With the new Disney Park Pass Reservation System, Disney World guests may find themselves without entrance to a park — so what is there to do at Disney?
Walt Disney World is currently requiring guests to use the Disney Park Pass Reservation System in order to enter a park, even if you have park tickets and a resort stay. Because of this some people might be opting to visit Walt Disney World, without going to the parks.
Honestly, I have spent many days at Disney not actually going into the parks before and there is so much to do! And trust me, Disney World without a park ticket is still magical. Here are just a handful of my favorite things to do that aren’t inside Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios — but there is also so much more!
Resort Restaurants
There are plenty of delicious restaurants to eat at that aren’t inside the parks. In fact, most of my favorite restaurants are outside the parks — and I am not even talking about Disney Springs yet (more on that later). There are plenty of fun character meal options as well. Almost every single resort has one — from Storybook Dining at Artist Point inside Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, to Topolino’s Terrace inside the new Riviera Resort.
1900 Park Fare is also one of my favorites for many reasons — including the big bowl of gummy bears at the buffet! We have been here for breakfast and dinner and both times the food was amazing. This is a must visit and located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort which means you do not need a park ticket to enjoy it.
Resort Activities
One of my favorite things about staying at a Walt Disney World resort is that there are so many activities that you can take advantage of! There are movies under the stars, poolside dance parties, activities in the lobbies, and so much more. Nearly every resort has an arcade and/or recreation room and some even have boat rentals!
My daughters absolute favorite though would have to be the activities at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Why? Because they have a whole list of things to do, each of which earn you a charm for a necklace. Guest can not only learn all about the animals there, they can even feed them! Yup! That is their favorite activity — making food for the animals and even watching them eat it. So fun!
Golf
If you are a golfer then you are in luck! There are tons of golf courses right on Disney property for you to enjoy! They even have lessons. And if you like miniature golf like my family does, guess what? There is a miniature golf course on property as well. My family has played here several times and it is a really fun way to spend an hour or so.
Disney’s BoardWalk
Disney’s BoardWalk is a quarter-mile promenade of dining, unique shops, and exciting nightlife. There are midway games to play, street performers, and so much more! This is one of my favorite places to visit because it reminds me of evenings spent with my family on the beach boardwalk in the summer.
There is so much to experience here that you could easily spend an entire day enjoying yourselves. And trust me when I say, you will want to come back time and time again!
Disney Springs
If you are looking for things to do at Disney World without a park ticket, you can spend a ton of time at Disney Springs. Seriously they have something for everyone there! There are more restaurants than you can even imagine — including some delicious dessert places like Sprinkles!
Disney Springs also has a lot of shopping. And I mean a lot. But not just for Disney merchandise and for kids — oh no. There is a Pandora that I have to visit each time I go. Of course, my geeky family just has to hit the LEGO store. And no trip to Disney Springs is complete without shopping for new sandals at Sanuks!
Disney World Guests can easily just visit Disney Springs and have the time of their lives! There is a hot air balloon that is an absolute must! But there is also a movie theater, bowling, VR at The Void, and even Cirque du Soleil! You could spend days here and not see everything they have to offer.