What to do on our last day at the resort?

[3littlecuties]

We are heading to Disney for spring break in 2 weeks. Given that we have been several times and that we expect the parks to be crowded for spring break, we wanted this trip to be more focused on things to do outside of the parks with only 2 days in the park. At the end of the trip, we have 2 days in a row planned with dinners at Disney Springs with the last day being dinner at Paddlefish. Although Paddlefish looks amazing to me, I'm second guessing whether it's the best choice for our children and whether we'll want to go to Disney Springs 2 days in a row. At this point, there aren't many dining reservations left so if we cancel Paddlefish, we'd probably just have to do quick service somewhere.

So here's my question, what would you do (non-park) on that last day? Or would you just leave the plan as is?

Here's the rest of our agenda for reference:

Saturday: checking into Boardwalk Inn
Sunday: MK with dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern
Monday: pool day with lunch at Beaches & Cream. Then heading to AK Lodge at dinnertime to see the animals on the savannah and have dinner at Sanaa
Tuesday: another pool day and then Spirit of Aloha dinner show. Afterwards, ride the monorail loop possibly stopping to walk around the monorail resorts (my kids love this and think it's a ride!). Then maybe staying to watch Wishes from one of the beaches.
Wednesday: Epcot with dinner at Tutto Italia
Thursday: pool day and then Disney Springs in the afternoon with dinner at Raglan Road
Friday: THIS IS THE DAY IN QUESTION. CURRENTLY PLANNING DINNER AT PADDLEFISH
Saturday: breakfast at 1900 Park Fare before heading home

 

[megs1313]

You could do mini golf. I'm not a big disney springs fan and I definitely don't think my kids would want to do two days in a row there.

 

[3littlecuties]

I thought about mini golf but I don't think they would be interested in that.

 

[bigbabyblues]

How old are your kids? I don't think we've ever spent more than 3 hours at Disney Springs in the same day, and my kids wouldn't have wanted to go more than once per trip (they have gone 10 times from ages 3/1 to 15/13). I guess you could go to a movie at DS one day, if there is something they want to see. We like mini golf and the water parks

 

[3littlecuties]

How old are your kids?

They are 11, 9, and 6. Our 9 year old daughter has Down syndrome so I'm hesitant on the water parks. It's an option though.

 

[Babsy]

So, right now you only have two theme park days in a week? If it were me, I would want a day at either AK or DHS and would plan that for the last day. If I were only doing two theme park days, I wouldn't want to be spending the money involved to stay at the BWI for a week. I would stay offsite at a nicer hotel and a wider assortment of other activities. But that's just me.

If you want to spend the last day on Disney Property and not go to any parks:
You already have had a lot of non theme park time prior to the last day, so you have planned many of the non theme park activities pretty well earlier in your week.

A few thoughts.....
You could resort hop. Go to AoA for photo ops, FW to see the horses, POFQ for beignets, POR for a carriage ride or surrey bikes and, maybe, watch Yee Haa Bob. If you finish in the POR area, you could possibly still go on the boat to DS just for dinner at Paddlefish and perhaps a movie. Alternatively, You could try to get reservations at another dinner show like Hoop Dee Doo revue. If you are at FW in the evening, perhaps take part in the campfire.

I don't see a lot of character interaction. Perhaps try for a Chef Mickey's reservation for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Will you have a car? You could also go offsite for dinner if you aren't able to get a different dinner reservation and want to cancel Paddlefish. If you are interested in a non Disney theme park, a day at Universal could be fun.

Good luck!

 

[Shellyred8]

Check out Tri-Circle D ranch at Fort Wilderness. You can see some of the horses that they use in the parks. You might want to check out one of the dinner shows there too. Those might be fun for the kids.
In regards to doing a second day at DS, I would play it by ear and see how they do with day one there. It might be worth a partial day trip there and then do something else the rest of the day.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[alex9179]

One of our days will be resort hopping, like your monorail "tour", but we're adding WL and FW onto it. After the monorail (snacking tour,) which my kids love too, the plan is to go see the horses, early dinner at Trail's End, a wagon ride, then check out the Camp Fire Sing-a-Long. Hoop Dee Doo might be fun for your family. If your kids are smaller, pony rides are available for a small fee. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/campsites-at-fort-wilderness-resort/pony-rides/

Another day we're swimming, getting beignets at POFQ at my kids' insistence, napping, going to DS for an early dinner, and watching YeeHa Bob perform. We'll be staying at POR so all of that will be easy.

