What are things you do on days you don't go to the parks. Does anyone just spend a day in your rental pool and chill
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Non disney days
- Thread starter Carl Aaron
- Start date
Figgy1
Well-Known Member
Welcome. We always find so much to do we've never done that. Although I'm hoping to change that next trip. There's DTD (Disney springs), Kennedy Space Center, outlet malls. We used to rent a house and spent so little time there we downsized to a condo. On our trip this summer we finally will have a pool day. At least I hope we do LOL
CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
Whether we stay on property or off, we would never do a full day by the pool.
Consider a half day at the pool and an evening in one of the parks, or Disney Springs. Or, a full day at one of the shopping malls.
RandomPrincess
Keep Moving Forward
We went to the Orlando Science Center on our last trip. My kids loved it!
Tinkerkelle
Well-Known Member
We just want to get as much of the parks as possible, but you do need a little down time and some half days, as suggested by @CAPTAIN HOOK are good. We are from the UK so do 14 days. During our week in Disney, we start with full days in each park then do some half days. We get the benefit of quiet early mornings in the park then use the resort pool, go to Disney Springs, resort hop - more leisurely stuff but in the Disney bubble because it's a BIG bubble!!
Our week at Universal is when we venture outwith the theme park bubble, usually after a morning at the parks. The outlet malls are great if you like browsing for bargains and they have discount disney stores. We had tickets to the orlando eye but it was not operating the day we went but madam tussauds was fun - lots of silly photo ops - and the sea life centre was enjoyable.
Our week at Universal is when we venture outwith the theme park bubble, usually after a morning at the parks. The outlet malls are great if you like browsing for bargains and they have discount disney stores. We had tickets to the orlando eye but it was not operating the day we went but madam tussauds was fun - lots of silly photo ops - and the sea life centre was enjoyable.
Stellajack
Well-Known Member
We do part of the day at the pool, then down the Sassagoula to Disney Springs (formerly known as Downtown Disney 
) for shopping and sometimes a different resort restaurant in the evening.
) for shopping and sometimes a different resort restaurant in the evening.
BiffyClyro
Well-Known Member
Pool, beach, shop, sometimes travel and go to keys/ Miami for a few days
nighttowll
New Member
We don't usually get much of a chance to lay by the pool. Normally, I plan a trip and plan in breaks. Then someone comes behind me and is like, "Ohh, free time to fit in this and this and this..." And, there go my rest breaks.
I'm usually lucky if I'm able to schedule in a few hours at the pool per trip.
The general consensus most of my family and friends share is that we spend all this money on transportation and lodging, so we should keep busy and get our money's worth since we have already spent the money whether we do 1 thing or 10 things.
However, we did do a very relaxed trip last fall with lots of time spent sleeping in, watching movies, playing games and working puzzles. I had wanted to spend some time just relaxing by the pool as well, but I couldn't get the heat on the pool to work, so we mainly stayed inside. Honestly, I think I prefer our normal go til you drop trips. I just kept thinking about all the things we could be doing and though we were having fun, I kind of felt like we were wasting valuable time on activities we could do at home anytime.
Some things we do when not visiting Disney Parks:
Explore the different resorts - Watch EWP, Hidden Mickey contest, see the geyser, photo ops at AoA, animal viewing at AK, fun resort restaurants, activities at the campgrounds, ride the monorail, view Xmas decorations
Explore our resort - resort community hall, offered activities, games, and crafts, swim in the pool, movie pizza parties in the room for movies that go along with a ride (ToT, HM, character movies, SFR, etc.), in room Disney themed board games and card games.
Shopping at the resorts, outlets, Disney Springs (DTD), Citi Walk, target, Walmart, Publix
Also in between shopping at DS / DTD - Play in the Lego Store, fountains, or Trex sandbox and watch street performers and musicians.
Eating out - favorite restaurants we don't have at home, special themed restaurants, or dinner shows
Go to the movies
Play Mini Golf
Day trips to other cities nearby like Tampa or the beach
Visit non Disney parks - Sea World, Universal
Waterparks
Somethings I've been trying to fit and haven't yet:
Kennedy Space Center
Airboat Tour
Citris Grove Tour / Visit
Discovery Cove
Florida Mall
Crayola Experience
Weeki Wachee Springs
Seeing the manatees at the power plant
Pier 60 Clearwater
Cirque du Soleil
Blueman Group
Hot air balloon ride
I'm usually lucky if I'm able to schedule in a few hours at the pool per trip.
