No Park Visit With Kids????

[lovinthemouse]

My DD 11 and I are going just the 2 of us for a few days of Spring Break Mar 31-Apr 4. My DH will be out of town for business so I decided it might be fun for us to just go down and hang out for a few days with no parks. Am I crazy for thinking this would be fun for her. At this point she knows nothing.

 

[JimV]

We've actually done a variation of that. Spend some time at DD, see Cirque, maybe go to Sea World, or Kennedy Space Center. Enjoy the great facilities, relax and take in some time at the sites around Disney. If you need an excitement fix, hit one of the water parks...

 

[RumpleMom]

JMHO If the weather isn't good for swimming, what else do you have planned? shopping, eating, movie, Disney Quest

I'm thinking it might be a good idea to let her pick one park day. It's hard to be so close and not visit a park.

Shopping could turn out to be more expensive than a park day.

 

[lovinthemouse]

Shopping could turn out to be more expensive than a park day. [/quote]


This is true. She came home from school today and we talked about it. She is OK with it but would like 1 park day. I think that is what we will do. Thanks

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We're planning a no park trip with the kids this summer.
Three nights at BCV and two at BWV. On the waitlist to get those last two at BCV as well.

The plan right now is to enjoy pool time and play lots of mini golf. Looking into Cirque tickets, maybe a day at Gatorland.

Kids seem okay with it, although when I told them DS said "Yeah right! No parks.........."

 

[dvcdisney]

I think you will be able to do it if you are staying at a resort that has a lot amenities or a fabulous pool. We usually stay at BCV and my husband and I have often wondered if we could do a trip with our two young children without going to the park. And we decided that if we ever do that, it would have to be BCV. The SALB pool is wonderful and we could spend days there. But since you are going for 5 days, I would suggest maybe a break in the middle for a DTD trip with a little shopping and dining.

However, it will all depend on whether you would be okay not going to the parks that only a few minutes away. I don't think we could do it! We find that we need to go back at least twice to each park on each vacation. We love the rides and shows. But then again, that's because we can only go twice a year.

 

[OlderMan]

...almost 7 years.

Our DD's prefer Seaworld, FWIW.

We go to the pools, outlet shop, grill by the quiet pools, etc.

Of course, we DO live in FL (near Orlando) and the DD's have field trips to Epcot in 5th grade.

JMHO

 

[ldo]

I am taking 3 kids. We are doing one park day, then pools, Community HAlls DTD, and maybe a waterpark or DQ one day. We went last summer and had a blast--went for 1 week and went to park 1 day and Pirate party at MK one evening, no waterpark or DQ and it was so great, we decided to buy DVC!!

 

[Chellymouse]

There are plenty of things to do at WDW that don't involve going to the parks (the DH thinks we should do a no park trip...I say yeah right! )
There is horseback riding over at the campground, there are many water sports such as skiing, wakeboarding and parasailing, rent a mouse-boat and cruise the lakes and rivers, site see around the different resorts, spend some time at the boardwalk, if the spa is in your budget, manicures and pedicures are a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! If you go to the WDW website and click on recreation, there are many great suggestions!

 

[ITGirl50]

I guess it depends on your DD.

My DD is 10 and has been to WDW at least 12 times and absolutely must go to park every day we are there, even if it's just for a few hours. My DH has to remind me that she is still a kid and amusement parks are the most exciting thing to do (remember how exciting it was for you to just see a local carnival at that age??). She isn't a big swimmer (have a pool at home), so that's not that interesting to her. I think at least one day is needed. Also, I agree other activities will probably cost as much as a park ticket.

 

[Granny]

Am I crazy for thinking this would be fun for her.

As crbruce_us says, it depends on your daughter. I have one daughter who this never would have worked for....she lives for the rides and attractions of the parks and would commando tour the parks every day if left on her own.

My other daughter would have no problem with this, and would enjoy the other amenities of WDW or off-site visits to different places.

Nobody here can tell you if it will be fun for your daughter. You know her and we don't.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Hey, I think it's a great idea. My 11 year old DS loves to go on long week-ends to the resorts with me. We just hang out by the pool. We bring movies and a few games and order pizza at night. In the Summer I suggest a water park, they are cheaper and believe it or not, you can spend the entire day there.(Love the Lazy River and so does my son). Those trips end up costing very little and since we live in FLorida and drive, with the car we can go shopping (DS loves WalMart & Downtown Disney) even if we don't buy anything.

It's a good opportunity to spend one on one time with him, away from all distractions like chores and responsibilities. Mini vacations are great and soon when he's a teenager he probably won't want to hang out with Dear Old Mom, I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

Ask your daughter if she'd like to go with the understanding that this isn't a theme park kind of trip. Yes, you can have a good time in Orlando without the big Theme parks but only you know you're daughter well enough to know if she would.