Not doing parks, suggestions?

[lenshanem]

I just booked SSR today for late June for me, my girls and my mom. She doesn't want to do the parks and our AP expires early June so I'd love suggestions for fun things to do and opinions -
Any DVCers take a trip and not do the parks?

We'll be there four nights. We plan on using some old park hopper pluses and we'll go to TL and BB two of the days...
Lots of pool time, DTD, maybe some resort meals? (I'll have my DDE card.) What do you think would be best? Whispering Canyon Cafe? Ohana?

Has anyone tried out the putt putt courses?

Or tried out the campfire at Fort Wilderness? Any info about that?

ALSO, about pool hopping... I would LOVE to pool hop over to the Poly. Has anyone done that? I know last week we had to check in at the gate with our name and PS for Kona Cafe and they gave us a temp parking pass to eat. Will they let us in to pool hop?!? Seems like I've read in the past many resorts not really being up to speed on the pool hopping thing. Anyone know?

THANKS!

 

[dallastxcpa]

We did the Camp Fire Singalong December 20th. It was just me and my daughter and we had so much fun. We got the smores package and they were so yummy. Be sure and get to the sing along around 30 minutes before to be sure and get a good seat. They have benches and then rafters, but I think it is better to sit on the benches because it makes it easier to get pictures with Chip and Dale.

They start the fire before the Sing Along begins. Once the sing along starts the characters come out and then the evening ends with a movie on a large screen.

The only word of caution I would give you is to have your daughters wear long sleve shirts to protect their arms. My daughter was roasting a marshmellow when a little bow decided to poke the fire with his marshmellow stick. Needless to say he stirred up the embers and my daughter's favorite Tinkerbell jacket was singed. I am just thankful that it didn't burn her arm.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

My children and i loved the putt putt golf although it was a bit pricey but the theming was great and as a DVC member you will get a discount.

 

[ErinC]

Shan, we loved the fantasia putt-putt course close to Boardwalk. My girls really wanted to golf again this trip, but we didn't get it done. We also love Ohana, it's kind of our new favorite. The have hula hoops for the kids and coconut races for them to participate in during dinner. The do dim the lights and pipe in the music for wishes, so if you can schedule it around that time, its a great place to get to enjoy the fireworks from. Not all seats have a great view, but people don't seem to mind you moving around to the better view tables during the fireworks. Ask to be seated next to windows when you check in at the front desk. I would also maybe do Chef Mickeys or 1900 park Faire, for the character meals. Since you won't be doing the parks, your girls would probably enjoy some character time.

 

[CarolAnnC]

We love Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island! Also, consider doing some resort touring. There are some beautiful resorts and grounds to tour, and even a wide variety of gift shops. I do this on our Nov/Dec trips to not only see the beautiful decorations, but also to pickup the various resorts' yearly Christmas ornaments.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Actually, we did exactly the same type of trip last August at SSR! It was wonderful! So when we went back at Christmas, we continued the trend, and it was so much more relaxing. We played minigolf on Christmas Day, and it was such a treat! We followed all the suggestions of the above posters, plus we went over to the campground, and toured the barns while we were waiting to take the carriage ride. It felt so good to just kick back!

 

[kweaver]

Hi Shan -

We spend a lot of time outside the parks at WDW. Be sure to take advantage of the Community Hall at SSR...my kids had a ball there...and that was before most of the activities were in full swing. We also used the arcade a lot that day. You can spend a full day at Blizzard Beach or TL...we had a lot more fun there than I thought we would too!

We haven't done Ohana...but the kids LOVED Whispering Canyon. If yours haven't been there...definitely take them. You could have an early dinner and head to FW for the campfire via boat after that. The campfire was rained out when we were planning to go...but I've heard a lot of good things about it. It's also nice to walk around FW, see the horses, peacocks, etc. They have a great gift shop there too.

Oh...and don't forget plenty of time at DTD. We even took the kids to a movie there last year. It was such a nice, laid back evening.

Personally, I'd schedule a massage for myself! Have a GREAT trip!

 

[JimMIA]

If you like any of the following -- circuses, clowns, acrobatics, gymnastics, wonderful music, great dancing, incredible costuming, elaborate stage productions, meticulous attention to detail -- and you haven't ever been to a Cirque du Soleil production, go see Cirque's "La Nouba" at DD Westside. It is much, much more than circus.

I've also seen their famous "O" production at the Bellagio in Vegas, but I honestly like La Nouba better. The show is beyond description and you will find yourselves standing and cheering at the end like you were at a Marlins World Series game!

