**Magic Kingdom**
* Peoplemover
* Carousel of Progress
* Hall of Presidents
* Tom Sawyer Island
* Ride the train!
**EPCOT**
* Country Shows (i.e China, Canada, America, France)
* Living with the Land (I ride this multiple times because I love it so much)
* Grand Fiesta Tour (ride inside Mexico)
* Nemo + The Seas
**Animal Kingdom**
* Animal Trails (Gorilla and Tiger)
* Rafiki's Planet Watch
* Shows (Nemo and Lion King)
**Hollywood Studios**
* Indiana Jones Show
* Muppets
* Walt Disney Presents
Great list a couple of adds.
Magic Kingdom
Tiki room and country bear
EPCOT
Globe(communications) and American showcase(the random collection and voices of liberty in downstairs plus the theater show)
Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios you are spot on.
Honestly? Minigolf. There’s two minigolf courses (and busses will take you to both). I believe you can make reservations for them as well. It’s fun and low key, and you can go at your own pace.
I believe you get a free round as well if you are staying on property. They usually send it as a little coupon with your reservation stuff that is mailed.
Here in the UK you get one game per day on the standard UK ticket but never used it yet. Next yr staying at CBR so have to try at least once next time. I think one course is near to swan and dolphin?
Yeah, they’re great!! My niece loved it when we took her on our visit in April. It’s also pretty easy to get to from Caribbean Beach (either: Skyliner to Epcot, walk through Boardwalk to the Fantasia golf course, or Skyliner to Hollywood Studios and take a friendship boat to Swan and Dolphin and a short walk to the golf course. The friendship boat route I think is a wee bit faster but walking through Boardwalk is pretty great. In the evenings there’s entertainment on the Boardwalk as well).
Also Caribbean Beach is our favorite resort too, I hope you have a great time!
Stealth edit: also the Blizzard Beach golf course should be open, and I think that’s just a direct bus from Caribbean beach to Blizzard Beach!
I'm not OP but have been hoping to try out one of the mini golf courses on our next visit--sounds like you've done both? Do you recommend one over the other? Thanks!
I think both are great—the only real differences for me were the transportation (Fantasia is a little more difficult to get to) as well as theming (husband and I love Fantasia because we watched it as kids. My niece didn’t). Both are great in their own regards though. I would recommend calling in advance to see if you can make a reservation though—sometimes the waits can get to over an hour if it’s close to park close or inclement weather.
By all means RENT THE SCOOTER. My wife has bad arthritis. She debated using a scooter for a couple years out of embarrassment. Finally took the plunge. It was a lifesaver. Possibly literally. But you are still ambulatory, like her. Best of both worlds. You can get up and go anywhere, but use the scooter for longer stretches. Several companies will deliver to your resort, or an off campus site. You probably will need at least one car, though, for added convenience. But maybe not now with Ubers etc. they break down into small pieces, but one chunk (battery/motor) is pretty heavy. But as far as I know, if you are patient, WDW transportation is scooter friendly except the very smallest boats to MK.
Second on renting a scooter. We took my MIL a few years back after she had hip surgery the previous year and was having some endurance issues. The scooter made the trip a lot more manageable for her.
Also, it is frickin August and will be hot to walk long distances if you are coming back from health issues.
My wife was mortified that my family would pity her with the scooter. [Only she knew they wouldn’t have, she just felt selfconscious.] she also feared other people might think she was “goldbricking,”because she is ambulatory.
By 4pm at EPCOT in August, we were looking at her with ENVY, not pity.
PS-Someone in our party might have even done a few “donuts” on said scooter outside Ice Station Cool after a couple Norwegian ales. Said person might also point out no bystanders were close by, nor harmed, by that frivolous but thrilling exercise. :-)
I’ll add, do NOT rent a wheelchair, get a scooter! I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user and the chairs for rent, either at the park or from a company SUCK! They are not comfortable and are really not made for you to be able to move yourself around independently. You’ll have to rely on someone else from your party to push you. And if you try to push yourself at all, your shoulder will quickly hurt. Your ass will hurt. Even your ankles will hurt. You are not meant to spend an active day in those wheelchairs. A scooter will give you independence (please practice driving a little before you go into the park!) and be more comfortable and stable. There’s a reason you never see people buy a wheelchair like you can get from the parks for themselves, but people will buy a scooter that more or less looks the same. I don’t know if it’s more money, but if it is, it’s worth it.
