Considering touring resorts and not going to parks

[marshallandcartersmo]

What's the best way to do that sometime during the week of 12/25? We are staying offsite about an hour away and not going to parks at all this trip.
In looking at Disney's website on Grand Floridians' page (we'd want to see their Gingerbread house) it says no parking there unless we are staying at that resort or have reservations to eat there (we will not for either one).

Any other must sees during the holidays? Taking 2 teen boys, I'm sure they won't be interested in the Gingerbread house, but their moms will, lol!) Not interested in Disney Springs.


Thank you!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You're going to have issues parking at the MK resorts without a meal reservation. I take it you are not eligible for free parking at TTC.

Maybe park at Disney Springs and take a bus over to the resorts.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Yeah, I was going to say the same thing about parking - we tried to stop at the Poly one night just to visit Trader Sam's and because we didn't have a confirmed dining reservation (which Trader Sam's doesn't even take), they would not allow us to park there. He suggested parking at T&TC and walking over.

And this was the first week of Dec so not high crowd season like now.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Seems like Disney Springs is just so far away, can we park at TTC and just ride monorail over to GF?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I don't know how you do that without paying to park at TTC, but yes, you could do that. Disney Springs has free parking.

 

[bumbershoot]

Seems like Disney Springs is just so far away, can we park at TTC and just ride monorail over to GF?

Absolutely. I think parking is about $22 now (probably wrong about exact cost), and it’ll be well worth it.

 

[Dumbo7]

Why don’t you just make a reservation at the grand Floridian Cafe? Since you an hour away you’ll probably need to eat anyway. We are annual pass holders and that worked great for us That being said it wasn’t Christmas week.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Unless you park at Disney Springs, you will need to pay to park but, that might not be a big deal for you. If Grand Floridian in your primary destination, I would think paying to park at TTC and taking the monorail over would work just fine. If I were driving an hour, I would definitely make sure I got a lot out of the trip. Along with Grand Floridian, I'd head over to Wilderness Lodge and to get there, I'd absolutely take the boat from Magic Kingdom. In my opinion, Wilderness Lodge is the most beautiful resort at Christmastime and I wouldn't want to miss it. Also, if you do decide to head over to Wilderness Lodge, you might consider heading over to Fort Wilderness and looking at some of the decorations that the campers put up. Many of them have a good time decorating their campsites for Christmas. Last year, Beach Club had up a chocolate carousel that was quite lovely so time permitting, that could be worth checking out, as well. If I were going to do all of these things, I'd probably park at Disney Springs first and take a bus to Beach Club to look around there (or, if it were available, I might book a breakfast at Minnie's Beach Bash in Cape May Cafe and just park at Beach Club. As long as I was over there, I'd go check out Boardwalk and then walk to DHS to see the beautiful Christmas tree out front. I'd grab a bus to probably Polynesian and look at that resort. From there, I'd monorail to GF and look at the Gingerbread house. I'd monorail over to Contemporary and check that out, as well, because even though the decorations aren't over the top, they are still lovely during Christmas. I'd then walk to Magic Kingdom to grab the boat to Wilderness Lodge. I'd spend quite a bit of time there before boating to Fort Wilderness to see those decorations. From there, I'd either head to Disney Springs to leave or (more likely) head back to Wilderness Lodge for dinner at Whispering Canyon and then to Disney Springs (or Magic Kingdom to Beach Club if that was where I parked).

 

[Twojays017]

Unless you park at Disney Springs, you will need to pay to park but, that might not be a big deal for you. If Grand Floridian in your primary destination, I would think paying to park at TTC and taking the monorail over would work just fine. If I were driving an hour, I would definitely make sure I got a lot out of the trip. Along with Grand Floridian, I'd head over to Wilderness Lodge and to get there, I'd absolutely take the boat from Magic Kingdom. In my opinion, Wilderness Lodge is the most beautiful resort at Christmastime and I wouldn't want to miss it. Also, if you do decide to head over to Wilderness Lodge, you might consider heading over to Fort Wilderness and looking at some of the decorations that the campers put up. Many of them have a good time decorating their campsites for Christmas. Last year, Beach Club had up a chocolate carousel that was quite lovely so time permitting, that could be worth checking out, as well. If I were going to do all of these things, I'd probably park at Disney Springs first and take a bus to Beach Club to look around there (or, if it were available, I might book a breakfast at Minnie's Beach Bash in Cape May Cafe and just park at Beach Club. As long as I was over there, I'd go check out Boardwalk and then walk to DHS to see the beautiful Christmas tree out front. I'd grab a bus to probably Polynesian and look at that resort. From there, I'd monorail to GF and look at the Gingerbread house. I'd monorail over to Contemporary and check that out, as well, because even though the decorations aren't over the top, they are still lovely during Christmas. I'd then walk to Magic Kingdom to grab the boat to Wilderness Lodge. I'd spend quite a bit of time there before boating to Fort Wilderness to see those decorations. From there, I'd either head to Disney Springs to leave or (more likely) head back to Wilderness Lodge for dinner at Whispering Canyon and then to Disney Springs (or Magic Kingdom to Beach Club if that was where I parked).

There's a boat to Wilderness lodge from the Contemporary. It also goes to Fort Wilderness.
You can also take the boat from Beach/Boardwalk/Yacht to Studios if you're aren't up for the walk.
Parking at Disney Springs now is really not too bad and I wouldn't want to spend that much money (at TTC) to park.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Thanks everyone!

 

[eeyoresmom]

I second the suggestion of visiting the WL at Christmas time. In over 60 stays at WDW we have never stayed at the resort but DH and I just did a 4 day trip mainly to experience all the holiday decor and festivities. Our WL visit was one of the major highlights of the trip! So beautiful and since you live in FL, you'll get to experience an authentic northern winter/Christmas feel. Young people generally don't love touring the resorts but I would plan a quick service meal at WL, maybe dessert at GF, to keep the kids engaged, and the boat and monorail are fun as well. You could easily spend several hours snacking and wandering around. Sitting in the lobby or train room at WL was so relaxing. If the weather is decent, I would suggest eating a quick service meal outside at The Geyser Point Bar and Grill, then boat to MK and monorail around the MK resorts stopping at all three.

 

[Shanti]

I recommend treating the boys to a boat ride on the lake at Fort Wilderness (you can rent 2 small ones, so they can both drive), followed by the dinner show at Hoop Dee Doo Revue.