What else to do beside the parks ????

[edk35]

Okay this is our 8th trip and every time we go..we mainly do the parks....parks and parks. Yes we sometimes go to DTD........but what else would be fun for our 15 year old dd, 12 year ds and 6 year old ds?????? I posted about going to Universal....but I don't think my 6 year old or me would get much out of that. I would not ride most of that. We never do down days ALWAYS NON STOP PARK DAYS..and since we are going Thanksgiving week...........from Nov. 17th through the 26............I was thinking to change it up and enjoy some other fun stuff. Please help!!

 

[Mysteria]

Off the top of my head how about DisneyQuest and Cirque du Soleil.

Myst

 

[crow11ad]

Well there is DQ. I hear you about Universal. We are going to Universal for the 1st time in about a week. We will be doing the Disney parks 7 days. I have just always wanted to try Universal. As far as other things to do, you could resort hop. The decorations should be up when you are there. That in it self is worth taking a day for. Just take time and rent the water mice or the surrey bikes. I had a blast in Dec and I rented a bike twice. The first time it was a 2 seater with me and DW. The 2nd time I got a single one. We were staying at WL and I rode it to FW. Needless to say I got lost and some how ended up around the front of WL.. If you go to FW, all the campers are decorated with Christmas decorations. It's really great.

 

[Rella Bella]

We really enjoyed "Medieval Times". My son was 6 or 7 at the time and was in heaven... and he still says it was the best food he ever had. I think he just liked seeing the "real swords & horses". If you go... get there a ways ahead of the seating time... there is Lots to see in the waiting area.
We also went to "Pirates"... he liked it too. But we all liked Medieval Times better.

 

[Jeanne B]

We're going to WDW next week and we have the same problem because this is also at least our 8th trip. We're only going to do one day of park hopping plus the MNSSHP. We're going to the Dixie Stampede dinner show, my DH is going to do the Richard Petty ride-along experience at the WDW speedway and we're also going to go to both of the waterparks since we've only done the theme parks but not the waterparks. We've been to DTD, Universal, IOA, Sea World, Busch Gardens so we're running out of things to do!! We're going on the 3-day Disney cruise at the tail end of this trip, which I'm totally excited about, but after this we're going to take a break from Orlando for a couple of years (don't flame me!!).

 

[mickey0216]

I 2nd the water mice. Does anyone in your group like to golf? WDW has a wide variety of golf. From miniature golf, par 3 (pitch and putt), to very challenging courses where the Funai Classic is held.

 

[jackmac]

You could also take a trip to Cape Canaveral.

Universal would be a treat for your children. There are 2 parks there, Universal and Islands of Adventure. Universal is the older park and is similar to MGM. It has some great rides and some scary rides, but most are just fun. ET is a great ride for a 6 yo, Back to the future for the older kids. Islands of adventure is mostly roller coaster type rides.

Another great day is to take a tour. I highly recommend the Keys to the Kingdom. It is a back stage tour of the Magic Kingdom and gives you great background info on how Disney World was developed and how it operates. I don't think that they allow 6 yo on it but they have other tours that do cater to that age.

Miniature golf is a great pasttime. There are some very inventive courses there.

I'm sure that others will come up with some ideas. We always try to do something different when we go, along with going back to our favorites. The dinner shows are worth going to if for no other reason than they are Disney.

 

[ainmama2001]

SHOP at DTD. I LOVE World of Disney.

 

[stacy6552]

Send your 6 year old on the Pirate or Albatross cruise. They are great fun and such a deal!

Have your teens done the parks without yu yet? Id give them a day to themselves. Its a whole different experience for kids on their own.

Mini-golf and Disney Quest are both good, though I have heard the 6 yr olds dont have as much fun at DQ, yet.

What resort are you staying at? Make time to eat at different resorts, just to check them out.

