What makes a Walt Disney World vacation great? Is it the thrilling attractions? Is it the entertaining shows? Is it the beautiful golf courses and immaculately designed resort hotels?
Well, the answer is: All of the above. And more.
But, to put it less flippantly, what makes a Walt Disney World vacation great is the feeling of exploration you get as you discover every inch of the property. They don’t call it Walt Disney World for nothing — there’s an entire world to explore, and on your vacation, you’re the one to blaze the trail.
Everyone visits the resorts. Everyone rides the rides. You’ll no doubt find the time for that. But, if you want to make your trip unique, and if you want to see a side of Walt Disney World that many will pass by, you have to get off the buses and out of the parks. In fact, some of the best parts of Walt Disney World are best experienced by boat or by bike.
If you like being active and outdoors, try these special bike rides and boat tours — they’ll give you a perspective on the Vacation Kingdom you’ll never forget.
1. Explore Fort Wilderness by bike
If Walt Disney were alive, and if he could visit Walt Disney World, his favorite place to stay wouldn’t be concierge level at the Grand Floridian or a tower room at the Contemporary. His favorite spot would be the down-home, rustically charming Fort Wilderness.
More a community than a resort, Fort Wilderness is Disney’s natural beauty turned up to 11. It doesn’t have the artifice of Animal Kingdom or the exoticism of the Caribbean Beach. Rather, it feels like untamed old Florida.
And, the best way to see the resort is by bike. Rent your bicycles at the Meadow bike barn and explore the marked bike trail — riding around the campsite property, and even transiting over to the neighboring Wilderness Lodge.
Intrepid bikers can even spot the train tracks for the old Fort Wilderness Railroad, which closed in the early 1980s.
Make sure to check out this bike tour during the holidays, too: festive vacationers have a tradition of bringing portable light shows with them on vacation to Fort Wilderness. Exploring the campgrounds by bike can give you the best view.
2. Take a tour of Discovery Island (from the water)
If you like the Magic Kingdom resort area, but find a bike tour a bit too normal for your taste, try renting a boat at either Fort Wilderness or the Contemporary Resort.
Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon are best viewed up close, and Disney’s rental boats let you explore it all.
Sure you can sail over to the Bungalows at the Polynesian Village Resort, but that just scratches the surface of this body of water’s sights. Make sure to check out Discovery Island (but don’t get out — the island is forbidden to guests). The island was a kind of proto-Animal Kingdom, serving as a sanctuary for animals and featuring zoological exhibits for much of Walt Disney World’s early life.
Also, check out the northernmost shore of Bay Lake to find the village of Bay Lake — a small collection of houses that exist to help Disney maintain municipal control of the Walt Disney World Property.
And, while much of it has since been removed, make sure to check out the remnants of the Seven Seas Lagoon wave machine on an island across from the Polynesian Village — which operated for roughly one day, right at the beginning of Walt Disney World’s history.
3. Tour Crescent Lake on a surrey bike
While lacking in the history of Walt Disney World’s early resorts, Crescent Lake provides the best public space in Walt Disney World. Comprised of the Boardwalk Inn Resort, the Yacht and Beach Club, and the Swan and Dolphin, Crescent Lake is a fantastic walk.
But it’s an even more fantastic surrey bike tour.
Yes, you can rent these large, comfortable contraptions and circle the resorts at your own pace. During the early evening, when the sun goes down, the entertainers come out, and the crowds are still relatively thin, this tour can be one of the most enriching at Walt Disney World.
Plus, Crescent Lake is larger than it might appear, so your feet will appreciate the wheels by the time you finish your lap.
4. Cruise the Sassagoula River
This is one of those experiences that might seem obvious to a Walt Disney World vet, but many still miss out on.
Connecting Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs with Disney Springs, the Sassagoula River is one of the most charming bodies of water at Walt Disney World. And, the boats traversing its length are arguably the best free entertainment on the property.
Park at Disney Springs, board the boats on the Marketplace end of the Springs, and ride all the way until Port Orleans Riverside. From there, explore each resort on the way back, and you’ll have one of the most classic Disney experiences ever.
And, for a fun diversion within the trip, rent bikes at Saratoga Springs for some added exploration.
5. Splurge on a fireworks cruise
While the other experiences on this list are simpler, sedate activities, sometimes, you just want to do the cool thing.
Disney, ever the innovators, realized that they could charge guests extra for chartered boats with spectacular views of their iconic evening shows. And while it might seem a bit overly luxe, it is worth the coin.
Seeing Illuminations (while you still can!) while parked in World Showcase Lagoon, or viewing Happily Ever After from the Seven Seas Lagoon, should be on any Disney fan’s bucket list.
With catered dessert, as well as a personal sound system featuring the musical score, these are the ultimate “something special,” no matter if it’s your first time at Walt Disney World or your 100th.
And hey, when the fireworks are over, if your feet have had enough of the biking and boating, there’s still a bus that can take you back to your hotel room. That’s the beauty of the Vacation Kingdom.
