In the summer of 2013, my family was lucky enough to get to spend three months in the Orlando area while we were on maternity leave following the birth of our fourth child. This was a great experience for us, and we enjoyed it so much that we decided that when we are in America, and not posted overseas, we would make Central Florida home! So for three months we got to really experience a lot of the things that we just couldn’t find the time to fit into our more traditional family vacations to Disney World. Plus it was summer, and we didn’t think that hauling a newborn around the parks in 100+ degree weather would be the best parental decision we could make! Our time in the parks was limited to early mornings, and later evenings when the weather wasn’t quite so miserable, but in between and on non-park days, we also discovered some great new things on Disney property to enjoy!
Boat Rentals:
Renting a boat at Disney World was never something that I thought I would really enjoy. My idea of a great time on a boat was more in line with Disney Cruise Line – if there’s not a dessert buffet, why bother? My wife, on the other hand, spent a lot of time sailing in her childhood and really wanted to give this a try, so we did. The first time we rented one of the boats was at the Contemporary Resort marina. Being a family of six we opted for the Sun Tracker pontoon (for up to 10 people) boat so we would have plenty of room to spread out. After a quick safety lecture and some instruction, we were pulling away from the dock. Cruising around the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake was a wonderful experience! The pontoon boat was easy to drive, and we got to view the area around the Magic Kingdom in a whole new way! The whole family loved it, so much so that we decided to book a Pirate and Pals Fireworks Voyage for our last night in town. The cost for renting the Sun Tracker pontoon boat was $45 for 30 minutes, and we even got an Annual Pass discount! Renting a boat is definitely one of our favorite things to do at Disney World now.
Miniature Golf:
Playing miniature golf was another great way to spend a couple of hours outside of the theme parks, and it was an especially nice way to avoid some of the crazy crowds! Our younger kids (5 and 6 at the time) really enjoyed the fun courses at Winter Summerland (next to the Blizzard Beach Water Park), and the wintery theming made it feel cooler than the actual temperature. Mom, Dad and the 14-year-old liked the challenge of the real golf-like course at Fantasia Gardens (by the Swan and Dolphin Resort). The cost for this was $14 for adults and $12 for children, but as with the boat rentals, we got an Annual Pass discount!
Exploring the Resorts:
One of our favorite things to do that summer was to visit one of the Disney World resorts for a meal. This was a great way to explore some new places we hadn’t been yet, and revisit some old favorites. First, we visited the Art of Animation Resort and tried out the much heralded Landscape of Flavors food court. One of the best experiences we had was when on a whim we visited the Old Key West Resort and had lunch at Olivia’s Cafe. After lunch we walked around the resort, and decided that the next time we stayed on property we would stay at Old Key West. The same thing happened at the Caribbean Beach Resort, but our lunch wasn’t nearly as good!
Something that we completely stumbled upon on our most recent trip was the Community Hall at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. We poked our heads in only to find that they had arts and crafts (either for free and a small fee), video games, and equipment rental for tennis, table tennis, and billiards. The kids had a blast making some Disney-themed Christmas ornaments, and Mom and Dad got some free souvenirs to remember the trip! The Disney youth counselors were there to help the kids, and to just make the whole experience fun! This is only available if you are staying at one of the Disney Vacation Club resorts that has a Community Hall, but it’s a great thing to do if you are having a “resort day” outside of the parks.
Horseback Riding at Fort Wilderness:
At the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground you can book a trail ride, and this is something that my wife and oldest daughter have done a couple of times. They love to go horseback riding, and getting to do it at Disney World is a real treat for them. My daughter even has a favorite horse there! You can also reserve a carriage ride, wagon ride, or pony rides for kids under 9 years old. The cost for the 45 minute trail ride is $46.
So those are just a few of the things that we did on days when weren’t going to the theme parks. Even after spending three months there we still couldn’t do everything that we wanted to, so this list will continue to grow!
What types of things do you like to do outside of the parks on Disney property?
