More to do in Disney
The other side of Walt Disney World
With magical street parades, encounters with princesses and rides as far as the eye can see; Disney World is a truly magical place, bursting at the seams with excitement for the whole family. But in amongst the marvels like Space Mountain and Cinderella Castle, you’ll find a host of varying activities and adventures to take part in, perfect for filling up your time when you want a break from the parks, or just fancy doing something different.
On the water
It’s not all about waterslides, as you’ll find loads of fun to be had on the water as well as in it. At Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Camping, you’ll find a canoe and kayak rental service, allowing you to venture through the various lakes, lagoons and bays at a cost of $11.
For something a little different, adults can opt for a spot of sailing. At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, you can experience the fun of a 13-foot catamaran. Grown-ups can also treat themselves to a motorised boat rental, which accommodates between two (driver must be at least 12 and accompanied by an adult) and ten guests (driver must be at least 18), where you can cruise across a select number of waterways throughout the resort. For something a little more adventurous, head over to Sammy Duvall’s at the Contemporary Resort in the Magic Kingdom Area. Here you can indulge in a whole host of thrilling water based activities such as water-skiing, tubing, wake boarding, parasailing and personal watercraft rentals.
Available to all, from children to teens and adults, the prices vary, with personal watercraft rentals charging $135, water-skiing, tubing and wake boarding costing $165 and parasailing ranging from $95 to $170, based on a person’s experience (note that prices do not include tax).
Keeping active
Disney World is a place where you can be as active or non-active as you like, but with so much to do, it’s definitely the perfect vacation for those who love being on the go. With this in mind there are a number of recreational sporting activities across the resorts you can enjoy at your own pace.
Enjoy a relaxing bike ride ($18 per person), with multiple rental stations throughout Disney World. Providing bikes for both adults and children, you can explore the woodland trails and lakefront promenades for the perfect family adventure. Swapping two wheels for four legs head over to the Tri-Circle-D Ranch, located at the Fort Wilderness Resort. Here you can explore the ranches that house Cinderella’s ponies and horses, before taking part in a horseback trail ride. It’s available to guests aged 9 years and over, lasting 45 minutes and costing $46. You can also enjoy Wagon Rides for the classic cowboy feel. Departing daily at 6pm and 8:30pm, it’ll cost you $5 for a child (ages 3 to 9) and $8 for an adult (10 years and over). Individual and team sports can be top of the agenda on any Disney holiday, with eight volleyball, seven tennis and five basketball courts located on site, while kids from seven up can learn a new sport with the archery programme at Fort Wilderness ($39 per person for a 90 minute lesson). You can book classes up to 180 days in advance, and make sure you leave around 90 minutes when travelling there within the resort.
As is the case throughout Florida, golf is high-up on the agenda at Disney offering the perfect opportunity to unwind for the adults. Open to those aged 18 years and over, there are four different courses; Magnolia, Oak Trail, Palm and Lake Buena Vista, with the latter the only one not based near the Magic Kingdom – you’ll find Lake Buena Vista in the Disney Springs area(formally called Downtown Disney). All feature 18 holes, aside from the Oak Trail course which only has nine. A round will cost you between $39 and $165.
It’s not just serious golfers that can get in on the action with two miniature courses on site too. Over at Epcot, there’s the Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf, while at Blizzard Beach Water Park it’s the Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. The latter features a ‘summer’ sand course and a ‘winter’ snow course. Both have 18 holes, and cost $12 for those aged 3 to 9 and $14 for those aged 10 and above.
Something different
It’s not all about action on the water and sporting activities. The magic of Disney extends to a spot of relaxation too. At Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, guests can rent a cabana, offering the chance to relax and ease away any stresses and strains – available if one person in the group is aged 18 or over. These pool-side havens offer the ideal place to spend an afternoon. Bask in the sun on one of your padded lounge chairs or take some time in the shade with your 32-inch LCD TV (with cable access), ceiling fan and mini fridge stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks. When it comes to later in the evening, experience something magical under the evening sky, with an open air-movie. Across the various Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, you’ll find complimentary screenings at a variety of locations including the beaches, pool sides and even within the Floridian woodlands – giving you a magical movie experience like only Disney can. There truly is something for everyone at Disney World.