What non-Disney park would you do?

[mshanson3121]

Supposing you had two days for doing something other than the main four Disney theme parks, which would you choose as your top picks? This is mostly generally speaking, but in applying to our situation it would be a summer visit with two children, ages 10 & 7, not big on thrill rides, but otherwise love rides, animals, water and beaches.

ETA: These are not rest days. They're for something other than the four parks of Disney days.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you're trying to balance out the stimulation of the parks, I think the beach is a great answer.

You don't even need to parasail to make it fun. Get some beach toys and bring some sandwiches and just let the day unfold.

 

[leebee]

It really depends on what your kids are into. My family really enjoys going to Kennedy Space Center, but we are "into" this kind of thing. There's lots to do and see... you can sit in the command modules of different rockets, walk through a space shuttle, go see different launch sites, go to the Saturn Center and see a life-sized Saturn rocket, touch moon rocks, etc. Even have lunch with an astronaut! We haven't been in about 10 years, but are itching to go back!

We also enjoyed Universal. DD is a thrill rider, I don't do them at all, but we went for the Hogwarts experience. We spent a LOT of time in Hogwarts area, all the Harry Potter stuff was in just one park. We went into the rest of IofA, where DD rode Hulk 3 times and one other ride... and then just wanted to go back to Hogwarts. On a future trip we'll get a 2 park ticket, and probably will only do the Harry Potter stuff.

A non-theme park thing we enjoy is driving around the areas east of Disney, on the way out to Cocoa Beach. There are orange groves where they let us go out an pick our own oranges (very exciting for this New England family!), state parks to hike through, etc. We are also interested in a swamp tour or seeing manatees, but I get motion sick on boats and have a HUGE aversion to things with more than 4 or fewer than 2 legs, so don't know if I'd actually do that!

And then there's Sea World. A theme park, for sure, but so different, so less exhausting, manic, and planned than any Disney theme park!

So it really depends on what your kids are into...

 

[mshanson3121]

Thanks! I forgot about KKennedy! I added it to the list.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

We enjoy going to GATORLAND. Gators everywhere. Enjoyable for everyone in the family.

 

[DisneyOma]

Blizzard Beach is Disney, BTW.

 

[mshanson3121]

Blizzard Beach is Disney, BTW.

Yes I know.

 

[ArwenMarie]

If this is for your chill days, honestly I don't think any of that stuff is stress-free. Fun? Yes. Stress-free? Not so much!

I think you mentioned you rent a pool house that you really like? I would just chill there if you are looking for something relaxing. Not sure if you have those days built into the schedule as well.

My pick out of your choices would be Blizzard Beach or Discovery Cove. My kids love the waterparks and I have DC on my list as well.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I voted Discovery Cove - I think it looks great. I would also love the Harry Potter area of Universal.

 

[BeerMe]

None of the above....

Gatorland
Universal
Seaworld

Done all of these over the last 3 years. Went to Legoland (before it was legoland) about 10 years ago.

 

[mom2rtk]

If this is for your chill days, honestly I don't think any of that stuff is stress-free. Fun? Yes. Stress-free? Not so much!

I think you mentioned you rent a pool house that you really like? I would just chill there if you are looking for something relaxing. Not sure if you have those days built into the schedule as well.

My pick out of your choices would be Blizzard Beach or Discovery Cove. My kids love the waterparks and I have DC on my list as well.

Definitely this!

OP has mentioned that they are looking to relax on their non-park days, but all she is going to get with this poll is an opinion of which option is most fun. Fun can be great. But it's not always relaxing.

 

[Skywise]

Universal - Yeah there's a lot of thrill rides there but it depends on what your threshold is - The Jurassic Park and their river log ride are slightly bigger drops compared to splash mountain but mostly tame otherwise. Simpsons and Minions rides are basically Star Tours.

Kennedy is good too.

I'd also recommend a "resort hopping" day where you just enjoy the pool at your resort or go around and explore the other resorts at Disney. There's also Disney Springs too.

 

[Micca]

I'd pick Disney Springs and resort hopping/monorail crawl. We have done KSC (and KFC for that matter) I used to live in South Fla and the airboat/alligator thing is pretty fun, not a lot of places you can do that!

 

[mshanson3121]

Definitely this!

OP has mentioned that they are looking to relax on their non-park days, but all she is going to get with this poll is an opinion of which option is most fun. Fun can be great. But it's not always relaxing.

Which is exactly what I want. These options are not for rest days. They're for non-Disney days.

 

[kathy884]

You didn't tell us ages of your party or interests. Have you done any of these things before or are they all new? Kennedy Space Center is much improved compared to what it was like decades ago and a great day, but not overly relaxing and about an hour drive. When are you going? If it's in hot weather, I tend to like to do more water based activities (the beach, Blizzard Beach, and/or Discovery Cove are heavenly on a hot day). In fact, if it's summer, I'd skip all the theme parks and just do water type activities really and truly. If it's a cooler time of year, my activities tend to be more theme park based. LEGOLAND, I hear is typically best for the younger set, but I don't know if you mostly have little ones or not. // A lot of people love Busch Gardens, but me I only do it if I'm going to be in Tampa, as there is so much right in Orlando. // If you rarely get to the beach and it's March - October or an unseasonably warm day, I think that's a great mid week day trip.

