Planning our annual trip-looking for something different

[cruisnfamily]

We live in FL and go to Disney at least once every single year for 3-6 days. Kids are 9 & 12. We've seen all the parks and all the atractions multiple times and are at the point where the kids won't wait on line for anything because they've already seen it enough times. We're always looking for "something different'" to do and still be "doing disney". We've seen the Luau, the backyard bbq, the hoop de doo, done most of the character breakfasts, been to Disney quest, taken the family magic tour, taken a fireworks cruise and an illuminations cruise, seen fantasmic....the list goes on. Some things we haven't done:never been to a disney water park, never been to Circque, never eaten at chef mickeys or ohanas.

So, this year we know for sure we want to go back to Disney Quest(only been once) and we want to go to a water park. What other "different" things can you recommend? Are there some dinner shows I haven't mentioned? We're not interested in parasailing or fishing or Richard Petty. We're also open to things in Orlando, we've done Titanic, Arabian nights and medieval times. Any other worthwhile things to do around Orlando?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Do the kids like sports? Last year we took our's to an Orlando Magic basketball game. It was a lot of fun. We aren't generally big fans of pro basketball but it was more of an event than just a game.

If it's spring time, what about some spring training games? A lot of teams are close to Orlando and the Atlanta Braves are right at WDW.

HBC

 

[jlaspoq]

We are doing Cirque and a water park as our "new" things this trip - I've heard such wonderful things about La Nouba that I'm finally spending the $$$ for it, and the water parks are both great. (It's new for the kids, not us!) Have fun!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Do the kids like sports?
HBC

No, nobody in our family is particularly into sports....thanks for the idea though!

Anybody else?

 

[gigi1313]

pirate cruise? tea? first manicure? spa treatment? animal kingdom tour? pressed penny or hidden mickey day? bike rental? water mouse rental? another thought would be to go to vero beach instead of wdw, it's still disney...

 

[RyMickey]

Fantasia Gardens mini-golf is a favorite of ours.

I would definitely recommend O'Hana's for dinner. We ate there for the first time last year and really liked it.

Cirque was wonderful. We really, really liked it.

I found some scavenger hunts on the web (I found them so long ago that it might actually have been on these boards) and we are planning on doing them on this trip. That could be something fun to do. Most of the hunts don't require you to go on rides, but some do.

We're in the same boat as you. We don't wait in line for anything anymore. If there's a line, skip it and go on to something else.

RyMickey

 

[cruisnfamily]

pirate cruise? tea? first manicure? spa treatment? animal kingdom tour? pressed penny or hidden mickey day? bike rental? water mouse rental? another thought would be to go to vero beach instead of wdw, it's still disney...

Good ideas! Kids are too old for pirate cruise and tea. Don't want to spend family vacation time on manicures or spas.

We've actually done a hidden mickey trip, I left that out of our "things we've done" list. Bike rental and water sports don't appeal to us.

Tell me about Vero Beach...would that just be a beach vacation thing or are there activities of some sort?

Animal kingdom tour....what's this? Are the kids old enough? I thought the only one they were old enough for was the family magic one.

Thanks!

 

[cruisnfamily]

I would definitely recommend O'Hana's for dinner. We ate there for the first time last year and really liked it.

Cirque was wonderful. We really, really liked it.

We're going to do both of these this next trip!

Fantasia Gardens mini-golf is a favorite of ours.

Another, "not our thing" type of thing.

In reading the responses, it appears I'm quite picky! Sorry! Didn't realize I was but there's no sense in spending time or money on things I know won't appeal to us.

What about some other "around Orlando" type stuff.

 

[lllovell]

How about some of the other parks in Orlando?

We bought the fun pass to Sea World last year along with our Disney APs and tend to do about 1 out of ever 4 days there. It is a wonderful change of pace, the shows are unique and they have just opened a new section of shops and other entertainment that I have yet to explore.

