[Baloo85]

Marty and Joyce Dunne and 4 Boys...something like that...hehehe...I am one of those four boys!!! I think it had a year it was created and some kinda picture of a star or mouse ears...I dunno...we have pics of it somewhere...and I haven't seen it in person for a couple years now...

[PrincessJill]

There's a lot to do at Fort Wilderness if you're into that kind of thing. There's fishing, horseback riding, hiking trails... also a beach and a place to rent boats. Chip & Dale do a campfire party some nights. Do they still do the water parade at night? We used to watch that from the beach...

Everyone's given great suggestions so far. Hope you have a great time! :)

[KarenT]

Carraige ride at Fort Wilderness was really nice. The campsites are all decorated.
Very relaxing and puts you in the Christmas Spirit!

[Pooh Fan]

Originally Posted by inluvwithdisney

Hey we are going to be there at the same time! Where are you staying? Maybe we could meet!
Everyone thinks I am crazy that I am soo excited this early and that I am already planning. I am glad all the DCers are just like me!

We are staying at AS Movies. I am one of those people who prefers 2 connecting rooms at a Value rather than 1 at a moderate--we have alot more space and 2 bathrooms this way.Plus my DS loves Buzz and Woody. We will definitely have to try and meet up. Yes, I am a Disney Freak and everyone knows it. There is just something so magical about being at Disney.

[Jen]

In a word SLEEP!


We tried to plan a No Park Day/Rest Day and although it turned out to be my favorite day of the trip, we were all exhausted by the time we left.

Plan a sleep in day, a trip to Downtown Disney for shopping, a late lunch early dinner there (yummm, I'm thinking about E of S and drooling!) and maybe a movie at AMC. Call it an early night and you'll be recharged for the next day.

Jen

[Val32]

Originally Posted by mickey

Vero Beach is nearly 2 hours Southeast of WDW. The only way to get there is a rental car, and then if you don't have a reservation, you can't use the beach. You might as well drive elsewhere to a public beach if you are going to have a beach day.

Head to Animal Kingdom Lodge for a tour (great for kids) and then eat at Boma for lunch.

Rent a surry bike on the boardwalk after dinner. After that, grab some ice cream and watch the buskers.

Take your swim suit with you and see how many pools you can pool hop until you get caught.

Go on a DVC tour.

Send Mickey some Tonga Toast.




Go to Disney Quest.

Drop the kids off at the Grand Floridian for the Pirate Adventure (make a PS ahead of time) and have a couple of hours with no kids (who cares what you do, NO KIDS!).

I enjoyed your suggestions especially the pool hop suggestion!!

I would say hang out by the pool at your resort and do any recreational activities they offer
or go to DTD
take a DVC tour (even if your not interested, it could be fun! lol)
go to a water park or Sea World
go shopping outside Disney ( I hear there are many shopping spots, I just have to find them!!!!!!!!)
leave kids with a kid program at your hotel and do some Adult things!! See a show, take a spa treatment, etc........................

[gingles]

Hey these are great ideas but with my crew the nonpark day has to be something that doesn't involve WALKING!

By the third or fourth day the feet begin to rebel. At the point, we don't technically have a non-park day but usually go veg at TL or BB...

[15 mins to wdw]

Originally Posted by CaribBeachNut

Don't forget Seaworld and NASA Spaceport USA, MedievalTimes and Church Street Station, and the Universal parks. Kissimmee/St. Cloud has some wonderful places to visit, and the Orlando Chamber of Commerce will send you their Orlando Magic Card for free which gives you (I believe 3%) discount on items you purchase.

Just be careful at church street station, Be sure to stay on the east side (downtown side) of the Railroad Tracks. On the other side its ok till you cross that first street then you have entered the not so good area of town and should be prepared to be asked for money by all sorts of homeless who have found that to be a profitable area. I will say though downtown Orlando is a wonderful area to visit consider a trip to lake Eola if your there as well.

Midevil times also just had a major renovation to the tune of a couple million dollars so I'm sure its a great show now, although I haven't been to see it yet.

Another area to visit is Celebration I know it has already been mentioned here. If you don't have a rental car you could take the Celebration Trolley down to celebration its not running to WDW yet but My guess is it will be going to DTD by DEC. (www.celebrationtrolley.com)

[Dana]

This may sound a tad weird or off, but on my nonpark day or day of rest, I like to spend the day at my resort just relaxing and doing nothing. I like to take advantage of everything the resort has and enjoy it. Why pay all that money to stay there if you aren't going to do anything but sleep there? Spend a half a day hanging at your pool and playing and then maybe go to DTD for dinner and shopping. Every minute of your WDW trips do not have to be spent running from one place to the next. Sometimes it's nice actually have a vacation day....if you get my meaning. I rarely have a full day at the parks and love to have those hours playing at the resort. Hope this helps.

[Disnyfan83]

My DS says that if we don't go to Gatorland next trip he's NOT GOING!! Everybody MUST see the Gator Jump-a-roo at least once in their life!!

[15 mins to wdw]

Originally Posted by Disnyfan83

My DS says that if we don't go to Gatorland next trip he's NOT GOING!! Everybody MUST see the Gator Jump-a-roo at least once in their life!!

From what I hear its a nice place about 15 mins away from the WDW resort via 417 or the Ocesola parkway. (both toll roads) I still do need to get over there.

[Disnyfan83]

It's been MANY, MANY years since I have been there - and my kids have never been. It's like a piece of tourist Americana. It may not be everyone's taste, but our family has always loved good old fashioned American tourist traps!

[chris5568]

We played mini golf last Dec. at WinterSummerland and had a great time.

[Val32]

Ohh I forgot, I saw the Titanic Exhibit while I was there last trip on a non-park day, very cool and very touching...

[inluvwithdisney]

These are all such great ideas!! I have to make some decisions to make, unfortunately I have a long time to make them!