What's your favorite non-park activities and attractions at Walt Disney World?

[mjallemand]

For our upcoming trip, the girlfriend and I are adding an extra day onto our usual itinerary. However, instead of it being another park day, we've decided to make it a rest and discovery day.

Even though I've been to Walt Disney World five times in my life (three times under the age of 15 and twice as an adult) I've never really seen much of the resort outside of the parks and Downtown Disney.

Is there anything in particular we should check out? We're not interested in Water Parks, and the weather may not permit those anyway, but I'm up for just about anything else.

How are the miniature golf courses? Is bowling at splitsville worthwhile?

Are there any resorts we should check out for sightseeing? We poked our heads into the Grand Floridian a bit last trip while waiting for a character breakfast, and we've been to the Polynesian for dinner, but that's about it.

 

[sadiespicks]

I've done the exotic driving experience twice now. It's pricey but was incredible if you are into that. I'll never afford a Ferrari but now I've driven one on a road course. What I thought would be a once in a lifetime thing was so much fun I did it again the very next year.

 

[MomofKatie]

We like to head to the Boardwalk area for dinner and relaxing one evening each trip. We browse the shops, eat at one of the restaurants at the BW or BC/YC, stroll around the lake, and just enjoy the area. If we stay late enough, we can see part of the Illuminations fireworks.

 

[Sea of Progress]

My husband has done the Richard Petty Driving Experience twice and has loved it. Like the previous poster I enjoy an evening at the Boardwalk, Jellyrolls is a great time!

 

[BlueFairy]

Take a bus or boat to MK and transfer to the WL or FW boat. Explore one, and then take the boat to the other. During the day FW has Trails End for lunch or breakfast, pony rides (for tiny kids), trail rides, carriage rides, and a stable full of Cinderella's horses to explore. At night there's Hoop De Doo, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, and also Trails End with Crockets Tavern. Fireworks and EWP from either WL or FW beaches. WL is fun to explore any time of day with a geyser, a room dedicated to Walts trains, crafts at 2pm in the Cubs Den, WCC for meals all day, and Lincoln Logs and wonderful fireplaces with rocking chairs all over the gorgeous lobby. At night you also get Territory Lounge for drinks and Artist Point for fine dining.

The boat rides are beautiful too, and the boat between FW and WL also serves CR so you can hop over to the monorail.

There are also bicycles, surrey bikes, watercraft and fishing excursions for rent.

 

[TeamSy]

I loved the AquaSeas tour at Epcot. You don't need a park admission, you just meet outside guest relations and are escorted backstage.

DTD is also a really fun way to spend a day with lots to do, however, with the construction going on I'm not sure how enjoyable it will be.

 

[Newsies]

One of my favorite experiences is the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage that leaves from the Contemporary every night!

It's more for kids, but it's still funny and tons of fun for adults. My dad said it was his favorite part of our trip last year. Basically, you meet up at the Contemporary for an all-you-can-eat dessert/snack buffet, then you and your hilarious pirate host patch get on a boat and sing songs, tell jokes, and play games until the water pageant/Wishes. You get a GREAT view of Wishes! I don't know how you feel about meeting characters, but you get to meet Hook, Smee, and Peter Pan- all very hard to meet in the parks otherwise. It's a super great experience worth the splurge at least once.

 

[DisHmsklMom]

We are bowlers, so Splitsville is often on our itinerary. We usually request a lane next to a walkway area so we can take pictures of the kids bowling.
We usually follow up with lunch there or head on over to Wolfgang Puck Express for lunch. You could then catch a boat to POFQ and take a nice stroll through their grounds and have beignets for a treat.

 

[savannie]

We like to explore the various resorts on our rest days. They are all so different that it's neat to just look at all the decorations, layout, and amenities. We sometimes ask to see an empty room, if one is available. I have a list of resorts that I want to book now. This is one of the best ways to figure out which ones you like. We'll make a lunch or dinner reservation at a certain resort restaurant and just walk around before or after.

On our next trip, we plan to hop on the monorail and just go everywhere it takes us: the Polynesian, Contemporary, and Grand Floridian, as well as Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. That should be a pretty fun day.

 

[dan-tot]

We like to explore the various resorts on our rest days. They are all so different that it's neat to just look at all the decorations, layout, and amenities. We sometimes ask to see an empty room, if one is available. I have a list of resorts that I want to book now. This is one of the best ways to figure out which ones you like. We'll make a lunch or dinner reservation at a certain resort restaurant and just walk around before or after.

