I wear my love for Disney with pride. I visit Disney World multiple times a year, know some of the park’s best-kept secrets and have made it my job to help people make the most of their time at Disney.
But I haven’t been so blinded by Tinkerbell’s pixie dust to lose sight of the fact that not everyone was born with the Disney gene. I also know that people who don’t care for Disney sometimes find themselves at Disney World with well-meaning friends or family hoping to convert them into Disney fans.
But I’m not here to convert you.
Here are 12 activities that will make your time at Disney more enjoyable. No Mickey hugs, matching shirts or theme park tickets are required.
Go on a DIY ‘bars and bites’ monorail crawl
The Walt Disney World monorail has three lines. The Epcot Line transports guests between the parking lot at Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center to Epcot, while the Express Line goes between the TTC and the Magic Kingdom. In addition to the Magic Kingdom, the Resort Line stops at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
Use the Resort Line to “hop” between the resorts for a drink, bite to eat or both. If you are starting from the TTC, your first stop will be Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
My recommendation here would be Steakhouse 71 for appetizers like the lump crabcakes with Old Bay remoulade and corn hash, or the “bacon and eggs” served with maple-lacquered pork belly, smoked cheese grits and an egg. To drink, consider the Citrus Blossom Groves cocktail (Campari and Chartreuse mixed with citrus juices and orange bitters) or a beer from a Florida brewery like 3 Daughters Brewing in St. Petersburg or Cigar City Brewing in Tampa.
From there, you’ll head to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, where you can try to snag a spot at the bar at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto for tiki drinks. This tiki bar is small and popular, so it can be hard to get a seat. You can also head to Wailulu Bar & Grill at the resort’s new Island Tower for cocktails with a fireworks view.
Your last stop on this tour is Disney’s Grand Floridian, where you can grab homemade truffle fries or a charcuterie board and one of many variations on a classic martini at the Enchanted Rose lounge.
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If you aren’t staying near the Magic Kingdom, you could do a similar (and more budget-friendly) Skyliner gondola crawl.
The Disney Skyliner connects Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort with Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can hit up the pool bars or quick-service restaurants and sample various dishes and drinks at each location while exploring the different resorts.
Related: The best restaurants at Disney World
See a world-class Cirque du Soleil show
Disney Springs is Disney World’s shopping, dining and entertainment complex. It’s free to enter if you just want to window shop and enjoy the ambience, but you can also go bowling, catch a movie or see a Cirque du Soleil show.
“Drawn to Life” blends the magic of Disney animation with the spellbinding physical feats Cirque du Soleil is known for. The show tells the story of a young girl whose now-deceased father was a Disney animator. His final wish was for her to finish an animation sequence he never had the chance to complete.
As the show progresses, the girl learns more about animation through acts performed by acrobats, unicyclists, aerialists, jugglers and more.
Tickets start at $59 per person for adults, but if you want a behind-the-scenes look at the show, premium seating and a meet-and-greet with the performers, book the “Drawn to Life” Page to Stage Signature Experience. Tickets start at $258 per person.
Paint, make sangria or attend a wine tasting
All on-site Disney hotels offer activities like complimentary nighttime movie screenings, scavenger hunts and pool games, but some take it a step further with opportunities to flex your creative muscles or brush up on your bartending skills.
At Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, you can create a Spanish mosaic keepsake ($30 per person) or learn how to craft the perfect glass of sangria at Sangria University ($69 to $79 per person). You don’t have to be a resort guest to attend.
Other resorts offer similar arts and crafts activities, but most involve Disney character art. Outside of the resorts, you can learn to taste wine like a professional with master sommelier George Miliotes at Disney Springs’ Wine Bar George ($138 per person) or sample and learn about tequila at La Cava del Tequila ($180 per person) in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion.
Go horseback riding
While people don’t often take Disney at a leisurely pace, there is a quiet, secluded spot where you can do just that.
Even better, you can do it on horseback.
Tri-Circle-D Ranch offers horseback trail rides ($65 per person) through the wooded areas surrounding Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Advance reservations are encouraged. If you are more comfortable on your own two feet than atop a horse, you can also walk through the ranch and visit with the horses.
Book a spa day
There’s certainly something to be said for a rejuvenating foot massage after a day spent logging miles around Disney, but you don’t have to partake in the parks to enjoy Disney’s full slate of relaxing spa treatments and pampering salon services.
The Grand Floridian Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian offers head-to-toe treatments, including haircuts, facials, massages and manicures. Before or after your treatment, you can unwind in the spa’s relaxation lounge.
The nearby Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort has its own luxurious spa and specializes in treatments with high-end Biologique Recherche and Is Clinical products. Several of the traditional spa treatments are locally inspired with ingredients like honey and grapefruit. The spa also offers cryotherapy sessions, IV drips and intramuscular shots to help with hydration and immunity.
Go for a bike ride
If you can’t fit your own bike in your carry-on bag, you can rent one at Disney World (starting at $9 per hour). Many of Disney’s hotels have bikes available to rent and tranquil paths where you can ride them.
