How many DVC folks actually stay DVC but venture outside the world for their trip?

[edk35]

Scary thoughts huh?!!! LOL I know we have twice ventured outside the world. November 07 we took a day and went to Sea World. Then this past Jan. we took two days and did the two Universal parks.

So....it got me thinking. I wonder if I/we could go down and book a DVC stay for a shorter stay and rent a vehicle and see what else lurks outside the DISNEY WALLS. I know there are lots of other off the beaten path types of stuff to check out in the Orlando/Tampa area, besides the theme parks.

So have any of you....gone down for x amt. of time and NOT gone into a Disney park. It would be a first for us to NOT visit a Disney park. IS it hard???? It might be for our family.

I was thinking about this up and coming Jan. trip. Since we are looking at 4 full days not including the two travel days....and we are staying at OKW. Maybe we will save money NOT BUYING Disney park tickets/ or getting new AP's again and see what else is out there. I mean we would still visit DTD and eat at a couple of resorts but I wonder if it would be hard to go and not visit MK or EC. I could skip AK and HS for a short trip, but the other two parks would be hard, and skipping MK would be extremely hard for us.

Any thoughts???

 

[mrsR123]

This past March, we stayed at SSR for six nights for spring break and did not set foot in a Disney park. I didn't want to spend money for a hotel elsewhere, but I knew the parks would be too crowded during spring break.

We did pool hop, visit Downtown Disney, and watch the MK fireworks from the Poly beach/pool.

Oh and we went to Universal for $99 a piece for park hoppers that lasted the whole time, and took a day to visit Kennedy Space Center.

 

[quirty30]

We only joined DVC this year, so for us, the novelty has not worn off yet. Even when we choose not to go to a park, per se, we are perfectly happy to explore resorts, the Boardwalk & Downtown Disney. I'm sure at some point in time we will get curious, rent a car and explore the rest of Orlando.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I think having non-expiring 10 day passes with water parks makes this more practical for DVC members.

That way you can make DVC your home base while you go to area attractions.

 

[twinklebug]

Maybe we will save money NOT BUYING Disney park tickets/ or getting new AP's again and see what else is out there. I mean we would still visit DTD and eat at a couple of resorts but I wonder if it would be hard to go and not visit MK or EC. I could skip AK and HS for a short trip, but the other two parks would be hard, and skipping MK would be extremely hard for us.

You might be able to get in a park for free for a day if you qualify: You've heard about the new promotion for 2010 right? I'm very interested to see what organizations participate with Disney and how much work is required to earn those tickets. Right now I volunteer with 3 orgs at various times of the year, but I'm doubting any of them will be on the list and the commitment is not great (1/2 day here or there). I'd also like to find one that gives credit to teens and maybe kids too as my younger two are 16 & 12.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Sorry - I didn't see that you were thinking about NOT buying park tickets.

Check out Kennedy Space Center!

 

[edk35]

You might be able to get in a park for free for a day if you qualify: You've heard about the new promotion for 2010 right? I'm very interested to see what organizations participate with Disney and how much work is required to earn those tickets. Right now I volunteer with 3 orgs at various times of the year, but I'm doubting any of them will be on the list and the commitment is not great (1/2 day here or there). I'd also like to find one that gives credit to teens and maybe kids too as my younger two are 16 & 12.

I did see this. I think that is a neat idea.

 

[edk35]

Sorry - I didn't see that you were thinking about NOT buying park tickets.

Check out Kennedy Space Center!

I know my husband would LOVE this and probably our 10 year old. We have never been there.

Yeah not sure about buying park tickets for Jan. I have to think about this one. We have been to the parks a lot the past 2 1/2 years.

 

[bobbiwoz]

In January, the Florida manatees need a warmer water than is in the gulf or ocean, and they congregate in the springs. There are two state parks that we like to go to that aren't too far from WDW. The first is Blue Springs SP near Orange City, Florida.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/
One concession that we often do here, is take the boat trip along the St. Johns river.

