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There were a few other miscellaneous things we did around Disney during our trip that didn’t involve the amusement parks. If you recall, this was our first time ever staying on Disney property. And to be honest, I had never really even been to or seen any of the Disney resorts or hotels. (Except for riding the Monorail through The Contemporary, of course).
For our trip, we opted to have one non-amusement park day, where we could just experience things like the pool at our hotel, the Port Orleans Riverside, and walk around a few of the other resorts.
So, besides going to the pool Port Orleans Riverside (don’t worry, I’ll spare you the photos of us in our swimsuits) what did we do during our “off” day at Disney?
Kids Drawing Class at Art of Animation
Our niece LOVES to draw, so when I heard that the Art of Animation offered free little drawing sessions, I definitely wanted to take her there during our trip.
It takes place right in the lobby of the Art of Animation. The instructor draws from the podium, and it shows up on a TV screen for the kids to follow along.
![Art of Animation Drawing Class Art of Animation Drawing Class](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41510669585_b.jpg)
The instructor was teaching the kids how to draw Darkwing Duck that day!
![Drawing Class | Darkwing Duck | Art of Animation Disney Drawing Class | Darkwing Duck | Art of Animation Disney](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28540064738_b.jpg)
Our niece was following the instructions intently!
![Niece drawing Darkwing Duck at Art of Animation Niece drawing Darkwing Duck at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41690052274_b.jpg)
I think she did great!
Here was the instructor’s drawing:
![Darkwing Duck Drawing Darkwing Duck Drawing](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41690069884_b.jpg)
And here was our niece’s finished product!
![Our niece’s rendition of Darkwing Duck Our niece’s rendition of Darkwing Duck](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28540069738_b.jpg)
Afterwards, our niece was excited to show the instructor some of the drawings she had been making in her Disney autograph book. The instructor was super nice, and even gave her some extra pointers!
![Drawing Instructor at Art of Animation Disney Drawing Instructor at Art of Animation Disney](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41690077994_b.jpg)
![Drawing Instructor at Art of Animation Disney Drawing Instructor at Art of Animation Disney](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41690063664_b.jpg)
![Drawing Instructor at Art of Animation Disney Drawing Instructor at Art of Animation Disney](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/27/27542752987_b.jpg)
Monorail Ride
Since we were staying at the Port Orleans Riverside, which is not a monorail resort, we wanted to make sure we took our niece and nephew on a monorail ride!
After breakfast one morning at Chef Mickey’s at The Contemporary (more on where we ate at Disney in the next post!), we rode the monorail to the Disney Transportation Center. Then we boarded a bus to the aforementioned Art of Animation for the drawing class.
![Disney Monorail Exterior Disney Monorail Exterior](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42363249202_b.jpg)
![Disney Resort Monorail Sign Disney Resort Monorail Sign](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/40/40605058890_b.jpg)
![Disney Monorail Disney Monorail](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42363251192_b.jpg)
Visiting Disney Resorts
So many of the Disney resorts are spectacles themselves!
For example, before the drawing class, we walked around the Art of Animation.
Visiting the Art of Animation
The lobby was covered with sketches and drawings from famous Disney movies.
![Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42363268302_b.jpg)
![Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41689938044_b.jpg)
![Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41689941854_b.jpg)
![Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41510563925_b.jpg)
![Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation Sketches and drawings on wall at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42413329181_b.jpg)
The pool area at the Art of Animation was also phenomenal! (We just walked around though.) It’s designed to make you feel like you’re the size of a fish in the sea!
![Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41689958984_b.jpg)
![Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41689956934_b.jpg)
![Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28539985238_b.jpg)
![Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/27/27542645827_b.jpg)
![Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28539987378_b.jpg)
![Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28539990148_b.jpg)
![Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort Pool area at Art of Animation Disney Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41510606235_b.jpg)
In addition to the pool area at the Art of Animation, there are many “storybook landscapes” on the grounds. We walked around the “Cars” landscape quite a bit before the drawing class started.
