Am I Crazy to Even Consider This Option???

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I couldn't do it.

If I'm paying to stay at a Disney Resort, I'm going to the parks.

 

[Kim1964]

I don't think it's crazy. Between the parks and the resorts, the thing I most look forward to on our trips is the time at the resort. I have considered a resorts only trip, and will probably do it someday. I enjoy the parks, but the relaxation at the resort is my favorite part of the trip.

 

[scanne]

I don't think I could do it. I have to see the castle at least once per trip up close and personal.

 

[figment814]

We have talked about renting a car, so that is probably going to happen. We don't mind spending money, just trying to keep down to less than we would spend on park admission, which I'm not sure we can do

We have never been to Celebration and I've always wanted to go there, so I think we will do that! Idk what Gatorland is, so I will have to Google it. Renting a boat sounds nice too. Mike hates putt-putt even though I love it, so I think we'll pass on the mini-golf. Disney Quest is a no-go. We went there last time (part of our PAPs so it was free) and Mike really didn't enjoy it much. I've been there several times over the year. Definitely am down for a beach day though! What is the Regal Boat Plant Tour?

We had a lovely breakfast in Celebration last trip, the downtown is cute but small. We enjoyed driving around and discussing our favorite houses. Grab the town newspaper...it's an interesting read!

Regal is a boat manufacturer...by DBF loves to see how things are made.

Gatorland is enough to fill an afternoon or morning.

 

[Peaseblossom]

Am I crazy to think that I can last a week in The World without theme parks??

Depends - are you a grass-is-always-greener person? Will you feel like you're missing out?

I am. I book (normally AKL), then I think "Hey, if I stay at a Moderate, I'd have a lot more money to do other stuff." But, I know, I KNOW, every time I'd see an AKL bus, I would pine for it.

It comes down to your priorities. But you couldn't pick a better resort to spend time at. It makes me sad to think that even if I won the lottery, I still wouldn't be allowed to live there!

 

[Disney Dreams]

There are certainly non-Park things that you could do -- I could send you my list of most-of-what-we-didn't-get-to-do from our trip last month , but...

I would have a hard time not going to the Parks. Since you seem to be okay with that idea, what if you budgeted for maybe two days Parkhoppers. Then you could do MOSTLY non-Park stuff, but fill that urge to go into the Parks if/when it hits, eat at restaurants you may want to dine at that are within a Park, and have the best of both worlds.

I don't know that I could do it, heck, I couldn't even set aside a day on our October visit at AKV to just "hang," but AK is definitely a place that offers a lot to do while "hanging" if you want to do it.

- Dreams

 

[sjs314]

If I were to do a no parks resort only trip I do think AKL is one of e best suited for it. Just te shire uniqueness of AKL makes it perfect for that type of trip. I spent a long weekend at AKL in 2006 before Kidani and spent much of my time at the resort. Wonderful photographic opportunities, interesting displays and the best breakfast buffet on Disney property IMO. The Mara is also a good option plus Jiko and now Sanna too. Yum!

Since you say you have visited the parks already this year I do not think the idea of not hitting the parks this trip is crazy at all. I know when I did go to the parks I could not wait to get back to AKL.

 

[ready123go]

Are you a DVC member? Don't mean to temp you, but they are running a special on AP's until the end of the year - $399 for members.

Restaurant.com sometimes has coupons for the dinner shows in the Orlando area like Sleuth's, Arabian Knights, Pirates, etc. It would be pricey to do all of them, but maybe one would be affordable. Restaurant.com also has coupons for a couple of dining places in Celebration and Universal resorts.

Someone else mentioned Old Town.

We did Gatorland last year. If you are a fan of Animal Planet it is great. Wish we had gone earlier in the day.

...or you could just visit all the Walmart stores in Orlando... (I know my DH would loooove that!)

Have fun, whatever you decide!

 

[mickeynut1]

I agree with the others that said it can be done and you are not crazy. We started going to Disney in 2001 (on property starting in 2002) and went from spending all day at the parks to spending 2-3 hours in a park, with the rest of our time relaxing/swimming/enjoying the resort and hopping around to other resorts and DTD for shopping, eating, etc. As a pp mentioned, I also think AKL is a great resort to stay at if you're not going to any parks as the resort is kind of remote and out away from everything and less hustle and bustle than the other resorts. If you are one who gets to the parks at rope drop and stay there until closing, then it might be a little tough to not go. But if not, I think it is definitely doable to have a trip without any parks as there is so much to do on property that doesn't involve the parks. Have a great trip .

 

[Xclusive2WDW]

I love a challenge While I most likely would not be able to resist the parks completely, I could definitely enjoy myself just with the resorts especially AK!!! Sleep in and then take WDW in, sounds like a great plan to me
Some suggestions I have would be: 1. Ask your CL IPO for a daily plan of events during your stay. Others have mentioned the safari's, culinary tours, wines tasting, evening movies, ect. . . Some have a cost others don't. Personally I am looking forward to purchasing the Wanyama Safari for my 2013 trip. While it is $190 pp, it includes the safari, dinner at Jiko (which I believe includes wine), tax, tip and a donation to the conservation. Since one could easily spend $60+ pp at Jiko without tax or tip, to me the cost seems worth it.
2. Pamper Yourself at a Spa. Disney World has two on site Spas. One at the Grand Floridian and the other at Saratoga Springs Resort. Go to the spa's website for coupons.
3. Sammy Duvall's watersports as well as the Richard Petty driving experience. You can often find discounts online, even Disney offers a discount (AP member's, MYW packages, online, ect). Undercovertourist also has the RP driving experience at a discount from it's normal $99 cost (cost of a ride along).
4. Specialty cruises for fireworks, beach activities at other resorts.
5. DTD and Boardwalk are theme parks in themselves.
6. Concerts at House of Blues or Planet Hollywood at DTD, check the schedules of performers and get tickets. Concerts on CityWalk at Universal.
7. Have your IPO help you see other activities offered at other resorts that you can participate in. Things such as hula lessons at Poly, Archery or horseback riding or campfires at WL.
Dine around at various resorts you normally can't get to and most importantly have a blast!!!