On our next trip, we plan to hop on the monorail and just go everywhere it takes us: the Polynesian, Contemporary, and Grand Floridian, as well as Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. That should be a pretty fun day.

For our upcoming trip, the girlfriend and I are adding an extra day onto our usual itinerary. However, instead of it being another park day, we've decided to make it a rest and discovery day.

Even though I've been to Walt Disney World five times in my life (three times under the age of 15 and twice as an adult) I've never really seen much of the resort outside of the parks and Downtown Disney.

Is there anything in particular we should check out? We're not interested in Water Parks, and the weather may not permit those anyway, but I'm up for just about anything else.



I was thinking on international drive they have the titanic experience. You walk through areas of the ship with a guide and they tell you various things about the ship and the voyage. When you start out you are given a name it is a person on the ship. At the end of the tour you find out if they survived.

How are the miniature golf courses? Is bowling at splitsville worthwhile?

Are there any resorts we should check out for sightseeing? We poked our heads into the Grand Floridian a bit last trip while waiting for a character breakfast, and we've been to the Polynesian for dinner, but that's about it.

 

[Tomh]

While it is not a Disney thing, we found visiting nearby Old Towne (especially on Saturday nights) to see one of their car shows / cruises was a lot of fun. Plenty to see and do there in addition to the cars cruise, there is often a live band or DJ, shops, food, and amusement rides if you haven't gotten enough of that from Disney.

 

[McKelly]

We love renting Sea Raycers!

 

[Collin WK]

The golf on property is great no matter what kind. Putt-putt or full scale. The putt putt is actually on property if you don't feel like driving too far there is two courses at fantasia mini golf and i believe at least one, maybe two more at winter summer land out near blizzard beach. Personally, I prefer the fantasia mini golf because afterward, or before you can walk across the street (literally) into the swan and dolphin's courtyard/pool are then walk to the boardwalk area for any food you could imagine, the dolphin's great counter service restaurant picabuu (ask inside its hard to find) or ice cream shop, or go on over to the yacht and beach club to beaches and cream which has been featured on food network and the travel channel for its "kitchen sink" desert thats incredible and topped with literally a full can of whipped cream and about everything and every flavor ice-cream they serve. It's always a blast. Then, if you want you can finish off the night watching the epcot fireworks from the bridge or just enjoy a peaceful hour or so relaxing in the hammocks and chairs on the man made beaches in front of the report along he water. Its a great time for all types of people and a great area. You can't go wrong. Have fun!!!

 

[Jennasis]

We finally got to see Yee Ha Bob at POR for the first time on our trip last year and I am confident that we will make it a tradition to catch his show. It was fantastic!

 

[MrsForeverEeyore]

The miniature golf courses are a great deal of fun and the theming is great in all of them. There are lots of hidden mickeys to find, too, which we love.
Resort hopping and visiting the hotels is loads of fun - and you can take a horse carriage ride at POR or splurge for a afternoon tea at the GF.

 

[ladyelizabeth]

If you like characters and disney movies, you should check out Chip and Dale's campfire sing-a-long at Fort Wilderness. It's completely free. Here's some more info: http://blog.touringplans.com/2013/08/30/hidden-gems-of-disney-chip-n-dales-campfire-sing-a-long/

 

[TeamSy]

One of my favorite experiences is the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage that leaves from the Contemporary every night!

It's more for kids, but it's still funny and tons of fun for adults. My dad said it was his favorite part of our trip last year. Basically, you meet up at the Contemporary for an all-you-can-eat dessert/snack buffet, then you and your hilarious pirate host patch get on a boat and sing songs, tell jokes, and play games until the water pageant/Wishes. You get a GREAT view of Wishes! I don't know how you feel about meeting characters, but you get to meet Hook, Smee, and Peter Pan- all very hard to meet in the parks otherwise. It's a super great experience worth the splurge at least once.

I would do this just to meet those characters! I wonder if I could pay to do it, meet the characters, and then just not get on the boat lol

 

[butsy113]

We love AKL! You could plan an evening meal at Boma and afterwards see the animals. There is night vision viewing available for FREE!! The resort in itself is a vacation. So relaxing! Talk to cast members there about their home, too. A lot of them are home sick and really enjoy sharing about their homeland.

 

[o0quirkygirl0o]

Spending time at Fort Wilderness (ride horses, rent a boat, fish, do the campfire) and then have dinner at HDDR. We really love HDDR, it is great fun for the whole family.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

The miniature golf is great. We also love strolling the Boardwalk. And while we enjoy Downtown Disney, at this point with the construction and parking I would definitely recommend taking the bus over there or the boat if you are in a resort that offers this option.