Ideas for non-park day at Disney...

[gemjoy]

We're looking for a couple fun ideas for non-park days
DD is 9 and DS 11

~I've heard there is a campfire and movie at FW??? Can someone give me some details on this? Where is it exactly? Is it fun? What kind of movie do they play? Anything?

~I've heard you can go to the beach at the Poly. and watch wishes... has anyone done this? Is there anything else to do while we're there? Do you pay to use the beach?

What other fun ideas are there for a afternoon or evening of fun outside the parks ~ yet inside disney?

ThAnK~yOu everyone!!!!!

 

[jme829]

Downtown Disney/Westside is fun for us... If the kids wear their swimsuits, they have a fountain that they can get wet in (not really a fountain, more like sidewalks with squirting water-great diversion!! its kinda like the one at Epcot outside of MS) . We stay off site and rent acar but if you are onsite using WDW transportation, there should be a way to get there using your resort shuttles. Chekc with your resort to see what to do (bus, boat, etc..) How about mini golf at Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summer land (outside Blizzard Beach)..ALso the water parks are fun. Although we've never done this, the boardwalk area at the Boardwalk hotel near Epcot is supposed to pretty cool too.

 

[nin8jc]

We're looking for a couple fun ideas for non-park days
DD is 9 and DS 11

~I've heard there is a campfire and movie at FW??? Can someone give me some details on this? Where is it exactly? Is it fun? What kind of movie do they play? Anything?

~I've heard you can go to the beach at the Poly. and watch wishes... has anyone done this? Is there anything else to do while we're there? Do you pay to use the beach?

What other fun ideas are there for a afternoon or evening of fun outside the parks ~ yet inside disney?

ThAnK~yOu everyone!!!!!

Here are a couple of things I've found on the DIS, I haven't actually done any of them, just been taking notes for our upcoming trip...

At POR there is a Butterfly Garden: relax and enjoy nature in the butterfly garden behind the Acadia House. No charge

fireworks info: you can just go to the Poly/Contemporary and walk thru their lobby and watch from the beach

Ft Wilderness: pony rides at ft wilderness and there's also a free campfire & singalong with chip and dale at 8 pm and a movie at 9 pm

 

[gemjoy]

thanks!!
We're staying at Saratoga Springs Resort (DVC) so we're actually really close to Downtown Disney ~ we're planning on spending our first evening there! Then off to the parks the following days! I just thought it would be kinda fun to "explore" some other avenues - find some extra magic...

 

[dbarker]

I think there is also a petting zoo at FW. You can go to AKL and look at the animals. The CMs are very interesting. Some (most) are from Africa. There are usually some CMs at Arusha Rock w/loads of info on the animals and Africa. AKL also has a story telling in the evening. Some of the resorts have free tours (WL does). WL also has a geyser (kind of like "Old Faithful"). You can ride the monorail w/o actually going into the parks. Downtown Disney is fun. We enjoyed looking in the shops and playing w/some of the toys. At one of them (?) you can "build" a Mr. Potato Head on the computer. DH and DSs love that.

 

[3princesses4us]

On one of our days off from the parks, DH is going golfing while I take the girls to a tea party at the GF. I'm also enrolling them in a pirate cruise at either the GF or the Yacht/Beach Club (your son might like this one). There's also a new boutique for little girls opening up at DTD where they can get a "princess makeover" of sorts. We'll start (and maybe end) the day with a fun character meal. Relaxing at your resort pool can take up half your day as well. I also agree a shopping trip at DTD is in order! Have fun. These are some of the best days at Disney!
Also, the campfire at FW is free and includes a movie (I think a kit to make smores is around $5). Chip & Dale are there for a sing-along I believe. It's gotten mixed reviews but with kids that age, I'd try it once! Plus, since you'll be over that way, that might be a nice night to eat at WCC at the WL- your kids will surely love that. Hope this helps...

