What to do - Non Park activities

[voleball]

We are visiting WDW from 12/11 to 12/22 w/ two 5 year old girls, me, DH, BIL, SIL and their 20 year old son (a party of 7).

We have 3 non park days in our plan and trying to figure out what would be the best way to spend these days. Has to be no early morning nor late night activities.

Q1: One of those days, we'll be touring the Disney Resorts and downtown Disney w/ Lunch or Dinner @ T-REX. Any special things we should not miss at resorts or downtown Disney?

Q2: Any suggestions what we can do for those 2 days? Any fun activities we all can have fun? Gatorland? Miniture Golf? Anything?

Looking for any suggestions you can give me.
I want to make this trip the best vacation ever!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Well, I have boys, and they are interested in the Kennedy Space Center. Dh also wants to go to Seaworld - he has fond memories of it and it's a fun time.

But we also plan to swim in the pool at the condo and enjoy their lazy river, and maybe find some good mini-golf.

 

[trennr]

Q1: One of those days, we'll be touring the Disney Resorts and downtown Disney w/ Lunch or Dinner @ T-REX. Any special things we should not miss at resorts or downtown Disney?

While slightly on the pricey side...LaNouba is a phenominal show. Not sure what you consider late night...but you could catch the 6pm show. But like I said it is pricey...but worth the price for just one time.
Renting a boat and cruising the lake is fun too.

Q2: Any suggestions what we can do for those 2 days? Any fun activities we all can have fun? Gatorland? Miniture Golf? Anything?

Technically it's a park...but Blizzard Beach is SO MUCH FUN. Depends on the Weather in December though...
We also like to hit the Florida Mall...and Outlet Malls.
We drive over to Daytona for some beach time.

 

[WillowBelle]

Go to the Boardwalk - rent a surrey bike. Let the girls ride in front and ring the bell. Grab some icecream from B&C and just watch all the goings on. This is the coolest resort to just sit and watch. If you go late enough, you can see some of the Illuminations fireworks.

I think that mini-golf would be great too! We took our youngest DD when she was 5 and she had a BLAST!

 

[MiniGirl]

I'm not sure what you consider to be "late," but the campfire and sing-a-long at Ft. Wilderness is always fun. I have also been told there are carriage rides through the campground. You can also watch the boat parade from the beach there.

We love Ft. Wilderness.

 

[voleball]

Thanks for the great ideas!

What's the boat parade? I'm not familiar with that event.

 

[dizneechic]

Ohh you should go to Ripley's Believe it or Not on International Drive. It's located right next to the Mercado which in itself is wonderful. It looks like the Mercado may be going through some renovations but it's probably still worth the trip.
http://www.stoporlando.com/international_drive.html
- on the left nav there are links about Ripleys as well as Titanic

 

[WillowBelle]

The parade is the Electric Water Parade, it goes through the Seven Seas Lagoon. You can also see it from the beach at the Poly and the Grand Floridian. I have never seen this, we never schedule in off days so are always in the pakrs. From what I understand there is piped in music that goes with the floats. I'm sure there are times floating around here on the Dis somewhere.

 

[Juliet25]

I'm not sure what you consider to be "late," but the campfire and sing-a-long at Ft. Wilderness is always fun. I have also been told there are carriage rides through the campground. You can also watch the boat parade from the beach there.

We love Ft. Wilderness.

Another vote for FW. It's a very spread-out, peaceful setting. Do your 5 year olds love horses? If so, the WDW horse barn is there. You can see Cinderlla's white horses (ponies, actually) and the girls can have a pony ride for $5. You lead the pony around a paddock. My DD6 loves it.

 

[voleball]

FW seems to a fun place for kids.

Juliet, that's a cool avatar. It's a Japanese welcome cat.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Yes, FW is a nice place to hang out and have fun.

WE love to take a day to do some mini golf. With the 5 year olds I would recomend you do Santa's WinterSummerland. The themeing there is more fun for little ones and the courses are muc heasier to play. There are two courses there. You pay full price for your first round but any other rounds you play the same day (at Winter Summer land OR Fantasia Gardens) are half price (just show your receipt from round one).

 

[PollyannaMom]

I second the surry bike and the mini-golf! We have done and liked both.

At DTD, don't miss the Lego store, and sometimes there are shows for the kids - in an area near the World of Disney store, I think.

I haven't been in December, but saw something on TV once about a giant gingerbread house being a must-see at one of the resorts. (Maybe someone else can give more details.)

You're smart to put in a couple of "down-days." Have a great vacation!

 

[lalagrace]

when I have a non park day, I enjoy relaxing at the pool/hot tub. My son really enjoyed playing at the playgrounds at the resort, swimming etc. We stayed at the Animal Kingdom loge, and watching the animals from around the resort was cool. They have several viewing areas for the general public.
Also every resort has daily activites, such as storytelling, craft activites, games. We participated in a few of those, I remember there were several craft things my son did, and I paid a small amount for a bead making activiity. They have the actviites posted in the lobby, but they also have a list you can request at the desk.
If you think your girls would like it The Grand Flordian has a tea , which is wonderful. They have a childrens tea option (chocolate milk, PBand J, etc) I mean at the garden View tea room, not the character tea. Also again, if you think they might enjoy it, all the spas have kids manicures or pedicures. I know my friends 6 yr old loves getting pedicures!
enjoy the trip!

 

[Benducci]

Cool ideas!

 

[adventure_woman]

I have a huge 6 page list olf things to do that are free. I can e-mail you (it is a mess to paste here). Just PM me your e-mail address and I can send it along.

 

[mrstomrice]

We enjoy renting the boats from the Contemporary and riding around the lagoon. You can rent smaller speed boats or larger ones that can fit your group. It is a nice way to spend some time and relax!