Three day trip with no parks, advise anyone?

[Tigger1]

Just me and DD (25) for a quick trip, we had SW air credit and could use DVC points so where else to go but Disney. We will not be going to parks and have not done much else except shop at DTD.

We will do a little drinking, any suggestions where?
First day no dining plan. I am thinking we could do appitizers at a couple DTD new restaurants along with a drink. Any suggestions for good appitizers? Any good bars for Music, entertainment and a drink?
Trip next week. Looking forward to a non park visit. Would be going to the parks at least 1 day if tickets did not expire.

 

[disneynutz]

Epcot resort for boardwalk/S&D activities or SSR for DS.

Bill

 

[com_op_2000]

It depends on what you are into:
sports: golf, mini-golf, fishing, marathon, bowling, ESPN Club, WWS/ESPN Zone, etc
shopping: DTD, area outlet malls, large scale malls
drinking: Jellyrolls, Raglan Road, monorail tour of resorts, walking tour of resorts in the Boardwalk area - Offsite Gaylord Palms
movies: DTD 24 screen theater some with meals served by waiters
night clubbing: Jellyrolls, Atlantic Dance, Raglan Road, Citywalk
resort tours: monorail tour of resorts, Boardwalk around the lake tour of resorts, horse drawn tour of FWC, AKL/AKV
offsite: Citywalk, swamp tour

 

["Got Disney"]

we always go and just chill at DTD and the resort.....we head to the movies at DTD and eat at DTD and shop at DTD...we love to hang out at the pool and do the resort activities...my boys are 19 and 22....we take it day by day on where and ehat we want to do...what resort are you staying at? WE always head the the movies and there are a lot of Disney movies out at this time the theater is HUGE!!!!!! be careful not to walk into a theater that has the dining...if you look at a time they will give you that one so if you don't want that one be sure to find out...if you do be sure to book a head of time...you can get food and drinks(alcohol served to you during the movie.....

Have a great time

 

[ccigliano]

I would take advantage of the resorts. Go to the new bar at the Poly and watch the Wishes fireworks from the beach. How about dinner at Hoop De Doo Review? Of course taking time to relax by the resort pool would be awesome too. Have dinner at the California Grill at the top of the Contemporary and stay for Wishes. Where will you be staying as that may impact my recommendations. Have a wonderful trip.

 

[Disneypapa]

Just a few ideas, if you are into dinner theater, try Arabian Nights or the Pirates show. House of Blues has an outdoor dining area with stage for music acts.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Late afternoon, hit up Trader Sam's Grotto @ the Poly for cocktails and apps. Then go to the Poly sushi bar(if you indulge) and grab some sake and sushi. Around 8, head over to BLT to stake out a view @ TOWL. Enjoy dessert/after dinner drinks and the fireworks over the castle. Take a bus to DS or cab it home. Another night - For DS, do drinks/apps @ Splittsville with some bowling then over to Jocks bar - grab a deck chair if you can. Boat home at the end of the night. For a lodge experience, hit up Wilderness Lodge and the small bar off the main and then dinner @ Artist Point. You could then take the boat to BLT and repeat the TOWL experience. Enjoy!!!

 

[Tigger1]

Such good ideas.
We are resort hoping.
Movies
Animal Kingdom
Saratoga

Last night Dinner at Ohaunas
Plan to get Souvenior cups at Trader Sams
Anywhere else have Souvernior cups?
Always wanted to go to Bay Lake Lounge for fireworks so thats on the plan. Desert or Apps there would be great.

Also wanted to go to jocks last time but failed to make it, so thats on the plan.
Quick service for 3 meals, Wolf Gang Puch and not sure where else.
1 set down

First night no dinning plan so maybe Earl of sandwich for Daughter.
Always wanted to try House of Blues so maybe an app and Drink.

 

[ABCanada]

We enjoy the Dine with an Animal Specialist lunch at Sanaa (Wed or Sat). It is not covered under the Dining Plan but we think reasonably priced. If this does not work for you a late lunch at Sanaa when they are feeding the animals is very pleasant (and on the dining plan)

Raglan Road is always fun and we enjoy the food.

