Help with fun things to do with kids...

[reneeandmark]

We are going to be staying at Disney. We already have ressies and all that. We will be going June 15 - 23 and will ONLY be doing Disney this time. We are interested in things to do AT Disney that are "off the beaten path" at the parks or resorts. The kids are 10, 11 and 15. :mickey:Thanks in advance for your help.

[gauvin4]

Take a trip over to AKL and view the animals from one of the many viewing spots. This is a must for us each time. We could watch the giraffes for hours.
The have very informative staff from Africa that are always a pleasure to talk to.

[Disneyfun]

One one of my recent trips, we went with a family with children much younger than yours, but I think that this would be of intrest to your children. Pick up a copy of Steven Barrett's Hidden Mickey book. It is great! The book is layed out so that the hidden Mickey's can be discovered like a scavenger hunt and are divided up between different areas. I could see you having a day or portion of a day set aside to have a family competition to find the different hidden Mickey's. You could divide your family up into teams and they would have to take a picture with a digital camera as proof that they had found the hidden Mickey!

The 5 yo that was with us totally got into finding them and even started finding them on her own before we told her about them! The flip side was that she continued to find them when she got home - Look Mom, a hidden Mickey in my Cherrios!

[Beast_fanatic]

There are some tours (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/park/tours.asp) that ages 10+ can participate in that could be fun. The Behind the Seeds tour is very good and relatively inexpensive.

The Hoop-Dee-Doo Review (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/dinnershows.asp) is a lot of fun for people of all ages.

There's some family friendly entertainment in the evenings on the Boardwalk (http://www.intercot.com/themeparks/boardwalk/default.asp). You can also rent surrey bikes there.

And, here's some information on hidden surprises (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/park/hiddentreasures.asp) that can be found around the parks.

There's also horseback riding and carriage rides (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/recreation/horseback.asp) available.

Also, boating (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/recreation/boating.asp), parasailing (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/recreation/parasailing.asp), other water sports (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/recreation/watersports.asp), water parks (http://www.intercot.com/themeparks/waterparks/default.asp), and Cirque du Soleil and Disney Quest at Downtown Disney's Westside (http://www.intercot.com/themeparks/downtowndisney/westside/default.asp#DQ).

[spoiledraf]

I'm personally partial to fishing excursions. Up to five people on the boat.

[PrettyMinnie]

Head over to Beaches n Cream at Beach Club. Every time we have gone it has been quiet and then you can check out the Boardwalk a bit. We did this for the first time on our last trip and was surprised at how much there was to do. Good luck!

[Patricia]

If your wanting some down time in the afternoon, head over to Fort Wilderness. They have a petting zoo, boat rentals including canoes on the canal, Mickey's BBQ, fishing, etc. Fort Wilderness info (http://www.intercot.com/resorts/disney/fortwilderness/default.asp)

They have a fishing hole, marina and bikes at Port orleans Riverside as well.. you can take a boat there from Downtown Disney. We did this and stopped of at the French Quarter for a French donut on the way back.

[MOJoe]

Not exactly off the beaten path, but my boys, who are the same ages as your children, love to mini-golf. Fantasia Gardens is right across the street from the Swan.

[comicguy]

I would suggest the Behing the Seeds Tour @ The Land. It is really fun and kills some time. My whole family learned several new things about plants and fish on the tour.

Talk with CM's from the diff EPCOT countries.

[Daddy Mouse]

Sea Racers can be rented at the resorts. Our children just enjoyed hanging out at the pool.

[DeniseMB]

Campfire and a movie under the stars at Fort Wilderness...FREE :mickey:

[Suz36]

Have you tried pin trading? You can turn it into a sort of treasure hunt, trying to complete a certain set.

[ltam16]

Go to Tom Sawyers Island in MK and look for the hidden paintbrushes You get a fast pass for Runaway Train or splash mountain. My kids loved it and we found them!