Resort-only trip: How long?

[dopeynme]

Hi, all! DH and I are thinking about a resort only stay next spring. For those who have done this before, how long did you stay?

We are skipping the parks to save money, so I don’t want to stay too long and tempt ourselves with wanting to go to the parks.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Not to swerve your topic too much but you may be surprised how much a package deal can be as inexpensive as a resort only stay.
Depending on the resort, we could maybe do three days at one without the parks.

 

[Tink-osophy]

Coming from across the Atlantic, I probably wouldn't do resort only, but I might. I have thought about it. I like the idea of the ease and relaxation. I reckon I could do 5-7 nights.

...Depending on the resort I was staying at

...Visiting Disney Springs

...Visiting other resorts (monorail loop; cycling around the Fort; the Boardwalk; the Skyliner; walking around and across the lake at CS etc..)

...And, maybe, considering an After Hours park event. (Depending on cost and later in on the trip, so you're not tempted by more park time!!!)

...Would you consider a water park ticket?

 

[DizneyFamof4]

We did 3 nights, but it was at a US resort which we like better. Cabana Bay is a very fun resort for a no park trip and is normally less than a Mod at WDW.

 

[kylenne]

I couldn't do more than a weekend personally. I would have too much fomo. And then I would pick something like AKL where I wouldn't be so tempted to go into parks.

 

[StarCruzer]

I would say it depends on what you plan on doing. we did a nice three day at OKW and enjoyed the pool and visiting Disney Springs. I would say 4-5 days you could do a lot of fun stuff at the resorts/Disney Springs.

Many resorts have great on-site activities if you don't want to do parks:

• Wilderness Lodge/Ft. Wilderness: Electric Water Pageant, boat rentals, Tr-Circle-D Ranch, Horse Drawn Carriage excursions
• Animal Kingdom Lodge: Excellent food, great pool, lots of cozy indoor and outdoor spots to watch the savannah.
• Port Orleans: Yehaa Bob at Riverside Roost, Horse Drawn Carriage excursions, easy boat access to Disney Springs
• Poly/Contemp/GF: Monorail loop for scenic rides or restaurant hopping, boat rentals, Trader Sam's, Electric Water Pageant, fireworks view, character dining
• Caribbean Beach/Riviera: Both have nice pools, CBR has hammocks in the sandy playground area, great restaurants, free rides on the Skyliner for funsies
• Yacht/Beach Club: Best on property pool, access to BoardWalk area (like JellyRolls!), lots of close bars/restaurants
• Saratoga Springs/Old Key West: a little more out of the way and quieter, easy access to Disney Springs

 

[Karalee402]

We're thinking about doing the very same thing at the end of this summer. I'm hoping to go for three nights just to get a quick Disney fix before our next big trip. I'm with @kylenne , anything more than that, and I think I'd be figuring out a way to go into a park for "just one day." This is why I need/want annual passes!

 

[kylenne]

We're thinking about doing the very same thing at the end of this summer. I'm hoping to go for three nights just to get a quick Disney fix before our next big trip. I'm with @kylenne , anything more than that, and I think I'd be figuring out a way to go into a park for "just one day." This is why I need/want annual passes!

APs were probably the biggest quality of life improvement I made for Disney trips because i had a complete psychological shift once I didn't need to justify burning days on a ticket. It's hard to explain but I think nothing of just going in for an hour or two after a pool day just to take in the evening atmosphere. Our trips are just so much more relaxed because we don't feel that pressure. We know we'll be back.

If I didn't have one I don't think I could ever do a resort only stay. Certainly not at Crescent Lake or a monorail resort, with such easy access to parks. The FOMO would be worse to me at one of those tbh.

 

[kwdw]

So, zero days. Really. I love Disney and I really enjoy staying on property and while I don’t do a ton of stuff at the resorts, I do some. For me, there are so many other places I could have a great resort stay, I wouldn’t do it at Disney. You’d find me at a different locale …. the beach, the woods, the big city, the resort with even better water features, a room with a full kitchen not at DVC prices….

