 1-2hr in my experience), maybe Nemo?, exploring Pandora and I bet he would enjoy the safari. Plus there is excellent dining, you can do lunch at Satuli, and either Nomad lounge or sit down dinner at tiffins, don’t forget to get a dole whip at Tamu Tamu. Take time to stop and watch the various entertainers. Perhaps even convince him to do Wilderness Explorers so you get a chance to experience the park in a different way. And if he isn’t against characters then make time for Donald’s Dino Bash, Mickey/Minnie M&G or do Tusker house character meal. If you have time in middle of day then hop over to AKL for an amazing meal at Sanaa.

 

[Farro]

The thought of someone just simply not liking rides for no other reason is mind blowing to me

I know! I always say anything would be loads more fun if an omnimover is involved.

Heck, I would even enjoy going to church if they added omnimovers or a slow boat ride.

 

[Upatnoon]

Hi all, I’m beginning planning a summer WDW trip in June for me and my boyfriend. We’re going for 4 days and I’d like to take advantage of the florida resident 3 day pass they’re offering. I’m a lifelong Disney go-er, but he’s only been a few times. I know my way around property BUT the trick is he doesn’t like rides. So for one of our park days we’re going to do EPCOT and enjoying world showcase (thankfully he can manage the boat rides lol), and our other day we’ll head to HS because fantasmic is my favorite show. Any ideas on what would be best for our third park day? Animal Kingdom without rides isn’t much, but Pandora is beautiful at night and I think I might be able to convince him to get on FOP since it’s too amazing to pass up, and MK is IMO unbearable at any time of year much less in June. Should we just do another EPCOT evening and maybe focus more on a nice dinner than hoping around the countries?

I would pretty much ignore the "I don't like rides" thing and book the attractions you think you would both enjoy. The "I don't like rides" sounds like he doesn't like to wait in line or wild coasters.

Most of the Disney attractions are a step above standing still. If he panics in "Small World" perhaps you can rethink my advice.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I would pretty much ignore the "I don't like rides" thing and book the attractions you think you would both enjoy. The "I don't like rides" sounds like he doesn't like to wait in line or wild coasters.

Most of the Disney attractions are a step above standing still. If he panics in "Small World" perhaps you can rethink my advice.