RSS Feed
 When most people think of a Walt Disney World vacation, images of Cinderella Castle, the “big golf ball” at Epcot, or the Tower of Terror probably come to mind. Walt Disney World, after all, is a theme park resort destination with four different theme parks to visit.  Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom Park, the original park which opened in 1971, is classic Disney. Bringing to life the stories from our childhood and immersing us in a fairy tale. For many, the Magic Kingdom IS Walt Disney World. Hopping on the monorail at Magic Kingdom and transferring at the Ticket and Transportation Center (known as the TTC by cast members and regulars) brings guests to EPCOT a theme park inspired by Walt Disney’s very own vision of communities of the future. In fact, EPCOT stands for “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow," a name coined by Disney himself. This park has evolved to become a celebration of nature, innovation, and culture. A short boat ride or Skyliner ride away from EPCOT, is Disney’s Hollywood Studios - a theme park that recreates the epic movies and television shows that have defined generations like Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Toy Story. And last, but certainly not least, is Disney’s Animal Kingdom. A theme park that transports guests to tropical jungles and lush savannas where animals roam and food and entertainment celebrate the cultures of Africa, Asia and even fictional places like Pandora from the world of Avatar. With four incredible theme parks filled with attractions, shows, restaurants and shops, guests will have no trouble filling their days with fun, adventure and excitement! But the reality is that with so much to do at the theme parks, guests seem to forget about all of the amazing things to do at Disney World outside of the parks. For me, the best Disney vacations are the ones where I take rest days in between park days. After all, going non-stop all day at the theme parks can be exhausting! There is so much to do at the resorts and elsewhere on property which makes it really easy to have a couple of days to relax. Here are a few of my favorite things to do on my non-park days:  Walt Disney World resort pool day relaxing Resort Pools Every Disney resort whether you are staying at a Deluxe Resort like Disney’s Beach Club Resort, a moderate resort like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort or a value resort like Disney’s Pop Century Resort, is expertly themed to transport guests to another place or time. From furnishings to decorations to the music playing throughout the resort, Disney resorts allow guests to feel like they are in the magic even when they aren’t in the theme parks. The resort pools are no exception. The pool areas are all designed with great attention to detail with ample seating, pool bars, and fun activities hosted by Disney cast members. Disney Deluxe and Moderate resorts all even have at least one waterslide. Many resorts feature themed splash areas for the littlest members of the family! As your travel agent, I can help you pick the resort that is best for your needs (and can give you the heads up about which waterslides are my favorites.) A day at the resort pool is always a great way to relax, especially on those hot Florida days!  Disney Water Park Water Parks Did you know that Walt Disney World has two water parks on property? Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach are a great way to spend a hot day at Disney World. With thrilling waterslides, lazy rivers, wave pools and even character meet and greets, the water parks allow guests to experience the thrills of Disney World while staying cool. Each of these parks showcase the creativity of Disney Imagineers, making guests feel transported to a tropical paradise at Typhoon Lagoon or a melting ski resort at Blizzard Beach. While admission to the parks is typically an additional cost, guests who are staying at Disney resorts this summer with check-in dates from May 26 to September 8, 2026 will receive free admission on their arrival day! This is such a great way to ease into your Disney vacation without needing to use up a day on your park ticket!  Aerophile at Disney Springs Disney Springs For guests who love to dine, shop or enjoy live entertainment, a day at Disney Springs is a must! Disney Springs is an outdoor complex accessible by bus from any Disney resort or by boat for guests staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, and Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter resorts. Disney Springs is home to some of my favorite restaurants at Disney World including Wine Bar George for delicious small plates and a thoughtfully curated wine list. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ serves delicious southern comfort food and Raglan Road, a lively Irish pub with live music, Irish step dancers and great pub offerings. Disney Springs is also a great place to shop for just about anything! Looking for some new Minnie Ears? Head to World of Disney - the biggest store on Disney property with a large selection of Disney Parks merchandise. Forget your brush at home? Head to Sephora (I did this once 5 years ago and still use the brush I bought there!) Looking for a gift for your pet sitter? Stop into Basin for some custom soaps and bath salts. Strolling through Disney Springs in the evening is so nice. Situated on the water, it has a beautiful view of the sunset and is dotted with live entertainment throughout the length of the thoroughfare. Speaking of the water, you can take a cruise the water in a vintage car-turned-boat with the Amphicar Tours. You can soar high above in the iconic Aerophile – The World Leader in Balloon Flight, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Walt Disney World. Disney Springs is also great for a rainy day at Disney - with an AMC Theater and Splitsville Bowling Alley, this is the perfect place to stay dry!  Mini Golf Looking for some innocent, competitive fun? Check out one of the two mini golf locations at Disney World. Fantasia Gardens and Fairways is located at the Walt Disney World Swan and Disney’s Winter Summerland is located adjacent to the Blizzard Beach water park. Both locations feature two 18-hole courses Guests who book a room + ticket vacation package receive 4 vouchers per package for one 18-round hole of miniature golf. I recently redeemed my vouchers and played a round of mini golf with my daughter at the Winter Summerland golf course - we chose the Winter course. We had so much fun! The theming was absolutely adorable - think Christmas at the beach complete with the Beach Boys playing in the background. Mini golf was the perfect way for us to spend our non-park day!  So Much More!
