How many folks with kids can stay at a DVC resort and not visit the parks??

[edk35]

Okay just curious if people who are dvc owners with kids...EVER take a trip to WDW and never go into a park???? Has this ever been discussed on Dis?? I know couples go and never hit a park but how about families? Also, how old are your kids and how long did you stay at WDW??? The reason I am asking is......I am thinking of different scenarios with Magic Your Way or AP's. If we get a 10 day non expiring next summer....but stay for 8 nights......I would think we could easily only use 4 or 5 of those days saving the other for the next summer but it might be just as cost effective to get AP's too. I don't think my three kid could stay in a 2 br villa and NOT HIT A PARK.

 

[kgc07]

We have yet to do a non park trip so I would like to see what others have to say.

Next trip we plan on doing something like you said. This year we bought 10 day non expire hoppers with plus option. We used 4 park days. On our next trip we plan on using maybe 4 park days and the rest of the days will be spent doing other things. I think it will be more relaxing this way.

 

[kikiq]

We just returned from SSR and my DB/DSIL have both said that they don't need to go to the parks next time with my niece (7). In fact, except for TSM and the characters, she would be happy in the pool and riding a bicycle around SSR. My DSIL wanted to do all the community hall activities. We missed the movies at the pool both nights. There was so much to do at the resort, that it is possible not to go to the parks. You can watch Wishes from the Poly beach and have character breakfasts at resorts.

 

[Laneychris]

I think not going to the parks might make a nice and relaxing vacation some time.

 

[kim_d]

My children are 5 and 3 and we have always gone to the parks. While I think there is enough to do around WDW and Orlando not to go to the parks, my kids have been there so many times they would know what they are missing...KWIM? I think they would be asking to go to the park!

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Our kids are 15 and 13. They haven't been in the parks for the last three trips. Now...if you ask my DD13 she would love to go and we will the next time she comes along. Our DS15 isn't really concerned about it. They keep busy on the resorts with bikes, community hall, DTD, the pool etc etc. We also have activities we like to do in the area. Two of the last three trips we had two more teenagers along and they had a great time park-free.

Since we are DVC, we always discuss before we go. We talk about what we have planned and what they want to do. The parks are expensive so they understand trade-offs. We are a really busy family at home and I think the biggest novelty of the trip is that we can spend time together without rushing around.

We do make sure that we still go to view the fireworks, eat at a few resort restaurants, see Bob Johnson at POR etc etc.

The silly thing is that, as parents, we see the parks more than they since we take an adults only trip in the fall for Food and Wine!

 

[bub]

On our trip last week we had 2 non-park days, and really enjoyed them. We have 2 teens, and one morning we went to a breakfast buffet and rented sea raycers. Later, we hit the pool and Downtown Disney. The other day we slept in (unusual in the summer at Disney), hit the pool twice, saw a movie and ate dinner out. We bought 10-day passes and used 4 days on our 7 day trip. (The first day was checking in and unpacking.)

I wouldn't want to go and do no parks, but taking breaks is a good idea.

 

[ldo]

We have never done "no" parks, but we (kids 6, 6,10) only do 2 days in parks on a week-long trip. We bought the 10 day non-expire with waterparks. We have done 2 park days for the past 5 trips. Our typical schedule is:
Day 1 arrive, groceries, pool, etc.
Day 2 Pool, Community Hall crafts, special dinner (Chef Mickey's, etc.)
Day 3 PArk all day, eat in parks and stay until bedtime
Day 4 Get up late Pool, Community HAlls, DTD, Ft W campfire/SSR or BC movie
DAy 5 WAterpark
Day 6 PArk all day, eat in parks and stay until bed.
My kids are about old enough to add DQ as 1/2 day to further fill-up the week and replace CH stuff, which I think they will outgrow in a few years.

 

[edk35]

We have never done "no" parks, but we (kids 6, 6,10) only do 2 days in parks on a week-long trip. We bought the 10 day non-expire with waterparks. We have done 2 park days for the past 5 trips. Our typical schedule is:
Day 1 arrive, groceries, pool, etc.
Day 2 Pool, Community Hall crafts, special dinner (Chef Mickey's, etc.)
Day 3 PArk all day, eat in parks and stay until bedtime
Day 4 Get up late Pool, Community HAlls, DTD, Ft W campfire/SSR or BC movie
DAy 5 WAterpark
Day 6 PArk all day, eat in parks and stay until bed.
My kids are about old enough to add DQ as 1/2 day to further fill-up the week and replace CH stuff, which I think they will outgrow in a few years.

Do you get PAP's or regular non expiring passes?? Yeah we did the DQ this trip for a few hours but I think we could all live without that. We went twice last summer.

