Our 9 Favorite Things We Love to Do Outside of Disney Parks

Disney isn’t just all about the theme parks.  There are also a ton of amazing and magical things to experience outside of the parks.  Some of these can be free, or some charge admission that will still likely be much cheaper than the cost of the theme park admission.  Here are our nine favorite things that we love to do outside of Disney parks:

9 – Tour a Disney resort.

The Disney resorts are absolutely fantastic. Even if you aren’t staying at a particular resort, you can head on over and take a self-guided tour, which I highly recommend you do. You can participate in the resort activities there and explore. It is completely free and a great way to remain immersed in the Disney magic and experience while taking a break from the parks.

8 – Play at the pool.

The pools are gorgeous and almost like their own miniature water parks. Many have water playgrounds, slides, and more. You can only play and enjoy the pools at the resort in which you are staying at, but you are sure to have a great time. The pools are heated, so you can also enjoy them even on cooler days. You can’t visit Florida without getting a pool day.

7 – Hang out at Disney Springs.

There has been a ton of work and additions made to Disney Springs. There are now more shopping and restaurant locations than ever before, and they are going to keep adding more and more to the lineup. Not only that, you can take an amphicar for a ride, go bowling, see Cirque de Soleil, and so much more. It is a fantastic place to hang out and dine for all ages, and it doesn’t cost anything to get and look around.

6 – Try your hand at miniature golf.

The Disney resorts are absolutely fantastic. Even if you aren’t staying at a particular resort, you can head on over and take a self-guided tour, which I highly recommend you do. You can participate in the resort activities there and explore. It is entirely free and a great way to remain immersed in the Disney magic and experience while taking a break from the parks.

5 – Rent a bike.

You can rent bikes or surrey bikes from many of the resorts. There are paths and areas where you can ride and explore. It is a great way to still be active and explore other areas of Walt Disney World that you might not see otherwise. I love surrey bikes, and it is one of the only opportunities that we get to ride them!

4 – Experience a dinner show.

There is a dinner show that you can book at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue features All You Care to Enjoy served family-style at your table. It also includes alcoholic beverages for adults, which can be a great bonus! The show includes dinner entertainment and fun along with a great meal. It can be on the more expensive side, but it is a lot of fun and offer unique experiences.

3 – Go on a carriage or wagon ride.

If you head over to Fort Wilderness, you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the grounds. It is a lot of fun for everyone, and the drivers are very knowledgeable on the area. You could also take a wagon ride with other guests, which is another great way to explore and see more of this area. Port Orleans resorts also offer the carriage rides. Those are especially romantic with the beautiful New Orleans theme of the area.

2 – Check out Disney’s Boardwalk.

The Boardwalk looks exactly like you would expect to find at a New England-styled boardwalk area. There are amazing restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. You can even see the fireworks at Epcot from the Boardwalk, too. There is a lot of great nightlife for adults with a couple of bars and clubs, including a piano bar!

1 – Watch the fireworks from the resorts.

There are many great ways to see fireworks where you don’t even have to enter the parks. You can take one of the fireworks cruises, which gives you perfect viewing spots in style. If you are staying at a resort with firework views, you can even watch them right from your resort room. If not, you can watch from areas within your resort or one of the restaurants if it is a resort in the vicinity of the fireworks. Most of the areas where you can see fireworks also pipe in the music, so you get the full effect of the show. These are all great ways to enjoy the fireworks!