Do you schedule time outside of the parks?

[MischaOz]

So I'm just curious if folks think it's worth scheduling time outside of the parks. We took two trips last year and spent virtually all of our time in the parks. So, for example, we haven't been to DTD, or the Boardwalk, or to see the Christmas decorations in resort lobbies. For our next trip this December, we won't have any "down time" to fill because we're going to have park hoppers. Just wondering if the activities mentioned above are worth taking time out of the parks for?

 

[bc7ate9]

We don't find the Boardwalk especially interesting, but we do sometimes walk from Hollywood Studios to Epcot just to check it out. I think DTD will be worth a visit once all the construction is done (maybe now even - I haven't been following the development there). We make ADRs at other resorts and check them out then - that is enough for us. It might be a fun thing to do more purposefully during the holiday season, though.

 

[ajwolfe]

We always get park hoppers but we still take time enjoy ADRs in other resorts so we can check them out. The year we went at Christmas we did check out several places to see the décor. We always hit DTD at least once during the course of a trip and play around of mini golf. I would recommend at least scheduling a few hours to get out and see what is offered.

 

[wilkeliza]

We always do. Next trip we have a whole day of non-park stuff. Resort hoping on the monorail and just chilling by the pool. In Disneyland we spent quiet a bit of time not in the parks as it is so easy there. We would go ride a few rides and then walk to one of the resorts to have lunch or hang in one of their lounges. WDW it is a little harder but we still try to get out of the parks at least once each day just to decompress and mentally regroup.

 

[ttintagel]

On our last trip, we ended up taking MOST of a park day off to take the Monorail around to the Deluxe resorts to eat, drink, look at decorations, sightsee, and relax. We had only planned on taking a half day or less, but it just got stretched out. Since we enjoyed it so much, we're planning on building it into the schedule next time and either staying an extra day or buying fewer park days.

 

[Brenda Kim]

Since you are going in December, doing the monorail resort loop is a must just for the decorations, the walk through gingerbread house and the treats you can buy at each holiday display. Even if you have no scheduled downtime, I would check out at the very least the Grand Floridian's display. It is amazing, it doesn't take long and it can be done easily when the parks are really busy mid-day.

Check it out!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/Grand-Floridian-Holiday/index.htm

 

[tobikaye]

For our next trip this December, we won't have any "down time" to fill because we're going to have park hoppers.

I have always had park hoppers, but still have visited many of the resorts. Meals are a great way to check out different parts of WDW. Also, sometimes I use the time between hopping to look around. Leaving MK, I have taken bus to BC and looked around on my way to Epcot. From Epcot to MK, I have gotten off at the TTC and walked to Poly and then to GF where I got back on the monorail to MK.

 

[DisneyFive]

Not really. We've pretty much been park open to close people too. (but parks do close earlier when we go in late September) We swim at the resort at night after the parks. We do tend to get out of the park during dinner though since we'll schedule some meals at resorts either on the monorail loop, or in the Boardwalk/Beach Club area.

The only real exception to this was our third trip when we did Sea World our first full day. (we needed to try something new to keep our WDW vacations fresh and exciting).

Dan

 

[DisneyFive]

Also, sometimes I use the time between hopping to look around. Leaving MK, I have taken bus to BC and looked around on my way to Epcot.

Love love love the Beach Club area with the lagoon and white sand... looking across to the Boardwalk. May be my favorite location in all of WDW, parks included.

Dan

 

[Sparkly]

Yes- too many park days in a row is a killer. Especially with late nights. I was a over tired mess the last time I tried to do 4 intense park days in a row!

 

[ttintagel]

Next time on Monorail Hop Day, I'm also looking forward to seeing Wishes from either the TTC or the Poly Beach. I know there will still be lots of people and noise, but it can't possibly be as much of a crush as it is from inside the MK! Also, the Electrical Water Pageant!

 

[BobC]

I plan a midday break at a resort and an evening break at a resort/my resort.

