When you hear people tell you that a week at Walt Disney World won’t even scratch the surface of things you can see and do while vacationing there, we really aren’t kidding. And there is still SO much to do beyond the parks. I always suggest planning a few days away from the parks where you can enjoy the pool and not feel rushed to run from one ride to another.
I feel like so many people overlook Disney Springs. They figure there’s plenty of dining options at the parks and resorts – but there is SO much more to Disney Springs than just dining and shopping. Check out just a few of the special experiences you can partake in at Disney Springs… and remember, no theme park ticket is required to visit!!!
Weekend/Sunday Brunch Options at Disney Springs: Disney Springs is well known for the incredible dining options for lunch and dinner, but did you know that there are also some BRUNCH options on the weekends?! House of Blues, Terralina, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Wine Bar George, Maria & Enzos, The Edison, Raglan Road and STK all offer brunch on the weekends! The Boathouse even offers a Captain’s Sing-along Brunch that you won’t want to miss!! Some of these restaurants only offer brunch on Sunday while others do offer brunch on both Saturday and Sunday, so make sure you double check the days you’re looking to dine.
Float on the Aerophile at Disney Springs: Aerophile at Disney Springs will allow you to soar sky-high during an 8-minute tethered adventure in the world’s largest hand-painted helium balloon. This balloon ascends up to 400 feet and will allow you to see panoramic views of up to 10 miles away on a clear day! Advanced reservations are not required. This operates weather permitting.
Bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes: Splitsville Luxury Lanes at Disney Springs is a great rainy day or non-park day activity that will be fun for the whole family. Whether you choose to dine there or just bowl, it’s sure to be a hit with all ages. What’s feather bowling? A bit of a cross between bocce ball, curling, shuffleboard horseshoes, and cornhole. There are also pool tables, tons of flat screen TVs, and music to keep the fun moving. I advise booking your lane ahead of time on their website.
Catch a Movie at AMC: Want to do something a little more relaxing? Or perhaps it’s a rainy day and you’d rather not go into the parks. AMC Dine-In at Disney Springs will allow you to catch the latest movies while you enjoy a meal. There’s even a full bar!
Disney PhotoPass Studio: If you purchased the MemoryMaker, make sure you stop by the Disney PhotoPass Studio! Many people don’t realize that you can stop into this studio at Disney Springs and have the amazing PhotoPass photographers snap pictures of you and your family with many fabulous backdrops — and it’s included in the price of your MemoryMaker! This is especially great if your kiddos just got a makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (reopening later in 2022 — date TBD) — capture those moments so they last forever!
Ride an Amphicar at Boathouse: The BOATHOUSE is the only place in the world that offers the unforgettable & thrilling experience of a Captain’s Guided Tour in a vintage Amphicar. These rare cars drive on land and enter the water with a splash, taking you on a Captain Guided, 25-minute tour of the landmarks of Disney Springs. Their fleet of Amphicars were purchased from private collections worldwide – there were less than 4,000 of these unique amphibious vehicles produced during the 1960’s. Less than 400 exist worldwide today. These tours are first come, first served – so double check when they open and get there early!
Cirque de Soleil’s Drawn to Life: Set your imagination in motion with Drawn to Life—a love letter to the art of Disney animation. In this first-ever collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering, journey into a world where an animator’s desk becomes the stage and drawings come alive. The show is a celebration of life, accentuated by the delightful, mesmerizing movements of Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic mastery. Advance reservations are highly encouraged.
Live Irish Music and Dancing at Raglan Road: If you’re in the mood for some awesome Irish food and entertainment, you won’t want to miss Raglan Road at Disney Springs. The menu offers traditional Irish Pub fare and there’s a live Irish band and dancing every evening! They even offer brunch on the weekend!
Enjoy a Concert at House of Blues: Concerts have returned to House of Blues at Disney Springs! If there’s an artist heading to House of Blues that you’d like to see, check out the concert lineup and reserve your tickets ASAP!!!
Complete the Ultimate Taste Test at Coca Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar: You’ll find fun for all ages at the Coca-Cola Store in Disney Springs. Not only will you find the Freestyle Experience with up to 5 refills within an hour of your initial purchase, you’ll also find a create-your-own beverage experience where you can play mixologist to craft your own drinks, plus you can sample up to 16 different beverages from various countries around the world when you order an International, float or combo tray. They also offer adult libations for guests ages 21 and older.
