Originally Posted By mainstfan5 I'll be in Orlando on business for a few days before I spend a few days at WDW. Rather than spend 3 - 4 evenings alone in my hotel, I'd like to get out and see a few things...but I've never been to WDW and feel a bit overwhelmed at the options. I was thinking about seeing Downtown Disney, or maybe even going to the Poly Beach and seeing the fireworks. However,I'm staying off-site so I would have to drive into the resort. How feasible is this? Is the resort 'open' enough for visitors to do this for a couple of hours in the evening? Or do you need to be a WDW resort guest? Is there anything (WDW-related) that you guys would recommend for spending a few hours on a weeknight when you're not staying at the resort?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss You could dine at any of the resort restaurants, but since you won't be able to make PS's ahead of time like on-site guests can, it might be impossible to eat at the more popular spots. Still, it's worth a call. I would recommend the California Grill if you can get in; the food is possibly the best in WDW, and you can view the fireworks as well ( you can go up there to the observation beck even if you are not eating at the restaurant.) DtD is open to anyone, and for a fee you can also go to Pleasure Island. The Adventurer's Club is highly popular with Disney fans.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub The California Grill is a good suggestion. You could just go to the bar for a drink or appetizer.It is above the Contemporary.You could probably get into the Polynesian for a drink at the bar and watch the fireworks on their beach without a hassle with security over parking.If you do go to the Polynesian look for their boat ramp and take a boatride. I have never been asked for resort i.d. The boat takes you from the POly to the MK and to the Grand Floridian and back to the Poly. Also consider a free trip on the monorail. The stop is upperlevel at the Poly, Grand,MK.Contemporary and the Ticket Center.Just stay on it roundtrip.
Originally Posted By jazzfan4 HAve your supper at the poly, and stay for fireworks and water light pageant. You could also ride the monorail to epocot and back since it goes into the park and around SSE you could see what's in future world, just can't get off. Visit the Wilderness lodge, it's like stepping into the INN at Old Faithful in Yellowstone or Macdonalds in Glacier NP. If you like Walt's Railroad visit the Gold Spike room in the villas while your there, they have a couple of Carolwood cars and some Photographs. I don't think they charge for parking at the resorts but there may be a time limit.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I would recommend seeing Illuminations at Epcot (9:00 PM every night). I'm not sure how much earlier than 9:00 PM you could get there, and if you would be able to see enough other stuff to make the admission worthwhile for you. My opinion is that I would pay the $60 (or whatever it is now) JUST to see Illuminations. I'm a real fan of that show though... others may not agree.
Originally Posted By Chelledun I suggest Spoodles and a stroll around the Boardwalk area. You can check out the Yacht and Beach Club and Boardwalk hotels while you are there.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I like walking around the WL grounds at night and catching the electic pagent parade. I also enjoy DTD and the boat ride to POR. Gosh there is SO much to do on property at night. No wonder I would not get back to my room till 1 AM.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Each night a different park.. and then off to DTD for some Ghiridelli choc.....<grin>. If I keep this up I will be heading to WDW instead of visiting my family in two weeks while I"m on vacation.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I would recommend seeing Illuminations at Epcot (9:00 PM every night). I'm not sure how much earlier than 9:00 PM you could get there, and if you would be able to see enough other stuff to make the admission worthwhile for you. My opinion is that I would pay the $60 (or whatever it is now) JUST to see Illuminations.>> It used to be the case that Disney would open the gates at 9:00pm to allow anyone to enter and watch IllumiNations. Assuming they still do this (and I assume it would only occur on a night where IllumiNations is closing out the park), the strategy would be to enter Epcot at the International Gateway so you won't miss too much of the show.
Originally Posted By mainstfan5 Thank you for the suggestions! You guys are incredible! Are all of the Disney resorts open to the public (that is, I can visit the Wilderness lodge for example and walk the grounds)? What about the Grand Floridian? I might try to visit some of these, take pictures, and maybe use them to entice my wife into a family trip. Seems like I heard awhile back that they were trying to restrict sightseeing at some of these, and you needed to be there for at least a meal.
Originally Posted By Labuda "but since you won't be able to make PS's ahead of time like on-site guests can" Not true. Offsite guests ca make ADRs ahead of time, too.
Originally Posted By Labuda MainStfan - last fall, my DH & I were allowed on to the grounds of the different resorts in our rental car so we could check them out - just had my ID out when I got to the guard shack and told 'em I'd like to take a look.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m I also vote for making advance reservations to dine at some of the resorts. You can dine at 'Ohana at the Poly before Wishes, then go down on the beach to see it. Or you can dine during Wishes and see them from a window view table. You can also see the electrical pagent. California Grill at the Contemporary is very popular, so you can do the same thing there, book an advance reservation for a time that coincides with Wishes. Make a reservation for Boma or Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and then explore the resort afterwards. Make sure to stop in the gift shop, they have some awesome stuff in there. Make a reservation for Whispering Canyon Cafe or Artiste Point at Wilderness Lodge, then explore the resort.
Originally Posted By trailsend You can drive into any resort and tell the security guard you are having dinner or want to shop. They just ask for a picture ID (driver's license) give you a parking pass, tell you where to park and off you go. From either the Polynesian or Grand Floridian or Contemporary, take the monorail around to each. Take the monorail and ride out to EPCOT, you can just stay on and go back to the Transportation Center or to any of the Magic Kingdom resorts where you might have parked your car. You can even park at Ft. Wilderness, catch the bus from there and go anywhere. You can take the boat from Ft Wilderness and ride around to each Magic Kingdom resort which are the Polynesian, Contemporary and Grand Floridian. You can go to Boardwalk and walk around. It is beautiful with lots of dinner places and dessert places. Vist the Beach and Yacht resorts and the Swan and Dolphin while at Boardwalk. There is plenty to do in Downtown Disney. Shops, World of Disney, The Christmas Shop, etc., Wolfgang Puck Express (yum yum yum), Earl of Sandwich, Ghiradelli's (don't miss!!!!!) and the wonderful Art of Disney is a must see. Drive or take a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge and explore! You'll enjoy see the animals. There is plenty to do. Just get all the brochures you can and go for it.
Originally Posted By trailsend ^^^I might not have been very clear, but you don't have to have reservations to visit the resorts. There are plenty of shops in each resort that would love for you to come and shop!
Originally Posted By trailsend ^^^again, I meant to say you don't have to have DINNER reservations. Sorry!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom There are a lot of activities to do in the parks. If you don't want to enter the parks then there is a lot to do elsewhere. They have nightly piano playing at POR. I always enjoyed the goings on in the parks and then each night ended up at DTD as it stays open later than the parks or the goings on at the resorts.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Leave kids with Grandma in the room. Sneak out and do a little... RECON ... me and the wife skinny dipping in one of the secluded pools at OKW.
