Anyone go to WDW and...

[jkmmah]

NOT go to the parks?

I'm thinking of taking my two dd's, ages 7 and 3, back to WDW this fall for a short trip, but without doing the parks. We have a "free day pass" to SeaWorld so we'd go there. We'd also go to DTD and eat at some of our favorite spots. And, of course, we'd stay on property so we'd enjoy just being at the pools, too. How abnormal would this be? Has anyone else done this?

 

[AJKMOM]

I think the hardest thing would be to convince your children to stay away from the Magic Kingdom. I read about people staying onsite and not going to the parks all the time. However, most of them don't have kids. Good Luck!

 

[WDWLVR]

I know plenty of people do it, but I couldn't. Give me the parks! I like spending the morning in the parks, then the afternoon as the resort, and back to a park for or after dinner.

 

[Bellefan66]

I agree I think the only ones who can "get away with it" are folks w/out kiddies! I know me personally, I GOTTA do the parks. I'm really not interested at all in doing Universal or Sea World,whereas my DH is open to that.Sorry, give me Disney or NO vacation at all!!

 

[Leota]

I could do a romantic getaway with DH to WDW without going to Parks, but I could never do that with children. My son would have lost his mind if I did that to him.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

We haven't yet but I'm sure there will be a time that we will try. Being with the DVC I'm sure the kids will get a little tired of the parks, eventually. There is so much to do that I think they would still enjoy.

 

[the kabuki]

Not wanting to get flamed here, but with the ages of your children, I think it would be kind of mean to take them to Orlando and stay on Disney property and not even go to one park.

Don't get me wrong, we have gone to Florida many times and not gone to WDW, but I think it's the part about staying onsite and being in Disney and not actually going that's somewhat of a tease. Kind of like showing your kids the best most wonderful place and then saying, sorry not going to go.

What about spending one day in a park, say MK?

 

[jkmmah]

We've been to WDW and the parks three times in the last 14 months so that's why I was thinking of not doing the parks this time. I'm wanting to hold off buying park tickets until mid Dec and then get an AP. Knowing we'd have the big $$ ticket to buy just a couple months later I was hoping we could do without buying tickets for a quickie trip in Oct. We do have several pluses left on some old Park Hoppers, so I could take the kids to Typhoon or BB for park atmosphere.

I was just looking for a way to get some Disney in without going into the parks and having to pay admission knowing we'd be buying AP's shortly thereafter. Does that make sense?

 

[CamColt]

I recently did this on a solo trip. I was there from Fri around noon until midday Mon and the only park time I did was MVMCP for a few hours 1 night. I still managed to have a great trip!

 

[threeboysmom]

Only you know your daughters the best. How would they feel not going to any parks? I have a 7 yo son who would RATHER stay at the pool than go to any of the parks!! He actually complains when I *drag* him a to park! So yes, it can be done even with kids. It just depends on what they like. Since you're just going for a quick trip anyways and will be back in December, I say go for it!! One day at Seaworld will give them their theme park fix if they need it, a day at Downtown Disney is lots of fun for that age with the hands-on toys, and a day or two hanging out by the pool is what most kids would rather have, I think, anyways....

 

[HB2K]

We've been to WDW and the parks three times in the last 14 months so that's why I was thinking of not doing the parks this time. I'm wanting to hold off buying park tickets until mid Dec and then get an AP. Knowing we'd have the big $$ ticket to buy just a couple months later I was hoping we could do without buying tickets for a quickie trip in Oct. We do have several pluses left on some old Park Hoppers, so I could take the kids to Typhoon or BB for park atmosphere.

I was just looking for a way to get some Disney in without going into the parks and having to pay admission knowing we'd be buying AP's shortly thereafter. Does that make sense?

No offense to anyone here, but I personally don't see a problem with this.

You've been quite a bit in the past year. A more relaxing trip to Disney will probably be quite a breath of fresh air. You're still going to be doing things to keep the kids occupied.

I say go for it!

 

[AJKMOM]

No one said there is a problem! We just said that it's one thing for a bunch of adults to say they wouldn't need to go to a park; it's certainly another thing to have 2 little kids who are used to going to, say, the Magic Kingdom every time they go on Disney property. I would need a lot of pixie dust to convince my 7 year old we were at Disney, but not going to Disney.

I just wanted to warn her that the best laid plans don't always work.