The other state park that we enjoy is the Ellie Schiller Homosassa St. Park. It's farther from WDW, but it's larger and there are more things to do. This park has resident manatees who cannot be released to the wild, and therefore park rangers have informative sessions about them with them at various times of the day.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/default.cfm


Bobbi

 

[eliza61]

We always venture out of the parks. We have teenage boys and they also love Universal and usually we try to do some thing else. I loved Kennedy space center and would go back.

 

[Thumper4me]

We have done what you are suggesting several times. This usually happens during baseball spring training. We stay at our DVC resort and head over to various baseball games for a long weekend. It is great! I love the flexibility of DVC.

 

[stopher1]

We just did this last week when we were there for an extended long weekend stay. We stayed at SSR and went 2 days over to Sea World (first time at the Orlando park - been to San Diego before), and Medieval Times one evening (first time for my DW and I in the Kissimmee castle, and first time for our kids who LOVED it). Another day we went over to Rainforest Cafe at AK (always only did the DTD one) and I got my "Birthday Fun Card" while at the AK entrance plaza, then over to walk around AKV and look at the animals and enjoy the lobbies of our other home resort. Followed by an afternoon at DTD and swimming in the pools. Never actually entered a Disney park.

We had a great time. Next year in the fall the kids want to go back to IOA at Universal, so we might just do the same kind of thing again after our family reunion trip focused on the Disney parks in January.

 

[TLPL]

That's my plan too, even the resort stay doesn't cost anything (well you know what I mean), going to the 4 Disney parks will cost at least $200 per person. This February, we will stay at the Villas @ Wilderness Lodge and just enjoy the resort and DTD. Maybe rent a car for a day or two to go to the Disney Outlet stores and eat at my favorite Sweet Tomatoes. Maybe I will talk my DH into doing some volunteer work before the trip and earn the free Disney day.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I only venture off property for two reasons.

• To buy good beer.. i.e. Sam Adams.
• If I miss my turn and accidentally go off property.

MG

 

[BEASLYBOO]

We're from Florida and always drive in. Now, if we trruly want a good dining experience we venture out to some of Orlando's really good restaurants. I don't like the DDP nor what Disney has done with most of their restaurants. Above and beyond that, we enjoy Universal, Cape Canaveral, Sea World, Medieval Times. DVC affords me the right to spread the wealth. I've been a Disney fan for longer than forever and I've imparted that in my son but threre's still another world out there worth enjoying and exploring!

 

[edk35]

I only venture off property for two reasons.

• To buy good beer.. i.e. Sam Adams.
• If I miss my turn and accidentally go off property.

MG

This made me laugh out loud at work.

 

[Lost in Neverland]

I only venture off property for two reasons.

• To buy good beer.. i.e. Sam Adams.
• If I miss my turn and accidentally go off property.

MG

We are the same way...HATE Orlando/ Kississimee traffic.Can stay home and go to Charlotte if I want to be stuck on an interatate parking lot.

 

[patsal]

I ahve nto really ventured off much, but with no nightclubs, nothing unique and delightful to dine with, and some interesting offerings at Universal--this might be the summer I use my accomadations but not bother with the parks.

I have gone a few times and enjoyed the resort without going to the parks, but never really just used the lodging while day tripping around central FL.

 

[mom2tcdx2]

We are booked at the end of the month for 4 days as a vacation club member and have no plans to go to Disney during that time. We live in Virginia and bought season passes for Busch Gardens, Sea World, etc. so we are staying at Disney but venturing to Sea World, Aquatica and Busch Gardens during our 4 days there.

Right now I can't afford to purchase a single or two day pass for the 4 of us so we will go with the passes that we have and see what we can that way. We may venture and look around Downtown Disney but that will probably be all we do. However I was thinking of the Mickey's Halloween party for Sunday evening may still think about that.

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

In the last five stays we only left the property once. To visit the ER for our son.