Ideas for Disney Magic without actually going to the parks

[linnylu]

We are planning a trip to Orlando in March. We will fly in on a Saturday around 11:30 am and rent a car. We set sail the next day on a 4 night cruise and then will spent 2 more full days at Universal.

My question is what can we do on that Saturday we arrive that will give us a little Disney Magic? DH doesn't actually want to spend the money to go to a park since we won't arrive until 11:30. It's hard for me to be in Orlando and not go to Disney but the kids voted to go to Universal for HP

I'd also like to be able to use my Disney Reward dollars for anything we might do. I'd appreciate any ideas!

 

[happily single]

Downtown Disney!!!!!

We went to Nick Hotel (No disney parks) during April vacation. I couldn't handle it and went to Downtown twice. Then I convinced the kids to leave the Nick Hotel for Typoon Lagoon So much for NO DISNEY!!!

 

[Wishes]

I vote for Downtown Disney, too! We did this last summer and had a great time! You could definitely use your reward dollars at the World of Disney store!

Also, another fun thing we have done in the past on our first night was to eat at Chef Mickey's. We would park at Epcot and take the monorail over to the Contemporary. If you're not staying at a Disney resort I guess this would involve a parking fee at Epcot but I think it would be worth it!

Have a fun trip!

 

[Ohiodislover]

Oooo, I vote for the Chef Mickey's idea.

 

[focusondisney]

Dinner at any one of the monorail resorts, then watch fireworks & the Electrical Light Water Parade from the resort.

Boardwalk/ Yacht & Beach club area for dinner. You can see most of the fireworks from Illuminations from the bridge that seperates Beach club & Boardwalk. Mini golf across the rode from the Swan & Dolphin.

Downtown Disney: shop, eat, Disney Quest, Cirque du Soeil.

Animal Kingdom Lodge & check out the public areas.

Resort hop to all the places you've wanted to visit but never have time for.

 

[fhtpdw20]

Hoop de Doo is a lot of fun at Fort Wilderness and then watch the Electric Water Pagent from the beach. Or you could do the Luau at the Poly and watch fireworks on the beach.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Ditch your kids and go to Disney by yourself

Just kidding.
Sort of.

 

[C.Ann]

Another vote for Downtown Disney..

 

[diznygirl]

Downtown Disney is really busy on a Saturday afternoon/night. I vote for visiting one of the resorts. Maybe to Boardwalk to walk and shop, rent a surrey bike, play at the arcade at ESPN, eat ice cream, have dinner, watch Epcot fireworks, have a drink at the Belleview Room and play a board game...

Or the Contemporary has an arcade, Chef Mickey's, and a view of the fireworks...

Or Port Orleans or Riverside to rent a boat, surrey bike, arcade, dinner...

Or Animal Kingdom to see the animals and have dinner at Boma....


I don't know - there's not much to do around here....

 

[Pikester]

How much is a taxi ride from Orlando Airport to Downtown Disney? Just an estimate.

 

[funhouse8]

Spend the early afternoon at DTD then hop on a bus to the poly. Make dinner reservations there (before you go) and after dinner grab a spot on the beach to view the electic water parade and fireworks. They pipe in the music. If this doesn't give you a disney fix nothing will. LOL

 

[Mimi1965]

Play miniature Golf-near The Swan

Tour AKL and have a meal there

Go to WL-rent bikes and ride over to Fort Wilderness-see the Disney horses in the barn-they even have the mini white horse that pull Cinderella's carriage there , go to the petting zoo -ride a pony (if the kids are small)

 

[ndelaware]

How much is a taxi ride from Orlando Airport to Downtown Disney? Just an estimate.

It was $25 for us the last few trips.

 

[Christine]

I'm probably in the minority here but DTD doesn't make me have that Disney feeling. I don't know why?

I like the other suggestions of going to the Hoop Dee Doo Review or maybe taking the monorail over to the Grand Floridian and having dinner (or any of the other monorail resorts). That feels pretty special to me.

 

[Disney Doll]

Dinner at any one of the monorail resorts, then watch fireworks & the Electrical Light Water Parade from the resort.

Boardwalk/ Yacht & Beach club area for dinner. You can see most of the fireworks from Illuminations from the bridge that seperates Beach club & Boardwalk. Mini golf across the rode from the Swan & Dolphin.

Downtown Disney: shop, eat, Disney Quest, Cirque du Soeil.

Animal Kingdom Lodge & check out the public areas.

Resort hop to all the places you've wanted to visit but never have time for.

This.

My only other suggestion would be the monorail hotel tour.

Hop on the monorail and go to all the hotels it stops at. Get out, walk around, look at the pool, check out the shops. If you want to get really crazy, save the Contemporary for last and when you're done there, hop on a boat to the Wilderness Lodge and tour that one too. Then you can get from WL to Fort Wilderness, where there's some stuff to see and do as well.

 

[Pikester]

It was $25 for us the last few trips.

Thank you! Have plans to be in Orlando the day before our Disney Cruise and will be staying at the Hyatt. Looking to see what options we have for the evening.

 

[linnylu]

Thanks for all the great ideas. Does Disney sell an evening rates pass like our local amusement park? Rates are cheaper if you go after 5 pm. I'd love to spend an evening at Epcot. Does anyone know average park closing times for late March? I wish we were going on vacation tomorrow! March is so far away.

 

[DawnCt1]

Hoop de Doo is a lot of fun at Fort Wilderness and then watch the Electric Water Pagent from the beach. Or you could do the Luau at the Poly and watch fireworks on the beach.

That was my first thought too!

 

[Christine]

Thanks for all the great ideas. Does Disney sell an evening rates pass like our local amusement park? Rates are cheaper if you go after 5 pm. I'd love to spend an evening at Epcot. Does anyone know average park closing times for late March? I wish we were going on vacation tomorrow! March is so far away.

No, they don't unfortunately.