The official STUFF DVC MEMBERS DO THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS TIME FOR thread

[Mom B]

When we were there about 2 weeks ago (and staying at OKW), DH and I got a little tired of walking and left the (adult) kids to their own devices at Animal Kingdom. We took a bus to AKL and just sat on the observation deck and watched the animals. Would have had a drink at the Victoria Falls lounge if we'd have cared to but weren't really in the mood. Also could have gone over to Kidani instead of Jambo and spent some time at Sanaa...the bread service with a couple of drinks would have been a great relaxing afternoon too. But we were happy just to sit in the rockers for a while and watch the giraffes munching on leaves, etc. Ahhhh.....

 

[Anal Annie]

So, for those of you who have been to Disney a zillion times, what are the things that you do - and places that you visit - that a first time Disney guest probably would bypass? How do you keep it fresh?

For starters we always stay in a different resort from trip to trip so that each vacation is different from the last. I think that is KEY to keeping it "fresh". We take more breaks during the day and try to hit one new restaurant on each trip and do one new ride / show or whatever each time. We've become Hidden Mickey fanatics and spend more time on our quest to find them ALL!! (We try to get a pic of each one so we can sort them into their own photo album.) Oh, and we also take more time for visiting DTD.

 

[brookelizabeth]

it's Vero Beach - and that flour cleans up easier than it probably looks

Thanks! We plan to do Vero in the future, I haven't done any research on it (obviously!). My little man would love that slide!

And good to know about the flour.

One more good one -- Harmony Barber Shop. The girls there are very friendly, the ambience of an old-time barber shop is spot on, and the prices are still reasonable. Can't wait for this summer -I'm hoping DS1s hair grows slower so he can have his first haircut at MK.

I'm sure only fear of Walt's spirit keeps them from shutting down the competition to The BB boutique, but in case they get over that fear, you might want to stop by for a pleasant haircut while you still can

We love the barbershop! They make that 1st haircut incredibly special, and only $14 for the cut, 1st Haircut Ears, 389020 stickers and a certificate. The second haircut was also very fun! We might be getting another there in just a few weeks.

Don't forget the surrey bikes at the Boardwalk! We were there twice, once with family and then with friends. We rented the six seater and had a hoot riding around the lake by the Boardwalk! Not to be missed! You can rent them for 30 minutes (or longer) and you can get around the lake twice in that time.

The first half of our stay is at the beautiful Boardwalk and this is where my husband wants to rent it - so this is great to know! Thanks!

 

[bobbiwoz]

When we were there about 2 weeks ago (and staying at OKW), DH and I got a little tired of walking and left the (adult) kids to their own devices at Animal Kingdom. We took a bus to AKL and just sat on the observation deck and watched the animals. Would have had a drink at the Victoria Falls lounge if we'd have cared to but weren't really in the mood. Also could have gone over to Kidani instead of Jambo and spent some time at Sanaa...the bread service with a couple of drinks would have been a great relaxing afternoon too. But we were happy just to sit in the rockers for a while and watch the giraffes munching on leaves, etc. Ahhhh.....

This reminds me that sometimes, 1 out of the 3 DGC doesn't care to do a park. We've taken him over to Kidani, or Jambo and he loves seeing the animals, and talking to and playing games with the CMs. I enjoy those no park days very much.

 

[pampat]

We like to hop on the I4 and visit Winter Park - it is the most glorious little town and you can take a pontoon boat tour on some of the lakes. Perfect time out.

Pam

 

[heathers4um]

My parents just sold their house after living in Winter Park for 20 years - what a wonderfullly charming place it is! I will miss it tremendously!

Loving this thread! My DBF and I went to the world as first time DVC'ers last November and had a wonderful time. The only problem was for me, since it was our 1st trip with no children, the 1st trip for him ever and the 1st trip as DVC'ers, I tried to cram too much in but we only had 5 days so this next time, even if the kids DO go with, we will take it down a notch or 2 and go a bit slower. Our favorite days consisted of meandering around AKL and AKV, the segway tour in EPCOT, Keys to the Kingdom tour, heading out to ESPN bar to have some nachos and watch the game(s), hanging out at OKW (our home resort) at Gurgling Suitcase and sitting on our balcony overlooking the golf course in our matching white personalized bathrobes having coffee in the morning planning our day.

