Has anyone gone to WDW and not done the parks? (Long)

[punkin]

I need help. I usually spend pretty freely at Disney, but this 3 day trip is an add on to the beach vacation for which my sister is paying. It was not on my budget, but I could not resist. So...I'm on a really tight budget and am seriously considering NOT going to the parks at all. It's me and 2 children, aged 12 and 6. My hotel (POR with code) will cost approximately $250. I arrive Wednesday morning at 10:30. I am renting a car $153 (I have to because we are then driving down to Pompano Beach to meet my sister) We are leaving at about 1 pm on Saturday. We will need to eat (I haven't been able to get a dining package with the discounted room, but other people have posted here that it is possible so I'm still trying-any help with that will also be appreciated) so I figure another $400 (my oldest is a little gourmet and in order to save money has promissed me that she won't even ask to go to the flying fish). I will be strong and not buy ANY souveniers (I'm planning to go bach this summer anyway)

So, it will cost app. $800 (not including the $450 I pent on airfare). This is expensive enough without adding park days and I thought I could find enough fun stuff at Disney without hitting the parks.

I need ideas for low-cost, high-fun activities that won't leave my children begging to go into parks and me giving in to the whining.

I figure I can spend up to $75 for all 3 of us per day (we have 2 whole days and 2 half days to fill) and still stay in budget.

Any thoughts?

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

I've never done it but I think I'd love too. Here are some of my ideas that I'd like to do:

Spend a day at the pools relaxing.
Explore the other resorts. ~ This would probably take 3/4 of a day.
Spend a day at Downtown Disney as I never get to do this.
I'd love to explore the Orlando area because it's a dream of ours to move there one day.
Go to the petting farm at Ft. Wilderness.
You could do the campfire/movie night there at Ft. Wilderness because you are a resort guest that's free.
If you have $75 a day for all 3 maybe you could rent a surrey bike one day and ride the trails around WL and Ft. Wilderness.

ETA: Oh and I also want to try the Disney Outlets some time when we get a chance to go off site. I hear they're fabulous.

Just some of my suggestions of things I think would be cool if we ever had the time.

 

[smilingmouse]

Regarding the code question, I think beging able to add the dining option only works when you use a package (not a room-only) code. You may want to`ask Disney to be sure...

 

[punkin]

Thanks for the ideas. I forgot about Ft. Wilderness entirely. I never have the time to go there usually. I was also thinking of going to AKL to see animals and maybe dinner at Boma.

Some people at on the codes and rates board were able to do packages with a pin code and some were not. I'm still trying. If I can save enough money on food, I may be able to swing one day at the parks (maybe two)

 

[lilsonicfan]

This might sound sacreligious, but I dunno, what about staying in a cheaper hotel and using the extra money for park entry? or, annual passes?

 

[sk!mom]

As an adult, I could do it and love it, but being at WDW and not going into the Parks would be torture for my DD. I wouldn't attempt it.

 

[punkin]

The code I got at POR is $79 pre tax. My AP rate at POP was $74. So, for me, it's not cheaper. I don't want to stay offsite because then I really would want to do the parks. I can't see myself spending 4 days at the travelodge.

 

[goofyforlife]

You can only get the meal plans if you pay for room AND MYW passes.

So if you are not going into the parks...no meal plan available...

However for some fun cheap ideas...

Winter/summerland golf is fun....

Night at the boardwalk...Dinner at Beaches and cream at BC... They will let you split double cheeseburgers and give you an extra bun. One of their sundaes will definately feed the three of you (and leave you room to breathe.) On the Boardwalk, there is entertainment (jugglers, fire blower guy) or you could rent a surrey bike. You can also see the fireworks from illuminations from there.

At POR,
The food court has good selection of food at reasonable costs.
Some of our favorites there are the chicken parm (which is large enough to split) and they offer a banana split that is HUGE for only $4.99. They do the double burger thing here too.

Activities at POR
they have a fishing hole near the pool with hourly? rates.....
You could ride the boat down to Downtown Disney and go to Lego Place...
or look for discounted tickets to Disney Quest.
We took a carriage ride in the evening which I think was around $30.

 

[minnie mouse]

Yes, we went last Easter and the parks seemed so crowded that we decided not to venture into the mop. We spent time at the pool, visited and eat at the other Disney resorts I have not yet seen....
Spent time in Down Town Disney...and just plan relaxed.
It was a great time and I would do it again.

 

[maggiew]

I think AKL has lots of activities in the hotel. I don't think you HAVE to be a guest at AKL to do them. They have some kind of scavenger hunt thing (maybe hidden mickeys). They also do some kind of crayon rubbings of the tiles. Etc. I have never personally stayed at AKL, but I always thought the activities there sounded fun. Maybe someone else can elaborate on these.

We did the carriage ride at POR and it was fun. I think around $35. After that you can go hear River Roost Bob in the lounge at POR.

I second the idea of going to the night movie and campfire at Ft. Wilderness.

Resort hop around the monorail?

Get the hidden mickey book and do one of the scavenger hunts. We have this book and had lots of fun with it. There is one that you can do without going into any of the parks. That one could take a good part of the day.

Spend the day swimming in the hotel pool and then walk the boardwalk at night. Or window shop at DTD.

Maggie

 

[punkin]

"You can only get the meal plans if you pay for room AND MYW passes."

