Magical Things to do at Resorts

mrsmtc

mrsmtc

Active Member
Original Poster
Going to do a bit of resort hoping this trip. Looking to make of list of the magical things to do at each resort such as Old Faithful at the Wilderness Lodge, sing a long campfire at the campground.....what can you add to the list?!
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
We like to dessert hop or appetizer hop while resort hopping. Try different things at different restaurants. Nothing says you have to order a main course. For example, while visiting the Poly we might get Tonga Toast at Kona, then pop by Capt. Cooks for a Dole Whip before heading over OKW and getting a slice of Key Lime Pie at Olivias, then later some beignets at POFQ, then a Magic Cookie Bar at PORS. We share and sorta nibble and take the leftovers to the room for later, or another day. You get to see the resort and some of the restaurants. Some feel this is not fair to the servers or others who have ADRs for a meal, but we usually go at slower times in Sept., Dec. or May and midday when places are not very busy.
 
NiarrNDisney

NiarrNDisney

Well-Known Member
Animal Kingdom Lodge & Kindani Village - African history and stories are told in a room off the lobby near the front desk, check out the animals grazing in the savannah, and story time around the camp fire

Boardwalk - Live performers along the boardwalk, Midway games of chance

Caribbean Beach - Beach camp fires, Pirate adventures (for kids)

Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower - Electrical Water Pageant, Sunny DuValls extreme sports, views of Magic Kingdoms fireworks

Coronado Springs - Camp fires, Health Spa & Salon, Relaxing in hammocks, Rix Lounge

Dolphin & Swan - Fantasia mini golf, Swan paddle boats

Fort Wilderness & Wilderness Lodge - Archery, Chip & Dales campfire, Geyser eruptions, "Hiking", Hoop de Doo Musical Revue, Pony rides, Tri Circle Ranch, Wagon/Sleigh rides

Grand Floridian - Electrical water pageant, Health Spa, High Tea, Live symphony, views of Magic Kingdoms fireworks

Old Key West - Campfires, Peddle boats

Polynesian - Electrical water pageant, Spirit of Aloha Luau, views of Magic Kingdom
fireworks

Pop Century - Dance the Twist and the Hustle, Ping Pong matches

Port Orleans French Quarter & Riverside - Coach rides, Live Music at River Roost and Scat Cats, Mardi Gras parade

Saratoga Springs - Campfires, Health Spa

*Most resorts have - Arcades, Basketball courts, Bike Rentals, Fishing, Golf, Marina Rentals, Movie Nights, Playgrounds, Shopping, Swimming pools, Tennis & Volleyball courts
 
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HollyAD

HollyAD

Well-Known Member
AKL is so beautiful and there is a lot to do there. Take a walk outside and talk to some of the animal experts about the animals out on the Savannah. Grab a glass of wine at the Victoria Falls lounge and sit and listen to the noise and smell the wonderful smokey scents of Boma.

Values- I love to take my son around to take silly pics with the larger than life decor!

Fort Wilderness (second favorite)- Old Faithful of course, sit on the beach at night and enjoy a little silence

Contemporary- Our fav thing to do here is rent boats and explore the 7 seas lagoon, when I was younger we rented a pontoon, grabbed some lunch and had lunch out on the pontoon. It was a great experience!
 
epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
HollyAD said:
AKL is so beautiful and there is a lot to do there. Take a walk outside and talk to some of the animal experts about the animals out on the Savannah. Grab a glass of wine at the Victoria Falls lounge and sit and listen to the noise and smell the wonderful smokey scents of Boma.

Values- I love to take my son around to take silly pics with the larger than life decor!

Fort Wilderness (second favorite)- Old Faithful of course, sit on the beach at night and enjoy a little silence

Contemporary- Our fav thing to do here is rent boats and explore the 7 seas lagoon, when I was younger we rented a pontoon, grabbed some lunch and had lunch out on the pontoon. It was a great experience!
Click to expand...
Sorry, are you referring to Fire Rock Geyser at the Wilderness Lodge, or the Old Faithful Club, again at Wilderness Lodge? Or something else over at Fort Wilderness? Both have lovely, quiet beach areas but it is a bit louder at FW with the boat traffic, so not a lot of silence there.
 
Skibum1970

Skibum1970

Well-Known Member
Port Orleans: Walking at night and seeing the various fountains lit up while watching the boats go past. Also, I like to walk past the water wheel as it is strangely peaceful to me.

