Do any of you vacation at the resorts w/o going to the parks?

[goofypooh]

My husband & I just became DVC members last August. Then, we took the kids for a week in January & went to all the parks. We have some points left to use, so we are planning to go down this summer w/o the kids. This time, we are thinking we will just relax at the resort, enjoy different restaurants, my husband might golf, etc. Has anyone else gone to WDW without actually going to the parks? If so, what kind of things do you do during your stay?

 

[Simba's Mom]

I did it once on a solo trip for 4 days. I just lay around the pool (I don't swim but love to "lounge"); watched the "movies on the beach" (at BCV); took the bus one day just wherever-rode the bus all day, talking to people, getting off and changing buses or stopping at different resorts; did alot of resting and reading. Great vacation!

 

[OlderMan]

FWIW, we haven't been to a park in six or seven years.

DD's have been to EPCOT on field trips though.

We enjoy the pools, DTD, etc.

Just what works for us.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Thinking for doing this for August 2009.

DH said NO MORE APs for 2009. Let's take a break.

So, when he asked what I wanted for my BIG 40th birthday gift, I said a DISNEY CRUISE!!!

Soooo, I was thinking of sneaking down a few days early before the cruise with just my girls (8 & 10) and hanging around the pool and resort.

Any suggestions on where to stay? I was thinking either SSR, BCV, or OKW, in that order (or whichever has availability).

We will have NOT a car until DH gets down the night (late) before the cruise.

 

[goofypooh]

Thanks for the replies. I love the parks, but we always are so tired after a week of running everywhere. DH & I are staying at AKV in August and I am looking forward to just relaxing. And doing some shopping at DTD will be fun, too.

SleepyatDVC....we stayed at SSR in 8/07 & 1/08 and liked it a lot. It is close to DTD, and my girls (3,10 &12) really enjoyed the pool.

 

[alldiz]

I have gone to the parks "minimally"......like maybe 8hrs out of the week.

We sleep in......take DD to do a craft at community hall.....
Lounge at the pool and swim in the afternoon.

Go back to room....start mixing the cocktails and get ready for dinner.
Put DD in Kids club while we enjoy a nice dinner.

Wake up start again
Kerri

 

[mla973]

We typically tour commando, but this year, we're relazing by the pool at BCV and we've only made two ADR's!!! I can't wait to have a drink and lay by the pool for a change.

 

[Desnik]

I have a similar thread over on the planning board. Some people have given really great ideas on things to do outside the parks.

We are doing a no parks trip in a few weeks. We will be at OKW and plan on sitting by the pool and relaxing with our kids. I am going to do some of the things suggested in the other thread, like the campfire at FW.

We have stayed at AKV and not gone to the parks but that was only for a weekend. The kids had a ball and there was plenty to do at the resort. We then moved to SSR and went to the parks but it was a nice break. We have also stayed at SSR for 3 days, no parks then drove to Vero. That trip was great at SSR, but then we were already relaxed and rested so when we got to Vero we were a little bored.

DH and I went alone in Oct. and stood at the CR Tower room, MK view and we had a great time. We rented a boat, had nice meals, it was great. We only went to MNSSHP and that was fantastic. We were there for 3 days and I would do it again and stay for at least 1 more day.

 

[dizfanz]

There are parks at Disney? Who knew? DW and I normally relax poolside, ride a bike between WL and FW, tour the resorts and enjoy cocktails. We love sipping a drink outside the Poly and GF at a table overlooking the lagoon. Go to the Poly and take a nap on a hammock. Pure bliss! Take an evening stroll around the entire boardwalk area. Enjoy DTD during the day when there is no crowd. Play some tennis or golf. Read a great book on your balcony or in one of the cozy nooks around WL. AKV has some wonderful little areas where you can disappear and read or watch the animals. Visit Alan at Belle Vue lounge and have a nightcap on their balcony and listen to the sounds of the boardwalk. Enjoy the trails at FW...it is a great area to get lost in, and I have been lost there almost everytime I visit. From DTD, take a boat to PO and walk around both those resorts, particularly Riverside.

