Advice for a non-park day

[Sbk1234]

I'll be going to WDW in the spring. While my wife and daughter spend one day at Universal, I'll be on my own to explore Walt Disney World. I basically should have the whole day to myself, to do whatever I want, except I can't go into any of the parks, including the water parks.

So, what would the experts here recommend that I see/do? I know I want to explore the resorts, but I'm not sure exactly which ones, and what there is to see.
The only thing I'm pretty sure I want to do is ride that hot air balloon in Disney Springs.

So, please, share your ideas for places to eat, things to see, top resorts to explore, etc.

 

[Kramerica]

Hop over to Disney springs, ride the balloon and then play what I like to call resort roulette. Hop on the first resort bus that shows up. Allow yourself a couple of vetos. Rinse. Repeat. The spontaneity is fun.

 

[Sbk1234]

Hop over to Disney springs, ride the balloon and then play what I like to call resort roulette. Hop on the first resort bus that shows up. Allow yourself a couple of vetos. Rinse. Repeat. The spontaneity is fun.

I love this idea. Certainly keeps up the spontenaity.

 

[mergatroid]

Have a visit to Celebration an grab a Bento Box from Ari for lunch. Perhaps a stroll around Old Town following that? Obviously requires a car, sorry.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Disney Springs has a lot to offer in shops, entertainment and dining. Certainly you can find a lot to do but it’s more alive in the evening hours. The characters in flight balloon is fun but it can sometimes be grounded depending on weather conditions. The amphibian cars is another fun thing to try out.
We enjoyed walking around Art of Animation resort which has 4 interesting areas with sculptured characters to see. Fort Wilderness may also interest you which has the horse stables to walk through and small area with interesting info regarding Walts love of horses.
Then there’s mini golf which can be also be. fun.
There’s also a lot of touristy things along International drive to do that can be worth the time, if you want to use an Uber and go off property.
Weve taken a non park day before and never felt bored or that the day was uneventful. It can be a nice break from the rest of your Disney days. Enjoy whatever you decide to do with your time.

 

[Nottamus]

Wilderness Lodge: Geyser Point for lunch a beer

Coronado Springs: Dalia’s Lounge - another lunch and a beer. Good view from up there, especially around sunset

AKL: check out some animal viewing and another lunch.

finish off the day with Jock Lindsey’s with yet another lunch and a drink

(Make sure you’re hungry)

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

Boardwalk Resort

 

[Sbk1234]

Wilderness Lodge: Geyser Point for lunch a beer

Coronado Springs: Dalia’s Lounge - another lunch and a beer. Good view from up there, especially around sunset

AKL: check out some animal viewing and another lunch.

finish off the day with Jock Lindsey’s with yet another lunch and a drink

(Make sure you’re hungry)

Sounds like a Hobbit's eating schedule.

 

[JohnD]

Monorail crawl (doesn't necessarily mean drinking) around MK resorts. Boat to WL and back. Check out gifts shops, visit lounges if you so desire, make an ADR at one of the restaurants. If you fancy a walk, start at either Poly or GF and walk to Contemporary.

 

[Ayla]

One of our non-park days will be spent at Kennedy Space Center (again). But I guess that isn't an option if you're alone.

 

[rreading]

Walking the grounds of Wilderness Lodge and soaking up the lobby. Would head down to the dock and take their boat to Fort Wilderness and/or Contemporary

If you take the boat to Contemporary, I enjoy their area out by the lake. The shopping in their lobby is nice and the atmosphere is cool there.

Would monorail to Poly if their station is open to see how their update went. If they're closed, pass along to GF then consider taking a boat to Poly if you would like.

Enjoying the lobby of GF with the music (used to be band - now just piano, I believe); catching a drink in the Enchanted Rose if you're into that

From there, I would probably catch a bus to Disney Springs. Once I was finished there, I would take the boat to Port Orleans

With time to eat along the way, I would consider that a pretty legit day. However, if I were to do it again another day, I would go to AKL, Coronado Springs... There is so much so see apart from the parks!