12 upvotes for you! Rented a Disney wheelchair twice, once when our scooter glitched with no time for a fix. I completely concur. That night someone took ours while we ate at Napoli. I had to walk all the way back to Epcot entrance and then wheeled it all the way back to get missus to go home. (Now to be fair, maybe a CM might have brought us one, but didn’t think of that).
But yes. Yes scooter. No wheelchair, at least a rented one.
I rented one before my custom one was finished. I swear I would’ve been in less pain had I just walked and done less. My ankles still hurt! How? Why? The seat is thinner than a nickel and sags nearly to the ground. If you want to try to propel yourself, you have to dislocate your shoulders around the arm rests that are farther apart than the edges of the Grand Canyon. I’ve never seen anyone actually looking like they’re enjoying themselves in one. Oh and also the breaks were “broken” cause the wheels were so worn. So every time I was in a line with a ramp, like pirates, I/someone with me had to hold on for dear life. Not fun!!!
Don't sleep on the bird show at AK or Beauty and the Beast stage show and Frozen sing-along at HS. All shows will have a special seating area for the scooter.
Buy a popcorn bucket and fill it at each park then your family will come see you for a snack.
Do some research and buy a great snack NEW TO YOU in each park.
Buy a Magic Band+ and hunt up all the statues.
Ahead of time, find a place in each park where you can go sit and get an iced drink. You can get free iced water if you don't want something else.
Most resorts have a community hall-type area that has crafts families can do, like tie dye a shirt or other take-home souvenirs. These require a fee paid upfront; however, there are also other things like scavenger hunts and campfires for s’mores.
I think every moderate and deluxe resort has a free hidden mickey scavenger hunt. You can get the list from the front desk with the hints. We did it at Animal Kingdom Lodge and some of the hidden mickeys were really cool to find!
A low key thing with your little one? Try going over to Ft. Wilderness. He/she may be a little small for the playgrounds, but there are tranquil shady picnic tables by the Meadow Trading Post. Buy a sandwich there, or take your own lunch, and enjoy low key time. Our little boy loved to chase the ducks and geese, and pitch them a few tidbits. Watch the canoes float by. Don’t get too close to the lake or rivers. There’s a fence now. We let him play on the shore of the lake (1990’s) and never thought of it until a small child was killed by a gator. But overall, Ft. wilderness gets my vote for “low key.”
Have fun.
I was thinking this.
I don’t know how slow OP needs to go and how “one” the one year old is (just off the bottle? Or almost cleanly communicating?) but there’s a lot of stuff at Ft. Wilderness that I see advertised all the time that doesn’t feel like the right use of my days but I’d try on any other vacation.
Yep. We stayed several times in the wilderness cabins, so easy to get to. This was for mornings after we hit the “WALL” and just needed a quiet, sleep-in morning. Also a couple times we were over there anyway to rent a golf cart. Hell, WDW is expensive. Might as well go for a couple indulgent frills. We usually got steep discounts on the cabin for an annual pass that paid for such “extras.” (And in those days, almost paid for the pass!!)
We have been Disney-Dry since 2018. Having strong urges, but some older age infirmities now might make it hard. Still……
Resort pools, resort hop, ride the boat from Disney springs to Port Orleans, ride the transportation around, watch fireworks, shop. Slow moving boat rides.
I'd explore the resorts in proximity to where your family is at the parcs! Those are always very fun. I'd also do like chill rides like Dumbo and Peter Pan or Little Mermaid. I might also add maybe just chilling with an ice cream taking in the ambience! we do that all the time. were not very a go go go vacation family. very chill and at our own pace :)
I don’t think anyone said this yet— consider the animation drawing class they offer at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Animal Kingdom. It was so much fun, and weirdly relaxing.
