What would you do

[smd8z]

We are planning a 4 night trip for May for our family of 6 ( kids 4,4,9,11). We are staying at the Wyndham Grand and are trying to figure out what to do the day we land. We only have a 3 day park ticket, so we can not hit the parks the day we arrive. Arrival time at the hotel is estimated to be 3:30pm. Any ideas for what to do the rest of the day that does not require a park ticket? Thank you!

 

[AspenLL]

Disney Springs is always a good option. It's about a 5 minute drive from the hotel. That's been our tradition for the day we land. We head there around 4/5pm to walk around and get dinner.

 

[jeepnjudy]

Disney Springs is always a good option. It's about a 5 minute drive from the hotel. That's been our tradition for the day we land. We head there around 4/5pm to walk around and get dinner.

Ditto...you could probably spend a whole day here! Fun! Fun! Fun!

 

[uccats97]

There is a TON to do outside of the parks!
For example:
mini golf
Biking
Boating
Horseback riding
Swimming
Resort exploring
Fishing
Archery
I'm sure you'll find something to keep you entertained. Have fun!

 

[smd8z]

Any recommendations for restaurants at Disney Springs? Never been there. Do we need reservations?

 

[roseaster]

T-Rex is fun. It's like Rainforest Cafe but with dinosaurs.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Any recommendations for restaurants at Disney Springs? Never been there. Do we need reservations?

We love Earl of Sandwich for an affordable yummy meal. We also really like Raglan Road if you like Irish food. They have Irish tap dancers and singers too, it's a very lively place with great food.

 

[powellrj]

Check out the camp grounds they have lots of free and low cost things like the trails end buffet, chip and dale campfire.

 

[ToddyLu]

Another fun thing to do is go to Fort Wilderness, park, get on an internal bus to Trail's End buffet, great food and service and near the boat dock. Then take the boat to MK gate, go up the gangway and then back down again to the boat, ride back to Trails End and then bus back to car. Also it is fun to book a meal at Boma or eat at Mara at AKL then let the kids look for animals on savannah, use night vision goggles and listen to stories in the evening around the fire pit. On some nights there is a drum cafe and the kids play drums with castmembers from Africa. CMs also give talks in the evenings about their homeland.

Eat at Chef Mickeys and then take the monorail and look at resorts.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Another vote for Disney Springs or a nice character meal at one of the resorts! That would be a nice way to kick off the vacation!

 

[roseaster]

Have your kids been to WDW before?

If they haven't I think I'm going to agree with the character meal. If you could score a reservation at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary that night it would be great. The "main" characters (Mickey!) are there.

Since the monorail runs through the hotel you could hop on after dinner and kind of "sight see" the parks from a distance. I think it would really set the mood and get the kids excited for the next day.