What Can I Do Outdoors at Walt Disney World?

In the past, I’ve spent a lot time thinking about indoor things to do at Walt Disney World. When the inevitable heat or thunderstorms intrude on your vacation, it can be good to have a plan for ways to escape the elements indoors. But now with the Coronavirus Delta variant running rampant in Florida, even vaccinated visitors may want to find ways to keep their vacation fun outdoors, where virus particles tend to dissipate.

If you’re going to visit Disney World and want to keep your activities as much outdoors as possible, here’s a list of things you can do to make that happen. (Note: Not all locations, attractions, or activities may be currently running. Check with Disney or the TouringPlans web site for the latest updates.)

• • Dining and/or Drinking
    • At the Resorts (Note: Most resorts have a quick service restaurant where you can order food indoors and take a tray to sit outdoors. The list here is of locations that are fully outdoors. Some resorts have not yet reopened.):
      • Animal Kingdom Lodge: Uzima Springs Pool Bar, Maji Pool Bar
      • Art of Animation: Drop Off Bar
      • All-Star Movies: Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar
      • All-Star Music: Singing Spirits Pool Bar
      • All-Star Sports: Grandstand Spirits
      • Beach Club: Hurricane Hanna’s
      • Boardwalk: Big River Grille – ask to be seated outdoors, BoardWalk Joe’s Marvelous Margaritas, Pizza Window
      • Caribbean Beach: Banana Cabana
      • Contemporary: Sand Bar
      • Coronada Springs: Laguna Bar, Siestas Cantina, Three Bridges Bar and Grill
      • Grand Floridian: Beaches Pool Bar, Courtyard Pool Bar
      • Old Key West: Good’s Food to Go, Gurgling Suitcase, Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks
      • Polynesian: Barefoot Pool Bar, Pineapple Lanai
      • Pop Century: Petals Pool Bar
      • Port Orleans French Quarter: Mardi Grogs
      • Port Orleans Riverside: Muddy Rivers
      • Riviera: Bar Riva
      • Saratoga Springs: Backstretch Pool Bar, On the Rocks Pool Bar, Paddock Grill
      • Wilderness Lodge: Geyser Point Bar & Grill

• • • At the Theme Parks and Beyond (Note: in addition to these locations, there are multiple snack and ice cream carts at every park):
      • Magic Kingdom:
        • Aloha Isle
        • Cheshire Cafe
        • Friar’s Nook
        • Golden Oak Outpost
        • Liberty Square Market
        • The Lunching Pad
        • Sleepy Hollow
        • Storybook Treats
        • Sunshine Tree Terrace
        • Tomorrowland Terrace (covered, but not fully enclosed)
        • Westward Ho
      • EPCOT:
        • Most Festival Booths
        • Block & Hans
        • Choza de Margarita
        • Cool Wash
        • Crepes des Chefs de France
        • Fife and Drum Tavern
        • Funnel Cake Stand
        • Joy of Tea
        • Les Vins des Chefs de France
        • Refreshment Outpost
        • Refreshment Port
        • Sommerfest
        • Spice Road Table – ask to be seated outdoors and you will only have to be inside for a few seconds
        • Yorkshire County Fish Shop
      • Animal Kingdom:
        • Anandapur Ice Cream Truck
        • Dawa Bar
        • Dino-Bite Snacks
        • Dino Diner
        • Drinkwallah
        • Eight Spoon Cafe
        • Flame Tree BBQ
        • Harambe Fruit Market
        • Isle of Java
        • Nomad Lounge – ask to be seated outdoors
        • Pongu Pongu
        • Smiling Crocodile
        • Tamu Tamu Refreshments
        • Terra Treats
        • Trilo-Bites
        • Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes
      • Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
        • Anaheim Produce
        • Catalina Eddie’s
        • Fairfax Fare
        • Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
        • Hollywood Scoops
        • Kat Saka’s Kettle
        • KRNR The Rock Station
        • Milk Stand
        • Ronto Roasters
        • Woody’s Lunch Box
      • Disney Springs (Note: Some quick service restaurants are configured where you order or pick up food indoors and take a tray to sit outdoors. The list here is of locations that are fully outdoors.):
        • Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ – ask to be seated outdoors and you will not have to enter the restaurant
        • AristoCrepes
        • B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co.
        • Daily Poutine
        • Dockside Margaritas
        • Food trucks, snack carts
        • Haagen-Dazs
        • Morimoto Asia Street Food
        • Starbucks Marketplace
        • Wetzel’s Pretzels
        • YeSake Kiosk

• • • • Water Parks:
        • All the dining and drinking locations at the Water Parks are fully outdoors
      • Sports and Recreation
        • Pools at all resorts
        • Evening campfires at most resorts
        • Movies Under the Stars at most resorts
        • Playgrounds at most resorts
        • Running trails: Most resorts
        • Archery: Fort Wilderness
        • Basketball: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Fort Wilderness
        • Bike Rentals: Caribbean Beach, Old Key West, Port Orleans, Saratoga Springs, Fort Wilderness
        • Canoe and Kayak Rentals: Fort Wilderness
        • Fishing: Caribbean Beach, Fort Wilderness, Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Polynesian, Port Orleans, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club
        • Golf: Lake Buena Vista Course, Magnolia Course, Oak Trail Course
        • Horseback Riding: Fort Wilderness
        • Minigolf: Fantasia Gardens, Winter Summerland
        • Pony rides: Fort Wilderness
        • Fireworks cruises: Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge
        • Tennis: Contemporary, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk, Fort Wilderness, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Yacht & Beach Club
        • Volleyball: Caribbean Beach, Contemporary, Coronado Springs, Old Key West, Polynesian, Fort Wilderness, Yacht & Beach Club
      • In Park Attractions
        • Magic Kingdom:
          • Character cavalcades
          • Dapper Dans
          • Electrical Water Pageant (also in the MK resorts area)
          • Happily Ever After Fireworks
          • Astro-Orbiter (other than the elevator)
          • Dumbo (other than a small bit of the queue)
          • Jungle Cruise
          • Liberty Square Riverboat
          • Mad Tea Party
          • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
          • Barnstormer
          • Magic Carpets of Aladdin
          • Tom Sawyer Island (outside the structures)
          • Tomorrowland Speedway
          • PeopleMover (other than an open hallway part of the ride)
          • Swiss Family Treehouse
        • EPCOT:
          • America Gardens Theater
          • Character cavalcades
          • Kidcot Fun Stops
        • Animal Kingdom:
          • Character cavalcades
          • Feathered Friends in Flight
          • Discovery Island Trails
          • Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail (other than the mid-trail structure)
          • Kali River Rapids
          • Maharajah Jungle Trek (other than the mid-trail structure)
          • Oasis Exhibits
          • TriceraTop Spin
          • Wilderness Explorers
          • Wildlife Express Train and Affection Section (however, the rest of Conservation Station is indoors)
          • Kilimanjaro Safaris
          • Fossil Fun Games
          • Winged Encounters
        • Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
          • Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
          • Character cavalcades
          • Alien Swirling Saucers
          • Slinky Dog Dash
        • Water Parks:
          • All attractions are outdoors
        • Disney Springs

What are we missing? What do you like to do outdoors at Walt Disney World?