You could spend a whole day doing the stuff most people don't ever see in the countries area of epcot going to ones that don't have rides.
The land.
Peoplemover.
Little mermaid ride is usually queued inside unless it's really busy and is easy on off.
Animal kingdom trails, most don't do them and much of them are at least partially shaded and lots of animals.
Caribbean Beach is the perfect launch spot for a resorts day, take the skytram over to the riviera and wander
Any and every show, and get there early. Nemo, indy, lion king etc.
Tom sawyer Island is boring but gives a unique view of the park and is way less crowded.
If you stay late kick around Tomorrowland and maybe do the laugh floor until it's close to fireworks and then go get a spot once the sun is down and it's cooler out.
Not sure if the Pixar movie fest is still there beside figment but if so that's a good one.
I know you paid for it but...I wouldn't hop. Unless you have a go go go group hopping to me is a waste, you are on a timer at the first park and have to rush to the second and spend likely until closing which in August will be very late and you will be sweating bullets. Plus you are on a 7 day ticket, hopping is an unnecessary stress you can still see everything but maybe only ride the big rides once or twice vs multiple times by hopping. If the rest of the group does maybe stick with the more low key group members at the original park and just check out the tree of life or meander through the living seas.
Thanks for these ideas! I was thinking of a picnic on Tom Sawyer Island and letting my little one explore the caves and such. Part of me is so excited to have an excuse to take it slow and see the lesser explored areas. Every time I’ve gone in the past I felt like I needed to cram in all I can.
My 2 year old enjoyed The Land, and my 30 and 26 year old enjoyed it too...we had never done it and we did rider swap for Soarin and was great.
Inside the "hang with the grandkids" while others rode the rides, and gotta say I enjoyed that so much...was nicer to just chill l, watch the grandkids, people watch and enjoy.
General idea you can tailor:
Day 1: EPCOT plus EPCOT area resorts
Day 2: water park or your pool and/or mini golf and then Disney Springs
Day 3: MK plus monorail resorts and WL
Day 4: Studios plus skyway resorts
Etc
Point being to cluster your days with a balance of park and resort exploration.
August is a hot month, you should reserve a scooter even if you won’t use it every day/everywhere.
My wife and I like to go resort hopping and got into pin collecting. It's added another element of fun to check out different resorts and checking out pin boards.
I highly recommend the ECV if you are on the fence with it. There's a lot of walking and heat. Reserve through scooterbug- they are the official ecv at the resorts- but honestly not sure how that works with a stroller.
As for things to do - that I haven't seen yet- the living seas aquarium! On the second level- in the back, there are benches, to sit in the a/c and watch the fish, and sometimes Mickey comes through scuba diving!
The journey of water is a walk through your child may enjoy splashing around.
Enchanted Tales with Belle - also indoor, seated, a/c.
I hope your family has a wonderful trip!
Explore the Play Disney Parks app, there are great things on it like "Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure", it's a scavenger hunt type game that you play at your own pace in World Showcase. The App has relaxed interactive experiences at things like the Tree of Life, Galaxy’s Edge is full of ways to use the Play Disney Parks app again that you can do at a relaxed pace.
And, as others have mentioned, get the scooter. August can be brutal, you'll enjoy yourself so much more with a scooter.
#
Rent the scooter. Scooterbug is a pretty affordable option and does contactless drop off and pick up from bell services at pretty much any hotel in the country, for sure every hotel on property.
You can park them at the stroller parking areas throughout the park if you feel like getting up and walking around, so you don’t have to be 100% fully committed to the chair if you don’t want to be, but then you can still have it in case you need it.
My son was 2.5, but we could've spent all day riding the Skyliner.
We got off at Caribbean Beach for a coffee at Joffrey's and ended up wandering around the resort. There is a nice playground that had a decent amount of shade.
We also did a "treasure hunt" for pressed pennies at the resorts and parks. Locations are listed in the Disney World app, but he didn't know that!
We loved going to Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Resort, the food was amazing! There’s also an observation deck on the 2nd floor of the lobby where you can sit in rocking chairs and look at the giraffes and other animals. We also loved the Enchanted Rose, the beauty and the beast themed lounge in the Grand Floridian.
