No Parks trip.... what do you think?

[hsmamato2]

Ok...I think I may try this...we haven't ever done a 100% no parks (4 main parks) trip yet...that said,over the years we've had plenty of 'downtime' days and we always enjoyed them. Anyone have experience with this with teenagers in tow? With just myself and dh it's a no brainer....but with teens..... (who've visited the parks plenty of times) I worry (maybe needlessly) about no tix at all..... I have lots of good meals planned... bowling, swimming, mouse boats,Disney Springs, maybe a movie,campfire time, etc etc etc. I was thinking for 4 nights/5 days.... reality is I'm looking to save a little money for a short trip- figuring we'd spend on other things vs. tickets... big mistake with kids? yes? no?

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Just my personal opinion, but if it was me, and I was doing a no park trip, I wouldn't pay the hotel premium for staying "on property" and either stay at a Disney Springs resort or Bonnet Creek.

Tom

 

[hsmamato2]

as far as paying.... the one thing we all agree on is we love onsite....(or Swan/Dolphin) and that part is heavily discounted so no problems there.... the park tix and the food are the $$$ for us....

 

[msb578]

I think it would work well for our younger kids; I'd be less confident with teens. Although, I see lots of teens at WDW just loving the pool vibe, so maybe it could work.

Overall, I'm a big fan of the non-park stuff at WDW. Teens are so unpredictable though!

 

[KayW]

We are doing a no parks trip before our cruise (2 nights before and then 2 nights after). My DD is 11 and is looking forward to a spa trip with me (manis) and then time in the pool. We are DVC and staying at Saratoga.

 

[LisaCM614]

Ok...I think I may try this...we haven't ever done a 100% no parks (4 main parks) trip yet...that said,over the years we've had plenty of 'downtime' days and we always enjoyed them. Anyone have experience with this with teenagers in tow? With just myself and dh it's a no brainer....but with teens..... (who've visited the parks plenty of times) I worry (maybe needlessly) about no tix at all..... I have lots of good meals planned... bowling, swimming, mouse boats,Disney Springs, maybe a movie,campfire time, etc etc etc. I was thinking for 4 nights/5 days.... reality is I'm looking to save a little money for a short trip- figuring we'd spend on other things vs. tickets... big mistake with kids? yes? no?

We have friends who own DVC and do this frequently now that their kids are in Middle and High School. They love it.
Have you gone on a non Disney vacation with your kids? We have. I think mine would be just fine hanging out the resort, soaking up the sun, enjoying nice meals. If you ask my kids those are generally their favorite parts of a trip!

 

[VillainFavs]

I have a feeling by the time you add in bowling, movies, mini golf, boat rentals, Disney Quest, or whatever else you have to do to keep teenagers entertained for several days it may end up costing just as much as park tickets! And they may say they're fine with parks ahead of time but once you're there so close it may be a different story. Down days around the pool between park days are one thing. When that's all they're doing for five days and the parks are just a bus or monorail ride away I can hear the "I'm bored" refrains setting in pretty quick.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Ok...I think I may try this...we haven't ever done a 100% no parks (4 main parks) trip yet...that said,over the years we've had plenty of 'downtime' days and we always enjoyed them. Anyone have experience with this with teenagers in tow? With just myself and dh it's a no brainer....but with teens..... (who've visited the parks plenty of times) I worry (maybe needlessly) about no tix at all..... I have lots of good meals planned... bowling, swimming, mouse boats,Disney Springs, maybe a movie,campfire time, etc etc etc. I was thinking for 4 nights/5 days.... reality is I'm looking to save a little money for a short trip- figuring we'd spend on other things vs. tickets... big mistake with kids? yes? no?

Just sit your kids down and tell them financially this is what you can do for this trip. If a no parks trip isn't good enough tell them the other choice is no trip at all this year. Personally I would love to do a no parks trip!

 

[amg35]

Well, you asked...

I wouldn't go to Disney for a trip with no parks. If I wanted to stay somewhere nice with good food and relaxation, plenty of other places I would go instead of paying the inflated prices at a WDW hotel.

Go rent a deluxe cabin in the Smokey Mountains, go to a fantastic lodge out West. Go to a big city and stay in a real deluxe hotel, heck, go on a cruise!

Believe me, I get the whole Disney bubble feeling, next trip we are staying at Grand Floridian knowing full well it's not worth the cost! But I wouldn't go to WDW just for a hotel/resort stay, plenty of other places on this continent for relaxing, swimming, eating, spa destinations, etc. (and at greater values for your money)

 

[smiths02]

I would just go somewhere else if not for the parks

 

[msb578]

I have a feeling by the time you add in bowling, movies, mini golf, boat rentals, Disney Quest, or whatever else you have to do to keep teenagers entertained for several days it may end up costing just as much as park tickets! And they may say they're fine with parks ahead of time but once you're there so close it may be a different story. Down days around the pool between park days are one thing. When that's all they're doing for five days and the parks are just a bus or monorail ride away I can hear the "I'm bored" refrains setting in pretty quick.

