Welcome to planDisney, Jay! How exciting that you'll be visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth during the spookiest season! I'll be at Walt Disney World in mid-October with some of my planDisney besties and I can't wait to see all of the beautiful autumn decorations lining Main Street, U.S.A.
Now, Jay, while I love spending time in the parks, your question is near and dear to my heart because I love enjoying the slower pace of Walt Disney World Resort outside the parks, so let's jump into some ideas.
First, I'll encourage you to explore activities available at some of the Disney Resort Hotels. For example, at
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, check out the
Colors of Coronado Painting Experience,
Sangria University, and
Spanish Mosaic Art. These able to be booked in advance (for a fee), and are great activities to pair with
lunch or dinner at this resort.
Another great way to spend a day is by exploring the Disney Deluxe Resorts connected by the monorail.
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa,
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, and
Disney's Contemporary Resort all have great spaces to sit and relax, grab a drink, or (weather and stamina permitting) roam the grounds and enjoy the atmosphere. If you choose this option, I would encourage you to book a lunch reservation at one of these properties to savor a bit more time and of course, dig into to some delicious dishes. The
Grand Floridian Cafe,
Kona Cafe, and
Steakhouse 71 are all fantastic options for a leisurely table-service lunch.
If you have any water-loving Mouseketeers, there are multiple boat options that I would recommend. Did you know that you can enjoy a
Guided Fishing Excursion at Walt Disney World? Available from multiple marinas at Disney Resort Hotels, this experience can be 2-4 hours and accommodate up to 5 guests. While fishing takes place during the day if evening on the water is of interest to you, I encourage you to check out two options to enjoy fireworks:
Specialty Cruises and the
Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise. My family and I joined with some friends to book a Specialty Cruise last year and this private boat option quickly became my favorite way to enjoy fireworks. With comfortable seating, snacks, and a friendly Captain, this experience falls in the splurge category, but is one of our favorite memories!
Jay, while there are a lot more options outside of the parks, I hope this helps spark some ideas for how to spend your two bonus days. If you have any additional questions, please come on back to planDisney. We love to see a returning guest!
Lauren