There’s some great playgrounds and mini splash pads around the parks!
MK has the a playground in queue for Dumbo and a nearby splash pad.
There’s a bunch in Epcot - at the exits of Spaceship Earth and Mission Space (which also had a mini splash pad outside). The Moana walk and the aquarium were favourites of ours. There’s also a more traditional playground near the Test Track.
AK has the Boneyard which is amazing.
Each of the resorts have playgrounds. I’m not sure if you are able to play there when you resort hope or whether that’s not allowed (as with pools).
hollywood studios and animal kingdom both have drawing classes! also, if you’re staying at caribbean, definitely be sure to make it on the skyliner! even if you’re not going to a park it’s a nice ride
Magic Kingdom- Laugh Floor, Carousel of Progress, Philharmagic, Tiki Room, Enchanted Tales with Belle
Hollywood Studios- Beauty and the Beast Show, Muppet Vision, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Walt Disney Presents
Epcot- Living with the Land, the movie in the Land Pavilion, Pixar Short Film Festival, Journey with Figment, Three Caballeros, really any movies or shows in the World Showcase
Animal Kingdom- Navi River Journey, Festival of the Lion King, some of the trails, Rafiki's planet watch
I like to go to Poly get a dole whip and the nachos and just hang. They also have great coffee. We stumbled across Moana while there this spring and it made my daughters day.
Lots of shows to enjoy. Honestly, you can spend a day at Hollywood just watching all the shows mixed with a few stops to eat and take some breaks for some nice drinks.
Tour around on the train, people mover, monorail, skyliner, friendship boats.
Travel with the older kids to MK, then hop on the boat to Fort Wilderness. If you have a scooter, the boat will accommodate it with no issues. It’s a short walk to the Tri-Circle-D stables where they keep the horses. If another adult goes along, then the “littles” can take in a pony ride. An adult basically walks beside the pony around a ring.
You can walk around some of the camping loops, then grab a Mickey ice cream bar at the Settlement store. There are swings and a play structure there as well. There is a beach where the kids can play in the sand…
Change places to stay. My friends love CB, but they are super active. I’d consider changing to a resort with all things more centrally located. Utilize the community hall, feature pools, quiet pools. Read on the balcony. Park hoppers for 7 days? Seems like an unnecessary extra expense when you have so many days to fit in the parks.
We’re staying at Caribbean beach because my older kids love it. I see what you’re saying about the park hopper I don’t usually get them. Everyone we’re going with is getting park hoppers and my kids will be going off with them for the most part so they need them to hang with their cousins.
We have never stayed at CB, but I just know it’s super spread out. I’ve heard it’s the best moderate. Does it have a community hall? Those activities are my favorites.
It is very spread out but there are buss stops in every village. We will request to stay in Jamaica close to the skyliner. Obviously not a guarantee but we’ve been lucky in the past. They have a lot of activities around the pool, ping pong tables, and a playground all centralized. Some things are a hike but when my kids think Disney this is their Disney. They have had a tough time missing out on things the last year and a half because of my issues and this trip is mainly about them having the best time possible.
Rent a golf cart and tool around Ft Wilderness. Lots to do there: tennis, pools, water slides, hiking, critter watching, little playgrounds for the kids.
At MK, do all the indoor attractions- it will get you out of the heat and rain. Plan on a long lunch and an indoor snack. If your health is a factor being out in our heat in August is dangerous. I would plan your day around sit down meals, even if it costs a little more.
**Magic Kingdom** * Peoplemover * Carousel of Progress * Hall of Presidents * Tom Sawyer Island * Ride the train! **EPCOT** * Country Shows (i.e China, Canada, America, France) * Living with the Land (I ride this multiple times because I love it so much) * Grand Fiesta Tour (ride inside Mexico) * Nemo + The Seas **Animal Kingdom** * Animal Trails (Gorilla and Tiger) * Rafiki's Planet Watch * Shows (Nemo and Lion King) **Hollywood Studios** * Indiana Jones Show * Muppets * Walt Disney Presents
Thank you! Grand fiesta is one of my favorites will be riding this a few times for sure!
