what to do when not going to the parks

[hoosiergirl]

I think I've seen something like this before, but I can't seem to find the thread anywhere. I've gone to the MouseSavers website and copied the "cheap and free stuff to do...", but I'm always open to more suggestions!

We'll be at WDW for 9 days in 2 weeks, and I'd like to NOT go into the parks every day. (I know, I must be CRAZY!) It's our 14th+ trip in 10 years and I'm ready to actually take it easy a bit! We'll go to the parks a few days, but not all 9.

Looking for any and all suggestions!

 

[mikesmom]

• 
  Hang out at your hotel and pool
  Go to Downtown Disney and browse, visit Ghiardelli for an ice cream , play with the outdoor Legos
  Spend some time on the Boardwalk
  Resort hop - much to see at Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Grand Floridian
  Find a space on the beach near the Poly in the evening and watch the Water Parade
  If you have a car: Old Town in Kissimmee has shops to browse, some small attractions, etc
  Drive to Cocoa Beach (about an hour) if you have not seen the ocean
  

 

[disney0928]

Ther is tons to do, and all is little to no cost. Petting farm and stables, pony rides, canoe and paddleboats, surrey bikes, fishing. Beautiful trails for jogging, walking, or biking.

Night time hay rides, campfire and sing along with Chip and Dale, and the EWP from the beach, along with a great view of the MK fireworks.

All just a short, pleasant boat ride from the Magic Kingdom!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I would highly reccomend Cirque du la Soeil. I am so careful with money that I squeek and while it hurt a bunch when I bought the tickets when I left the show I was in awe and we are going again on our November trip. There was so much going on that I know I missed a bunch and want to see it again to be able to notice the nuances. I did not realize that the music and singing was live the first time for one thing.

Jelly Rolls over at Boardwalk is a hoot and not very expensive unless you order a lot of drinks.

Go see the EWP one evening after a wonderful meal at the Polynesian or other resort on the lagoon.

Drive outside and take in one of the great restaurants there. Bahama Breeze, Jungle Jim's, or Macaroni come to mind.

Splendid China is nearby and has some intereting exhibits and shows.

Play miniature golf.

Take in a new movie over at West Side.

Tour some of the resorts for ideas on what to do or where to stay on your next trip.

There is just so much to do that it boggles the mind. I just cannot make people understand where we are coming from when they ask "Are you going to DW 'again?" Yep, sure are and looking forward to even though we know that we will not get to everything on our list. This is our 11th? trip and our 4th in the last year and a half and we will be there for 10 days this trip. 26 days to go!!!

Slightly Goofy

 

[cdrn1]

I am staying at All Star Movies in December (my first time ever onsite except for one short night at the Poly a few years ago) and I am wondering...can ANYONE just go and hang out at the resorts and join in activities there? For example I remember reading something about a campfire and movies at FW; is that for guests of FW only? Can I just go to the Poly and watch the EWP from there, or is that for Poly guests only? I would love to go to all the resorts and check them out but am worried that I would be "trespassing" since I am not actually staying at one of the higher-priced resorts. Can we go to eat at the other resorts and park our car there or do we have to take a bus? Can some of you veterans let me know what is and is not acceptable?

 

[yooperfan]

Don't forget you can ride the monorail from MK to Epcot and back. I love listening to the recordings as you ride, it's so Disney. It's especially pretty circling Epcot at night as it loops back to the station. Also, you could take boat rides to the different resort.

 

[travelcoupons]

Go to the zoo in Sanford (N. of Orlando) http://www.centralfloridazoo.org/

Visit/browse Old Town (Kissimmee) http://www.old-town.com/

Visit the beach (Cocoa, Daytona, or others)

Tour the Lighthouse in Ponce Inlet (S. of Daytona) www.ponceinlet.org

 

[Blue dear.]

As long as you are a Disney Resort guest, BE NOSEY!! I always try to eat breakfast at all of the deluxes when I'm there and then take the monorail to MK or whatever. We're staying at WL but will definately go to FW for breakfast at the Trails End Buffet not to mention do the <b>horseback riding</b> there along with the campfire sing-along!

 

[bearzabout]

I had a great time on my non-park day last May.

My suggestions would be:

Take free transportation to the Magic Kingdom. Board the boat to Fort Wilderness from there. You will have the boat to yourself. It is a great time to learn all about the parks from the boat captain. For example, I was told in May that because of the drought, they had emptied many of the hidden lakes on Disney property into Seven Seas Lagoon in order to keep the water level high enough for the boats to continue to run.

Head to the breakfast buffet at Pioneer Hall - cheap and good. Stop by the free petting zoo before walking on the bike/walk path to Wilderness Lodge. Watch old faithful blow at the lodge. Hop on the boat to the contemporary. Explore the resort before heading to the Polynesian on the monorail.

Spend a restful afternoon in the hammocks on the beach. You will most likely be the only one there! Grab a boat back to the Magic Kindgom. Hop a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Explore the resort and view the animals before sunset. Enjoy the wonderful buffet dinner at Bomas and then spend a glorious evening sitting around the fire listening to the CMs from Africa tell their stories.

Have fun!

 

[Judy from Boise]

It is always permissable to eat, shop and tour at any resort. Of course the pool is off limits. If you tell the guard that you are there to eat etc, they will give you a 2 hour pass.

 

[hoosiergirl]

Great ideas! We've done some of the things you've mentioned--visited other resorts, Downtown Disney, etc--but it's always great to get reminders as well as those new ideas you've mentioned! Keep 'em coming!

 

[tink2dw]

Go to Wal-mart and Stock up on coke and water and then go to the back coner of the grocery Deptment to the Deli and buy a Fresh Made 4' sandwich[the one with roast beef is yummy] for $4.99. Then Drive up International Dr. Watch for the
Pink Castle
The Peabody Hotel at 3:30 to see at 4:00pm the Duck Walk
The upside down building[note the trees]
The huge Teddy Bear and Barbie Shoe thats too big for even Shaq
find the Titanic
the round hotel that looks like a stack of 45's
past the Convention Center
find the Car Crashing out of the Building
the NFL Experience
on to the very end of International Dr. to Belz Shopping Malls Happy Discount DisneyShopping!