Planning for arrival and departure day - solo adult

[Jennkneefir]

Hello!
I will be meeting up with my family (4 more adults and 2 kids) for a 6 day trip filled with park time in September. Due to flight scheduling, i will be arriving first thing in the morning (10 am) on arrival day, and departing in the evening (6pm) on departure day while my family will arrive evening (6pm) and depart morning (10am). This has left me will almost 2 full days to plan for just me stuff, and i'm a little at loss for what i should do! I will get plenty of park time (6 full days in the parks), so i won't add extra park days. I won't have a vehicle, so will be dependent on uber/lyft.

I'm 31, love nature/art/music. I'm comfortable travelling solo, and open to seeing things outside of the disney bubble if anyone has recs that can be done in a 6-8 (ish) hour time frame. What have been your favourite things to do to kill time? Our 6 days in park will largely be focused around the kids, so i'm looking forward to a bit of me time on these days.

Things i'm considering -
- Disney Springs for a bit of shopping (most likely departure day)
- Paying for a single day Universal ticket on arrival day (i went a few years ago but haven't ridden hagrids or velocicoaster)
- Cirque du soleil? Are there daytime shows?
- Pool time (we will be at Fort Wilderness)
- Kayak rental?

Thing's i'm not super interested in -
- Dining reservations (we will have plenty of reservations in our 6 days, and i'm not a huge eater)
- Golfing
- Resort hopping, unless there is something specific to see

 

[Best Aunt]

Before planning on shopping at disney springs, make sure you know what stores are there. Last time I was there is seemed like mostly fancy shmanzy chains which were not of interest to me.

Don't forget that Sea World also is an option.

 

[Skippyboo]

I don’t know how feasible it would be to go to Universal. What would you do with your luggage? Doesn’t Ft Wilderness have horses that you can ride? I would leave my luggage with bell services ( if that’s a option at Ft Wilderness-never been there). Maybe do a monorail tour or DS. There’s a movie theater and bowling alley there.

 

[_19disnA]

Shopping is always a good choice since I find it difficult to shop with a large group. Everyone has a different idea of what stores they like, what exactly they are looking for or how long they want to look at each store. Disney Springs has a wide variety of stores so it is likely you will find some you like. Disney hotels also have gift shops and each tends to have different items.

 

[Jennkneefir]

Before planning on shopping at disney springs, make sure you know what stores are there. Last time I was there is seemed like mostly fancy shmanzy chains which were not of interest to me.

Don't forget that Sea World also is an option.

Thank you!! I definitely haven't really looked at a list of whats actually at Disney Springs, but everyone always recommends it so i thought i would keep is as an option. Its also really easy to get to and from.

 

[Jennkneefir]

I don’t know how feasible it would be to go to Universal. What would you do with your luggage? Doesn’t Ft Wilderness have horses that you can ride? I would leave my luggage with bell services ( if that’s a option at Ft Wilderness-never been there). Maybe do a monorail tour or DS. There’s a movie theater and bowling alley there.

Luggage would certainly be a bit of a pain. I'm usually a pretty light packer so i was thinking i could find a locker at universal or leave it at Fort Wilderness, if that was what i wanted. Will absolutely take the logistics into consideration before pulling the trigger on purchasing a ticket

 

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

If the logistics worked out, I would do Universal on arrival day and then on departure day I would either spend some relaxing time at the pool or do Disney Springs (or some combination thereof). It seems like a waste of time to go to your Disney resort to drop off luggage and then backtrack to Universal, though. If you're truly a light packer and can fit your stuff in a duffel/backpack, then just rent a locker at Universal. Uber from the airport to Universal and the later, from Universal to Fort Wilderness. If have booked your own room, could you stay at Universal on your arrival night instead? Then you could drop your luggage at a Universal hotel, enjoy a day and universal, and then uber over to Disney first thing in the morning.

 

[Elephantay]

I wouldn't add another park day...
Poking around DS at your own pace could be fun...
If the weather is nice, find a hammock or sit by the pool and read a good book..
Rent a bike and explore FW..
Visit a spa...
The only thing we've really done close to WDW was Gatorland I do not recommend it. But I've always had my eye on doing an orange grove visit, there's one pretty close but I can't remember the name...We are from NE and pick apples in the fall but it would be special to pick oranges!

 

[Shellyred8]

Fort Wilderness has a few extra things to do there. If you don't do those while the rest of your family is there, you could take those in. Horseback riding and archery just to name a couple.

 

[Miffy]

If this were me and I wasn't going to a park, one thing I'd do would be a transportation tour of sorts. Boat to Contemporary, monorail around the loop, bus to DHS, followed by Skyliner all over the place. But I love doing this. You, OP, may not!

Note--if you want to do this, don't take the monorail to Epcot in order to ride the Skyliner, because the Skyliner Epcot stop is at the IG.

Is there no bell services at FW where you could leave your stuff? If so, I'd do that.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I dont think Cirque de Soleil has daytime performances.
Disney Springs does have the Aerophile Balloon that operates daily .
Its very popular for daytime or night view .
The Sassagoula Water Transport from Disney Springs to Riverside Resort is very relaxing & free.
Some guests love to float in the cars from the Boathouse Restaurant at Disney Springs.