 

[3littlecuties]

So, right now you only have two theme park days in a week? If it were me, I would want a day at either AK or DHS and would plan that for the last day. If I were only doing two theme park days, I wouldn't want to be spending the money involved to stay at the BWI for a week. I would stay offsite at a nicer hotel and a wider assortment of other activities. But that's just me.

If you want to spend the last day on Disney Property and not go to any parks:
You already have had a lot of non theme park time prior to the last day, so you have planned many of the non theme park activities pretty well earlier in your week.

A few thoughts.....
You could resort hop. Go to AoA for photo ops, FW to see the horses, POFQ for beignets, POR for a carriage ride or surrey bikes and, maybe, watch Yee Haa Bob. If you finish in the POR area, you could possibly still go on the boat to DS just for dinner at Paddlefish and perhaps a movie. Alternatively, You could try to get reservations at another dinner show like Hoop Dee Doo revue. If you are at FW in the evening, perhaps take part in the campfire.

I don't see a lot of character interaction. Perhaps try for a Chef Mickey's reservation for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Will you have a car? You could also go offsite for dinner if you aren't able to get a different dinner reservation and want to cancel Paddlefish. If you are interested in a non Disney theme park, a day at Universal could be fun.

Good luck!

We were originally offsite at Gaylord Palms but switched because we just love being at Disney! Maybe we should add a park day. Would there be any fast passes left at this point at HS? AK is our least favorite so I wouldn't choose that.

We will have a car. We did Universal a few years ago. Not eager to go back. Much prefer Disney!

 

[mousegear]

We were originally offsite at Gaylord Palms but switched because we just love being at Disney! Maybe we should add a park day. Would there be any fast passes left at this point at HS? AK is our least favorite so I wouldn't choose that.

We will have a car. We did Universal a few years ago. Not eager to go back. Much prefer Disney!

We are leaving for disney in two weeks also and I unexpectedly had to add a day in the beginning of our trip. There are fast passes left. I added MK and booked all three mountains.

 

[quandrea]

Bowling at Splitsville at Disney Springs. The food there is great too. We go every trip.

 

[Babsy]

We were originally offsite at Gaylord Palms but switched because we just love being at Disney! Maybe we should add a park day. Would there be any fast passes left at this point at HS? AK is our least favorite so I wouldn't choose that.

We will have a car. We did Universal a few years ago. Not eager to go back. Much prefer Disney!

I understand what you are saying about Universal. It is a very different experience from WDW and definitely NOT for everyone! And, yes, Disney is special.

However, a week with only two park days would be difficult for us. Even if you only go in early in the morning and later in the day when it is less crowded, it would break up the day and give you something to 'do'. We go frequently to WDW (2-3 times most years) and still like to go into the theme parks for a little while each day. Some days we just dine, walk around and people watch. There have been many days when we don't do any 'rides' as such. we will look at shows (which often do not need FP), or enjoy some impromptu entertainment, find a nice shaded seat for an ice cream break or watch a parade.

Then, when you go back to the resort you are happy to simply relax and 'smell the roses'.
Staying at the BWI gives you the entire Epcot resort area to explore. We like to visit the different gift shops at the various resorts. Some have interesting items that we have not found in the theme parks.

It does make sense to visit DHS when staying at the BWI! You can either walk or take the boat, which is a nice ride albeit a slow one.

FP's are frequently changed by people (we have even managed to get FP's that we wanted on the day of), so I expect that you would be able to get some even at this late date.

Whatever you choose to do on your last day, it does look like you are taking full advantage of the non theme park activities on offer.

Enjoy your trip! It sounds very relaxing and unique!

 

[Nancyg56]

We were originally offsite at Gaylord Palms but switched because we just love being at Disney! Maybe we should add a park day. Would there be any fast passes left at this point at HS? AK is our least favorite so I wouldn't choose that.

We will have a car. We did Universal a few years ago. Not eager to go back. Much prefer Disney!

I would add a park day. I know that you wanted a lot of out of the park activities, but I think you already have plenty. I would not be able to add any more DS to the trip, and as much as I love the pools, you will probably spend plenty of time swimming as well. I think adding DAK woudl be nice if the kids like animals, and you could focus on things you may not have given yourselves time to do in the past. For instance, skip the main attractions and tour all of the trails, see the shows, and maybe spend time in Conservation Station.

When my DGD was 10 she and I spent a long time just on the trails together, and honestly, that was one of my favorite memories with her in Disney. If you truly are not interested in the attractions this trip, DAK is the one park that has details to enjoy throughout and IMO, the one that many folks dont allow enought time to find them.