Stay at DVC resort without doing the parks

[Princess Tinkerbell]

You mentioned that you would like to do the dining plan for just part of your trip. I am not sure if you can do this w/ DVC, but I don't see why not. Make two reservations. You run the risk of having to change rooms for your spit stay, but I doubt it would happen if you mentioned on the reservation and at check in they were linked. You could maybe do a three day package and hit the parks and do DDP and then for the rest of your stay have a non park vacation (which sounds like a blast to me, BTW ).

 

[Dizma]

We found $18 airfare and decided on a long weekend with some points that we had to use. Waitlisted for BCV and it came thru-love that pool! Weather was in the low 80's and we played in the fabulous pool everyday, did downtown disney, water pageant, dinners out, ESPN club for superbowl, rode the monorail, boat rides to see some other resorts and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. After numerous trips to WDW it was fabulous not racing to the parks. Slept in every morning and had the most relaxing trip ever for the most reasonable price! Highly recommend it!

 

[Weezyreid]

We have just returned from the AKL Villas...stayed in a studio Sav View..and I have to say that many days we would have loved to stay at the resort all day. I will for sure plan a trip in the future where we do 4 days of parks and a few days of just AKL....Its amazing there!!
Louise

 

[photobob]

I haven't done that yet, but i believe I could. If you were to go and not go to the parks which would be the best resort for such an endeavor?

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I would not stay at the Beach Club or Boardwalk Villas. They will make you want to go into Epcot and MGM. You will feel bad here unless you schedule a day or two in the parks. You may feel that way at the WLV's to a lesser extent. That boat to the MK is right there and you will hear the fireworks.

I would stay at SSR because of its close location to DTD or OKW ( it seems to be removed from the park temptations) or AKV's which would be fabulous as long as those roaming animals dont make you want to go to the AK Since it is June and so HOT pick something that is close to a pool and parking lot

 

[IAMaGR8DISMOM]

I agree with Boardwalk Tigger, also, if you avoid the parks you might actually relax!

 

[TisBit]

I would hesitate on saying that I wasn't going to do the parks at all. I think when I got down there, I would get the itch and end up spending more money buying one day passes or something. It looks like you would spend about $2000 with food in your original estimate. Incdentals will be there one way or another. I would just look at possilby not worrying about the DDP....while you save money (if you eat more expensive things and eat enough) you can easily do a budget trip with just cutting your food costs out.

We took high school seniors down and we would buy food for breakfast, make a lunch for the park and then we were on our own for dinner. You could easily still just come back to your resort for dinner and still save tons of mone and actually only pay if you did "resort" only. Even doing a three pass would save you about 100 more dollars and you could easily do a day on/day off. JMHO

 

[OlderMan]

We stay at OKW 2 or 3 times a year, but it's been over 6 years since we've been to ANY park.

Our DD's enjoy the pools, games, Hank's/Community Hall activities, pool parties, etc.

Actually, they prefer Seaworld to the WDW Parks.

Just what works for us!!

 

[keishashadow]

between 2 cruises & a Vegas/DL trip planned in between; I just can't justify buying APs or MYW tix for Oct. trip (only 4 days @ WL), seems shocking lol

note - many reliable discount sites to buy MYW tix too if you do decide to purchase in advance

we have Universal APs (great bogo year free offer last year)although you can buy 7 day tix for less than $90 pp. We'll probably do one day there & then do the HHN (hoping for AP rate on tix approx 1/2 off - around $30 pp).

Will do 1 or 2 nights MNSSHP too, still way less than MYW tix would be

We had considered SeaWorld (can upgrade your tix @ gate for the next day free less than $60 pp/many discounts floating around though).

 

[RCM]

there was a special of all parks-all week for $86.00. That would be doable for your family

 

[Janet Hill]

We did it for a week. We did drive to Busch Gardens Tampa one day. We did a lot of activities at Fort Wilderness - campfire and canoe rental. We stayed at WLV so the campground was a short boat ride away. We actually pool hopped to the pool at the campground (don't know if this was allowed). My kids loved running from the pool to the playground. It was a very nice relaxing week.

 

[islandtimect]

Our family doesn't buy the Dining Plan. For the three of us (2 adults, 1 6 yr old), having the kitchen saves a lot of time and money at breakfast (and lunch on the days we're at our resort). We also don't like to do more than 3 days in the parks in a one week period. It's not a money issue - we just like spending time at the pools, shopping, seeing shows, etc.

 

[Sheribo]

We go every Spring Break and don't do the parks. We're a family of 5 and we eat out only once during that time. There is so much to do that doesn't involve the parks. It's very relaxing. We do get annual passes to Disney Quest for our 3 teenagers since they love to spend many hours there. We're going to see the Space Shuttle launch this year and watch the fireworks from the Polynesian resort. We do go to the parks every couple of years if we go during off peak times.