I have barely scratched the surface here with things to do on a non-park day. There are so many other ways to spend your day including fishing, renting a boat, renting bicycles, horseback riding, archery, resort arcades, resort hopping, and more! As your travel agent, I can help you not only plan out your park days and help you navigate Lightning Lanes and dining reservations, but I can also help you craft a non-park day itinerary that will help you take advantage of all of the Magical Extras Disney World has to offer. Send me an email at [email protected] to start planning your Walt Disney World vacation today!
0 Comments
 There are new experiences coming to Walt Disney World over the next few months! Here is what is coming: New Character Greetings Debuting Soon We recently saw the return of fan-favorite character experiences including Enchanted Tales with Belle, Ariel’s Grotto and Pete’s Silly Sideshow at Magic Kingdom Park. New friends will make their debut soon.  Just in time for the 25th Anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Moana will greet fellow voyagers on Discovery Island for the first time, starting April 22. Later this summer, Guests will get the chance to hug long-time EPCOT icon Figment at the Imagination! pavilion.  And this fall, Mirabel from the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film “Encanto” will greet Guests in the Fairytale Garden at Magic Kingdom, which will be transformed with whimsical décor inspired by La Familia Madrigal. EPCOT Transformation Comes to a Crescendo Later This Year If you’ve been to EPCOT recently, you’ve likely seen the amazing progress happening around World Celebration and World Nature as part of the park’s multi-year transformation. Well, get ready because it will all be completed later this year! Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will debut this fall in World Nature. This self-guided exploration trail will take you through the natural water cycle – from the skies to oceans and all the way back again. Just like Moana, Guests are encouraged to become a protector and friend to our natural resources.  When CommuniCore Hall opens in World Celebration later this year, it will be the center of festival programming throughout the park. In newly released renderings, Guests can see this will be home to a new character greeting location called Mickey & Friends. Guests will be able to meet Mickey Mouse and some of his best pals in this colorful space.  CommuniCore Hall will also be the home of a dynamic exhibition space that will transform with each festival throughout the year, as Guests can see here in one possibility imagined for EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Playing with light, shapes and reflections, the architecture of this building was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering to celebrate the legacy of EPCOT and the original CommuniCore buildings. Commemorating Disney100 at Walt Disney World EPCOT will host the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World Resort to commemorate this monumental milestone later this year. To honor the legacy of Disney storytelling and unforgettable characters that have entertained and inspired people of all ages for a century, now is the time to relive those beloved Disney memories and delight in making new memories with friends and family in our theme parks. Enjoy all-new experiences as the Disney Parks celebrate this momentous anniversary and the culmination of the EPCOT transformation – from meeting Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their platinum attire to snapping a selfie with a platinum sculpture of the one who started it all and watching Spaceship Earth illuminate the evenings with a special lighting design.  Plus, a new nighttime spectacular will debut at EPCOT later this year, inviting everyone to gather around World Showcase Lagoon for a show that will unite us through commonalities of the heart in a dazzling display of fireworks, lasers, music and light. Featuring an original composition along with select songs from the Disney songbook, this new spectacular will remind us that we’re more alike than different, connecting our hearts together as one. Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation & Conservation at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park We can’t wait to celebrate 25 years of magic at Disney’s Animal Kingdom next month on Earth Day! Since it opened on April 22, 1998, this one-of-a-kind theme park has offered awe-inspiring animal encounters, thrilling attractions and larger-than-life musical stage shows. Since 1995, with support from The Walt Disney Company and guests, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed $120 million to support nonprofit organizations working with communities to save wildlife, inspire action and protect the planet. Additionally, the Disney Conservation team leads best-in-class scientific programs to conserve wildlife in Disney’s backyard and beyond, connects people to build a network for nature, and cares for the planet through everyday actions. In April, there will be new ways to join in the celebration for Earth Day and this milestone, including new sweet and savory treats, specialty merchandise and limited-time character sightings in the park. There will be more surprises on April 22, when the park officially turns 25. Stay tuned to Disney Parks Blog for more details coming soon.  