What to Do at Walt Disney World without Park Tickets
While on your Walt Disney World vacation, don’t forget to add in free time away from the parks.
You won’t be bored because there is plenty to do elsewhere on the Walt Disney World property on your non-park days!
I know it is tempting to be those whirlwind people who show up at 10:00 p.m. on arrival day, go to four parks in four days, then head back out at the crack of dawn on your departure day.
After all, a Disney vacation is expensive, and you want to maximize your time and money.
But doing Disney this way means you’ll need a vacation from your vacation since you’ll be exhausted at the end.
Instead, build in at least 1 non-park day into your itinerary so your entire family enjoy the beautiful Walt Disney World resort and not get too tired.
In the past, we’ve had so fun on those non-park days that I'm seriously considering adding more to our next trip.
In the guide below, I’m sharing all of my favorite ways to explore the larger Walt Disney World resort so that your non-park days are still engaging, enjoyable and restful.
My kids one of our recent non-park days in Disney Springs
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Best Things to Do in Walt Disney World outside of the Theme Parks
Below are a wide range of different things to do on the Walt Disney World property that aren’t in the 4 parks.
Many of them are free or low cost, making this a great way to stretch those vacation dollars while staying in the Disney bubble.
Explore the resorts.
I promise, this is not nearly as boring as it sounds.
Each of the Disney resorts is themed, so you can head over to the Polynesian for a taste of Hawaii, return to the Victorian period at the Grand Floridian, see larger than life cultural icons at Pop Century Resort, and mosey through the streets of New Orleans at Port Orleans French Quarter.
Learn more about individual resorts here:
Take a surrey ride.
On my daughter’s first trip to Disney World, I convinced the rest of my family to rent a surrey over at Port Orleans Riverside.
It cost us $22 for a half hour rental that fit all six people who were vacation with us at the time: my toddler daughter, my parents, my husband and I, and my sister.
There are also 4 person surreys if you don’t have such a big crowd.
Since it's basically a really fancy bicycle, we got our post-lunch workout cruising around the resort. We sang Disney songs at the top of our lungs and waved manically at passers-by.
All of us laughed until we nearly cried, and it was the best money I've spent in a very long time.
Plan more of your Disney World vacation with these helpful posts!
Head over to Disney Springs.
This massive complex combines shopping, dining, a bowling alley, a movie theatre, Cirque de Soliel, and DisneyQuest.
While my two favorite areas are the World of Disney store and Goofy's Candy Company, Britton loved the kiddie train ride and the carousel onsite.
For $2 a ride (adults ride free when accompanying tiny ones), they were both easy and cheap ways to keep my toddler entertained while meandering around Downtown Disney.
Clearly, my preschooler got WAY more than two dollars worth of fun from the train ride.
If you want to stay close to the action at Disney Springs, I highly recommend Buena Vista Palace, which is right across the street from the shops and restaurants!
Purchasing your Disney tickets ahead of time means that you’ll have early access to perks like dining and activity reservations, so don’t wait until you arrive in Florida to buy them.
Hang out at your home resort.
Even the value resorts come with themed pools, an arcade, and afternoon dance parties!
The deluxe accommodates have the best pools, and Stormalong Bay at the Beach Club resort is more than a pool, and, in actuality, it's a small water park.
All of the resorts also offer outdoor movies and campfires year round, which would be such a fun way to end a day in Disney.
Ride a pony.
The Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Fort Wilderness Campgrounds has the most adorable ponies that your little ones can ride.
For eight bucks, your little cowpoke can wrangle the roughest, toughest pony this side of the Mississippi.
Or, just ride a cute pony in a circle.
(Basically the same thing when you’re at Walt Disney World!)
Eat the kitchen sink.
Head over to the Boardwalk near the back entrance to EPCOT to the tiny soda shop called Beaches and Cream.
Here, you can dive into a monstrously sized ice cream confection called The Kitchen Sink. The original version has multiple scoops of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and mint chip ice cream, whipped cream, and a whole host of toppings.
If those flavors don’t suit, you can also opt for a Neapolitan version or a chocolate lovers’ version.
In all cases, bring along a friend or two (or 5!) to have a fighting chance of actually finishing this thing!
Fish for bass.
Bass fishing excursion are offered from nine different resorts, so if you're looking to find some fish in Walt Disney World's lake, there are plenty of opportunities to do so.
For those who'd rather fish from the banks, you can rent equipment at Fort Wilderness Campgrounds or Port Orleans Riverside.
Catch a wave.
You know you've always wanted to be one of those cool surfer types, so grab your board shorts and head over to Typhoon Lagoon for some surf lessons.
You'll have to get up early for your class, as they only take place before the water park opens.
But if it helps you get some of that surfer swagger, an early morning might be worth it.
Relax at the water parks.
I love the Disney water parks because they are so big and so wonderfully themed. There is something for every member of the family here, from the tiniest baby to the grandparents!
Both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon have children’s areas with smaller slides, splash zones, and play areas.
However, I think that Blizzard Beach is the better choice in general, but especially if you’re traveling with little ones as the children’s area is much more expansive.
Plus, the Blizzard Beach children’s area has tiny water slides, which my preschooler loved!
See my entire guide to visiting Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park with a toddler here.
Have afternoon tea.
Grand Floridian tea service
The Grand Floridian has a tea room where you can treat yourself to scones, a pot of your favorite tea, and some delicious desserts.
Go for the English Breakfast tea and clotted cream, and request a seat by the window!
Doing so will allow you to see out to the beautiful gardens and the lake beyond.
This is fun for kids, even though it is on the pricier side in what’s arguably Walt Disney World’s nicest hotel.
When kids visit, they’ll get peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and other kid-friendly favorites instead of the more traditional tea sandwiches and scones.
We’ve always had a wonderful experience here, and it’s fun to explore the Grand Floridian afterwards, too.
NOTE: The original tea service was suspended for Covid in 2020 and did not reopen until late 2025.
As of early 2026, the new tea experience is Alice in Wonderland themed, which adds an element of Disney fun that the original one did not have.
Try your hand at mini golf.
The Walt Disney World Resort has 2 mini golf courses, which are such a fun way to spend an hour or two on your non-park days.
Many packages now include a round of mini golf for everyone in your party, so be sure to cash that perk in if applicable.
Otherwise, a round is reasonably priced fun for the entire family.
They courses are located next to Blizzard Beach, making them a great add-on to a day at the water park.
What's your favorite thing to do away from the Disney parks? Do you build in rest days on your vacations?
