We frequently get asked what we do every year at WDW(planning 24th visit) and why we stay so long (19 days last November). I started compiling a list of things we do outside the parks but still on Disney property. I have included it below.
I welcome any additional activities as we are returning this November. Thanks.
Things to do at Walt Disney World without entering a park
(Either FREE or $$$)
1. Rent a boat (pontoon, canopy, sail, water sprite) and go for a ride. Marinas are located at the many of the hotels. Especially interesting are the canals that join Old Key West to Riverside and Downtown Disney. ($$$)
2. Go parasailing or waterskiing. ($$$)
3. Rent a surrey bike for 2,4 or 6 people. ($$$)
4. Rent a bicycle. ($$$)
5. Go horseback riding at Fort Wilderness ($$$)
6. Play a sport: golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball, tetherball, shuffleboard.( FREE and $$$)
7. Rent a war canoe for 16 at Wilderness Lodge marina ($$$)
8. Play mini golf at Never Summerland or Fantasia Gardens ($$$)
9. Visit the lobbies of the hotels. Some of the best are: Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, Contemporary Resort, Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Resort, and Animal Kingdom Lodge.(FREE)
10. Take in Disney Quest ($$$)
11. Go to Pleasure Island (FREE in daytime $$$ at night)
12. Visit Downtown Disney and Disney West. (FREE)
13. Go to a movie at the AMC at Disney West ($$$)
14. Visit Celebration City (FREE)
15. Ride the monorail (FREE)
16. Ride the boats that transport guests to/from the hotels and Magic Kingdom or Disney MGM (FREE)
17. Eat at one of the fine restaurants or food courts located in the hotels ($$$)
18. Take a ride on a Disney bus (FREE)
19. Attend a performance of Cirque de Soliel ($$$)
20. Go to a dinner show, either Hoop de Doo or the Polynesian Luau ($$$)
21. Get married at the Grand Floridian Wedding center ($$$)
22. Get a drink at a hotel lounge. Some of the best are: Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Boardwalk. Many have unique house special drinks. ($$$)
23. Go on an architectural tour of either the Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge (FREE)
24. Take part in the Hidden Mickey hunt at Wilderness Lodge and win a button. (FREE)
25. See the animals in the savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge (FREE)
26. Watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach at either the Polynesian or the Grand Floridian (FREE)
27. Play at the arcades. The best are at Riverside ($$$)
28. Swim at your hotel pool. The best is at Yacht and Beach (FREE)
29. Go to a waterpark: River Country, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach ($$$)
30. Take a back stage tour - all the parks but Disney MGM currently have them. Some do require park admission ($$$)
31. Walk and/or play on the beaches of Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Yacht and Beach Resort or Caribbean Beach Resort (FREE)
32. Drive a race car at the Richard Petty Experience ($$$)
33. Watch a sporting event at the World of Sports ($$$)
34. Watch a game on TV at the ESPN Club (FREE)
35. Get a Spa treatment at the Grand Floridian or Disney Institute ($$$)
36. View the Electrical Water Pageant from the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake (FREE)
37. Visit Tri-Circle-D Ranch and pet the animals, witness horseshoeing and say hello to the horses that draw the carriages on Main Street (FREE)
38. Pose in front of the large Mickey ears at the Contemporary Resort (FREE)
39. Go fishing (FREE or $$$)
40. Attend a sporting event at the Wide World of Sports Complex ($$$)
41. Experience a marshmallow roast over a campfire and see a movie at Fort Wilderness(FREE)
42. Take in the hayride at Fort Wilderness ($$$)
43. Get a good workout at one of the Fitness Centers at many of the resorts ($$$ or FREE)
44. View the Fire Rock Geyser at Wilderness Lodge (FREE)
I welcome any additional activities as we are returning this November. Thanks.
Things to do at Walt Disney World without entering a park
(Either FREE or $$$)
1. Rent a boat (pontoon, canopy, sail, water sprite) and go for a ride. Marinas are located at the many of the hotels. Especially interesting are the canals that join Old Key West to Riverside and Downtown Disney. ($$$)
2. Go parasailing or waterskiing. ($$$)
3. Rent a surrey bike for 2,4 or 6 people. ($$$)
4. Rent a bicycle. ($$$)
5. Go horseback riding at Fort Wilderness ($$$)
6. Play a sport: golf, tennis, volleyball, basketball, tetherball, shuffleboard.( FREE and $$$)
7. Rent a war canoe for 16 at Wilderness Lodge marina ($$$)
8. Play mini golf at Never Summerland or Fantasia Gardens ($$$)
9. Visit the lobbies of the hotels. Some of the best are: Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, Contemporary Resort, Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Resort, and Animal Kingdom Lodge.(FREE)
10. Take in Disney Quest ($$$)
11. Go to Pleasure Island (FREE in daytime $$$ at night)
12. Visit Downtown Disney and Disney West. (FREE)
13. Go to a movie at the AMC at Disney West ($$$)
14. Visit Celebration City (FREE)
15. Ride the monorail (FREE)
16. Ride the boats that transport guests to/from the hotels and Magic Kingdom or Disney MGM (FREE)
17. Eat at one of the fine restaurants or food courts located in the hotels ($$$)
18. Take a ride on a Disney bus (FREE)
19. Attend a performance of Cirque de Soliel ($$$)
20. Go to a dinner show, either Hoop de Doo or the Polynesian Luau ($$$)
21. Get married at the Grand Floridian Wedding center ($$$)
22. Get a drink at a hotel lounge. Some of the best are: Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Boardwalk. Many have unique house special drinks. ($$$)
23. Go on an architectural tour of either the Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge (FREE)
24. Take part in the Hidden Mickey hunt at Wilderness Lodge and win a button. (FREE)
25. See the animals in the savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge (FREE)
26. Watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach at either the Polynesian or the Grand Floridian (FREE)
27. Play at the arcades. The best are at Riverside ($$$)
28. Swim at your hotel pool. The best is at Yacht and Beach (FREE)
29. Go to a waterpark: River Country, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach ($$$)
30. Take a back stage tour - all the parks but Disney MGM currently have them. Some do require park admission ($$$)
31. Walk and/or play on the beaches of Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Yacht and Beach Resort or Caribbean Beach Resort (FREE)
32. Drive a race car at the Richard Petty Experience ($$$)
33. Watch a sporting event at the World of Sports ($$$)
34. Watch a game on TV at the ESPN Club (FREE)
35. Get a Spa treatment at the Grand Floridian or Disney Institute ($$$)
36. View the Electrical Water Pageant from the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake (FREE)
37. Visit Tri-Circle-D Ranch and pet the animals, witness horseshoeing and say hello to the horses that draw the carriages on Main Street (FREE)
38. Pose in front of the large Mickey ears at the Contemporary Resort (FREE)
39. Go fishing (FREE or $$$)
40. Attend a sporting event at the Wide World of Sports Complex ($$$)
41. Experience a marshmallow roast over a campfire and see a movie at Fort Wilderness(FREE)
42. Take in the hayride at Fort Wilderness ($$$)
43. Get a good workout at one of the Fitness Centers at many of the resorts ($$$ or FREE)
44. View the Fire Rock Geyser at Wilderness Lodge (FREE)
