DVC only, no kids, no parks trip: How would you do it?

[mamaprincess]

My DH and I are planning a DVC only trip (no parks) for our anniversary and his birthday (happens same week) June 22-27th 2008 (5nights). We have Southwest airline credits that we need to use up by July. We figured this was the most economical way to make use of our airline credits, without planning an expensive vacation. We've booked a value studio at AKV so that we can have enough points left to do a 2008 Christmas trip with the kids.

We are trying to keep this trip at or under $1,000. We are planning on splurging on the Deluxe dining plan and hitting all of the signature dining restaraunts that we could never do with our 3 young children. We will also have breakfast a few times during the trip some place nice and character free (Boma, Yacht Club Galley) and we will likely have early lunch at some places we would never try without the kids (character free). We also plan on renting a little water craft.

So far it looks like we will be eating and vegging, which is awesome because we never veg and rarely get to go out on dates. Have you ever went without stepping foot in a park? Do you have other suggestions?

I'm really excited about going without the kids and feel relatively guiltless because we will be taking them a few months later for Christmas, plus we won't be doing any parks because that would take us over budget.

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[eporter66]

My wife and I joined DVC knowing we were going to have children, but were single at the time, so I know exactly what you are talking about!

The way our trips usually work is to get up and go have a nice breakfast. We tend to eat breakfast and skip lunch (or at least a sit down lunch) and grab a snack or something in the afternoon. We have not used the dining plan but have a few favorite restaurants that we would hit without our daughter :

Artists Point (Wilderness Lodge)
Japan Pavillion at Epcot - Dinner at the Hibachi tables
Rose & Crown Pub at Epcot - For a few beers
DTD - Go to one of the clubs for a fun night out.

My wife would love to be poolside, to just sit out and relax, read. Maybe she would book some time at the SSR Spa for a massage or something like that.We have played golf a few times in WDW, beautiful courses. We would not hit the parks every day, but would probably go once or twice and just stroll around, hit a few rides and enjoy the place. Renting the boat sounds like a great idea...

Enjoy - there are a ton of things to do.

 

[LisaS]

How about trying the Segway Tour at Epcot? DH and I have done it three times now and it's one of our favorite things to do at WDW. Riding around the countries before the WS opens in the morning is so much fun! DVC members get a discount.

ETA: The tour price does not include admission to Epcot. You would need a park ticket/AP as well as paying for the tour.

 

[drag n' fly]

My DH and I are planning a DVC only trip for our anniversary and his birthday (happens same week) June 22-27th 2008 (5nights). We have Southwest airline credits that we need to use up by July. We figured this was the most economical way to make use of our airline credits, without planning an expensive vacation. We've booked a value studio at AKV so that we can have enough points left to do a 2008 Christmas trip with the kids.

We are trying to keep this trip at or under $1,000. We are planning on splurging on the Deluxe dining plan and hitting all of the signature dining restaraunts that we could never do with our 3 young children. We will also have breakfast a few times during the trip some place nice and character free (Boma, Yacht Club Galley) and we will likely have early lunch at some places we would never try without the kids (character free). We also plan on renting a little water craft.

So far it looks like we will be eating and vegging, which is awesome because we never veg and rarely get to go out on dates. Have you ever done this kind of trip before? Do you have other suggestions?

I'm really excited about going without the kids and feel relatively guiltless because we will be taking them a few months later for Christmas, plus we won't be doing any parks.

Thanks in advance for your input.

We are doing exactly the same thing as you in April. We plan to spend a lot more time looking at Epcot, DD and Pleasure Island.

 

[BroganMc]

Have you ever done this kind of trip before? Do you have other suggestions?

First of all, mamaprincess how dare you plan your kid-free trip for AKV instead of your home SSR? You'll completely miss out on all those early morning, leisurely walks along the lakes and through the golf courses.

Oh well if you must cheat. Here are a few things my dad and I like to do on our park free days:

By Seven Seas Lagoon:
Go to the Grand Floridian for afternoon tea. Get the "grand tea" which comes with champagne and duck pate.
After tea, walk around the resort a bit then follow the pathway past the new pool to the Wedding Pavilion.
End up at the Poly by evening. If they're letting folks, pool hop to their pool to kill a few early evening hours.
At 9pm the electrical water parade comes through. Get some carry out dinner from Cpn Cooks and find a nice spot on the Poly beach. Eat, watch the parade and stay for the MK fireworks. They pipe the music in over the background beach speakers.

You may alter your trip a bit by riding the monorail over to the Contemporary for shopping (their shop tends to have items I never find elsewhere), dining or just spying on the new construction.