Next up are the things we didnt get to do: horseback riding at FW, carriage ride in Port Orleans, mini golf, hanging at our pool and the waterparks.

oh noooo....I feel a trip coming on...

We like to hop on the I4 and visit Winter Park - it is the most glorious little town and you can take a pontoon boat tour on some of the lakes. Perfect time out.

Pam

 

[thepops]

How about doing a split stay, but instead of having that "homeless" day, we're putting a nice 5 day Disney Dream cruise in the middle!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

It took us 2 years before we were able to slow down and really start to enjoy the holidays. But yet, when we bring a new person down with us for the first time we get going fast once again.

My favorite thing to do at OKW on Sat. mornings is the towel animal class. The housekeeping staff teaches how to make the animals and you get to keep them too! It really was fun and free.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We'll be at OKW this summer in a GV with ten teens. Our PAPs will have expired, so we won't be going to Typhoon Lagoon in the morning - we usually go for a few hours and then leave. Last summer we also did the Keys to the Kingdom and Backstage Safari tours. Both were great.

But this trip we are going to enjoy the GV. I'll bring a few books and read on the porch or out by the pool. We'll get groceries at Publix and have breakfast and lunch for the kids at the villa. We have a few ADRs set up for the two of us. And we have one big one at Chef Mickey's for all twelve of us.

We'll walk around the resort - maybe walk over to DTD from OKW or take the boat over there. Go to the movies at DTD - that's fun and we usually go to the movies at least once each trip. And take naps, lots of naps.

 

[rutgers1]

OK, this might be a stupid one. However, last year, when I was bored (relatively speaking) I started looking around to see what things were exciting other people that I totally ignored. For example, for years I had seen people eating the big turkey legs and pretty much laughed at them. Well, as I sat there waiting for my family to come out of a ride, I figured it was time to try one of those legs. I didn't LOVE it, but I was glad I did it.

Sometimes we don't go to the extra magic hours (the REALLY late ones) because we figure it will ruin the whole next day. Now I don't care. We'll hit them and sleep to noon the next day. Nothing beats extra magic hours!

The more I read this thread I think the message is to be open to something you normally wouldn't be open to. That happened for us with the American Idol Experience. We passed it again and again and again, thinking it was cheesy. Well, one night after we realized that we couldn't get on any of our favorite rides, we decided t give it a chance. We really liked it and have gone back twice since.

 

[disneygal922]

It's funny because DH and I were just chatting the other day about how back in 2008 when we took our first real vacation together, I was all go go go. Now 4 trips later, we are both happy that we are able to just sit back and take our time doing things we enjoy and finding new things to do!

My favorite thing to do at OKW on Sat. mornings is the towel animal class. The housekeeping staff teaches how to make the animals and you get to keep them too! It really was fun and free.

Do they still do this? What time do they do it and where do we sign up? Can we do it if we are staying at another resort? I would LOVE something like this!

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . But we were happy just to sit in the rockers for a while. . . . .

Cool!

 

[dizfanz]

We always go the first week in January. We love renting bikes at VWL and ride the path over to FW. It is a great place to ride a bike and see all the decorations visitors put up on their RVs. It's really a sight to see.

 

[bfrosty]

I have to mention we have done most of the above.

lately, we have been renting the searaycers, pontoon boats at BCV and VWl and Downtown Disney. The Pontoon boat at Downtown Disney is the longest, we cruise down all those little canals and go to OKW, NewOrleans Resort and then back to the big lagoon.

Also, more time at the pools, mini-naps in the room during the afternoon.

We don't worry about missing as much, but as the Dad I still keep it in the back of my head. I'm getting better at stopping and smelling the roses.

