suprise trip for dd!

[ksmummee]

So, we are new to dvc. I JUST booked a trip for July to AKV. Can't believe our dates were available!!

My friend and I are taking our daughters, who think we are going to Ocean City, NJ for the week. The plan is to not tell them until we are on the way. We are staying out of the parks, just enjoying the hotel and pools. I am SO excited!!! We will be there for 4 nights in a standard view 1 bdrm Jambo.

My dd (12) will be fine with no parks, this is her 6th trip in 5 years. My friend's dd (10) might not be too thrilled, she's only been once, when she was like 6. We plan on just explaining the parks are too crowded and hot, and we will do a park trip in cooler weather next year.

This is a cheapie trip, so no special plans have been made, but if you have a suggestion for something fun that's free or pretty close to free, I'd appreciate it.

Do you think the hotel alone will hold enough interest for the girls? I did plan on pool hopping with them (no SAB, I know!) and taking them over to Wilderness Lodge to walk around. I thought about viewing fireworks from Poly, but that might just make them sad they arent in the park!

Until now, our trips have all been crazy, commando style. I feel like now we can relax!

(I only got 100 points, and am already feeling like we definately need more!)

 

[nkosiek]

Well there's DTD. A
A water park one day. It's a park without being the park.
Mini-golf is pretty cool.
There's strolling the boardwalk.

 

[Kidanifan08]

You may want to consider a day at TL or BB. It will be hot, and the water park admission is pretty reasonable. You could also try out Splitsville at DTD, if the girls might be interested in bowling. Mini-golf is another option. There is a DVC discount for water parks and mini-golf -- check out the portable perks.

Welcome Home!! AKV is our "home" and the kids will definitely love the resort. Make sure you try out the pool at Jambo and Kidani! And try out Sanaa and/or Boma for dinner --- wonderful restaurants.

 

[WizardLarz]

I always suggest the Chip & Dale campfire & Sing-a-Long over at Fort Wilderness. Although you plan to skip the parks you can still enjoy Wishes & the Electric Water Parade from the beach at the Polynesian.

 

[nkosiek]

Oh, something I saw in another thread, but the Art of Animation resort does drawing classes similar to the ones in DHS, but in the lobby area. You could call the resort up and find out what times and head over there for one of those.

 

[ksmummee]

thanks for the suggestions!!

 

[Harlemgirl720]

You can go to the Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake to watch the Fireworks. Make sure you have your DVC Member card.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

You could also Community Hall hop when you pool hop. Our DD has really gotten in to going - she loves seeing other kids, doing the activities, and chilling without the folks. Another option is to see which DVC's are doing movies poolside - just like a poolside drive in theater. I know SSR does it - perhaps the others do too.

Enjoy!

 

[ksmummee]

What is Community Hall? Sounds like something the girls might like, but Ive never heard of it before!

Is there a list of what movies are playing where, or do we have to chceck each hotel?

thanks!

 

[CTdaizy]

Call AKV and ask about the night safari, you get to go out on the savannah 10-11pm with a guide and night vision goggles. We are booked for this for our next trip, hoping its amazing! 407-938-4755 can't remember the exact price, but it was reasonable.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Each DVC has a Community Hall where you can do arts and crafts (most free, some a couple of dollars), play video games (XBox, Wii), watch movies, play ping pong or shoot pool (varies). The CMs also sometimes hold classes on pottery painting or flower arranging (I think anywhere from 5 to 20 dollars).

When you check in you'll get the activity sheet for the time you are there. If the resort has movies, they should be listed. If they don't, you can ask a CM...as I said, I know SSR does it I don't know if the others do.

As I said previously DD12 loves the halls. She goes there in the morning while mom and dad sleep in (they typically open at 9) and heads there during the evening while we're observing happy hour....or enjoying the hot tub.

Any other questions, sing out.

 

[mamaprincess]

That is my dream and one day I will stay at AKV and not enter a park. Each DVC resort has a Community Hall, just ask for the location and list of activities at the front desk. The Epcot resort area has lots to do. You all can swim at the boardwalk, visit community Hall, you all can get Ice Cream etc at Seashore Sweets or eat at Beaches and Cream at Beach club and watch the magic shows at night on the Boardwalk. There are lots of activities at AKV. My kids love to pool hop to the Poly because the pool is great and grab a dole whip from Captain Cooke's. You all could boat over to the Wilderness Lodge from there and head over to the campfire sing along or you could stay for wishes on the Poly Beach. They could visit SSR for the community Hall and awesome pools then head over to DTD for entertainment and dining. They will have a ball.

 

[ksmummee]

wow - thks so much for all the ideas! I think we will have plenty to do without entering the parks!

 

[DizGirl20]

You can rent bikes at SSR and bike over to OKW. Or you can rent bikes at WL and bike over to and around Ft Wilderness.

Also we love love love the presentations given in the Kidani Library every night by the Cultural Ambassadors. Every night is a different presentation about an African country. One of our favorite things to do when we stay at AKL!

 

[conciergekelly]

You could do tea at the Grand Floridian. Maybe add a pool hop while you are in the neighborhood.

 

[missycj96]

You'll have lots to do. Spend a day at the kidani pool and also at jjambo. At night go to poly or blt to watch fireworks. Check the times of the fireworks and water parade so you pick somewhere where you can see both. Akl would be my first choice for a no parks trip - you have 2 resorts of activities and 2 main pools so its hard to get bored. Last may when we went to vwl, my sister didnt come with us to mk and instead rented a bicycle at wl and rode to fort wilderness - she loved it. Remember to check the outdoor movie schedules for both resorts. Last year when we were at blt, we watched outdoor movies and at firworks time just stepped out by the parking lot for fireworks - a full night of free entertainment - and we roasted marshmallows before the movie. You'll have a great time. The dvc resorts have more activities and stuff (without the theme parks) to do than most other places people go on vacation.

 

[Greysword]

Honestly, I think this may be setting the group up for some disappointment. It almost sounds like a sit-com script where one party plans this big event but withholds info from the others, then with miscommunication someone is disappointed.

See this you tube video about Dick's House. In essence, the kids thought they were going one place and anticipated the trip, then when they found out they were going somewhere else (WDW), they were disappointed, and rightfully so.

To go all the way to Disney World, especially as a surprise, and not enter the park may have the reverse effect than anticipated.

Not trying to kill the idea or be a downer; just setting the expectation that the girls may be disappointed.

Good luck, and I hope it works out. Please let us know how it went.

 

[ksmummee]

I actually thought about how the kids would react to the surprise, but it'll be ok...

-We are going to tell them a couple hours into the trip.
-The 10 yr old recently saw that movie about the surfer who was attacked by a shark and is kind of nervous about ocean water.
- The 12 year old is going with us on a family trip (for a week) to the beach next week, and is bringing a different friend.
-They both really want to stay at AKL, and I already had a conversation with dd12 about the next time we go, there will be no parks.
- If they do have a bad reaction, they will never go again!


I did book the night time safari, hadn't heard of it before, but it sounds really neat. When we went in January, we did the safari at AK where you walk across the bridges and have lunch out in the safari area (dd12 loved that).

I also added a night at beach club, figured the girls will love SAB!

 

[uccats97]

How about Disney Quest? It's fun. Try a monorail resort tour where you ride the loop and explore each resort it stops at. You could let them collect pressed pennies from all around, $0.51 each. Have a great trip!