By Boardwalk:
Go to Fantasia Gardens for some mini-golf in the middle of the day. It is usually empty about that time. DVC Members get a 15% discount and AP holders get a 50% discount. They also have a course that resembles more of a regular style course, but we like the theming of Fantasia.

Be careful crossing the street and head over to the Boardwalk area. Challenge each other to some carnival games. Get a snack at the bakery and/or ice cream shop. Have dinner in one of the restaurants in the area.

If you're carless for the week, take a bus to MGM and ride the ferry over. It's a nice ride and stops at 4 places (Boardwalk, Beach Club, Dolphin/Swan and International Gateway).

 

[parlay]

I just wanted to say how wonderful your plans sound! My DH and I look forward to the day when we'll be able to do WDW as a couple without our wonderful entourage!

 

[mamaprincess]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will keep a list. I won't be stepping foot in a single park for this trip not even dear epcot. We can't purchase park tickets because it will take us over our budget. We are however looking forward to eating at some of the following places:

Artist Point
California Grill
Narcosis
Citricos
Jiko
Wolfgang Puck
Ragland Road
Kona

First of all, mamaprincess how dare you plan your kid-free trip for AKV instead of your home SSR?
Oh well if you must cheat.

I cracked up the minute I read this. I should have known you'd catch me stepping out! You know, I wish it was Saratoga, but I have borrowed myself pointless with my SSR points. I have zero SSR points in 2008. SSR would have been perfection for this kind of trip but I decided to use my AKV points to stay at AKV because I have so many of them (I didn't use any 2007 points) and the value studio was super point cheap. Please don't tell my dear Saratoga I'm cheating. Saratoga will always be the love of my life even if I do keep a little somethin somethin on the side.

 

[starbox]

Honestly, in June I'd LOVE to split-up an adult-only trip with a night or two at Vero. Vero is the one place I am looking forward to being without children someday.

 

[spiceycat]

do the activities that AKV offers.

It has a bunch to do.

do what several people were doing - enjoying a drink around the fire outside.

definitely go to the Polyn to view the fireworks - might try CR. they have a very nice setup on the 4th floor.

 

[jejojual]

We are doing the same kind of trip in Feb- I CAN NOT WAIT!!! One thing we want to do is actually walk around some of the resorts we have not stayed at - both DVC and otherwise! I loved the suggestion about getting take out and eating on the Poly beach - we may just have to try that too!

This is a great thread - thanks for starting it - I'll be taking lots of notes for our Feb trip. (We'll be at AKV too...so if I find some good things I'll post a trip report when we get back....)

 

[rocketriter]

Make a dinner reservation at the Brown Derby, then knock back some champagne with a Cobb Salad (the original recipe, nothing like what's served in other restaurants today), a great entree and the grapefruit cake. Very romantic.

 

[mello]

We did almost the exact same thing last year for our anniversary (June 28 - so our dates were very similar to yours too!)

We stayed in a Studio at SSR, and would probably have done the deluxe dp too, if they'd had it. As it was, we did the regular dp but went to "date" type places with it. We had planned not to set foot in any parks, and we could have done it, but DH decided to surprise me with lunch at the Living Seas restaurant, so he wound up getting 1-day tickets for us (to which the bargain hunter and planning fanatic in me went , and the romantic in me thought ).

We kept our budget under $1000 as well, and it was surprisingly easy without all the kids! The hardest thing was not succumbing to the temptation to take all kinds of presents home for them - we managed to stick to one gift each.

Some things we did: Slept in alot , got a peppermint pedicure at the SSR spa, lounged around the pool one afternoon, took the boats everywhere they went, went around to see all the resorts, had tea at the Garden View Lounge, strolled the boardwalk, and spent some time in DTD. We had a blast, and can't wait to do it again! Really, it was the MOST relaxing vacation we've ever had.

Hope you have a fantastic time!

 

[lisaviolet]

Well,

I don't have kids, unfortunately.

And I've done ten days without entering a park. And it wasn't even DVC. It was a Value.