That last part- about proximity, is one reason we may check out Disney's Hilton Head resort. Get the subtle Disney feeling, do other things, visit Savannah too (which we already love). And not be right next to the Disney theme parks.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Ok...I think I may try this...we haven't ever done a 100% no parks (4 main parks) trip yet...that said,over the years we've had plenty of 'downtime' days and we always enjoyed them. Anyone have experience with this with teenagers in tow? With just myself and dh it's a no brainer....but with teens..... (who've visited the parks plenty of times) I worry (maybe needlessly) about no tix at all..... I have lots of good meals planned... bowling, swimming, mouse boats,Disney Springs, maybe a movie,campfire time, etc etc etc. I was thinking for 4 nights/5 days.... reality is I'm looking to save a little money for a short trip- figuring we'd spend on other things vs. tickets... big mistake with kids? yes? no?

We live about 90 minutes from WDW and do this fairly often for long-weekend getaways. We stay deluxe on those trips, so we do things like spend time in Stormalong Bay if we're at the Beach Club, animal viewing if we're at Animal Kingdom Lodge, etc. Honestly, we sometimes enjoy those trips more often than trips on which we visit the parks. It's definitely more relaxing!

 

[hsmamato2]

Well, you asked...

I wouldn't go to Disney for a trip with no parks. If I wanted to stay somewhere nice with good food and relaxation, plenty of other places I would go instead of paying the inflated prices at a WDW hotel.

Go rent a deluxe cabin in the Smokey Mountains, go to a fantastic lodge out West. Go to a big city and stay in a real deluxe hotel, heck, go on a cruise!

Believe me, I get the whole Disney bubble feeling, next trip we are staying at Grand Floridian knowing full well it's not worth the cost! But I wouldn't go to WDW just for a hotel/resort stay, plenty of other places on this continent for relaxing, swimming, eating, spa destinations, etc. (and at greater values for your money)

We've done so many of those things..... (thanks for the input tho, very worthwhile places to see!) Part of my thought process is..... as a family, we all tend to agree on Disney overall- plus(and this is a big one) due to my own health limitations,I am looking for somewhere "easy" to visit where I can manage the cost, but we can still have fun. That's why this trip appeals to me, more than an 'adventure' at this point. I'm fine, but kind of looking for RL experiences with kids of 'that' age....

 

[hsmamato2]

We have friends who own DVC and do this frequently now that their kids are in Middle and High School. They love it.
Have you gone on a non Disney vacation with your kids? We have. I think mine would be just fine hanging out the resort, soaking up the sun, enjoying nice meals. If you ask my kids those are generally their favorite parts of a trip!

Oh yeah, over the years we've gone to many many places that aren't disney.... (they tend to compare everything with Disney tho) Thanks for the advice!

 

[hsmamato2]

I have a feeling by the time you add in bowling, movies, mini golf, boat rentals, Disney Quest, or whatever else you have to do to keep teenagers entertained for several days it may end up costing just as much as park tickets!

This was a thought also..... cut WAY down on the food aspect,and let them get park tix for a day or two..... but it has to be a 'one or the other' kind of thing for this trip.....

 

[LisaCM614]

Oh yeah, over the years we've gone to many many places that aren't disney.... (they tend to compare everything with Disney tho) Thanks for the advice!

Ha! We do the same thing! One thing that my friend loves about a non park Disney trip is that you are still guaranteed a family friendly trip. Sorry if it sounded weird about other vacations!

 

[hsmamato2]

Ha! We do the same thing! One thing that my friend loves about a non park Disney trip is that you are still guaranteed a family friendly trip. Sorry if it sounded weird about other vacations!

 

[strat68]

I would just go somewhere else if not for the parks

I agree. WDW has nothing for us if you don't go to the parks. You can find much nicer hotels with better dining somewhere else. Heck even the Hard Rock at Universal is nicer than almost any Disney hotel.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

As a 19 year old going on 20, I think you'll be fine. I am totally a park person but in the past my family has done trips with jst one park. Also there are so many fun things to do in Disney besides the parks. I loving going to DTDSprings, eating at nice places, shopping, swimming, ect. Sounds like you will have a great trip!

 

[BarbieGal457]

Personally, if I was given the choice now or as a teen to go to Disney but not do the parks, or not go on vacation at all....I would probably choose not to go on vacation. If I was offered Disney with no parks for a relaxation-type vacation, or elsewhere like an island, I would pick an island. When we went for NYE 2014, we did one park day on 12/31 and then on 1/1 had breakfast at Cape May Cafe and walked the Boardwalk, and when we got to the Epcot entrance I have to be truthful, I was a little upset/annoyed not to be going. We even had an 8-day trip planned for that June and I was still a little crabby about it. They may say now they are fine with no parks (as I totally was for NYE before I got there with 1 park day) but I think that may really change when you get there. To me it wouldn't be fun to go somewhere where the major draw is the theme parks and not be able to go...it's like a tease.

I definitely enjoy the pool time and other downtime like DTD and great restaurants, and always have, but to me that wouldn't be enough on a Disney trip. I would be too sad to miss the parks. Only you know your kids' personalities well enough, but I think if you want a vacation like you explained (which sounds awesome btw!) I would think of going elsewhere to eliminate the "temptation" of the parks and the possible bad moods and maybe even arguments that may accompany that. I agree with PPs that you could probably find a much nicer vacation for relaxation at better prices than going to Disney for it as well. For example, my family was in Naples FL for a family wedding and the idea of going bowling there was much more appetizing than it is to me at Disney because I feel like I can do that at home instead of miss park time, whereas in Naples just being there was the main event and draw so the bowling was added fun...I hope that made sense haha (though on a rainy day my dad told me he would drive me and him to MK for the day until we found out it was 4 hours each way!).