Disney vacations aren’t exclusive to those in the theme park sphere. If you’re a Disney fan looking for something a little different, you can get pixie dust sprinkled on a different type of adventure with these options.
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
Image: Dawn Pennington, Flickr (license)
Nestled alongside the Atlantic Treasure Coast, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is a quiet escape that’s a far cry from the frenzied pace of the theme parks. Its soft sandy beaches appeal to more than just people. The area is also a nesting ground for Loggerhead Sea Turtles. The hotel has no exterior lights on its oceanfront side, and rooms that face the water feature tinted windows so the turtles aren’t distracted by other lights as they follow the moon to the ocean. Special outings are available for a guided visit that won’t disrupt the turtles.
On-site activities at the resort include a Mickey-shaped pool, two-story pirate-themed water slide, and a water play area for the kids, complete with water cannons. The Port Holes miniature golf course continues the pirate theme. Catch-and-release fishing is available at the on-site lake. Head to the shore for surf school or water rentals like boogie boards, wave runners, and kayaks. If you need to unwind, the Spa at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort offers a full menu of pampering treatments.
Looking for more? You can also fill your time with:
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Bocce ball
- Bingo
- Archery
- Scavenger hunts
- Tennis
- Campfire sing-alongs
- Table tennis
- Board games
- Arts and crafts activities
- DVD rentals
Adventures by Disney
Image: Kelly DeLay, Flickr (license)
Adventures by Disney offers guided tours of destinations around the globe. You can enjoy the Disney touch on a trip to Iceland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Costa Rica, and more. Tour itineraries are carefully organized to offer an unforgettable selection of activities no matter where you’re headed. Over an eight-day itinerary in England and France you’ll visit the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Versailles, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Windsor Castle, and more. Your accommodations are included as well as many of the meals for your vacation.
Adventures by Disney offers vacations within the United States as well. You can take a long weekend in New York City with a backstage tour of Good Morning America, tickets to a Disney Broadway musical, and stops at many classic NYC highlights. Do you want something more rugged? Stay at a dude ranch in Yellowstone National Park and enjoy fly fishing, biking, horseback riding, hiking, and even a stagecoach adventure.
Every trip comes with dedicated Disney-trained Adventure Guides to help you get the most out of every moment of your vacation. Admission to an assortment of attractions and activities is included with an Adventures by Disney vacation with perks like VIP access and admission to private events. You can take nearly any type of vacation to a new level with this Disney-fied approach.
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
Image: jenny cu, Flickr (license)
You can give your Hawaiian vacation a touch of Disney magic with a stay at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. This gorgeous island retreat offers endless opportunities to unwind. The Laniwai spa includes a full menu of treatments as well as the Kula Wai outdoor hydrotherapy garden, and Painted Sky Teen Spa. Hit the Pulu Bar for a personalized mixology session crafting your own body scrub from local ingredients.
Other on-site delights include the Waikolohe Pool with a tunnel body slide, tubing adventures down the Waikolohe Stream, four whirlpool spas, the Keiki Cove splash zone, and the Ka Maka Grotto pool overlooking the ocean. Attend a movie night under the stars, gather around the fire pit for storytelling, or take a nature and wildlife tour around the resort. On-site dining abounds, including a Disney character breakfast buffet so you can find everything you need for your vacation at this one resort.
Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort
Image: Chad Sparkes, Flickr (license)
Located along South Carolina’s coast, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort is designed to resemble a hunting and fishing lodge from the 1940s. If you’re looking for a laid-back vacation where you can step back to a simpler time, this is the destination of your dreams. You can play board games in the community hall, enjoy the pool tables at the Live Oak Lodge, or gather round the campfire for a sing along. Guided nature walks and dolphin discovery tours will help you appreciate your gorgeous natural surroundings in Hilton Head.
The resort offers three pools including the 72,000-gallon Big Dipper pool with a wraparound waterslide. Check the schedule of activities when you check in to make sure you don’t miss any of the fun. You’ll find Movies Under the Oaks, fishing and crabbing, kayak adventures, and tee-shirt tie dyeing.
Disney Cruise Line
Image: Chad Sparkes, Flickr (license)
Onboard the Disney Cruise Line, you can take the magic of Disney onto the high seas. These cruises feature live Disney-themed shows, character experiences with your Disney favorites, and themed deck parties with everything from pirates to Jedi knights. These cruises are well-suited to families with a nursery for children under age three and kids clubs with immersive activities for older age ranges. Whether you want to swim alongside Nemo and friends or splash in a Mickey-shaped pool, you can find what you’re after on a Disney Cruise.
You don’t have to go for roller coasters, dark rides, and other theme park classics to get some Disney in your vacation. Consider one of these alternatives for pixie dust without the long queues and long days of walking.