Get a silhouette: Did you want to get a silhouette portrait done when you were in the Magic Kingdom but just didn’t have time to stop? At Disney Springs, artisans are available to hand-cut paper silhouettes of you and the whole family! The Silhouette Portraits Cart is located in the Marketplace near Arribas Bros.
Ride the carousel and train at Disney Springs: I know, you’ve been riding rides for days in the parks, but if your little ones still feel the urge to ride a ride, there is a small carousel and kid-sized train that you can purchase ride tickets for at Disney Springs (in the Marketplace). I may have bribed my daughter more than once to behave at dinner and then we’d let her ride the rides after. Just a thought if you need it!
Pick a Pearl at Disney Springs: Bring home an oyster’s precious gem—experience the thrill of discovering your very own pearl treasure at the Pearl Factory Kiosk in the Marketplace at Disney Springs.
And this list only scratches the surface of everything you can see and do at Disney Springs. What’s your favorite thing to do when you visit – did we miss it? Is there something new you learned from this list that you want to check out next time? We want to know!
When you hear people tell you that a week at Walt Disney World won’t even scratch the surface of things you can see and do while vacationing there, we really aren’t kidding. And there is still SO much to do beyond the parks. I always suggest planning a few days away from the parks where you can enjoy the pool and not feel rushed to run from one ride to another.
If you or someone you’re traveling with is a sports enthusiast, here are some great activities to consider for your next vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort.
Mini Golf: There are 2 places to go mini-golfing at Walt Disney World. Fantasia Gardens & Fairways Miniature Golf is located near Hollywood Studios (there are 2 courses here – Fantasia Gardens is better for younger families, and Fairways is a little more challenging with some holes having a range of just over 100 feet long). Winter Summerland Miniature Golf also has 2 courses – one is summer-themed, and one is winter-themed; Winter Summerland is located near Blizzard Beach.
Foot Golf: Is it golf? Is it soccer? It’s a little bit of both! Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course is proud to offer FootGolf, a sport that combines the patient precision of golf with the athletic coordination of soccer. This 9-hole FootGolf course is certified by the American FootGolf League (AFGL) and is fun for the whole family!! This course is located near Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Golf: Walt Disney World has 4 golf courses, 3 of them are 18-hole championship layouts playing to a par of 72. For less-skilled golfers who are still learning to play or families with young children, we recommend the 9-hole walking course, Disney′s Oak Trail Golf Course. Don’t want to fly with clubs? They are available to rent from the course. If you’re looking for a way to save money, try the Sunrise 9 or Sunset 9 for a deal! Be sure to reserve your tee time in advance!
Check out the Water Parks: Walt Disney World is home to 2 water parks. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Blizzard Beach will make you feel as though you’ve been transported to a ski resort – except it’s filled with water slides and winding rivers instead of ski slopes! There’s plenty here for everyone, even your littlest water lover! Typhoon Lagoon is themed to resemble a tropical paradise that has survived a typhoon – plenty of water slides, a great kids and beach area, a lazy river, and even a wave pool! If you’re up for the challenge, you can even schedule surfing lessons before Typhoon Lagoon opens (additional fees apply and reservations are required).
Visit ESPN Wide World of Sports: Walt Disney World is home to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Here, there are 230 acres of professionally run, state-of-the-art facilities host over 60 sports and thousands of events for athletes of all ages and abilities. Train and compete with your team—or catch the excitement as a spectator—in this grand sports setting where classic athletic ideals meet contemporary innovation. Whether you visit as an athlete, a spectator, or just to dine at the ESPN Wide World of Sport Grill, this stop will be one that sports lovers enjoy.
Play Tennis at the Resorts: Tennis courts can be found at Saratoga Springs, Yacht Club, Fort Wilderness, Contemporary, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk, and Old Key West. DVC guests have access to equipment for free, otherwise there is a small fee associated with renting equipment. Tennis lessons may also be available to those interested in learning!
Play Volleyball at the Resorts: The following resorts have volleyball courts on-site: Caribbean Beach, Contemporary, Coronado Springs, Old Key West, Polynesian, Yacht & Beach Clubs, The Campsites at Fort Wilderness, and the Dolphin and Swan Hotels. There’s no fee to borrow equipment for DVC members, though there may be a small fee for all other guests staying on-site.
