These Specific Disney World Resorts Have Cool Perks You Don’t Need to Be a Guest to Use

The Walt Disney World Resort hotels aren’t simply places for guests to stay. They each have their own unique set of offerings and experiences. Many of these can be enjoyed by everyone, not just guests of the specific hotel. Others are intended for Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guests, but you could easily miss them. These go beyond the Disney Resort Hotel perks you might miss. 

This list outlines some of the best perks that are uniquely available at select Walt Disney Resort hotels. Follow along to see what you can enjoy the next time you’re visiting the hotels of Walt Disney World.

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Movies Under the Stars (All Resorts)

At every single Walt Disney World Resort hotel, guests have the opportunity to take part in a cozy and magical nighttime activity. After the sun sets, an outside movie screening takes place, showcasing a beloved Disney or Pixar feature film.

Feel free to wear your pajamas, bring a blanket, and some tasty snacks. After a fun-filled day, this is a great way to wind down, while still taking in that Disney magic.

The movies change nightly and showtimes may vary. To get the most up-to-date movie schedule, you can call (407) 939-2273.

Please note that for this activity, as well as the rest on this list, you won’t be able to park at the resort if you do not have a dining reservation there or are not a guest of the hotel. However, you can use the complimentary Walt Disney World transportation to get to where you need to go.

Electrical Water Pageant (Multiple Resorts)

The Electrical Water Pageant is a simple, yet enjoyable, nighttime entertainment offering at Walt Disney World. This is a floating parade that takes place on the Seven Seas Lagoon. 

The show begins with a medley of patriotic songs. During this time, a beautiful set of shimmering Stars and Stripes, that’s illuminated with strands of lights, floats across the water. Soon after, a trail of twinkling sea creatures swim by to the sound of classic Disney songs.

The Electrical Water Pageant can be enjoyed from the Seven Seas Lagoon shoreline at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

Showtimes for this event can be found on the Walt Disney World website, on the My Disney Experience app, or by contacting the resort directly.

Watch the Fireworks (Monorail Resorts)

It’s wonderful to experience the Magic Kingdom fireworks show by gathering around Cinderella Castle. However, it can be equally as enjoyable to view it from a nearby resort. There are wonderful viewing locations at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

One of the best places to view the show is on the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Located directly across the lagoon from Magic Kingdom, this location provides an ideal view of the display in a relaxing setting. The music for the show is also piped through at this location, making the experience even more immersive. A similar experience can be had over on the shoreline at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, although the view won’t be as direct as the one at the Poly.

You can also choose to view the fireworks while enjoying a meal at one of the resort restaurants. Similarly to the beach and shoreline, the music is piped into the restaurants and the lights are dimmed. This experience can be had at ‘Ohana or Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Narcoossee’s or Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and California Grill (photo above taken here) or Top of the World Lounge at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Reservations are highly recommended for all of these locations and required for a few. If you’re interested in having a fireworks dining experience, make sure to book your spot in advance!

Chip ‘n' Dale's Campfire Sing-a-Long (Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort)

A number of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels have campfire activities in the evening hours. At these resorts, you’ll find a small fire where guests can roast marshmallows and make s’mores. (S’mores making kits are available for purchase, but guests are welcome to bring their own supplies as well!)

While a campfire isn’t unique to just one resort, there is one resort that offers the most unique campfire.

At Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, guests can take part in Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-a-Long. At this event, guests can join our favorite chipmunk friends, Chip and Dale, for a night of fun and smiles. Guests can gather around the roaring fire to roast their marshmallows and make s’mores. Delicious foods are also available at the Chuckwagon Snack Bar. Afterwards, it’s time to sing guitar-led songs together while Chip and Dale make their way around, visiting all the guests.

Once the sun sets, it’s time to enjoy a movie on the giant screen. The movies and showings vary, but the schedule can be acquired by calling (407) 939-7529.

While this activity is open to all Disney resort guests, parking is restricted to those with a reservation. Guests not staying at Fort Wilderness can use Disney transportation to attend.

