Ideas for non park days

[mikewdw]

We are thinking of arriving one day early, staying off site, and thought about just wondering around Disney resorts or the surrounding area. We have done Disney springs a couple times for a little while. We have been numerous times but always done park days. What other options do we have? The activities don't have to be to budget friendly. We had thought about Universal for a day but that is more than we want to pay. Any ideas appreciated.
Thanks
mikewdw

 

[CarolynFH]

Just throwing out ideas of things we’ve done or have on our list:

Mini golf
Riding Disney transportation i.e. Skyliner, boats, monorail to different resorts to visit, get a snack, etc. (pay to park at a park and start there)
Visiting AKL savanna viewing areas to watch animals and talk to CMs

Bok Tower
Leu Gardens
City of Orlando Wetlands Park
Central Florida Railroad Museum

More good ideas for offsite here: https://www.disboards.com/forums/orlando-hotels-and-attractions.15/

 

[comicguy]

Mini Golf at blizzaed beach can takr up a couple of hours and be real enjoyable

Visiting various Disney resorts and snackig at them

Riding Skyliner just for fun

Take the boat from Disney Springs and tour resorts

Ride the monorail just for fun

Of course there is also touring through Disney Springs

If budget permits take in an Early Cirque show

 

[Douglas Dubh]

Ride transportation and collect transportation cards.

Rent a surrey bike and ride around.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

Usually we arrive to WDW early in the morning and don't do park tickets for the day of arrival. We either mini golf or head to Springs.

We've also done a day trip to Sea World, that could be an option.

 

[Skippyboo]

Why not just stay onsite at a value and go to the waterpark for free or do a super nice off site hotel with a nice pool and relax there?

 

[OUKasey]

We usually stay on site, but we have added an extra day on to the beginning of our trip. We usually go look at the resorts and check out the gift shops and end up having dinner at Whispering Canyon.

 

[georgina]

I visited the Leu gardens in March, had a nice afternoon there, if you like plants. It was on my transition day, I had checked out of my Disney resort and had a free night at an offsite place so I was trying out other Orlando attractions.

 

[_19disnA]

If you have a car and are interested in science, you will likely find the Kennedy Space Center/tours very enjoyable. They offer a variety of tours if you check their website. We have been a few times and always enjoyed it.

 

[AlohaNow]

Route together a ‘Disney transportation tour’, or just a good old fashioned monorail crawl. Drinks and snacks at each stop!

Horseback riding at Fort Wilderness is also really fun.

 

[Dakota731]

If you have a car and are interested in science, you will likely find the Kennedy Space Center/tours very enjoyable. They offer a variety of tours if you check their website. We have been a few times and always enjoyed it.

We would like to do this our next trip. Are there any shuttles that can take you? If we do a van rental how much would that cost? I’d hate to rent a car for a one day excursion.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

There’s a ton of great suggestions here. We did an airboat tour of the Everglades once that was really cool. But if we have a non park day we usually check out other resorts or just go swimming.

 

[comicguy]

We would like to do this our next trip. Are there any shuttles that can take you? If we do a van rental how much would that cost? I’d hate to rent a car for a one day excursion.

We did this a few of years ago and used a company called Grayline, We were picked up via tour van at the swan (had to get own transport from pop to swan) and then transfered to tour bus at the Orlando Wheel site. But the company made things easy with pick up times, they did drop us back off to Pop at the end of the day. Kennedy Space Center was amazing! Highly suggest it on a complete down day.

 

[_19disnA]

When we last went to the Space Center many years ago we drove our rental car. The distance is far enough not sure if any types of shuttles are offered. Probably have to check around online to see what might be offered. Since it isn't a Disney related activity, not sure they would offer anything. Can also look at the Disney car care center to see what costs might be for a one day rental.

 

[Ronaldo17]

SeaWorld for a day is a good option, loads of great rides.