Anyone ever go and not go into parks?

[crisi]

And its easy to spend a day or two without going into the parks - especially if you don't include the minor parks (PI, TL, BB) in your definition of parks. Fishing, water mice, horseback riding, golf, mini golf, plus BB, TL, PI, Cirque, DtD, all the restaurants....Three days gone and never inside a major park.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Gee I was beginning to think I had spoken heresy!

The way we are looking at this, we'll have our DVC magic, eat well, have fun at PI & Jellyrolls, but save the price of admission to the parks. Some day we'll go for a week and do the USF, IOA and Seaworld circuit... we have never seen any of them.

I don't know if I could handle a week at a WDW DVC resort and not set foot in a park at all, but for 2 days with my 70 YO DM? No problem.

But that's the beauty of DVC... we know we'll be going back! There is always next time, and that makes THIS time more relaxing.

 

[dvcdudes]

We did it a few times if you don't count Typhoon Lagoon. It was actually quite nice not to run around in the parks. Even when we do go now, we only do the parks 2-3 days out of 6 we are there. This makes for a much more relaxing vacation.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I did this for my very first DVC trip (VWL) and I absolutely loved that trip!!! It forces you to look for the hidden corners of WDW you've never seen before plus you will not believe how relaxing it is.

One thing that helps is if you go ahead and budget the cost of a hopper (say 45 or 50) for your entertainment each day. You won't necessarily use it but it does ensure that if you DO want to do something you can....just remember this is in addition to your food/dining budget.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Originally posted by crisi
And its easy to spend a day or two without going into the parks - especially if you don't include the minor parks (PI, TL, BB) in your definition of parks. Fishing, water mice, horseback riding, golf, mini golf, plus BB, TL, PI, Cirque, DtD, all the restaurants....Three days gone and never inside a major park.

I agree. Our last TWO trips to Disney (spring break/ memorial day weeks) we did the water parks only, no theme parks. Why - we bought water-park ap's last june, so we used them. It actually worked out pretty well for us. Our last trip to the theme parks at WDW was june 2002 - we spent most of two weeks there and were somewhat "themed-out" by the time we left.

Doing the water parks only for these trips had some advantages that we had not considered, or didn't even know about. First, since they don't open till 10 am, you don't feel the need to get up as early as you would if going to a theme park. They also close at 6 pm - earlier that the theme parks which means that your evenings are your own. We found ourselves doing things like the miniature golf, exploring the resorts, shopping at DTD. or just relaxing at our resort.

Though we enjoy the major parks very much, and look forward to returning this New years', I find that just being in WDW and taking advantage of what it offers allows me to relax and enjoy myself. When I'm there, I relax and smile .

 

[hpygrll]

These have been fun replies. We do love the parks but really want to save money and don't want to waste hoppers in the summer. We love to go in the off season!

I'm still looking forward to all the little things and just hanging out! Hope to see you all there!!!!

Jenny

1977 - offsite
1995 - CBR
1997 - Boardwalk
1998 - Contemporary
1999 - Port Orleans
2000 - Dixie Landings
2001 - OKW
2002 - VWL and BCV
2003 - VWL here we come!

 

[slp87]

It's been 28 years since our first trip to WDW and my parents have been a couple of times without us, so on our last trip my parents went from Wed - Tue and didn't visit a park. They would spend the day visiting the other resorts and reading books in the lobbies. Their 2 favorites were sitting by the fire at WL and sitting on the porch at BW. They would meet us at the pool in the afternoon and for dinner each evening. They also took a spin on the monorail, getting to ride in the front. My mom also managed a trip to World of Disney with my daughter so she could load her up with souvenirs.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have a PAP so I don't do entire trips outside the parks, but lately I have been taking an "anti-Disney day" on each trip and exploring Orlando (with the help of a local friend, who usually drives).

I can't stay out of PI, though.

 

[DeeP]

I am in the parks very little compared to many WDW visitors. Many days I will only be in a park for a few hours. We are very low park commando, refuse to wait in lines etc. I just returned from a 10 day trip and only went on the most 6 attractions, many times we just go to the parks to walk around, shop, soak up the magical atmospheres, people watch, eat a meal or watch one of the evening parades or shows. I really enjoy the WDW resorts and we spend a lot of time enjoying the resorts, pools, DTD, the clubs, sports activities, etc but I still love the parks, all of them. To me they are just as magical and top notch as they were 30 yrs ago when I first went to MK. We have gotten APs for years now, so the price to go into a park for a meal or to see Illuminations is very little considering we average 40-50 days per year from each AP. We enjoy doing all the non park activities very much but I still could not go to WDW and not go to a park. The parks are too special and magical to me, for me not to enjoy some time in them while at WDW.