 

[edk35]

On our trip last week we had 2 non-park days, and really enjoyed them. We have 2 teens, and one morning we went to a breakfast buffet and rented sea raycers. Later, we hit the pool and Downtown Disney. The other day we slept in (unusual in the summer at Disney), hit the pool twice, saw a movie and ate dinner out. We bought 10-day passes and used 4 days on our 7 day trip. (The first day was checking in and unpacking.)

I wouldn't want to go and do no parks, but taking breaks is a good idea.

we stayed OKW for 8 nights and my boys ages 14 and 9 loved community hall. They went just about every day/night at some point. We did park days every other day while there. They rented sea raycers and paddle boats too. That part of our trip was more laid back and relaxed. Now we had PAP's this trip so we also went to TL too. Then we switched and went to BCV for 6 nights and they LOVED the SAB pool. OMG we should have stayed there longer. SO if we can get in there next summer for 8 nights......we would like to spend more down time at the resort and less time at the parks I THINK.

 

[MaleficentFan]

I'm glad to see so many people enjoy their "no park" trips. DH and I are headed down this October with dd (who will be 6 months at the time) and my parents. We're doing a no park trip... staying at SSR, my grandmother will be joining us. The trip is really about Great Grandma getting to see her great granddaughter for the first time! The fact that we had developer points to burn made it that much easier! We booked SSR figuring the proximity to DTD would give us more "entertainment" options. I'm just worried that DH and I won't be able to cope with the "no park" thing! We're addicts... althought I'm thinking a spa trip for me and golf for him will distract us! Has anybody ever taken a ride to Celebration for an alternate activity?

 

[edk35]

I'm glad to see so many people enjoy their "no park" trips. DH and I are headed down this October with dd (who will be 6 months at the time) and my parents. We're doing a no park trip... staying at SSR, my grandmother will be joining us. The trip is really about Great Grandma getting to see her great granddaughter for the first time! The fact that we had developer points to burn made it that much easier! We booked SSR figuring the proximity to DTD would give us more "entertainment" options. I'm just worried that DH and I won't be able to cope with the "no park" thing! We're addicts... althought I'm thinking a spa trip for me and golf for him will distract us! Has anybody ever taken a ride to Celebration for an alternate activity?

That will be a nice trip. We used our developer points last Nov. for 8 nights at SSR after going in Aug. for 8 nights. LOL We have friends that like to go over to Celebration when they are down at Disney. I am sure you will love your trip. How long will you be there? Can you fit a Halloween Party in......that might be fun!!!!

 

[Pixie_Dust]

My niece (age 3) and nephew (age 2) were taken to Disneyland on her birthday, and it was like crack to them. There would be no fooling them. They would know they were near a Disney park, and they would not be satisfied if they were not in the parks until closing, rain or shine. Prior to that I was thinking that the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness would make a nice vacation with kids, but now I know there would be no peace and they would not appreciate what we had to offer unless it involved expensive park tickets.

P.S. What is there to do in Celebration?

 

[MaleficentFan]

That will be a nice trip. We used our developer points last Nov. for 8 nights at SSR after going in Aug. for 8 nights. LOL We have friends that like to go over to Celebration when they are down at Disney. I am sure you will love your trip. How long will you be there? Can you fit a Halloween Party in......that might be fun!!!!

We're going over Columbus Day weekend... we arrive Friday night and leave Tuesday afternoon. DH and I (and I guess technically speaking dd since I was pregnant ) did MNNSHP last October. We had a blast! I never thought to see if the group wanted to do that this time around... I will definitely have to check with the family!

 

[dvcdisney]

I don't think that would be possible for us. We go for about 2 weeks at a time, twice a year and we usually try to set aside 1 or 2 days to do DTD or visit other resorts and that never happens. (You'd think we would be tired of the parks after a while, but no...we are truly Disney obsessed)

However, I will admit that we have slowed down since our first vacation. We do not spend all day in the parks. We spend a bit of time each day at the resort pool etc during the middle of the day and we head back to a park after our swim. I have on occasion, forego the swim in order to shop at DTD. It works out well, I don't like to stay at the pool too long, I feel like I need to be doing something all the time. So my husband and kids are happy to swim while I shop.

 

[OlderMan]

We haven't done a WDW park in about 6 years.

We own at OKW and go two or three times each year.

Our DD's (11 and 10) enjoy the pool, community hall, tennis courts, etc.

Granted, we do live near Orlando and generally, there has been one field trip to WDW (school related) for the girls most years.

Actually, we used to have annual passes to Seaworld, and the girls enjoyed that greatly.

Let's face it, save for AK, unless WDW does a major upgrade to a ride or attraction, it's the same thing visit after visit.

JMHO......