We also try to do stuff at completely opposite times that anyone else would attempt to do it. hehe.... I don't know what that means.

Bfrosty

 

[Fatalbie]

Spend a lot of time at DTD. There is sooooo much going on down there. For starters the boat ride from either OKW of even SSR is relaxing.
Grab a late lunch at one of the many good restaurants and spend the sunset hours just people watching and strolling around.
Grab a drink and enjoy a cigar at one of the outdoor tables at Sosa's.
Always stop in for a chocolate of the day at Ghirardelli.
See Cirque, can often find a good discount. Not sure if DVC offers all the time but they do sometimes.

Jim

 

[Carl'n'Ellie'sDad]

Here's another SSR specific one to bump this thread back to the top -- hunt for anoles on the walk from SSR to DTD. You can usually find a few, and usually one will get aggressive and start doing pushups an bobbing out it's throat!

 

[Brandis]

We just came back from our first-ever WDW stay where we never set foot in a park. We just wanted to do a relaxing vacation and try some thing we had no time before.

First, we stayed 4 nights at Kidani Village.Tried restaurants we hadn't done before or not in a long time: Sanaa, Narcoosee's, Kona Cafe. Even had a breakfast ADR for Boma one morning at 10, but only woke up at 10:30

We did the cultural background tour at Kidani, spent a lot of time at the savannah outlooks and also enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at the pool, watching the activities organized by the staff.

Also did some off-property stuff like visiting the Titanic exhibit on I-Drive and also drove down I-Drive from start to end, interesting how different the areas are it goes through. By chance, we also came by the Mary Queen of the Universe shrine and since we like to visit churches in Italy when on vacation we thought this might be fun as well and it was quite intersting. We have seen it many times before when driving by on I-4.

We also spent an entire morning at the Marketplace, taking the bus. Hadn't done either in ages.

After that, we had another 4 nights at Vero Beach, another first for us. As we were not in a hurry, we chose to take the scenic, slow route, using US192 (Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway) all the way. It was fun to see all those small towns.

 

[brookelizabeth]

We'll be at OKW this summer in a GV with ten teens.

You are a saint!

 

[rutgers1]

Here's another SSR specific one to bump this thread back to the top -- hunt for anoles on the walk from SSR to DTD. You can usually find a few, and usually one will get aggressive and start doing pushups an bobbing out it's throat!

The anoles are the chameleons, right? Another thing we noticed there were frogs - EVERYWHERE. It was cool how they would be on the exterior walls of the buildings and, like chameleons, somewhat blend in.

 

[RobPickles]

First, I would like to say that this is an awesome thread and am going to subscribe as soon as I am done writing this. This is why I love the DIS Boards! You can't get info like this anywhere else!

We are going on our 4th year as DVC Members, but have been to DisneyWorld and Disneyland, combined, about 20 times since my DW and I have been together.

Everything people have been saying here is absolutely true. When you are not a DVC Member, everything is rush rush and you have to cram the four parks and anything else into a small time frame. As DVC members, you have the wonderful luxury of what we have been discussing here and it is so cool that we can learn about the things people have done and experienced and lived.

My DW and I have also "slowed" down since becoming DVCers and I swear it is awesome. You really get to experience all the wonderful things Disney has to offer. Since having our DD (15 mo), we are now starting to apprieciate it all from her POV, through her eyes and even that in itself is a whole new adventure.

We definitely do at least one new restaurant per trip (It's hard to give up your old favorites) and have been taking that across all the hotels as well. We get to see a new place and see what they have there. We started doing the different tours as well, but with our DD now, there are not many she can go on at her age, so those will have to go on hold for now - unless we get family coming down with us who can watch her. I do enjoy the pace at which we are at now - because you really do see things you haven't before or would not notice as you are rushing around.

Sorry - this got a bit long winded... I look forward to hearing about some more things that we haven't thought of yet and to trying them out for ourselves. Thanks everyone!

P.S. - try the walk from BW to Hollywood Studios - nice, LONG, yet relaxing (but not if its TOO hot!)