I'm the queen of doing nothing:

*sleep in...yeah!
*rent a pontoon boat
*sit on the rocking chairs at FW..even better with a drink
*even better do that at HoopDeedoo time and see the actors go on in...they are hysterical as they do it.
*eat takeout at their marina ....Trail's End buffet can be taken out. Not on menu but can do it. They give you everything you need. And one buffet is more than enough to feed two....
*nap....gosh I love a nap
*watch Wishes from Poly....already mentioned, eh?
*sit at the BW and people watch
*better yet go into screen door buy airport bottle of rum and a coke and sit on BW and people watch
*roast marshmallows at FW's nightly campfire
*watch Electrical Water Pageant from WL's beach or FW's beach
*pool hop to GF's pool
*get free chocolate from Ghiradelli's in DD.....daily!!!!! At least every other
*dance at 8trax (or BW's Atlantic Dance if you don't want to spend $)
*watch bball (or sport of choice of course) at ESPN, Fun time.
*check out the animals at AKV and the CMs are eager to educate. Whoops! You're staying there, aren't you? Well lucky you.
*take transportation boats any chance you can
*relax at WL...especially fireplace room...stairs near that annoying restaurant go through fancy looking doors at top of stairs
*walk from WL to FW....relaxing
*get fruit plate at Bakery at BW and sit and read on the BW veranda
*OH. I love this and it's probably a no-no....take a book to the farthest hammock on the Poly beach. I almost read an entire book one day there. And saw someone getting married on the hill behind me. Surreal. My head was turned and I suddenly heard violins playing....I thought it was heat stroke.

I actually have more. But I'm giving myself a headache from getting so excited about such a trip. So relaxing. The reason we bought DVC.

Have a wonderful time. Good for you.

 

[lisaviolet]

Oh! Okay one more. TL three hours before closing. Good crowds. Everyone starts to leave.
Or is that in the no parks decision?

 

[mamaprincess]

We did almost the exact same thing last year for our anniversary (June 28 - so our dates were very similar to yours too!)

We stayed in a Studio at SSR, and would probably have done the deluxe dp too, if they'd had it. As it was, we did the regular dp but went to "date" type places with it. We had planned not to set foot in any parks, and we could have done it, but DH decided to surprise me with lunch at the Living Seas restaurant, so he wound up getting 1-day tickets for us (to which the bargain hunter and planning fanatic in me went , and the romantic in me thought ).

We kept our budget under $1000 as well, and it was surprisingly easy without all the kids! The hardest thing was not succumbing to the temptation to take all kinds of presents home for them - we managed to stick to one gift each.

Some things we did: Slept in alot , got a peppermint pedicure at the SSR spa, lounged around the pool one afternoon, took the boats everywhere they went, went around to see all the resorts, had tea at the Garden View Lounge, strolled the boardwalk, and spent some time in DTD. We had a blast, and can't wait to do it again! Really, it was the MOST relaxing vacation we've ever had.

Hope you have a fantastic time!

Your vacation sounds like it was just heavenly! We have never taken a boat anywhere. I can't wait to do it. We will have to get in some kind of spa treatment at the SSR spa if only just to have an excuse to go home for a visit!

 

[mamaprincess]

Well,

I don't have kids, unfortunately.

And I've done ten days without entering a park. And it wasn't even DVC. It was a Value.

I'm the queen of doing nothing:

Your list is super comprehensive! I will try to get a great deal of those anti-activities in.

 

[MaryJ]

Someone mentioned the Segway tour at Epcot, which violates your "no park" rule. However, DH and I are going to try the Segway tour at Fort Wilderness next week which would not require a park ticket. You might think about that one.

 

[jekjones1558]

If you will have a car, then a day trip to Clearwater, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach or St. Augustine would be a change of pace. We have enjoyed all of these.

 

[mrsR123]

Please forgive me if I duplicate; I haven't read all the responses super carefully, but I did read enough to learn the no park rule.

If club cover charges will fit in the budget, I can recommend Adventurer's Club and Jellyrolls highly. DH and I took a long weekend without kids a couple of summers ago and enjoyed both establishments very much. We also have had the buffet breakfast at Fresh,(Swan and Dolphin) although not in a couple of years; you might want to check newer reviews.

You could take transportation to watch Illuminations fireworks from the Boardwalk, or Wishes from the Poly beach.

Be sure to have a bodacious hot fudge sundae at Ghiradelli, too!

Don't forget to sleep in-- you probably can't do that very often.

 

[Kathi OD]

DH and I will be leaving in 9 days for just the type of WDW vacation you've described. However, when we found out that we would be able to experience MVMCP, we did decide to do that (and so will be at the MK on the last evening of our trip).
Our plan includes:
- relax
- eating at restaurants we've never tried before
- seeing La Nouba
- relax some more
- a one day trip out to Clearwater
- touring the resorts we've not yet stayed at (hard to really do when you have kids whining to go to the parks)
- relax
- Illuminations cruise (no park admission required & we're sharing with others so the cost is minimal)
- watch the water parade from FW
- did I mention relax??
and any other little thing our hearts desire. I think we will probably take a few boat rides and maybe another day trip, but the point is that this will be a slow-paced vacation for us. Both of us are very excited about this different kind of Disney vacation!