A visit to Disney World is usually for the parks but what do you do when you have a day off or aren’t visiting the parks? In this post I am sharing the best things to do at Disney World besides the parks.
Most of our trips to Disney include park days, but there are times where we take a rest day to sleep in and don’t want to use a park ticket. These days we usually include some of the fun things to do around Disney World that are not at the theme parks.
Today I want to share our go-to things to do outside of the Disney Parks but on Disney property to help you plan your Disney trip.
My Top Thing to Do At Disney World Not in the Theme Parks
My go-to thing to do on a nonpark day during our Disney vacation is to make a dining reservation at a resort. We always make reservations for a late breakfast, usually around 10:45-11:00. This can count as breakfast and lunch. We sleep a bit later and then head over to our reservation.
After our meal we will spend time exploring the resort and then head back to our resort for pool time, often laundry if needed, and just relax a bit around our resort. It makes our day a little special and helps us avoid long meals inside the parks.
Booking a character meal on your rest day is a great way to see characters and have a great meal without taking away from your time in the parks.
We’ve had Brunch at Boma and breakfast and dinner at ‘Ohana that have been great ways to spend our rest days.
10 Things to Do at Disney World Besides the Parks
Explore a Resort that You are Not Staying At
If you don’t want to spend a lot on dining reservations you can still visit a resort and walk around. You can eat at the quick service on-site or just grab a coffee and explore.
Some resorts are easier to access than others. The easiest way to access the resorts is to use Disney transportation. This might mean you have to take a bus to a park and then a bus to a resort. While it is not ideal it can be a fun way to spend the day.
We took time during our stay at Pop Century to walk over to Art of Animation. Art of Animation has a very immersive Disney animation theme and it was fun to take photos and walk around.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is another great resort to explore, even if you are not staying there. It overlooks a Savannah and you may get to see giraffe’s or zebras.
They also have a great theme throughout the resort and a small playground for kids. If you have time consider making reservations at Boma for the breakfast brunch. We really enjoyed it during our recent day away from the parks.
Enjoy Disney’s Transportation
I know the buses are not very glamourous but there is Boat, Monorail and Skyliner transportation to enjoy. If you are staying at a resort that offers this transportation you may want to use it on a nonpark day to visit other resorts or just take a ride.
The Monorail hotels are all unique and worth walking around if you are nearby. Young children usually enjoy riding the monorail and this might be a fun way to spend the day.
They Skyliner has 4 resorts along its route and allows guests to explore. It is free and open to any guests, not just resort guests.
I enjoy stopping off the Skyliner at the Riviera Resort to take a look at the Murals of Peter Pan and Tangled. The Contemporary Resort along the monorail has a Mary Blair(Disney Artist) 90 ft artwork to see.
This can be a fun and free activity to do when you don’t want to plan much during your day off.
Disney Springs
Disney Springs is Walt Disney Worlds dining, shopping, and entertainment complex. All Disney resorts offer transportation to Disney Springs.
We like to have lunch at Chicken Guy and then walk around and explore the stores.
The Disney Style Store has unique and fun Disney items and a tea cup photo-op. Disney Springs also has a Marvel store, LEGO Store, and the World of Disney store.
Pick up a sweet treat at Gideon’s Bakehouse or stop at the Sprinkles cupcake ATM machine to order cupcakes 24/7.
There are also unique things to do at Disney Springs like bowling at Splitsville, see the Cirue du Soleil Drawn to Life show based on Disney classics, stop in at The Coca-Cola store for rooftop beverage bar where guests can try different tasting experiences.
If you want to get a birds eye view of the Walt Disney World resort consider taking a ride up in the Aerophile Balloon. This 8 minute flight takes guests up 400 feet for a unique look at the resort.
Level 99 is coming to Disney Springs in 2026. This gaming experience offers 60 challenge rooms that you can do as a group. I have never experienced this and think it will be a great option for families with teens visiting Disney World.
Disney Water Park Day
I am including a water park day in this post because Disney includes a free ticket for your check-in day. So yes it is a theme park and it is the first day of your trip but some visitors may want to consider this.
All guests receive a complimentary ticket to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon on check-in day. There are pros and cons to this and I probably need to write a full post about it but consider all the logistics of heading to a water park the day you arrive at your resort.
Many guests are taking advantage of this and it is making the water parks really busy. If you’ve never been this may be a good plan for your trip but it is not for everyone.
Mini-Golf
There are two mini-golf courses located at Walt Disney World. Often free tickets are included with vacation packages so be sure to check on that.
Fantasia Gardens is located at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel. If you are staying at a Skyliner resort you can take the Skyliner to Epcot and walk to the Swan. All other guests will have to ask a cast member at their resort the best way to get there.
Winter Summerland is located at Blizzard Beach. Guests can take the bus to Blizzard Beach and then walk over to mini-golf. This is a great activity to do during a rest day.
Pool Day/Daily Activities at Your Resort
As a family we love spending time at our resort. My husband and I will go for walks in the morning with our coffee and then we will spend time at the pool.
Visiting the pool gives the kids an opportunity to get their energy out. They can play freely and this is really important for little ones.
There are also daily activities at the resorts that range from Mickey Tie-Dye T-shirt making, pool side trivia, and nightly movies by the pool. At check-in you will receive your daily activity guide for your stay.
Electrical Water Pageant Parade
This is one that you don’t have to plan too much if you are in the right place! The parade runs nightly on Seven Seas Lagoon.
The best place to see it is outside the Magic Kingdom or at one of the resorts that surround the lake. It starts at the Polynesian Resort every evening. We have always caught pieces of it as we exit the Magic Kingdom and it is a magical end to our evening.
Visit ESPN Sports Complex
ESPN Sports complex is something you might not think of visiting when it comes to your Disney vacation, but if you have a sports fan in your house it is worth the visit.
ESPN hosts many youth sports teams from around the world and is a neat place to visit. Ticket prices vary depending on the event.
Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Guests can go on wagon rides, pony rides, and explore trails at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Guests can also book Horseback Trail rides, advanced reservations is recommended.
Free Things to Do At Disney World
- See live music at Disney Springs
- Participate in the daily activities at your resort
- Explore different resorts. Use the monorail or Disney Skyliner to see the different resorts.
- Plan pool time.
- Watch the Electrical Water Pageant nightly from Seven Sea Lagoon.
A rest day can be a great addition to a week at Walt Disney World. Spending a week at the resorts gives you the opportunity to enjoy the theme parks, but also all the things to do at Disney World besides the parks.
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Leah has been a Disney fan her entire life. From growing up with the movies to planning amazing Disney trips. She loves sharing her passion for Disney and helping others plan amazing Disney trips.
