PARKS SHMARKS

[MissSha]

If not visiting the parks at all, I'd rather go stay at a high-end beach resort with stunning ocean views, even better (and less crowded) pools, nice dinners, and stronger less sugary cocktails for the price you pay at Disney. I'm about as big a WDW fan as you get, and even I have to admit that the food, drink, and lodging at Disney World is overpriced for what it is compared to other destinations because of the parks access.

It sounds like you would actually enjoy a Disney cruise. The food is very nice and included in the cruise price, there are lots of fun disney touches, and castaway cay is gorgeous. Nice spa too. If you have kids, they'll get to enjoy the kids clubs, and if not, there are sections of the ship (pools, bars, specialty restaurants) that are adults only.

Now if you're a DVC member staying on points so the room is already paid for, I'd for sure say go for it, although even then, I'd lean toward Hilton Head/Vero Beach or Aulani to avoid the crowds you get at WDW area resorts.

I would do a resort only stay at the bnb we love in Costa Rica or a place on the beach. But WDW? Not unless I was DVC with mad points to burn. Too many other places to go and see for that price point if I’m not going to the parks

And exactly why we're going this August.....we are DVC and we must "use 'em or lose 'em" for the trip that got cancelled during the pandemic.

 

[MissSha]

I don't think I'd do a total resort only stay. I couldn't stand to be that close to the parks and not visit them. We are not ride centric so don't spend a lot of time on rides but we do spend a lot of time in the parks. We enjoy just walking around them and taking in all the details. I could see if we were on - say a two week stay- spending a day here and there without going to the parks. For a week, if I weren't interested in going to the parks, I'd stay elsewhere. There are a number of nice resorts in Orlando that are less than the Disney resorts, offer the same things - pools, restaurants, activities, etc. I could see going to Orlando and doing that and exploring Orlando itself and surrounding area more. You could always go to DS from one of them and even make ADRs at some of the Disney resorts to eat and walk around.

Oh I agree! We'll be walking around the parks at some point for sure, and visiting food and wine at Epcot I'm sure. But we'll have a car, so we plan to visit offsite restaurants too.

 

[Stratman50th]

Our last two trips were at Fort Wilderness and we didn't go to the parks. During open times you don't even need to leave the property since the Fort is a destination of it's own. We like to resort hop as well.
In 2012 I went to the parks but it was with my good camera gear. I did nothing but take pictures, no rides.
Resorts with no parks? I get it! You do you and enjoy.

 

[Tigger's ally]

We echo the pp's that have said we probably wouldn't do a complete no parks trip. We have done long weekends where we only go to the park one day and spend the other three monorail crawling, all day at the Springs, etc. But, we usually do those in the fall so we have to have one day at F&W in Epcot.

 

[dawnelda]

I did a resort-only stay in December 2019 with my mother and daughter and it was amazing. We had dinner reservations each day and did Hoop-Dee-Doo one evening. Toured the resorts and enjoyed all the Christmas decorations (and rented a golf cart at Fort Wilderness to view the campers' decorations); my daughter did pin trading and collected Transportation Trading Cards whenever she could. All in all a very enjoyable, relaxing, no-pressure stay which I am hoping to repeat this December.

Edit to add that we did scavenger hunts at a few resorts as well and that was a ton of fun!

 

[badiggio]

We stay onsite{and pay the ridiculous amount even through dvc} for the convenience of going to the parks.We might have the odd off day,otherwise what's the draw to throw away your money sitting by a pool in a so-so resort,deluxe at that?There's so many better places to be at, just in Orlando for a quarter of the price,if you just want to sit by the pool.

 

[rwdavis2]

IMHO, the high cost of Disney resorts is only justified due to proximity and transportation to the parks. Otherwise, if you really just want to chill in the Orlando area, I would be looking at Bonnet Creek, the Ritz, Waldorf, etc. Much nicer hotels and better price points.

This. If you want nice hotels with great service, IMHO, Universal is abetter bet. The Hard Rock or Portifino. Those hotels have better service. Or a nice beach resort.