Visit the BoardWalk (Disney's BoardWalk Inn)

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn isn’t just designed to resemble a boardwalk; there’s an actual boardwalk attached to this resort. Disney’s Boardwalk is similar to Disney Springs, offering shopping, dining, recreation, and entertainment in a single location.

The dining options on the boardwalk range from snacks, to quick-service meals, all the way up to multi-course table-service meals. There are also a number of bars and lounges where guests can sip on unique libations.

Guests can find entertainment in the street performers that put on a variety of different acts along the boardwalk. They can also stop by Jellyrolls to watch the infamous dueling pianos. To take part in the entertainment, they can head to Atlantic Dance Hall, where they can shake, shimmy, and boogie all night long.

If you’re looking for things to do, consider playing one of the classic arcade games. You can also rent a surrey bike and take in the dazzling views of Crescent Lake.

Glass Slipper Photo Opportunity (Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)

Disney PhotoPass photographers are spread all throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks in order to capture all of your magical moments. Luckily, this perk doesn’t end when you leave the parks. If you head to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, you can have a fairytale photo shoot at the Disney PhotoPass studio.

The studio is located on the second floor of the main building. Once there, you’ll see a whimsical backdrop set up. Off to the side will be a small table, where Cinderella’s glass slipper rests gracefully on a blue velvet pillow.

This is the one and only location at Walt Disney World where you can have your picture taken with the glass slipper. It’s a great chance for all guests to have a little extra magic and fantasy added to their pictures.

Starlight Safari (Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is most well known for its wide, open savannas, where guests can catch amazing views of wild animals. Guests can even request Savanna View rooms, when staying at this resort. However, if you don’t have a hotel reservation, you can still visit the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

When you arrive at the hotel, make sure to stop by the front desk and ask for a Wildlife Field Guide. The guide includes a list of all of the different mammals and birds that can be found in the savannas. It even includes pictures and descriptions of each one. While most guests stop by during the day to get a view of the animals, there’s a unique opportunity to see them at nighttime.

The Starlight Safari takes place in an open-sided safari vehicle. Guests are taken out for a nighttime adventure, where they’ll see over 30 species of African wildlife. Each guest is provided with a pair of night vision goggles, which allows them to fully see the animals and their behaviors after the sun goes down.

The Starlight Safari lasts about one hour and is open to all guests ages 8 and over. The cost ranges from $76.65 to $89 per person. Reservations are highly recommended for this popular activity and can be made online or on the My Disney Experience app.

Step Inside Popular Disney and Pixar Movies (Disney's Art of Animation)

Another Walt Disney World Resort hotel that offers unique photo opportunities is Disney’s Art of Animation. The resort is divided into four sections, all of which are themed to a popular Disney or Pixar movie. While the theming is thoroughly executed through the entire resort, including the rooms and family suites, the outside courtyards, pool areas, and walkways are extremely immersive.

The four movies that you can find yourself in at Disney’s Art of Animation are Cars, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and The Little Mermaid. Each area takes you through different settings within the movies. For example, in The Lion King section, you’ll walk through the Pride Lands, the Hakuna Matata jungle, and the Elephant Graveyard. In each area, there are larger-than-life statues that bring the settings to life. You’ll also see some familiar faces along the way!

These themed areas are great places to get some special pictures.

Tri-Circle-D Ranch (Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort)

Many guests enjoy seeing the horses and ponies that star in the parades, are pulling vehicles down Main Street, U.S.A., and are used for carriage and wagon rides at select resorts. However, what many guests don’t know is that you can visit these horses and ponies at their stables – at no cost to you!

At Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, you’ll find Tri-Circle-D Ranch, the home of all of the Walt Disney World horses and ponies. The stables are open for all guests to view. While there, you can visit with the horses and ponies, learn about them and their care, see the different tack and equipment that’s used, and see the Dragon Calliope – the horse-drawn musical instrument that Walt purchased for a Disneyland parade in the 1950s.

