• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About/Hire Me
    • About Me
    • Hire Me
    • Contact
    • Family
    • Faith
    • FAQ
    • My Running Story
    • Recipes
  • Disney
  • Fitness
    • runDisney Information Page
    • Fitness
    • Races
  • Parenting
  • Travel

Through Heather's Looking Glass

  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • family
  • About Me

Beyond the Parks Part 2

January 11, 2012 | Disney, family, running, Uncategorized

 

In my last installment of beyond the parks of Disney world, we discussed golf, working out/spa, waterparks, water craft, afternoon tea, and bike rentals. Today I will discuss a few more of the hidden fun things to do while vacationing in Disney World beyond the standard theme park rides (which are still great by the way!)

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex:

I wouldn’t have known this existed if I wasn’t a runner. This is where Disney holds the expos for their races. There are plenty of events held here such as Pre-season training for the Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Bucs. SO, depending on the time of year, you could hit up one of different sporting events! WWOS is also home to the Playstation Pavilion. They have 17 PS3 systems, wi fi, and more. It costs $5 to play for thirty minutes.

Characters in Flight: This hot air balloon located in Downtown Disney will take you a soaring 400 feet above the ground (tethered to it, of course!) for the best views of Walt Disney world. You get to enjoy your view for 8-10 minutes flying high in the sky. Weather permitting, hours of operation are 10:00 am to midnight.

(source)

Fireworks Cruise:

You can board a boat for the Wishes or Illuminations fireworks in Walt Disney World. Price of the wishes cruises includes snacks, and you can even have Private dining whip you something uo to eat onboard. What a great way to enjoy the show from the 7 seas lagoon!

For the illuminations cruise, you can also have private dining have food for you, as you cruise around the water in EPCOT watching the show.

Another option is the Grand 1 Yacht at the Grand Floridian. It is a 45 foot boat staffed with a captain and deckhand. Ride the lagoon in Grand style as you enjoy the Magic Kingdom Fireworks.

Lastly, there is the Pirates and Pals Fireworks voyage. You are provided snacks before your voyage, where you can watch the electrical water pageant and Wishes fireworks. Captain Hook and mr. Smee may show up for photos, before you sail the lagoon, docking nearby to watch the fireworks. You may even get to see Peter Pan as the voyage concludes.

Horse drawn carriage rides:

At Fort Wilderness, you can take an old fashioned horse drawn carriage ride, first come first served. The ride lasts 45 minutes and departs from Pioneer hall twice nightly. During Halloween, you can book a haunted 25 minute carriage ride through the woods. Spooky! There are also Holiday “sleigh rides” that you can book in advance.

There are also regular25 minute carriage rides at Fort Wilderness and Port Orleans Resort.

———————————-

These are just a sampling of the many, many fun things to do in WDW. This is one reason we keep going back. We do new fun things every single trip, and have a blast! If you would like more information on any of the things I mentioned above, please contact me at heather@travelwiththemagic.com and I would be more than happy to help you plan your vacation AT NO COST. Our services are free for our clients!

Be sure to click on the Free Disney Travel Quote tab on my menu bar for more info and current offers!

———————————-

I ran 3 miles in the treadmill last night. my first three miles since the injury! It was really hard (and slow) but I did it! Next run on Thursday I will go for 3.5. Movin on up, yall! Thanks again for all the support and encouragement!

QOTD: If you had Disney world to yourself for a whole day what would you do?

Like this:

Like Loading...

Sign up for my newsletter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tara Burner says

    January 11, 2012 at 8:06 am

    I miss disney…
    hmmm one day to myself…not sure…
    I know I would NOT go on splash mountain or space mountain lol

  2. LifeisaRun says

    January 11, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    Yay for your first 3 miles since the injury! If we had one day to ourself at Disney World we’d go to Harry Potter World!! Totally want to do that when we are out there for the Princess Half!

    • Heather says

      January 11, 2012 at 12:44 pm

      ROFL! Harry potter is at Universal Sudios…our direct competitor!hhehe!

      • LifeisaRun says

        January 11, 2012 at 1:01 pm

        HAHAHAHA, shows how much I know! I’ve only been to Florida once….and not in the Orlando vicinity so the Princess Half will be my first experience there period!

  3. Lisa Fine says

    January 11, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    Oooh, tough question.

    I would definitely ride my favorite attractions numerous times in a row…like Expedition Everest, Splash Mountain, Rock and Roller Coaster, and few others. I’d also love to go on some of the backstage tours. While I’d hate for them to ruin the magic, they’d also probably be fascinating.

    Glad you’re back into running!

  4. Robin Johnson says

    January 11, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    I would go on all the roller coasters and then spend the rest of the day shopping and people watching. http://www.dashingdiva.net

  5. Robin says

    January 11, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I highly recommend the Chip N Dale campfire at Fort Wilderness as a free character thing you can do. We love Fort Wilderness. Do you ever see discounts besides Annual Pass and AAA discounts for Fort Wilderness?

    • Heather says

      January 11, 2012 at 2:45 pm

      yes! check out the current offers/deals under my free disney travel quote tab!

