10 Things to do at Disney World without a Park Ticket

November 16, 2015

Whether it’s your travel day, a down day in the middle of your trip, or you’re taking a room only trip there is the possibility of a day where you don’t have a park ticket. Have no fear, though, there is plenty to do outside of the parks! Here are 10 amazing things to do around the Disney World Resort without a park ticket.

See a Movie – Disney Springs houses the AMC 24 Theater. Here you can see the latest movies, some in 3D, and you can enjoy Fork and Screen Dine-In Theaters were your meal will be brought to your theater seat!

Golf – The Disney World Resort is home to two miniature golf courses, Winter Summerland and Fantasia Gardens. Magic Your Way Packages for 2016 include four vouchers for a free round of golf at one of the miniature golf course! This is a great way to get some family time and make memories. For those that wish to engage in the real thing, Disney World also has four real golf course – be sure to reserve your tee time.

Beaches and Cream – Check out the Beaches and Cream Soda Shop at the Beach Club Resort and maybe even try the Kitchen Sink Sundae! This sundae can easily feed four adults and includes 8 scoops of ice cream, a whole can of whipped topping, a much, much more. I look forward to tackling it someday.

Go for a Ride – Single bikes can be rented at multiple resorts around the Disney World property and are a great way to get a little exercise on your vacation. I know, who wants to exercise at Disney World, but if you do you’ll have room for more delicious Disney food. Surrey bikes, that can hold 2, 4, or 6 people can be rented at a few locations and can certainly provide some unique vacation memories. You can also rent water crafts – boats and jet skis, or go parasailing!

Go on a Resort Food and/or Drink Crawl – There are a lot of different versions out there that you can copy or you can create one of our own. One that I would love to do is a cupcake crawl – this can be done all over the Resort or you can stick to the monorail resorts near Magic Kingdom. Another great option would be to check out the lounges at the monorail resorts and try a small plate and a drink at each.

Watch Fireworks – You don’t have to be in the parks to see the fireworks. Wishes at the Magic Kingdom can be seen from the beaches and some of the restaurants at the Magic Kingdom area resorts, and this includes Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness resorts. The higher up fireworks that are part of Illuminations can be seen from the beaches of the Epcot area resorts.

View the Electrical Water Pageant – This nightly display of moving lights passes the beaches of the Magic Kingdom area resorts to delight viewers. It begins to make its way around the lagoon at approximately 9:00pm. We have never seen the entire thing, but we have caught the tail end of it a few times from the monorail and just outside of Magic Kingdom.

Shop and Eat at Disney Springs – The newly renamed Disney Springs has something for everyone. Fashion, sports memorabilia, toys, pins, entertainment, and the World of Disney store alone could keep you busy for hours. You can also bowl, take in Cirque du Soleil, or eat, my favorite thing to do at Disney Springs. There are over 40 different dining locations and even more are set to open in the future. You could easily spend an entire day at Disney Springs. My personal favorite place to shop is the Pin Trading Station, and my favorite place for a meal is Raglan Road. If you’re looking for a frozen treat for a snack or a free sample of chocolate check out Ghirardelli!

Resort Hop – There are close to 30 Disney resorts of property and each one offers its own unique theming as well as unique eats. So, a great way to spend a day without a park ticket is checking out resorts that you’re not staying at currently. Check out the larger than life characters at All-Star Movies and Art of Animation. Want to relive the past? Check out Pop Century! Animal Kingdom Lodge has life animals on the savannah that you don’t need to pay extra to see. There’s a geyser at Wilderness Lodge and a campfire with and Hoop Dee Doo Revue at Fort Wilderness Resort. While you’re at the different resorts be sure to check out the food courts and the gift shops! You never know what you’re going to find – it might just change your life. I’m hoping to one day be able to at least see all of the resorts if not stay at them all.

Enjoy Your Resort – This one may seem obvious, but it is also easy to overlook. Enjoy the resort that you’re staying at. Hang out by the pool, check out the gift shop, enjoy some eats in the food court, or catch a movie under the stars.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of the parks? Let us know in the comments!

While there’s tons of fun to be had in the parks you can also enjoy a relaxing day outside of the parks as well!

My name is Miriya Whitaker, I love all things Disney, and I would love to help you plan your next Magical vacation. Contact me at miriyawhitaker@worldofmagictravel.com to get started!

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