Many guests vacationing at Disney World plan on spending time in the Disney parks. After all, the magic of the parks is what Disney World is famous for. But what about experiences and activities outside of the parks? Disney World is truly like its own world. With so many resorts to explore and Disney Springs, guests who are visiting can easily spend an entire vacation without even buying a park ticket. For those who are doing a “resort-only” vacation there are several free experiences and activities to do outside of the parks. Continue reading to learn more about all you can do!
Explore Disney’s Boardwalk
Disney’s Boardwalk Resort is home to an actual boardwalk styled after those that you might find in the New England region. This boardwalk isn’t just for show! You can explore the boardwalk and all it has to offer by taking the Skyliner to EPCOT and walking over or taking the boat. At the boardwalk you can catch live performances in the evenings like jump ropers or jugglers. You can dance for free at Atlantic Dance Hall from 8pm-1am. Some popular activities include grabbing a slice of cake or a latte from Cake Bake Shop Bakery, getting a drink from Joe’s Marvelous Margaritas, or getting a corn dog from Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs.
Take a Boat to Disney Springs
Did you know that Disney is home to a massive shopping and entertainment center that’s free to enter? Disney Springs is full of shops that range from designer and luxury brands to Disney stores. You can take a boat to Disney Springs from Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts, Old Key West, or Saratoga Springs. Some popular destinations at Disney Springs include Gideon’s Bakehouse, the AMC movie theater, or restaurants like Boathouse and Homecomin’.
Monorail Hop
Taking the monorail is essential for many guests of Disney World. The monorail itself has quite the fan following, with some choosing to ride it to hop around to resorts for fun. There are three resorts located off the monorail line: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Many guests enjoy taking the monorail from place to place exploring the grounds of each resort.
View the Electrical Water Pageant
This nightly tradition has been running since the park’s opening year. The Electrical Water Pageant runs nightly on Bay Lake and can be viewed for free from any of the monorail resorts plus Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This show is charming and consists of several electrical floats.
View the Fireworks From Afar
Did you know that you can view nightly fireworks shows without a park ticket? You can see Magic Kingdom’s fireworks shows from afar at Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Polynesian. You can view EPCOT’s at Disney’s Boardwalk, Beach Club, or Riviera Resort.
Do you enjoy resort-only vacations or do you prefer to spend all of your time in the parks? We want to hear from you in the comments below!
Featured Photo: Emily Murray.
Written by
Megan Woodard
Contributing Writer
Megan was born into a Disney family. Her first trip to Disney World was when she was only 18 months old. Now as an adult, Megan loves to share the magic of Disney with her family. Keeping up with Disney news and Disney World knowledge is a fun hobby for Megan. Disney World is her favorite place to be and continuously brings back her childhood joy.
