Seriously though, we aren’t going to the park

[KaystotheKingdom]

In our social circle we are the Disney People (I’m sure you can all relate). When I get the hairy eyeball about going to theme parks as an adult, I’m quick to point out there is so much to do outside of the parks.

but really, I haven’t done most any of it lol. I get FOMO not being in the park but this time I have promised my nDH we are going to relax outside of the parks.

seemed like a great idea but now I’m like, how in the heck am I going to fill this week? To me, the pool day is the longest day of the vacation- it’s just my personality haha. I still enjoy it butFind myself lounging there itching to get up and do something.

anyway- what is your favorite non park activity?

 

[happily single]

I agree with you. We like to ride the monorail and explore all the resorts. Not sure how that will work with the construction. We also take the bus to Disney Springs. Poke around there. Take the boat to Port Orleans. Mini golf is fun too

 

[brad813]

In our social circle we are the Disney People (I’m sure you can all relate). When I get the hairy eyeball about going to theme parks as an adult, I’m quick to point out there is so much to do outside of the parks.

but really, I haven’t done most any of it lol. I get FOMO not being in the park but this time I have promised my nDH we are going to relax outside of the parks.

seemed like a great idea but now I’m like, how in the heck am I going to fill this week? To me, the pool day is the longest day of the vacation- it’s just my personality haha. I still enjoy it butFind myself lounging there itching to get up and do something.

anyway- what is your favorite non park activity?

Movies, golf, and mini-golf are all good options. I like resort hopping and dining, but don’t like the monorails. I prefer the boats. I do want to go horseback riding at Fort Wilderness sometime, since it is a rare treat for me. Does the water parks count as parks? And when the sun goes down, a bar or two. There is also the safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge, if they still have it.

 

[Tinkerlund]

Resort hopping, monorail bar crawl, free transportation boats etc.
I don't know if they still do these with the covid but The Wonders of the Lodge Tour at Wilderness Lodge and the tour at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Both should be free.

 

[5Tulips]

Footgolf, lunch at GF and walk the path to MK, mini golf, Poly for dole whips, pool, dinner at Sanaa and watch the animals. These are a few of the things we did over two days without going to the parks. A full week without parks would be tough for us.

 

[Hubie]

We always schedule at least one park-free day. We then have had leisurely breakfasts (both in and out-of-the bubble), driven to Cocoa Beach for the day, spent time at a pool when staying at WL or AK or at a WP, played mini-golf, resort-hopped to check out Christmas decorations and gingerbread houses, and visited DS (especially in the AM before the masses arrive).

Last trip during 1/2020 we were at the RIV and had 2 non-park days. On the first of the two we had our favorite brunch at Trail's End. We then took the boat back to the CTR & spent time there before taking the MR to Poly for Dole Whips before heading back to the RIV to spend time at the pool. On our other day we slept in, had a leisurely breakfast in our room, watched some TV, walked over to the CBR to check it out, rode the sky liner to POP and the BW, and spent time in the hot tub & pool. Yes, we also go to DS for the evening, but the crowds -- ugh!

 

[DL1WDW2]

See if you can plan a day that gets you on the ferry, water taxi, monorail to Epcot, SkyLiner explore any resort lobbies you have not walked thru. The Riviera has incredible music and art , Walt Disney history. Maybe check out the rooftop view… Have you walked around the new Grand Destino Tower at night across the 3 Bridges and up to their rooftop Bar? Really pretty at night!
What time of year will you visit? Will you have a car?

 

[DL1WDW2]

I just checked out the Events for the Gaylord Palms (3 miles away)…You will have to pay for parking but they have a beautiful landscaped courtyard to walk thru. And hopefully you will be there in time for the alligator feeding frenzy…which is amazing to watch! Also the exterior pool area was just expanded but it is fun to walk past and maybe sit at the outdoor bar.Thenwalk to the new courtyard that was created when they added on buildings. Lots of kids throwing frisbees, parents relaxing by the exterior oversized fireplaces .Hope for a full moon.
And just inside a great Sports Bar with a balcony upper lower view of huge screens for Sporting event weekends. Probably Olympics currently.They schedule themed events through out the year to reflect the seasons or the holidays.I have gone for Halloween and Xmas and Gaylord Ice Shows. Plus the nighttime view of the music and themed light show is great to enjoy with a cup of coffee from their coffee shop or another bar inside the lobby!
I love Gaylord Palms but the rooms are expensive because I have to have interior balcony courtyard view. Nothing like sitting on balcony with the French doors wide open and no worries about insects for their electrical light show! This resort knows how to celebrate the holidays

