What have we missed?

[tamarag]

We go to WDW 2-3 times a year. Every year we do the same things. I feel like we are missing some of the more unique activities. We don't normally do character meals because we are terrible planners and probably couldn't get reservations. We did however in July do the princess dining in Norway at Epcot. By some small miracle we walked up and got right in. What are some things that we should do?

For reference my kids are 11, 7 and 4.

We have never done any sing alongs, or the Mickey campfires, Hoop-dee...
We typically go to the parks, ride rides and then eat wherever we can get in at.

Perfect example is we are going 2/15-2/22 and have zero FP or reservations.

 

[staceyrhood]

Fort Wilderness is a great way to spend a day or evening! Trails End is one of our favorite restaurants on property, Hoop De Doo is great fun too! There are pony rides and the horse barn and a great playground right outside of the restaurants. You can roast smores at the campfire with chip and dale in the evening and watch the movie under the stars!

 

[DisneyHoover]

Depending on if your kids are into drawing/art at all one of my favorite unique activities to do at WDW is the Animation Academy at Hollywood Studios. A Disney-trained artist teaches you how to draw some of the popular Disney characters. Even my fiance who hates drawing really enjoyed himself.

 

[growinupdisney]

If it all possible I would go to fort wilderness and do chip and dale sing along and movie my kids have always loved this! Last summer we actually resort hopped we went to Animal Kingdom Lodge toured the savanna, went to all the hotels at the Boardwalk area, went on monorail got off at Contemporary played in game room looked in gift shops etc. got on monorail went Poly walked grounds etc to went to Grand Floridian ate dinner watched outdoor movie and saw the Electric Water Pageant! So much fun

 

[dvc at last !]

Depending on if your kids are into drawing/art at all one of my favorite unique activities to do at WDW is the Animation Academy at Hollywood Studios. A Disney-trained artist teaches you how to draw some of the popular Disney characters. Even my fiance who hates drawing really enjoyed himself.

How do you arrange to do this ? Can any age go ? Is there a fee ?
Thanks.

 

[DisneyHoover]

How do you arrange to do this ? Can any age go ? Is there a fee ?
Thanks.

Any age can go and it's free (the drawing you create is a fun free souvenir to take home). To participate you just have to show up at the location (it's inside of 'The Magic of Disney Animation' area) and wait for a new class to start.They have the classes every 30 minutes but class size is limited so during the busy season/on a busy day it may be hard to get a spot. My fiance and I didn't have any problem getting a spot (we actually did it twice because we enjoyed it so much lol) though since I don't think a lot of people know about it.

 

[Pesky]

I can't speak to what you have missed but I know some of the things on my list of things we hope to do:
* Hoop Dee Doo Revue and/or Chip and Dale's campfire
* watch the water pageant and fireworks on the beach at the Polynesian
* Animation academy at DHS
* get the kids' names written in different languages in the World Showcase
* mini golf at either summerland or fantasia
* DH is dying to do the Richard Petty driving experience
* do Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom -- kind of a game where you get free cards at the firehouse in the MK
* send my unwitting family into the Whispering Canyon with the green card up unprepared.
* visit T-Rex in DTD for my dino-loving son.
* see if I can watch my DH's face trying the Beverly in Epcot
* enjoy further torture inflicted by the wait staff at Prime Time
* have pizza at Via Napoli and a grey goose slushie in France

I have a bunch more but I'll have to add to this later! A good thing to check out is a show called The Hidden Parks of Disney". Some fun things there.

 

[Fireflyblue]

I would highly recommend a mini golf outing. my favorite is the Winter/Summerland golf course. You can pick whether you want a winter theme or a summer theme.

I liked the winter over the summer, especially because it was about 80 degrees outside. One obstacle was a log fire and when the ball rolled under it the fire lit up and smoke came out the top. It was a lot of fun!

Another fun thing, is to drive over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. They have an outdoor area where you can see some of the animals and not have to worry about a moving vehicle like on the safari ride. Plus there are experts there to answer any questions about them.

 

[tamarag]

Thank you everyone! These are most certainly things we have missed! Keep them coming!

 

[ladyelizabeth]

I second the Animation Academy drawing classes. I always drag whoever I'm with and they end up loving it! Like PPs have said, you end up getting a great souvenir and it's free!

Also, do use the app while in the parks! Check wait times and see what characters are set up for meet and greets. There is even a place in the app to show you where the closest bathroom is. My family found that helpful with some of the kiddies in tow.

I would definitely get on getting those FP+ set up! Check out EasyWDW.com for their crowd calendars and cheat sheets for each park if you need some help with deciding what park you should go to each day.

 

[dunningdisney]

I second the Animation Academy drawing classes. I always drag whoever I'm with and they end up loving it! Like PPs have said, you end up getting a great souvenir and it's free!

Also, do use the app while in the parks! Check wait times and see what characters are set up for meet and greets. There is even a place in the app to show you where the closest bathroom is. My family found that helpful with some of the kiddies in tow.

I would definitely get on getting those FP+ set up! Check out EasyWDW.com for their crowd calendars and cheat sheets for each park if you need some help with deciding what park you should go to each day.

 

[Newsies]

Also, do use the app while in the parks! Check wait times and see what characters are set up for meet and greets. There is even a place in the app to show you where the closest bathroom is. My family found that helpful with some of the kiddies in tow.

This. Totally get this. I remember using the app SO MUCH during my July trip!!! It really helped me meet a lot of characters, go on a couple of rides with short wait times, etc. and I used it at every opportunity!!!

 

[dunningdisney]

Do some of the water activities: water mice, parasailing.

Try a special tour offered (extra $), all the the ones we have done were well worth the money.

Visit other hotels, ask to see a room, for future visits you will know what they are like.

Resort hop and eat at their restaurants and explore the resorts, arcades, stores.

Hayride at ft wilderness--if you coordinate with the mk fireworks, they pipe in the music.

Watch the mk fireworks from the polynesian (without the crowds).

Stay at the resort for a day--it's quite relaxing and usually lots of fun, a lot of times they have activities scheduled through out the day at the pool deck--we have had some of our best days when we stayed back at the hotel.

Go to the waterparks--so many people I talk to have never gone! (might be a little cold for this trip)

 

[cropper]

Also, do use the app while in the parks! Check wait times and see what characters are set up for meet and greets. There is even a place in the app to show you where the closest bathroom is. My family found that helpful with some of the kiddies in tow.

which app specifically?

 

[ladyelizabeth]

which app specifically?

The My Disney Experience app. You'll be able to connect your Disney account to the app and see restaurant reservations, FP+, maps of the theme parks, menus for restaurants, etc.