What do you do on your 7 - 10 day trip?

[JeanfromBNA]

My husband and I went to WDW last September for 4 days (4 parks = 4 days). I would like to go for a week or longer , but am wondering how you schedule activities when you have more time.

We don't have children, so we don't need 3 days at the MK. As a matter of fact, my DH found the MK disappointing with hysterical kids and aggressive stroller-steamrollers (we went on saturday - not a good idea, I know now). We are both engineer-types and found Epcot, World Showcase, and Animal Kingdom interesting, and MGM entertaining but limited in scope for our schedule last time. I'm going to pick up the Imagineering books for good measure. We're not sure if we'd like the water parks, or would feel out of place.

How have you spent more than 7 days at the World? Any suggestions for us?

 

[Figaro8398]

How about taking time to visit different resorts? I have always wanted to do that, and may actually schedule time on my next trip. Also, I've read a lot about the backstage tours which sound quite interesting. That could be another idea.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

Like the previous poster said, try some backstage tours. I'd love to do one of them. Or maybe try some athletic things at WDW. Like renting boats at one of the resorts, or mini golfing. We always schedule a day just for Downtown Disney and relaxing things like mini golf. It's a lot of fun! Or if it's just two adults, then try doing something fancy, like going to Cirque du Soleil or going to one of the clubs at Pleasure Island.

 

[Mousema]

I vote for backstage tours. I'm doing KTTK this time.

 

[mking624]

W've done trips that go anywhere frrom 4 days to 8 days. We felt really rushed with a 4 day trip...just because there are 4 days and 4 parks doesn't mean you can see everything in those parks in those 4 days. There's a lot to do. We like longer trips because we can stretch things out. Options you have...
1. DTD...check out the clubs at Pleasure Island and/or see La Nouba
2. Water parks (I know you said you're not sure if you'd like them or not, but there's only one way to find out....)
3. Miniature Golf (Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland)
4. Backstage tours
5. Catch a fun evening at Boardwalk
6. Get the "Hidden Mickeys" book and have at it
7. Resort hop (go and visit them to see what they're like)
8. and much much more....

Also, keep in mind that your enjoyment of the parks can be relative to when you're going. If crowds are not your thing, consider going during a value season. It'll be cheaper and there will be less people.

 

[disneypharm]

How about the water parks (Typhoon lagoon and Blizzard Beach), Downtown disney shops, Disneyquest, boating, bicycling, horseback riding, seeing different resorts? If you go in December, you can see Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party ; from mid Sept to Halloween, you can see Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

We like to take a day to just relax at the pool, and we love to go to Sea World!

 

[pumba]

hubby and I are Disney nuts ....honest......our kids are married and they have children that are all Disney nuts too. We went for 11 days the last of April and the first week of May and we had a great time...We go everywhere and do everything........We do love Epcot and the World Showcase but we also love the rides there too. We could eat around the world and we go when the Flower and Garden festival is on......we saw three oldies groups and had a great time there too. Try it all.......We just like to go and not be sitting around doing nothing.....

 

[singingpixie]

I think the biggest difference between "whirlwind" type trips and longer ones is the pace at which you see things. Sure, there's more time for things like downtown disney and the waterparks, but I think it's nicer to be able to slow down and see the little things when you have more time to see things. Eat some leisurely TS meals, sit on a bench and peoplewatch, spend some time at your hotel pool, notice attractions that you wouldn't take the time for on a shorter trip. Shorter trips are fun, but it's nice to be able to do things at that slower pace.

 

[dmonroe]

You've gotten lots of good ideas! There's also golf, fishing excursions, Richard Petty Driving Experience, and some nice spas! We always like to take at least a day to just enjoy our resort (rent a boat, swim, etc)

 

[bearzabout]

The best thing about more days is that you can slow down.

My recommendations:

See Animal Kingdom Lodge. Have dinner at Boma and hang out at the animal overlooks. This is a great place to relax by the firepit outside or inside. There are often talks or slideshows on Africa in the evenings.

Take a break from the MK in the middle of the day. Take a boat to the Polynesian. Walk along the beach to the Grand Floridian. Enjoy live music inside in the early evening. Head back to MK for the fireworks at night.

On another day at MK, take the boat to the Wilderness Lodge. There is a nice walking trail to Fort Wilderness from the lodge. I rarely see anyone on it.

To avoid crowds at the waterparks, go late (around 1:00). Many people start leaving around 3-4. Have a section of the lazy river to yourselves the last hour of the day.

If you have a car, go shopping at the outlet malls and go to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch or dinner. End up at Citywalk at Universal in the evening. Share a piece of banana cream pie at Emeril's Tchoup Chop. Rest your weary feet in the lobby of the Royal Pacific Hotel.