As I mentioned, it's completely free to walk through and visit Tri-Circle-D Ranch. However, if you would like to, there are opportunities to take part in equine activities for an additional cost. Trail rides are available for guests ages 9 and older and cost $65 per person. Younger riders, ages 3-9, can enjoy pony rides. The cost for this is only $10 per child. Carriage rides are available at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside for $65 per group. (Groups are limited to 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 small children.) Wagon rides are also available Friday-Sunday from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Wagon rides are $15 for guests ages 10 and up and $10 for guests ages 3-9.

During the later months, make sure to stop by to experience a Holiday Sleigh Ride! This experience is $80 per group and can accommodate up to 4 adults or 2 adults with 3 small children.

Pineapple Lanai (Disney's Polynesian Village Resort)

One of the most popular treats at Walt Disney World is Dole Whip. This perfectly balanced sweet and tart pineapple soft serve is most commonly served at the theme parks. If you’re wanting to enjoy this treat outside of the parks, you can do so by visiting Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Located right outside of the Great Ceremonial House is a quick-service location called Pineapple Lanai. Here, guests can enjoy a standard Dole Whip (pineapple, vanilla, or swirl), a Dole Whip with Rum Floater (Dole Whip Pineapple with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum), or a Pineapple Float (pineapple juice served with choice of Dole Whip pineapple, vanilla, or swirl).

Throughout the year, specialty treats can also be found at Pineapple Lanai. Currently, guests can stop by for a Mickey Pumpkin Soft Serve. This treat includes pumpkin-spiced soft serve and coconut haupia with caramel drizzle, graham cracker crumbs, and a white chocolate Mickey-shaped pumpkin.

Mickey-shaped Beignets (Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter)

Some other guest-favorite Disney treats are Mickey-shaped beignets. While these warm, fluffy, powdered dough treats can easily be purchased in the park at Disneyland, at Walt Disney World, they’re only available at one location – Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

The Mickey-shaped Beignets can be purchased at Scat Cat’s Club – Cafe or Lounge. Guests can choose to purchase 3 or 6 standard Mickey-shaped Beignets, served with dipping sauce. Other menu options include Specialty Beignets, a Mickey-shaped Beignets Sundae, or Baton Rouge Beignets (boozy beignets served with your choice of Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur, Kahlúa Liqueur, or RumChata Liqueur).

Currently, there’s a special beignet option for spooky season. For a limited time, you can purchase Ghoulish Beignets. This dish includes Mickey-shaped Beignets that are dusted with Cookies & Cream powdered sugar and topped with a Marshmallow Crème drizzle.

Get Pampered at the Spa (Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa)

Walt Disney World vacations can be full of excitement and activity. It’s sometimes hard to pause, take a break, and actually relax. However, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, you can do just that. 

All guests are welcome to visit The Grand Floridian Spa. Here, amongst soothing music and calm lighting, guests can enjoy services such as body treatments, massages, and manicures.

Before the relaxation begins, guests can change into comfy robes and slippers. Throughout the experience, guests also have access to a relaxation room, where light refreshments are available.

Reservations for this rejuvenating experience can be made online. If you have any questions in regard to The Grand Floridian Spa, you can reach out via email at spa.requests@disneyworld.com or by phone at (407) 824-3039.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort)

If you enjoy dinner with a show, you’ll want to head over to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to experience the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. This is a high-energy, comedic musical revue that guests can enjoy while chowing down on a savory feast. This is the only dinner show that’s currently available at Walt Disney World.

The all-you-care-to-enjoy meal is made up of fried chicken, smoked BBQ pork ribs, tossed salad, baked beans, cornbread, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and strawberry shortcake. Guests ages 21 and older can enjoy unlimited draft beer, wine, and sangria. (Non-alcoholic beverages are also available.)

Whether you choose to clap, stomp your feet, and sing along, or simply sit back and enjoy the show while you eat, you’re sure to have a great time watching the performers at Pioneer Hall. For insight on our experience at this show, read our full review of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.

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