A friend recently told me that her son loves going to Disney Parks but isn’t really into rides. I thought about it for a minute, and realized I kind of relate. While I do enjoy riding my old favorites, I’m not a rollercoaster girl at all, and I hate waiting in long lines. I’d venture to guess that there are plenty of Disney fans who feel the same way.
On every trip to Walt Disney World, I make sure I find time for my favorite classic dark rides (looking at you, Peter Pan and Living with the Land!) But I also budget time for other experiences, too. In fact, some of my favorite things about the parks — characters, themed decor, and food — have nothing to do with rides at all.
If you think Disney is just about rides, think again. The best thing about the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando is how much it offers. Because of its incredible size, this Disney resort has ample space for… well, just about anything the Disney Imagineers could dream up! There are so many unique attractions and adventures to experience in every corner of Walt Disney World, that you may not even know Disney offers some of them. Take a look at my handy ride-free guide to Walt Disney World below, where you’re sure to find something for every personality in your party!
Themed Eateries and Character Dining
With the massive size of the Walt Disney World Resort, there’s certainly no shortage of places to eat. And in true Disney style, every eatery has a unique theme. Some are so perfectly designed that they feel like a hybrid of entertainment and dining. While making time to refuel, you’ll also be enjoying all the Disney details around you that are just as entertaining as a ride.
A few of my favorite themed restaurants on property are: San Angel Inn Restaurante, a made-to-look-like-outdoor eatery inside the Mexican Pavilion at Epcot; the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater in Hollywood Studios, another indoor experience that looks like an outdoor drive-in complete with a car to eat in; and the 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios, which immerses you in the yesteryear of “Mom’s kitchen.” We personally love this impeccably themed 1950’s diner the most. It’s full of comfort food and nostalgia, and reminders to “eat your veggies” and “elbows off the table” from the hilarious servers truly make it feel like dinner and a show!
No list of ride-free Disney fun would be complete without the ultimate dining entertainment — character meals! Walt Disney World has plenty of options for what I call “eat and meet and greets” — and for guests who aren’t into the parks, many are conveniently located in hotels. These experiences are not cheap and usually priced per person, but if you book one really good one during your stay, you’ll collect some great photos and autographs that make for lasting memories.
Some popular character dining experiences at Walt Disney World Resort include Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary, 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian, Ohana at the Polynesian, and breakfast at the Riviera’s Topolino’s Terrace, which features delicious food served in a gorgeous rooftop restaurant along with adorable, artsy characters we love. (Get this reservation ASAP, because it fills up the day it becomes available!) An honorable mention for me is Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios, which has great characters and a yummy buffet (contrary to some strange reviews online.)
Resorts
Speaking of hotels, Disney hotels aren’t just boring buildings with simple rooms. They’re en entire experience. Every Disney resort is fabulously themed, and whether or not you’re staying on property you’ll want to take some time to explore them! The Magic Kingdom area resorts are all in a row along the monorail line, and some people do a “monorail crawl” to experience them. You can spend the morning at the Polynesian and eat breakfast at Ohana, then hop on the monorail and head to the beautiful Grand Floridian to marvel at their incredible lobby and enjoy dinner with characters, and then finish at the Contemporary for dessert or rooftop drinks.
Pick other resorts and do the same — the Skyliner takes you to the Riviera where you can try to get into the highly coveted French Mickey breakfast at Topolino’s, then hop back on and head to Epcot, and walk from there to the fun Boardwalk Resort area. Resort guests can also take buses to different hotels to experience the various styles of magic. You can truly make a full day out of just resort-hopping!
Fort Wilderness
While glamping is the closest thing I’ll come to camping, I know there are plenty of people who love a good camping experience. Disney’s Fort Wildnerness offers the best of both worlds, with a campground and all the camping-themed fun that doesn’t include actual camping. They have fishing, archery classes, pony rides, and horseback riding at Tri Circle D Ranch. There’s even a nightly campfire with Chip n Dale and the classic Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, a silly but popular BBQ dinner show. Round up your ride-free crew and head to the campground for some good ol’ fashioned fun!
