Hi Heather!
Congratulations on your upcoming vacation to Walt Disney World in July! I have a ton of suggestions for activities outside of the Disney parks!
You are going to love
Port Orleans - Riverside. One of the best things about this resort is that you can take a
water taxi over to Disney Springs. This is a super fun way to travel as you can take in the beautiful view of the water. Head over to
Disney Springs and enjoy special dining, entertainment, and shopping. During my last trip, I spent an entire day at Disney Springs! I
shopped at Sephora,
World of Disney, Zara, and
American Threads. I grabbed
lunch at
The Polite Pig and dessert from
Candy Cauldron. Later in the day, I went bowling at
Splitsville Luxury Lanes. There is also an
AMC dine-in theatre, which is wonderful for a rainy day. Disney Springs also often has live entertainment on stage!
You can make your
advanced dining reservations 60 days in advance and there are a ton of wonderful restaurants at Disney Springs, the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, and at
Disney's Boardwalk that you can enjoy without visiting the parks. My favorites include
Flying Fish at Disney's Boardwalk,
Jiko-The Cooking Place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, and
Paradiso 37 at Disney Springs.
My kids and I also love playing miniature golf at
Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf. You can also
rent bikes and ride the trails at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. Many resorts also offer nightly
campfires where you can roast marshmallows!
If you are looking for nightly activities, consider
Atlantic Dance Hall or
Jellyrolls on the Boardwalk.
For a day of pampering, consider booking a spa day at
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The spa is newly reopened and offers a variety of services including massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures!
Magically,
Stacy