 

[InstImpres]

There is a new tour...Mickey's Magic Milestone that is good for children (as far as I know, I can confirm on 42 days but whos counting)

 

[jacksmom]

I heard that the MMMT is for ages 10 and up! I have a ds (will be 8), but would love to do it??? Anyone know how strict the age limit is???

 

[RumpleMom]

We have enjoyed the Orlando Science Center. We spent an entire rainy day there. There were many exhibits and several plays performed by actors. We are members of our hometown science center, so our admission was free.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm going to chime in with my favorite "different" activity, but you'll only like it if you like art.

I recommend the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of Art, in Winter Park, just north of downtown Orlando. The Morse has the largest collection of Tiffany stained glass in the world. http://www.morsemuseum.org/

Winter Park itself is really neat for just strolling around, browsing, or eating out. Azalea Gardens is there, and Rollins College, too. There is also a boat tour that goes out onto Lake Osceola.

 

[InstImpres]

I heard that the MMMT is for ages 10 and up! I have a ds (will be 8), but would love to do it??? Anyone know how strict the age limit is???

My DD is 9, the CM said it was fine if I thought she could handle it. I'll report back if we have any problems.

My DD is mature for her age and could do fine conversing on the board here if I let her between her vocab. and her Dis knowledge.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I didn't see Universal Orlando mentioned in your list of things.

It's a pretty wonderful way to spend a couple of days. I would highle reccomend it!

If your kids are daredevils, Islands of Adventure will definitely appeal to them. If not, Universal Studios, and Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure are great for kids.

If so, I think you may have exhausted your Orlando options! hehehe

 

[addlema]

Go to Typhoon Lagoon... Its great.... Blizzard Beach is crowded and the slides arent as good IMHO....

I didn't notice, but did anyone suggest being on a boat during the fireworks show in Epcot? What about the Keys to the Kingdom tour? My wife and I are going to take that in May and we are really excited.

 

[dbond]

You mentioned you didn't like water sports, so do you include snorkeling in water sports. We're like you, been there done that so I really try to find a new activity each trip to keep things exciting. We did the Aqua Seas scuba assisted snorkeling in the Living Seas with DS (9). It was an amazing experience to be in that tank with the fish. Seeing the tanks from the backstage area was amazing to actually realize how big they are. We could wave to the people having lunch in the restaurant. It was so cool.

We've also always wanted to experience Discovery Cove at Sea World. That's on our list of things to try. We have a Sea World close to us in San Antonio that we go to regularly. If you've never been to Sea World, it's a fabulous way to spend a day.

 

[sunking]

OK. Going way back into the memory banks here but I thought that I had read or heard that Disney owned some wildlife preserve about 1 hour to the south of WDW. At the preserve, they offered tours of the property in some sort of "swamp buggy". This might be a neat idea but I don't have much detail on it.

If I remember correctly, I might have seen this in the Unofficial Guide. I'm at work now but will check when I get home.

Anyone else remember seeing anything about this?

 

[cruisnfamily]

We've also always wanted to experience Discovery Cove at Sea World.

Good idea....I had forgotten about this! I'll have to look into the details.

 

[PamNC]

You've done more than we have. We've been going since our honeymoon 10 years ago. I think you should take the kids to Fort Wilderness for the Campfire Singalong. It is a hoot. You can make smores over an open fire, they sing songs, characters are there...it's so cute. Then they show a movie. It's cool because it reminds me of the old days when there were drive-in theaters. How about horsebackriding - or the hay ride. There are tons of activities at Fort Wilderness. We had a great time one afternoon canoeing. You can rent bikes and enjoy nature, go to the petting zoo.

I would highly recommend Ohana's - for breakfast or dinner. Chef Mickeys isn't that great, IMHO. But, we don't have kids so that's probably why it didn't appeal to us. It was a bit wild and crazy for us.

I read about something that I want to do in the Disney Magazine. Apparently you can have dinner with an Imagineer. The dinner is at the Brown Derby in a private room. You get to eat and talk with him/her. I think that would be wonderful. We also haven't done any of the tours or the Fireworks Cruise...both on our "to-do list." I'm interested in the Steam Train Tour.

PamNC