 

[DL1WDW2]

And if you want a lazy River and those ocean wave pools and some slides in a compact clean environment…Check out the H2O WaterPark by the Margaritaville Resort Actually avoid Saturday & Sunday cause locals… They have a season pass that is cheap and their season extends thru Thanksgiving. I’m like you I can’t just sit by the pool. They have an adult only pool and Bar. And Friday night dive in movies with big screen and lots of seating. I think free popcorn. And the area has a Garden Walk with Auto Shows and Farmers Market on weekends.
Margaritaville has a nice lobby and nightly music in the Bar
This area is close to the Target by Animal Kingdom

 

[jimmymc]

I'm with you, I am normally in the parks every day. Pool time is a few hours at most.

If he likes golf there are several courses on and right off property. Disney Springs has shopping and restaurants, although I am personally not a fan.

Visiting AKL and watching the animals or hopping around the MK area resorts are probably my favorite things to do.

 

[dreamtripper]

I used to feel the same way, that a day not in the parks was wasted. However, the last trip I took was in the beginning of June 21. Work had wore me out and I knew from past trips that June was when the weather starts to get unbearable in the parks with humidity and more rain, not to mention the bigger summer crowds! I also had just taken a trip in April to the parks that there was nothing that I felt the need to repeat at the moment, so I just decided to book a room at the Caribbean to hang out by the pool for a nice four day trip and it was GREAT! I'd get up walk over to the Riviera for breakfast, spend a few hours at the main pool or quiet pool (one day I even had the quiet pool all to myself for most of the day!) then have a late dinner at Disney Springs or take the skyliner over to towards the Epcot station to just meander around the Y&B clubs and Boardwalk (which is really a nice walk, especially at sunset!) It was such a nice, leisurely, relaxing trip, and I got to see and enjoy moments and details that I would normally miss in the rush rush rush of trying to make rope drops and standing in line all day. It was the first time I actually came back from a Disney trip rested!! lol.

 

[bakerworld]

For us the best part of WDW is the theming. We like to do monorail crawls and, now, gondola crawls. Around the monorail is sophistication to Westward Ho to Malesia followed by Mary Poppins. I love how in Disney Springs you can travel from a Irish Pub to prehistoric times over to Raiders of the Lost Ark then off to Boathouse and on to the jungle.

For years when all we did was the parks we missed the activities available at the hotels - Wine tastings/Food pairings, night vision at AK, Boardwalk carnival games, surrey rides, wilderness walks/carriage rides. About 7 years ago we left the park to spend some time at the pool and stopped at the pool bar before looking for a lounger. Next thing I knew it was 3 hours later, never did look for a lounger or enter the pool. Best afternoon talking with bartenders and fellow vacationers. We headed back to the room to commence our evening plans. It occurred to me that we could take a day to sleep late, pool hang and spend the evening enjoying the Boardwalk performers or head for Disney Springs Raglan Road to enjoy the bands. One day led to more until a couple years later we enjoyed a park free vacation and loved it.

We visit WDW about 3 to 4 times a year for long weekends and one of those weekends is now a park free vacation.

 

[FrostyNaples]

Splitsville is a blast, they have some strong drinks - Resort hoping for seasonal treats, decor - I mean there is just as much to do outside the parks, more even. Super excited to see Drawn to life this fall, had a 2020 spring trip planned for it's previous grand opening that never was.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We ve added in other activities just to change it up.
the night Safari at kidani … greatly enjoyed it , night vision goggles.
horseback tiding
Have done a few tours within Disney.
outside the bubble… we’ve looked aroundlol basically to see the differences from our earlier visits… vastly different lol

I do enjoy a pool day and a day at a water park …a day just relaxing at the resort and doing DS, maybe mini golf but …
I really enjoy the people watching and just being “ in the bubble” so I do that in the parks lol.
Life is short , do what makes you happy.

 

[FrostyNaples]

We ve added in other activities just to change it up.
the night Safari at kidani … greatly enjoyed it , night vision goggles.
horseback tiding
Have done a few tours within Disney.
outside the bubble… we’ve looked aroundlol basically to see the differences from our earlier visits… vastly different lol

I do enjoy a pool day and a day at a water park …a day just relaxing at the resort and doing DS, maybe mini golf but …
I really enjoy the people watching and just being “ in the bubble” so I do that in the parks lol.
Life is short , do what makes you happy.

We started doing tours a few years back, can't wait for them to return. Always trying something new, there is always something new to try!

 

[olwyngdh]

If you have a car and want to leave the bubble, Kennedy Space Center is really worth the trip.