simple(cheap) things to do?

[M & K]

We have a three-year old (going on 14) duaghter and are wondering if there any "little known" things to do around DW that are cheap and fun; for example, Downtown Disney. We were going to take the plunge and pay the big bucks for DW next year.

Everyone's feedback is appreciated!

 

[Quinn222]

How about riding the resort monorail and checking out the different monorail resorts. If it's in the budget you could even pick up a pin from each of them. I make it a point to buy a resrot pin from every resort I stay at or visit. It's fun and not expensive.

 

[3mickeys&me]

Well, staying at a value resort can help keep costs down. They value resorts are decorated really cool and the kids really love that.
I always book my resort & park passes on line through Disney but ALWAYS book my own airfare and save $$ that way.
We usually don't spend alot of $$ while in the parks, my boys usually are given Disney Dollars or bring a certain amount of their own $ to buy a few suvineers. Other than that its just spending $ on food really.

My boys LOVE going to DownTown Disney, its fun to walk around down there and YES there are alot of stores there but mostly we walk around check out the lego place and get icecream cones. We LOVE going to the Rain Forest Cafe at DTD.
We did the dining plan on our last visit and it worked out really well for us. We also do Advanced reservation for the places we want to eat sit down meals and for our Charactor Breakfast.

 

[BeckWhy]

The only thing I can think of right now is... Usually when we go to DTD one of the stores (I can't remember which one) gave us a packet of stickers. Also, if you are in the parks... and she gets hurt or something... the First Aid station gives out stickers also.

Oh and there are all those KidCot stops in World Showcase.

 

[VolleyballQt07]

Don't forget the "wet" sidewalk at DTD....there is a section that is like a fountain. Put her suit on her an dlet her get wet..my kids love doing this...It's a great diversion on a hot day. !
There is also a carousel at DTD and I think a giant sandbox area to play in.
Also the electric water parade. you don't have to be in the parks to see it.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Check out www.mousesavers.com

There is a great section about cheap and free things to do in WDW. It's very helpful and I've done things using this list! FUN!

 

[Florida_Mom]

There are a few things we love to do at Ft. Wilderness, even if we are not camping there (which we also love to do) --

You can rent golf carts by the hour. You can't make a reservation for it, but you can call the Bike Barn from your hotel room or cell phone before you head over there to see if they have any available just for an hour or two. We did that in January and it was even sprinkling a little bit, but we had fun riding around, splashing in puddles, etc.

You can also go to their nightly Disney movie. They have a campfire (you can bring you're own stuff for s'mores or buy them at the chuckwagon), a sing-a-long, character greeting by Chip and Dale, and then they show a Disney movie right outside in their open theatre area. It's alot of fun. We rarely ever stayed for the whole movie, choosing instead to eat s'mores, watch the first bit of the movie and then move down to the waterfront for....

The electric water parade and fireworks. Lots of fun, and my kids even enjoyed being able to play in the sand and build sandcastles while the parade and fireworks were going on.

Have fun!!!

 

[M & K]

Those are great ideas! Is all that stuff (i.e. rentals and campfire ect.)available at Ft. Wilderness?

I thought you had to be in DW to see the electric water parade & the fireworks?

Thanks for your help!

 

[KathyRN137]

Hi! By "DW" I am guessing that you mean the "MK" (Magic Kingdom)!

The Electric Water Pageant is a light and musical barge parade on Bay Lake. It can be seen from the MK area resorts:

Polynesian: around 9:00 pm
Grand Floridian: around 9:15 pm
Wilderness Lodge: around 9:30 pm
Fort Wilderness: around 9:45 pm

Enjoy!

 

[mommiepoppins]

great info thanks so much

 

[Florida_Mom]

Those are great ideas! Is all that stuff (i.e. rentals and campfire ect.)available at Ft. Wilderness?

I thought you had to be in DW to see the electric water parade & the fireworks?

Thanks for your help!

Yes, all of those things can be done from Ft. Wilderness, including the Electric Water parade. The water parade/fireworks are viewed from the beach. The rentals/campfire/movie are all done in the same area behind the Meadows Trading Post.

 

[FINFAN]

The petting zoo at Ft. Wilderness is nice too...and then take a boat ride to the Contemporary and do the resort run on the monorail( as suggested) and look for hidden Mickeys! you can feed the ducks at CR , they are always willing to eat! You can go to the boardwalk and hang out...and at night you can see some fireworks of illuminations from the bridge heading to Epcot, but do not have to enter the park.
We went for 3 days once, stayed at the Dolphin and did not set foot into the parks. It was hard as my kids were 8 and 12 at the time, but we splurged and rented a boat for 25 at the Y/C marina...everything else we did was free, we spent a lot of time at AKL at the viewing area, and kids were invited to the story telling that was going on, we did hit DTD and the kids played with the lego station for a while. Not sure how much it costs, but there is Fantasia mini golf right behind the Swan, and MANY resorts have playgrounds, my kids loved checking out each and every giant character at ASMO. And then , just riding the monnorail, we love to do that!
Our 3 days flew by, but we did get to see many things we would have just rushed by if hitting the parks.


Pam

 

[mamacatnv]

Loved the campfire at FW, would highly suggest going.

 

[ImagineEar]

A few of the deluxe hotels GF and WL offer free tours that leave from the lobby on a regular basis - although I'm not sure a 3 yr old would enjoy that. Those same hotels do a weekly "ladybug release" in their gardens on a weekly basis that guests can attend (free). Call guest relations at those hotels for more info if interested.

? ?? Is Discovery Island Free? It has been a long time since I have been there and I can't remember if they charge. If it is free that might be something worth doing. It is a nature preserve with wild life on a little island near the Contemporay and WL area.

 

[jann1033]

A
? ?? Is Discovery Island Free? It has been a long time since I have been there and I can't remember if they charge. If it is free that might be something worth doing. It is a nature preserve with wild life on a little island near the Contemporay and WL area.

it wasn't free but it's gone any way




not sure from your post but if you aren't going into any of the parks oR staying on site ( opps caps mistake, not yelling), sometimes they ask for a resort room key or pass for an id on the transportation( this has only happened to us once on the mono and once on the bus in FW) just to let you know...you can also take a free boat from dtd to por/fq which is kind of nice and probably would be fun for the little one..not tons to see but still a boat ride and also one goes from the Cont. to WL and FW...they also have reasonably priced hay rides at FW in the evening and a nature trail

 

[Idroveallnight]

The boat from MGM to Epcot is a really nice trip. You get to see alot and it's nice and cool. You can get off at the Boardwalk & just stroll around. The Kidcot stops in Epcot (already mentioned) are fun. We did a free scrapbooking activity at the Contemporary. The kids got to keep their work & got a Magical Moments certificate.

 

[M & K]

Thanks for the info. We stay at Orange Lake.

 

[TTA Deb]

I agree with Florida Mom...go to the Fort Wilderness Campfire movie. It's a tradition my daughter and I wouldn't miss. We don't always stay for the entire movie, particularly if it's cold or buggy, but we love roasting the marshmallows over the fire and then enjoying the smores. The movie schedule is available at the beginning of the month...look for Camping at Disney...