Play Basketball at the Resorts: Equipment and access are free for guests with a valid resort ID at Disney World Resorts if you want to shoot some hoops! Basketball courts are located at Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village, Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower, the Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Fort Wilderness.
Have you experienced any of these on a vacation to Walt Disney World? My family loves the water parks (Typhoon Lagoon in particular – we love the wave pool!!) Don’t forget, many of these experiences can be included if you add the Water & Sport Option (or the Plus Option if you’re going to have the Park Hopper) to your vacation package. Talk to your Travel Advisor about how you can experience many of these activities for one low upgrade fee.
Traveling to Walt Disney World can be a challenge, for any typical family, on any given day! Now throw in things like sensory sensitivities, ADHD, autism…or any other neurodiverse characters and the game plan literally has to change! Here are five tips from our most recent trip to Walt Disney World if your kiddo has a sensory processing disorder, sensitivities or any other sensory issues.
For a little background, my almost 11-year-old daughter was diagnosed in Kindergarten with ADHD. She was given the typical regimen of meds, but nothing ever really helped her in a sufficient way, for any length of time. Fast forward a few years and after suspecting she may actually be autistic, she underwent a day of evaluations. We worked with an amazing team at UVA University Hospital in Charlottesville, VA to discover that she has combined type ADHD (which present uniquely in, severe anxiety and sensory processing issues or sensitivities. As she’s gotten older she’s learned to cope with these things in a variety of ways and we are currently unmedicated. Approaching Walt Disney World there are some things we do to help alleviate the stress for her!
Tip #1
Disney offers those “who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability.” This pass allows us to still wait for an attraction, at the posted wait time, but not in line. While you can reserve this pass 30 days prior to your trip, we opted to wait since the trip was a surprise for the kids. We simply stopped by guest services where they asked my daughter a series of questions. After which, the disability access icon appeared inside our My Disney Experience account. You only have to do this ONC for the whole trip and up to 5 members of your party may join the guest for who the pass is for. Our party was 6 so this pass was just for 2 kids and myself. We would use this pass similar to Disney Genie+ or the old Fastpass. We’d get a return time and while waiting, we could do other things. She often likes shopping or meeting characters OR we can wait for attractions that have less intense queues (these are often the more family-friendly rides and shows).
Tip #2
Don’t be afraid to take a break! For a lot of people, it’s obvious the parks can be a little overstimulating, on the best of days, but for kids with other sensory issues, EVERYTHING can be overstimulating…from the anticipation of getting ready to the bus stop, entering security, scanning magic bands…the crowds. For us, it’s important that we give her a little bit of downtime to decompress and let her get all her energy! We love to spend downtime swimming, relaxing in the room or sometimes we’ll venture outside the parks! Here are a few non-park things to do!
-Bowling at Disney Springs -Visit the horses at the Tri-Circle D Ranch at Fort Wilderness -Check out the resort scavenger hunts -Most resorts offer smores and/or movies at the resorts in the evenings -Rent a bike, surrey or boat! Our favorite resorts to do this at are Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Campgrounds and the Boardwalk -Mini-Golf! Disney offers TWO distinct courses; Winter Summerland and Fantasia Gardens -Resort Tours! Any guest is welcome to ride the monorail or Skyliner! Visit all the resorts along both these unique transportation lines!
Tip #3
Special events can be a great option with less crowds, depending on the time of year you are visiting. For us, we opted for the Eats and Seats dessert party this time. This space gave me daughter room to move around, there were significantly less crowds and we were situated a little further back from the castle. If your kiddos have a big fear of fireworks, you might want to try the Fireworks Cruise from the Seven Seas Lagoon! You’ll get a beautiful view of the fireworks, in a less intense way!
Tip #4
This is a big one…and I forgot it! While we had pre-planned to attend the dessert party, I had forgotten to throw her protective earwear in the suitcase! She made due, but it was definitely an unnecessary stressor for us at the party! This is where lists and pre-packing come in handy! Things you might want to pack are:
-Protective earwear -Special blankets or stuffies that calm your child -Sensory objects to help them in the parks. We’ve been looking into purchasing calm strips! -Smells or snacks that remind your child they are in a safe space. Smells (like oils or lotions) you use at home could do the trick! – While I didn’t bring the kids tables/phones into the park, for some kids this gives them the sensory break they need! -Don’t be afraid to bring a stroller for kids you wouldn’t typically use one for. This gives them a calming, enclosed space to decompress -Stop by guest services if you need ANYTHING! They are happy to help you or guide you in the right direction!
