Staying at resorts and not going to the Parks

[s&k'smom]

OK here's the issue. Money is realllllllllllllllly tight but I want a trip away from home. Plus I'm turning 40 next year so I want to do something fun. I'm thinking instead of all four of us going just taking DD and myself for a 3 day trip (DS hates to fly so it's not that big a deal for him) and staying at a deluxe to swim and play but not the parks. Though I would hate to miss them DH and I really love the resorts and spend quite a bit of time there. At least I'd get my weekend away and Lord knows you can eat to your hearts content in just the resorts! Anyone ever done this? Or does this sounds nuts!

 

[TRAPPED-PARENT]

For several years now we have driven down from SW Michigan with our pop-up and stay at Ft Wilderness for 9 nights. We only go into the parks 3 times each visit and maybe 2 times to the waterparks. We still have not been able to do everything that we would like.

I figure that we are paying a lot for the resort and I'm sure going to enjoy it. We never feel deprived on the days that we spend at the resort, because we'll plan on a nice/fun dinner at one of the other resorts that evening or just go to Downtown Disney to catch up on the magic.

Have a great time!!!

 

[s&k'smom]

oh thank you for your answer. I have to admit the days on our past trips that have been park free have been just an enjoyable. I just want to get away and spend time with DD (her brother is very high maintenance-another story).

 

[PamNC]

We love the resorts too - spend a lot of time there and have been staying in Deluxe since 1999. When we go for our 7 night trip we always take 1 or 2 days off from the parks and it's been some of our best times! I'm not sure if I could do for a weekend and not do one park - but I've never tried it. Maybe you could just buy two one day park tickets and handle it that way. Or, stay at a moderate (save $$) and get a park-hopper pass for the length of your stay.

Just some ideas. I do love the resorts and maybe I could go 3 nights without visiting a park. Not sure.

PamNC

 

[SAWYERMAW1]

We love the resorts and usually only visit 3 parks each trip (unless we have a package with UHP). We're normally there 7 days. I could easily go to WDW and not visit a park. Just being there gives me a thrill!!

 

[spiceycat]

I think it greatly depends upon the resort you pick - I would have problems staying at the Polyn and not going to the MK - same for the Cont and GF - I would have trouble staying at BC/YC, D&D, BW and not going to Epcot - they are just too close

WL or FW (not a deluxe) or AKL - would be perfect for this type of trip....

you might also check out OKW (a home-away-from-home) - it is a beautiful resort and you and she can take a boat to DD. very relaxing place.

Yes I don't go to the parks every day any more - too exhausting

 

[sotoalf]

I'm going with some buddies Feb 6-9 and we're staying at the Grand Floridian (great Florida resident rate!). We plan to visit Epcot one day and hang out at the hotel the rest of the time: playing tennis, reading, drinking, eating. At night we'll probably hit the Boardwalk or Pleasure Island.

Too many people pay top dollar for deluxe resorts without using the amenities. Staying at a deluxe entitles you to spoil yourself!

 

[Grumpy92]

You would be surprised at how many people actually do this. FW is probably the top of the list. Many guest stay there and never enter a park because there is so much to do there. You will actually get to relax and enjoy the surroundings, what a great opportunity you have.

 

[EeyoreJMH]

My husband and I are heading down to WDW at the end of the month for a few resort-only days (no parks) to try out the new Pop Century. We're looking forward to just strolling through DTD (not racing through after being in the parks all day) and heading over to the little ranch at FW before trying out the lunch buffet at Trail's End (fairly economical, I hear). Another day we plan to take the monorail around to visit each of the monorail resorts, stopping to split a Tonga Toast at the Polynesian. Just getting away from the zero-degree temperature will be magical

We've stayed at the Boardwalk, Beach Club, and Wilderness Lodge on previous trips and had really wished we had more time to spend at those resorts. The Beach Club's pool was especially inviting (floating around the lazy pool area . . . . mmmm).

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We are very fortunate to travel to WDW 3-4 times annually for 5-10 days a trip...always staying on site. There are usually several days of our trip that we never venture to a park.

The amenities are wonderful and service is usually a delight! Swimming, working out, reading, shopping, sitting on the balcony and soaking in the "Disney Feel", etc...etc...etc....

Enjoy!

