DVC Resort Stay - Not going to parks

[eporter66]

My wife and I have discussed this a few times. We love the resorts we have stayed at, along with our home resort SSR. Can't say that there is a bad place to stay on property.

So - we have been discussing a long weekend to just relax. This is what happens when you just return from vacation, you get excited about the next trip. We were at SSR last week, and had a great stay, but we also are thinking of going for a long weekend as the weather gets colder here in NY.

We want to look at it like any long weekend. If we can get a decent airline price, we plan to do a 3-4 night stay.

Obviously relaxing and swimming by the pool. My wife would like to do the Spa at SSR. We would plan a few nights out, our current favorite is the Boathouse, the last two times we have had really good meals, and great service at that restaurant. Probably eat off-site a time or two, a lot of options in the area. 2 rounds of golf, and renting bikes would also be on our list. We might cheat, and get a day pass to do one of the parks (would love to do the Avatar ride again).

Anyway - tell me about your stays at DVC without going to the parks.

 

[toolmanjan]

Why not try Hilton Head. There is a great beach and pool at the beach house. Several great restaurants some within walking distance of the resort. All that and a great Disney staff that will make you feel at home.

 

[disneynutz]

We recently had a 10 night stay, went into Epcot for 4 hours. While the parks are wonderful, so is just enjoying the resorts and non-park areas.

Bill

 

[SL6827]

Why not try Hilton Head. There is a great beach and pool at the beach house. Several great restaurants some within walking distance of the resort. All that and a great Disney staff that will make you feel at home.

That's the truth!

 

[AnnaS]

Since becoming DVC members in 2000 - I have done two 5 night stays with no parks. My first one was about 8 years ago. My daughter, her friend and myself went. They did the parks and I chose not to. Last March, hubby and I did a non-park stay together. We love to relax, hang out by the pool and resort hop for lunch. We also took a ride to Vero for the day. Night time was Boardwalk, Disney Springs or resort hop for dinner. I think it's nice to do once in a while. We don't do the parks much anyway and we have APs. Hilton Head is another option. Go for the non-park trip and enjoy!

 

[SL6827]

I am ready to start doing this as well. Not buying park tickets would be a nice cut out of our budget. Whether it be with a DVC stay or just through Disney resorts. My first pick, the Beach Club. SAB could entertain us for days on end.

But I do have a long weekend planned next month at Hilton Head.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Although I love the HHI idea, since that's my favorite resort, I have done a few WDW stays without visiting the parks and had a wonderful time. One day I monorailed around to a few resorts, where I ate, browsed in gift shops, listened to music, etc. One trip, I stayed at AKL and there's just so much to do right there. I could watch the animals all day. And there was ceramics painting, jewelry making, culinary tour, Sanaa tour, art tour. Great place for a non-park trip.

 

[jimmytammy]

We have talked about doing this for several years now. And I can see it coming to fruition for us. We have been members since 01 and have numerous trips under our belts, sometimes as many as 4 a year(this year we are going for a record 5!)

But we are at a point where non parks are perfectly fine.

 

[SL6827]

I would be perfectly fine not returning to the parks until after the Star Wars/Toy Story Land is done, say a few years after. But there will probably always be something new Disney will be installing, hopefully anyways.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have annual passes that we haven't activated for a few years now. We were at GFV last June for six nights. We had planned on activating the passes and then using them again in Sept for F&W. We wound up not activating the passes and just using our son's last remaining guest passes for two days. The rest of the time we just hung out at the resort. From the end of that trip to about seven weeks later, we moved to Marco Island, FL, so we cancelled our F&W trip and still have the passes. That Sept trip included two nights in Tampa to see the Chicago Cubs play the Tampa Rays which we will still do (only about three hours from here to Tampa) and then back home. We'll probably bank most of our points and just use them for Flower and Garden next spring and F&W 2018. Living on Marco Island is like being on vacation all the time.

 

[Fauntleroy]

Stayed at a BLT GV for a non-park trip (business, went to Braves Spring Training game, and just chilled) a couple years back and loved it. Highly recommended- particularly if you are one of those "Disney-heads" who gets inspired and re-charged simply by being on property. I am also a fan of going to MK, strolling through all the nooks and crannies of Main Street USA and grabbing a seat on a bench to eat popcorn and people watch for a couple hours- but that's another thread. Lol!

 

[com_op_2000]

We have done up to 14 nights without every setting foot in a park.
2 nights at VB
7 night DCL
5 nights at BWV
Have done many over-night/long weekend trips since '93 and not gone to the parks. Some of the options for things to do outside the parks, depending upon what you are into:
sports: golf, mini-golf, fishing, marathon, bowling, ESPN Club, WWS/ESPN Zone, etc
shopping: DTD, area outlet malls, large scale malls
drinking: Jellyrolls, Raglan Road, monorail tour of resorts, walking tour of resorts in the Boardwalk area
movies: DTD 24 screen theater some with meals served by waiters
night clubbing: Jellyrolls, Atlantic Dance, Raglan Road, Citywalk
resort tours: monorail tour of resorts, Boardwalk around the lake tour of resorts, horse drawn tour of FWC, AKL/AKV
offsite: Gaylord Palms Resort, Citywalk, swamp tour
eating: Formal GF 5* Chef's Table @ V&As

 

[DaisyNY]

The last trip we spent three days not going to parks at all...enjoying resorts, saw a few movies, relaxing on the balcony. One of my favorite things about DVC is knowing we will always be back and not feeling like we have to go to the parks at all.

 

[jcanary]

my husband and I have been doing non-park trips for years. We have been members since 1992 and once the kids were grown and gone we enjoy going to relax. We usually get up for a leisure breakfast in the room and relax on the balcony. go to the pool around 10, maybe either buy our lunch at the pool or go back to the room for an hour or so. We also bring our own "drinks" that we bring down to the pool with us. We will usually go back to the room around 3, shower and go out for the night. Whether it be another resort like the Poly or Disney Springs we just mander around and take in the new sites. We love our little get aways at Disney and they do become habit forming. Now we have grandkids and I don't think we are going to see too many more of these. do it and I am sure you will love the independence of choosing where you want to eat rather than where the kids would want to.

 

[MadamG2U]

Why not try Hilton Head. There is a great beach and pool at the beach house. Several great restaurants some within walking distance of the resort. All that and a great Disney staff that will make you feel at home.

Just spent a few nights there and it is by far my new favorite DVC resort. So relaxing, great restaurants and shopping. It was my first visit but will not be my last

MadamG2U