What to do out of parks free or cheap??

C

clee687

Member
Hi! My Dad's friends are driving to Orlando to pick up their granddaughter. They will arrive Wednesday afternoon and leave Friday morning and are staying at the Regal Sun Resort (formerly Grosvenor) across from Downtown Disney. They will not be able to afford any park visits though and asked what they could do Wed. pm and all day Thursday. I said they could check out Downtown Disney and jump on all the WDW transportation and explore the resorts. I was wondering if they could time it so they could see Wishes and maybe Illuminations from a nearby resort. Does anyone have any tips on where the best out-of-park spot is to watch those or any tip at all on what free or very cheap things they can do? It will just be 4 adults-they don't get the granddaughter until late Thurs night. Thanks for any advice you can give! OH! One more thing! Isn't there a water taxi that travels to and from Port Orleans? Does it go all day or just certain hours? Thanks!!
 
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wdwmomof3

wdwmomof3

Well-Known Member
I would say to visit DTD and go resort hopping. Also, I would at least ride the Monorail. They can see Epcot & the Magic Kingdom from there. I would be sure to see Wishes from one of the monorail resorts. There is also a water parade that can be viewed from there as well.

I couldn't do it... I just couldn't do it. I would be forced to go to the Magic Kingdom, regardless. :lol:
 
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krankenstein

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
I would try to be on the beach at the Poly for Wishes. Me and my cousin went to Universal one time and elected not to visit any Disney parks (I know, I know). The day we got to Orlando we went to DTD and did resort hopping. We ended up at the Poly for the water pageant and Wishes. It was perfect.

Another thing, they might want to check into miniature golf. I'm not sure of the price, but it should be a lot cheaper than going to one of he parks.
 
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tigsmom

tigsmom

Well-Known Member
Resort hopping and maybe grabbing a meal at one. Shopping at DTD or one of the resorts. Mini golf, the electrical water pageant can be seen at any of the resorts that ring the lake. Wishes is great from the Poly beach and a monorail rail ride is always fun.
 
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Carolyn1717

Carolyn1717

New Member
Unless they've changed it, unless you have park hopper tickets or are staying at a Disney resort you cannot use Disney transportation. But since they are driving, they can get to other resorts by car. They can usually park for 3 hours at the monorail & Epcot resorts. They won't question them once there if they use the monorail, but the buses are a different story because they are usually filled by resort guests.....

Aside from suggestions above..there is also the petting zoo at Ft. Wilderness which is free....
 
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CAPTAIN HOOK

CAPTAIN HOOK

Well-Known Member
krankenstein said:
Nope, anyone visiting WDW has access to WDW transportation. Admission to the parks is not needed.
Click to expand...

:confused:

From Disneys website -

"Save time and money — and avoid the hassle of driving and parking — thanks to complimentary transportation throughout Walt Disney World® Resort, available to you as a Guest of a select Walt Disney World® Resort hotel".
 
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krankenstein

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
CAPTAIN HOOK said:
:confused:

From Disneys website -

"Save time and money — and avoid the hassle of driving and parking — thanks to complimentary transportation throughout Walt Disney World® Resort, available to you as a Guest of a select Walt Disney World® Resort hotel".
Click to expand...

It is something they offer all guests at WDW Resort hotels. However, it isn't exclusive to hotel guests. Disney, being good with marketing, phrases it that way to make it appear you are getting a perk that not everyone else has available to them. Notice it doesn't say this is exclusive for hotel guests? I'm sure if you read about EMH it will say EMH is only available to resort guests. The fact of the matter is transportation is available to anyone visiting WDW property.
 
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teebin

teebin

Member
When my parents were visiting I took them on the monorail and they had no park tickets. I parked for free with my annual pass and we just hopped on the trams to the monorail and zipped all over the property.
 
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N

nicnic

Member
If your not in a disney hotel and are say, at DTD and you have reservations at say, GF, (the 1900 park faryre breakfast is great), you would use the disney transportation to get there, so anyone can use the system, no ticket required.
For Illuminations you could catch the bus to the BW have a bite to eat and you can see the fireworks from the bridge.
How about the minature golf (fee involved), no park ticket needed for this, again get bus to swan/dolphin i think you can get to fantasia!? from there or use a resort bus to BB and there is a golf park there.
I would ride monorail from TTC round the hotels then over to epcot and back.
The boat to DTD from POR only runs from about 4pm if i remember rightly!? Check with the Regal sun, I think they do a murder mystery night?
hope some of these help, loads you can do without having a ticket and still get that Disney feel, I get it just by being at DTD or seeing the Disney bus!
 
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W

wolf29

New Member
I'd head over to the Boardwalk and then proceed to the International Gateway area, where I believe they could take in Illuminations. I'd also visit DAKL and spend some time there. Maybe watch Wishes from California Grill or Poly Beach while enjoying cocktails.
 
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J

Jodileigh

New Member
Ok, so it's not Disney related, but OldTown is really neat. Lots of cool shops and a big ferris wheel, etc. It's a neat and cheap place to spend an evening!

Jodi
 
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S

santa's surpriz

New Member
What about something like the Circle D Ranch at Fort Wilderness. There is a petting zoo, pony rides, horse rides, and you can veiw the horses that are in the parades. Also there is a Trail's End Buffeteria, and also nightly movies with Chip & Dale. (I believe that you pay for the horse/pony rides and the movie is free, but snacks are a charge.) Depending on the time of year there are sleigh rides, hay rides, and/or carriage rides.

A character meal at one of the resorts would also be a nice idea. If you have a young girl into the princesses you can get a princess make over at Bibbidi Boppidi Boutique in DTD.
 
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unkadug

unkadug

Follower of "Saget"The Cult
You could take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and just hang around outside the bag check right before Wishes. You'll still be able to hear and see a lot of it.
 
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