What's there to do outside the parks??

[Cookees68]

Just got off the phone with a dear friend who asked if I was going to Disney? She was inquiring because of a FB posting about heading down to Florida this evening. My reply: "Why yes, but we aren't going to the parks this trip. We are doing a resort-only trip". Her reply: "What's there to do outside the parks?" Oh my ... imagine my surprise. How to explain to someone who has only been twice and doesn't really understand the magic? I explained the various things we'll be doing. However, I was thinking, what do other folks, families, couples, individuals do outside the parks during a trip to the World?

Thanks for your replies,
Michele

P.S. I believe this is my first post, and we will be checking into PO-Riverside on Monday (8-31-09). And, I am very, very excited to be heading south to escape our dreary, cold summer in the Twin Cities.

 

[corey154]

We like to enjoy all the resorts have to offer, the pool, Down Town Disney, Florida Mall, maybe going over to the city of Celebration. I live pretty close to Orlando so I'm not a good one to answer this. But that's what I do!

 

[mickey7879]

We check out other resorts and have dinner there, DTD, La Nouba, outlet shops (Character Premier mostly!), always Celebration, have done a few things on International Drive (Ripley's for one), spend some time on 192, Hooters and Cracker Barrel are must do's (hooters, I love the food, dh the scenery...win win!), mini golf.....and we've taken a few days either the begining or end of our trip to spend a few days at Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Daytona Beach.

 

[SchultzFamily]

We go to Downtown Disney, minature golfing, the outlet malls, etc.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Welcome aboard :wave:

Beyond the parks is the obvious answer of DownTown Disney - the shoppers haven. There's also the two crazy golf venues and several regular golf courses. Plus, a whole load of Disney Resorts to explore

 

[sueuk]

Same as all the above - DTD, mini golf, shopping, resort hopping and then other Orlando area attractions, Celebration for coffee and the lovely little shops, Boggy Creek airboats (doing a night ride this time) ... the list is endless!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Nothing, infact if you leave the parks, having gotten past the attack dogs, machine gun nests and razor wire, all you will find is a waateland prowled by the living dead waiting to dine on your flesh. And besides even contemplating leaving site is considered an act of heresy.

 

[Philo]

My number 1 activity: rent a boat and enjoy the water ways around the resorts. There are plenty of places to go and eat for a good time too (Hoop Dee Doo springs to mind)

I'm kind of surprised that after 2 trips she has not discovered the wonder that is the world outside the parks. I figure most people send their first trip blitzing the parks whilst the second is more relaxed and all the extra features are discovered.

 

[ann0d]

We always go to Universal Studios and Island of Adventure. Sea World, If you go beyond Orlando, there are a thousand things to do.

 

[yankspy]

We usually like to rent boats which is always fun. There is also a nice walking trail from Ft. Wilderness to the WL. Then there is resort-hopping, animal watching at night at AKL, Golf, Spas, Electrical Water Pagaent, La Nouba, Wishes from the beach at the Poly, walking around the Boardwalk, Fishing, and Horseback riding.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Why would someone travel all the way to Orlando and stay in a Disney resort and not go to the parks?

I can't quite follow this one.
Mr. Spock: "Captain, that is not logical."
Tks.

 

[tinkerblonde11]

Make sure to check out mini golf! You should think of purchasing a Book on Disney World. They tell you about other things you can do also.

 

[fosse76]

Just got off the phone with a dear friend who asked if I was going to Disney? She was inquiring because of a FB posting about heading down to Florida this evening. My reply: "Why yes, but we aren't going to the parks this trip. We are doing a resort-only trip". Her reply: "What's there to do outside the parks?" Oh my ... imagine my surprise. How to explain to someone who has only been twice and doesn't really understand the magic? I explained the various things we'll be doing. However, I was thinking, what do other folks, families, couples, individuals do outside the parks during a trip to the World?

To me, nothing. There is nothing outside the parks that can't be done anywhere else. I go to Disney for the parks. With the exception of the NASCAR experience (or whatever it's called), there is nothing remotely unique about the resort's offerings.

 

[DisneyRunner]

We just got back Wednesday evening and I am having a tough time with the weather here in WI. It's rainy with highs in the upper 60's and climbing to mid 70's next week. Whoo-whoo. We take boats from one location to another, which leads to walking around other resorts. Also, miniature golf, DTD, resort and oulet mall shopping, swimming, water parks, and pin trading. I feel as if I'm missing something. Anyway there is alot of nothing to do.

 

[DVCOwner]

What we like to do is visit Downtown Disney, the Hoop-Dee-Doo review, rent a boat and watch wishes from the water, dinner a the resorts (favorites California Grill, Ohana, and Whispering Canyon), and just relaxing at the pool.

 

[WDW 3]

Down Town Disney is a must! But like Riverside Bunny, we really only go for the parks!! We are heading down over Veterans day and am looking forward to the weather. To echo the comments from my nothern neighbors in WI and the Twin Cities it's been a mild summer. RIght now it is 62 and overcast.
Maybe I'll have a week of summer like weather in November??

 

[dave1105]

Outside the parks we like to visit resorts, see a movie at DTD if the weather is bad or just to get a break. Also hit the Steak n' Shake if we are not on the dining plan or staying offsite.

Minature golf on occasion or a nice dinner at Ohana followed by watching Wishes on the beach at Poly.

 

[lumpydj]

If I get the opportunity to go to WDW between Christmas and New Year's Day - you can bet that I won't be in the parks. But I'd LOVE to go that time of year. I want to visit all the resorts and see the decorations and Christmas displays.

Other non-park stuff - shopping in DTD and hanging out at the resort (our home DVC resort is AKV). I'd love to just watch the animals and take pictures. Because we're at the parks so much usually, I don't get to eat at the resort restaurants much. We usually end up eating at a place in the park. NOT going to the parks would give us that opportunity to dine at the different resorts.

Once DD is older or doesn't travel with us anymore, I'd love to golf a few rounds with DH. Oh - and Disney Quest...I've never gotten to really explore that place.

I can't say that I'd want to do a Non-Park vacation at WDW every year - but I'm sure we'll get a few of those in now and then...

 

[Cookees68]

Didn't Make It!

Our trip was originally planned to visit my mother who just moved to Port Orange, FL last November, and spend our 10-day vacation at the beach. However, I could not miss the opportunity to see "The World" for a few days even if it was a resort-only trip. Unfortunately, we did not have the funds to plan a complete trip to WDW this time around due to job loss and the fact that we are a family of 6 (5 adult/1 child park tickets, 2 rooms, lots of meals, etc.). We initially made plans to spend time at our resort to swim and explore, shop/browse at DTD, dinner at O'Hanas, resort hop, take our 3 year-old on some monorail, boat and bus rides, and go to TL.

Upon check-in the Disney magic took over, and we ended up getting tickets for one day ... we went to the Magic Kingdom. We still managed to swim at our resort, did some resort hopping, had dinner at O'Hanas, rode all the modes of transportation (the 3yo loves the Mickey busses and trains), bought Zebra Domes at AKL and Dole Whips at the Poly (because we didn't get them at MK), and thoroughly enjoyed our day at MK with no lines whatsoever. We saw the rope drop ceremony (a first for us) in the bright sunshine and watched Wishes in the rain. It was the perfect MK day.

We had an absolute blast for our "non-resort-only-trip". Now I can plan and save for not one, but two full trips next year. Our family trip at the end of August 2010 (here's hoping for free dining), and the mom/daughter trip in October 2010 when my daughter's dance studio will perform at MK and DTD. Until then, I will stay connected to WDW here.

Thanks WDW community,
Michele