Things to do outside the parks

[JennyAnne]

We are debating about tacking on one more night to the end of our 7 night stay next June, just so we aren't rushed to pack up and get on the road. What are your favorite things to do outside the parks? I suggested to DH maybe a late, fun breakfast, some pool time, some nap time, maybe DD, and a fun dinner somewhere (another resort? DD?)

Anyone else have suggestions for a fun, low-key day? Our kids are all boys: twins that will be almost 4, a 2 year old, and a 7 month old. I am really trying to avoid anything fast-paced, running around, or stressful. LOL

[steamboat willy]

• Pool
• MK Resorts. Play in sand on the Beach!
• Catch Boat in front of MK and go over to Fort Wilderness. Horse Barn (maybe babys) Petting zoo and Pony Rides
• Downtown Disney & Lego Store
• Explore Cars & Lion King at Art of Animation Resort
• Ride the Ferry or Resort Launches
• Go see the animals out back of AK Lodge
• Many Many Places to explore outside of Parks!

ENJOY!

[ruffles]

If you have a care Cape Canaveral is a good easy day. If you are in to vintage airplanes Fantasy of Flight is excellent.

[BowTie7]

Maybe schedule the off day in the middle of the trip so everyone can have a slow day and then be ready to go all out again the next days.
I like the boat to Wilderness Lodge, the walking trail to the campground (and the activities mentioned in the above post) before a boat ride back.

[JennyAnne]

Thank you so much for all the great ideas! Yes, we do plan on taking a day in the middle as well. So we'll do 2-3 days in the parks, one day out, 2-3 days in the parks (we're getting 5 day PHs) and then one final day out to rest and relax before we hit the road. I love all of the ideas! We'll have my parents with us, although maybe not for that last day out of the parks, so we'll have some assistance with managing the kids. Maybe we'll even split for the day so the big kids can go mini-golfing.

[1DisneyNut]

We almost always pick a different beach and go for a day. We have been to beaches up and down both the East and West Coasts. The easiest to get to is probably Daytona Beach because it is pretty much a straight shot on the interstate.

[JennyAnne]

Since the kids are so little, I think we want to stick close to WDW. We've got two days of driving to get home, so I'd like to let the kids run and play as much as possible without much car time. Mommy would love the beach, though!!!

[Main Street Jim]

And if the 4's are up to it, Fantasia Gardens mini-golf, at the Swan.
(Although I don't know whether it's more kid-friendly than Winter-Summerland at Blizzard Beach, or whether W-S requires park admission.)

Theme park admission is NOT required for any of the mini-golf courses. You can take a bus from your resort to Blizzard Beach/Winter Summerland. For Fantasia Gardens/Fairways, you'll need to get to the Swan/Dolphin.

The easiest to get to is probably Daytona Beach because it is pretty much a straight shot on the interstate.

Since the kids are so little, I think we want to stick close to WDW. We've got two days of driving to get home, so I'd like to let the kids run and play as much as possible without much car time. Mommy would love the beach, though!!!

Daytona's about an hour and a half away up Interstate 4 - through downtown Orlando. Take the Beachline (SR 528) east, and you'll hit Cocoa Beach in an hour. If you take US 192 east, you'll run right into Melbourne with beaches - about an hour.

Take I-4 west through Tampa to SR 60, then SR 60 west, and you can get to Clearwater Beach in under an hour. MUCH nicer beaches on the west coast.

[Janmac]

There isn't a petting zoo any more at Fort Wilderness. I think the horse barn is still there.

If you take a boat from MK to the campground you will walk past the dock area and arrive at the Pioneer Hall area. To the left is one of the two Trading Posts at the campground and to the right is a nice play ground and then Crockett's Tavern and then Trail's End Kitchen. The younger kids in our group have always liked the food choices at Trail's End because of the familiarity of the food. The porch around the Tavern and restaurant is a good place to relax with a beverage while the kids run around.

We took a 4 year old to Winter/Summerland one year. We all had fun but she was a bit tired of golfing by the time we got done, not having done mini golf before. And while it was no problem, we did have to let several parties play through. Also, you may want to check on the price to see if you're up to that for 2 four year olds. We were there in early September and I was surprised at how warm the course seemed. I'd recommend going a little later in the afternoon. If you're doing Disney transportation, that seems linked to Blizzard Beach's hours.

One year the youngsters in our group liked the water play area at Downtown Disney. There was also a play structure there too. Don't know if any of that is still there as this was almost 20 years ago.

Where are you staying? Your own resort may have activities for the kids. This information does not seem to be out there on the web, much. Perhaps you could find out what's going on now (call the resort) as that might be close to what you could expect when you're there.

Last year we had a very fun late breakfast at Cape May. Donald Duck and DH got very silly.

Jan