Our Mostly non-parks trip

[keenercam]

I figure this is the best place for this, since it isn't about parks or restaurants or resorts or . . .

Our trip is 5 weeks away! We will be there a week and are planning to spend only one day in the parks -- MK to see Philharmagic, Spectromagic and Wishes and hope to get on some some favorite rides. DD15 and DS10 are more than content to just do the park one day and spend the rest of the time enjoying OKW. Here is our "to do" list; can anyone provide other non-park, non-attraction options?
1. Chef Mickey's for dinner
2. Late lunch at Olivia's
3. Browsing at Downtown Disney (buy Christmas ornament and some tea towels)
4. girl's night out -- DD and I will do dinner at Planet Hollywood and a 6:00 show of Cirque de Soleil while DH and DS do something else
5. Electric Water Pageant (where is best place to watch it?)
6. Bike riding around OKW (we are taking the kids' bikes)
7. Lunch at Coronado Springs Pepper Market (want to check out the resort and have heard our Q&C vouchers are good there)
8. Boardwalk area for walking, people watching
9. Beaches and Cream for late lunch/early dinner
10. Boat to Downtown Disney
11. Miniature golf
12. Visit Caribbean Beach Resort for lunch at Old Port Royale --this was our favorite pre-DVC resort and we haven't seen it since it was refurbed.

Okay, any other ideas?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I dont know what your trip budget is but maybe you might consider renting water mice at one of the resorts. And since you are dvc are you planning to pool hop to any of the resorts that are allowed for you? That could be fun. Like pool of the day or something. Do you have annual passes or are you only purchasing a l park ticket. If you have an ap you could get food discounts at resorts for lunches m-f etc. My kids would be chomping at the bit to get into the parks. You have some special kids for sure! How about checking out some of the resort arcades if they are interested in that.

 

[Rajah]

We watched the EWP from the Contemporary dock, and that was a good place. The Poly Beach would be nice, too.

Only other thing I can think of is to visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge if you haven't ever been there. It's worth a trip all on its own.

 

[tkyes]

You could do the Hoop de do review and watch the water pageant from the beach at Fort Wilderness!

 

[floridaminnie]

Do the fire campout at Fort Wilderness.

 

[keenercam]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I couldn't wait to get back on the boards to check this thread but my computer crashed yesterday and am only now getting to look at this.

luvmarypoppins -- I hadn't thought of the water mice -- they are like jet ski's, right? That would be a lot of fun -- both kids love the water so they'd love that. Three of the four of us have annual passes (DD does not --long story!), but figured the parks will be so crowded that it wouldn't be worth it to fight the crowds this trip. Is there a list somewhere of the AP restaurant discounts? Hadn't thought to check that and have long since misplaced that little folder thing that APs come in

Rajah -- Contemporary dock sounds really great, especially since we will be at Chef Mickey's one night for dinner! Very cool.

tykes -- I like your idea too -- can we get in to Fort Wilderness if we aren't staying there? Or would we have to have a dinner ressie for HDDR?

floridaminnie -- Is that the one where Chip and Dale come? Is there a cost to do that? Do you have to call ahead or anything? We would all love a campfire, but would hate to "horn in" on an event that is really just for FW guests.

Any more ideas?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

About the mouseboats, you have to be 12 to be a driver, so the 15 yo would have to drive the 10 yo in the boat. We like to rent at Poly. Our 3 ds think there is more room to boat around. If the whole family wants a slower paced ride, how about a nice pontoon boat. You could eat lunch on it too. Bring from your dvc kitchen or purchase at captain cooks.
The AP restraunts for lunch are ap holder and up to 3 guests, so you all get the discount remember only m - f at:
Concourse steakhouse, ESPN club, Grand FLoridian Cafe, Kona Cafe, Olivias, Sand Trap Bar and Grill,
Trails End Buffeteria (this is a fort wilderness and here is my other idea, after lunch a nice horseback ride for the kids if they are interested. You need to make a reservation. My3 ds found the ride to be a little boring as the horses are comalike and only follow in a slow line, no trotting etc. But its a fun thing to do if you have never done it before.
Whispering Canyon Cafe and Yacht Club Galley.
Remember its also good at the rainforest cafe,wolfgang puck,house of blues, planet Hollywood and I dont think those are just lunches and I think that could be any day I am not sure. I know we used it at rainforest, but not sure what day it was.

 

[tkyes]

Anyone can go to FW. The campfire doesn't cost and you don't have to call ahead. You can call FW when you are there and find out what movies are playing there too.

 

[#1Mouse]

We're doing the same thing when we go down in May. We didn't renew our AP's because we weren't going to WDW this year or so we thought!!!!!! We are only going to the parks on the two days that we get with the Member's Homecoming. This way we will get to do those things that we always say we want to do, but never do them because we always spend our days at the parks.

The list I have is pretty much of what everyone else has mentioned. We also want to rent the surrey bikes at Boardwalk, go to Disney Quest, Illuminations Cruise and the guys will finally get to golf.

I read somewhere that for the Campfire you can bring marshmallows, hot dogs and such for roasting, also something about that they sell s'mores kits - Does anyone know if these things are possible at the campfire?

Is there life beyond the parks???????

Gail

 

[keenercam]

Gail -- I definitely think this thread alone shows there is a lot of life besides the parks!! Usually I am trying to figure out how to fit in all the park stuff. I thought there'd be few plans this non-parks trip. Instead I find there is even more we want to do and it requires some planning so we can do everything we want in one geographic area at a time! My list is growing and growing!!! My kids will never want to vacation anywhere else if we let them rent a water mouse and ride horses and roast marshmallows and go to the ESPN club, etc. etc.
Only 4 weeks and 6 days!!!

 

[tkyes]

From Deb Will's site -

When does the campfire program begin and what is it like?

The campfire program is open to all WDW resort guests. It generally begins around 7 p.m. during the fall/winter season and 8 p.m. after the time changes in April through the summer. It is held near the Meadow Trading Post in the campfire area. The program begins with a sing-along led by a Disney CM and a marshmallow roast around two campfire rings. You may bring your own marshmallows or buy them at the Chuckwagon (roasting sticks and marshmallows are $2). You may also buy pizza, hot dogs, candy, nachos, juice, popcorn, sodas, coffee, beer and other refreshments at the Chuckwagon. While this is going on, Chip and Dale make an appearance to visit with guests and sign autographs. The sing-along lasts about 40 minutes. Next, one or two Disney animated features, depending upon the season, are shown on a large outdoor screen. Seating is available in bleachers or on benches. There is also plenty of room to lay out a quilt or blanket. The movie schedule is posted at all comfort stations. In the event of rain, the sing-along is still held on the porch of the Meadow Trading Post.

 

[GEM]

What about afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian? It's such a neat experience and the girls would love it!

Also, spend a night dining, shopping, and enjoying the atmosphere and strolling entertainers on the Boardwalk. We really love it and always make it a point to do that, no matter where we are staying.

And, besides just the campfire, there is lots of other neat stuff to explore at Fort Wilderness! They have a petting farm, the WDW stables are there and you can visit the horses, they have a "swamp walk" nature trail, you could rent a canoe, and more. You could take the bus to the MK and then take the boat over to Fort Wilderness and make an afternoon of it. You could have lunch at the Trails End buffet.