Has anyone just stayed at the hotel and not bought park passes?

[D L and K's Mom]

We are thinking of going on the Disney cruise this July with my mother-in-law and Aunt. My Mother -in-Law wants to do the 4 day cruise and then come home. We would like to do the cruise and then stay 3 -4 days in WDW with the kids. My mother-in-laws problem is she has trouble walking. We assured her that she could use a wheelchair or scooter in the parks but she doesnt want to. We then thought it might be nice to splurge and stay in one of the hotels on the monorail (Poly or Contemporary) and just stay there....no park tickets, just enjoy the pools, restaurants, and the water sports. We though we could take the monorail to a different restaurant and eat there etc.....if one of the days MIL is feeling good we can buy park passes and venture into one of the parks. Has anyone ever done this?? Are we nuts to pay all that money and not plan on visiting the parks?? The kids have been to the parks and DD is a littel sad but she would be happy if one day her and DH went into the parks for a few hours leaving the rest of us at the hotel which is fine with us.

 

[Chuck S]

There are some folks that do the resorts without the parks, and there's nothing that says your party has to stay together. If you want to go to the parks and your MIL doesn't, you can go your separate way for several hours per day. I'm sorry your MIL would not want to do the parks in a wheelchair or scooter. It really is easy, and I hope she isn't basing her desire not to do the parks on just "not wanting to be seen" in a wheelchair or scooter, but because she really just doesn't want to do the parks.

 

[drumflower]

I always thought it would be fun to stay at AKL for a few days just to relax and enjoy the lobby and food options.

 

[GMS]

My friends do this every year! They stay for 3 wks and only do the parks a few days, the rest they visit other area attractions, DQ, DD, movies, they go to FW for the campfire and movie, resort hop to look around, waterparks, minigolf. They usually stay at values, but they love them!

 

[Mary Anne]

My friends do this every year! They stay for 3 wks and only do the parks a few days, the rest they visit other area attractions, DQ, DD, movies, they go to FW for the campfire and movie, resort hop to look around, waterparks, minigolf. They usually stay at values, but they love them!

We did this a couple of years ago. Really, really enjoyed it.

We tagged a weekend onto a 7 day cruise and stayed at the Poly. Spent Sat, Sun & most of Monday just relaxing, eating at non park places, enjoying the pool. My kids never once even asked about going into the parks they were having so much fun.

Listen, have you ever stood in a line for a ride and all the kidas in front of you are going "Can't we go back to the room and swim?" and the mother answers "NO, I paid all this money to go into the parks, and we're going to do it"

We haven't had the opportunity to just to a hotel in awhile, but I will again one day soon.

 

[chyam]

Although I am a passholder, there are many times that I head up to the resorts just to enjoy the resorts and hit the outlet malls and Downtown Disney. I love to relax at the WL and just take in the atmosphere, it seems everyone is happy while they are there and the resorts are so nice it sometimes seems a shame to spend a whole day at the parks and not enjoy the resorts, although I know that is the reason most people do come is hit the parks, it's also nice to relax a little while on vacation. Your MIL could find lots to do without going to the parks and there is no reason she would have to join you, heck you are only a cell phone call away!

 

[travellady]

My husband is just as happy hanging out at the resort as he is going to the parks - especially when it's hot and crowded. Lots to do and see and it's nice to relax.

 

[sters]

I tried to find the Trip Report from several months ago from a family who spent a whole week at Disney without ever stepping foot into a theme park. It really did sound like a great time. They stayed at the Animal Kindgom Lodge which sounded to have quite a few activities around their resort. You could consider as well doing one of the specialty fireworks cruises, which would not require walking. There are carriage rides at the Port Orleans and at Fort Wilderness. So many great restaurants, my favorite is O'Hanas at the Polynesian. La Nouba. Spa treatments. The list goes on and on. I think you'd easily be able to fill the days without going to the theme parks if that's what your mamma wants to do. Enjoy! I'm so jealous.

 

[yecats]

I know a few people who own DVC and they recently went for a 4 night stay. They had a few park days left over from a previous trip but they only used one day. They decided to hit MGM in the a.m. and move over to Epcot that night for Food/Wine Festival. Prior to the trip they purchased Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Tickets and spent the night having fun in MK (went in right after 4:00 so had a lot of time to use ticket). The other 2 1/2 days they sat by the pool, resort hopped for dinner and shopped at DTD and BW. Sounds like they really enjoyed there time there without spending a lot of time in the parks.

 

[WishesMom]

My husband and I stayed at the Poly in September for a long weekend. We were so disappointed when we left because we hadn't been able to spend enough time at the resort.
I would LOVE to go and just relax and resort hop. We have added an extra day to our upcoming April trip so that we'll have 2 days of relaxation! I can hardly wait

 

[F1Julie]

In August, I went on a resort-only trip to AKL with my sister and DD4. It was one of the best trips. We stayed Thursday to Sunday and it wasn't quite long enough (we drive down). Next summer, we'll add on a day and do it again. We spent a lot of time at the pool and just hanging out at the resort (AKL is great for this). We did a character meal each day, the princess tea party, and an off-site dinner show. We didn't miss the parks at all. In August, the heat would have been too much for us anyway. A summer resort stay without the parks will be a new yearly tradition for us.

 

[sotoalf]

Since we live in Florida, we can go sometimes twice a year. When we stay at the Polynesian and Contemporary, we spend most of our time at the pool or at the lounges. The parks are an afterthought!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I think we are going to do it!! We are chceking out the Poly or Cont. DD wants to parasail again with DH and she also loves the sprites....or have they renamed them again. Oh well thanks for all the info!