Going to Orlando (Disney) but not doing Disney Parks?

[tigger 12]

Has anyone ever went to Orlando (WDW) but not go to any of the parks? I was thinking of doing something like that in the fall. We've been to the parks numerous times and I was thinking to save money DH and I could stay in the Disney atmosphere and do other things besides the parks. Like hang out in Downtown Disney etc... Has anyone ever done this? What other fun things could we do? I was even thinking we could visit some of the Disney resorts.

 

[Cool-Beans]

A relative of mine was sent to Orlando for a work meeting...and didn't go to one single park. Not one. Not even to ride SpiderMan or see Illuminations or anything.

I was so disappointed.

But not everyone likes theme parks. Just why, I'm not sure, but it's true.

 

[cepmom]

DH and I did this a few years ago. We flew in a couple days before our Disney Cruise, but didn't want to spend the money on park tickets for one or two days. We went to Downtown Disney, visited a lot of resorts, ate at some of the Disney restaurants etc. We had a good time, because we were on our way to a cruise, we didn't mind some down time. I don't know that I would just fly to Orlando and not do the parks though.

 

[Darcy03231]

We did this a couple of years ago. We got the Orlando Flex pass and did Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Wet n' Wild. We had a blast. We also went to the Kennedy Space Center, Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum and the beach (we were there for 16 days). We did spend one night at the Magic Kingdom for Pirates and Princesses, but other than that we didn't go to any of the Disney parks.

 

[vettechick99]

We are doing this - and we leave on Saturday!

We decided to skip the parks because:

1. We've been twice already in 9 months
2. We're limited in what we can do with a 2YO in the parks anyway (I won't ride my favs like SM alone)
3. I can't handle park-hopping in 100 degree heat (and I'm from GA!)
4. DH is tired of WDW (I know, ) and how it's less of a vacation and more like work

So, we are staying at Bonnet Creek (next to CBR) and plan on doing the water parks, visiting DTD, resort hopping, and just taking it easy. I am looking forward to doing all the things I've never done in 25+ trips. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[diznygirl]

We always said we wanted to do this - and now we live here so that's what we do! There's lots to do - boats, bikes, horseback riding, petting zoo - Vettechick make sure your bring your little chicklet to Fort Wilderness for the pony ride!

 

[WaltD4Me]

I sort of did this in Feburary of 2008. We stayed at Marriott Grand Vista for a week and only did the Pirate & Princess Party at MK one night. Other than that no parks and I did have a great time. We went to DTD a couple nights. Ate at the Poly one day, rode around on the monorail, went to a couple other resorts, but we also went to Sea World and Kennedy Space Center, checked out International Drive, went to the Disney Outlet store at Prime Outlets. It was really nice. I would do it again.

 

[Laurabearz]

We took a 9 day no park trip a few years back and it was a great trip. So relaxing.

We did Chef Mickeys and Hoop De Doo, but mostly just chilled by the pool.

In three weeks we are heading to the World and out of 15 day trip, we will only go to the parks 5 days.

 

[ksjayhawks]

We spent three days in Orlando before a cruise out of Port Canaveral. Went to Universal parks those two days. When we came back we had two days and went to basketball game and sea world.

 

[olena]

We've also talked about this. I have family in the area, so we often just stay with them and hit the parks and we're within driving distance. We have considered getting a room on property and just doing the other things. DH would like to play golf. We both would like to rent a boat and even fish. We never swim in the pools, so maybe we could do that, too. If there's something going, we might hit the Wide World of Sports as well. We definitely like mini-golf, too. I suppose while DH is golfing, I could hit the water parks. We also talked about doing the park tours, too.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

We've passed through Orlando several times to MIL's condo in Fort Myers. Without going into a park, we've eaten at ESPN on the Boardwalk, at Whispering Canyon in the Wilderness Lodge, at the Poly, and at the Contemporary. We've riden the monorail, gone to Poly to watch the electric light water parade and the fireworks over the castle, and walked aroung the Grand Floridian. Actually, we've toured many of the resorts. There is lots to do without even staying in the resort.

 

[ols386]

I don't think I could go to Orlando and not go to the WDW parks, although there are alot of other things to do there.

Universal Studios is a really fun place, Sea World is nice, Kennedy Space Center is not too far away, Coco Beach if you want to do the beach scene....just to name a few things non-Disney.

 

[Disney Doll]

If you golf, you can go golfing.
You can sit by the pool.
You can go to a water park, if you don't think that consitutes a "park".
There's mini golf.
There's DTD.
There's the Boardwalk.
There's supposed to be some fun stuff to do over at Ft.Wilderness...petting zoo, some kind of playground.
There is outlet shopping.
There is the "monorail hotel tour"...ride the monorail to the 3 hotels that are on it and shop, eat, browse.
You can go to the WL, Poly, GF or CR @ night to watch the Electric Water Pageant.
You can book dinner one night at the CA Grill and time it so you are there when the MK fireworks go on.
There is a lot around Orlando to see/do...airboats, Universal, Ripleys Museum to name a few.

Truthfully, I don't think I could be there for a week and not do a park, but I could probably fill 3-4 days with enough activity where I wouldn't need to do a park.

 

[lovepurple]

We've done this a few times while visiting our children doing the CP. Last time we went to Gatorland and it was better than I expected.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We have been DVC members for many years and usually spend about 3 weeks a year at WDW. We have gone for 3 years in a row without stepping foot in a park and we plan not to go to any Disney park this month when we are back. We may go to Universal for a change or just hang at OKW!!

 

[vettechick99]

We always said we wanted to do this - and now we live here so that's what we do! There's lots to do - boats, bikes, horseback riding, petting zoo - Vettechick make sure your bring your little chicklet to Fort Wilderness for the pony ride!

We plan on going over that way one afternoon. Can't wait!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Why not? I go to DL and sometimes don't set foot in either park.


We do love to rent the little mouse boats over in WDW. Those are a total hoot.

Some of the WDW resorts are entertainment in themselves, too.

 

[powellrj]

We have been on a couple trip that we have never done a WDW park. We were there in March this year and did Sea World and spent the rest of the time hanging out at the pool, shopping and eating! We also rented jet skis, played putt putt and did a beach day. We had a wonderful time!