Tip #5
While getting up early might not be for everyone, early park access allowed us some time to in the park with WAY less people. Early Park Access is 30 minutes every day, at every park, for all resort guests! If you are a Deluxe guest, and a night owl, check into Extended Evening Theme Park Hours on select evenings! These extra 2 hours in an uncrowded park can be a great option with far less stimulation!
Planning a Disney vacation? Several of our agents are certified Autism Specialists and would love to jump in and help! Reach out to us today!
One of the biggest questions we get as travel planners is, what rides can my children ride at Walt Disney World? To piggyback on that question, we also have soon-to-be momma’s who want to ride along with their kiddos but aren’t sure what’s safe!! While this is a very personal question, and each momma should check the warnings and restrictions at each ride, let’s talk about some of the most popular rides for pregnant mom’s!
Be sure to check your My Disney Experience App for wait times, closures and location! A good rule of thumb is, if there is no height requirement, it’s a safe bet to try!
Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom is often viewed as the primary “family” park, with the most amount of rides and attractions for the WHOLE family!
Tomorrowland Astro Orbiter Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Fantasyland Prince Charming Regal Carrousel Dumbo the Flying Elephant “it’s a small world” The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Peter Pan’s Flight Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid Enchanted Tales with Belle Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Liberty Square Haunted Mansion Liberty Square Riverboat Country Bear Jamboree
Frontierland Tom Sawyer Island The Hall of Presidents Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Adventureland The Magic Carpets of Aladdin Jungle Cruise Pirates of the Caribbean (small drop) Swiss Family Treehouse Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Walt Disney World Railroad
EPCOT Keep in mind while EPCOT has a lot of walking, there is A lot to see and do without restrictions. From the various festivals throughout the year, to live entertainment and shows…you could easily visit EPCOT twice and not see and do it all!
World Showcase
Frozen Ever After (small drop) Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Gran Fiesta Tour Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along
World Nature Journey into Imagination with Figment Living with the Land Soarin’ Around the World The Seas with Nemo and Friends Turtle Talk with Crush Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
World Celebration Spaceship Earth
Hollywood Studios This park is often for the more adventurous guest but there is still quite a few things for you to see and do! Shows can take a large portion of your day so be sure to check your My Disney Experience app’s for showtimes and plan accordingly.
Alien Swirling Saucers Toy Story Midway Mania! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy Muppet Vision 3D Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney Junior Dance Party! For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Animal Kingdom
Often viewed as a half-day park, don’t underestimate the amount of walking here! Be sure to take lots of breaks and stay hydrated! Animal Kingdom is often a few degrees hotter than all the other parks! While Animal Kingdom is Nahta’zu (not a zoo…), there are a few great walking trails where you can view the animals!
Na’vi River Journey TriceraTop Spin Train ride to Conservation Station (can be bumpy) It’s Tough to be a Bug! Festival of the Lion King Finding Nemo – The Musical Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight UP! A Great Bird Adventure
Remember to use your best judgment and read all warning signs posted outside each attraction. When in doubt ask a cast member…or skip it entirely! You can always come back! Be sure to check out The Top SEVEN Things You Can Do At Walt Disney World Pregnant!
Sometimes you need a break. You have the best of intentions and pack in all the fun that Walt Disney World has to offer…but the heat, the rain, the overstimulation has just gotten to everyone and you need a break. Even as travel professionals, this happens! So during our last trip, which was a whirlwind 3 night/4 days, we came to a point where everyone just needed a break. They needed to not get up at the crack of down, race to their favorite rides and just have a low-key day. Honestly it’s always something we recommend to our clients, but for some reason, didn’t take our own advice! Here is the story of how we decided to skip one of our favorite parks…and go bowling!
We had grand plans! We had four full days of park time! We were going to do ALL the things…after all, it was a short trip and we needed to get in as much as possible! Here are three things you can easily forget about when trying to plan a jam packed Walt Disney World Vacation with kids:
-The lack of sleep from over-excitement the night before you leave
-The sheer amount of walking…do you know at Disney you can walk on average up to 10 miles per day
-The overstimulation of new sounds, colors…and people!
