Top Ten Off the Beaten Path Experiences at Disney

Have you visited Walt Disney World multiple times? If you’re like me, you’ve experienced all the attractions and shows at the parks during one visit or another. And while these are a “must do” for every Disney vacation, have you ever thought to take an “Off the Beaten Path” approach to your park touring? Today I want to share with you the Top Ten Off the Beaten Path activities at Walt Disney World.

10. Club Cool @ EPCOT. As you walk past Mouse Gears, coming from the Spaceship Earth, Club Cool is on your right. Inside, you’ll find tastes of Coca Cola from all over the world! Have your camera ready to capture those smiles and scowls as your family treats themselves to samples of Coke.

9. Take a surrey ride. You can find surreys for rent at Disney’s Boardwalk. A surrey is a two seat carriage with room for four people. You can rent these at the Boardwalk and pedal your way around the whole area! You simply follow the walking path, and as you’re riding you’ll be able to take in the Boardwalk resorts and entertainment from a whole different view!

8. Catch a movie. Of course, Disney is known for their movies. Did you know that many Disney resorts offer free movie viewing nightly? You can even watch a movie on the beach! Disney’s resorts in the Boardwalk area offer nightly viewings of movies, as do the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge. Other resorts also offer this entertainment-check your resort for times and titles. Fort Wilderness Campground even has a campfire sing a long before the nightly movie. Chip and Dale often make an appearance here.

7. Ride the monorail. The monorail is so much more than simple transportation from one park to the other. When you board the monorail, pay attention because often times the narrator is sharing great facts about Disney. Try riding the Monorail Express.

6. Ride a horse. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground. Or, take a ride on horseback along the trails. Also, at Circle D Ranch, you’ll find the horses that take the trolley down Main Street USA. You can see some other farm animals, and you’re very young children can ride a pony.

5. Animal viewing. You can go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (which is gorgeous!), and watch the animals in the savanna. Sometimes, there are night vision goggles available, giving you another unique experience. It’s best to visit at dusk because the animals are out and about more during that time.

4. Wishes and the Water Pageant. I have been to Disney many times-and even stayed at the Grand Floridian-and I have yet to see the Electrical Water Pageant in its entirety. I’ve seen it in bits and pieces, but not the entire thing. Anyway, you can see Wishes from the boat dock at the Grand, and even catch the Water Pageant from the same spot. Thankfully, Narcoosse’s pipes in the soundtrack of Wishes, so you can enjoy that part, too!

3. Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland are Disney’s miniature golf courses. You can get a few rounds of mini golf for a discount as well. Every time we’ve gotten our “Mickey Mail”, there has been a voucher for a discount at one of the miniature golf courses. This can be a fun, “no park” adventure for everyone in your family.

2. Take a Tour. Disney offers “behind the scenes” tour experiences for guests at almost every theme park. At EPCOT, you can take the “Behind the Seeds” tour and learn about growing and agriculture techniques. Almost every time we’ve ridden Living with the Land, we’ve seen families engaging in these tours. What an awesome way to see the parks! Magic Kingdom offers one called the “Keys to the Kingdom Tour”. This will take you on a “backstage” look at the magic behind the parks. Backstage Safari can be found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This tour is 3 hours, and you’ll get to see and hear how they take care of the animals and keep the lions from eating the zebras! These are only a sampling of the many tours that are available.

1. Ride a Boat. Walt Disney World Resort is surrounded by water! Water taxis are a free, relaxing way to take a break and enjoy some different views of the Magic Kingdom, the resorts, and Downtown Disney. You can ride the Sassagoula River from the Port Orleans resorts to Downtown Disney, the water taxi from Magic Kingdom along its route around the MK resorts, or even from the Boardwalk to Hollywood Studios. Catch these rides and dusk or dark, and the beautiful lights of the resorts and parks are a site to be seen!

What is your “out of the way” tip for visiting Disney?

Magically Yours,
Carrie

Carrie writes here on Chip and Co and also on My Favorite Finds. There you can find the best organization,recipes, Disney travel tips, and crafts. Stop by and check out all of her great ways to find the joy in the everyday!

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