The general consensus most of my family and friends share is that we spend all this money on transportation and lodging, so we should keep busy and get our money's worth since we have already spent the money whether we do 1 thing or 10 things.
However, we did do a very relaxed trip last fall with lots of time spent sleeping in, watching movies, playing games and working puzzles. I had wanted to spend some time just relaxing by the pool as well, but I couldn't get the heat on the pool to work, so we mainly stayed inside. Honestly, I think I prefer our normal go til you drop trips. I just kept thinking about all the things we could be doing and though we were having fun, I kind of felt like we were wasting valuable time on activities we could do at home anytime.
Some things we do when not visiting Disney Parks:
Explore the different resorts - Watch EWP, Hidden Mickey contest, see the geyser, photo ops at AoA, animal viewing at AK, fun resort restaurants, activities at the campgrounds, ride the monorail, view Xmas decorations
Explore our resort - resort community hall, offered activities, games, and crafts, swim in the pool, movie pizza parties in the room for movies that go along with a ride (ToT, HM, character movies, SFR, etc.), in room Disney themed board games and card games.
Shopping at the resorts, outlets, Disney Springs (DTD), Citi Walk, target, Walmart, Publix
Also in between shopping at DS / DTD - Play in the Lego Store, fountains, or Trex sandbox and watch street performers and musicians.
Eating out - favorite restaurants we don't have at home, special themed restaurants, or dinner shows
Go to the movies
Play Mini Golf
Day trips to other cities nearby like Tampa or the beach
Visit non Disney parks - Sea World, Universal
Waterparks
Somethings I've been trying to fit and haven't yet:
Kennedy Space Center
Airboat Tour
Citris Grove Tour / Visit
Discovery Cove
Florida Mall
Crayola Experience
Weeki Wachee Springs
Seeing the manatees at the power plant
Pier 60 Clearwater
Cirque du Soleil
Blueman Group
Hot air balloon ride
ScarletBegonias
Well-Known Member
I think we might try a day at the beach on our next trip which is exciting because we are beach people too, so it'll be a nice relaxing day!
minnie2000
Well-Known Member
We hardly ever do full days at the parks.
We are from the UK and usually go for 2 weeks. Because of the time difference, we are awake really early the first week, so we go to the parks early and leave by about 2 or 3. We usually spend time at the pool. We really love relaxing by the pool - it's as much a part of the holiday as the parks are! For the second week, we get up later and go to the parks in the afternoon and spend the evenings there.
Sometimes we do something different, we went to the Kennedy Space Centre a few years ago, now and again we'll go to a beach, and the DC like to go shopping.
We prefer to take it easy. If we go to a park, we do our three fast pass rides, maybe a few other rides in-between, and maybe a meal. Then we leave and go and relax. We find that we enjoy the holiday much more that way.
We are from the UK and usually go for 2 weeks. Because of the time difference, we are awake really early the first week, so we go to the parks early and leave by about 2 or 3. We usually spend time at the pool. We really love relaxing by the pool - it's as much a part of the holiday as the parks are! For the second week, we get up later and go to the parks in the afternoon and spend the evenings there.
Sometimes we do something different, we went to the Kennedy Space Centre a few years ago, now and again we'll go to a beach, and the DC like to go shopping.
We prefer to take it easy. If we go to a park, we do our three fast pass rides, maybe a few other rides in-between, and maybe a meal. Then we leave and go and relax. We find that we enjoy the holiday much more that way.
Rebel_
Member
Our family LOVES Gatorland and Holyland Experience. Obviously the latter markets to a specific crowd, but the former is nothing but Floridian-Fun! You can pick up discount tickets through Undercover Tourist.
Last year my family did the zip-lining over the alligators. I did not try it, but my husband and kids had a great time.
We aren't big shoppers, but we do like Downtown Disney for a few hours each trip.
We do like to spend at least a half-day at our pools.
Last year my family did the zip-lining over the alligators. I did not try it, but my husband and kids had a great time.
We aren't big shoppers, but we do like Downtown Disney for a few hours each trip.
We do like to spend at least a half-day at our pools.