Trackbacks

  1. Tips for an Adults Only Disney Trip - Through Heather's Looking Glass says:
    April 26, 2016 at 1:11 am

    […] 3.) Beyond the Theme Parks: Since you have a couple of “free days” with no park tickets, take time to explore some of the lesser known Disney fun such as Disney Springs, miniature golf, water parks, going fishing or parasailing, or enjoy tea at the Grand Floridian. I actually wrote two blog posts a while back about things to do beyond the theme parks. You can check them out here and here. […]

Primary Sidebar

I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
Thank you for visiting, and feel free to contact me with questions, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at Support@HeathersLookingGlass.com.

Please, no guest post requests. 🙂

More about me

Privacy Policy

You can also find me here:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Family Fun in Tuscaloosa: Your Ultimate Getaway Beyond Game Day
  • 5 Reasons to Try a New Way of Travel
  • Experience Superhero-Sized Fun at Gaylord Opryland DC Summer
  • Digital Nomads: Safely Working Remotely While You Roam
  • Tips for Surviving (and Thriving) as a Travel Ball Mom

 

Search

How to Start a Blog

How to start a blog
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Family
Guess I’m above average. 💁🏻‍♀️😆 Guess I’m above average. 💁🏻‍♀️😆

#disneycreators #disneyadult #disneymeme #disneymillenial #disneymom
I guess I’m just above average. 💁🏻‍♀️

#disneyadult #disneycreators #disneymom #disneymillenial #disneymeme
Ready to make your next beach getaway effortless a Ready to make your next beach getaway effortless and unforgettable? 🏖️☀️

@BeachballProperties offers a wide variety of vacation rentals from Orange Beach to Gulf Shores and Perdido Key. Whether you’re looking for a cozy condo, a beachfront home, or something big enough for the whole family!

They take care of everything—from booking to check-in and even local recommendations—so all you have to do is show up and enjoy the sunshine. 🌴

✨ Locally owned
✨ Family operated
✨ Exceptional service
✨ Sparkling clean rentals
✨ Close to restaurants, attractions & of course... the beach!

Let Beachball Properties take the stress out of planning, so you can focus on making memories that last a lifetime. 🎉🌊

✈️ And now, getting to the beach is easier than ever, especially for my Knoxville friends! @allegiant now has a non stop flight from Knoxville that is only 1.5 hours long! Be sure to check their website to see what other nonstop flights they have added! 

Use code HEATHERSLG when you book the 🔗 in my bio (look for the pic of this reel cover!) 

#BeachballPropertiesPartner #BeachballProperties  #OrangeBeachAL #VacationRental #BeachTrip #FamilyTravel #BeachHouseVibes #WindwardPointe504 #ALbeachblogger
#ZbarPartner #ad Busy days mean snack time has to #ZbarPartner #ad Busy days mean snack time has to be fast and mom-approved—and Zbar Snacks Bars checks all the boxes. 🙌 

They’re made with great tasting ingredients, come in kid-favorite flavors (ours is Chocolate Chip!), and are perfect for tossing in a backpack, lunchbox, or purse. I grab ours at Walmart to keep things simple and stocked. @Zbarofficial 

💬 What’s your go-to snack when you’re on the move? #Zbar #WalmartFinds #MomHack #SnackTimeWin
I was just looking… And now I need a Halloween I was just looking…

And now I need a Halloween themed @loungefly by next week. 💀🎃💸

#MNSSHP #disneyinfluencerlife #bootoyou #notsoscary #mickeysnotsoscary #mickeysnotsoscaryhalloweenparty #disneycreators
#ZbarPartner #ad Between after-school activities, #ZbarPartner #ad
Between after-school activities, errands, and everything in between… we need snacks that work just as hard as we do. 

That’s why I keep a stash of Zbar Snacks Bars from Walmart on hand—made with organic ingredients, filled with good stuff, and packed with flavor my kid actually asks for. 
✔️ Delicious taste 
✔️ Soft-baked texture 
✔️ Kid-approved 
✔️ Easy to grab on-the-go No more snacktime struggle. Just open, eat, and go. 

🛒 Grab yours at Walmart next time you’re stocking up for back-to-school! 

@Zbarofficial #Zbar #MomLife #SnackWin #BusyMomFuel #WalmartFinds #LunchboxIdeas
Backstory: It was our last morning and Myself, my Backstory:
It was our last morning and Myself, my mom and dad were sitting outside by the fire drinking coffee enjoying the view. My mom was walking to the door and my dad and I heard a scraping noise on the deck. I was sitting and the column was blocking my view. Dad was standing. He turns away from me, and says super casually:

“Oh look, it’s a bear.” 🐻 

I jumped up sure enough there is a baby bear standing at the top of the steps, 12 feet from us. We ran in and locked the door and called for Bobby and EK to come look. We left our coffee outside and mom and dad’s phones were out there. Thankfully I had mine for video!

We had grilled steaks the night before so they were coming to find the food. (After the first morning…we had grilled the first night too…we saw bear paw prints so we knew there were some in the area.) 

Emma Kate was recording on her iPad, and got the best clip of all, the very best one! He actually seated at her two different times but we only got one on video. 

It was quite the adrenaline rush but also SO COOL and a great way to end the trip!!! 

*Please do not ever approach or feed a bear. While black bears typically aren’t aggressive, if humans feed them they will continue to get close. If staying in the Smoky Mountains stay aware and never leave food outside or in your car! And lock your car and cabin doors.* 

#bearsighting #smokymountains #gatlinburgcabins #luxurycabin #blackbear #bearsandcubs #heybear #iwannapetthatdog

Copyright © 2025 · Through Heather's Looking Glass · Theme by Bella Creative Studio

%d