If you are planning a visit to Disney World with young children you may want to plan in some non-park days as part of your vacation. Not only can this be a cost effective way to elongate your vacation, but it can also be a great way to chill out and recuperate tired children (and parents) in between busy park days. Many families will choose to spend a lazy day at their resort pool enjoying the entertainment and recreation provided. However, if you have young children and toddlers this may not always be enough to entertain them all day and it can often be a challenge to think of other interesting ways to keep them amused. So here are my top five ways to entertain young children on non-park days.
1. Take your children to see some of the African wildlife that lives on the savanna at the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort. The animals that you may see include zebras, giraffes, gazelles, and flamingos. There is also Hakuna Matata, an African-inspired playground that overlooks the savanna and flamingo area that they might enjoy. This is certainly not a replacement for visiting the Animal Kingdom theme park, but it may be enough to keep your little ones amused for a short time with very little cost. If time allows, you could stay and eat at one of the many restaurants in the resort, some of which actually overlook the savanna and could be an interesting backdrop for dinner.
2. Visit Tri-Circle-D Ranch located at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Here your little ones can meet Cinderella’s Ponies and the horses of Main Street USA and then enjoy a pony ride around the ranch. If you have older children needing entertained there are also horseback trail rides available that are a great way for them to see the resort and the many species of woodland animals that call it home. Carriage and Wagon rides are also available for the entire family to ride together. There is a small fee for all the rides available however there is no charge to visit the actual ranch. If you plan your visit later in the afternoon you could arrange to stay for Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long followed by a Disney Movie under the stars. Both are complimentary.
3. Head over to Disney Springs and visit the Lego Store. There your kids creativity can run wild as they create their Lego dream world block by block. The store includes a pick-a-brick wall, hands -n play tables and oversized Disney models. This store can provide both adults and kids alike with lots of fun, however be warned you may end up leaving with an unplanned purchase! Not far from the Lego store is T Rex – an immersive dinosaur themed restaurant which provides lots of entertainment whilst you eat. If you don’t plan on eating here it is still worthwhile calling into the Build-A-Dino – workshop by the Build-a-Bear company located within T Rex and let your kids build their very own dinosaur.
4. Take them to a Character dining experience available at select Disney resort restaurants. Having character interaction is a great way to introduce some Disney magic on a non park day and could also save some valuable time once in the parks. If you have already met your favourite characters and got the all important autograph books signed then you won’t need to wait in the long lines to meet them again.
5. Rent a Surrey bike for a family ride around a Disney resort. There are 2, 4, or 6 person bikes available for rental at 5 different Disney resorts: The Boardwalk Inn, The Caribbean Beach Resort, Old Key West Resort, Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and the Wilderness Lodge. This is a great way to see around different resorts at a leisurely pace and is also ideal if you have young children that would not be able to ride their own bikes yet.
So when you need a break from the parks and don’t want to spend all day at your resort pool, why not take a few hours out and try some of these alternative activities. You may even discover a new family favourite that becomes a must do for future vacations.