Your question, though, was what would I personally pick. I'd go to SeaWorld. In fact my for my next trip that is just four nights/three days I'm doing SeaWorld day 1, then the MK, and then DHS. I find SeaWorld to be a beautiful park and quite relaxing with great animal exhibits and shows and less planning than Disney (no planning). I pick up the show schedule when I get there are do things around maybe three shows I pick out to see. Any of your choices would be great fun, but neither are what we picked for our next trip for our non Disney day. Tons of great choices in Orlando.

My brother and his family and some of my extended family were just down for a week. (My son who is 20 joined them for part of the time too on his college break)
Non Disney stuff they did included:
fly boarding -- My brother especially thinks this is a blast (more for the adventuresome sort)
Gatorland -- This is my husbands favorite (more old time Florida attraction than world class theme park, as animals are native to the area) // for some a nice contrast to all the world class theme parks.
SeaWorld -- an extended family favorite (The best park in the area for an extended family group - great place for multiple ages and generations to enjoy together. It's my 20 year old son's favorite. It's my mom and dad's favorite too and they are both 79. It was my son's favorite when he was three too -- He loves Disney, but has always loved this place more.)
Universal park to park pass day -- New Harry Potter areas are a big hit with fans.

And my son and his one cousin did the Orlando Eye and the Wax Museum -- These are new attractions that he enjoyed and wanted to do. They just opened in the last year. These were the main things on his wish list, as they are new and something he never did in Orlando before.

 

[epcotty]

Voted for Busch Gardens, Kennedy Space Center, Discovery Cove. Went to Busch Gardens once a long time ago but it was fun. Kennedy Space Center we go to every once in a while, always good and nice that you can see a shuttle in a building now. Haven't gone to Discovery Cove but have heard good things about it

 

[DisneyOma]

Yes I know.

Well, but you asked for a non-Disney idea, and Blizzard Beach is Disney, so I figured you didn't know.

 

[mshanson3121]

[QUOkathy884, post: 54791981, member: 253202"]You didn't tell us ages of your party or interests. Have you done any of these things before or are they all new? Kennedy Space Center is much improved compared to what it was like decades ago and a great day, but not overly relaxing and about an hour drive. When are you going? If it's in hot weather, I tend to like to do more water based activities (the beach, Blizzard Beach, and/or Discovery Cove are heavenly on a hot day). In fact, if it's summer, I'd skip all the theme parks and just do water type activities really and truly. If it's a cooler time of year, my activities tend to be more theme park based. LEGOLAND, I hear is typically best for the younger set, but I don't know if you mostly have little ones or not. // A lot of people love Busch Gardens, but me I only do it if I'm going to be in Tampa, as there is so much right in Orlando. // If you rarely get to the beach and it's March - October or an unseasonably warm day, I think that's a great mid week day trip.

Your question, though, was what would I personally pick. I'd go to SeaWorld. In fact my for my next trip that is just four nights/three days I'm doing SeaWorld day 1, then the MK, and then DHS. I find SeaWorld to be a beautiful park and quite relaxing with great animal exhibits and shows and less planning than Disney (no planning). I pick up the show schedule when I get there are do things around maybe three shows I pick out to see. Any of your choices would be great fun, but neither are what we picked for our next trip for our non Disney day. Tons of great choices in Orlando.

My brother and his family and some of my extended family were just down for a week. (My son who is 20 joined them for part of the time too on his college break)
Non Disney stuff they did included:
fly boarding -- My brother especially thinks this is a blast (more for the adventuresome sort)
Gatorland -- This is my husbands favorite (more old time Florida attraction than world class theme park, as animals are native to the area) // for some a nice contrast to all the world class theme parks.
SeaWorld -- an extended family favorite (The best park in the area for an extended family group - great place for multiple ages and generations to enjoy together. It's my 20 year old son's favorite. It's my mom and dad's favorite too and they are both 79. It was my son's favorite when he was three too -- He loves Disney, but has always loved this place more.)
Universal park to park pass day -- New Harry Potter areas are a big hit with fans.

And my son and his one cousin did the Orlando Eye and the Wax Museum -- These are new attractions that he enjoyed and wanted to do. They just opened in the last year. These were the main things on his wish list, as they are new and something he never did in Orlando before.[/QUOTE]

I actually did. It's all there in the original post

I actu

 

[bumbershoot]

None of the above. Universal. Just because they have thrill rides doesn't mean that's all they have.

I'd look at the website and really think about it.

 

[kathy884]

I actually did. It's all there in the original post

I'm sorry, I mostly looked at the survey and in reading all the other posts missed that. With it being summer and your kids love of water, I'd do the beach or Blizzard Beach. Let them pick. I like the gulf side better than the Ocean side personally -- Clearwater Beach is usually where I go. Spend plenty of time in your hotel swimming pool or if you are a big waterpark family, that waterparks and more option in the summer might be great for when you get hot. Them parks in the morning, hit some water, and go back to theme parks in the evening. If you are having a great time and aren't hot, just stay at the theme park. But go for some water activity if that sounds better in the heat of the day. That could be your resort pool or a water park, depending on which you'd prefer.

Discovery Cove not taking advantage of SeaWorld, etc. is kind of expensive for one day, but if you are keen on an expensive dolphin experience and kind of like your Caribbean Beach day in the middle of central Florida, that's a good option. It is a stunning park and setting. A great deal if you have multiple days is the package that includes Discovery Cove, SeaWorld, Busch, and Aquatica. That could be a whole trip on another visit.