Anyone ever go and not go into parks?

[hpygrll]

We have decided last minute to go the 4th of July weekend with our 16 month old (his first time). Got a studio at VWL, are planning on just hanging out at the pool, walking to the campgrounds, going to Downtown Disney and just soaking in the atmosphere. Anyone else ever go and not to to the parks?

Jenny

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

 

[cindy_k]

We haven't yet, but we are going to do this for the first time in February. We are also going to Wilderness Lodge.

It sounds very relaxing though.

Cindy in NY

 

[JimC]

Tried to do that at VB two weeks ago. Ended up taking a day trip to Epcot for Flower and Garden Festival (It was only once!!) Still it was very relaxing just lounging, swimming, reading, playing miniature golf, strolling on the beach......four more months till we go back to BCV.

Enjoy the 4th festivities and VWL!!

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Hi Jenny,

We are actually following a plan similar to yours. We are checking in to the WL on Thursday, 7/3, and staying through Saturday. We plan to relax around the pool, take walks, ride the boat, ride the monorail, eat out at Ohana Thursday night, AP on Friday, and in the evening we are going to check out Jellyrolls Thursday and PI Friday night. Our group will be DH, my Mom & me. We have a 1BR reserved.

We have to laugh at ourselves: My Mom lives about 2 hours south of Orlando, and we planned a 2 week vacation to visit her and make a few short trips to see other things. Initially, the plan was "No WDW". Then 2 months ago we called MS because we had some confusion on our points, and discovered we had some that we had sort of forgotten about, and thinking our next trip may not be until July or August '04, we "needed" to use them. So first we booked one day - the 4th. Then, talking with my Mom, she was pleased enough about the idea that we figured 2 would be better. Thus it has evolved!

Frankly, I wouldn't want to be in a park on the 4th itself, but we plan to try to take in as many fireworks as possible, either up close or from a distance. We also plan to catch the EWP from the Poly beach after our Ohana ressie Thursday night. I think there is no difficulty finding enough entertainment for a short visit w/o parks!

Have a great time, and maybe we'll see you there!

 

[hpygrll]

I will definitely look for you!! We weren't planning on going this year because my husband is in school on the weekends, the 4th is his only free one. Also we are expecting our second child in October and are moving in August. We were going to do a short trip in Ohio like to a cabin or something, but nothing sounded good to me unless it was a Disney hotel. So we decided to save money and just go hang out!

I need my Disney vacation every year and next year will do it up big time with both kids, a 1 bedroom villa and a week long trip!!!!!

Hope to see you at the pool, I'll be the one chasing the 16 month old blond kid! HAHA

Jenny

 

[smvdelv]

I have said many times that I could DEFINITELY do it. I have gone on a Ladies' weekend for 3 years in a row (this year will be our 4th) and the most we do during the 4 days from Wednesday night to Sunday is one day (usually at Epcot, because we stay at the YC).
There is SO much to do at WDW - the parks is just one small part, IMHO. BUt then again, I guess I have that feeling because we are DVC members and know that, God willing, we will have many more trips to WDW!!!!

 

[Pa@okw95]

I haven't done this yet, but the day is coming. Epcot no longer has an appeal to me. I loved the old Epcot. AK is just a zoo in spite of what they try to make you think with there "Notazoo" campaign. MGM never has an appeal to me, I often did not go to MGM even when I had free tickets. MK is pretty much an amusement park much like Epcot is becoming so I have no desire to really go. They only have built one attraction in the last 10 years that appeals to me and that is "Splash Mountain". If they built more attractions like SM without the splash what a great magical place WDW would be. What we are getting is roller coasters just like any amusement park.

 

[mbhoxsie]

Like JimC, my family tried to do this last December while we stayed at VB....

But... We couldn't resist the urge to drive over to MK for just a day... It worked out pretty good.. My DS2 loved it....

 

[ncligs]

We have done done that a few times. We like going down during Presidents week to get a break from the cold weather

in Ohio. We may do 1 park during our 6 day stay that week.

1 year we did IOA and Universal instead of any WDW parks, another year we visted relatives in Melbourne and went to Kennedy Space Center.

If WDW and DVC would give DVC members a discount on park passes, we would be more likely to go to an Epcot for dinner more often.It doesn't make sense to pay $60 to walk in Epcot just for a dinner reservation.

When we go to VB we enjoy not having the crowds,lines,etc and just relaxing everyday with the beautifull ocean view.

 

[mb168]

On our trip next week we aren't going to the parks. Arriving Sunday and leaving Thursday. Every day for Stormalong Bay

We actually had booked this trip last September and planned on taking the kids for and maybe go to one park and spend the rest of the time at the pool. The in Oct, DW got pregnant and is due July 11, so she'll be 35 weeks for this trip and NOT running through the parks chasing kids, dd7, ds6, dd4!!

