Disney World Activities to Do Outside the Parks

Once you get started looking for things to do without park admission, you will be surprised how extensive the list of Disney World activities to Do Outside the Theme Parks is.

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Walt Disney World is much more than just the parks. Once you get started looking for things to do without park admission, you will be surprised how extensive the list of Disney World activities can be. Here are just a few of the best things to do outside the parks that only skim the surface of what your Disney World vacation could include.

Disney World Activities to Do Outside the Parks

Resort Pool

No matter where you stay among the Walt Disney World resort hotels, you have a resort pool. Each hotel has more than one pool, but there is always the main pool with cool features like zero entry and waterslides. Some pools are very enviable, such as Stormalong Bay at the Yacht & Beach Club. The Disney pools also host activities in the afternoon that are fun to take part in. When you take some time away from the parks during your trip, the pool is one of the top Disney World activities to enjoy.

Mini Golf

There are two mini-golf courses in Walt Disney World. They are especially fun to visit on a warm summer night. Fantasia Gardens is located near the Swan and Dolphin and Winter Summerland is near Blizzard Beach.

FootGolf

Of course, Walt Disney World activities include golf at one of its world-class PGA courses, but did you know you can also play Footgolf? This is a great experience with the kids that combines the grace and precision of golf with… kicking. Special hole are made to accommodate soccer balls for this irresistibly fun take on the game.

Fish

You can head to a fishin’ hole at Port Orleans Riverside, or go out on an actual lake for some catch and release fishing.

Learn Archery

The resorts around Walt Disney World have all kinds of fun learning experiences like tours and tutorials. One of the best places for extra experiences is Fort Wilderness which includes carriage rides, segway tours, and horseback riding. One of the most unique things offered at this resort area is archery lessons, which include an instructor and practice time.

Have a Spa Day

Two Walt Disney World resorts include a spa: The Grand Floridian and Saratoga Springs. You don’t have to be a guest at these resorts, but it helps as far as convenience goes. The Grand Floridian is one of the most accessible resorts, located next to the Magic Kingdom. Saratoga Springs is a boat ride away from Disney Springs. As Disney World activities go, a spa experience in some form may be one of the most rewarding after a few full days in the theme parks.

Monorail Crawl/Progressive Dinner

One of my favorite Disney World activities is resort hopping. Among the best places to resort hop is the Seven Seas Lagoon. This is where the Contemporary, the Polynesian Village, and the Grand Floridian are. You can also take a boat to Bay Lake, where Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness are, but the primary three resorts are all connected by the Resort monorail. Taking the monorail around from hotel to hotel is the basis for a bar crawl to a variety of lounges, or a progressive dinner, where you can stop at quick-service restaurants at each resort.

Highway in the Sky Dine Around

Disney caught on fast to this guest favorite activity and even has a progressive meal experience you can reserve in advance for $170 per person. The five-course three resort experience includes the tip, but not tax. At the end of the event, you get dessert with an exclusive view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

Fly in a Balloon

Disney Springs is a vast playground for kids and adults alike. There are several Disney World activities that you can do right here, including small rides for the kids in the Marketplace and catching a movie at the AMC Theaters. One of the most extraordinary activities, however, is the Aerophile helium balloon flight. This tethered flight takes you high above Walt Disney World for a view of everything for miles. It’s worth doing before a lunch or a dinner reservation at the Landing.

Experience VR in The VOID

Among all of the dining and entertainment you’ll find at Disney Springs, there are a few standouts that you won’t want to miss. Splitsville Luxury Bowling Lanes offer retro-style flare and fun for everyone while the Coca-Cola store and rooftop beverage bar is another must-do, but one of the most unique and exciting things to do at Disney Springs is the VR experiences at The VOID. Currently, you can join a Star Wars Adventure, or enter the world of Wreck-it-Ralph.

View the Animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge

You don’t have to go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see animals, or even book a night at Animal Kingdom Lodge. You can visit the hotel and use the walking trails with observation areas to see the various African wildlife.