![Cars decor at Art of Animation Cars decor at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42413421471_b.jpg)
![Cars area rooms at Art of Animation Cars area rooms at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42413430841_b.jpg)
![Cars storybook landscape at Art of Animation Cars storybook landscape at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28540021568_b.jpg)
![Cars decor at Art of Animation Cars decor at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42413368911_b.jpg)
![Cars decor at Art of Animation Cars decor at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28540006848_b.jpg)
![Cars decor at Art of Animation Cars decor at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28540031938_b.jpg)
![Cars decor at Art of Animation Cars decor at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42413412161_b.jpg)
![Cars decor at Art of Animation Cars decor at Art of Animation](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42413405811_b.jpg)
I thought everything was so exceptionally well done and laid out! This was such a fun resort to walk around.
Polynesian Resort
One morning we had breakfast reserations at Kona Cafe. So after breakfast, we walked around inside the main building and around the grounds of the Polynesian.
For anyone who knows anything about Disney, it goes without saying that this is a stunning resort!
![Disney Polynesian Lobby Area Disney Polynesian Lobby Area](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41451214350_b.jpg)
![Disney Polynesian Lobby Area Disney Polynesian Lobby Area](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41451213580_b.jpg)
![Lighting at Disney Polynesian Resort Lighting at Disney Polynesian Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41451212170_b.jpg)
![Polynesian Resort Lobby Polynesian Resort Lobby](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41451224950_b.jpg)
We wandered outside for a little bit at the Polynesian.
![Pool at Polynesian Resort Pool at Polynesian Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28391323747_b.jpg)
![Hotel Room Exteriors at Disney Polynesian Hotel Room Exteriors at Disney Polynesian](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28391320367_b.jpg)
The beach area looked terrific.
![Beach at Disney Polynesian Resort Beach at Disney Polynesian Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/43/43260242371_b.jpg)
And of course, those overwater bungalows.
![Overwater bungalows at Disney Polynesian Resort Overwater bungalows at Disney Polynesian Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/42/42356690805_b.jpg)
From the beach area, you could see the Grand Floridian hotel in the distance:
![View of Grand Floridian Hotel from the Polynesian View of Grand Floridian Hotel from the Polynesian](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/29/29390672038_b.jpg)
And, as we wandered back through the lobby to catch an Uber back to our room at the Port Orleans Riverside, we took some photographs of the lush-like vegetation at the entrance to the hotel.
![Entrance to Polynesian Resort Entrance to Polynesian Resort](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/29/29390682458_b.jpg)
Disney Wilderness Lodge
And last, but certainly not least, we walked around Wilderness Lodge one evening after eating at Whispering Canyon Cafe. This resort is tops on my list for one to stay at around Christmas time. I bet this one is so cozy and stunningly decorated at the holidays!
![Wilderness Lodge Lobby at Disney Wilderness Lodge Lobby at Disney](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/29/29390762468_b.jpg)
![Wilderness Lodge obby at Disney Wilderness Lodge obby at Disney](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/29/29390768678_b.jpg)
![Wilderness Lodge Lobby aerial view Wilderness Lodge Lobby aerial view](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/29/29390772238_b.jpg)
I loved these rocking chairs in front of a fireplace in the lobby!
![Rocking Chairs at Wilderness Lodge Rocking Chairs at Wilderness Lodge](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41451362090_b.jpg)
![Fireplace at Wilderness Lodge Fireplace at Wilderness Lodge](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28391461857_b.jpg)
The lobby furniture in general is was just all very cozy looking.
![Lobby Furniture at Wilderness Lodge Lobby Furniture at Wilderness Lodge](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/28/28391465017_b.jpg)
![Wilderness Lodge Decor Wilderness Lodge Decor](https://supernovaadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/old_flickr/41/41451357880_b.jpg)
Have you done other fun things at Disney that didn’t involve the parks themselves? Or, have you walked around the resorts just to enjoy the sites? What are your favorite things to do?