These things can play an even bigger part if you are traveling with neurodiverse kids! And we threw EVERYTHING out the window because our kids had done it all before! We would take breaks and everything would be fine…until it wasn’t. We underestimated the heat, the sounds, the RAIN…oh so much rain! So when our last night rolled around, we made a big decision. Even though we still had one day left on our park tickets and plans to spend half a day at Animal Kingdom before our shuttle bus came, we were going to cancel it all…and go bowling!
Why bowling? We wanted a fun activity that didn’t include more shopping or a ton of walking. Plus the kids had NEVER been before!
Since we were going pretty early in the day, Splitsville was very quiet, Keep in mind if you are opting to go at night, especially a weekend night, it might be busier! You can make reservations in advance, however. Since there were 6 of us, we had 90 minutes to bowl. The cost was $24 per person plus the cost of any food. Half of us had brought socks but if you forget, you can purchase socks but also they are fully sanitizing shows in between bowlers so you don’t need them if you’d prefer not to.
One of my favorite parts about bowling with the kids at Splitsville was the bumpers! They would raise when it was the kid’s turn, and lower for the adults! Plus they had assistance devices to help the kids even more! This really made them feel part of the game and kept the score a little more even.
We love finding activities for our nuerodiverse kids where they can be themselves. Here they weren’t confined to a small area, they could move around, dance, jump, stim…you name it! Plus we also ordered snacks which kept them super happy while we bowled!
Oh and did I mention they have a full bar? Drinks for mom and Dad if you want, plus lots of non-alcholic options for the kids!
We had so much fun here and this will definitely be a favorite memory for everyone! Especially my 10-year-old, who beat everyone! This was a great way to relax, unwind and have a stress-free few hours before we headed home. I will always recommend a longer vacation if possible, with fewer park days! You can have so much fun outside the parks, and this is just a small sample of what’s available!
It’s often hard to tell, which of Disney’s extra parties and events are worth the price tag. Currently, Disney offers five parties to view the Magic Kingdom Fireworks, Enchantment:
-Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Parties: Disney Enchantment Pre-Party -Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Parties: Disney Enchantment After-Party -Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Parties: Disney Enchantment Treats & Seats
These three parties happen right within the Magic Kingdom but there are two additional parties that happen outside the gates, therefore you wouldn’t need a theme park ticket!
-Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks at Disney’s Contemporary Resort -Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise
Back in December, when I was traveling solo for work, I decided to try out one of the parties in the Magic Kingdom. Since I was traveling solo, the cost was far less than when I was traveling with my family. I opted for the Magic Kingdom 50th Fireworks Dessert Party- Disney Enchantment Pre-Party. With this party, you’ll enjoy the desserts plus an assortment of beer and wine before the fireworks start. I was seated in the lower section which meant every time I wanted to grab something, I’d have to cross the public pathway to the upper level.
Then you’ll be escorted out to the Plaza Garden area, which is only for dessert party guests for viewing! The upside to this is once the fireworks are over, you are free to leave! The downside to this is, all the guests that are attending the POST party, are accessing the Garden area before you! I found a decent spot but if I was a family of 4 (or more) it would have been more difficult. For this reason, if you are torn between these two, I’d definitely go POST!
Blurry photo of the space that was still available when I arrived to the plaza area.
The Plaza Garden area during the day
However, if you want the best experience in the park, I’d 100% say try the Treats & Seats party! For this party, you’ll be in the lower level of the Tomorrowland Terrace, with a dedicated buffet and drink stations. No matter what party you pick, you’ll be assigned a reserved table. The benefit to the Treats and Seats is, that you don’t have to leave! You’ll have your very own front-row view of the fireworks!!
For us, the reason we selected this party was twofold:
-In the case of rainy weather, which we had a lot of, this area is covered. The fireworks are rarely canceled so this gave us the opportunity to watch them, and stay dry all while enjoying champagne, beer, and delectable desserts!
-On this particular trip, I was traveling with my 2 kids, my best friend and her two kids. Two of the kids deal with some pretty serious sensory issues, anxiety, severe ADHD and/or being on the spectrum. This party gave them the space to move around, be distanced from the fireworks, and not deal with too many people, and overcrowding, plus we didn’t have to show up super early to snag seats.
Included in the price is not only your prime viewing, and reserved location, but a variety of desserts, juices, water, beer, and wine!
This party was really incredible. Everyone loved the desserts and the fireworks were just amazing as usual. I can’t recommend this party enough!!!