OK, so I can't get the dining package. But all the ideas are great. Here's my plans so far. On the day we arrive, we will just hang out at the pool. We could do AKL in the afternoon and watch the animals before going to Boma for dinner. On the second day we will play mini-golf and either do the carriage ride at POR or do the boardwalk at night as suggested with a surrey bike rental (this is our expensive day) The third day, pool in the morning and then we could go to Ft. Wilderness for the petting zoo and stay for the campfire and movie. Fourth day is just a morning so we would spend it at the hotel. After check out we hit the outlets for a few hours shopping and then drive down to Ft. Lauderdale to pick my sister up at the airport.

At some point, I also want to hit DTD. My kids love the caramel apples there. How does hat sound to you guys.

I'm beginning to look forward to this trip.

 

[punkin]

OK, now I'm embarrassed. I was just cleaning the house and I found old park hoppers. There are no park days left on them, but it looks like there should be 2 plusses. That would be great if true. I know there's no way to check until we get there, but I'm excited anyway.

Does anyone know if we can check the number of plusses left at POR or do we need to go to a park?

 

[KerriL]

Yes, guest services or "lobby concierge" will be able to "read" your hoppers and tell you exactly what is left on them. No need to go to the parks!
Kerri

 

[Disneycrazymom]

If you are going later in the summer, could you buy the passes for that now and just add a couple extra days? The 10 day tickets are not much more than the 7 day ones. As I look at your plan, while it is great, it may cost you more than buying extra park tickets. At ticketmania a 7 day hop that expires is $234, a 10 day NON expire hop is $340. That's only $106 difference divided by 3 it's only $35 per day. I am only posting this because I know my kids would have a fit if we were that close and didn't go into the parks. You will be in the water the rest of the week at the beach too so you will have to be careful how much sun they get.

 

[maggiew]

OK, now I'm embarrassed. I was just cleaning the house and I found old park hoppers. There are no park days left on them, but it looks like there should be 2 plusses. That would be great if true. I know there's no way to check until we get there, but I'm excited anyway.

Does anyone know if we can check the number of plusses left at POR or do we need to go to a park?

Wow! That's a great find.

I have always thought it would be a great idea to go to Disney for a few days and NOT do the parks. This way we would get a chance to do all those little things that we never take the time to do because we are park commandos.

Maggie

 

[punkin]

I have ticket problems.

I own one AP voucher which I am not planning to activate until the summer. I bought it last year before the MYW tickets and am now stuck with it. I will buy the rest of my family the 10 day non-expiry this summer. We plan to be there for one week (5 park days) Then we are going for 1 days around thanksgiving (day trip) and then planning another trip next summer. That will allow me to use my AP for a total of 10 days.

Additionally, I'm rather strapped for cash right at the moment and was planning to buy the 10 day MYW with my tax reurn. This trip already has my family eating rice and beans twice a week.

Besides, I think it may be fun not to run around planning every minute of our day. I am the original park commando.

 

[SAWYERMAW1]

We're going the second week in May and do not plan to go to any Disney parks. We might do IOA one day but mostly plan to hang out at POR and do DTD and some character meals. I don't like crowds at the parks and think it will be very crowded due to the 50th Anniversary Celebration. We made our plans before we found out that was going on.

 

[mrsboz]

Maybe you could go to a character dinner at a hotel so this way your children would still be able to see some characters. You could go to the Poly and see the fireworks or go to the Boardwalk and see the fireworks from Epcot. Minature golf.

 

[punkin]

I could do character meals. I could do the resort breakfasts late (around 11) and count it as lunch. Maybe O'hana's or Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Faire. This would include a roundtrip ride on the monorail (of course) Maybe I could try to get the kids a ride up front. They'd love that.

I might also do the GF tea and count it as dinner. The kids could dress up for that.

These things would be included in my meal budget (which is pretty high) rather than the entertainment budget.

Also, last time we were there, my kids made leis at the Poly and I know AKL has some kids activities during the day. Does anyone know if POR has something similar.

 

[drakethib]

I need help. I usually spend pretty freely at Disney, but this 3 day trip is an add on to the beach vacation for which my sister is paying. It was not on my budget, but I could not resist. So...I'm on a really tight budget and am seriously considering NOT going to the parks at all. It's me and 2 children, aged 12 and 6. My hotel (POR with code) will cost approximately $250. I arrive Wednesday morning at 10:30. I am renting a car $153 (I have to because we are then driving down to Pompano Beach to meet my sister) We are leaving at about 1 pm on Saturday. We will need to eat (I haven't been able to get a dining package with the discounted room, but other people have posted here that it is possible so I'm still trying-any help with that will also be appreciated) so I figure another $400 (my oldest is a little gourmet and in order to save money has promissed me that she won't even ask to go to the flying fish). I will be strong and not buy ANY souveniers (I'm planning to go bach this summer anyway)

So, it will cost app. $800 (not including the $450 I pent on airfare). This is expensive enough without adding park days and I thought I could find enough fun stuff at Disney without hitting the parks.

I need ideas for low-cost, high-fun activities that won't leave my children begging to go into parks and me giving in to the whining.

I figure I can spend up to $75 for all 3 of us per day (we have 2 whole days and 2 half days to fill) and still stay in budget.

Any thoughts?

Have you considered buying some pop tarts, apples, fruit, etc for breakfast or light lunch and possibly cut out a meal or two of eating out and eating in your room? The small refrigerators are now included in the rooms.

The wife and I did this on our last trip and just with 2 people we probably saved a couple of hundred bucks in a week’s time and still enjoyed one good meal at Disney per day.

I have never purchased a dining package but I can’t see the value of them. Maybe someone could enlighten me on them.