Stay at our home resort, but NOT visit Disney

[mybabesuz]

We have talked about doing this.
The last 2 trips the kids didn't want to leave the resort!
We would definitely stay at AKV either Jambo or Kidani.
The pool parties were great!
The community room, the restaurants, and all the activities...

 

[rentayenta]

How often does anyone go to their home resort, but not visit disney? DH and I were thinking about taking the kids a few times, but have a slower paced vacation by just visiting odd and end things. With tickets to Disney on the more expensive side, we are trying to stay on the cheap side by cooking in our room and not getting disney tickets. Is it doable?

It is doable but not sure how feasible. We are planning a 10 night trip next December and DH wants to do the parks only half the time. I am trying to figure out how to swing that and what to do with all the *down* time. I told him it will cost him: shopping, spa, golf, water park....

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

Thanks everyone for your replies. After the last few vacations being planned with things to do and being jammed pack, I would like to just come down and visit the beach, maybe take the kids mini golfing, and maybe go see some type of show. I'm sure we could fill our time up with lots of things and it would be much more relaxing. I'm definitely going to look into it.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

The only time we stay at our home resort (BWV) is when we are ready to visit WDW again. It would be hard to stay there and not go to the parks. I think this works out to be about once every 2 to 3 years.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I don't think I could do it! I can't even deal with base passes let alone not visiting a park at all! I need to hop, hop, hop all day long!

 

[jrbarnes]

We just got back from 3 days of vacation at AKV without doing the parks. It was a ncie enjoyable time for us. We are normally park hoppers and stay all day until the closing time, so we didnt know what to expect.

We stayed at AK Kidani and loved it. the pool is great, and we spent alot of our time in the pool. We went to Ohana one night and then rode the monorail around the resorts, then got on the monorail over to Epcot to see the sites. We tried to time the ride to see the end of Illuminations but missed it by a few mins. We then got back off and walked over to see the lovely fireworks display from the beach by Polynesian. We spend a few hours in downtown Disney on the way in and way out and everything worked out just great for us.

 

[AndriaRose]

We're planning a "just us" trip. With no grandchild to prod us on to the next thing, we're looking forward to a no parks trip. We have a full schedule of things we never have time for, or barely get to see. The Boardwalk, DTD in detail, watching fireworks and the electric water parade from a beach, the FW petting zoo, GF Grand Tea, POR carriage ride.

DH wants to do more vacations like this. His opinion: we should eat out (I shouldn't have to cook) and if we need to conserve points and get a studio, we should do so when its just us two. My opinion: we're not rushed, we'll be spending more time in the room, and I don't mind him helping me cook.

I think I have him seeing things my way - "relaxing" vacations require more space. We will have time to cook. I will have time to enjoy the whirlpool tub. With no princess and her complete special care wardrobe, we could actually pack light enough to do carryon with the in-room washer and dryer. If we need to conserve points, we can get a studio the years we have a granchild prodding us upward and onward and barely allowing us time to see, let alone enjoy, our room

IMHO, DVC can provide a great vacation even without the parks. However, I wouldn't want to do it without more elbow room than you have in a studio.

 

[emma'smom]

We did this last March for a few days before our cruise. We just wanted some sun and fun time. We stayed at AKV and booked the dining plan (with $$ we saved from not buying park tickets). So we booked a few character meals (Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare) in various resorts and some of our favorite restaurants (Ohana during Wishes, Whispering Canyon, etc). It was so nice because we weren't rushed at all...we wandered through the gift shops, slept late, made it to the pool games at the pool, did resort activities (at more than one resort).

We also hit Downtown Disney....

We thought me might hit a water park (since this would be our only "park" expense) but ran out of time.

The kids did look a bit longingly at the MK entrance when we went to the monorail, but they got over it quickly. However, we did promise that next time we would hit the parks.