Turf Club at SSR is usually easy to get into, on the dining plan, has good out door seating and I think underrated.

If you are on the dining plan you might consider a character meal for the Disney feel, if you can time it when there are not too many screaming kids. The Characters can be great with the adults as well as the kids (might be that they enjoy the break from the kids).

Whispering Canyon Cafe is fun if that appeals to you. We also enjoy the Territory Lounge at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Cirque du Soleil is a great show. We also love Raglan Road, good food, great drinks and free entertainment.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Rent a speed boat and explore Bay lake/7 seas lagoon. Go to boardwalk/beach club.... Cape may cafe is delicious for seafood.... Or splurge for yacht club Stackhouse. We took an Uber ride to universal city walk when we do a park free weekend. You can get a free ride code by Googling or pm me for one. (when you refer someone you get a free ride.... So refer your spouse if you've never used it and both rodes will be free).

Enjoy your room with a nap (if you've ever watched big bang theory you might understand this)

Definitely jellyrolls if just adults. Sing and drink to the piano bars

Enjoy your resort pool.... All of them.

I'm here now and while we enjoy the parks... We try to take some veg time around the resort as well.

Edit.... If you do the universal city walk... I recommend the restaurant Cowfish.... We really liked it.

 

[billsfan]

Music + Drinks = Jellyrolls at the Boardwalk. Great dueling piano bar.

Also another idea for drinks is the Monorail drink-a-thon. Just head to one of the monorail resorts or the Magic Kingdom and ride the monorail around The Seven Seas Lagoon stopping at each resort to have a drink. You can also +1 this by either starting at the Wilderness Lodge and then taking the boat to the Contemporary or ending your night at the Wilderness Lodge

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

Just a few ideas, if you are into dinner theater, try Arabian Nights or the Pirates show. House of Blues has an outdoor dining area with stage for music acts.

Arabian Nights has closed!

 

[Mazz519]

We just did a whole week with no parks... it was great....my kids loved it, we golfed, went fishing, went on the night safari at AKL, saw LaNouba(which was great) and just did a lot of pool time.. we stayed ants at AKL and 4 nuts at GFV...

 

[MinniesFav]

I agree with most of the posts above-Boardwalk. Good restaurants nearby as well as cool pools (fun & quiet).
pLust Disney Springs is a bus ride away.

 

[DieHardJoe]

We have cut way back on park visits and, like yourself, look for other things outside the parks that we have never done. So this link has become our first stop in planning a trip. http://allears.net/btp/tours.htm There are a number of available tours that you can look into. Our last trip we did the Segue tour at Fort Wilderness. We loved it (after a few minutes of learning how to balance on the Segue). We are doing the free tour at the Boardwalk Inn in Sept. and I see there is now a GF tour for $15 which we may look into. And there used to be a Wilderness Lodge tour as well, though I don't see it listed. And on that same link check out the Specialty cruises. I believe there is also horseback riding at FW. And while I know it is not a biggie, and many consider it outdated, we still will always find a few minutes to watch the Electrical Water Pageant at night from one of the monorail resorts. Lastly - I know you didn't want to go into a park, but if you should change your mind, the Keys to the Kingdom tour was fantastic. It's 4 1/2 to 5 hours with a stop for lunch at Columbia Harbor House. For $79, lunch included, we think it's a great value. I'm sure you'll stay busy. Enjoy your visit!

 

[anonymousegirl]

I love this thread and all the ideas. I own at BLT and have been to the parks so often that I skip a lot of the attractions. I am going for 3 1/2 days early September (solo trip). I have my FP for FEA and Soarin', the DVC Safari Spectacular, and an ADR at Skipper Canteen (making sure I do all the new things). I was thinking about hitting a water park for the first time ever (if Florida can recover from Hurricanes Andrew and Charley, it can recover from seeing me in a swimsuit!). Now I want to go see a movie!