Resort Only trip?

[Sparrow624]

Has anyone done a resort only trip? No theme parks? If so, where is the best place to stay?

My wife and I are both teachers and are thinking of taking a 3 night vacation over spring break with our 1 year old. Just to get away and relax.

Thoughts?

 

[mouseketeermama]

We have done Fort Wilderness as a "resort only" trip. Lots to do there to keep you entertained!

 

[Peace Mickey Lovers]

im planning on doing this at AKL this Feb for the break. Looking foward to the relaxation at the pools, instread of freezing in the northeast.

 

[sir mousejunkie]

My Family and I are going on a resort only trip to the Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani) this coming Sunday-Wednesday. We've stayed there a few times on previous trips and always thought it would be a good idea to just go for a few days and relax for a change instead of "GO, GO, GO!"

The property is beautiful, the restaurants are terriffic and we will have access to two great pools, Jambo and Kidani.

 

[caracarn]

Beach Club or Boardwalk are great for this. Beach Club has the great Stormalong Bay pool and from either resort you can stroll around the lagoon and there are eateries and shops and you are close to Downtown Disney for other options.

 

[Priskillet]

Do the Beach Club! Lots to do and it's a great hotel! Near boardwalk for eve strolls

 

[Sparrow624]

What would the best resort with a one year old be? Somewhere we can walk her around in the stroller and enjoy.

We have only stayed at GF and BW.

 

[Karabee]

I haven't yet, but will possibly be doing this in May. I will pick either AKL (so much to do and see) or the Boardwalk area if you want to be in the thick of things. However, my favorite resort away from it all is actually OKW - you really feel like you've escaped. Honestly, any of the Deluxe or even Moderates would be nice for relaxation and rest - they all have lovely grounds for your 1 year old. You can also focus on all the extras that Disney offers - mini-golf, swimming at the resort pool, great food, boating, Boardwalk, DTD, etc.

 

[Missytara]

I have done an 8 day all resorts, no parks trip at POR. I go the week after Thanksgiving, so I got to see ALL the resorts decorated - not just the few I could get to on a normal trip. I took scads of pics.

I booked a riverview room and was lucky enough to be on the first floor on the end with no one coming in front of my room, so I was able to pull my chair out into the alcove at night and watch the water taxi go by.

Also, I would sleep late, go to a resort for lunch, stroll around and shop, kick back at the bar, and then do some more wandering around the resorts and end up somewhere for dinner.

The beauty of it is that I can take the DTD bus back to the bus hub, and then stroll through DTD shopping or stop in one of the bars for a drink, and then take the water taxi back to POR. The water taxis run every ten minutes after 4:00 pm, so I have never waited more than a few minutes for it.

So any resort on the DTD loop: SSR/THV; POR/POFQ; or OKW would be wonderful.

 

[mickeynut1]

What would the best resort with a one year old be? Somewhere we can walk her around in the stroller and enjoy.

We have only stayed at GF and BW.

My choice would be the Poly . The tropical grounds are beautiful, the beach is great for relaxing while watching the fireworks, the volcano pool is fun and has zero entry (which is nice with a little one), and it's on the monorail so it's easy & convenient to visit the GF and CR for shopping, dining, or just walking around .

 

[vettegirl]

Another vote for the AKL, so much to see there and it so peaceful and removed that you don't feel like there is anything around.

 

[JD&LYD]

We've done this a few times, its a great time. We stay at Saratoga Springs, its close to Downtown. The boat system is great for relaxing rides to OKW, Both POR resorts, FQ and Riverside. and the west side of downtown. it has 4 pools for relaxing, nice walkways around the grounds. Really a good time

 

[nkereina]

I would pick one of the Epcot area resorts or POR/POFQ.

We stayed at POR for one night after a cruise and didn't go to any parks. We just relaxed by the pool and then rode the boat to DTD which was nice. The boat to DTD gives you an option for something to do if you get bored.

