No Parks

[Lenc324]

Does anyone go to WDW and not do the parks and just stay at the resort?

 

[disneynutz]

We did a 10 day stay and went into the parks 3 times for a total of about 5 hours.

The more we vacation at WDW, the less park time we log.

Bill

 

[AndriaRose]

DH whined incessantly about having a "just us" vacation for just the two of us, to just relax in a warm place away from our Illinois winters.

So, I explained it like this to the DGD(6): The next time we go down to Disney we're not going to go to the parks or do anything fun - we're just going to sit on the balcony and hang out in the room.

She of course assumed I was joking, but I finally sold the concept by asking her: When we go to stores, does grandpa like to look at the fun stuff with us? And her reply was; No he likes to go look at the boring old grandpa stuff. So I asked again: And if grandpa can pick the store, what kind of store does grandpa want to go to.. and again the reply "He picks boring old grandpa stores".

You could see the light slowly come on, she finally realized I was serious, and that grandma and grandpa were going to go to disney without her, but it was kinda ok because its to be a boring old grandpa vacation, and we're not going to do any fun stuff

We will avoid the parks, but we also have a lot of sight-seeing, shop browsing, and DtD and BW activities planned.

 

[Dizny Dad]

DW & I can fill our days with Non-Park stuff in The World; so many resorts to visit, easy transportation, of course shopping (the most important thing), great restaurants, walks, boat rides, monorails, , , , the list goes on & on!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

We did a five day non-park trip a few years ago. It was very relaxing! We did a lot of resort and pool hopping. We rode the monorail loop and got off at each resort to take time to enjoy things we didn't notice before. Walking around the Boardwalk in the evening was great, especially watching some of the performers. The last night we watched Illuminations from the bridge between BW and BC. We did miss the parks some but we really got to slow down and enjoy things that we normally don't do.

 

[dzorn]

We are trying it our next trip with only our GAD ticket and just hanging out at the resort otherwise.

Denise in MI

 

[dbs1228]

We have spent many years going to wdw and just getting a 4 day park ticket and we stayed 10 nights. We are a family of 5 and we had just as much fun non park days as park days. We too road the monorail got off at each resort, rented boats, took the boat to VWL, DTD the list goes on. I love non park days myself!

 

[JasonDVC]

We tried that this past trip but got sucked into MK and AK.....we had a great time BTW!

 

[Luv4Disney]

Ummm...no. That would be impossible for us! lol

 

[Lindabelle]

Our last trip was a week at ssr with no parks. We had so much fun. We did a lot of swimming, played mini golf, saw movies, and shopped in dtd. I would do it again in a heartbeat! I don't think any of my family felt shortchanged because we didn't visit parks this time around.

 

[heathers4um]

thats the plan this next trip for my 40th birthday, with just me and DBF so we will see...however since I booked it under that intention, I realized that we will be there during the tail end of F&W in EPCOT, so I have altered it a bit to go just there directly after our segway tour. But is still counts...a little...right?

 

[Nparrotte]

We did a five day non-park trip a few years ago. It was very relaxing! We did a lot of resort and pool hopping. We rode the monorail loop and got off at each resort to take time to enjoy things we didn't notice before. Walking around the Boardwalk in the evening was great, especially watching some of the performers. The last night we watched Illuminations from the bridge between BW and BC. We did miss the parks some but we really got to slow down and enjoy things that we normally don't do.

DW and I have done this as well, there is quite a bit to do outside the parks.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Does anyone go to WDW and not do the parks and just stay at the resort?

No silly!!! That's what they have Hilton Head, Vero Beach and Aulani for!

 

[jamie&Greg]

YUP!! and my DD is 3! She gets stressed with the crowds and actually really likes to just hang by the pool!! non-park stays are great! But you have to pick a GREAT resort IMO and a one-bed is a must!

 

[joandegennaro]

It was the idea that we could do just that.....helped DH decide I was right and it was time to buy into DVC. We purchased DVC with the idea that it was more for us than the kids now 17 and 12. Something we can do as we grow old together. I'm sure we will enjoy going to the parks on our own and just doing what we deem fun and must do's but it is the idea of just spending time together as a couple, relaxing in the pool, hanging out in the room and just relaxing that pushed DH into the DVC pool.

 

[friskykitten]

We have done this at least three times. Last year we had some financial difficulties but didn't want to cancel our vacation so we stayed in one of the GV's for a week but did not buy park tickets at all. With all the things to do on Disney property, at the resorts and renting free games and movies we had a blast. We also made all of our meals in the villa and ended up spending no more than if we had stayed at home for the week. We really needed that time away yet without spending money so it was perfect! We are going to do it again this year although our finances are no longer an issue for us. We are getting another GV for three nights and a 2 bdr for two more nights and we plan to just enjoy being away from home without visiting the themeparks. We may want to do the parks again next year but for now we are enjoying a break from them. And in all honesty, it is really hard to justify purchasing tickets except for every three to four years. Even with DVC or FL resident discounts I find the cost of buying everyone in the family themepark tickets to be way too much. And the price just keeps going up and up and up. Disney will eventually make the cost of tickets completely out of our reach even for a visit only every five years.

 

[DVC-Don]

We've had a few "Disney Parkless Days" here and there, but not a whole stay.

 

[minster22]

We just came back from 3 nights at BLT and 5 nights at BWV with a total of 1 1/2 hours in MK/Epcot shopping only. We spent our time at the pools, one day had a cabana at the Contemporary (pure heaven!!!) eating( 3 visits to California Grill) and just reading books and magazines while lounging at our pools. Loved every blessed second of it. Now this was a trip with a girl friend, DH and DS would have been bored to tears with this.

 

[Bell30012]

I just read the title of the post to my DD7 and she rolled her eyes and said, "That's like going to the ocean and not swimming." Little smarty pants.

 

[goofydad99]

We are doing this next month. I am not sure how it will go, but it will be relaxing. It will however be hard to avoid DHS as our family is into Star Wars.