Disney World is known for its world-class theme parks. Visitors from all over the world flock to Orlando, Florida to see Disney magic come to life in front of their eyes.
Home to four theme parks, two water parks, a state-of-the-art shopping center, and 24 hotels, there is no shortage of things to do at Disney. Here are the best things to do at Disney World without a theme park ticket!
Monorail Resort Loop
A classic choice for any diehard Disney fan is the Monorail resort loop. Located at the Magic Kingdom and its three nearby resorts, you can easily enjoy an afternoon on this relaxing mode of transportation.
Feel free to hop on the monorail at whatever stop that you like and explore some of Disney’s best resorts! Disney’s Highway in the Sky is a fun activity for children of all ages, giving views of Cinderella Castle and the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Stops on the Monorail
- Ticket and Transportation Center
- Disney’s Polynesian Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
- Magic Kingdom
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney Skyliner loop
Soaring in the sky and connecting many resorts and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Epcot, perfect way to spend an afternoon in Disney world. It opened in 2018 the Disney parks to Disney resorts with the purpose of providing unique and efficient transportation from resorts to theme parks.
Disney’s Skyliner Stops
- Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- EPCOT
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Cirque Du Soleil
A fan favorite at Disney Springs, Cirque Du Soleil is offering a brand new show, Cirque Du Soleil – Drawn to Life. This show opened in November 2021 and is a must-do while in Disney Springs! Disney and Cirque du Soleil have a long history, Cirque Du Soleil – La Nouba ran from 1998 until 2017. Based on this show’s success, and the presence of a new show, Cirque du Soleil is here to stay!
Tickets can be expensive for this experience, but it is a unique way to spend your evening that is fun for the whole family!
Watch Fireworks From a Resort
Disney World fireworks are a staple on any Disney vacation and did you know you can watch them from a Disney resort for free!? Yup, it’s amazing and some of the resorts even play the firework music in sync with the show, so it is an enhanced experience.
My recommended resort to watch Magic Kingdoms fireworks is the Polynesian resort and for EPCOT is the Boardwalk Resort.
Check out my full and complete guide on where to watch Disney World fireworks outside of the parks for free!
Explore a New Resort
Do you have extra time on your hands? Try spending it at a new Disney resort! Walt Disney World has over 25 resorts and there is always something new to see. Feel free to take the Skyliner or monorail loop mentioned above to a new resort!
If you are taking the Skyliner, I would highly recommend taking it to Disney’s newest resort, the Riviera, and walking about this whimsical European resort!
Mini Golf
Need a relaxing afternoon? Visit one of Disney’s mini-golf courses! These mini golf courses are so cute and a hidden gem in Disney.
Fantasia Minigolf is across the street from Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and the Swan and Dolphin Resort. This fantasia minigolf course is filled with music and fantasy and is themed beautifully. It can become quite crowded, so be aware, but it is definitely worth the visit!
Winter Summerland Minigolf is located right next to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Waterpark! At this minigolf course you can choose if you want to go on the winter side, or the summer side! Both end in a fun interactive Christmas room. I love the theme of this mini-golf course, and it is usually not very busy.
Boardwalk
Disney’s Boardwalk resort is filled with so many amazing activities, restaurants, and nightlife! Spend an evening at Disney’s Boardwalk hotel renting bikes to ride along the boardwalk, watch a sports game at the ESPN bar, or spend your night singing along at the dueling piano bar, Jellyrolls.
The boardwalk offers so much entertainment and it is easily walkable from EPCOT’s back entrance.
Gideons Bakehouse at Disney Springs
Disney Springs has always been filled with amazing shopping, dining, and entertainment, but there is a new bakery in town that is all the rage! Gideon’s Bakehouse is famous for its half-pound cookies and mysterious theming.
These award-winning cookies are amazing, but they also sell savory cake slides and the best-selling cold brew in all of Disney Springs.