The Epcot area resorts allow you to walk between several of the resorts, and the Boardwalk is fun at night. You would also be able to walk or boat to DHS and pick up a resort bus very easily which will cut down on bus/transfer times if you will be relying on Disney transportation. While AKL is beautiful and its fun to watch the animals, I would think it would be too remote and too much of a pain to get to other resorts since you wouldn't be hitting any parks.

 

[TeenaS]

Just did a resort only trip with my 13 month old granddaughter and she absolutely loved Stormalong Bay - she actually fell asleep playing in the zero entry sand pool. There are plenty of good places to eat at the Y&B too for toddlers. She loved eating at Captain's Grill and Cape May Cafe and so did we. I don't think any other resort can offer as much as the Y&B for a resort only vacation.

 

[Ninja Mom]

I have done an 8 day all resorts, no parks trip at POR. I go the week after Thanksgiving, so I got to see ALL the resorts decorated - not just the few I could get to on a normal trip. I took scads of pics.

I booked a riverview room and was lucky enough to be on the first floor on the end with no one coming in front of my room, so I was able to pull my chair out into the alcove at night and watch the water taxi go by.

Also, I would sleep late, go to a resort for lunch, stroll around and shop, kick back at the bar, and then do some more wandering around the resorts and end up somewhere for dinner.

The beauty of it is that I can take the DTD bus back to the bus hub, and then stroll through DTD shopping or stop in one of the bars for a drink, and then take the water taxi back to POR. The water taxis run every ten minutes after 4:00 pm, so I have never waited more than a few minutes for it.

So any resort on the DTD loop: SSR/THV; POR/POFQ; or OKW would be wonderful.

At first I was going to say one of the Epcot resorts but I really like your thinking on this. If staying at a DTD resort loop hotel you could always take the bus from your resort to Hollywood Studios, bypass the park entirely and catch the boat to the Swolphin, BWI and the BC/YC complex. Otherwise you'd have to get to the DTD bus stops to get to any other hotel.

You'd just have to make sure you didn't get "pie eyed" at one of those bars and miss the last boat, otherwise it's a taxi for you, which incidentally is sounding like something totally doable if you wanted to hang at Jelly Rolls or the other bars and sing for your supper. (No kids at Jelly Rolls though).

I think staying at a DTD resort loop hotel really does give you the best transportation options to get to the other resorts, the Epcot area with the Boardwalk and DTD. That DTD Transportation hub will take you to any resort but not the parks, which you want to avoid anyway.

Missytara you are a genius!

~NM

 

[sweetsusannah]

Hands Down our pick would be AKL. We actually do often book a night or two at the end of our vacations elsewhere just to go and unwind there. We have little ones and the Kidani pool splash zone and wet playground can not be beat, even by storm along bay. We often stay at Beach Club and while we love the pool, AKL Kidani is a much better pool for the under 5 set. Plus the night time animal watching, the drum sessions, and overall ambiance of the resort just lends to sit and stay a while.

 

[cjsm&d]

I would pick one of the Epcot area resorts or POR/POFQ.

We stayed at POR for one night after a cruise and didn't go to any parks. We just relaxed by the pool and then rode the boat to DTD which was nice. The boat to DTD gives you an option for something to do if you get bored.

The Epcot area resorts allow you to walk between several of the resorts, and the Boardwalk is fun at night. You would also be able to walk or boat to DHS and pick up a resort bus very easily which will cut down on bus/transfer times if you will be relying on Disney transportation. While AKL is beautiful and its fun to watch the animals, I would think it would be too remote and too much of a pain to get to other resorts since you wouldn't be hitting any parks.

100% agree with this!

My family did AKL and it wasn't just resort only, we had enough of the Savannah (which is cool) and were bored with AKL after 3 days.

 

[Sparrow624]

The zero entry pools are a good suggestion. Any other resort suggestions for a 12 month old? I like the idea of stroller walks on the boardwalk and surrounding areas as well.

 

[momofkids]

You don't necessarily have to take a taxi back to the resort if you are at DTD late. I have heard of other people asking CMs for transportation back to the resort. The CMs called for a minivan to take them back to the resort. Why pay for a taxi if Disney offers a free alternative? I would just ask how a CM how to get back to the resort.