Non disney activities

[pickers1982]

Hi for our next trip we are thinking of doing 3 weeks which we ve never done before. Very exciting! We ve only ever done 3 weeks entirely in Disney hotels.

This time we re thinking of 10 days in Kissimmee (split with one night in universal) in a friends villa doing absolutely no disney and then do 10 days in disney. Do you think 10 days doing non disney activities will be too long and we might get bored?will have a young child so bigger rides will be out of the question. Will likely do universal, legoland, Busch and seaworld (although might use that to break up disney). Anything else people would recommend.

Bit worried we might just end up waiting to get to disney!

 

[Disworldluv]

Busch Gardens, in Tampa, a one hours drive from WDW can be an interesting visit. Lots of animals, train ride, lots of coasters, opportunity to feed giraffe's. We are not coaster people, but enjoy the Park.

 

[Cinderella2006]

busche is amazing! We all had an amazing time when we went last year. Something to keep us all entertained from my youngest 5 to my uncle who was 60. Our children enjoy going to wonderworks, ripleys and crazy golf around international drive whereas mummy likes to shop in the malls

 

[Elise79]

What about KSC?

Trip to the beach?

There are lots of smaller attractions around the area too that you investigate.

 

[pickers1982]

What about KSC? Trip to the beach? There are lots of smaller attractions around the area too that you investigate.

Whats ksc?

 

[chmurf]

Whats ksc?

Kennedy Space Center (NASA at Cape Canaveral)

About Busch Gardens, this park is great, but if you go for Discovery Cove you can get Seaworld, Aquatica and Busch for 14 days included in your DC booking (choose the ultimate, swim or non swim package)

Airboat at Boggy Creek.
Florida Mall Shopping
Crazy Golf
Wonderworks
A day at the beach
gatorland

there are loads of things to do outside of the disney bubble

 

[pickers1982]

Kennedy Space Center (NASA at Cape Canaveral) About Busch Gardens, this park is great, but if you go for Discovery Cove you can get Seaworld, Aquatica and Busch for 14 days included in your DC booking (choose the ultimate, swim or non swim package) Airboat at Boggy Creek. Florida Mall Shopping Crazy Golf Wonderworks A day at the beach gatorland there are loads of things to do outside of the disney bubble

Great thanks. Gives me a bit more confidence. Not sure if ksc is for a lot older kids or if anyone has experience taking a toddler?

Whats the nearest nice beach distance wise?

 

[Elise79]

Great thanks. Gives me a bit more confidence. Not sure if ksc is for a lot older kids or if anyone has experience taking a toddler?

Whats the nearest nice beach distance wise?

We have taken DD at 15 months, then she did a shuttle launch a year later and we took her at just turned 5 last summer.

She has always had nice day and as she gets older asks a lot of questions.

Nearest beaches are either Cocoa beach on the Atlantic coast or you have Clearwater, St Petes, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key on the Gulf coast.

Personally, I would always pick the gulf coast as the water is generally warmer and the beaches are mostly white sand

 

[lolainkent]

Great thanks. Gives me a bit more confidence. Not sure if ksc is for a lot older kids or if anyone has experience taking a toddler?

Whats the nearest nice beach distance wise?

We went to the space centre last month and loved it! Helps that most in our party are space geeks. Lots to do for kids. My 6 and 8 year olds loved the rocket garden, the Angry Birds experience, playing with simulators and the IMAX. Plus the Atlantis exhibition is fantastic. DD is just under 2 and while there wasn't a ton for her to do, there is a soft play area, she liked the Angry Birds part and there's so much going on that she was generally happy to sit back in her pram and watch everything/everyone. Only thing she missed was the IMAX, DH (who wasn't feeling well) sat out with her.

 

[pickers1982]

We have taken DD at 15 months, then she did a shuttle launch a year later and we took her at just turned 5 last summer. She has always had nice day and as she gets older asks a lot of questions. Nearest beaches are either Cocoa beach on the Atlantic coast or you have Clearwater, St Petes, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key on the Gulf coast. Personally, I would always pick the gulf coast as the water is generally warmer and the beaches are mostly white sand

Thanks might give Ksc a go. How far are those beaches roughly?

 

[pickers1982]

We have taken DD at 15 months, then she did a shuttle launch a year later and we took her at just turned 5 last summer. She has always had nice day and as she gets older asks a lot of questions. Nearest beaches are either Cocoa beach on the Atlantic coast or you have Clearwater, St Petes, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key on the Gulf coast. Personally, I would always pick the gulf coast as the water is generally warmer and the beaches are mostly white sand

Thanks! How far are the beaches roughly?

 

[disney2014plan]

Drive up to see some of the Florida springs parks.

Depending on the time of year you go, Crystal River is beautiful and you get the chance to swim with manatees. If you PM me I'll tell you which company we used (not sure on the etiquette for providing external links is).

 

[Holstar]

Hi for our next trip we are thinking of doing 3 weeks which we ve never done before. Very exciting! We ve only ever done 3 weeks entirely in Disney hotels.

This time we re thinking of 10 days in Kissimmee (split with one night in universal) in a friends villa doing absolutely no disney and then do 10 days in disney. Do you think 10 days doing non disney activities will be too long and we might get bored?will have a young child so bigger rides will be out of the question. Will likely do universal, legoland, Busch and seaworld (although might use that to break up disney). Anything else people would recommend.

Bit worried we might just end up waiting to get to disney!

We're doing 13 days just Disney, staying at OKW, followed by eight days non-Disney, staying at a villa!

We chose to do it after Disney, as whenever I go to DLP, I always feel like I need a holiday after being on my feet so much! Hahaha. So, we're trying to have a really chilled few days - themepark wise, we're doing Wet 'n' Wild (our nieces are waterbabies), Discovery Cove and either Aquatica or Universal. The rest of the time, we're splitting between the beach or shopping.

I'm actually really really looking forward to it! As much of a Disney fanatic that I am, I think it will be nice to explore a bit!

I know it's a bit different as you'll be doing it before Disney, but it'll be such a lovely way to lead up to your holiday, by the time you get to Disney, you'll be acclimatised to the heat and your body clock would have caught up the time difference!

 

[twissie]

Here are few non disney things I did on my last trip, probably not all for everyone but suited us.

Horse riding
Shooting at a gun range
Drove to Christmas (and posted my Christmas cards - which the family loved!)
Busch and Discovery cove as others have said are great
We also drive to Miami, stayed for a night and went to a game of American football - I don't understand the game but I really enjoyed it.
We loved Capones as a dinner activity

These were all 4 years ago so might have changed but maybe worth looking into.