Other Disney places to go... Besides the Parks

[Micki_Streeter]

Lets team up and post some other great places to go at disney besides the four well known parks. When we first started coming to Disney, I had no idea of all the other stuff there was to do disney related besides the four parks. Over the years it has been a learning experience. If we all share, some of our favorites, it will help anyone new coming to the area.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you have a car, go to the Team Disney Building on a sunny day during normal business hours. It is directly across Buena Vista Drive from Planet Hollywood. Although most of the building is restricted to CMs, you will be able to go into the World's largest operating sundial.

 

[Micki_Streeter]

Visiting Downtown Disney is a must! We always go in the earlier morning when it is less busy...At night time it gets a little crazy. You will love all the shops. Makesure you stop by World of Memories scrapbook store and send any postcards you have so far. Your postmark will look like it really came from disney We always take a full day just roaming around and looking. Take your camera.... there are some great picture spots!

 

[Micki_Streeter]

The National Football Leagues Interactive Play Area. Open 10am to 5pm everyday. Adults are $9 or so, and children 3-9 like $7. It is in Lake Buena Vista. 407-828-3267 Our son and my husband really enjoyed it.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

We love to go and just walk around the Boardwalk, watch the bikes and carnival type entertainment.

 

[Disney Gator]

Miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland. Lots of fun, and if you have an AP make sure you get your discount.

 

[DeanDoug]

We always stay on-property, and love to go to other resorts...
AKL is great, and you can see many of the animals that you would see in AK park. We also like to go to WL and see the geyser!
The Boardwalk, too...
These are fun and FREE!

 

[Micki_Streeter]

The Disney Wild Life Preserve is an 8,500 acre sanctuary with bats, bald eagles, snakes, etc. There are hiking trails and guided tours. Cost is only $2. Open every day except holidays from 9am to 5pm. It is recommended that visitors call (407) 935-002 for current conditions and information prior to driving to the preserve. The Disney Wilderness Preserve is located approximately 15 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort area at the southern end of Pleasant Hill Road (about a mile past the junction with Poinciana Boulevard.)

 

[newholidayx2]

DS13 & I will not be going into the parks until our 3rd full day at WDW this Aug
We're planning on meals & pool hopping at GF/Contemp/Poly (DVC), Typhoon Lagoon, checking out AKL, Downtown Disney, Fantasia mini-golf before activating our APs

 

[poohj80]

We have enjoyed renting the water mice (now known as searacers), taking a walk around Seven Seas Lagoon to visit our brick and have a picnic, wait to ride the monorail in front, enjoy restaurants at other hotels, take a dip in the pool, and I highly recommend the Disney Tours!

 

[spiceycat]

take the resort tour at AKL and WL. take the garden tour at Bc/YC.

walk the trails/paths of FW and WL.

go the the petting farm at FW (it is free).

go horsebacking ride at FW ($32? I think)

enjoy all the resorts - they are all different and each one has it own
treasures... yes even the value resorts!!

check your resort activity list - and see if you want to do anything on it.

campfire and movie at FW

hayride at FW

carriage rides at FW, WL, VWL and PO

 

[Belle5]

Haven't done it myself but I've read a tour can be arranged at the fire department if you have a little one who is interested in fire trucks. (It might be called the Reedy Creek Fire Dept.--I think I remember it being covered with Dalmation Spots???)

Also, at Christmas time--resort hopping to see the resort decorations is fun.

Renting cane poles and worms at FW or POR is fun for little ones. Older kids enjoy renting paddle boats at the FW marina.

I have always wanted to rent bikes and hit the trails...

 

[Micki_Streeter]

That reminded me, When spiceycat mentioned going from resort to resort... we do that at night, and go to each resorts gift shop. They all have different things, you get to see the different resorts, AND if you are a disney pin trader like my son is, you get to exchange with all the different cast members with the pins they have on their lanyards. It is like a quest for him We always have fun doing that and it doesnt cost a cent.