 

[lovethattink]

Thanksgiving week is an awesome time to go! The day after Thanksgiving starts all the Christmas stuff! On Friday you could go resort hopping and check out all the decorations and gingerbread displays. In the evening, you could head over to Epcot and watch the Candlelight processional. Another thing you could do is head over to POR one night and catch the show by the piano man. It's great family entertainment! Have you ever done a carriage ride? What about the free campfire at Fort Wilderness, buy a marshmello kit or 2 and your set? DQ and the water parks are fun too. The resort pools are a blast as well. Hope this helps!

 

[lenore1]

We went mini golfing at the course near Typhoon Lagoon. We went first thing in the the morning and we had the whole course to ourselves. They offer a "summer" course" and a "winter" course. We did the winter and our kids 7 and 5 loved it! It was one of our favorite mornings!

 

[Jeanne B]

A day trip to Kennedy Space Center...we did that a couple of years ago and drove to Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach before heading back to Orlando. A day trip to Daytona Beach is another idea. We did that last year...went to Daytona USA and then we went to the beach for a few hours, rented one of the golf carts and rode up and down the beach...fun!!

 

[GIOny]

A day at the pool and a drink in hand always works for me but I know that's tough with a little one so maybe just a day at the beach (Cocoa Beach is the closest one I know) or a fishing excursion (right on WDW property) - if your kids like that kind of thing, my kids always had a good time with it. Go-carts, mini-golf, gatorland, lion safari or how about just a day to chill out . OK I'm ready for that drink and lounge chair!

 

[tmt martins]

Horseback riding is also nice I heard .Oldtown is a carnival type thing as well 5mins. away.

 

[Pats Dragon]

We love off days just as much as parks! Here are our favorfites:
1. Check out other resorts and the decorations especially AKL, GF, WL, CR, and Polynesian. Also see the water pageant.
2. DQ or the C ontemporary game room are fun.
3. You can fish in the canals at FW, ride horses, see the huge MK horses free, rent canoes or bikes or just hang out. There is a free campfire too.
4. We have discovered miniature golf and love it.
5.Rent little speed boats.
6. check out the courtyards and memorabilia at POP.
7. Rent surrys at Boardwalk.
8.Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are neat and it is often hot enough to enjoy them as well as your motel pool.
9. There are carriage rides and maybe sleigh rides at WL and Ft. Wilderness.
10. The virgin mega store and planet hollywood are fun for a lot of teens.

We like universal but just don't want to get back in our car and we really enjoy just goofing off for a day or 2.

 

[edk35]

Thanks everyone for the replies. My internet was sooooooooo messed up the past couple of days. Anyway..........I am now thinking of Sea World..instead of Universal. LOL I think we will do that one day, one day a DTD/resort checking out and parks the rest of the time. I also think we will do Sea World on Thanksgiving.........hoping it is LOW CROWDS. What do you think???

 

[edk35]

It seems a lot of you think the miniature golf is fun at WDW too....that might be a great idea. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[twojo21]

at wdw
backstage tours at disney like dolphins in depth, family magic tour, etc.
a spa treatment
sports like parasailing, fishing excursion, golf, horse back riding
hoop de doo revue dinner show at ft wilderness
resort hopping, looking at decor & eating at the restaurants
waterparks, typhoon lagoon is open in november & swimming at your pool
dtd, shopping, the clubs at pleasure island, cirque de soleil, disney quest

off site
seaworld
space center
universal studios

 

[Diabolicdesire]

Instead of Universal, go to Universal Islands of Adventure. There is a lot there for Teens, and younger children. The roller coasters are awsome for the older ones, I love the dueling dragons and the Hulk ride and for your six year old there is Seuss landing and toon lagoon. Jurassic park would be great for all of you. The last time I took my daughter she was 4 and loved it! We went during Grinchmas and it was so much fun. They had Seuss landing all decorated for xmas and the shows were great, so was the parade.

 

[Deedee]

For something totally different what about Daves ski school. You get the chance to water ski, ride jet skis and the doughnuts all supervised so it is safe. We couldn`t stop laughing all day.