Hi Karen!
It sounds like you are planning a bibbidi-bobbidi-beautiful vacation to Walt Disney World Resort this summer and I'm so glad you stopped by planDisney with your question! Each property in the Disney Resorts Collection is grand and unique in it's own way and taking time to explore a few by resort hopping is a great way to take a rest day from the parks while still enjoying some Disney magic! While certain amenities (like pools) are only available to guests registered to that resort, there are a number of experiences you can explore as a day guest.
In my opinion, you won't be disappointed visiting
The Campsites and
Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort. There is so much to see and do here, you can easily spend the better part of the day exploring it all. Even better, there is fun for all ages! I would recommend enjoying a leisurely morning at your resort and then heading to Fort Wilderness for the afternoon. Depending on the interests of your party, you may enjoy fishing, archery, canoes, kayaks, and horseback riding. They also have horse drawn carriage rides and bike rentals too! Some of these experiences have an extra cost and may recommend advanced reservations. You can view all of the
recreation options and find out more about current costs and reservation information for each one on the Walt Disney World Resort website. Regardless of what you choose to do here, make sure you visit the stables at
Tri-Circle-D Ranch for a chance to meet Cinderella's ponies. I also highly recommend booking the dinner show at
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue to round out your day!
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is another great choice to spend a day exploring. If you're visiting this resort, I recommend heading to dinner at
Boma - Flavors of Africa. It's a wonderful buffet featuring some of the most unique flavors and tasty foods on property. Either before or after your meal, you can walk around the resort and may even be able to catch a glimpse of a few animals roaming the savanna. Guests eight and older can reserve a nighttime
Starlight Safari for a unique opportunity to see exotic wildlife using night vision devices!
Another great option for resort hopping is to take a ride in the sky and explore some of the resorts along the
Disney Skyliner route. I took my boys on a ride to experience the Disney Skyliner our first trip after it opened and it was one of their favorite experiences from the whole trip! Taking a ride on the Disney Skyliner pairs perfectly with a character breakfast at
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera located at Disney's Riviera Resort.
Karen, these are just a few of my favorite highlights to see when resort hopping - but it's only the beginning! Grab your magic carpet and enjoy exploring a whole new world around Walt Disney World Resort!
Happy Travels,
Kristi