Visiting WDW in October, not visiting parks, need ideas of "other" things to do

[rwdavis2]

If it were me, I'd stay offsite and use the savings to buy park ticket or go to legoland or something. Being at disneyworld but not actually going into disneyworld seems like torture for a kid.

Exactly.

 

[fla4fun]

Staying onsite and not going to parks is something I've never understood.

I have done it a few times, and I have an AP, so it's not about the cost. I have done it at WL and I have done it at FW. Disney resorts can transport you to a totally different place, without leaving Orlando. I enjoy feeling like I'm in the Wild West when I'm only 20 minutes from home.

Someone mentioned the expense of staying on property, but it makes more sense in a way to pay for a resort that you are actually spending a lot of time in as opposed to staying in one but only using it to sleep and shower.

Every person has their own idea of what makes a vacation good.

 

[GPC0321]

OP, I don't know if you've ever seen La Nouba before at Disney Springs, or if it's even within your budget for this last-minute trip, but if it is, I HIGHLY recommend it! I got us the cheapest seats they have (wound up just one row back from the next price level) and it was still a fantastic experience. Just amazing, IMO. Maybe it's because it was our first ever Cirque du Soleil, but we thought it was one of the best parts of our trip (and it had been 17 years since our last visit to the Mouse). At one point I distinctly remember hearing the sound of children's laughter filling the theater when the two clowns were doing one of their acts. It was just a fantastic experience. My 70+ year old parents loved it too.

Other than that, I think you've gotten a lot of great advice. I don't know if I could visit WDW and not at least go to the MK, but there ARE so many other things to do that a non-park trip would probably be great fun! Have a blast!

 

[Nina Tow]

When we go for a week, we usually only do 2 or at most 3 park days, so I have lots of suggestions: (many a dependent on having a car though...not sure if you are driving?)

Pool time (obviously)
Miniature golf, Disney or elsewhere
Beach! We love taking a day to hit the beach. We usually go towards Tampa..but I think cocoa beach is closer
Kennedy space center (haven't done yet, but plan to when son is older, can sometimes find coupons online)
We love going to the disney character outlets
Wandering around the walking trails,at fort wilderness...I think you can canoe there too?
Ye haw bob at port orleans! For adults and kids, everyone will like him!
Getting dole ships at the poly, possibly timing it to see fireworks
Im,not a golfer, but husband does golfing off site, much cheaper
We want to try Lego land one of these times...costco has cheaper tix if you or a friend has access to that.

There is a employee that trades pins at animal kingdom lodge gift shop. He is usually in African apparel and has a grab bag and a big board of pins. Can't think of his name and now will have to Google him lol.

Edited to add: found him. Disneykingpin on twitter!

We have gone to ICE at the Gaylord Palms quite often, Sea World, Tampa for NHL games and the aquarium, and have been to the NASA space center for day trips.

 

[Nina Tow]

Staying onsite and not going to parks is something I've never understood.

I've been to the parks so many times they don't interest me any more. I'm there for time off, a great resort, great food, and a refreshing time.

 

[NH-to-FL]

riding all the free Disney transportation (yay boats!), walking around the boardwalk and getting ice cream, and playing putt putt.

These three would be on my list. I enjoy the ferry ride from the TTC to MK. You could play a round of mini-golf at Fantasia and then stroll over to the Boardwalk for ice cream at the new shop.

 

[eyehartdisney]

We have booked a last minute stay in a WDW resort for fall break with our 3 boys. We really don't have the money to spend on park tickets for 4 or 5 days but want to get to the WDW area. We are heading back for a 10 day trip in June so we aren't too concerned about not buying park tickets on this trip. Although, this will be the first time that we have ever been and not been inside a park.

We plan to swim and hang out at the resort during the day and head to Disney Springs in the evening for supper, shopping and fun. The kids are also planning to bring their pins and trade with the CM's at the resort and Disney Springs. We may possibly buy tickets to MNSSHP but that is still up in the air.

Do you have any other ideas of something fun to do with three boys, (ages 13, 10 and 4) that doesn't cost a tremendous amount? We are truly just looking forward to being able to be at WDW again. But, just looking for a few ideas that maybe haven't crossed my mind.

You could do discovery cove for 179 dollars per person (without the dolphin swim.) This will get you access to seaworld, and aquatica for 2 weeks afterwards, plus all food is included in the discovery cove day. You can also upgrade for 30? to do buschgardens if you wanted as well. Seaworld has halloween events all day included in the price of admission, including trick or treat.

 

[bear_mom]

We are doing a quick trip in Oct also. Our only park time will be the Halloween Party (I know I could buy a one day ticket for not much more, but the whole point of the trip is the party).

We are going to resort hop, walk around the boardwalk, go to Disney Springs, pool time, and maybe watch Wishes from a beach. Dds and I are very excited for our trip!

 

[Amelia :)]

I'm with you two. OP, are your boys going to be able to handle being at WDW without being able to ride any rides or be in the parks?

My thought too, won't the kids feel kinda bad when employees keep asking which park they are off to? Or they see other kids returning? I'm sure they will still have lots of fun, but my kid would beg me for a day in magic kingdom.

