The Transporation Tour sound like fun. Have to include the Skyliner, too. Are there any must sees, hidden gems at the different resorts? Assuming that they are open and can be visited.
The skyliner is new since the last time we did this; we are definitely going to have to add it to our tour the next time!
It depends on the ages of the people in your group. We have done stops in some of the lounges for an adult beverage while our kids scout out the quick service and grab a coke and a snack. We have done it where they share something, we go somewhere else, they get something else. This is also fun to do (going to different resorts) if you like collecting pins because the resort gift shops/trading stations have different pins. My kids don't trade, but they do collect and have had luck finding certain pins, or even just pins that are different from other locations, in out-of-the-way spots. The resorts are really gorgeous and you can partake in the smores making at any of the fire pits. I think it's about $6-8 per kit which includes a sleeve of graham crackers, a couple of Hershey's bars, and as many marshmallows as you'd like. So if you time your tour well, you can have smores at the Contemporary, for example, then hop on the monorail and go somewhere else. We have also enjoyed the story telling at the fire pit at AKL as well as speaking with the animal experts posted at the savannas.
We have actually done a Disney staycation where we stayed at AKL for five days and did not go to a park. There is a ton to do at that resort and you do not have to be a guest there to enjoy the activities that don't involve the pool. In fact, The Mara, the quick service there, is really great and has a varied menu so you could even plan to do an evening at AKL where you eat dinner then go to the savanna as the sun sets and speak to the animal experts about the individual animals and their habits and personalities. Sadly the cultural representatives are not there now (I don't know how Disney is handling that) because my girls were fascinated by a CM from Kenya who was explaining the bull elephant crisis and how conservationists are responding. This same CM knew about all kinds of things at the Lodge and was more than happy to discuss it with my kids. Truly, there is just so much to see and do at that resort in particular.
We've also done the hot air balloon in Disney Springs (it's a little pricey for a large group) but it's a lot of fun and it's interesting to do. Being at Riverside will allow you ease in taking the boat over to DS and doing something as simple as a ride down the river and getting ice cream before coming back.
I don't mean to sound like a Disney commercial - I promise we have other hobbies - but there really is a lot to do other than the parks. We'll be at CBR the week after you and it will be so nice to get out of the house that I think I'd find watching a gecko cross a walking path will be interesting and fun to me!