Contemporary: Walk along the water at night. Watch the Electric Water Pageant (you'll see a theme). Listen to the sound of the boat horns echoing across the water. Basically, it's a way to get away from the noise of the surroundings.

Wilderness Lodger: As others stated, walk the path to Fort Wilderness and then hop a boat ride back to the Lodge. Find the quiet corners with a fireplace and sit down to overlook the lobby. Walk across the bridge and sit by the spring inside the hotel lobby. Take the walkway across the falls outside. Truth be told, I could just hang around and walk around for hours at the Wilderness Lodge. Oh, walk to the Villas and enjoy the lobby and the trains in the one common room.

In general, take the monorail around to Poly and the Grand Floridian. I used to walk from Poly to GF but am not sure that the walkway is still open due to the GF villas.

I just like to explore all of the monorail resorts, POR, and WL. One day, I'll try the Beach and Yacht Club to see what they are like. Some good walking trails there as well. Also, I would like to stay at the Coronado and take advantage of the walkways around the lake. Even CB has the wooden walkways around that resort's lakes. I love the parks but I really enjoy just stretching my legs and relaxing away from the crowds.
 
Pghdrumr

Pghdrumr

Active Member
Be the first kids in the pool when the lifeguards come on duty in the morning.
At the contemporary last year, our two little girls were selected to help turn on the waters and open the slide. They were given large mickey gloves to wear and a sorcerer's hat. The lifeguards gave them a magic dance to do, and as they raised their hands in the air, the water fountains rose up like magic! After that, they were the first to slide down the slide! They even received a "magic waters" certificate for helping! Best magical part of our vacation
 
maj

maj

New Member
mrsmtc said:
Going to do a bit of resort hoping this trip. Looking to make of list of the magical things to do at each resort such as Old Faithful at the Wilderness Lodge, sing a long campfire at the campground.....what can you add to the list?!
Click to expand...

I'd recommend, if you have the time and, well, time, splitting an Epcot day with dessert along the Boardwalk.

Take the Crescent Lake Friendship out of International Gateway, after you've hit all the must-sees and the afternoon pavement is hitting hard, to wander those resorts...Yacht & Beach are richly themed, Swan and Dolphin are nicely appointed, Boardwalk is funner at night when entertainers are out and food kiosks are operating but relaxing any time else...then back again for Illuminations. Both Beach Club and Boardwalk are easy walks to International Gateway, but I like the boats.

The Friendships make a loop with the Studios park, but each dock gets both directions so you can avoid the long detour there. Check with the Captain, but I think the complete circuit runs:
Epcot International Gateway->
BeachClub lighthouse->
cross Crescent Lake to Boardwalk->
Swan&Dolphin->
long voyage to and from Studios dock on Lake Hollywood->
Swan&Dolphin->
Boardwalk->
cross Crescent Lake to BeachClub lighthouse->
Epcot International Gateway.

If you're going the way the boats go, after Swan&Dolphin, pick the Friendship going the other direction, or walk the short bridge to the western edge of the boardwalk (eateries and night spots, then shops, an art gallery, porch for the lobby 2nd floor entrance for Boardwalk Inn and Villas, more eateries on the eastern boardwalk). I'm familiar with that bridge shortcut because I've stayed at the Swan and my favorite beer cheese soup is at Big River. Quicker than getting on a boat to the Boardwalk dock and walking halfway back!
 
MaryJaneP

MaryJaneP

Well-Known Member
At CR we watched Wishes and EWP while outside by the pools after we had a brief visit with Peter Pan as he was on the CR dock for a Wishes cruise.
 
DanStat

DanStat

Well-Known Member
Wilderness Lodge has some very cozy spots to relax. Last time we were there, we grabbed some drinks and a flatbread and hung out by the fireplace on the second floor. It was fantastic.
 
coachwnh

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
There are some great bars at each resort to stop for a drink if you like that kind of thing. Just taking time to see all go AKL (both resorts) and WL are worth the trips! I love everything about the GF!!! The YC/BC/BW area is fun to walk around as well.

Some other fun things I enjoy are:

Watching the animals from our deck at AKL while drinking coffee in the morning, or an adult beverage any other time.

Watching the sun rise over Bay Lake from my balcony at the Contemporary.

Watching Illuminations from our balcony at YC (especially this past Christmas)

And I'm not sure there is anything else more magical then hitting the bed after a long day in the parks!
 
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