Struggling with planning our first DVC trip!!!

[edk35]

Okay I have the resorts booked. Aug. 15 through 19th at SSR and 20-23rd at BWV. Now I am trying to figure out our day's plans. I want to do only two EC days. Trying to decide on water parks. My older son has always asked to do these. I am great with planning park days, ADR"s and where we are going each day but now I am struggling. Will the kids have fun at just the resort pools if we don't do the water parks?? If we do the water parks....will they want to go more than once to each and therefore the AP water park pass would be our better choice?? I know we will do DQ but is that something the kids would want to do more than once? I do want to use the resort pools too. What other pools can we pool hop to?? We usually do very little pool action on WDW trips....it has always been all about the PARKS. I am floundering here..................aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I know some will say..just go with the flow....see how you feel each day, which is a good idea BUT I like a game plan in place even if it changes.

 

[funhouse8]

Hi, I'm not sure about the water parks we usually hit them once but I have to say my kids love Disney Quest. The last time we were at the world i think we ended up here 5 times (the parks closed early). You could do DQ on waterpark days being they close early. My boys enjoyed the games but my girls loved the drawing classes. I think with the AP Plus you also get PI and the kids enjoyed the Comedy club there too a couple of times. (Went to the first seating). Have fun!

 

[ParrotBill]

When we went last August, we ended up at the water parks (and the pools) more often then we thought we would because it was so hot!

Our daughter loved the water park kids play areas, the waves, and the sand. So we went back again and again. Typically in the summer you get an Extra Magic Hour 8-9am at both water parks every day. So we would go early, spend 2 hours, then go elsewhere. FIgure out when your late Extra magic hours day is, that's wonderful because the sun is low in the sky and you get 3 hours of lower crowds.

You can pool hop to any of the pools other than Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Beach/Yacht's Stormalong Bay. But unless you have a good reason too, like going to dinner there or something, your own pool will probably be just fine and the travel time a waste.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Breathe deeply and remember this is your first DVC trip, there will be many more! I love wave pools...and so for me, the resort pools aren't enough! I agree that the early morning hours are a great way to go, and they do tend to clear out a bit later in the day...for the most fun for the time you spend there. The water parks do get very crowded in nice weather. With the very nice pools and ammenities at SSR and BWV, I don't think I would attempt to pool hop to other resorts. I know that BWV has a Community Hall that's a hit with kids, and I think SSR does as well.

You have lots of days, can you give one over to each person to decide what to do for a day...and then pool what you have, make some sort of schedule and ask for comments.

It took me 3 years of DVC membership to finally get over to FW for a campfire...I love campfires!...and the hootenanny brought back memories of when our kids were young and we stayed in Disney's trailers. I still haven't rented watercraft at VWL since belonging to DVC...I say this trip...next week, will be the one! Who knows?? We do go for bike rides and walks, but there's never enough time in one trip. Best wishes!!!!

Bobbi

 

[starbox]

We have 2 kids: DS10 and DD8. They both love the waterparks. DD10 is a HUGE DQ fan - DD8 actually hates it. With the AP, we usually split up on the days DS wants to do DQ.

 

[edk35]

For example last summer in Aug. we rented a 3 bedroom condo on the gulf of mexico at Ft. Walton Beach. We literally walked out the living room slider door and there was the pool a few steps away (although VERY SMALL) and the ocean. We only went to mini golf and a cheesy gulfarium. LOL MY kids loved this vacation. There was even a big water park place down the road and although they mentioned "hey that would be fun" they were content to just hang out at the beach/pool every day. I guess I have some worries because we are not really doing the parks and that is what all prior Disney trips have always been up until becoming DVC members. I (DH too) really don't want to fight the crowds and heat all day at the parks when we know how much nicer that type vacation is in Jan. and Nov. We were just there in Jan. and we did IT ALL park wise. So I want to have plenty planned but I also don't want this trip to be about getting up at zero dark thirty to fit as much as we possibly can until Disney is closed. LOL I actually want to be IN MY 2 BEDROOM VILLA. I know my 13 and 8 year old boys will love DQ so I have a feeling we will be there more than once this trip especially when we are staying at SSR. I know how to plan a Disney vacation when it comes to the parks.....I use TGM and we have great days at the parks. I however am feeling inadequate planning my first DVC vacation.

 

[vbarry]

It sounds like you are doing a great job and I would just go with the flow!!!

I would make ADR's...just so you have them and enjoy the relaxed vacation.

ENJOY!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

When we go during the warmer months, we go to a water park almost every day. I love nothing better to get there when the park opens, stake out my spot and spend all day doing almost nothing, but floating in the lazy river, walking out in the wave pool (TL, BB wave pool is nothing), maybe getting some Arctic Dots (like Dippin Dots) and reading a book. We'll get there around 8:30 or 9 (depending on when the park opens), and be there for the rope drop to find a shady spot. We'll eat lunch there, maybe get some hot little donuts, get the sticker for the refillable mug and refill that sucker all day long.

On days when we do a park first, we'll head over to a water park around 3PM when the crowds are moving out for the day (and maybe just in time for the afternoon rain shower). Then we'll stay until nearly closing. Again, just lazing around.

We get the PAP each year, so I can do the water parks in the summer months and so we can hit DQ a couple of time each year. If they close DQ, we'll probably just get the water park pass (or see what it costs per visit) and then get the AP instead. PI is nothing to us, we only went once when my husband's sister joined us on our trip. She wanted to check it out, so we did. We headed back to SSR in less than an hour.

I have a plan prepared for our early June trip and it has a water park every day. We used to pool hop back when SAB was hoppable (before BCV), but we haven't pool hopped since then.