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Planning a trip to Disney World is always exciting, but sometimes you might find yourself with a day or two when you don’t have park tickets. Maybe you want to save on costs, or perhaps the parks are fully booked. The good news is that there are plenty of fun and magical things to do at Disney World without a park ticket. From shopping and dining to unique experiences, you can enjoy your time at Disney World without always being at the theme parks.
things to do at Disney World without a Park Ticket
On your next visit to Disney, you might want to find some fun activities to do outside of the theme parks. Sometimes the parks can be overwhelming and breaking up your trip can be helpful for everyone, or maybe you’ve been a million times and are looking for a new experience. Hopefully, these ideas can help you create some special memories outside of the Disney parks.
Visit Disney Springs
Disney Springs is a shopping, dining, and entertainment district located just outside of the theme parks. There are over 150 stores, restaurants, and bars to explore, as well as live entertainment, movies, and more. Disney Springs is perfect to visit on your arrival day, especially if you’re staying at a nearby resort.
You can take Disney transportation from your resort or, if you have your own vehicle, there are free parking garages available. You won’t need a theme park ticket to visit Disney Springs, but some of the entertainment and activities may have a fee. Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere and discover an array of unique merchandise, from Disney-themed souvenirs to high-end fashion. Don’t miss out on the impressive dining options, including celebrity chef-owned restaurants, and fun treats.
Play Mini Golf
If you are looking for something fun to do that doesn’t require a theme park ticket, mini golf is a great option. Walt Disney World has two amazing mini golf courses for all ages. Both courses are located near Disney Springs, so you can kill two birds with one stone by playing mini-golf and exploring Disney Springs!
The two mini-golf courses at Disney Springs are the Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course and the Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. They are both great courses that offer a unique Disney experience. Some vacation packages include mini golf tickets, so be sure to check with your travel agent to see if your booking will receive them. If your package doesn’t include these tickets, they are $14 for adults or $12 for kids ages 3-9.
Spend Time on Disney’s BoardWalk
Disney’s Boardwalk is another great place to explore without using a park ticket. It’s an enchanting promenade just steps away from Epcot. The BoardWalk is full of old-fashioned charm and lively entertainment. It’s a beautiful area that has tons of shops and restaurants.
You can start your day with a delicious breakfast from the BoardWalk Bakery or have a romantic dinner at Trattoria al Forno. There are also fun activities like carnival games, Surrey bike rentals, and gorgeous views of the water. The nighttime entertainment offerings are a unique highlight; you can visit Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar, or the Atlantic Dance Hall. You can also find fun activities for kids, like a Disney movie under the stars on the lawn outside of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn on select nights.
Explore Your Resort (Or Others Nearby)
Walt Disney World resorts are more than just buildings full of rooms. Even the Value resorts have things to explore, special treats to try, great photo ops, pools, and more. You’ll find the most activities to check out at the Deluxe resorts. If you’ve never been resort hopping on your Disney vacation, I highly recommend it!
Depending on which resort you’re staying at and the available transportation, you can find the easiest resorts to explore. If you’re staying on the Monorail or Skyliner, the other resorts on the track will be super easy to stop in to visit. Animal Kingdom Lodge has a delicious buffet, Boma, that is perfect to get a great breakfast and then head outside to look for the animals out on the savannah. You could visit the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Fort Wilderness to see the horses at the stables or even do some horseback riding or archery. Many resorts also have fire pits in the evenings and you can purchase supplies to make your own s’mores…yum!
As you can see, there are plenty of fun and engaging things to do at Disney World without a park ticket. Whether you’re shopping and dining at Disney Springs, playing a round at Fantasia Gardens mini golf, soaking in the charm of Disney’s Boardwalk, or exploring the unique offerings at Disney resorts, you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy the magic of Disney outside of the theme parks.
