WDW Off the Beaten Path

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Merlin

Account Suspended
We get to WDW at least once a year and we've discovered there is so much more to it, aside from the theme parks, that most people never think to visit. My favorite is Fort Wilderness. You can take a canoe along the canals all the way to the edge of Bay Lake (an excellent postcard view of Space Mountain from there). From that spot, you can take a walk along the Wilderness Swamp Trail, deep into the woods. If you're visiting the resort for a week or more, this is a great break from the fast pace of the parks and the crowds. And it is beautiful. A photographer's paradise!

Does anyone else have any lesser-known things to do at WDW that they can share? I've been there more times than I can count but still continually find things and places I've never seen before.
 
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alee4eva

alee4eva

Member
I love water skiing lessons at the Contemporary, and surfing lessons in the morning at Typhoon Lagoon. But I just love renting paddle boats (or whatever they are) at Coronado springs. Too bad the Institute changed, but I had a great rock climbing experience there.
 
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Passport

Passport

Member
Originally posted by Merlin
We get to WDW at least once a year and we've discovered there is so much more to it, aside from the theme parks, that most people never think to visit. My favorite is Fort Wilderness. You can take a canoe along the canals all the way to the edge of Bay Lake (an excellent postcard view of Space Mountain from there). From that spot, you can take a walk along the Wilderness Swamp Trail, deep into the woods. If you're visiting the resort for a week or more, this is a great break from the fast pace of the parks and the crowds. And it is beautiful. A photographer's paradise!

Does anyone else have any lesser-known things to do at WDW that they can share? I've been there more times than I can count but still continually find things and places I've never seen before.
Click to expand...

Do you have to being staying there to use the canoes? How much does it cost?
 
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M

Merlin

Account Suspended
Original Poster
You don't have to be staying there to use the canoes. What you do is go to the main entrance to Fort Wilderness (not the Wilderness Lodge, but Fort Wilderness) and park. Then take one of the buses to the Bike Barn. They rent bikes (hence the name), which is also a lot of fun. They will give you a trail map of where you can bike ride (and there are MILES of bike trails there...it's great). I can't remember exactly how much the canoes are. I used to be a cast member and they were always free. But in the last few years I think we paid about $6 for an hour. It's pretty cheap and definitely worth it. There's also a cool gift shop that sells merchandise with the Fort Wilderness logo and there is a small swimming pool right there. The other thing about Fort Wilderness that's cool is that all the shops, etc there seem to always be staffed with cast members who have been there for a long time and have some great stories (the bus drivers are the best). Also, it is never crowded there.
 
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CAPTAIN HOOK

CAPTAIN HOOK

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by tiggerlover1971
i usally take the por or pofq boats to downtown disney the ride is beautiful and at night it has a breeze at least everytime i have been it has
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I love the boat ride as well - its just a shame about the queue when you're waiting to return to PO
 
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Figaro

Figaro

New Member
We had a picnic once by the river at Dixie Landings a few years ago. My hubby had the CM's at the food court make up a basket for us. They gave us a whole bunch of stuff to eat and drink and since no one ever asked them for that before, they didn't charge us anything for it. That was a few years ago though :)

I think the Poly and Wilderness Lodge have a Ladybug release program 2 days a week. We were hoping to take my son to it in Sept.
 
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C

Cindy Rella

New Member
This is a great thread! WE too enjoy slowing down and enjoying stuff off the beaten path! (especially if it is cheap or free) Didn't have anything new to share but am excited about the Fort Wilderness report as we were planning a day there this fall.

My question is about the Ladybug release Figaro- is that only in Sept? We were planning on Oct or Nov.
 
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Figaro

Figaro

New Member
This is borrowed from another board:

"The ladybug release program is used by Disney to cut down on the use of pesticides. It is conducted every Thursday at Wilderness Lodge at 10am and every Thursday at the Polynesian Resort at 11am., at the back entrance of the Great Ceremonial House. There is a "ladybug expert" on hand to answer questions. It is free to participate. It takes about 10 minutes, depending on whether you pick out the ladybugs out of the little matchbox they give you, or whether you just turn it over and dump them out onto the plants all at once. For participating, you may receive either a certificate, Jiminy Cricket stickers, or a little magnifying glass. It is open to both children and adults."


Sounds really cool and I know my son will love it!
 
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B

BlueFairy

New Member
Disney Every Year??!!!

Man, your lucky.

When i go i ussually stay at the ALL-Stars so that we can take longer trips.
So while my big sis - the disney fanatic with the most athority in the house-hold - checks us in at the front desk my ma, nephew and i take a mini tour of the differnt hotel segmants.

__________________________________________________

Today we are the shapers of tommorow
 
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Justin

Justin

New Member
Hey peoples, Sorry to get off the subject, cause im not trying but i just started using WDWmagic, and dont know how to Post the Forums up... U know where u click on the little thingys on the side where they say stuff like "Space Mountain" or watever. How do u make those? Cause i would like to create alot of this stuff to get help with Disney. :confused:

:lol: :lol: :lol:
 
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C

Cindy Rella

New Member
Originally posted by Figaro
This is borrowed from another board:

"The ladybug release program is used by Disney to cut down on the use of pesticides. It is conducted every Thursday at Wilderness Lodge at 10am and every Thursday at the Polynesian Resort at 11am., at the back entrance of the Great Ceremonial House. There is a "ladybug expert" on hand to answer questions. It is free to participate. It takes about 10 minutes, depending on whether you pick out the ladybugs out of the little matchbox they give you, or whether you just turn it over and dump them out onto the plants all at once. For participating, you may receive either a certificate, Jiminy Cricket stickers, or a little magnifying glass. It is open to both children and adults."


Sounds really cool and I know my son will love it!
Click to expand...

:sohappy: thanks figaro - that is on our list now - yeah! Very cool that Disney does that and shares with public .
 
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