WDW but no parks?

[MrsB919]

Hi everyone. Dh and I wanted to go away for few days, before our "main" vacation, so we booked 4 days at BWV in May. We are also planning on going in Sept. I was looking at ticket prices and ouch! DH and I were originally thinking 2 one day tickets for May and than we'd get our tickets with park hoppers in Sept. When I did the math it was more cost effective for us to purchase AP's. However that's still alot of money. I've been considering the possibility of maybe not doing any parks when we go in May. Has anyone done this? What would we do? Part of me feels like I'd be so close, it's a tease. lol It's just DH and I. I'd appreciate any thoughts or ideas. Thanks!

 

[johnnyblz20]

Honestly just suck it up and buy some kind of ticket. Even if it's for one day. Staying at a Disney resort is already expensive enough. You'd be better off staying at a resort near the beach if you don't plan on going to the parks and it would probably be a lot cheaper than the price of the BW

 

[MrsB919]

Actually we are staying on points. But thanks.

 

[bcrook]

I stayed at Kidani for three days in June without going in the parks. For the exact reason you explained, I was returning in October for food and wine, and didn't want to buy AP or buy no expiration passes.

We spent one day at Kidani at the pool, eating at Sanaa, and enjoying Jambo house.

Another day we went to DTD, visited resorts, ate at Kona and watched the fireworks from the beach of the Polynesian.

Then we did buy 14 day lasses to Busch gardens and SeaWorld. We spent a wonderful day at SeaWorld and then drove over to Tampa for some time at Busch gardens and Passagrille beach.

I will use my DVC in this way again at times in the future.

 

[quandrea]

We are here now for two weeks and come back for a week again in march. Aps were going to cost a small fortune so march will be a no park trip. We will swim, eat out, go to the other resorts, enjoy the cultural program at kidani, bowl, see a movie , watch the animals, maybe do the hddr. We also travel on points. We treat dvc like our cottage or second home. The parks are only a small piece of the puzzle. When we return in October we will buy our annual passes and probably get four trips out if it.

 

[prince.john]

Actually I did do that last year, but it was only 2 days not 4. I had to go to a business conference in New Orleans, and worked in the Orlando stop-over at no additional Air cost to my company.

I had two objectives: First was, I visited various resorts that I always wanted to see , but couldn't do with family in tow. Secondly, my daughter gave me a bunch of pins (like 20 or 30) to trade for her. She didn't care what I brought back as long as they were all different when I returned.

I had a good time meeting and talking to people, and I didn't bore my family by dragging them to hotels we weren't staying at.

You could also visit Fort wilderness , Hoop-Dee-Doo or the dinner theater at the Poly. But some of those are almost as expensive as a park ticket.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I would buy the APs. I can't imagine being so close to Epcot & DHS and not going in the parks.

 

[MrsB919]

I definitely want to spend time at the pool and I was even considering maybe doing one of the water parks if we don't do the other parks. DTD is always a must of course. Lovesdumbo, that's exactly my dilemma. I'd be so close to the parks. I was thinking that if we decide to not get the AP's maybe switching to another resort that's not so close to parks. I'm torn. When we originally booked it this had been the plan, but unfortunately my student loan payments rose and it's making it a little harder to budget that.

 

[Laketravis]

We recently went for 17 days and since we only had 10 day tickets, there were plenty of days - some consecutive - where we did not go to any park.

We went to DTD, had dinner at other resorts, hung out at Boardwalk (and still saw Illuminations) had a nice long pool day at CSR, did a monorail bar hop one night (the bartenders really cater to that when you tell them it's what you are doing), movies under the stars, etc...

Overall it was very nice and those days had nothing to do with the parks.

 

[laughinplace199]

Are you DVC members? You probably know this, but DVC members get a discount on AP's. (thought I'd mention it, just in case)

What is the price difference between an AP and the park hoppers you're buying for your Sept trip? When we were in a situation like this, I think it was $50 difference between an AP and a park hopper. Buying the AP would be like getting in to the parks for those first 2 days for $50. (I'm good at rationalizing to get what I want.)

 

[MrsB919]

Are you DVC members? You probably know this, but DVC members get a discount on AP's. (thought I'd mention it, just in case)

What is the price difference between an AP and the park hoppers you're buying for your Sept trip? When we were in a situation like this, I think it was $50 difference between an AP and a park hopper. Buying the AP would be like getting in to the parks for those first 2 days for $50. (I'm good at rationalizing to get what I want.)

