10 Secret Disney World Experiences Beyond the Theme Parks You’ve Never Heard About

Any Disney vacation is sure to be packed with tons of fun, no matter where you stay or how long you're on the property. Walt Disney World Resort offers many amazing things to do aside from the regular theme park experience—from tours to shows and more, there's something that everyone can enjoy! Here are some fun and unique experiences you may not know about to keep in mind when planning your next trip to Walt Disney World.

Amorette's Patisserie Cake Decorating Experience

If you’ve seen the fancy-looking Disney character cakes, chances are they were from Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs. This year, Amorette has brought back its beloved Cake Decorating Experience!

Depending on the day of the week, you’ll get to either make a Mickey or Minnie Mouse dome cake with instruction from some of Disney’s finest pastry artists. The 90-minute class also includes beverages of your choice as well as an exclusive commemorative pin!

The Cake Decorating Experience takes place before Disney Springs opens to guests, so if you are staying on property, make sure to check with the concierge desk to see about available transportation options. Since Disney Springs will be closed to guests during the experience, you get the chance to purchase any baked goods after your class before they sell out for the day! Amorette’s can also hold your cake while you explore Disney Springs, so just make sure to remember to pick it up!

Behind the Seeds Tour

The Behind the Seeds tour is one of my favorite tours to experience at Disney that some might not know about! Behind the Seeds takes you on an hour-long walking tour of everything you get to see in the Living with the Land attraction at EPCOT.

Located in The Land Pavilion, the tour offers you the opportunity to walk through four of the greenhouses and the fish farm that is featured in the boat ride. Behind the Seeds will feature a tour guide who will show you around while giving you information along the way about the fish farm, the unusual crops you'll see, the latest plant-growing techniques, and more. This is a hands-on experience, as you’ll be able to touch and taste things during your tour. If you’re lucky, you could even get to feed the fish!

Disney Mini Golfing

Another great idea for the whole family to enjoy at Disney World is mini golf! Disney offers two different mini-golf locations that each have two 18-hole courses. Fantasia Fairways and Gardens miniature golf located near the Swan and Dolphin Resorts is based on the film Fantasia.

At Winter Summerland, located right next to the Blizzard Beach waterpark, you can choose between a sand course named “Summer” and a snow course named “Winter.” At the Summer course, you can see what Santa and his helpers do during the summer, with cute decorative touches like surfboards, sandcastles, and ornaments hanging from palm trees. Or explore a classic winter course with some fun twists, like Squirty the Snowman spraying water at golfers and obstacles like giant peppermints, hockey sticks, and the drawbridge of a melting castle.

Keys to the Kingdom Tour

The Keys to the Kingdom Tour in Magic Kingdom is perfect for anyone who enjoys learning about the history of how Walt Disney World came to be and how it operates today. This tour is a bit lengthy, coming in at five hours of mostly outdoor walking.

The Keys to the Kingdom Tour will explore some of Walt’s personal history as well as fun facts, trivia, and details about the parks you may not have known about. During your tour, you’ll be able to enter the famed “Utilidor” tunnel system along with other backstage areas that Disney’s Cast Members use to navigate the Magic Kingdom park. Because of the nature of this tour, no cell phone usage (including photos or videos) is allowed.

Spanish Mosaic Art and Colors of Coronado

In the Dahlia Lounge at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, you can participate in Spanish Mosaic art. This Spanish art tradition will have a fun Disney twist as you get to design your own art piece using mosaic tiles.

You can take inspiration from the Spanish influence all around you in the Gran Destino Tower or use your favorite Disney elements during this two-hour experience to make something that is all your own! A travel container will be given to you to allow safe carrying of your new masterpiece.

Also located at the Coronado Springs Resort is Colors of Coronado, a two-hour painting class with local artists leading the instruction. The designs vary by month, so this is something you can repeat many times!

EPCOT Seas Adventures

The Seas at EPCOT offers two great experiences to get you up close and personal with the animals featured. Dolphins in Depth lets you dive into the world of Dolphins! During this two-hour experience, you’ll get to hear from the amazing caretakers at The Seas and get a glimpse into Disney’s Dolphin care program along with training and research procedures at EPCOT. You also will have the opportunity to interact with the dolphins in waist-deep water for a half hour, so don’t forget your bathing suit!

If you are SCUBA-certified, take a look at DiveQuest, where you can immerse yourself in the environment at The Seas. You’ll spend most of the two-hour experience on a backstage tour to see how the aquarium at The Seas works, then you’ll get to spend 40 minutes on a dive with clear visibility and no currents. Look for the rest of your party as well through the aquarium’s 56 windows!

Drawn to Life

Drawn to Life is the first collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering. Located in Disney Springs, this show gives you a thrilling and entertaining acrobatic performance mixed with some of your favorite Disney characters! Taking place on an animator’s desk, the show features drawings literally coming to life! The show is only offered Wednesday-Sunday each week, so it may not be easy to fit into your schedule, but this is something I highly recommend making time for.

Animal Kingdom Tours

Animal Kingdom Park has many different options for you to jump into life on the safari. Whether you choose to get close to the animals or just to experience the atmosphere, there is an option for everyone.

You may not know about the 60-minute Caring for Giants tour, which will let you get a closer look at the African elephants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom from just 80 feet away. You can also see the white rhinoceros backstage in the 60-minute Up Close with Rhinos tour.

If being so close to the animals isn’t your thing, check out the Savor the Savanna tour. From the comfort of a safari vehicle, you’ll be able to see many animals in an open savanna environment. African small plates along with select drinks are available during this tour.

If you’re looking for the ultimate experience, check out the Wild Africa Trek. Throughout this private three-hour journey, you’ll ride in a safari vehicle and be harnessed to cross a rope bridge while taking in the sights of the savanna. Complementary photo services and African cuisine are included in this experience.

Ferrytale Fireworks

If you’re looking for that perfect fireworks experience, you can also get it outside of the parks! Ferrytale Fireworks is the perfect way to have a new view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

You’ll board a ferry boat at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and set sail on the Seven Seas Lagoon for an unforgettable experience! Stories and scavenger hunts await, along with desserts and drinks for your perfect fireworks show. Being on the water gives you a new perspective of the fireworks and your “Mickey Vision” glasses will as well!

Capture Your Moment

A great way to remember your trip is with pictures! Some guests don't know you can book Capture Your Moment, which will give you 20 minutes with a Disney photographer to take pictures of you and your party at some of your favorite iconic Disney Parks locations!

Each of the four theme parks offers this package during regular park hours in select locations. This is a great opportunity to get that perfect family shot you can use for years to come! Booking the Capture Your Moment package does not include downloads or physical copies of the pictures, but you can purchase these separately. If you have purchased Memory Maker, the pictures are included with that purchase.

10 Forgotten Disneyland Attractions You'll Never Get to Ride

As the old makes way for the new, several attractions have been forever retired at Disneyland. In our list of forgotten Disneyland attractions, we’ll take you through 10 attractions that will never be experienced again by guests.

Disney World Regulars Try To Keep These 10 Disney World Spots Quiet, But They Are Worth Trying to Check Out

Disney World has a wealth of spots that are hidden gems not every visitor knows about. See some of the secret places Disney World regulars try to keep quiet that are relaxing places to enjoy around the theme parks and Disney World Resort hotels.

Boomers Make These Ten Embarrassing Mistakes at Disney Parks

There are some major Boomer mistakes to avoid in order to make the most of your experience. From ignoring mobile apps to resisting breaking out of the same food routine, be sure to read our list of the biggest mistakes that boomers make at Disney.