 

[disneydacey]

Fort Wilderness is fun to walk around and see the beautiful horses. You may luck out and be there when the farrier is there like we did and we got to pet a gorgeous Percheron horse.

 

[Belle5]

I love staying at Disney resorts even when NOT going into the theme parks! There is so much more time to stop and smell the roses (or, in this case, the piped in fragrances) and enjoy all of the theming that we usually miss when we are just there long enough to sleep and shower. Rent bikes! It's great fun! My kids have always enjoyed the arcade at the CR.

 

[mrzrich]

Characters in Flight at Disney Springs is fun. They often have a groupon.

 

[crazymomof4]

We have one full day of our upcoming trip purposely planned for "non-park" activities.

We are doing the resort tours at BWI and AKL (these run certain days, so check)
Also going to check out AoA, have lunch in the food court and do the Character Animation Class held at the resort a few times a day for free.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

And where are you staying? I am assuming you will have a car since you are talking about going around to different resorts.

We love going to AKL and watching the animals. They have activities like face painting, cake decorating, and African drum lessons (we were staying at AKL when we did this, but I think you can do them if you are staying anywhere onsite). They also have night vision goggles for animal viewing after dark.

When we drove, we brought our bikes with us. We loved riding bikes around FW. You can rent bikes at FW and POR and BC, but they are quite expensive. Still might be worth it for a few hours. October weather will probably be gorgeous.

Have you considered Mickey's BYB? We are doing a non-park day on our upcoming trip and are doing a pool day, then we are heading over to FW to have dinner with Mickey and friends at the barbecue, then to the campfire with Chip and Dale, the outdoor movie, then watching fireworks on the FW beach.

I think a resort-only trip is great. Some of our very favorite things at WDW are at the resorts. And you definitely still get that Disney feel- without feeling the Disney crowds.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

We had APs last year and we took our 3 girls to WDW 6 times in a little over a year. We're going back in December for Christmas break and it's a resort only trip. We have a motorhome and we're staying at Fort Wilderness. We told them this trip is like a regular camping trip -- we're used to spending a week hanging around a campground. We have some fun "extras" planned (character meal, boardwalk, mini golf) but for the most part we'll be relaxing at the Fort. There is only one new attraction in all of Walt Disney World since our last visit and I don't even think my kids know about the Frozen ride yet so they don't even think they're missing anything. For us the cost of 5 Multi day park tickets is just too much, and my husband refuses to buy 1 day tickets. I'm looking forward to having a relaxing trip, we're usually very go-go-go in Disney, even on 10 day trips, and there is a lot that we haven't done out of the parks.

 

[AnnaKat]

We just came back from a non-park trip! I totally agree about Pirates and Pals firework cruise, an absolute blast! Typhoon Lagoon was great and the annual pass gets you into both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. You could get good use out of it between the fall trip and in June. One of the things that was really fun (and cheap) was we brought our Hidden Mickey book and went hunting for them in the resorts and at Disney Springs. It was like a big scavenger hunt! I'm not sure where you are staying, but one day we went to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and did their bead activities (great hidden Mickeys there) and had lunch at Sanaa. I am pretty sure they are open to any WDW guest. We had stayed there in May and only needs two more to get the Mickey bead! Fun to see the animals and AKL is beautiful.

T-Rex and Raglan Road for dinner at Disney Springs are a lot of fun. Call T-Rex directly for more availability and try to get the main dining room to see the Irish dancing at Raglan Road. The kids can go up and dance and get a certificate and a sticker. We went in July so it was a little too hot, but we had talked about renting bikes at Fort Wilderness, dinner at Trails End and the campfire sing-along and Winter Summerland mini golf.

Have a great trip!

Animal Kingdom Lodge will not allow you to visit to do their FOR GUEST bead activities.
The bead activities ALSO take place @ the pool,
& the Security CM said that MANY non-guests were pool hopping!!!!

They ASK IF you are staying there as a guest, OR have a dining reservation,
AND scan your Magic Band, EVERY TIME!!

 

[MomiTo2SwtGuys]

I'm with you two. OP, are your boys going to be able to handle being at WDW without being able to ride any rides or be in the parks?

I have done it a few times, and I have an AP, so it's not about the cost. I have done it at WL and I have done it at FW. Disney resorts can transport you to a totally different place, without leaving Orlando. I enjoy feeling like I'm in the Wild West when I'm only 20 minutes from home.

Someone mentioned the expense of staying on property, but it makes more sense in a way to pay for a resort that you are actually spending a lot of time in as opposed to staying in one but only using it to sleep and shower.

Every person has their own idea of what makes a vacation good.

My thought too, won't the kids feel kinda bad when employees keep asking which park they are off to? Or they see other kids returning? I'm sure they will still have lots of fun, but my kid would beg me for a day in magic.

We are actually really excited about staying on site with no park days. I do believe we will do MNSSHP because we have never done it. We have been to WDW numerous times and my boys always love the resorts. We enjoy our "resort days", we sleep in and swim all day and rest ourselves up for the next park day.

Thank you all for your replies. I very much appreciate them.

We love the parks but also appreciate a little downtime and rest when it is very much needed.