DVC stays that involve going off property to "the other outside world"......

[edk35]

Okay just a few days ago we decided that we would INDEED be going back to WDW this summer. We were going to skip but I couldn't stand it since I read the Electrical Light Parade was back this summer. Plus....I MISS DVC. We are staying at HHI right now July 18th for 6 nights. However...now that we are going to Disney.....I might cut back to 3 nights on the way home.

SO...we are driving for the 2nd time EVER since living in Maryland. We drove in 2002 over Thanksgiving week and SWORE NEVER TO DO IT AGAIN.

However....for some WEIRD reason the kids ( 19, 17 and 11) all want to drive. ROADTRIP was what I heard. So......we might stay all of our nights at a DVC resort or stay 2 nights at Hard Rock at Universal in conjunction with.

I want to know where you go offsite when you drive down and stay at a DVC resort. Do your visit other theme parks/sites? Do you find it easy to get around? We are more than likely going to be at SSR or OKW since we are just now planning this. So it will be very different for us to have our van there.

Thanks

 

[daisyduck123]

Hmm....let's see.

We always drive in our van and once we're there - we NEVER leave Disney property (except one time to go buy DH an alcohol supply for the fridge).

Yes, we find it very easy to get around. We never use Disney transportation.. much nicer in our own vehicle.

C'mon DENISE ....ROAD TRIP!!

 

[edk35]

Okay Laurie..you don't count. I know what you all do on trips.

 

[gojoe]

We fly but rent a car for day trips. Last time it was my daughter family in Longwood, Universal (swore we would never go back) & shopping (Millennial Mall). This year it's Universal (Harry Potter so we have to go back) and Disney's Vero Beach for a day trip. I think it's OK to pool hop. We want to spend a day at the beach so why not visit Vero it absolutely wonderful. If it's not beach weather that day it's off to Kennedy Space Center.

 

[mecllap]

We've stayed offsite more than on over the years, and are now comfortable with getting around. Places can be further apart than one might like, tho. I just use a map, but GPS would make it easier -- there can be lots of stoplights, and the occasional toll road (have some change handy).

Altho you can go to TL/BB, kids those ages would probably really like Aquatica (haven't been there yet, looking forward to it). They're probably too old for Gatorland. Kennedy Space Center is a great day (it's a full day, but could maybe be combined with a little beach time). It's a little interesting to go for a drive through Celebration, just to see it.

We always seem to need 2-3 trips to Walmart, and of course there are the Disney outlet stores (altho my favorite one is a handy stop at St. Augustine on the way up to Hilton Head; I think it's Premier outlets -- also a good place for a food court lunch break and rest stop).

I would not want to be there for very many days without a car -- going to try for 3 in August to see how it goes. It's just so much handier to have a car.

 

[spiceycat]

go shopping offsite.

there are several discount malls close to WDW.

you can find Universal pretty easier - just get on I4.
take it this is for harry potter? then staying at a Universal hotel is definitely a good ideal.

 

[kaelarad]

We always go off property! The cost of eating on property is too expensive and the poor food quality. Lots of decent restaurants off property. We also like the outlets and area malls for shopping. We have also taken day trips to the Kennedy Space Center and Universal.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We always have a vehicle and enjoy day trips. On the trips which we plan on going to Universal, we stay on property there a few days to take advantage of the FOTL perk. (We wouldn't go to Universal without this perk)

We also enjoy going to Sea World for the day.
Finally, Busch Gardens in Tampa is an easy day trip, and with the ages of your children, they may enjoy the multiple Roller Coasters.

It's always nice to have a vehicle.

Enjoy!!

 

[tjhsr]

we have stayed away from universal for the last 3 yrs but will try it again w.harry potter opening. we enjoy the rides there. HR is great and you get front of the line. we rent a car to get around outside of the world to eat and go shopping. and if you know your way around you don't have to use I-4.

 

[littlestar]

We always go offsite to eat. Disney's food quality is not that great. We go to Flippers Pizza at least twice while in Orlando (they have the best bread sticks I've ever tasted and they make their own marinara sauce). Flippers is a vacation tradition for our whole family since they are only located in Orlando. We also hit the outlets over on Vineland, too. There's a Disney outlet in that mall. Our grown kids like the Mall of Millenia, too.

The kids usually drive over to the ocean and spend a day - either Cocoa Beach or the Tampa area at Clearwater Beach. As soon as Harry Potter land at Universal opens, we're planning on checking that out.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

When in the world we almost never leave it. Now at VB & HHI we travel out all the time.

Don't forget the Auto Train... kids love the train. It's probably not much more than an hour from you in Lorton, VA. Costs more than flying, but you have your car and everything packed in it. And no TSA lines to stand in or limitations of what you can bring. Just pack it in your car.

 

[briarwolf]

I think a lot of the places have been mentioned already. When I was a kid growing up my parents LOVED educational attractions. Looking back, those are the ones I treasure the most.

Kennedy Space Center was pretty cool
An airboat ride in the everglades was amazing!
Busch Gardens is always a nice change.
The clearwater beach near Tampa was always nice and clean.
There is also Edison and Ford winter estates in Fort Myers and the Ringling Museum in Sarasota.
I would include Cypress Gardens, but it closed for good last year.

Hope this helps.

 

[peemagg]

Has anyone checked out the Wonderworks exhibit? We are thinking of checking it out on our next trip down. What is your opinion of it?

 

[briarwolf]

peemag, Never been there, but I have heard mixed reviews

 

[5by5]

We'll be making it a road trip from Maryland this Summer as well. It'll be the second time we have driven.

We usually go offsite for a few meals and I also highly recommend the Disney outlet stores at St. Augustine. We usually hit that on that on the way there so the kids already have their souvenirs.

 

[edk35]

We'll be making it a road trip from Maryland this Summer as well. It'll be the second time we have driven.

We usually go offsite for a few meals and I also highly recommend the Disney outlet stores at St. Augustine. We usually hit that on that on the way there so the kids already have their souvenirs.

Hi neighbor!!!

 

[Crystal_27]

We are actually going to be doing this when we go in December. We have our BLT room booked from December 18-January 1, but will be spending one night at one of the Universal hotels so we can get FOTL access for 2 days. Our BLT room will sit unoccupied for one night, but, for us, I think we will get a lot more done being able to stay on-site at Universal than if we just had to commute from BLT for 2 days. We always drive down, so we will have our own car. We'll see how it works out...

 

[edk35]

We are actually going to be doing this when we go in December. We have our BLT room booked from December 18-January 1, but will be spending one night at one of the Universal hotels so we can get FOTL access for 2 days. Our BLT room will sit unoccupied for one night, but, for us, I think we will get a lot more done being able to stay on-site at Universal than if we just had to commute from BLT for 2 days. We always drive down, so we will have our own car. We'll see how it works out...

WOW what a NICE L O N G trip to Disney. That is a good idea too....keeping your room at BLT.

 

[Crystal_27]

WOW what a NICE L O N G trip to Disney.

Definitely would not be possible without DVC.

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

Whoooa...there is a world outside of the world?? this is illogical... OP I think one of the reasons you swore off driving was "thanksgiving traffic" it is the worst!! We went down last June with no problems at all, don't for get the other, other, world...Sea World...