 

[TR Denise]

How about horseback riding at Fort Wildermess my kids have all done that and we had a great time. Also my family loves to rent the boats we've rented the sprites and the pontoon boats, also renting the bikes at SSR is great

 

[Ksp]

Some of our favorites:
mini golf -they're all fun, but the one near the BW has a great location, to boot
Whispering Canyon - fun, great food
Ohana's - especially fun for the smaller kids - they have a game for them all to play during dinner.
SSR spa....even just a trip to use the hot tub/sauna...but the massage treatments are great
Community Hall - SSR, BW, OKW....they're all great and can help spend some fun hours
Turf club - if you like to shoot pool, we've had some fun there.
Haven't tried all the things at Fort Wilderness yet, but I am aiming to!
DTD is great for a shopping break - and you can't beat the chocolate fix
Character dining at the resorts is a fun way to still see Mickey, but not go in to the parks
Tea at GF: my daughter and I enjoy this The strawberries and cream are AWESOME!
Have fun!

 

[Deemarch]

Shan,

We also loved Whispering Canyon!! It was a hoot!! Ask for ketchup...
Or call your husband on your cell phone at the table...
We laughed so much that we almost forgot about eating and the food was so good.

We rented a boat at the Poly and already in bathing suits and shorts, we peeled off the shorts and tried the pool. Great little snack bar near the pool area, too.

Most of all, enjoy your special trip with the girls!!

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks everyone! I think we'll have plenty to do!
I'm so used to going to the parks this will be weird! But, my mom doesn't want to go to them at all this time, except for the water parks.

About the campfire, does anyone know what nights it runs and when? Does it vary?
Also, the smores - Since my oldest has peanut allergies I'm wondering what the smores package was like? Maybe I should bring our own or do people do that? I know she can have marshmellows, chocolate if it is plain Hershey's, the graham crackers I'd have to worry about in case it might contain...
I forgot about the movies at DTD, too.

Anyone also know if the Poly pipes in the Wishes music anywhere on the beach itself?

I like the idea about renting the little boats and bikes. I didn't even think about that. Does SSR have those surreys? And if so, where do you ride them? And boats? Does SSR have boat rental? Course, it would be fun to go over to the Poly instead to ride boats... Will the Poly just let us in to visit?

I would love to see Cirque, but I don't think my youngest could sit thru it. I have seen one of the shows here in Atlanta. It was AWESOME!

 

[Deemarch]

So far, no boats at SSR and no surreys only regular bikes.

No problem going to Poly to rent boats or swim!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Shan, I think you will have a great time! Have you had the silohuettes made of your girls? They are great and there is a cart right by RFC in DTD that does this. Ours turned out great!

Every time we walked thru DTD, we found something new to do! The Virgin Megastore has a nice bookstore upstairs with a cute childrens area. We browsed around and sat at the table and chairs to look at interesting books.

I like the idea about renting the little boats and bikes. I didn't even think about that. Does SSR have those surreys? And if so, where do you ride them? And boats? Does SSR have boat rental? Course, it would be fun to go over to the Poly instead to ride boats... Will the Poly just let us in to visit?

SSR has the surreys and you can ride them to the main pool area the main street sidewalk and on the path closest to the lake. I also saw the water mice and Pontoon rentals on the lake. It's looks like they have all the same offerings as the other DVC's except the boats on Bay Lake will go faster.

 

[lenshanem]

Shan, I think you will have a great time! Have you had the silohuettes made of your girls? They are great and there is a cart right by RFC in DTD that does this. Ours turned out great!

What a great idea! I've always wanted to do this at the MK. My mom did this with me and my younger brother when we were little. I think we'll do this!

Nice tip about the bookstore, too. Good if it is raining!

 

[kweaver]

I think the campfire happens every night unless it gets rained out. I don't know about the smores packs...you could probably email someone at FW and find out.

We had the silhouettes done at DTD too...love them!

 

[RichieGraciemom]

Another fun thing to do is the horseback riding at the campground. Did the golf accross from Swan and Dolphin, forget the name, was fun. You could also go for a spa treatment, always wanted to do that but to busy in the parks most of the time. I would say ohana, whispering canyon is very loud. You can spend a morning at down towns disney, you can ride the boat from there to dixie landings and walk around their grounds. Sit and have coffee in the outer rim in the contemporary at night( or a drink and ) We are gong next Jan and not doing the parks and I think I will get my spa treatment then. Good luck

 

[RichieGraciemom]

is there a charge for the bikes at SSR?

 

[lenshanem]

Do the bikes come in different sizes and the smaller ones with training wheels?

 

[Greysword]

Is there a good place to watch the fieworks from outside MK or Epcot? That might be an idea, too.

Don't forget the beaches at the various resorts. For the racing fans, there is also the WDW Track near the MK and the Wide World of Sports Complex.

Although it may seem silly, riding the boat to and from MK would be kind of nice as well as riding the monorail from MK to Epcot.

Just some thoughts.