Top Ten Tuesdays
In an effort to spread a little information as briefly as possible, I’m going to try some “Top Ten Tuesdays” in which I discuss my “top ten” of something. Today I’ll start with:
My Top Ten Things To Do at Walt Disney World Without Going Into The Parks
When thinking about Walt Disney World, so many people think only about the Theme Parks. But there are so many things to do “around the World” without ever setting foot in the parks – just ask my husband who is “parked-out”! Everyone has their favorites, but here are my Top Ten:
In an effort to spread a little information as briefly as possible, I’m going to try some “Top Ten Tuesdays” in which I discuss my “top ten” of something. Today I’ll start with:
My Top Ten Things To Do at Walt Disney World Without Going Into The Parks
When thinking about Walt Disney World, so many people think only about the Theme Parks. But there are so many things to do “around the World” without ever setting foot in the parks – just ask my husband who is “parked-out”! Everyone has their favorites, but here are my Top Ten:
#10. Downtown Disney – This could easily be #1, but I wanted you to read it first. Going to Downtown Disney (DTD) is usually the first thing we do when we get to Orlando, just to immerse ourselves in a little Disney culture. These days there’s a lot of construction going on as they turn DTD into Disney Springs, but it’s worth the parking hassle to explore all the shops and restaurants. To avoid the parking problems you can take a bus from your resort or, from some resorts, a boat to DTD.
#9. Golf – This is my husband’s #1. With one 9-hole and three championship golf courses, there’s plenty to challenge every golf-lover. For the amateur there’s also miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland. In another column I’ll talk about other recreational activities.
#8. ESPN Club – This restaurant/sports bar is a great place to go on game day. With nearly 100 screens showing any number of games, sports fans will always be entertained…and the food’s pretty good too! It gets very crowded during “big games”, so be sure to get there early. As you can imagine, it’s a popular spot during NCAA March Madness which also overlaps Spring Break!
#7. Go see the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge – There are 30 species of African wildlife roaming the Savannah and Animal Specialists to tell you about them.
#6. Dinner Shows – Whether it’s the Spirit of Aloha Show at the Polynesian or Hoop Dee Doo Review or Mickey’s Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness, these shows serve up fun entertainment and good food.
#5. Speaking of entertainment, one of my favorite things is going to Port Orleans Riverside to see Bob Jackson. “YeHaa Bob” plays a rockin’ piano in the River Roost Lounge and gets the audience involved in some sing-alongs. Super silly and super fun, Bob has somewhat of a cult following which tells you it’s sure to be a good time.
#4. And speaking of Lounges, that brings me to my #4 – Cocktails! The resorts offer some terrific watering holes where you can relax over your favorite libation. All beautifully themed to their resort, many offer a selection of tasty appetizers or small plates as well. Many of the lounges have specialty cocktails and those infamous glow cubes! Try the cozy Belle Vue Lounge at the Boardwalk, Territory Lounge at Wilderness Lodge, Victoria Falls Lounge at Animal Kingdom Lodge or the hip and contemporary Rix Lounge at Coronado Springs, just to name a few.
#3. Pin Trading – Disney Pin Trading has become a popular pastime for many Disney aficionados and you don’t have to go into the parks to trade. Disney’s Pin Traders and World of Disney at Downtown Disney as well as the gift shops at the resorts offer pin boards for trading. Many of the cast members in the resorts and Downtown also wear lanyards for trading pins with guests. But be careful – pin trading can be addictive!
#2. Ride the Monorail – one of the best free things to do that is sure to get you in the Disney mood. Hop on at the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC) or go have a bite to eat at the Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian, then catch the monorail from there and ride the Magic Kingdom area loop. From the TTC you can transfer to an Epcot monorail which glides over Future World before stopping at the terminal, offering nice views of the park. It also affords you the opportunity to jump off at any of the three resorts on the Magic Kingdom loop and explore the resorts, check out the gift shops or grab a bite to eat.
#9. Golf – This is my husband’s #1. With one 9-hole and three championship golf courses, there’s plenty to challenge every golf-lover. For the amateur there’s also miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland. In another column I’ll talk about other recreational activities.
#8. ESPN Club – This restaurant/sports bar is a great place to go on game day. With nearly 100 screens showing any number of games, sports fans will always be entertained…and the food’s pretty good too! It gets very crowded during “big games”, so be sure to get there early. As you can imagine, it’s a popular spot during NCAA March Madness which also overlaps Spring Break!
#7. Go see the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge – There are 30 species of African wildlife roaming the Savannah and Animal Specialists to tell you about them.
#6. Dinner Shows – Whether it’s the Spirit of Aloha Show at the Polynesian or Hoop Dee Doo Review or Mickey’s Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness, these shows serve up fun entertainment and good food.
#5. Speaking of entertainment, one of my favorite things is going to Port Orleans Riverside to see Bob Jackson. “YeHaa Bob” plays a rockin’ piano in the River Roost Lounge and gets the audience involved in some sing-alongs. Super silly and super fun, Bob has somewhat of a cult following which tells you it’s sure to be a good time.
#4. And speaking of Lounges, that brings me to my #4 – Cocktails! The resorts offer some terrific watering holes where you can relax over your favorite libation. All beautifully themed to their resort, many offer a selection of tasty appetizers or small plates as well. Many of the lounges have specialty cocktails and those infamous glow cubes! Try the cozy Belle Vue Lounge at the Boardwalk, Territory Lounge at Wilderness Lodge, Victoria Falls Lounge at Animal Kingdom Lodge or the hip and contemporary Rix Lounge at Coronado Springs, just to name a few.
#3. Pin Trading – Disney Pin Trading has become a popular pastime for many Disney aficionados and you don’t have to go into the parks to trade. Disney’s Pin Traders and World of Disney at Downtown Disney as well as the gift shops at the resorts offer pin boards for trading. Many of the cast members in the resorts and Downtown also wear lanyards for trading pins with guests. But be careful – pin trading can be addictive!
#2. Ride the Monorail – one of the best free things to do that is sure to get you in the Disney mood. Hop on at the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC) or go have a bite to eat at the Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian, then catch the monorail from there and ride the Magic Kingdom area loop. From the TTC you can transfer to an Epcot monorail which glides over Future World before stopping at the terminal, offering nice views of the park. It also affords you the opportunity to jump off at any of the three resorts on the Magic Kingdom loop and explore the resorts, check out the gift shops or grab a bite to eat.
#1. EAT! – There are so many great restaurants around Walt Disney World and most of them are not in the parks. The food as well as the theming at resort restaurants are pure Disney magic. Add to that the wealth of choices at DTD and you have a foodie Mecca. In future Top Ten Tuesday posts I’ll offer my favorite restaurants.
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