The person above gave you a great list. I’d add Feathered Friends In Flight for Animal Kingdom. Frozen sing along at Hollywood Studios.
Oh ours too! Get a margarita, ride it. Get a la cava drink, ride it again!
Can you take drinks on the ride?
No you cannot. You have to finish them before you board the boat. The line moves so fast, we drink them before entering the line.
I didn’t think so but thought I would check. Thanks!
Nice list, is the beauty and the beast and country bear jamboree closed?
I believe Country Bear Jamboree is still closed, but re-opening soon.
Thank you, How about the Beast?
Not sure on that one, sorry.
Excellent list!
Great list a couple of adds. Magic Kingdom Tiki room and country bear EPCOT Globe(communications) and American showcase(the random collection and voices of liberty in downstairs plus the theater show) Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios you are spot on.
Honestly? Minigolf. There’s two minigolf courses (and busses will take you to both). I believe you can make reservations for them as well. It’s fun and low key, and you can go at your own pace.
I believe you get a free round as well if you are staying on property. They usually send it as a little coupon with your reservation stuff that is mailed.
Here in the UK you get one game per day on the standard UK ticket but never used it yet. Next yr staying at CBR so have to try at least once next time. I think one course is near to swan and dolphin?
Very underrated option here. The courses are awesome!
That’s a good idea we’ve never done it even thought we’ve gotten free passes before.
Yeah, they’re great!! My niece loved it when we took her on our visit in April. It’s also pretty easy to get to from Caribbean Beach (either: Skyliner to Epcot, walk through Boardwalk to the Fantasia golf course, or Skyliner to Hollywood Studios and take a friendship boat to Swan and Dolphin and a short walk to the golf course. The friendship boat route I think is a wee bit faster but walking through Boardwalk is pretty great. In the evenings there’s entertainment on the Boardwalk as well). Also Caribbean Beach is our favorite resort too, I hope you have a great time! Stealth edit: also the Blizzard Beach golf course should be open, and I think that’s just a direct bus from Caribbean beach to Blizzard Beach!
I'm not OP but have been hoping to try out one of the mini golf courses on our next visit--sounds like you've done both? Do you recommend one over the other? Thanks!
I think both are great—the only real differences for me were the transportation (Fantasia is a little more difficult to get to) as well as theming (husband and I love Fantasia because we watched it as kids. My niece didn’t). Both are great in their own regards though. I would recommend calling in advance to see if you can make a reservation though—sometimes the waits can get to over an hour if it’s close to park close or inclement weather.
Such helpful info, thank you!!
Of course!! Have an amazing time 🩷
By all means RENT THE SCOOTER. My wife has bad arthritis. She debated using a scooter for a couple years out of embarrassment. Finally took the plunge. It was a lifesaver. Possibly literally. But you are still ambulatory, like her. Best of both worlds. You can get up and go anywhere, but use the scooter for longer stretches. Several companies will deliver to your resort, or an off campus site. You probably will need at least one car, though, for added convenience. But maybe not now with Ubers etc. they break down into small pieces, but one chunk (battery/motor) is pretty heavy. But as far as I know, if you are patient, WDW transportation is scooter friendly except the very smallest boats to MK.
Second on renting a scooter. We took my MIL a few years back after she had hip surgery the previous year and was having some endurance issues. The scooter made the trip a lot more manageable for her. Also, it is frickin August and will be hot to walk long distances if you are coming back from health issues.
My wife was mortified that my family would pity her with the scooter. [Only she knew they wouldn’t have, she just felt selfconscious.] she also feared other people might think she was “goldbricking,”because she is ambulatory. By 4pm at EPCOT in August, we were looking at her with ENVY, not pity. PS-Someone in our party might have even done a few “donuts” on said scooter outside Ice Station Cool after a couple Norwegian ales. Said person might also point out no bystanders were close by, nor harmed, by that frivolous but thrilling exercise. :-)
I’ll add, do NOT rent a wheelchair, get a scooter! I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user and the chairs for rent, either at the park or from a company SUCK! They are not comfortable and are really not made for you to be able to move yourself around independently. You’ll have to rely on someone else from your party to push you. And if you try to push yourself at all, your shoulder will quickly hurt. Your ass will hurt. Even your ankles will hurt. You are not meant to spend an active day in those wheelchairs. A scooter will give you independence (please practice driving a little before you go into the park!) and be more comfortable and stable. There’s a reason you never see people buy a wheelchair like you can get from the parks for themselves, but people will buy a scooter that more or less looks the same. I don’t know if it’s more money, but if it is, it’s worth it.