 

[princessallegra]

I don't think you're crazy at all! You have great reasons to make this a non park trip. We do rent a car though, and I would highly recommend that. CL at AKL sounds ahhhmazzzing!!!!! There is tons to do. We do enjoy TS restaurants so we would make adr's at the other deluxe resorts (we like GF Cafe, Cape May Buffet, Flying Fish, Kouzzina for breakfast, Beaches n Cream). You could do the Wanayami Safari at AKL, or the Safari exclusive to CL guests. We love DTD but we do like to shop there. La Nouba is an option for sure. Mini Golf at WinterSummerland, just checking out each and every resort would be fun! You could do the walk from WL to Fort Wilderness and check out FW.

 

[PrincessSarah314]

These are all great options, and I am making a list from them all! Keep the suggestions coming, guys!

 

[Babbletrish]

We are booked for 7 nights Club Level at AKL. Here is the crazy part: we don't want to do any parks, at all, for the whole week.

We are a couple in our 30's traveling without our teenager.

We've done the theme parks a lot in the past year, plus a 7 night cruise on the Fantasy. We had APs but they recently expired, and we don't want to purchase park tickets, as we are trying to keep the costs down. We booked the room using DVC so there was no cost to us OOP.

I just worry that when I get there I'm going to get the itch to go to the parks! I'm almost to our 180 days so we are getting ready to contact IPO and I am looking for suggestions of things to do that would be fun, relatively inexpensive, and maybe something we don't normally do since we are usually in the parks. For example, we've never seen La Nouba, but I have a feeling the ticket prices will eliminate that from our itinerary.

Am I crazy to think that I can last a week in The World without theme parks??

Well if you're going to spend a week in the World without setting foot in a theme park, from all I've heard AKL Club level is the place to be. The dedicated AKL thread can give you much more information about this, but there's enough activities there to fill several days, including a special safari only available to Club-level guests. Have an excellent time!

 

[3pletprincesses]

We stayed at AKL for the first time this past August and I told DH the same. It's a really nice resort and I would only stay there again if we stay at the hotel to enjoy the balcony and the resort. I would take the time away from the parks to do what I always wanted to do and never have done because time wouldn't permit it. We would horse backriding, watch fireworks at the beach at the Poly, La nouba, enjoy meals at different resorts and so one. I think you are far from being crazy.

 

[WDWChloe]

Bus roulette? Get on the first bus that shows up at the resort, get on it and go to that theme park and then get on the next bus that shows up and explore there?

Wow. Bus roulette? Mind = blown. Why have I not done this yet!?

 

[ready2vacation]

Definitely not crazy! DH and I are going on a kids-free trip in Feb for 6 nights and this has crossed my mind as well. We really are just going to eat at the signature restaurants at the deluxe hotels. Staying at the BWI, so we'd have plenty to do in close proximity. Looking forward to Jellyrolls (although my stick in the mud husband isn't as excited LOL)...

I may be dreaming, but didn't there used to be a way to get into Epcot late in the afternoon/evening at a discount?

 

[tahrea]

It's not crazy. I personally couldnt do it. I'm a parks girl. Rides is my thing but my disney-stick-in-the-mud husband could pass on the parks.

 

[ready2vacation]

It's not crazy. I personally couldnt do it. I'm a parks girl. Rides is my thing but my disney-stick-in-the-mud husband could pass on the parks.

Glad to know I'm not the only one with a stick in the mud

 

[PrincessSarah314]

Definitely not crazy! DH and I are going on a kids-free trip in Feb for 6 nights and this has crossed my mind as well. We really are just going to eat at the signature restaurants at the deluxe hotels. Staying at the BWI, so we'd have plenty to do in close proximity. Looking forward to Jellyrolls (although my stick in the mud husband isn't as excited LOL)...

I may be dreaming, but didn't there used to be a way to get into Epcot late in the afternoon/evening at a discount?

Yes there is/was a twilight admission for people wanting into EP primarily to eat dinner, I think it still exists too!

 

[DisneyRunnerChick]

This sounds fun, actually. We stay at POR a lot and always say how cool it would be to do the carriage ride or rent the multi-passenger bike things, but never have the time. We've also never made it to the outlet mall though we swear we're going to each time!

We did do lunch with an animal keeper at AKL, and it was super cool! I think it was $60 pp, but that included an awesome lunch at Sanaa( I want to say four course, but it may have been five...) The pirate cruise from Poly also sounds like a ton of fun. We ate at Narcoosee's and watched the fireworks from there during our last trip, and the view was actually better than being inside the MK! Oh, and we LOVE the luau! The show and food are amazing - plus free wine & beer! Love! (Okay, I like to eat. I'll admit it. Lol.)

Of course, hanging at the AK pool is pretty sweet, too. It's one of the most relaxing on property, IMO.

Best of luck on a magical trip!