Recommend some things to do "off the beaten path" outside of the parks themselves

[EdgeOfGlory]

We are flying out of Boston tomorrow morning for our one year anniversary, I don't know how I will be able to sleep tonight.

Can some of you recommend visits outside of the theme parks? I feel like the last time we were there a few years ago, we wore ourselves out trying to get on every single ride. This time we have five full days and I want to try some different things. So far we plan to....

- Check out the public observation deck at Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Use our Waterpark Fun & More tickets to try out at least one of the mini-golf courses and possibly ESPN
- Take one of the numerous boat rides around the area, including a possible rental

I'd love to hear some other ideas, Boardwalk and Downtown are possibly on the docket as well. What else is there to do, that is not only fun but possibly cheap or even free that most people don't know about?

Thank you!

 

[momof2n2]

Carriage rides and/or horseback rides at Fort Wilderness. Very reasonably priced IMO.

 

[Land Shark]

We like to resort hop. Stop at the lounge or pool bar, grab a drink and just walk around or sit and relax. The resorts themselves have many things to see and experience if you take time to look at the details. We also walked around Fort Wilderness campground for the first time last fall and then sat by the lake watching the boats come and go. As you mentioned, miniature golf is fun, there are 4 different courses. Assuming you are staying onsite, relaxing at the pool is always an option (pool bar optional)

BTW...Happy Anniversary!

 

[LisaCM614]

Happy Anniversary! When you check into your resort check out the Activities Guide they give you. You may find some fun things right at your own resort.

One of the free nightly things we like to enjoy are the marshmallow roast and movies by the pool!

We really enjoy spending an evening on Disney's Boardwalk. The entertainment is fun and free. Some of the acts we have seen include magicians and jugglers. There are boardwalk games to play, treats from kiosks or Seashore Sweets or the Boardwalk Bakery! Of course I think it is fun to pop into the Screen Door for some souvenir shopping as well. You can have dinner without an ADR at the ESPN Club or Big River Grille & Brewing Works! In the later part of the evening we have had a great time at Jelly Rolls - the dueling piano bar!

Still in the Boardwalk area it is really nice to take the Friendship boats around Crescent Lake.
Or head over to the Magic Kingdom area and ride the monorail, stopping at each resort and get a snack or a cocktail. Wander around a bit and get a sense of each resort's atmosphere. Sit in the lobby of the Grand Floridian with a cocktail from Mizener's and listen to the music!

Do use your waterpark tickets to go visit a waterpark even just to enjoy a wave pool!

Have fun!

 

[Fastpassminus]

I agree with PP about Ft Wilderness. We were over there for HDDR the other night & the horses were out with their handler & they are GORGEOUS. I wish we had done a carriage ride big we were tight on time.

 

[WIcruizer]

Two words: Trader Sams. You have some good idea too- AKL, Boardwalk, DTD. Always fun to get to some of these places different ways. Monorail, boats, etc. We spent a lot of our time this past trip resort hopping, Boardwalk later at night, etc.

You also mentioned you felt it was hectic trying to get on every ride, and I get that! So another thing you may want to do is take some time in the parks in 2nd gear instead of top gear. Maybe see things you haven't taken the time to see before. Some of the trails at AK, Spend more time in the Worlds at Epcot, that sort of thing.

 

[vettegirl]

We like the mini golf! Also some of the bars at the hotels are super fun.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We also love going over to Ft. Wilderness! We love eating at Trail's End and then exploring the stables. You could definitely make a day of it with a carriage ride as well!

The Fantasia mini-golf course is very close to Boardwalk - that's a fun combo. We also love the Winter Summerland courses.

 

[loves to dive]

I agree with resort hopping, the monorail hop is easy and convenient. Hop on the monorail at MK, get off at each resort, look around the lobbies wander around the resort, go to the bar and have a drink and snack. Discover the grounds.

Staying in the parks, literally get off the beaten path in Epcot. France has great gardens, so does Canada, so does Japan, so does China. Every country has little hidey holes. Go to a wine tasting in Epcot. France, Italy, Germany and Japan all have them, not expensive and good wine. There is a wine tasting at Animal Kingdom Lodge, go explore the resort do a tasting.

F&W begins this Friday, people are told not to go on the weekend because that is when the locals go but I'm thinking if you go early enough, around 11 when they open you should be o.k. Go next week, your ticket to Epcot gets you in, there are booths scattered all around WS. There are little wine, culinary and mixology seminars every day at the Festival Center. They are only $15 each, they last about 45 min go to the Festival Center and pick up a guide. There are also free little presentations there at the Center during the day. I'm going next week and plan on spending every day at F&W. I'll pop over to the other parks during the morning and after that it's food and wine. The tastings at the booths are from $4-$8 each, share a few and enjoy. There are special dinners and lunches at restaurants throughout the parks with food and wine pairings, those can be a little high around $100 and certainly no romantic since you are dining with a group of strangers but fun. Some of the restaurants in the WS also have special lunches those are around $75.

Go to Animal Kingdom and stroll along the paths there loads of winding beautiful ones.

 

[sharadoc]

Fort wilderness is great for Wishes and Electrical Water Pageant on the beach. You can ride horses, take archery lessons, play shuffleboard, rent a canoe, go canepole fishing, tetherball on the beach, rent bikes. Most resorts have movies, FW has a sing-along and show before the movie with Chip and Dale, they take pics with everyone.

We love Winter Summerland miniature golf, especially at night.

Back in the day each resort had great video arcades. The Contemporary was legendary. You could spend an evening just playing. Gone now :-(

 

[ErinInCT]

The Boardwalk is a blast at night! The entertainers are so fun! And riding the boats round trip to DHS is a nice little break.
Disney Springs has live entertainment and some stores have fun freebies (slushie at the Goofy Candy Store, Basin has lotion samples, Ghiradelli chocolate, etc)!! You can take the boat from OKW or PO.
Pricey, but nice - tea at Grand Floridian.
Watch the water parade from one of the water resorts.
I agree about EPCOT - Few people venture into the countries and there are so many hidden gems when you take the time to do some exploring.
Personally I prefer parking myself at the pool with a fancy drink and a good book.