
Even if you’ve never been to Walt Disney World before, you probably know some of the classic things that you can do there, whether it’s seeing fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle, riding classic rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, or meeting Mickey Mouse. What you may not know are there there are a whole lot of other ways to have fun at Walt Disney World that you may not expect! Check out 10 things you didn’t know you could do at Walt Disney World.
Art Classes
Learn how to draw some of your favorite Disney characters! Check out this activity at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort in the hotel lobby.
Mermaid School
Become part of a new world with Mermaid School at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels! This class for guests 4 and older fits participants with a swimmable “tail” and teaches them how to swim like a mermaid!
Backstage at the Magic Kingdom
Want to see how the most magical place on Earth makes some of its magic? There are several behind-the-scenes tours offered at this park that give you an inside look at how attractions operate, a peek at the hidden Utilidors that run underneath the park, and insight into the design and history of this iconic park.
Pirate Treasure Hunt
Many guests go through Adventureland in Magic Kingdom Park without knowing that there’s a fun treasure hunt activity in the area. Sign up as part of the Treasures of the Seven Seas, get your map, and follow the clues from Captain Jack Sparrow to discover what’s hiding in Adventureland.
Up Close with Animals
If you’d like to get up close with some of the residents of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there are several great ways to do so that can fit any budget. You can make your own journey to encounter wildlife on the Wild Africa Trek, or get a closer look at the residents rhinos and elephants on a behind-the-scenes tour showing how the park cares for these animals.
Concerts
Keep an eye on concert schedules if you’re visiting Epcot, because you may be able to see some of your favorite musical artists at no additional cost! Concerts are typically offered during one of Epcot’s several yearly festivals. You can check Broadway singers during the Epcot Festival of the Arts, favorites of the 60s and 70s during the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, and a wide variety of artists from country to pop to hip hop during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.
Museum Exhibits
Epcot’s World Showcase takes you around the world to 11 different countries with architecture, design, and food, and in a few of them there are also exhibits where you can learn more about part of that country’s culture. Check out displays of Native American art, an exhibit on Japan’s “cute culture,” and a Mexico folk art gallery.
Carriage Rides and Horseback Riding
If you want to put some outdoorsy fun into your vacation, you can head over to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds for horseback riding and hay rides. For a little romantic touch, carriage rides are also available at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts.
Fishing Excursions
Another activity if you’re looking for fun outdoors is a fishing excursion! Go out on guided bass fishing excursions on Bay Lake, the Seven Seas Lagoon, Crescent Lake, and more. Or, guests staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside can rent gear for dockside fishing at the resort.
Spa Day
Sometimes visiting Walt Disney World can make you feel like you need a vacation after your vacation. If you’d like to indulge in some extra relaxation, Senses Spa has two locations (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa) with massages, beauty treatments, and more. Plus, treatments can even be added to your vacation package ahead of time.