 

[jodifla]

We took our friends last summer to BCV, and while they braved the parks with their two children, we stayed around the hotel and pool with our little one, who was 6 months at the time. Just can't do summer at the theme parks. Even May is getting too hot the past couple of years.

Just added on BCV points so we can do our May trips there, and soak up the fun at SAB.

Previous poster's idea about focusing on the water parks in the summer is one I'll file away for the future.

I think you'll really enjoy your days sans the theme parks. DVC resorts are destinations in themselves.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

Now that would be an unbelievable form of torture. I don't think I could do it.

 

[mtdewhead]

That's our plan this July! My DD just graduated HS yesterday and she and her boyfriend will be doing Discovery Cove as her present, but DH, DD, DD, and DS (and me) will be hanging at Stormalong Bay! Can't wait to just float in the pool!

(I must say we do have days left on our passes and I may sneak them in my luggage, just in case....

 

[goofy4dvc]

We went last December just for a relaxing vacation. No parks, but we did get in several rounds of golf. Spent some time driving to small towns an hour or so away from Orlando to get more of a feel for the area. I mostly wanted to see the resorts with their Christmas decorations, so we toured all of the resorts. I don't feel I have to go to the parks every time, although there were times when I would like to have gone. If we (as DVC members) could get better discounts on park tickets, I would have bought an annual pass when we were there 8 months before. We also went to CityWalk at Universal Studios to go to some of the clubs.

Since DH and I like to golf, we will probably do one trip a year that will include the parks and one a year that will not.

 

[Terry Sheehan]

While I don't feel the need to "commando" tour anymore, I don't think I could ever go there and not go do some of my favorites, like the Haunted mansion, Splash Mountain,Pirates, walking the World Showcase at night....there are some things that are "must dos" every trip.

We'll be there in July...our first summertime tripwhen it will be pretty hot and crowded, but I am still thinking that at least part of each day (or evening) will be spent in a park.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by mtdewhead
Can't wait to just float in the pool!

 

[luckytso]

I think that is what we will do when our AP expires next Feb. We can still go and stay somewhere onsite without going to the parks, then just enjoy the resort, the pools, go visit Celebration, minature golf, the Premium Outlet Mall, do the boat rental, kiddie fishing at POR, do the campfire by the campground, and then move to a Unviersal resort while we still have their AP before they expire by the end of May.

At least that is the plan. There are so many things to do around WDW and we never can do all these because we feel we need to use the AP to go to the parks.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Originally posted by mtdewhead
That's our plan this July! My DD just graduated HS yesterday and she and her boyfriend will be doing Discovery Cove as her present, but DH, DD, DD, and DS (and me) will be hanging at Stormalong Bay! Can't wait to just float in the pool!

(I must say we do have days left on our passes and I may sneak them in my luggage, just in case....

Don't forget to remind your DD and her boyfriend that D.C. admission also includes 7 contiguous days of admission to Seaworld. We will be there shortly for our daughters 10th birthday and will be enjoying both venues.

 

[Sneaky3]

I am staying at BVC June 29 thru July 4, and I am only going to the water parks and SAB. I live in Miami and the only time we ever venture into the regular parks is iin the winter..... So does that count? I relax way better when I only do the water vacation.

 

[Marisa'sMom]

I love this post and am grateful that our family is not the only one out there who doesn't visit the parks on occasion!

We are very blessed to be able to make at least 2 trips a year so we go once when the weather is cool and the crowds are low. We also do our major visit during the summer and I will not go to the parks then. It's just too hot and too many people. We love lounging by the pool, going to BB and as one poster said, exploring all the other things hidden at Disney.

We will be at VWL the same time as you! We check in on the 6th of July and check out on the 10th. We can't wait!

 

[jade1]

Lets see, a week of 70 dgrees in January compared to 10 below in Minnesota at BCV or VWL, but no parks...........ABSOLUTELY! Have only done this once though-but will again.