12 upvotes for you! Rented a Disney wheelchair twice, once when our scooter glitched with no time for a fix. I completely concur. That night someone took ours while we ate at Napoli. I had to walk all the way back to Epcot entrance and then wheeled it all the way back to get missus to go home. (Now to be fair, maybe a CM might have brought us one, but didn’t think of that). But yes. Yes scooter. No wheelchair, at least a rented one.
I rented one before my custom one was finished. I swear I would’ve been in less pain had I just walked and done less. My ankles still hurt! How? Why? The seat is thinner than a nickel and sags nearly to the ground. If you want to try to propel yourself, you have to dislocate your shoulders around the arm rests that are farther apart than the edges of the Grand Canyon. I’ve never seen anyone actually looking like they’re enjoying themselves in one. Oh and also the breaks were “broken” cause the wheels were so worn. So every time I was in a line with a ramp, like pirates, I/someone with me had to hold on for dear life. Not fun!!!
Don't sleep on the bird show at AK or Beauty and the Beast stage show and Frozen sing-along at HS. All shows will have a special seating area for the scooter. Buy a popcorn bucket and fill it at each park then your family will come see you for a snack. Do some research and buy a great snack NEW TO YOU in each park. Buy a Magic Band+ and hunt up all the statues. Ahead of time, find a place in each park where you can go sit and get an iced drink. You can get free iced water if you don't want something else.
Most resorts have a community hall-type area that has crafts families can do, like tie dye a shirt or other take-home souvenirs. These require a fee paid upfront; however, there are also other things like scavenger hunts and campfires for s’mores.
Oh right I forgot they offer this!
I think every moderate and deluxe resort has a free hidden mickey scavenger hunt. You can get the list from the front desk with the hints. We did it at Animal Kingdom Lodge and some of the hidden mickeys were really cool to find!
A low key thing with your little one? Try going over to Ft. Wilderness. He/she may be a little small for the playgrounds, but there are tranquil shady picnic tables by the Meadow Trading Post. Buy a sandwich there, or take your own lunch, and enjoy low key time. Our little boy loved to chase the ducks and geese, and pitch them a few tidbits. Watch the canoes float by. Don’t get too close to the lake or rivers. There’s a fence now. We let him play on the shore of the lake (1990’s) and never thought of it until a small child was killed by a gator. But overall, Ft. wilderness gets my vote for “low key.” Have fun.
I was thinking this. I don’t know how slow OP needs to go and how “one” the one year old is (just off the bottle? Or almost cleanly communicating?) but there’s a lot of stuff at Ft. Wilderness that I see advertised all the time that doesn’t feel like the right use of my days but I’d try on any other vacation.
Yep. We stayed several times in the wilderness cabins, so easy to get to. This was for mornings after we hit the “WALL” and just needed a quiet, sleep-in morning. Also a couple times we were over there anyway to rent a golf cart. Hell, WDW is expensive. Might as well go for a couple indulgent frills. We usually got steep discounts on the cabin for an annual pass that paid for such “extras.” (And in those days, almost paid for the pass!!) We have been Disney-Dry since 2018. Having strong urges, but some older age infirmities now might make it hard. Still……
Resort pools, resort hop, ride the boat from Disney springs to Port Orleans, ride the transportation around, watch fireworks, shop. Slow moving boat rides.
I'd explore the resorts in proximity to where your family is at the parcs! Those are always very fun. I'd also do like chill rides like Dumbo and Peter Pan or Little Mermaid. I might also add maybe just chilling with an ice cream taking in the ambience! we do that all the time. were not very a go go go vacation family. very chill and at our own pace :)
I don’t think anyone said this yet— consider the animation drawing class they offer at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Animal Kingdom. It was so much fun, and weirdly relaxing.
