Ideas for doing something other than the parks?

[Googilycub]

We are heading to the world in June. We will be staying at the poly for 11 nights, and will not be able to travel off property. It is me, my hubby, and our 9 year old daughter. I am looking for some ideas on what to do other than just going to the parks (I hate rides, lol). We plan to go to each of the water parks, disney quest, mini golfing and possibly splitsville. We are also toying with the ideas of dine with an animal specialist, the pirates fireworks cruise, and horse back riding at fort wilderness (any body have any reviews of these?). Any other ideas for what to do?

 

[Yumi696]

Maybe one of the dinner shows? Exploring really cool resorts like AKL? Window shopping at DTD, especially with the Lego store and the Disney store?

Are you all not entering the parks at all?

 

[Googilycub]

Maybe one of the dinner shows? Exploring really cool resorts like AKL? Window shopping at DTD, especially with the Lego store and the Disney store?

Are you all not entering the parks at all?

We are going to enter the parks on 8 of our days. I have no desire to do full days there, so maybe just half days. We are going to do the Hoop de Doo, and we do plan on shopping down town.

 

[Yumi696]

If no rides is a thing... there are tons of character meet & greets and character dining options.

Park in the morning, lunch, then swimming in the afternoon and then doing some shopping at other resorts or DTD?

Also each resort has activities for kids and the whole family. Every resort has some sort of movie night every night.

 

[Thing 1]

There are tons of things to do in the parks besides rides and "rides" are very different that most theme park rides. There are some amazing shows, 3-d movies, entertainment, shopping, fireworks and much more. My cousins that go every year, just returned from a great trip and rode nothing. Many "rides" are little more tha slow moving boats or other transportation that take you through amazing story lines. Be sure to do your research and know which attractions you might really enjoy. Nighttime entertainment in the parks is fabulous.

 

[msb578]

Fishing, rent a boat, archery, volleyball (etc), carriage ride, Yee Ha Bob Jackson show, surrey biking, animal viewing at AKL, tour of Wildnerness Lodge, Segway tour, walk the trail between WL and FW, ice cream at B&C or Fountain or Ghiardelli...

 

[Googilycub]

There are tons of things to do in the parks besides rides and "rides" are very different that most theme park rides. There are some amazing shows, 3-d movies, entertainment, shopping, fireworks and much more. My cousins that go every year, just returned from a great trip and rode nothing. Many "rides" are little more tha slow moving boats or other transportation that take you through amazing story lines. Be sure to do your research and know which attractions you might really enjoy. Nighttime entertainment in the parks is fabulous.

Trust me, we will be going to the parks and doing rides (I just don't personally care for them). I have a 9 year old, and she loves the rides. I am just looking for ideas to do things not in the parks.

 

[Googilycub]

Fishing, rent a boat, archery, volleyball (etc), carriage ride, Yee Ha Bob Jackson show, surrey biking, animal viewing at AKL, tour of Wildnerness Lodge, Segway tour, walk the trail between WL and FW, ice cream at B&C or Fountain or Ghiardelli...

I totally forgot about the boat rentals. I just added that to my list...Thanks!

 

[WeGoDisney04]

Chip and Dale Campfire Sing-a-long at Ft Wilderness!!! Its totally free. You even have the opportunity to roast s'mores. You can bring your own, or purchase a kit from them. I believe your 9 year old would absolutely love it

 

[EPCOTgrl1]

It has been a while since I did horse back riding but it is fun. The horses are all great and it is a ride through the woods. Very relaxing. I am going to guess with the 9 year old that the Segway tours are are. I am 99% sure the have age and weight restrictions. There are a few tours at EPCOT that you may want to look into. I also love the idea of hopping on the Monorail and exploring all of those hotels.

 

[Googilycub]

Thank you all so much. We have decided to defiantly do the horse back riding and boat rental. Then head to the hoop de doo after, and camp fire. Woo hoo! I have a day planned! Unfortunately my little one cannot do the Segway tours . We are still working on planning our other days, but I have some great ideas now. Thanks!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We have gotten to where we spend more time at the resorts than at the parks when we go. For our upcoming trip we will only do two park days and one MNSSHP. Everything else will be resort activities. I have a 7 year old daughter and she loves doing the resort activities. We had a blast riding bikes at FW. It is such a great place to ride. There is a wonderful trail from FW to WL. We also have a 2 year old and we took her in a bike trailer. My kids loved exploring the various playgrounds at the resorts. They spent over an hour playing at the playground at FW. Both kids love the resort transportation. We took a boat ride from FW to WL and the Contemporary. Not for transportation, but just because we enjoyed it. We enjoyed walking around the AoA resort and seeing all of the detailed art and themed sculptures. We went to the Boardwalk and watched the street performers. My daughter was even recruited to be an assistant to one of them. She loved that. We went to AK and watched the animals then shared some Zebra Domes. We watched fireworks on the beach at the Poly. We rented a surrey bike at POR and rode around the resort. We played Goofy Bingo at our resort pool and hung out in the hammocks. That was one of my daughter's favorite days. Campfires and outdoor movies are awesome. We used to go to Disney for the parks. Now, we go for the resorts.

 

[msb578]

We have gotten to where we spend more time at the resorts than at the parks when we go. For our upcoming trip we will only do two park days and one MNSSHP. Everything else will be resort activities. I have a 7 year old daughter and she loves doing the resort activities. We had a blast riding bikes at FW. It is such a great place to ride. There is a wonderful trail from FW to WL. We also have a 2 year old and we took her in a bike trailer. My kids loved exploring the various playgrounds at the resorts. They spent over an hour playing at the playground at FW. Both kids love the resort transportation. We took a boat ride from FW to WL and the Contemporary. Not for transportation, but just because we enjoyed it. We enjoyed walking around the AoA resort and seeing all of the detailed art and themed sculptures. We went to the Boardwalk and watched the street performers. My daughter was even recruited to be an assistant to one of them. She loved that. We went to AK and watched the animals then shared some Zebra Domes. We watched fireworks on the beach at the Poly. We rented a surrey bike at POR and rode around the resort. We played Goofy Bingo at our resort pool and hung out in the hammocks. That was one of my daughter's favorite days. Campfires and outdoor movies are awesome. We used to go to Disney for the parks. Now, we go for the resorts.

That's interesting- that's exactly where we're at too. I wonder if this is a trend, or we're just a very unusual minority!

 

[WelshDH@98CPAlum]

Chip and Dale Campfire Sing-a-long at Ft Wilderness!!! Its totally free. You even have the opportunity to roast s'mores. You can bring your own, or purchase a kit from them. I believe your 9 year old would absolutely love it

We are staying offsite this year. Is this for onsite Disney resort guests only? I am trying to find more information on this - I believe my 2 year old would love this - marshmallows AND singing! Double WIN!

 

[msb578]

We are staying offsite this year. Is this for onsite Disney resort guests only? I am trying to find more information on this - I believe my 2 year old would love this - marshmallows AND singing! Double WIN!

It is open to everyone

 

[Rose77]

Here's a post about different things to do at the resorts (even if you're not a guest there):

http://wdwprepschool.com/how-to-tour-disney-world-resorts-even-if-youre-not-staying-there/