Yes we are DVC members. And it's with the discount that it would be cheaper to get the AP's. It about $150 difference. So it's a good savings, but it's still a pretty chunk to pay out at one time. I'm trying not to charge anything. Trying very hard to get rid of the existing cc debt and not incur any further debt. If uncle Sam gives me a nice tax return than we won't have a problem. But I'm still waiting for that.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I definitely want to spend time at the pool and I was even considering maybe doing one of the water parks if we don't do the other parks. DTD is always a must of course. Lovesdumbo, that's exactly my dilemma. I'd be so close to the parks. I was thinking that if we decide to not get the AP's maybe switching to another resort that's not so close to parks. I'm torn. When we originally booked it this had been the plan, but unfortunately my student loan payments rose and it's making it a little harder to budget that.

If you decide to change resorts I would consider AKV. We own at BWV. Last summer my family of 5 did a week in a 1Br at Kidani then a week in a 2BR at BWV. We all really loved Kidani. They have educational activities that I did with my girls (10 & 13). The activities are very kid friendly but I did see adults doing them too.

I think you could have a great trip at BWV without parks tickets as long as you have the right attitude going in. I always say my next trip is going to be more relaxing, more resort time but I never do-always come home exhausted.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Forgot to say-have you considered getting water park APs? Its cheaper than 2 one day water park tickets and then you could use them in Sept too.

 

[MrsB919]

If you decide to change resorts I would consider AKV. We own at BWV. Last summer my family of 5 did a week in a 1Br at Kidani then a week in a 2BR at BWV. We all really loved Kidani. They have educational activities that I did with my girls (10 & 13). The activities are very kid friendly but I did see adults doing them too.

I think you could have a great trip at BWV without parks tickets as long as you have the right attitude going in. I always say my next trip is going to be more relaxing, more resort time but I never do-always come home exhausted.

Haha, we say the same thing. I always feel like I need a vacation from our vacation. I actually just checked and it looks like AKV does have availability for our dates. I'll have to really think about it and discuss it with DH. I originally wanted to do 4 nights on DCL, that's the only Disney vacation where we actually relax, but I didn't want to use our points for it. So if I pretend I'm not near the parks maybe it won't be so bad, especially knowing we will be back in a few months. LoL. I see a lot of the pros of not going to the parks. More resort time, slower pace, enjoying other things like mini golf. I just don't know if once I'm there I'll get that itch of "I'm soooo close."

 

[fla4fun]

I have an AP and I have done a few 3-4 day trips where I didn't go to the parks. I usually stay at WL when I do that, because between WL and FW there is always something going on and many times it's free. I can ride the boat around the resort loop to be out on the lake without renting a boat (very relaxing). I can't see a park from the resort so it's not so tempting (with Epcot being my favorite park, I can't stay at an Epcot resort and not visit ). I imagine AKL would have a similar vibe, but I prefer to be near the water so I stay at WL (I've stayed at AKL a couple times and really missed being on a lake).

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We tried this once and ended up getting park passes. I say go in with a plan to avoid the parks, but be prepared to buy the AP if you find it is just too hard not to go into a park or two.

If it is torturous to stay out of the park, you may wish you had not gone to start with. That was the way we felt, and why we decided to get the tickets. So allow yourself wiggle room.

 

[richmo]

I'd be inclined to go for the DVC discounted AP's, then you'd be set for September.

If you still don't want park tickets this time, I'd rent a car and: maybe check out Universal and/or Sea World, take a day trip to NASA (I highly recommend this), do a beach day or two...they should be really nice in May (maybe Daytona or Cocoa on the east or somewhere around Tampa/Clearwater/St. Pete on the west.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Out of all of the hotels, I think I would find it most torturous to stay at Boardwalk or another Epcot resort and not have park passes. Ok, and maybe the monorail resorts as well.

Now, I could stay at AKL. I feel like that one is out of the way enough and has enough to see at it that I could keep myself amused there without the parks.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

Honestly when we aren't here with the kids and grand kids..we relax more..

Once at SSR for 8 days we only did a park once....it was all about where is dinner..the pool, visiting the hotels....really its fun...yes Boardwalk in the evening...monorail hopping.. visiting AKL viewing the animals, yes i have seen animals at a zoo but it's just different..

DTD .....Flights of Fantasy (if heights don't bother you)..

just sitting out on your patio with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in the evening...

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I have tried, but I honestly don't have the will power to not go to the parks.

However, this trip I am taking a few days without parks to save money and we will do pool / watch the animals (staying at kidani) / read / etc.

We just wanted to get away from home even if we are not doing the normal crazy disney dash. But we can't say no to dropping by and doing test track 2.0, eating at our favorite (via nappoli) and riding spaceship earth.

No matter what you do, you will have fun!