Weird Things You Can Do at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World offers so many tourist opportunities that we sometimes take it all for granted.
Have you ever stopped to consider all the random entertainment activities that are possible at Disney? The list doesn’t even make sense when you think about it.
Here are nine of the weirdest things you can do at Walt Disney World.
Build a Robot
Let me start by clarifying. Anybody can be weird anywhere at any time. This isn’t a competition, and that’s not what we’re discussing here.
Instead, we’re talking about activities that Disney fully endorses and sometimes even charges guests to do.
For example, you can head to Droid Depot at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Then, while you’re there, you can pick the parts to build your own droid.
You can style this adorable creature after BB-8, R2-D2, or any of your other favorite droids…except C3PO. You wouldn’t be able to fit him in your luggage once the trip ends.
Plus, having your own droid is a surefire conversation starter at home.
Explore a Greenhouse
When you think about a Disney vacation, you probably don’t fantasize about an educational tour of a greenhouse.
I mean, I’m confident that your garden looks lovely and is the envy of your neighbors. You just don’t plan to talk about seeds when you’re at Disney.
Well, Disney challenges that notion by hosting the surprisingly popular Behind the Seeds Tour at EPCOT.
You’ll walk the grounds at The Land pavilion, accessing places that are otherwise unavailable to park guests.
Disney legitimately performs groundbreaking work in the field of horticulture, and you can watch it up close if so inclined.
Get Taken Hostage
This one’s not quite as alarming as it sounds, but it’s very real.
When you ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, The First Order takes your ship.
Luckily for you, they’re taking prisoners. Otherwise, you’d only ride this one once…and Disney would face a lot of lawsuits.
Cast members dressed as members of The First Order will escort you from your vessel, talk a surprising amount of smack, and then place you in a holding cell.
Once again, you catch a break when The Resistance comes to your rescue.
Even so, YOU LITERALLY GET TAKEN HOSTAGE ON THIS RIDE!!!
Go on Safari
I have no idea where you live, but I doubt that you’ll find plenty of mountain lions there. If I’m wrong, I’d politely suggest that you should move. That place doesn’t sound safe.
At Walt Disney World, cast members have “trained” mountain lions, which is to say that Disney brings them food and provides them with potential mates.
When you think about the matter from this perspective, the lions have it really good at Disney, unlike poor Simba back in the day.
You’ll realize this as you take a safari trip through the dangerous jungles of…Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
This safari carries you through countless natural habitats where animals like our lion friends spend their days. And it shouldn’t be possible.
You won’t find another theme park on the planet where the animals live in their home environment at a place a short distance from a roller coaster.
Hug a Mouse
Don’t get me wrong. I do this, too. I’ve probably got 50 photos of Mickey and me hanging out and shooting the breeze.
No matter how old you are, you’ll always accept a hug from Mickey Mouse. He’s the star of the show, and you’re the invited guest in his home.
Still, spending part of your day buddying up to a rodent isn’t something you’d ever do at home. No, you’d call pest control if you saw a mouse.
In fact, you might check the correct dosage on your medications if you thought you saw a mouse the size of Mickey. That’s pretty much the plot of Harvey.
Ride a Horse
Let me be clear here. I don’t mean a fake pony, although you can do that on Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.
Still, I’m referencing an opportunity at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness.
Yes, Disney operates what I can only describe as a dude ranch, although it’s not something that earns much marketing.
Disney kinda runs the ranch as a place for people who already know about it and allows word-of-mouth to entice some additional guests to visit.
One of the entertainment options here is a pony ride. Of course, the catch is that it’s only available for kids.
In a hilarious reversal of societal norms, adults must use the carousel instead.
Ride a Carriage
Much of what I just said applies here as well. Walt Disney World actually offers multiple ways to ride a carriage.
The Main Street Vehicles remain popular today, even though they’re a nostalgic throwback to a simpler time filled with much worse transportation.
One of the options is the Horse-Drawn Street Car, a trolley that carries about 20 guests through the heart of Main Street, U.S.A.
Of course, you may prefer a more intimate carriage ride. If so, you can book one of those at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch.
Yes, Horse-Drawn Excursions remain a thing at Walt Disney World and cost what I consider a modest fee of $55.
Visit a Barber Shop
Speaking of Main Street, U.S.A., that barber shop isn’t just for show!
I’m 100 percent serious when I say that you can walk in Harmony Barber Shop, ask for an appointment, and then receive a haircut.
The only caveat here is that you probably shouldn’t expect to be able to walk in and sit down. This barber shop does accept reservations.
In fact, you’ll discover that this barber shop is challenging to book. It’s a decidedly popular thing to do.
So, if you want to get a haircut on Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll need to plan (and schedule) ahead.
I’ve never actually done this one, but I love the mental image of exiting a literal barber shop and then listening to the Dapper Dans.
Watch a Play
When we talk about the longest-running dinner show performances in the world, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue demands a spot in the conversation.
While Disney chose not to run this musical show during the pandemic, it still holds a claim as one of the most frequently performed musicals ever.
Magic Kingdom has hosted the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue since 1974 (!), and park officials estimate it’s held more than 40,000 performances.
This Disney favorite turns 50 next year, and I’m hopeful that management will make a deal of the achievement, preferably with plenty of merchandise.
The remarkable part of Hoop-Dee-Doo is that it has told a virtually unchanged story for half a century now, and modern audiences love it just as much.
Disney did take the opportunity of the pandemic closure to reinvigorate and modernize some parts. Those changes are trivial in the greater scheme, though.
When you watch this play today, it’s eerily similar to the same one you would have seen during the Gerald Ford administration!
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Feature Photo: Disney