 

[Phrank40]

For various reasons several times we have stayed at Disney Resorts but not gone to the Parks. Sometimes we want the Disney experience but don't want to fight the Park crowds. Actually it is rather relaxing. You can sleep sort of late if you want, get up and have a relaxing breakfast and watch all the other people running around trying to get to the Parks. Enjoy the resort where you are staying and visit some other resorts where you have never been. Go to Downtown Disney and/or the Boardwalk. Eat lunch or dinner places where you never would normally, doesn't have to be expensive just something new and different. One thing we did one time was stay at inexpensive hotel in Kissimmee our first night but the hotel was near Animal Kingdom Lodge. Made dinner reservation at Bomas, got to Lodge early to look at Lodge and animals then had dinner. Got Disney fix that day without spending a ton of money. Go to Poly or Contemporary and catch fireworks at Magic Kingdom.

Phrank

 

[Topper]

I stayed at the AKL for my 40th (just 1 night). The only time I left the resort was to buy some pins that were only available at Epcot. I SO enjoyed watching the critters from my savannah room balcony. I plan to repeat the experience soon!

 

[DisneyMin]

We've done this twice and i highly recommend it. Last Memorial day wknd and last Labor day wknd,,we stayed at WL and never went to a park. We'd go to downtown disney and shop and wander around,,eat at Whispering Canyons,,ride the boat over to FW and let the kids ride the ponies,eat at the buffet there(it is economical and very tasty),,ride the boat around,,last time we rode the monorail around,,and spent a LOT of time at the pool. It was a blast. I don't know when your're going,,i'd try to go when its warm enough to swim and get sun. We brought the kids to that Club Den place,,in the early afternoon its open for them to do little crafts(parents must accompany them)and we walked all around,,it was very relaxing,,the kids really enjoyed watching the bedtime stories on tv without us telling them to get to bed so we could get up early the next morning,etc.I'm looking forward to doing that again!

 

[gopherit]

We usually take our family for long trips now (12 days, but of those days, we only go park hopping for less than half. We do all sorts of things: hang out at the pool, utilize the fitness stuff, play the games and stuff the resorts have that you otherwise don't have time for (we did the hunt for hidden Mickey's at WL and also were a flag family one morning and really took our time admiring the view from up there! The kids have done some of the crafts-stuff that the resorts usually have...) We've ridden ALL OVER -- one day we gave our sons the transporation map and said, lead on! We rode boats and ferries and the monorail and buses -- all technically going to nowhere, because we weren't headed anywhere in particular! We love going to DTD. THe boys love the LEGO land and leap-frog fountains (and I love sitting by the water eating ice cream, or sipping a margarita!)

One thing, however -- I consider park tickets to be a very "fixed" cost. You know pretty much exactly what that cost will be. When I tally up our expenses for a trip to WDW, the tickets are NOT our big dollar-grabber -- it's the "other" stuff, like shopping and eating out and travel to/from WDW! And we dine-in (rather than eat out) a fair portion of our stay (we always have a full kitchen since we stay in DVC villas). SO I'm not exactly sure how much you would save by simply eliminating the parks. We do it not so much as a cost saver but as a physical strength and sanity saver -- we RELAXXXXXXXX on those days off, we need them and sandwich them inbetween our park days! They are labeled on the schedule as "Do What you Wish" days (or as my dh kiddingly calls them, "Moments of Scheduled Spontanaeity".

From a cost perspective, it's just something to consider.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

I don't see anything wrong with going to WDW and not going to the parks. Just being in WDW is magical to me. I say do it, you will have a great time....

 

[s&k'smom]

Oh you guys rock! thank you so much for your input, it really helps. I knew this was the place to come for support. Sometimes just having a trip to plan no matter how we do it helps get through these winter doldrums and some of the issues we deal with on a daily basis. I've been battling mild depression and the issues my son brings with him and finances you know. Having a trip to plan really helps me get through the rough spots and a relaxing resort only trip sounds ideal. But I have to admit if I could get all of us on Pirates that would be fantastic too. Like going2disneyagain said just being at WDW is magical!

PS in my fantasy life I'm living alone at the spa at GF

 

[Poohbear123]

On my trip in 16 days. No parks just exploring POP Century, and going to Disney West Pleasure Island, and layzing around the Pool! Thats for the first 2 days, than I MIGHT hit some Parks the next 3, it depends.

 

[s&k'smom]

Lazying by the pool! Oh God that sounds like heaven, its going to be 8 below zero here tomorrow morning.

 

[Poohbear123]

Its 70 right now here in Miami!