 

[ppet]

Go over to Caribbean Beach and hop on the Skyliner. you can ride to the parks and different resorts without entering the parks. There are some nice views from on high.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Where are you staying? Knowing your beginning point would be helpful. Also, how do you like to spend your time? Window shopping? People watching? Sunbathing? Watching live entertainment? Browsing exhibits? Fun Forms of Transportation?

I second the suggestions to visit Disney Springs (which has great restaurants, hops, bowling and movies -- my family can spend an hour in the LEGO store alone), and/or resort-hop, especially if you can work in rides on the monorail and/or Skyliner (or, if you enjoy boats, the Friendship boats between EPCOT/HS and their resorts, or the ones from the MK resorts to MK). Some more specific possibilities: a drink at Trader Sam's (Polynesian), a facial or massage at Senses Spa (Grand Floridian, if you're into that sort of thing), touring the lobbies and grounds at Wilderness Lodge and/or Animal Kingdom Lodge, bowling or a movie at Disney Springs.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Where are you staying by the way?
I find the day goes by quicker than you think when you want to do next to nothing lol. Visit a resort or two you always wanted to check out, spend a few hours at your hotel pool. See a movie. I will be honest, you should consider going with your family to universal but then doing some walking around there. The dining/shopping area outside the parks is really alive with people during the day, can't go wrong having some drinks at the Margaritaville bar outside, some great options to eat at, and you can always check out some of their resorts. They have a movie theater too, which is great for killing time, and one of the best mini putts going.

 

[Sbk1234]

One of our non-park days will be spent at Kennedy Space Center (again). But I guess that isn't an option if you're alone.

I've already done Kennedy Space Center twice, which was once too many. However, I hope you enjoy it. It's not bad, but once was enough.

 

[IDSkinner]

I like all of the suggestions. Having just returned from our trip, my wife and I discussed having a SPA day in the middle of the week with all of the walking it would be refreshing and finishing with a nice dinner. All of the above sounds great though, as well and we did do Universal in the middle, but wish we'd rested.

 

[Sbk1234]

Go over to Caribbean Beach and hop on the Skyliner. you can ride to the parks and different resorts without entering the parks. There are some nice views from on high.

I DEFINITELY plan on riding the Skyliner.

 

[Sbk1234]

Where are you staying by the way?
I find the day goes by quicker than you think when you want to do next to nothing lol. Visit a resort or two you always wanted to check out, spend a few hours at your hotel pool. See a movie. I will be honest, you should consider going with your family to universal but then doing some walking around there. The dining/shopping area outside the parks is really alive with people during the day, can't go wrong having some drinks at the Margaritaville bar outside, some great options to eat at, and you can always check out some of their resorts. They have a movie theater too, which is great for killing time, and one of the best mini putts going.

Right now we don't know where we'll be staying. My daughter will be in the Disney College Program, so she will be able to pass on some discounts for lodging. We have to see what's available to us. I expect it will be along the lines of an All Star Hotel, but I'm of the mind that you can't go wrong with any Disney Hotel.

To be honest, Universal just doesn't interest me, so I'll enjoy the time to myself.

 

[Ayla]

I've already done Kennedy Space Center twice, which was once too many. However, I hope you enjoy it. It's not bad, but once was enough.

I have been there before and loved it. We didn't get to see everything so I am excited about returning.

 

[rreading]

Right now we don't know where we'll be staying. My daughter will be in the Disney College Program, so she will be able to pass on some discounts for lodging. We have to see what's available to us. I expect it will be along the lines of an All Star Hotel, but I'm of the mind that you can't go wrong with any Disney Hotel.

To be honest, Universal just doesn't interest me, so I'll enjoy the time to myself.

We did Universal this summer (hotel/express pass/park hopper) and if you told me I could do it again tomorrow for free or stay and spend time having a day off at Disney, I would probably enjoy Disney more....so I totally understand!