See all of the entertainment at Epcot. Look at all the offerings and catch acts that you have never seen before. So many people just do the attractions and skip the music and other acts.

From Epcot, walk or boat to the Beach Club for ice cream sundaes at Beaches & Cream. In the evening, check out the buskers that perform at the Boardwalk.

If he is into trains, do the backstage train tour at MK.

Check out the celtic music at Raglan Road at Downtown Disney starting at 9PM.

I turned my hubby into a Disney addict by buying annual passes and slowing down. Now we come and go from the parks as we please and enjoy everying thing else the world has to offer (there is so much more than just the parks).

Try to do the parks early when crowds are low and as soon as the kids get to him, escape to a secluded place outside the parks. Return at night when the lights are on and the parks look so beautiful.

 

[Jennick]

I reccommend taking in Cirque de Soleil . We have seen the La Nouba show twice. It is outstanding!!! Maybe enjoy a nice leisurley (sp?) dinner before or after the show , depending on which show you see.

I agree with taking things slow and enjoying all there is to see. We tried that this year and enjoyed our vacataion so much more. This was our 13th or 14th trip to WDW and I was amazed at the things we had missed because we rushed through it. We caught the different shows in each of the countries this year. I am sure they were there every other year, we just hadn't taken the time to notice. We really enjoyed them. People watching in DTD is a favorite of mine. I love to sit on a bench and relax with a frozen coke after a long day at the parks with my hubby and the kids don't mind because it gives them time to shop in the many stores there. We also usually take a day or two and visit Universal Studios as well. While my hubby enjoys WDW he just can't take 7-10 of Mickey (poor soul..lol), so he likes to take in a few other attractions as well.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Many of our favorite things have already been mentioned but we enjoy the small entertainments around the World Showcase. Off Kilter is our very favorite and if you happen to be there when they are having the concerts over at the American Pavillion it is even more fun, especially for those of us of a 'certain age" as it is music from our past.

Many rides take on a whole new character after dark, POTC etc., so it is fun to try a different take on things.

We also enjoy going to one of the lagoon resorts and seeing the EWP and can often catch the MK fireworks. We have dinner before but if you are nightowls you can have it afterward and make a night out of it. If one of the monorail parks is open late you can even enjoy a night monorail trip back and even around MK before you head back to your resort.

So much to do, so little time. BTW, we are booked for TWENTY days in Sept and Oct.

Slightly Goofy

 

[tinkertigger]

I love having at least a week there so I can actually enjoy strolling around. You see so much more. Take time to sit and people watch for a while. Go back to the hotel and take a swim. Go over to Ft. Wilderness for a bike ride or horse back riding. Enjoy a leasurely dinner at the World Showcase. Stop and actually watch the different street entertainment. Take in character meals at different resorts.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied! Great suggestions, all. I didn't know AKL had animal overlooks, not to mention slideshows. We would enjoy both. I thought that we might enjoy a couple of the shorter backstage tours, and have looked into them. Miniature golf is a good idea that I hadn't thought of, too. LaNouba is on my list for the long trip, and I still don't understand what it's about, just that everybody seems to enjoy it. I would love to turn my hubby into a Disney addict, instead of just along for the ride. See you all there!

 

[Tigger79]

Have you thought about doing Epcot in 2 days? Sleep in one day or have a late breakfast and then head over to the World Showcase around 11am and just spend the day at the WS? Another day do Future World? If you're going around Christmas time resort hop a day & look at how the resorts decorate for the holidays. We've done horseback riding, gone to the Spa, done backstage tours,golfing. Went to a park early in the day and then went back to the resort to relax and then headed back about 6pm and stayed at the park the rest of the night. There's always plenty of shopping at DT!

 

[eleanor]

This past Mar. we went to FW and rented a canoe. It was a nice little trip down the river and saw some interesting birds and plants.We were there for 10 days and really took our time.Had some lovely leisurely meals,enjoyed the Boardwalk area and DTD.Also lots of pool time.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

We (my DH and I) usually go for more than a week (the last 3 stays have been 14, 13, and 10 day stays.)

If you go in October we found we spent multiple days at Epcot with the Food and Wine Festival. We went to DTD multiple times -- we really enjoy La Nouba and like to go to the HOB for dinner and some music.

There's lots of golf (if you enjoy that) and there are several really great spas on site that offer lots of options for massages etc... that DH and I both enjoyed. We went to Boma for breakfast. This past year we stayed at BWV and found we enjoyed just spending some time by the pool or walking on the boardwalk. We also went to a movie and Disney Quest one day.

Are you renting a car? We also usually do a day of shopping (Premier and Belz malls, Florida and Millenia malls) and a day at Universal/Islands of Adventure. The first year we went we drove to Kennedy Space Centre for the day.