Suggestions for what to do on our non-park day?

StaciaRae

Mouseketeer

Joined

Apr 15, 2015

• Sep 2, 2015

• #1

Hi! I'm hoping I can get some suggestions of what we can do on one of our days. This is our first Disney trip. Hubby and I are bringing our 5yr old dd, and 3 yr old ds during Marathon Weekend in January 2016. We have a non-park day planned for midway through our trip. We are staying at AKL. I have a BOMA breakfast ADR for 9:30am and was hoping to stay around the resort for the morning, maybe head out around noon or so. I have a reservation at Ivy Trellis at 3pm and an ADR at 1900 Park Fare at 4:30pm. My question is, what are some other things we can do on this day without going to the parks, or going to Downtown Disney?

I'm really trying to plan a nice, slower paced vacation, but use our time wisely since it'll likely be several years before we make it back. Its challenging. Thanks for helping me out!

 

Mr & Mrs DD

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 10, 2015

• Sep 4, 2015

• #2

No parks and no Downtown Disney: If you want to journey outside of Disney, you could spent a 3 or 4 hours at Gatorland (It is a park of sorts). We usually go and spend a few hours there. It's not far away and is something that most kids would enjoy. It doesn't have to take all day. You could spend just a few hours. You can get some really great photos there of the gators. It's not a place that has to be rushed or fast paced. There are no real lines to wait in for anything. We plan on returning there soon. They have a Gatorland website if you want to look at it. Good luck with your "free day".

 

Last edited: Sep 4, 2015

McKelly

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jan 22, 2004

• Sep 4, 2015

• #3

5 and 3 are fairly young. How about going to the Boardwalk area and walking around that loop? The kids can play in the sand near the Yacht/Beach club and I think I remember seeing a playground area over by the Swan/Dolphin. You could stop by the Boardwalk Bakery and pick up a mid-afternoon treat. You could rent a surrey bike for two and put the kids in the front.

 

M

Mom2Maybabies

Earning My Ears

Joined

Sep 4, 2015

• Sep 4, 2015

• #4

I clicked this post to tell you to go to AKL!!! HA! Only stayed there once for a conference and it is SO pretty. When I went back with my family, we stayed at Coronado but I made sure to take them to BOMA and AKL. I can literally sit outside and watch the animals forever! Have fun!!!

 

Capang

DIS Veteran

Joined

Nov 8, 2014

• Sep 4, 2015

• #5

Fort Wilderness has pony rides for little ones that are pretty cheap and fun.

 

tcherjen

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 6, 2012

• Sep 7, 2015

• #6

We love to resort hop. I have never been to the Poly so on this trip I am determined to visit.

 

RustManFan

devoted to all things Disney!!

Joined

Jul 5, 2000

• Sep 8, 2015

• #7

I would also visit Fort Wilderness. You can include a boat ride between there and the Magic Kingdom dock and then board a monorail to just take a ride or visit one of the resorts (GF, Poly, BT or CR)

 

LJSquishy

DIS Veteran

Joined

Sep 12, 2011

• Sep 13, 2015

• #8

How about participating in some of the children's activities at the resorts (either your resort or another one if you like the idea of exploring other resorts)? I know you plan to leave your resort around noon, but if you stayed, even something as simple as coloring or I know AKL has an African bead collecting activity, and there are also pool activities/games during the day which might be fun.

My other suggestion is doing one of the mini-golf courses.

What about renting a little boat somewhere? I think there are a few resorts that do that...or maybe some of the resorts like POR/POFQ still rent the surrey bikes?

 

vleeth

I heart Disney

Joined

Sep 26, 2006

• Sep 13, 2015

• #9

I would suggest the monorail loop. If you have to be at GF for 3:00, that only gives you 3 hours. Take the bus to Magic Kingdom or Epcot and then take the monorail to one of the hotels for lunch, then get back on and go to play at the beach at the Poly.

It will probably take 45 mins to get from you hotel to one of the monorail hotels. Then 30-45 mins for lunch.

Unless you have a car, I don't think you have enough time to go off site or play miniature golf

 

MrPTato

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 15, 2015

• Sep 13, 2015

• #10

I spent Thursday resort hoping while my wife was at a conference at the World Marriott. I checked out places that I have never been to and it made time fly. OKW sure was pretty.

 

diznymom

DIS Veteran

Joined

Oct 8, 2011

• Sep 13, 2015

• #11

There are lots of activities for the little ones at AKL. They have a flamingo feeding in the mornings. There are lots of animals to look at. There are lots of public viewing areas of the animals. I think the gift shop does a march around the lobby w/ the little drums from the gift shop. Other resorts have children's activities also. Go visit resorts that are interesting to you.