Laurabearz and others who have young children and have taken a "park free" trip home?

[lurontravel]

I was reading a thread where Laurabearz said that they took a trip to WDW and never went to any of the parks. My boys are 2 and 4 years old, and I would not know how to explain that we weren't going to the parks for a trip. How do you handle your kids during such a trip? (We have Florida Resident Seasonal Passes which have some black out dates, but sometimes those dates are times I'd like to be at Disney for the atmosphere, but not the park crowds...)

Thanks!
Laura

 

[Laurabearz]

::::: waving :::::::

It was easy for us, since that trip was our 5th in 2 years... and the first trip (anywhere)with our son, who was 5 months old at the time. We used him as an excuse. LOL He is too little for rides...

I asked the girls (4 and 2.85 at the time) if they would like to go to WDW but not do any rides.... The 4 yo freaked... then I added... but how about we have dinner with Cinderella (1900 park Faire) and breakfest with Mickey (Chef Mickeys)? YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY they were all for it!

There was also a lot of... even though this trip is no rides, our next trip will be, and since this is still a vacation, it will be great, becasue vacations are great, rides or no rides.... they bought it, and it was...

Our first plan was to stay at BCV, to spend our days at SAB, but they were booked (also this trip was planned 37 days out) so with the luck of the draw, we scored a two bedroom at VWL. It was our first time staying at that resort, so that helped keep things new and exciting. Plus we got to spend time at Ft Wilderness.... twice we took the boat over there just to ride the ponies... BIG HIT and they want to go and do that every trip now! LOL We also stayed 2 nights at AKL (on cash), another resort we had never been too... lots of exploring to do. Time flies when your having fun!

Also we rode the monorail a lot. Before and after our Charater meals at GF and Cont.... They loved it. And much to my surprise, they were tickled to see the castle, but didnt whine about not going in it. And they were excited for Charlie to ride it... Maddie also piped in all full of herself... Mom.. I thought we were going on any rides.... Little stinker! Monorail counts I guess!

We spent an afternoon walking around the Boardwalk, and the girls both won a lovely purple bear (thanks to a wonderful CM, who gave prizes to second place kids too) A huge highlight for them!

There is sooooooo much to do at WDW, the parks are mearly 4 other things to do.... ya know.

This will be a yearly event for us. We have the points to go to WDW 3 or 4 times a year as a family. One of those trips will be no parks, and the others will be a park every other day or so.... And as the kids get older, we will head to BB or TL, spend the day mini golfing, rent water mice... the list is endless....

Life is too short to go comando, esp with little kids!

Hope this helped ya a bit. I know we really did enjoy that trip. Even with three kids 4 and under. So that says something right there.

Oh... best part... No stroller..... I carried my son in a sling most of the time, so come nap time, both girls were out cold, unlike park days, where they ride in the stoller most of the time and dont get tuckered out! Also, only one mid day melt down, again unlike park days where by noon they are both so over simulated that they combust

So in review (sorry so long)

I would ask them. Tell them the plusses... all day pool time, a Charater meal or two... fun stuff they have never done... and see what they say. Given an either/or I bet they would pick to go, and no rides.... then remind them that next time, rides aplenty!

HTH

 

[vgaskin]

We also did this. We went in April on a land/sea(before DVC) and did all parks all the time. This was the first time we stayed at the Beach Club and the girls were hooked on STormalong Bay. That is why when we got home, I looked into DVC and bought because that was the only way we were going to be able to afford here. So we booked a cruise with my mom over Thanksgiving and decided to add on 2 nights before and 1 night after at the Beach Club. quite frankly, we wouldn't have had time for the parks anyhow but I told them up front we would not be going to them. This was only a shock for my oldest's teenage friend who hasn't been to DW since she was 6. But she had a blast once she got down there and there was so much more to do. Never even got over to the Boardwalk. We got in late Thursday night, and Friday we did a late breakfast at Fresh at the Dolphin and then Stormalong Bay until dinner time. Then we headed over to ft. Wilderness, ate at trails end and did the campfire and movie(the teens took the boat over to the Contemperary, rode the monorail, and did the arcade). Saturday, we had breakfast at Kona Cafe at the Poly and did the monorail and shopping until we left for the port. The following Saturday it was cold! 40's! So I kept the girls out of STormalong Bay until about 2 when I think it was in the 50's then headed over to WL for dinner at Whispering Canyon, more gift shops, and then to the dock for our Wishes Fireworks cruise which was one of the biggest highlights of the trip. And for 8 people, it was around $120, much cheaper than going into the parks to watch it. We went to the pool when we got back for a minute as it was freezing. Sunday was warmer so we went to our Breakfast at Boma and watched the animals and then came back, checked out and went to SAB until a few minutes before our driver was to pick us up and then changed the girls real quickly and they went to the airport wet! Where we would have fit parks in is beyond me! They had a blast. Mine were 5, 6 and 15 with a 14 year friend as well.