My day is typically as follows:

-Sleep in til 730/8 and arrive a bit after rope drop at a park
-Stay at park until lunch time and have lunch @ park or adjacent resort, (i.e. CR after MK)
-Head back to room/resort to change socks and lounge by pool or watch TV for an hour or 2 around 1230/1
-Head back to another park and have dinner there at 7ish or so
-If it's not EMH, I'm typically back in my resort round 8-10 to relax; check out resort, swim, have a few drinks

 

[BalooPA]

We usually do multiple dinners at resorts during a visit, possibly with a visit to the Boardwalk. We also plan a day in the middle of our trip to laze around the pool in the morning and then hit DTD (Disney Springs...whatever) later in the afternoon/evening.

 

[revdon64]

We have no experience with it other than the fact that we're doing just that this year. We're taking a whole day to resort-hop and see decorations, get a Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream, etc. We bought 8 day tickets for a 10 day trip, but the first and last days are primarily travel. It gives us the flexibility to just drop in a park if we want to on that resort hop day, like maybe for Osborne lights at the end of the day.

 

[5kidsmommy]

We usually schedule one day off because we camp so we like to have a day to just do stuff at Fort Wilderness like the pools, the trails, the beach, etc. But we've never actually done much resort hopping, mostly because my five kids have no interest in that. This trip is just my daughter and I and we have scheduled time to resort hop and check out the decorations.

 

[Dr Gevil]

With SAB now in our arsenal, we schedule lots of non park time - esp. from 12-5 in the afternoon. Kids love the afternoon pool games and activities (tie dye shirts!) and me and DW love the beverages from Hurricane Hannah's. We also plan to take time to see the Xmas decorations at the Monorail Deluxe resort lobbies, as this will be out first Xmas trip ever coming up.

We also plan on braving the construction and checking out DTD/DS for a halfday as well.

 

[bluezy]

So I'm just curious if folks think it's worth scheduling time outside of the parks. We took two trips last year and spent virtually all of our time in the parks. So, for example, we haven't been to DTD, or the Boardwalk, or to see the Christmas decorations in resort lobbies. For our next trip this December, we won't have any "down time" to fill because we're going to have park hoppers. Just wondering if the activities mentioned above are worth taking time out of the parks for?

Like others, we always get park hoppers but we still spend time doing things outside of the parks -- but still in the Disney bubble. We always have breakfast or lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express and spend a few hours shopping and walking around at DTD. Most days we do rope drop at a park and then head back to the resort for a break around 1:00 or 2:00. We nap or swim for an hour or two and then decide where we want to go for dinner (sometimes table service, usually QS). Usually we will choose to go to a resort for dinner. We head to that resort and spend a little time exploring, have dinner, and then head to a park for the evening or just go back to our resort. We do enjoy a little stroll around The Boardwalk but don't feel the need to do it every trip.

 

[Accident]

So I'm just curious if folks think it's worth scheduling time outside of the parks. We took two trips last year and spent virtually all of our time in the parks. So, for example, we haven't been to DTD, or the Boardwalk, or to see the Christmas decorations in resort lobbies. For our next trip this December, we won't have any "down time" to fill because we're going to have park hoppers. Just wondering if the activities mentioned above are worth taking time out of the parks for?

I think it is very worth it, especially winter holiday time. We did the gingerbread house circle of resorts on the monorail in just an hour. Really quick to do on your way to MK one afternoon. We always hit DTD at least once and usually do a nice lunch or dinner at the same time, maybe a few hours + meal. Wilderness lodge is one of the best decorated resorts that time of year, quick to stop in when switching parks, especially to/from MK since it's close to it. Some interesting restaurants there if you want more than a walk around the resort.

The parks is really a tiny bit of WDW and do recommend trying at least 1 or 2 things. Getting a nice meal is a good way to combine the effort instead of having to plan a day around being there. Resorts are really easy to include if your park hopping.

 

[SM101]

We treat Disney like it's a whole resort of which the park is just part. We tend to stay Deluxe (or Villa), do stuff at the resorts, use the pool, etc. There's all sorts of activities available - some free, some not so much - like pool games, movies under the stars, etc.

 

[loves to dive]

I don't schedule time off, but I do take time off. We have always had park hoppers, we enjoy spending some time in park 1 then maybe hopping over to a resort for lunch, then park 2 then either an ADR at a TS or back to the resort for the pool or to rest and back to another park later. There is usually one afternoon we are just tired of parks so we explore resorts, usually just get on the first bus to appear.