Those w/long stays, what are the plans?

[ArnyVee]

Since I've always been used to doin' the 'ol park to park hustle and never have stayed for more than 3 or 4 days....I'm wonderin' what do you normally plan when going for longer periods of time like 7 to 14 days? Do you visit things outside of WDW or just spend the time with activities within Disney.

Curious to know what everyone does out there.

 

[PamOKW]

I tend to also poke around the area....visit Celebration, Bay Hill, do some shopping. The majority of time is spent on Disney property. Exploring the different resorts can take up a day. Knowing how much time we have and that we'll be coming back to WDW I take things on a leisurely pace and will spend time having a nice dinner in one of the restaurants or having tea at the GF or a cocktail in the lobby while the band plays. I guess you'd call it exploring all the "little" things there are to do in WDW.

Oddly, I've never found the time to make it to Universal or Sea World.

 

[floridafam]

We are going for 10 nights at AKL in October.

We aren't planning on doing much of anything.

We will probably only go to AK and MK for MNSSHP, a spa treatment here and there.

Other than that we will do a lot of pool time and go with the flow.

We're not big on PS's and commando style park visits.

I think that is why a lot of our long visits are at VB-we love to relax.

I don't think we will spend any time outside WDW in October other than some time in Clermont.

 

[JOC]

We spend about seven nights at WDW and four nights at one of the Universal properties to get front-of-the-line access at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure. We're booked for another Disney cruise in December so we'll probably shorten our resort stay to five or six nights.

 

[jcodespoti]

DRINK BEER!!!


Joe in CT

 

[CK1]

We have found that for us, we would rather take a big long stay any day over little short stays (we live 15 hrs away, too, so it's a pain luggin' crapola for just a short stay!) Once we "set up camp" in our villa (typically for about 10-12 days), we may only go to the parks for a third of those days, spread out over the stay. ANd that my frined is the true "gift" of a long stay in a villa. It REALLY helps having the "downtime" in-between (especially with kids). It's a TRUE vacation! My kids love Disney Marketplace -- sometimes we pack a lunch, ride a bus down there, and picnic by the water (with Ghirardellis for dessert...yum) THe kids could play for hours at the fountains there and the LEGO place. Also, we like to "Kingdom Hop" -- we go visit other resorts, just for fun! We might take in lunch there, or pool hop, just basically see the sights. We visit other DVC sites to "check them out" for future stays. And we also have taken advantage of the resort stuff that most folks never have time to do. At VWL, we were Flag Family one morning, and that afternoon, our kids did a free craft session in the Cub's Den. We look for Hidden Mickeys, all that stuff. This next trip the kids are going to do an adventure at GF while DH and I maybe take in a late bfast or pool hop sans little tikes! (OMG -- a moment alone???? Impossible!) We haven't even broached outer Orlando yet -- we are thinking perhaps Sea World on our next trip, and I'd love to take them to Cape Canaveral too. AH so much to do, never enough time....

Cindy



"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

 

[goofymom23]

Well there is really so much to do on property that you wouldn't need to leave. We usually stay at least 7 days and sometimes 10. We like to go to the outlet stores and the mall, but mostly we go from park to park with lots of pool time in between. It is nice to be able to take it easy at a park and not feel like you have to do it all in one day and kill yourself. We go for a couple hours then go back to the pool then back to the park so forth. It is a great vacation life.

 

[Granny]

CK1...I like a lot of points in your answer...and I agree with so much there.

This summer we will go to VWL for 8 nights. We are going to purchase Park Hopper tickets because we know we will spend time outside of the parks and will not go back for more than a year.

We will purchase the bike & boat plan at WL....great relaxation! And we will visit Sea World and Busch Gardens which we like so much...but only spend about 5 hours a day at each.

Yes, the days of going to DTD, or just hanging around the resort make a WDW trip a true vacation. Otherwise, I would have to take a couple of days off after vacation to rest!

 

[crisi]

We fly in from the Twin Cities, so it isn't worth it to stay for less than seven nights.

Last trip was for seven nights and we spent every day in the parks. Hubby did play a round of golf. Unlike previous trips, we were traveling with two little kids - and we just don't move as fast as we did without them. They do need down time, and they will ride the same ride over and over and over again - where Mom and Dad used to have ride discipline - one time (except maybe the favorites unless there was no line) come back at the end of the day.

In the past, we've enjoyed spending the day at a waterpark. The kids are looking forward to a Pirate Cruise for the next trip and are counting the years until they are old enough for watermice. There is resort hopping - we have been known to be out of the parks early for resort hopping and dinner at the resort restaurants. We aren't Pleasure Island folks - but lots of people do that as well. And eventually, we will spend more time on the golf courses - and the kids will want to go on the bigger coasters at IOA. There is the space center in a few years (when the kids get older) and at least one SeaWorld visit.

You'll enjoy it. Its a different trip. I remember those four day trips (back when there were only two parks!) and I always left feeling like I'd taken a drink from a firehose. Seven days or longer lets you turn the firehose into a nice drinking fountain.

