Walt Disney World, it's a big name and when most people hear the name they think of a big castle, Mickey Mouse and lots of magic. With four amazing parks, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Disney's Animal Kingdom, it's easy to get lost within the parks and fill weeks on end with tons of fun. However, there are so many things to do outside of Disney parks but still on Disney property. These things are often much more affordable and could be considered hidden gems, not to mention you'll often skip lots of crowds at these places especially in the busier months.
One of the biggest things to do outside of the parks that's definitely no secret is Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney and if we're being honest I'm gonna keep calling it DTD for the time being). This area is newly renovated with lots of new stuff to explore including lots of new high-end shopping areas, Sprinkles Cupcakes, a dine-in theater, bowling alley, restaurants of all price ranges and of course, just the right amount of magic to remind you that you're still in Disney World. The possibilities are endless and there are tons to explore!
Another fun thing to do is resort hopping. What many guests don't know is that you don't have to be staying at a Disney resort to explore them. You can either hop on the monorail and explore the three "Magic Kingdom resorts" or even just hop on a bus or boat to whatever sounds interesting to you. All Disney resorts have a quick service option where can you grab a quick bite and some even have full-service dining all with something that makes each experience unique. Each resort also has gift shops with items only sold at that resort and unique theming that adds the touch of Disney magic you expect.
So you may be reading this article and thinking this all sounds fun and all but I want to meet my favorite characters. Well lucky for you, you can get that outside of the parks, too. Character dining can be found throughout the property at lots of different resorts. Three of the biggest include Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and 1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian. All three of these dining options can be found on the monorail route so you can enjoy a nice ride around Walt Disney World on your way to Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Make sure to do reservations early if you want to take part in this one because these tend to book up months in advance.
All of this is just the tip of the iceberg as to what you can do at the Walt Disney World Resort. There's also two water parks, mini golfing and much more. So next time you're planning your Disney vacation, remember that while there are lots to do within the four parks, take some time to explore outside of the parks, you might be pleasantly surprised.
