Staying at resort with/without going to the parks

[3DisneyNUTS]

just wanted to know how many people go to a DVC resort and chose just to stay at the resort without going to the parks. Dh and I are planning to do this and think it is a nice way to get down time while staying at a beautiful resort!

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

I cannot evn answer my own poll LOL since we haven't gone yet but are planning a 2 night resort only trip immediately following our cruise in Nov.

 

[PamOKW]

I'm not sure how to answer. I have done and will do again in the future, a trip where I stay at DVC primarily to attend the Bay Hill Invitational. However, I can't stay completely out of the parks -- need to do something in the evenings.

I had relatives I treated to OKW this year (I've sent them before) and they did not go into any of the parks during a 3 night stay. They are an older couple and, while the husband was chomping at the bit, the wife wanted to just enjoy OKW and wandering around the other resorts and doing some shopping at DD and elsewhere.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

yeah maybe my poll is too hard to answer LOL. I know when we go in Nov we are not buying any park tickets and we just have one left over waterpark ticket we may use but we basically want to relax and check out our new home

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

well I answered so I can see the results. I put I have done it only once since we have it booked for nov

 

[Doug Wolfe]

When we stayed for a week at BCV in July 2002, we went to at least one of the parks every day of the trip. And spent a lot of time in Storm-A-Long Bay.

When we stayed at OKW in July 2003, we went to Magic Kingdom for one day and Typhoon Lagoon for one day. That was it, the rest of the time was spent in the pool or shopping at Downtown Disney.

In August of 2004, we will do something in between.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Originally posted by Doug Wolfe
When we stayed for a week at BCV in July 2002, we went to at least one of the parks every day of the trip. And spent a lot of time in Storm-A-Long Bay.

When we stayed at OKW in July 2003, we went to Magic Kingdom for one day and Typhoon Lagoon for one day. That was it, the rest of the time was spent in the pool or shopping at Downtown Disney.

In August of 2004, we will do something in between.

Was it relaxing and how did you enjoy it? Did you feel you missed out after returning home? We have done so many commando style vacations to WDW we want to just go and enjoy this time. Plus the cruise is totally different then anything we have ever done. It will be our first cruise ever

 

[timC]

I don't our DS13 or DS10 would let us get away with it.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Yeah our ds is only 3 so we will be able to do it for a while but I know he will probably not allow it for much longer.

 

[DBBN]

I voted yes frequently over 10 times since I have been a dvc owner.

We first purchased early in 1995 when park passes were included. So from 1995 through the end of 1999 we visited the parks every day when staying at OKW.

Now we visit the parks only when a new attraction opens up or when we entertain friends or family staying with us. Our attraction to WDW starts at the quality of our home resort (OKW) to the the warmer Central Florida climate right on through to visiting family members who have recently made Orlando their home.

We just don't need the parks anymore. I'm not sure how things evolved the way they did. I suppose it could be our ages (both mid 40's) or maybe we just realized that WDW is SO MUCH MORE than the parks. I suppose another factor could be the frequency of our visits...we visit so often that we feel absolutely no sense of urgency to visit the parks...we can always visit the next time we're at our OKW home. We're perfectly content whether riding bicycles from VWL to Fort Wilderness or motoring a pontoon boat via the canal from OKW to Downtown Disney or relaxing in the sun at the pool or having dinner at one of the many restaurants. I could go on-and-on.

 

[goofy4dvc]

Some vacations are golf trips, no parks. Some times we go to US/IA instead of WDW. We're also planning some trips to catch some spring training baseball games during which we will not go to the parks. We do other stuff like take day trips to other towns (Tampa/St. Petersburg, St. Augustine, and other places we want to explore), shop, tour the resorts, etc.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We ALWAYS go to the parks, even if it is just to eat at a restaurant.

 

[bwvBound]

Originally posted by 3DisneyNUTS
just wanted to know how many people go to a DVC resort and chose just to stay at the resort without going to the parks.

What about those who use the resorts for reasons other than vacations? There are quite a few conferences held in the Dolphin, Swan and Yacht club facilities. We've attended annually since '96 ... for a full week each year ... and very rarely visit the parks.

We've stayed most years in either the Dolphin, Yacht or Beach Club hotels ... but have enjoyed three years in the BWV.

Love the use of the villa throughout the busy, busy conference. The event includes breakfasts and lunches (with several thousand of our best friends!) ... but it is quite enjoyable to have dinner alone "in our own place."

--------------
The Epcot lagoon "feels like home!"

 

[JimC]

We spend less time in the parks now. Not that we skip the parks altogether, but having APs and many trips to the theme parks gives us more time now to do other things.

 

[ErinC]

We have always gone to the parks, maybe not everyday, but our upcoming trip next month will be 10 days. We have park hoppers left with 2 days, and 4 plusses. We intend to use just what we have left on those tickets. We probably won't even use all the plusses since we are staying at BCV and will have SAB. I'm really looking forward to this leisure trip! I'm excited about doing some things we have never taken the time to do, like putt- putt golfing. We are also going to let the girls do the pirate cruise at the GF for DD8 birthday. It should be great!

 

[wdwstar]

it was a little hard to answer the question because we go and out of our 10 day stay we hit the parks one day, yep all four parks in one day from the time we get early hour and only ride our favorite and new rides to when the parks close, then we need at least 2 days to recoop

 

[CaptainMidnight]

On a recent 7 day visit we went to the parks 3 days. THe other days we enjoyed our beautiful resort, Jellyrolls, dinner at another resort, etc.

 

[mb168]

I said more than once becuase I've several times been to US/IOA and not Disney, but, only once have I ever been and not gone to ANY parks and that was last summer when DW was 8 months pregnant. We stayed at BCV and took the other kids to SAB instead.

 

[pat-rick]

We always go to the parks !!!
But I believe sometime in the future when the newness of DVC wears off we will start planning other places to visit in the area. The kids made 2 day trips to Universal and loved it. With the price of tickets and the annual pass renewal policy I am certain we will bypass Disney on some trips while staying at DVC and take in some of the other parks and offerings in the area.

Maybe switch year to year between Disney and Universal with the annual pass.

 

[jade1]

In case WDW is monitoring this thread, I voted we never go into the parks (or spend money), but would always go into the parks (and spend money) if there was a good AP discount, or DVC FOTL.