 

[Dancind]

We always try to go for at least nine days, and have a two week trip planned at the end of May. We've done US/IOA (stayed at their hotels), Discovery Cove, Sea World, Ripley's, and shopping at the outlet malls. Next trip we will try Busch Gardens for a couple of days and check out the Tampa area. When we stay at DVC resorts, there's plenty to do right there (see all the suggestions above) and a hassle to leave. No worries, you won't be bored no matter what! Diana

 

[rbuzzotta]

We usually go for 16 days in the summer. We spend the weekend over at the west coast of FL for the beach (and to stretch points).

We may go to the parks 4 times. This year we will do Sea World as we just came back from US/IOA 2 days ago.

We relax at the pools, cruise the different resorts, and just enjoy the lazy summer days..........

 

[JoEllen]

Pam - DH and I wanted to check out Bay Hill on our next trip this May. Do you recall if it is very far from OKW?

Watching the Pros play there last month stirred our interest!

 

[tvwalsh]

OKW really shines with a long visit! There is no problem with "Should I buy Ketchup or jam or coffee filters, or frozen entrees, or a big box of cereal or a case or two of soda etc,

The feeling is much like a winter home. There is no pressure to eat out all the time, or to be busy all the time. Long walks, boat rides, drinks by the pool, crafts, etc, become as important as touring the parks.

When we do go to the parks, it is to see specific things, new things or special not to be missed ever things.

Celebration also is not to be missed. It is so quiet, so quaint. The shops are real and surprisingly reasonable.

Universal Studios is an alternative as are Sea World and other parks but they definitely are a one or two day diversion.

Done in moderation, a visit to the Outlet Mall, also can be fun.

A long stay is the only real vacation from vacationing.

 

[DsnyGeek]

We drive from KC (18 hours) so we tend to stay for a while to avoid the drive back! This year it will be for 9 (maybe 10) days.

We definitely spend a lot of time relaxing poolside.

We do the parks in the mornings and evenings. Afternoons are spent at the pool or maybe hitting some outlet malls.

We also take a day and drive over to Cocoa Beach to visit Ron Jon to stock up on t-shirts and junk and spend some time on the beach.

At least one day is spent golfing on one of the WDW courses.

 

[PamOKW]

JoEllen -- It's not far at all -- maybe 20 minutes. I can't recall the road number (525?) It's the road that runs in front of the Crossroads Shopping Center. You take a left and follow that road out. Bay Hill is a residential area on your left and the golf course is in the residential area. During non-tournament times it's not that clearly marked but it is roughly across the street from the Holy Family Catholic Church and school that are on the main drag.

There is on-site parking (first come, first serve) if you purchase certain levels of tickets for the whole tournament. (You literally park on one of the courses that is not being used.) Otherwise, they run a shuttle bus from the Universal parking area.

It's really a lot of fun. www.bayhill.com should provide info.

If you just want to see the place in May, you can drive around the area since it's not gated. I think you could probably walk into the club since it is also a hotel/golf school but you couldn't go out on the course unless you were actually playing or taking lessons.

 

[MinnieMe2]

Now that we are DVC members, we like to stay for ten days. Our usual plan is to go to one of the parks every other day. On our days off, we might hit the Disney outlet store, pick up groceries, wash some laundry. But most of our off time is spent flopping around like slugs by the pool or biking or water mousing or simply taking a walk. We don't leave Disney property unless we have to, but maybe one of these days, we'll give Universal a chance....

 

[Greg K.]

We've been twice for two weeks, and will be going again for two weeks this summer.

We spend a day at Sea World, a day at Busch Gardens, a day at Universal, a day or two shopping at the outlet malls, and a couple half-days at Blizzard Beach. Rest of the time, we park hop or splash around the hotel pool The time REALLY flies, unfortunately

 

[stonewall]

We did 13 days this past February and found it much different from even a 9 day stay. We took a day and went to the Kennsdy Spac Center, a nice drive of a bit over an hour, spent a day at Typhoon Lagoon and an afternoon at Downtown Disney. There were a couple of afternoons that we split up,with one of us going to the MK alone or with one of the kids. There was a great afteroon where I stayed back at the WL and and lounged on the beach while the kids rented bikes and rode around. Of course, I called home and found out that there was a raging blizzard there.I tried to do my part to boost morale by holding the phone down to the water so that they could hear the "waves" over the sound of the wind and snow raging there!! Hey, I try!

 

[westjones]

We have never stay a long time, but my 'dream' is to go on Sunday and stay through Wed. at BCV, when go on a 3 day Disney cruise from Thur. through Saturday, then return to WDW and stay at VWL from Sunday through Thursday, and then head home.

BUT, DH can't take more than a week off, so I don't know if this would ever happen. But it is my 'dream'.

DJ

 

[zurgswife]

We have a long trip 14 days planned in Dec over Christmas and NYE and plan just to do Disney stuff.....though this time we might spend less time in the parks....but we shall see...