 

[floridafam]

Our kids love trips without the parks and they are 4 and 7.

There are so many things to do. Swimming, walking around the Boardwalk at night, mini golfing, riding the monorail, renting boats at Bay Lake or other places, fireworks cruises, etc.

We only went to MK last trip for the MNSSHP and that is the only park we did. Our kids loved it. They swam a lot, we took an Illuminations cruise, rented a canopy boat at WL.

Have fun.

 

[disynut]

We kind of did this too(we spent one day at MK, the rest were at the resort--WLV), but we didn't have to do any explaining as our DS was only 15 mos at the time. But, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again and do like Laurabearz suggested and just ask the kid/kids up front if they wanted to. My little guy loves to swim so much he would be happy with all the swimming that is available! Like the others have said, there is so much to do! I would have to say our trip like this was in June--it was hot and miserable in the MK the day we went, we had such a better time going to character meals, visiting the pool at our resort, going to DD, and just being lazy! It was great!

Enjoy!!!

Jennifer

 

[lurontravel]

I have to admit that I am rather relieved to hear that some kids do object (at least initially), because I am sure that my Andrew (my 4 y/o) will at least a bit. I have always wanted to just go to Disney and enjoy the rest of it too. It seems like there is never enough time for it once we do our "favorites". I love the idea of having a character meal, and still taking the monorail, boat and believe it or not, bus and tram rides! (my kids LOVE the tram probably b/c I always insist on walking with the stroller or tajing our car b/c I don't like having to fold it up). I never though it could be done with little ones, but I have always wanted to see the "rest" of Disney. Summer sounds like a great time to go, pools will be warm (I like them to be at LEAST 85 degrees, no kidding), so I might actually get to swim! I am so excited! I think my husband is a bit burned out on the parks right now as we've gone 5 times since the beginning of October. I hate to admit that I'm getting a bit burnt out on them too, but not on Disney!
Thanks again ALL and Laurabearz for the inspiration! I agree that being up front from the moment that you talk about your trip is the only way to go!

 

[spiceycat]

the first two weeks of Dec is also a great time to go - you can get tickets for MVMCP for one night - then the rest of time go look at all the resort decorations, DD decorations -

now swimming - most of the time it is great - temperatures during the day are in the 70 and 80's - but twice it was cold - once in the 50's and the other time 40's.

but there is still so much to do - the campfire program at FW is great -

just during the resort stuff - DVC calls it condo resorts for a reason - there is other stuff - alot of it - that you don't have to go to the parks to do.

some of the kids activities during the day - might be enough to kept your 4 year old from missing the parks.

 

[Macnjac87]

We visited HH last July and felt that it was ALL the Disney, with NONE of the theme parks- we are going back for Easter- our 3 kids (14, 11 and 6) did not object to the change in plans from WDW to HH, since there were so many activities at HH and the resort itself is truly outstanding! Consider this as an alternative- you won't regret it.

 

[lurontravel]

I like the HH idea too. We've considered a VB or HH vacation before, but it just never happened. I am glad to hear that they have lots of great stuff to do too. My brother and his family have been to VB, and they said that it's great too. We'll have to consider that too...

As far as WDW in Dec, we do that frequently, but since I like it REALLY HOT to swim, I've found it to cold at that time of year (we live near Fort Lauderdale on the coast where it is more temperate all year long). But, yes, I like the idea of MVMCP. We are currently addicted to MNSSHP, though I'd hate to get addicted to the Xmas one too ($$$!)

Thanks for all of the ideas, keep them all coming. I just had my husband read this thread, and he agreed that we might go for my b-day in August when he has a school break!