 

[snowwite]

Here are a few suggestions:
Go to resort restaurant and explore resort. we love AKL and Boma or Chef Mickey and go to viewing area up by california grill to watch Wishes.
Go to DTD and rent boat or sprites and go for ride
Go to DTD and take boat to POR and explore
Go to DTD to the Adventurers club,disney Quest,HOB,shops
Go to Fantasia Mini golf and walk to Boardwalk.Have meal at Spoodles,ice cream at Beaches and Cream ,play arcade games at ESPN,rent surrey bike
Go to Fort wilderness petting zoo,trail ride,hay ride,make smores and roast hot dogs at campfire,stay for sing along and movie(bring bug spray)
Go to FW and go fishing and rent bikes , eat at artists point,whispering canyon or hoop de doo review
Go to movie at DTD and visit Planet Hollywood
Hang out at your resort and attend scheduled activities.Enjoy frozen drinks (virgin for kiddies) by the pool
Go to beach by Swana dn Dolphin or Poly and make sand castles,watch water electric light parade at poly while enjoying a slush in pail and shoevel from Kona
Go on ahidden mickey scavenger hunt
Go on a collect a swizzle stick,collect a penny press,collect a post card from each resort hunt
Go to Winter Summerland mini golf and Blizzard Beach
Go to Typhoon Lagoon
Go off site and see gatorland,Ripleye believe it or not,outlets and orange grove and air boat ride

 

[lportuondo]

There is a minigolf course outside of blizzard beach that is tons of fun anf the kids loved it! It is a little pricy though... but its worth it!

 

[gianna2006]

Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach are must-dos for a down day. My newest fun thing to do is visit Legoland at the Disney Marketplace. There are life-sized policemen, aliens, etc. made out of Legos and even a life-sized Lego Dragon in the water!!! Kids can put Lego's together at lots of stations outside, make cars and race them down ramps, or go inside and play with the knight and pirate swords, capes, and masks (a favorite activity for my DS7 ) Also at the Marketplace is a carousel, train ride, various shops, and food (also McDonalds!). DisneyQuest is also great...lots of different video games, interactive virtual reality, and cool computer stuff for all ages. I'm not the most video game savvy person, but even I had a great time and would definitely do it again.

COUNTING DOWN TO OUT NEXT VISIT IN MAY!!!

July 1990 off-site
September 1996 off-site
July 1999 off-site
July 2000 off-site
April 2001 off-site
May 2004 off site
May 2006 going Dis all the way at Saratoga Springs!!!

 

[Tomskatt]

Thanks! I'm headed to SSR in 2 weeks and this is going to come in handy. I'm copying it as we speak. DIS is the best!

 

[Molly K]

These are all great ideas and would love to find out more about the pirate cruise. How much is it? What are the age limits? Any one know of a site to hit to find all this out?

 

[3princesses4us]

These are all great ideas and would love to find out more about the pirate cruise. How much is it? What are the age limits? Any one know of a site to hit to find all this out?

There are now 3 pirate cruises for kids (ages 4-10 maybe) around WDW. The newest and the one I know nothing about departs from the Carribbean Beach I've heard. The other two which are very popular depart from either the Grand Floridian or the Yacht & Beach Club. I believe they are all about 2 hours in length and cost $28.17 per child. A peanut butter & jelly sandwich lunch is served to them. No adults allowed. Days & times vary but they run about every other day I think I remember. Check allears.net website and look up children's activities for exact info (dates, etc.). Hope this helps!

Oops- I put the wrong website address on here. I corrected it on the next post~

 

[3princesses4us]

These are all great ideas and would love to find out more about the pirate cruise. How much is it? What are the age limits? Any one know of a site to hit to find all this out?

There are now 3 pirate cruises for kids (ages 4-10 maybe) around WDW. The newest and the one I know nothing about departs from the Carribbean Beach I've heard. The other two which are very popular depart from either the Grand Floridian or the Yacht & Beach Club. I believe they are all about 2 hours in length and cost $28.17 per child. A peanut butter & jelly sandwich lunch is served to them. No adults allowed. Days & times vary but they run about every other day I think I remember. Check allearsnet.com website and look up children's activities for exact info (dates, etc.). Hope this helps!

 

[DisneyDotty]

On our first night at WDW, I like to have dinner at Contemporary or Poly, then watch Electric Light Boat Parade, wander around Disney shops at the resort, ride the monorail, and get a good night's sleep before the work--oops, fun begins of tackling the parks.

 

[Molly K]

Thanks for the info on the cruise stuff with the pirates. I did look into it and the starting age is 4. My little guy will only be 3 so he won't be able to do it when we go in '07 but I am going to keep it on the list for the next trip.
Thanks again!