Disney Springs
It always surprises me how many people visit Walt Disney World but aren’t familiar with Disney Springs. Disney Springs is basically a lively, giant outdoor mall with shopping, dining, and entertainment — without rides or admission. It has a really fun vibe and there’s no entrance fee, so if you have a few hours outside of the parks it’s great to see it (plus resort guests can take Disney buses between the Springs and any park or hotel.) West Coasters may liken it to Disneyland’s Downtown Disney district, but it’s so much bigger and has much more to offer. There’s great dining and shopping, but also entertainment like Cirque du Soleil (which has a new Disney animation themed show.) They also have bowling, a movie theatre, a secure hot air balloon ride, and an amphicar. Even the shopping is “epic.” We recently visited their gigantic Coca-Cola Store with friends, and had so much fun sampling 16 exotic Cokes from around the world! There’s truly something for every age or interest at Disney Springs, and if you’re a Disney Vacation Club member, you don’t want to miss the beautiful new DVC member lounge here!
When first-timers ask me if Disney Springs is a “must visit” on their trip, I usually say that it’s beautiful and has plenty to offer, but it’s huge and a bit out of the way. So if you don’t have a lot of time in Orlando and want to make the best use of your expensive park tickets, don’t push yourself. The dining at Disney Springs is all pretty solid, but in my opinion the theming is the most enticing part of any eatery there. I will say it looks even prettier at Christmastime, so if you’re there in early November/December and would like to see the decorations and the various themed Christmas trees, you may want to make time to visit.
Mini Golf
If mini golf is your thing, you can have some fun at Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf in the Epcot Resort area, or the unseasonably-themed-for-Florida Winter Summerland Mini Golf in the Animal Kingdom resort area. Both offer a break from the crowds and a fun alternative to rides for all ages.
Water Fun
While Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach aren’t theme parks, they’re Disney’s two meticulously themed water parks which are favorite destinations for water lovers. When the weather is right, these parks offer a good alternative to theme park rides through some sunny relaxation and aquatic fun.
Ride-Free Park Visits
Once you visit the Walt Disney World Resort, you’ll quickly notice that there’s much more to the resort than just rides… and that even goes for the theme parks. Magic Kingdom has great shopping, snacks, and parades, plus the nostalgia of Main Street USA. EPCOT’s Future World and World Showcase are full of educational experiences that can actually tie into your kiddos’ school lessons, and foodies will love sampling exotic eats at one of Epcot’s many food festivals throughout the year. Hollywood Studios has Broadway style shows and a mini Walt Disney museum that I love to roam. And Animal Kingdom is full of culture and real-life animals.
Of course, within all four of these theme parks are an infinite amount of design details that you must take time to explore and appreciate. And there’s even more in store beneath the surface…
Tours/Experiences
The Walt Disney World Resort offers many amazing tours and experiences that guests can book to enhance their visit. Fees range from $30 and up, but with such a selection of offerings you’re sure to find something that suits your interests and budget. For only about $40 per person, you can book Behind the Seeds, a tour of the agriculture that goes on behind EPCOT’s popular Living with the Land ride.
There’s also a Caring for Elephants up-close tour in Animal Kingdom for around the same price. If you want to spring for the $200 per person underwater adventure encounter, you can go backstage at EPCOT for Dive Quest. Disney World’s tours can be found on their Special Events and Tours page and other experiences are on their Enchanting Extras page. There’s something for everyone, from painting to cake decorating. While some options are pricey, I believe if there’s a unique, memorable experience that my family and I can do together, it’s worth more than a regular day’s budget spent on snacks and souvenirs.
Whether you’re not a fan or rides or you’re a ride lover who just wants to experience something new, there’s so much to do at Walt Disney World. I have been visiting for forty years and lived there while part of the Disney College Program, and even I haven’t done everything yet! Keep checking back for more fun experiences as I share my perspective of all the different types of Walt Disney World fun!
What Lara Wrote 