We went last Labor Day and went to US and IOA and bought a limited Ap for like $116 so we have a trip coming up in Aug the week before Labor Day so we may actually go use the Ap before they expire again so may not do Disney then,(are you listening Mickey? WE WANT DISCOUNTED PASSES!!! )

 

[Loubon]

Originally posted by hpygrll
Anyone else ever go and not to to the parks?

Is that even legal?

 

[jimmytammy]

I can see not going to the parks w/ a 16 mos old. As the yrs pass you will have the opportunities to go w/ your new child when he will have a greater appreciation for WDW.

I hope I never lose that Magical feeling that I feel when I pull up to the front of WL. Or especially that rush of emotions like seeing Cinderellas Castle or Spaceship Earth that I felt on my first trip when I was 34 yrs old. I think I have a great appreciation for what is WDW because I am older. It has taken a lot of yrs to make that first trip. I remember when MK opened in 71 and how much I wanted to make that trip. My sister got to go just before Epcot opened with her HS band. She came back to tell of her wonderful memories. I especially remember her telling in detail about how real the ghosts seemed in Haunted Mansion. Yet it still took me another 20 yrs to get there.

We bought into DVC for the very reason that WDW is there. Im sure WDW has changed a lot, especially for those who were early into the DVC program. I know some folks from church who have a DD same age as our DD. These people are in their late 40s early 50s and have got to have one of the first contracts ever written for OKW. They still go to the parks everyday at least 2 trips per year for at least a week. I hope Im still like that in a few yrs. Maybe we will take a day to hang by the pool on upcoming trips, but I dont see it happening anytime soon.

Just my 2 cents worth,
Jimmy

 

[crisi]

We bought DVC for the parks while the kids are interested (they are currently 3 and 4) and for golf after that. So while we haven't, there will come a time when we are going down to play golf for a week.

My son was hitting a wiffle ball with his seven iron straight and long in the back yard yesterday (OK, wiffle ball and a four year old who does NOT have Tiger Woods talent, so straight and long are relative), so it may not be as long as we think. Than again, we could be trying to shake our 20 something park addicted kids - like some people out there.

 

[ditzy]

Is that even legal?

Sure, it's legal, but your next room assignment is going to be the infamous "trash view."

 

[ArnyVee]

I don't think that I could ever do that. I mean, I love the parks so much and they are so much of a reason that I even visit WDW that I couldn't see myself not going.

We'll see if I can distract myself from the parks once I go to the resorts.

 

[Lizardbeth61]

We're trying to plan our first trip using DVC points at Vero Beach and we have to fly into Orlando and need to have a Saturday overnight so . . . we're staying in Orlando. I told DH won't it be strange to be so close to the parks and not go. He looked at me aghast. "What do you mean? We can't be in Florida with DS and not get on the Rock N Roller Coaster!" Having just braved this ride for the first time in may, I've decided he's right because this former ride chicken LOVES RnRC!!!!!!!!!!!! So, we'll spend Sat night in Orlando and Sunday at the parks followed by 4 relaxing nights at Vero Beach as long as we can get ressies! I'm with the poster who asked, "Is that even legal?" It seems like it couldn't be.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Is everyone talking about going to the parks or going on the rides???? If rides are automatically park of your idea of "going to the parks", then I haven't gone to the park in years!! We go there all the time because we have AP's, but that's my exercise I walk from BWV around the lagoon, then over to MGM, go into the park to use the bathroom, walk to the back of the park, then retrace my steps back to BWV. And of course we always have dinner ressies someplace inside the parks, but I haven't gone on a ride in ages. Oh, yes, I think I did the safari over at Animal Kingdom last spring, but before that my last ride was when the dinosaur ride opened at Animal Kingdom. It's not my favorite part of going to Florida--I go for sunshine (I'm from Michigan), exercise, and relaxation.

 

[Lizardbeth61]

You know, we just purchased our points and I worried that maybe we missed the window with our kids. They still love the parks, but I fear in time they will not enjoy that as much. DH and I went to DWD over our anniversary this year and went on only a couple of rides . . . like RnRC and our friends thought we were crazy and they even like Disney. However, it's good to know that the parks can be viewed as excercise and there are plenty of reasons to continue going even when some of the rides become old hat! I think we're a Disney family for life and hope our kids continue to agree.

We hope to do a blend of travel . . . Disney and somewhere else, Disney and somewhere else. There's a big world out there, but Disney keeps calling us home . . . even more so now that we have points! Yipeeee.

 

[Ms. WDW]

But I'd feel like I was missing something!!!

You'd think with all the times I've been to WDW, that I could go down for vacation not do the parks.

I don't know....I'm sitting here right now thinking "well maybe we could try it for one day this upcoming trip". But then I say "ok which day do we not go to the park....which park do I miss.....Oh the torture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess I have my answer!

 

[Poohjan]

There are really a lot of things to do without going to the parks. We sometimes just take rides on the the monrail, boats, etc., play mini golf, or just relax by the pool. Going to the Polynesian at night and watching the fireworks from the beach is great!

Jan