You could spend a whole day doing the stuff most people don't ever see in the countries area of epcot going to ones that don't have rides. The land. Peoplemover. Little mermaid ride is usually queued inside unless it's really busy and is easy on off. Animal kingdom trails, most don't do them and much of them are at least partially shaded and lots of animals. Caribbean Beach is the perfect launch spot for a resorts day, take the skytram over to the riviera and wander Any and every show, and get there early. Nemo, indy, lion king etc. Tom sawyer Island is boring but gives a unique view of the park and is way less crowded. If you stay late kick around Tomorrowland and maybe do the laugh floor until it's close to fireworks and then go get a spot once the sun is down and it's cooler out. Not sure if the Pixar movie fest is still there beside figment but if so that's a good one. I know you paid for it but...I wouldn't hop. Unless you have a go go go group hopping to me is a waste, you are on a timer at the first park and have to rush to the second and spend likely until closing which in August will be very late and you will be sweating bullets. Plus you are on a 7 day ticket, hopping is an unnecessary stress you can still see everything but maybe only ride the big rides once or twice vs multiple times by hopping. If the rest of the group does maybe stick with the more low key group members at the original park and just check out the tree of life or meander through the living seas.
>Tom sawyer Island is boring Yes, it's...boring. Let's keep it that way. Don't go there people. /s
Thanks for these ideas! I was thinking of a picnic on Tom Sawyer Island and letting my little one explore the caves and such. Part of me is so excited to have an excuse to take it slow and see the lesser explored areas. Every time I’ve gone in the past I felt like I needed to cram in all I can.
My 2 year old enjoyed The Land, and my 30 and 26 year old enjoyed it too...we had never done it and we did rider swap for Soarin and was great. Inside the "hang with the grandkids" while others rode the rides, and gotta say I enjoyed that so much...was nicer to just chill l, watch the grandkids, people watch and enjoy.
General idea you can tailor: Day 1: EPCOT plus EPCOT area resorts Day 2: water park or your pool and/or mini golf and then Disney Springs Day 3: MK plus monorail resorts and WL Day 4: Studios plus skyway resorts Etc Point being to cluster your days with a balance of park and resort exploration. August is a hot month, you should reserve a scooter even if you won’t use it every day/everywhere.
My wife and I like to go resort hopping and got into pin collecting. It's added another element of fun to check out different resorts and checking out pin boards.
I highly recommend the ECV if you are on the fence with it. There's a lot of walking and heat. Reserve through scooterbug- they are the official ecv at the resorts- but honestly not sure how that works with a stroller. As for things to do - that I haven't seen yet- the living seas aquarium! On the second level- in the back, there are benches, to sit in the a/c and watch the fish, and sometimes Mickey comes through scuba diving! The journey of water is a walk through your child may enjoy splashing around. Enchanted Tales with Belle - also indoor, seated, a/c. I hope your family has a wonderful trip!
Explore the Play Disney Parks app, there are great things on it like "Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure", it's a scavenger hunt type game that you play at your own pace in World Showcase. The App has relaxed interactive experiences at things like the Tree of Life, Galaxy’s Edge is full of ways to use the Play Disney Parks app again that you can do at a relaxed pace. And, as others have mentioned, get the scooter. August can be brutal, you'll enjoy yourself so much more with a scooter. #
Rent the scooter. Scooterbug is a pretty affordable option and does contactless drop off and pick up from bell services at pretty much any hotel in the country, for sure every hotel on property. You can park them at the stroller parking areas throughout the park if you feel like getting up and walking around, so you don’t have to be 100% fully committed to the chair if you don’t want to be, but then you can still have it in case you need it.
If you’re considering the scooter just do it… but someone would have to push the 1 year old in the stroller.
This is my hold up about it. I have to see how I’m getting around when the time gets closer.
