Indoor, Cheap, Non-Park Admission Activity

[Metsoskil]

Hello all,

My FIL and MIL will be visiting us for two days during our upcoming vacation. MIL has a variety of medical conditions that prevent her from being outside during the hotter parts of the day.

For one of those days, we plan on hanging around our resort and catching a movie at DTD in the evening, so that we can walk around afterwards if it's cool enough.

We're trying to find something to do the second day. They'd like to do something "Disneyish" with our kids, but also don't want to spend much money. I suggested Disney Quest, but they didn't seem interested due to the cost. I think a resort character meal would be out for the same reason. Tea at the GF in the afternoon was likewise shot down.

Does anyone have any suggestions? We'll have a car, so we're not limited to WDW property. TIA for any help.

 

[SueM in MN]

Even if not for the cost, they may not like Disney Quest because it is quite loud.

One thing that my in-laws liked to do each trip was to visit the other resorts. You are not allowed to swim at resorts you are not staying at, but visiting and shopping are perfectly allowable. For the resorts on the monorail, you can take the bus from your resort to MK and then pick up the monorail from to the first resort. After visiting the first monorail resort, you can get back on the monorail and go visit the next one until you have seen them all. They all have nice gift shops and you can stop for a snack.
When you are done, you can either get off at MK and take the bus back to your resort, or change monorails to go to Epcot on the monorail for another monorail ride. From there, you can get a bus back to your resort.

We’ve also taken road trips to see Celebration - not inside, but it was still somewhat interesting to see the town that the Disney company planned.

We have also visited the outlet malls - they are not inside, but are mostly covered and may not be too hot, depending on the weather.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I would do a monorail resort tour.

Look for the Hidden Mickeys in each hotel or make up your own scavenger hunt etc. Like get a pressed penny, find a stitch in a store etc. It could even be a photo scavenger hunt, no money even involved.

Maybe a snack at each of the quick service restraunts. Gasparilla Grill at the Grand Floridian has soft serve ice cream machine with sprinkles, maybe a cookie, cupcake etc.

 

[peemagg]

We have in the past gone over to the Boardwalk and just rode the boat around the lake. You could also resort hop there quite easily too.

 

[Disfan3]

When I was younger, we used to go to those dinner shows....like Arabian Nights, etc. You could probably find some discounts...fun, food and probably cheaper than character meals at WDW. Go visit Animal Kingdom Lodge and see the animals and the Wilderness Lodge has a wonderful lobby with a lovely water feature...or Beaches n Cream in the Beach Club for dinner or just ice cream desserts!!!

Are you sure you must have a non-park experience? I only ask because Innovations...my kids could LIVE in those places and they are indoor and AC'd
obviously...you know that

 

[Metsoskil]

When I was younger, we used to go to those dinner shows....like Arabian Nights, etc. You could probably find some discounts...fun, food and probably cheaper than character meals at WDW. Go visit Animal Kingdom Lodge and see the animals and the Wilderness Lodge has a wonderful lobby with a lovely water feature...or Beaches n Cream in the Beach Club for dinner or just ice cream desserts!!!

Are you sure you must have a non-park experience? I only ask because Innovations...my kids could LIVE in those places and they are indoor and AC'd
obviously...you know that

Unfortunately, it does have to be non-park. We've got APs, but MIL and FIL don't want to buy park tickets.

Dinner shows are a good idea, but I really need something for during the day. Maybe I'll schedule a lunch at Sanaa & offer to pay. It's one of our favorite places to eat anyway, and we could kill a few hours eating, watching the animals, and pin trading a bit. I like that idea.

We've got ressies for one night w/ them at Whispering Canyon. Any excuse to go to the WL is a good one.

Thanks! Keep 'em coming if you've got other ideas. Especially off-property - I don't know a whole lot about what's outside the World that's indoors.