No Parks?

[goin2disneyagain]

I have never done this but have always said I wouldn't mind going for a long weekend doing other things on Disney property other than the parks like shopping at DTD and miniature golf and resort-hopping. I think it would be fun to do at Christmastime.

 

[purplern]

We are going to do this next Sept. We are going on the 4 day Disney cruise which leaves Sunday. We are flying in Friday and staying at POR. Saturday we will stay around the resort and DTD

 

[gonga]

Please don't flame me....

this is just IMHO, and as an experienced traveler.

If you are not going to the parks then I would suggest other hotels that are not Disney. For the money you spend at a Deluxe resrot at WDW, you could go to a beautiful seaside resort in Naples Florida, like LaPlaya. The rooms are beautiful, right on the beach, - which is stunning, soft white sand calm ripples and loades with beautiful shells, beautiful waterfall pools cabannas with full service, great food, shopping, golf, AMAZING sunsets, beach and pool service (they bring you cold towels and water and will serve you lunch and cocktails), a large full service spa/salon. There is no need for a car as there is an old fashioned trolley which takes you downtown - it stops right in front of the hotel. This hotel far surpasses any deluxe hotel on Disney property, and the $$ is less than Disney too. Very romantic and not far from Ft. Myers airport. I first saw it on the Travel Channel and knew we had to go...it did not disappoiont. This hotel is literally right on the beach and the view from your room (which has a full balcony with loungers and chairs) is unbelieveable. After the sun sets watch for shooting stars!!

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Please don't flame me....

this is just IMHO, and as an experienced traveler.

If you are not going to the parks then I would suggest other hotels that are not Disney. For the money you spend at a Deluxe resrot at WDW, you could go to a beautiful seaside resort in Naples Florida, like LaPlaya. The rooms are beautiful, right on the beach, - which is stunning, soft white sand calm ripples and loades with beautiful shells, beautiful waterfall pools cabannas with full service, great food, shopping, golf, AMAZING sunsets, beach and pool service (they bring you cold towels and water and will serve you lunch and cocktails), a large full service spa/salon. There is no need for a car as there is an old fashioned trolley which takes you downtown - it stops right in front of the hotel. This hotel far surpasses any deluxe hotel on Disney property, and the $$ is less than Disney too. Very romantic and not far from Ft. Myers airport. I first saw it on the Travel Channel and knew we had to go...it did not disappoiont. This hotel is literally right on the beach and the view from your room (which has a full balcony with loungers and chairs) is unbelieveable. After the sun sets watch for shooting stars!!

We do both.
As you can see by my earlier post on this thread, we visit WDW 4-5 times each year and 1 or 2 of these trips are resort only. We enjoy the Disney Resort atmosphere and amenities both with the parks and without.

We also travel to other non Disney resorts several times annually and enjoy different locales, experiences, and destinations.

 

[YesYourMajesty]

Last year, when we went in August, we didnt go to the parks much. IT WAS SO HOT! (Dont get me wrong, I LOVE hot, but this was HOT!)

We went mini golfing once, did some shopping and spent 2-3 hours in the parks each day. The rest of the time we hung out in the room watching the Olympics or went swimming. I think both my husband and myself preferred that trip. We had the some park time and the down time.

Now, do I think we will ever go there and not go to the parks at all? NO. I couldnt justify the cost of DVC to my husband if we flew all the way to Florida just to hang out the whole time. He would not go for it. Plus, I think it would drive me crazy. I am not good at just hanging out and relaxing, I have to be doing something specific at least part of the time.