If you are traveling to Disney World soon and you are wanting to plan a non park day at Disney with kids, check out this list of our best ideas for a day near the theme parks without tickets! You can have a fantastic, full day during your Disney vacation without thrill rides or a roller coaster. Enjoy!
Mini Golf at Disney World for a Non-Park Day at Disney with Kids
If you are looking for a fun non-park in this magical place, try Disney’s mini-golf locations! Our whole family had so much fun at the Fantasia Gardens Golf Course a few weeks ago. If you stay in Disney World resorts, you will probably receive free passes for the miniature golf courses. Fantasia has two courses, and we played the Gardens course which was full of musical challenges, interactive holes, and so much fun!! You will see several of your favorite characters from the Fantasia movie. Winter Summerland is another mini golf location in Disney World, but during our visit, it had not reopened yet. (Fantasia is currently $14/adult and $12/child.)
This was our first visit to the miniature golf courses in Disney, and it was one of our best things during this family vacation! Definitely check out mini golf during your next Disney World trip!
Resort Restaurant Reservations in Disney World
Consider making a reservation at a Walt Disney resort hotel restaurant on a non park day at Disney with kids! Right now, in order to tour any Disney resort, you will need to have a dining reservation or be staying on property. During our last trip, we went to one of our favorite Disney restaurants – Sanaa. Sanaa is located at one of Disney’s deluxe resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Sanaa is so delicious and the bread service can’t be missed. Plus, you can explore the property of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. We love seeing some of the animals from Animal Kingdom during our visit and running into the gift shops (you can get Zebra domes!) Small children and older kids will have the best time exploring this beautiful hotel, the grounds and the animals. You can take several several trails for a short walk around the property and see so much!
Cape May Cafe at Beach Club, Ale and Compass at Yacht Club and Trattorio al Forno at Boardwalk Inn also offer delicious dining options. Disney characters also appear at many Walt Disney World resort hotels. Some of our favorite character breakfasts include Topolino’s Terrace at Riviera Resort, Chef Mickey’s at Contemporary Hotel, and ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Resort. Consider your children’s ages and interests to plan your best dining option.
You can book dining reservations 60+ days before your visit through the My Disney Experience app. So, hop online and snag some reservations before your next trip! If you aren’t successful in getting the reservation you want, keep trying. Often, reservations will open up as the date gets closer.
Ft. Wilderness Exploring
There are so many things you can do at Disney’s Fort Wilderness during a non park day at Disney with kids. One of our favorite options is horseback riding throughout the trails at Ft. Wilderness. You can also explore the property with a Segway tour, such a unique experience! You will have a 30 minute training and then take off with a guide to explore Ft. Wilderness. Such a fun option for guests 16 and older. As always, when exploring in Orlando, be sure to pack water bottles to stay hydrated while out and about.
Disney Springs
Disney Springs is another great way to spend a non-park day at Disney. Feel free to hop over to this post where I detailed many options of what you could do during a day at Disney Springs with kids. Some of our favorite options are exploring the Lego store, visiting the World of Disney store, bowling at Splitsville or getting some yummy snacks throughout Disney Springs. Street performers appear throughout Disney Springs, adding to the fun vacation vibe!
To visit Disney Springs, you can drive your own car or rental car and park in one of the many parking garages throughout. If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you can take Disney’s bus transportation to Disney Springs.
Swim Day
If you are in Florida, chances are there’s a great pool near you! Consider taking a day off from the parks to enjoy a day at the pool and relaxing with the family. Disney parks are amazing, but they can wear you out. Planning some rest days at the pool could be a perfect options for your family on a non park day at Disney with kids.
Movie Theater
When times return to normal, a day at the movie theater could be the perfect cool option for a non-park day. Disney Springs has an awesome AMC theater. Of course, there are multiple options available throughout the Disney World area.
Shopping at Outlets
If you are looking to do some shopping on your non-park days, there are some great outlets in the Disney World area. One of our favorites are the Orlando Premium Vineland Outlets.
Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center is another fantastic day trip from the Disney World area. It’s only about 60 miles from WDW and offers amazing hands-on experiences to help kids and adults learn more about humans in space. There is the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, the rocket garden, simulators, theaters and more. Definitely worth a visit while you are in the Orlando area!
Beach Trip on a non park day at Disney with kids
Disney World is so close to many Florida beaches. Consider taking a day trip to one of the nearby beaches, such as Daytona, Clearwater or Cocoa Beach. These are all only 60-90 minutes away from the Disney World area.
Celebration, FL visit for a non park day at Disney with kids
Celebration, FL is a beautiful, small town originally designed by the Walt Disney Company. There are tree-lined streets with lovely homes around parks and a downtown area. We love this area for walking and relaxing on a non-park day. Eat lunch outside or grab an ice cream and just stroll around for the afternoon. Celebration is a perfect place to spend a nonpark day in the Disney World area.
I hope this post has inspired with some great ideas for things you can do on non park days at Disney with your kids. Have a great time planning your next visit!
Keep reading more great posts to help you plan your next Disney vacation!
Non Park Day at Disney with Kids
Best Backpacks for Disney World
Best Beaches Near Disney World
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