Yes, I stay on property and think Disney resorts and other things around property are lots of fun, too. There’s more I’d love to have time to do any given trip. But I’m not flying to Florida, dealing with ground transportation, groceries, etc to stay at a Disney resort. I’m going somewhere else.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

APs were probably the biggest quality of life improvement I made for Disney trips because i had a complete psychological shift once I didn't need to justify burning days on a ticket. It's hard to explain but I think nothing of just going in for an hour or two after a pool day just to take in the evening atmosphere. Our trips are just so much more relaxed because we don't feel that pressure. We know we'll be back.

If I didn't have one I don't think I could ever do a resort only stay. Certainly not at Crescent Lake or a monorail resort, with such easy access to parks. The FOMO would be worse to me at one of those tbh.

Completely agree with this - APs were game changers for us for this exact reason.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

My sister and I are going over the election Sun thru Thurs with the resort discount. No parks for us. That's 4 nights with 3 full days- perfect! and I've never done it before, lol!

 

[melbatoast]

We go w/o going to the parks all the time! Usually 3-4 nights. YC is my absolute fav so just being there makes me happy. And Disney Springs is so great now, with all the live bands! I could go there 3 nights in a row as it's always different bands and so many restaurants to try. And JellyRolls is a must, the talent and fun there cannot be beat! So many great responses above, we always do the monorail crawl, (including boat to WL Geyser Point) and skyliner to Riviera for a sunset cocktail.

 

[dansdad]

We usually do 5-7 nights. Love our resort only trips!

 

[Skippyboo]

Next year, you get water park access for free on your arrival day when you stay onsite

 

[gottalovepluto]

0. The park FOMO would leave me sad. Only reason I do resort days at Disney is my AP and even then I always find myself still slipping into a park at night as boredom/fomo sets in.

At least compare the price you’ll be paying to some non-Disney resort options in other places so you get some apples to apples comparisons of what those vacation dollars could get you. There could be some mountain hideaway or desert oasis calling your name and you just don’t know it yet. Once you’re outside the Disney bubble it can be surprising just how far that money can go.

Or- how do you feel about Universal? I’m pretty meh on the parks but sometimes I’ll do a couple nights at sapphire falls to just relax. Gorgeous pool and easy boat access to city walk (SO much nicer than busing to DS) make for a nice two night max stay and very little park FOMO since it’s UOR.

 

[sponica]

I can't justify a resort only stay due to the price of airfare, I think if I lived close enough to drive, then maybe a weekend 2-3 nights?

 

[Disneylover99]

We enjoy 3-5 days.

 

[Cybertruck]

We are resort only stays during Christmas week. The crowds are too much for us. @StarCruzer mentioned a lot of good stuff. Normally we are at Wilderness Lodge. This year we are in the cabins at Fort Wilderness and looking forward to the Christmas Golf parade. Scavenger hunts are another big activity for us. Visiting most of the resorts to see all the wonderful Christmas decorations brings back great memories for everyone. Monorail crawl for dinner is another great adventure (appetizer, drinks, and meal, dessert, night cap at different locations). Another activity the family loves is how many modes of transportation we can do in day.

 

[beccasmom]

I had to chuckle a bit when I saw the title to this post. The dew point here in SE PA - 76 - - matches that of Orlando right now. I would not be in any hurry to visit a theme park if in WDW right now. Been there, done that - more times than I can count!

Our “park-less” visits are usually no more than 4 nights. We are long-time DVC, so that has undoubtedly played a role in our thinking. Once in a blue moon we will splurge on a couple of nights at a hotel on the concierge floor at the tail-end of a trip and we tend to make those resort days. We have visited WDW many dozens of times so FOMO isn’t normally an issue. But I have “cheated” a few times and the characters can keep a secret!

 

[Brian Noble]

a resort only stay next spring. [...] We are skipping the parks to save money,

If I were doing this, I would look seriously at a non-Disney place to stay. Disney hotels have a fairly significant location premium built into the price, and you aren't really taking advantage of that location.

In my experience going to Orlando, it is pretty easy to get a home with a private pool in the Orlando area, plus a rental car, all for about the cost of a stay at a Disney Moderate. And the former is going to be a lot more comfortable than the latter.