 

[tomerin]

it wouldnt be a problem for my kids not to go into the parks, my wife would have the problem with me!!!


seriously you know your kids better then anyone else so if you think that they would be alright with going to the WDW area and not going to the parks then why not do it. after all they know you will be going again anway.

 

[WheresGoofy]

One of my sisters and I stayed a couple of nights at WDW without going to a Disney park. It was hard not to go to a Disney park, but we were there only 2 full days and 1/2 of one of them, I had a meeting to attend. The other day, we visited Universal Studios.

 

[the kabuki]

It's a different story all together if you've been 3 times in 14 months. I had originally looked at your tag to see if you're located close to orlando, but when I saw you were from Maine, I didn't occur to me that you had been down there that much. So I am changing my original opinion, and saying that I would think it would be fine to skip the parks, especially since you'll be going a few months later. And you have leftover hopper days?, heck I consider the water parks part of Disney, so that totally counts.

Boy, 3 trips to disney in 14 months, a quickie visit with water parks and then going back in a few more months, can you adopt me??? I want to be a part of this family!!!!

I seriously doubt your kids will have any trouble not going to the parks, they're so lucky as it is.

 

[SusanDK]

I think it sounds reasonable, especially as you have the plusses that you could use for water parks. You have a day at Sea World, could do a day each at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzerd Beach. You might also consider renting one of those little boats at DTD (I'm not sure if there is an appropriate size for you and 2 DDs). Go to the AMC theater in DTD to see a movie.

Which resort to you usually stay at? There are probably things to do there and you could also go around and explore the other resorts. Go to the Boardwalk and rent one of the bicycles. Take them to the Dophin Fountain or Beaches & Cream for ice cream.

You could find a place outside of the park to watch Wishes or Illuminations. I've read there is stuff to do at Ft. Wilderness, a movie evening or something like that?

I would just be sure to tell your DDs ahead of time that it is a quick "extra" trip to see SeaWorld and do some of the other things, and 'save' the main parks for December.

Susan

 

[jkmmah]

Thanks for all the great responses! I think my dd's would be just fine NOT going to MK because I'll plan plenty of other Disney stuff to keep us busy and feel the magic. If we do go for this quickie visit I want to go to the FW campfire again, a water park, DTD, and I love the idea of renting a bike on the Boardwalk! Heck, we'll be over there anyway to stop into B&C for our favorite No Way Jose! I'm just glad there are so many things to do at Disney that one doesn't have to pay park admission for a day of entertainment. Any more ideas out there???

And, as a side note, I'm not from Maine, and can't find where it would say that on my tag, but then again I don't always have great computer finesse. We're located in GA, about 6 hours from WDW which makes us forturnate enough to be able to drive down when the urge hits.

We just returned 4 days ago and I'm already looking forward to planning this next trip, just me and my girls!

 

[the kabuki]

Thanks for all the great responses! I think my dd's would be just fine NOT going to MK because I'll plan plenty of other Disney stuff to keep us busy and feel the magic. If we do go for this quickie visit I want to go to the FW campfire again, a water park, DTD, and I love the idea of renting a bike on the Boardwalk! Heck, we'll be over there anyway to stop into B&C for our favorite No Way Jose! I'm just glad there are so many things to do at Disney that one doesn't have to pay park admission for a day of entertainment. Any more ideas out there???

And, as a side note, I'm not from Maine, and can't find where it would say that on my tag, but then again I don't always have great computer finesse. We're located in GA, about 6 hours from WDW which makes us forturnate enough to be able to drive down when the urge hits.

We just returned 4 days ago and I'm already looking forward to planning this next trip, just me and my girls!

Sorry, my mistake, think it's all these late nights on the DIS boards- I NEED SLEEP!!!

 

[ciera321]

Maybe I'm just a big kid, but I LOVE to go to the parks. I know I couldn't stay away.....

 

[bdrex95]

We did Disney without the major parks in 2001. Me, wife, DS4 and DD1 took and midweek getaway to Sea World, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon and they loved it. The water parks give you the disney atmosphere, even though it's not MK. Spent the last day over in Tampa on the beach. Everyone had a great time and didn't feel like we missed out at all. This was a great, relaxing family getaway before the new baby came 3 months later.

One caveat though, we didn't stay on disney property. We did an off-site hotel.

Can't wait to go back this April, though. This time we are doing all the parks and staying at OKW. Also taking the in-laws for their 50th anniversary. This will be their first time! It's gonna be GREAT!!!!