What’s the best non-Disney part of your Disney visit? No, the airport doesn’t count.

[hardcorestitch]

For me, it’s definitely hitting up the Florida Mall and having a bite at Pollo Tropical, all while blasting XL106.7 and Johnny Magic all over town. What about you?

 

[RoyandWalt]

We always go the first 2 weeks of December. I don’t know if seeing the Christmas lights in Celebration is non-Disney but it’s our new annual tradition starting last year.

 

[hardcorestitch]

We always go the first 2 weeks of December. I don’t know if seeing the Christmas lights in Celebration is non-Disney but it’s our new annual tradition starting last year.

Technically Disney divested much of the town…

 

[allyfan]

Literally just to step out into the florida air in the dead of mighican winter. Such a nice feeling.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Being able to hang out with my sister as she lives in central Florida. I'm flying down tomorrow and we're going to go out for hot pot sometime next week.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Going to Catholic Mass near Disney that is different than the style of the NY style Mass I'm used to. Also, I enjoy seeing local historical sites and professional sports in the area.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Literally just to step out into the florida air in the dead of mighican winter. Such a nice feeling.

As Channel 955 randomly quipped early last year: “darn Michigan weather!”

Looks like you’re new here. Welcome in!

 

[VGCgroupie]

Edit: Just re-read. We dont do anything non Disney on our Disney trips.

 

[Skywalker3]

Universal, especially HHN and if we're there during their Mardi Gras/Carnival time. Although I'm still peeved w our last trip there....
also love when I can meet my cousins, often at Bahama Breeze.
Keep saying I'm gonna get to Gatorland....maybe next trip.

 

[princesscinderella]

We like volunteering at Give Kids the World village, it’s such a special place.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Universal, especially HHN and if we're there during their Mardi Gras/Carnival time. Although I'm still peeved w our last trip there....
also love when I can meet my cousins, often at Bahama Breeze.
Keep saying I'm gonna get to Gatorland....maybe next trip.

Don’t wait until Gatorland eventually shuts down…

 

[citruscurtis]

Walking West on katella Sunday morning from motel 6 on the way to Walmart and walking by the housing community.. Buddhist temple...and a social club of some sort...and consuming massive calories at Carl's...we don't eat in the resort...so McDonald's for the next 3 lunches... Walmart provides breakfast and meal after napping

 

[citruscurtis]

2011 riding Amtrak Coast starlight to Disneyland...a massive snow storm was coming from the south so a historic train station was covered Christmas card snow ... magic they I can never experience again

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I haven't been to WDW since 2021, but last few trips, the best non-Disney element I thought of first was https://kobesteakhouse.com/. It's a local chain and I really enjoyed getting dinner there.

 

[barkley]

it's been awhile but...............

going to some of the chain restaurants near the parks that we enjoyed when we lived in northern California but were (still are) not to be found anywhere near where we live now. my youngest always enjoyed the one night each trip he got to go to dave and busters.

doing a 'day rate' stay at the airport hyatt regency. it never failed that no matter where we were returning home to that always ended up with flights that left in the late afternoon or early evening. i'm not one for doing a last partial day at the parks (even when it was not psycho pricy) and the last thing I want to do is kill time to go 'window shopping' and end up with more stuff we need to somehow pack in our suitcases so we routinely would get a day rate at the Hyatt in the airport where we would just kickback and reeeeeeeeeeelax. the kids might take a dip in the rooftop pool, I often got an order of food from their restaurant (they have the BEST chicken matzo ball soup). bags already checked in and with just a few steps away from going through security there's so much less stress.

 

[clappyclaps]

If not Disney, then for me it's Universal hands down.

However if we exclude Universal, my favourite part is stepping out of the airport and getting hit by that Florida warmth and humidity. Same when you go out to the parks in the morning or in the late evening and just being outside and it's always warm (I've never visited in the winter). Admittedly later in the day it's usually too hot, but I've never experienced this at home and it's the first reminder that I'm on holiday and back in my happy place.