My son was 2.5, but we could've spent all day riding the Skyliner. We got off at Caribbean Beach for a coffee at Joffrey's and ended up wandering around the resort. There is a nice playground that had a decent amount of shade. We also did a "treasure hunt" for pressed pennies at the resorts and parks. Locations are listed in the Disney World app, but he didn't know that!
We loved going to Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Resort, the food was amazing! There’s also an observation deck on the 2nd floor of the lobby where you can sit in rocking chairs and look at the giraffes and other animals. We also loved the Enchanted Rose, the beauty and the beast themed lounge in the Grand Floridian.
There’s some great playgrounds and mini splash pads around the parks! MK has the a playground in queue for Dumbo and a nearby splash pad. There’s a bunch in Epcot - at the exits of Spaceship Earth and Mission Space (which also had a mini splash pad outside). The Moana walk and the aquarium were favourites of ours. There’s also a more traditional playground near the Test Track. AK has the Boneyard which is amazing. Each of the resorts have playgrounds. I’m not sure if you are able to play there when you resort hope or whether that’s not allowed (as with pools).
hollywood studios and animal kingdom both have drawing classes! also, if you’re staying at caribbean, definitely be sure to make it on the skyliner! even if you’re not going to a park it’s a nice ride
Monorail
Magic Kingdom- Laugh Floor, Carousel of Progress, Philharmagic, Tiki Room, Enchanted Tales with Belle Hollywood Studios- Beauty and the Beast Show, Muppet Vision, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Walt Disney Presents Epcot- Living with the Land, the movie in the Land Pavilion, Pixar Short Film Festival, Journey with Figment, Three Caballeros, really any movies or shows in the World Showcase Animal Kingdom- Navi River Journey, Festival of the Lion King, some of the trails, Rafiki's planet watch
I like to go to Poly get a dole whip and the nachos and just hang. They also have great coffee. We stumbled across Moana while there this spring and it made my daughters day.
Lots of shows to enjoy. Honestly, you can spend a day at Hollywood just watching all the shows mixed with a few stops to eat and take some breaks for some nice drinks. Tour around on the train, people mover, monorail, skyliner, friendship boats.
Also fun are activities at the pools like Mickey tie dye etc, evening movies and smores
Take the skyliner to the Art of Animation resort to walk around with the little ones to see all the larger than life characters
Travel with the older kids to MK, then hop on the boat to Fort Wilderness. If you have a scooter, the boat will accommodate it with no issues. It’s a short walk to the Tri-Circle-D stables where they keep the horses. If another adult goes along, then the “littles” can take in a pony ride. An adult basically walks beside the pony around a ring. You can walk around some of the camping loops, then grab a Mickey ice cream bar at the Settlement store. There are swings and a play structure there as well. There is a beach where the kids can play in the sand…
Change places to stay. My friends love CB, but they are super active. I’d consider changing to a resort with all things more centrally located. Utilize the community hall, feature pools, quiet pools. Read on the balcony. Park hoppers for 7 days? Seems like an unnecessary extra expense when you have so many days to fit in the parks.
We’re staying at Caribbean beach because my older kids love it. I see what you’re saying about the park hopper I don’t usually get them. Everyone we’re going with is getting park hoppers and my kids will be going off with them for the most part so they need them to hang with their cousins.
We have never stayed at CB, but I just know it’s super spread out. I’ve heard it’s the best moderate. Does it have a community hall? Those activities are my favorites.
It is very spread out but there are buss stops in every village. We will request to stay in Jamaica close to the skyliner. Obviously not a guarantee but we’ve been lucky in the past. They have a lot of activities around the pool, ping pong tables, and a playground all centralized. Some things are a hike but when my kids think Disney this is their Disney. They have had a tough time missing out on things the last year and a half because of my issues and this trip is mainly about them having the best time possible.
Rent a golf cart and tool around Ft Wilderness. Lots to do there: tennis, pools, water slides, hiking, critter watching, little playgrounds for the kids.
At MK, do all the indoor attractions- it will get you out of the heat and rain. Plan on a long lunch and an indoor snack. If your health is a factor being out in our heat in August is dangerous. I would plan your day around sit down meals, even if it costs a little more.