Have you ever done a non park trip?

[maxmouse]

The DW and I are thinking about doing a non park trip, every time we leave we always say that we would've liked to have spent a little more time at the resort. Have you ever done a non park trip and what do you like doing and what are your favorite things to do outside the parks?

 

[Capitalangel]

We are doing one this week. I am looking forward to resort hopping. We have breakfast scheduled at the Grand Floridian, have dinner at Animal Kingdom Lodge. In between we are planning on riding the monorail, getting a Dole Whip at the Poly, taking the boat to Wilderness Lodge and after exploring there we will walk or take the boat to Ft Wilderness to see the horses. We are also planning time at Disney Springs ( riding the balloon) and checking out Port Orleans French Quarter by boat.

 

[grannyminnie]

Not yet, but the way the prices of park tickets keep going, I might be sooner rather than later!

 

[Moliphino]

Nope. The whole point of a Disney trip is the parks, for me. If I want food and shopping there are better places for it.

 

[AnnaS]

Yes, for me twice. With hubby once. I took my dd and her friend. They did the parks, I did not.

We love to relax at the resort even when we have APs.

We love to spend time by the pool. Resort hop for lunch and/or dinner.

AKL offers (I think they still do) a free tour of Boma and Jiko before dinner starts and you can check out the animals while there too (have dinner too).

We love to browse the Boardwalk area in the evening for one or all - a meal, shopping, entertainment.

Disney Springs the same as the Boardwalk

As DVC members we go up to the TOWL for a drink/snack/see fireworks.

We took a day trip to Vero on the trip with hubby.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We will do 1-night, pre-cruise, no parks this March - staying at YC and will just swim, have dinner and go to the Boardwalk that night.

We tried a 3-night no-park trip at AKL a few years ago, but I got a little bored and ended up going to AK for a day!

Honestly, I don't think I could do it for more than, maybe, 2 nights. You pay a premium at WDW hotels to be by the parks and you could get a bigger bang for your resort buck elsewhere. It wouldn't be my non-park visiting resort area of choice.

 

[ncc1701]

We have never done a non-park trip however we have had trips with a resort day. Usually we go to DS for lunch then head back to POFQ. Dinner is either another visit to DS or dinner at the Broadwalk area. We are no longer all day park people so we do spend the afternoon at POFQ.

 

[Shanti]

The DW and I are thinking about doing a non park trip, every time we leave we always say that we would've liked to have spent a little more time at the resort. Have you ever done a non park trip and what do you like doing and what are your favorite things to do outside the parks?

No. We do trips where we intentionally schedule plenty of downtime at the resort. But to not go to the parks at all would be heartrending.

 

[ears2BWV]

Did one trip already with DH a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Didn't bring the kids and did all the things you" never have time to do" around the resort. We stayed in the Boardwalk area so there was plenty of choices. Went to restaurants we might not have spent the money or time otherwise. We loved it, but I don't think we would do it with the kids.

 

[Sue M]

Nope. If not planing on going to the parks I see no reason to stay in WDW. They are very overpriced and you do pay a premium for the transportation, DME, and all the perks. I’d go stay on the gulf coast beach. Go to The Keys, explore the Everglades. Or somewhere else depending on your location.
We stay in WDW to go to the parks. We usually stay 14 days and build in resort time.

 

[starry_solo]

Only for the first 3-4 days of a 14-day trip.

 

[happymommy]

Not on purpose. There are much better resorts for that, in other places, to me. Disney charges inflated prices for their resorts for the convenience of going to the parks.

I did, however, do a trip at Shades of Green with my DH once, when we didn't go to the theme parks. He was at a military JAG officer conference, so we tied that into a visit to both our families (we were stationed in Hawaii at the time), working it to stop in Missouri to visit my family, Maryland to visit his, then his conference for a week at Disney. It was nice as we just had to pay for my airline ticket, but I was pregnant, and it was August (and dreadfully hot, like I had never felt heat like that). During the day, I walked over to the GF, got a soft drink, found a comfy sofa and read novels, then ate lunch at the quick serve there (we were military, young, and thus had little money for splurging). Oh and now I recall I also had a sinus infection. So I was just feeling nauseated, tired, and sick! So no parks that trip.

I would never go to Disney and pay the resort prices to not go to the parks. We do, however, go for a couple hours some days, depending on how we feel. We don't go all day. Most days we get going by lunchtime. But we go, every day.

 

[amym2]

Yes! Well technically we did a park because we spent a day at Typhoon Lagoon. Thought it would be hard since we had two kids with us, but they never even asked to go to a park. We were there with the kids (now teens) this past Christmas, stayed 3 nights at the Poly, and only went into a park for MVMCP. As DVC members, we've done the parks a lot and really enjoy the resorts.

We like to play mini golf, swim, resort hop, eat at various resort restaurants, and just relax. We still enjoy the Disney "bubble" even without the parks. We've traveled quite a bit in the US and internationally, and our kids still think Disney resorts are the best!

 

[Jennasis]

We have a non-park trip planned for May. We own DVC so we are using our points to stay at SSR as our base of operations as we enjoy other Central Florida things (Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, Aquatica, Sea World).

 

[rwdavis2]

Nope. The whole point of a Disney trip is the parks, for me. If I want food and shopping there are better places for it.

I agree. The hotels pale in comparison of other resorts at the same price. Even the hotels at Universal are nicer with service just as good or better.

 

[cruiser21]

Yes pre cruise. We've done a couple of nights at POR and Animal Kingdom. We've also done a couple of nights at Cabana Bay. I find the Disney and Universal resorts more interesting then staying at a Hyatt or Hilton even if we don't go to the parks. I would not fly all the way from AZ it Florida just to stay at a Disney resort without going to the parks or on a cruise.

 

[maxmouse]

Thank you all, We are looking at a 3 night trip in September and may do MNSSHP but that would be the only park. My DW got really excited when I floated the idea to her. I know you can find cheaper options but we like the Disney bubble. Looking to stay at AKL, pool time and good food.

 

[dansdad]

Thank you all, We are looking at a 3 night trip in September and may do MNSSHP but that would be the only park. My DW got really excited when I floated the idea to her. I know you can find cheaper options but we like the Disney bubble. Looking to stay at AKL, pool time and good food.

We have done multiple 7 night non park trips and have thoroughly enjoyed them. You are going to have a blast!

 

[maxmouse]

We have done multiple 7 night non park trips and have thoroughly enjoyed them. You are going to have a blast!

Not worrying about rope drop and fast passes I must say takes a lot of the stress out of the trip.

 

[quandrea]

I agree. The hotels pale in comparison of other resorts at the same price. Even the hotels at Universal are nicer with service just as good or better.

People say this, but I don’t see it. The Universal deluxe hotels are fine—I’ve stayed at Royal Pacific and Hard Rock—but they don’t compare to the accommodations I’ve enjoyed at Grand Floridian Villas, Animal Kingdom, Boardwalk, etc. There are no balconies, the rooms are basic. Just don’t see the quality or service there.

We love our no park trips. Plenty to do, good dining options (Disney is great with our daughter’s allergies).