non-Disney activities

[LucyR]

Okay, I hate to admit this in public... but... gasp!... hubby is not a big Disney fan. I mean, he enjoys the parks and the kids faces and all. He's just not real happy that our third "real" vacation in 15 years of marriage is going to be our third time to Disney World. He wanted to see Hawaii or Mexico or the Caribbean or the Grand Canyon or outer Mongolia or Siberia or just about anything else.

We're staying in POFQ for seven nights with 6dayMYW park hoppers, and he really wants to go the beach, see a launch or some other "spacey" activity. He's into airplanes . I'd also like to take the kids to Sea World and Gatorland. I need some good suggestions for things to appease poor hubby that might still allow me to sneak in a late dinner or fireworks at the park for myself! Either one really good all-day trip, or a couple neat half-day things to spread out the total Disney immersion therapy. I'm at a loss, what's out there beyond the Mouse borders?

 

[spiceycat]

a ton of things.

http://www.floridakiss.com/do/index.php
http://www.orlandoinfo.com/attractions/

so if he is into planes - there are even choices.

also the Kennedy Space Center is about an hour away.

 

[Lisa P.]

LucyR, I'd encourage you to be generous in splitting your time between things that will highlight the vacation for you and things that will highlight the vacation for your DH. People sometimes post about visiting WDW alone after their spouse gets burnt out on Disney. My DH and kids sure did. When we starting splitting our vacation time and budget with other activities (my DH loves to sail, our kids like exploring new places), we both enjoyed the vacations more together. Your family and relationships matter so much!

You may consider a couple of nights out on the Atlantic Coast. Cocoa Beach has some really nice, highly rated, beachfront resorts. Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort and Resort on Cocoa Beach) offer a LOT to families and may cost less for a 1BR or 2BR than your nights in a hotel room at WDW. The kids would probably LOVE these places - take a look!

See Kennedy Space Center - a half day to full day of touring. There's much more there than most people realize, with the IMAX films included. You can check online to see if there will be a launch planned during your vacation.

Visit the Indian River Lagoon area near Titusville to see manatees up-close or take a boat ride to see them. For more adventure, take an Airboat ride for a very exciting way to see alligators. These are only about 15 minutes from Cocoa Beach. There's an air show sometime in March, though that won't help you with an October vacation. Anyway, here's a List of Things to Do in that whole area so you can see what might interest you, from nature parks and national seashore to tourist venues.

Besides Kennedy and the airboat rides, which most kids and spirited parents really enjoy, you may find that you all have so much fun at the resort itself that those couple of days just fly by!!! And you'd still have the rest of your vacation to enjoy WDW! Make sure your MYW park hoppers don't expire and you'll have a great reason to return to WDW for part of a future vacation too!!! HTH! Have a fun trip!

 

[heart4dis]

You'll get the Disney experience but DH will get to cruise into different ports. A 3-day or 4-day might work for you.

 

[vanessat]

Swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove: the highlight of our trips to wdw for my husband!

 

[LucyR]

thanks so much for the replies guys!! Keep 'em coming

The manatee boat rides sound especially nice (my 10year old daughter studied endangered species in school last year, and would love it). Lisa P, have you ever been on one?

 

[Vivianne]

Since your husband likes planes. I recommend visiting Fantasy of Flight. We visited two years ago and had a great time. Check out their website: www.fantasyofflight.com

 

[Dizneydaz]

I totally understand, my mom is the same way! Things we have done in the past (non-Disney) are:

Jan. 06-watched rocket launch and later that trip she and my sis went to Kennedy Space Center-they liked it.
Sept. 05-side trip to Anna Marie and Sanibel Islands. I really enjoyed Sanibel-wish it was closer for a day trip.
Other times-we've gone to St. Augustine, seen the manatees, visisted local parks, Crystal River area.

This trip some of the things we are thinking of are:
Seaworld (we have Plat. AP and can get in free)
Busch Gardens (ditto above)
Look for fossils in river
Visit a beach (east or west coast depends on weather)
Discovery Cove (AP discount)
Space Center
Rainbow Springs (stopped there several years ago and have been meaning to go back.)

Have fun!

 

[ohiomom28]

We usually spend at least 6 days in Orlando, but only go to the parks maybe 2 days. We do alot of shopping at the malls and outlet malls. We drive alot looking at the scenery and go out to eat usually twice a day. One day we go to the coast. This year we went to Tampa and St. Pete's. Last year we went to Daytona. I wish we would've went to KSC. There is so much more to do other than the parks.