Unique Experiences at DVC Resorts near Magic Kingdom

What we really want during Disney vacations is to make memories. Sometimes, the warmest recollections don’t occur during park visits. Instead, those are the moments when you and your family are hanging out at your DVC resort. 

Disney leans heavily into this idea. All DVC properties host onsite activities that will entertain you during your downtime. They’re rarely crowded, and they’re brimming with warmth and the spirit of Disney. Here are some of the best unique experiences at DVC resorts near Magic Kingdom.

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort 

Some of the DVC resort experiences are absolutely perfect representations of the applicable hotels. That’s definitely the case at the Contemporary, which hosts The Magic of Mosaics.

Think of this as an art class wherein you learn to create a mosaic in the style of Disney Legend Mary Blair. You’ve admired the illustrator’s work for many years, whether you realized it or not. 

Blair is responsible for the giant mural on the Grand Canyon Concourse of the Contemporary. She also created the look and style of the dolls on It’s a Small World and wrote some of the most popular Little Golden Books. She’s an icon.

On Mondays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Lakeside Landing allows participants to build their own Mosaics based on Blair’s work. The cost is $25 per mosaic, but these are keepsakes designed to last for years. It’s a bargain price for a future household decoration. 

For fans of more physical activities, Pickleball has evolved into a bloodsport, and you don’t want to get left behind. That’s why you should participate in the Pickleball Clinic at the Contemporary. 

As I’ve previously mentioned, the hotel is one of several DVC properties that has added a pickleball court to its other recreational activities. However, since many members grew up in the days before pickleball was a thing, they need training. During the Pickleball Clinic, Cast Members teach people how to play the fastest-growing sport in America. 

Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows 

At the Polynesian, Disney goes the extra step by hosting the occasional Video Game Dance Party beforehand. Kids show off their best moves from Just Dance four nights a week. They love the games anyway, but it’s better on a giant projection television. You can hear the squeals of laughter from across the hotel campus.

The other recommendation is somewhat bittersweet. Many of us remember that glorious moment when we first entered the Polynesian. Aunty Kai’I was there to greet us and present us with a ceremonial lei. It was always one of the highlights of my trip, and Disney still does it for hotel guests. Sadly, Aunty Kai’I passed in 2020, but her spirit remains at the resort.

To wit, for $15-$20, guests can create their own Kukui Nut leis, which is the same thing we watched Aunty Kai’I do for so many years. Disney provides this activity at the Great Ceremonial House and, as you might imagine, it’s wildly popular. 

You should arrive early and plan to wait a bit. It’ll be totally worth the effort, though. You’ll probably display your Polynesian lei for years to come. We have several on display around the house, and it’s a way I’m proud to keep Aunty Kai’I’s memory alive. 

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge 

First, these activities are obviously available to all guests. That includes Copper Creek Villas & Cabins and Boulder Ridge Villas. To a larger point, virtually all the hotel activities listed on monthly calendars are open to all guests, not just people staying at the resorts. So, you should feel free to Resort Hop anywhere you like!

At Wilderness Lodge, there’s one activity every DVC member should try at least once. The resort offers a one-hour walking tour of its campus. 

During the Wonders of the Lodge Art and Architecture Tour, you’ll learn all the tricks that legendary architect Peter Dominick employed in constructing Wilderness Lodge. Dominick is quietly one of the most important people in DVC history, as he had a hand in the creation of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas as well. 

So, you can take this tour to study all the architectural wonders on display at this multi-story log cabin. Along the way, you’ll learn more about the art that adorns the hotel’s walls as well as some American history from the frontier and train eras. 

Management hosts this tour at 9 a.m. daily but doesn’t accept reservations. You should show up a bit early to state your interest.

Many of the resort’s other unique experiences occur daily at Humphrey’s Hideout. Parents can entertain their children for hours here, as it’s home to several creative exercises like Make Your Own Adventure Book and Make a Keychain.

The one I’d recommend is Color Your Own Plushie, which costs $8 per stuffed animal. Cast Members hand children the tools to color the plushie of their choosing. So, kids can pick the stuffed animal they like the best and then turn it into an adorable abomination of clashing colors. 

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa 

Walt Disney World’s most luxurious resort provides plenty of artistic activities and family gatherings. Probably the most recognizable ones are the nightly campfire and the Glow Parties. 

The Grand Floridian hosts the Glow Parties on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays at Gasparilla Patio. It’s a nighttime event starting at 8 p.m., and it’s kinda like the children’s equivalent of a rave. Everyone waves glow sticks and tries to draw attention to themselves.

The shiny nature of this event delights children, and it’s even more fun when they win something. Cast Members hand out prizes for the winners of the Glow Party competitions. Of course, whether your kids win or lose, they still get to glow in the dark. This method is cheaper than buying that $35 Mickey Wand before the fireworks show, too. 

Another experience I recommend is Paint Your Own Animation Cel. It teaches kids how their favorite cartoons are really just hundreds of pictures shown rapidly. Cast Members provide pictures of recognizable Disney images. Then, the kids provide their own colorful touches to timeless pictures.