My favorite areas to explore by bike are Disney’s Port Orleans Resort’s French Quarter and Riverside properties, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.
If you want to share a scenic ride with your friends or family, cruising along Disney’s BoardWalk Inn area on a two-, four- or six-person surrey bike (starting at $25 per half hour) will magically transport you back to a lively turn-of-the-century beach town.
Check out Disney’s nightlife
Nightlife at Disney can be difficult to find, but it does exist, and most of it has a decidedly un-Disney vibe. When day turns to night at the boardwalk outside of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, the lights that illuminate the promenade beckon the over-21 crowd toward drinks and dancing.
You’ll find a DJ spinning tunes at Atlantic Dance Hall and bartenders slinging curious concoctions like the Parlor Trick (Four Roses Bourbon, simple syrup and a splash of soda water) and The Conjurita (El Mayor blanco tequila, Cointreau, simple syrup and lime juice) at the magic-themed AbracadaBar.
Disney also has a couple of great lounges where you can enjoy gorgeous views (cocktail or mocktail in hand, of course) without the crowds.
My favorites include the rooftop Dahlia Lounge in the Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Geyser Point Bar & Grill at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Nomad Lounge at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Get up close and personal with Disney’s wildlife
All guests can go on a safari adventure on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but if you want to skip the long line and have an even more educational and close-up experience, the park has several add-on tours to choose from.
Up Close with Rhinos ($49 per person), Wild Africa Trek (starting at $219 per person), Savor the Savanna ($189 per person) and Caring for Giants ($39 per person) offer Disney visitors a chance to get a closer look at the creatures who call Animal Kingdom home in a semiprivate setting perfect for those who want to escape the throngs of other Disneygoers.
You don’t even have to brave the crowds at Animal Kingdom to behold the more than 30 species of African animals that call Disney World home. The nearby Animal Kingdom Lodge has multiple savanna viewing areas where you can spot wildlife (and helpful cast members to point you in the right direction if you are having trouble finding any). You can also pick up a field guide in the lobby to keep track of which species you spot.
If you want to get a bit closer to the animals, you can book a Starlight Safari (starting at $75.65 per person). During this nighttime excursion, you’ll be provided with a night-vision device to help see the animals as you tour the savanna in an open-air safari vehicle. You do not have to be a guest of Animal Kingdom Lodge to visit the savanna viewing areas or take part in the Starlight Safari.
Play a round of golf
What’s a world-class theme park without a world-class golf course (or four)? Disney has three 18-hole courses and one nine-hole walking course. Walk-ups are allowed, but advance reservations are recommended.
If you need to brush up on your golf swing, Disney offers golf lessons with PGA professionals, or you can opt for miniature golf or foot golf if you don’t know the difference between a birdie and a bogey.
Rent a boat, or go fishing
From the Seven Seas Lagoon near the Magic Kingdom to Crescent Lake near Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, there are numerous waterways you can explore by boat at Disney World.
If you are comfortable behind the wheel of a boat, you can rent a pontoon (no reservations required) from various Disney resorts, or you can go the nonmotorized route and rent a canoe or kayak at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.
Anglers of all experience levels can rent a rod and reel for dockside fishing at Port Orleans and Fort Wilderness or set out on two- or four-hour guided fishing excursions.
Stay at a Disney hotel that doesn’t feel like a Disney hotel
For some, the in-your-face theming at Disney’s on-site hotels is one of the perks. For others, it can feel like a constant reminder that there is no escaping Disney’s world of princesses and larger-than-life mice.
One of my favorite hotels that fits the “non-Disney at Disney” bill provides an escape from the hordes of anthropomorphic animals but is actually one of the closest hotels to two of Disney’s theme parks.
The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve resorts have modern, upscale decor, resort-style pools and vibrant lobbies with lively lounges. All three resorts participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program, so you can earn or redeem hotel points. Plus, because the resorts are technically on Disney property, you can take advantage of benefits like complimentary theme park transportation and early entry. It’s a win-win.
Related: 5 reasons why Marriott is the best hotel brand for theme park fans
Visit 1 of Disney’s fine dining restaurants
Most Disney guests are clamoring to dine with Mickey and Minnie or snag a coveted reservation inside the castle at Cinderella’s Royal Table, but it is possible to find character-free fine dining at Disney World.
Some of these restaurants are inside the parks, but my favorites that don’t require a park ticket are California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Jiko — The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.
If budget is not a concern, Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian is in a class by itself when it comes to dining at Disney. This AAA Five Diamond, Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant is a four-hour culinary experience where every dish is artfully prepared, plated and (optionally) paired with complementary wines.
Bottom line
As much as I love Disney, I know there are people who end up there and would rather vacation anywhere else but are nice enough to play along with their Disney-loving friends or family. If you do find yourself in that situation, you now have more than a few backup plans to keep you busy when your travel companions ask if you want to join them for a day in the parks.
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