Summer House on the Lake Opens Later This Year at Disney Springs A stunning new restaurant will open at Disney Springs in late 2023. Summer House on the Lake embodies a breezy, beach house vibe that will pair perfectly with the sweeping views of Lake Buena Vista. Guests will be able to enjoy a California-inspired menu featuring simple, sustainable ingredients – from pizza and pasta to fresh salads and sandwiches. Plus, Guests can savor the restaurant’s exclusive Summer House Rosé along with a selection of wine, beer, handcrafted cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. Just imagine sipping a favorite drink on one of three expansive outdoor patios with a lake view. Those of us with a sweet tooth will be delighted to hear about The Cookie Jar, a dessert-focused market within this space serving up freshly baked cookies and house-made pastries.  Corkcicle Opening First-Ever Retail Location at Disney Springs
Corkcicle is coming to Disney Springs! A local Orlando business, Corkcicle creates innovative, obsession-worthy, high-performing insulated drinkware, coolers and accessories in a variety of gorgeous colors that elevate every sip and bring delight to everyday moments. This kiosk will be Corkcicle’s first-ever retail location and will open later this spring. Book your Disney vacation with Simply Perfect Vacations, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, and you'll receive our concierge vacation planning services complimentary when you book a package with at least 3 days of theme park tickets. This means we will help you dining reservations and activity reservations; recommendations on what theme parks to visit and when; recommendations on where to eat, what rides to ride; tips and tricks to make the most of your day and so much more! Simply Perfect Vacations is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner that will make sure you and your vacation are taken care of with our concierge style planning services that start from the moment you contact us. Simply Perfect Vacations has assisted over one thousand clients! Helping them plan their simply perfect Disney vacation and we'd love to help you plan yours, request a quote today! Or you can contact a Simply Perfect Vacations agent for more details about a Walt Disney World vacation! To get Disney vacation news this and other travel news and highlights delivered straight to your email inbox, sign up for our newsletter. As a thank you for signing up, you'll get our mini-guide to the Walt Disney World theme parks AND Universal Orlando parks for FREE!  Cirque du Soleil artists are returning to the iconic white tent theater at Disney Springs as they train and rehearse for a spectacular new show - Drawn to Life! Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil & Disney is scheduled to open on November 18, 2021.  Drawn to Life is the first-ever collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering. Guests will journey into a world where an animator’s desk becomes the stage and drawings come alive. The show is a celebration of life, accentuated by the delightful, mesmerizing movements of Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic mastery.
At its core, the show is about the love between a father and a daughter with a story drawing inspiration from Disney’s 100-year heritage of animation. The family-friendly show brings timeless Disney stories and characters to life in an unforgettable way through the use of innovative design, acrobatic performances, dazzling choreography, musical scores, brand-new animation lovingly created by Disney Animation artists, and some extra touches of Disney magic. Tickets will be available for purchase soon on August 20th. Simply Perfect Vacations is a travel agency specializing in Disney Destinations; Universal Orlando vacations and beyond. When you book your vacation package with Simply Perfect Vacations you will receive our complimentary concierge services from the day you contact us to the day you get home, and everything in between. Contact a Simply Perfect Vacations agent today for more information or request a Walt Disney World resort quote or a Universal quote today! To get Disney vacation news this and other travel news and highlights delivered straight to your email inbox, sign up for our newsletter. As a thank you for signing up, you'll get our mini-guide to the four Walt Disney World theme parks AND Universal Orlando parks for FREE! |
NewsSharing with you the latest Disney News and Travel Deals. Archives
September 2026
Categories
All
|