But hey, maybe one of these days we will try those parks you speak of!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

We go to Disney twice a year, one week in early Summer w/ parks and all. The second week is in middle Aug, just before the kids go back to school. That second week there is no way I'm doing the expense of the parks again and our group of kids are o.k. with it. We do the pool, go to a movie, drive out to Dairy Queen, play golf. We have season passes so we will do a water park to break the heat and Disney Quest during the day when it's slow. We bring board games, UNO, we order pizza from Papa John's (I detest it but the boys love it). We take nightime walks when it's a little cooler and rent bicycles. I even love my alone time, coffee on the balcony overlooking the golf course. The DVC resorts (OKW my families preference) are a perfect setting for sharing quality time with the ones you love. We've done it several times and it's proof for me that you don't need the theme parks to have fun. Even with my Epcot obsession, I manage to stay away!

 

[gppnj]

I'm going to be doing more of that. I tihnk DVC membership really lends itself to it.

FOr my trip this September, I'll be there with my 78-year-old mother for seven nights. My mother is still going strong, for which I am grateful. However, she's not so strong that she'd be up for commando opening-'til-closing days in the parks. So I think we will be visiting the parks, but it'll only be for part of the day, and the rest of the time we'll relax back at the resort.

I'm planning a solo trip for March of next year. With that trip, my main goal will be trying restaurants that I can't go to when I'm there with friends because either they don't have the pallette for them or they don't want to spend that much money. So meals at Artist Point, Jiko, Chefs de France, and California Grill will be my priority, followed by relaxing. I'm sure I'll also get to one or more parks at some point, but that won't be the focus.

 

[miksilver]

I am in the process of purchasing my DVC (have passed ROFR!) and can't wait until we will have a non-park vacation. It probably won't be until 2010 since we will be getting AP's for our 2008 vacation and will be able to use them for our 2009 vacations as well , but I already have a number of trips planned without the use of park tickets. When I explained the DVC system to my DH, he really liked the idea of staying on Disney property with Disney amendities, but not always doing the parks. But...since I'll have my first ever AP this year, I can not let it go to waste

 

[twotoohappy]

Yup!
We go to the pool during the day and Jellyrolls at night

 

[mla973]

Desnik, can you provide a link. I'd love to hear the ideas.

 

[Desnik]

Here ya go:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1777952

I do know that there was a longer thread on the DIS with what people do when they go to Disney and skip the parks but I tried the search and can't find it anywhere!!

 

[nuts]

I did it once on a solo trip for 4 days. I just lay around the pool (I don't swim but love to "lounge"); watched the "movies on the beach" (at BCV); took the bus one day just wherever-rode the bus all day, talking to people, getting off and changing buses or stopping at different resorts; did alot of resting and reading. Great vacation!

Me too! I do an annual trip every May with just me (I think the wife likes to kick me out) Its a great time for me to unwind from a stressful job. Mainly lay around the pool and get a massage at the spa. I always stay at SSR. My most favorite resort because it is so peaceful and free from the hustle and bustle of the parks.

 

[jco_direwolf]

My inlaws bought into DVC as a golf resort. There are, what?, 3 championship level courses there (Can you tell I'm not a golfer.) But my point is they REALLY do think of DVC as a golf resort with near by theme parks for the grandkids.

so the short answer is yes.

johno

 

[DVCRob]

We have yet to vacation this way, but you guys have me convinced. As a fairly new DVC owner, I only recently learned of all the fun stuff to do at the resorts. They really are vacation destinations unto themselves. I look forward to the day when my goal is to read a book and nap; not to ride every ride in Fantasyland and Adventureland before lunch.

 

[goofypooh]

I'm so glad to know that we are not the only ones that will be doing this! There really is a lot to do just at the resorts, but we never take advantage of the activities going on because we are afraid we will miss something at the parks. I'm looking forward to a relaxing trip this summer!

 

[pb4ugo]

My husband & I just became DVC members last August. Then, we took the kids for a week in January & went to all the parks. We have some points left to use, so we are planning to go down this summer w/o the kids. This time, we are thinking we will just relax at the resort, enjoy different restaurants, my husband might golf, etc. Has anyone else gone to WDW without actually going to the parks? If so, what kind of things do you do during your stay?

Parks! What parks? We don't need no steeeeenkin' parks! Seriously, we were new members in 2005 - did the parks in '05 and '06 and just went back to the parks this year because we brought a rookie on vacation with us. Will go back next Feb and only go to a park if we have a dinner reservation there.

Have you been to the mousesavers.com website? Try this link:
http://www.mousesavers.com/freestuff.html
and take a look at all of the stuff that you can do - and maybe even not spend any money! I keep the list with my travel docs so I can check it if we have a rainy day during a visit.