The thing most people don't understand...

[jcodespoti]

about DVC is that staying at the resort is a vacation in itself.

We are heading down in January for a long week-end. Staying at BWV, and not planning to hit any of the parks. We hav AP so if we feel like dinner somewhere I guess we could go to the parks and grab something. But this trip is to hang out by the pool and be the first one in line at Leaping Horse libations!!

Another thing. We are flying down for $98.00 round trip on song, so for $200 bucks (for me and the wife) we can get to Florida. My old man has a time share in Mexico (cancun) and its beautiful, however to fly there in early march on a decent flight is $550+. So while his dues are a lot lower than DVC, his cost in getting there is a lot higher than mine. I know the $98 is extrememly cheap, and airfare prices go up and down, but it still something to think about when making a purchase for any time share.

Joe in CT

 

[kweaver]

So true! Probably more so for some folks than others. Lots of people are really into the parks...and that's great!

Vacation does not equal theme parks for us. It's great that they are available...quite a bonus. We're thrilled when we're at a great resort that caters to families, with a great pool, wonderful clean, accomodations and a ton of entertainment and dining options surrounding us.

 

[DebbieB]

I visited the Boardwalk for an evening with a coworker in November. I think she always thought I was nuts for going to WDW so much. But after seeing it, she said she could see how we actually use it as a resort vacation. It was a warm evening, we walked all around the lake, it was very nice. The only bad part was I picked ESPN for dinner. They had a basketball talk show going, it was very loud.

 

[crcormier]

Absolutely! I love the parks, but love the rest of it too! It's a great place to relax!

 

[lulu71]

I'm learning this more and more with every trip. I can't seem to give up the parks completely just yet, but our time spent there is getting less and less each time.

 

[TnRobin]

I cannot agree with you more. I think that is why doing HHI and Vero have become so high on our list. We just love enjoying what the resort has to offer.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We just did 16 days in WDW and we spent 7 days in the parks and that included US/IOA and 2 waterpark days. We really enjoyed the resorts, the activities, the Member events etc. That is the great part of DVC is that the resorts are destinations and not just bedrooms for those that want to visit themeparks.

 

[kweaver]

I cannot agree with you more. I think that is why doing HHI and Vero have become so high on our list. We just love enjoying what the resort has to offer.

I agree...and we haven't even been to Vero yet. I think as time goes on...and members have spent 5-10 years going to WDW...the off site options will become even more important. I hope Disney sees it this way and considers branching out again.

 

[Desnik]

Every trip we spend less time going to the parks! And we have young kids and we all really enjoy time at the resort. On our last trip we were at WDW for 9 days and went to the parks for 3 days! Everyone always asks us how/why we go to WDW all the time. They think of WDW as just a theme park. We don't. We enjoy all aspects of WDW. Sometimes it's just being at the pool relaxing!

 

[Luigi's Girl]

I visited the Boardwalk for an evening with a coworker in November. I think she always thought I was nuts for going to WDW so much. But after seeing it, she said she could see how we actually use it as a resort vacation. It was a warm evening, we walked all around the lake, it was very nice. The only bad part was I picked ESPN for dinner. They had a basketball talk show going, it was very loud.

Being from New Jersey there is something "magical" about walking that boardwalk around the resorts at night. It really adds to a vacation that most people think of as a theme park vacation. By the way, we ate dinner at the ESPN Club on Nov. 3rd and there was a sports show being broadcast and it was very loud. Some coach was being interviewed and my DH and DS were impressed because they are huge sports fans. Was that the same night that you were there?

 

[Granny]

I couldn't agree more that the resorts are a great vacation destination in themselves. We thoroughly enjoy the amenities and comforts of first class accommodations.

I do have to differ from those who are indicating they are spending less days in the parks. We were heading down this path, but I think Disney has reversed our course by offering the DVC discount on AP's. I think we'll be in the parks more than ever.

However, we will be able to enjoy the parks themselves differently. We can go to a park and just stroll, shop or eat and not feel like we've "wasted" a day on a PH.

So we will probably spend more time in the parks, and almost certainly more money there. If we were a fish we'd be flopping around on the floor of Disney's boat right about now!

 

[lllovell]

We still LOVE the parks, but bought APs last year and it really changed the whole commando, rush rush feeling about vacation. We also do LOTS of short weekend romps down just to go and see Mickey, but I am very much looking forward to our first week there on vacation in April. I know it will be quite a different experience and I am looking forward to it!

 

[jennz]

You are so right and a lot of people don't get it! DD and I go to visit Grandma and Grandpa in FL every summer for 3-4 weeks. DH drives down with us, flies home for that job thing, flies back down to drive home with us. Well he needs a break but HATES crowds! So parks are out but we still go to the resorts. This will be our first visit home to SSR this summer and we're totally looking forward to hanging out and exploring!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Add one more to the ITA list! That's one of the reasons that we weren't concerned about the location of SSR - we considered it a plus. When the lure of the theme parks fades a bit, it's less than a minute to get off-site to visit all the other attractions in Central Florida. And if we don't feel like doing anything but kicking back and relaxing, there are a lot of resort-type resources - and lots of room - to do that, too!

As for park visiting, so far we haven't reduced the number of days we go, but we have reduced the total number of hours spent in parks. With the wonder that is the AP (we scheduled things so that we got 18 nights of out them) we tend to do "guerilla" visits: go to a park, do what we want to do, and leave. Don't tell Disney, but this has had the effect of actually reducing the amount we spend on food at WDW. Driving to MGM and arriving at rope drop, we can do our 3 or 4 hour visit, then stop off at Taco Bell, etc. for cheaper lunch on the way back to our Villa.

IMHO - YMMV

 

[disworldnum1]

I guess great minds think alike.We love the theme parks but would never get up early on vacation to visit them.When we visit it's usually to do and see things we have'nt done yet.This year we spent our whole trip looking for hidden Mickeys.We love the boardwalk the atmoshere,we also really enjoyed walking around dtd at night.Since we are dvc memebers we don't feel the need to run around and try to fit everything in on one trip.We know we will always be back.

 

[goofy4dvc]

We often do WDW without doing the parks. In March, we're just going to spring training games. Sometimes we just golf and do some day trips.

...although with the discount on APs...hmmmm.