What do DVC members do if you don't park hop?

[msdis]

We have been getting annual passes for the past few years and ours will have expired by our next visit. Since we are both kind of burnt out with the parks anyways, I don't see the need to spend $700+ just so DH can walk to the American pavilion in Epcot to get a burger and fries (one of his favorite things to do). Since becoming members we have NEVER taken the time to just relax. So help us out, how does everyone else relax? Also, we walked past the gym at BW several times but was wondering, do DVC members have free access or is there a fee? What other things do DVC members do without going to a park? We want to have things to do and see but just no more commando stuff for a while. Thanks for all input!

 

[Caskbill]

msdis, there's lots to do, just depends on what you like. DD is fun, and if you stay at OKW, it's a nice walk you can take to get there. We play minature golf once in awhile, and sometimes just go to some of the non-DVC hotels to eat. Hoop de Doo at the campground is always a lot of fun. There's plenty to do on the Boardwalk too if you don't go into one of the parks.

Also, we go to other parks in the area. We especially like Sea World, and their annual pass doesn't set you back a fortune. It's more relaxing than Disney to walk around there.

On nice days just spending time at the pool is enjoyable. And there's nothing wrong with just staying "home", kick off your shoes, pop some popcorn, and watch a game or a movie on the ole TV.

If you're into other things, there's all the golf (I don't golf), projects at the Institute, the race track, the athletics complex. You can go up International Drive and find almost anything there. There are some nice restaurants there.

Let your imagination go, you'll find things. I'm sure others will post lots of suggestions.

And yes, the exercise rooms are available when you stay at the resort.

Caskbill

 

[rbuzzotta]

We plan on doing a few things we haven't done in the past on our next 2 trips (march, july). We plan on taking a day to drive over to Clearwater Beach (about an hour, DH is a Boston driver) watch the beautiful sunset and hang at the beach.
We want to try Disney Quest. We love to hang at the BW and "people watch", Try different restaurants and off course, lounge at the pool. In March we will be staying at DxL on points and go to Universal STudios for my DD's cheerleading competition and possibly take the "little ones" to MK for some fun. In July I plan on just hanging at the pool in the day remembering all the snow we have had this week!!!

Just being in Disney if fun and exciting and doing things on the "spur" of the moment makes it more interesting!!!

Whatever you plan (or not plan) on doing you will have a wonderful time! Maybe for the first time not taking in all the parks you won't feel like you need a vacation after your Disney vacation!!!

Enjoy

Rosemary
Off-site every year since 1985
PO '96, '97, '99
Coronado '00
WL '94, '00
CB '98
VB '97, '98, '00
DVC member '00 OKW
DxL '97, '01
BWV '01

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

We always take a few days to just relax and not go to the parks but enjoy the other "free" areas of WDW. We take boats from the enterance of MK and go to the hotels like WL, GF, Poly, and Fort Wilderness. We then go to MGM and take the boat to all of those hotels. We end the night in DD with a relaxing dinner. On the weekends we don't stay at DVC due to the points, we stay at HoJos' for about $35 a night and go to the outlet malls for shopping and eat at places along 192. It helps break up the constant use of the parks and keeps it fresh for us. Orlando has alot to offer and less expensive places to go as an alternative to just going to the parks.

 

[Pluto4President]

Honestly, when I'm there and just lounging...I think about my next DVC trip already!!!!

<img border="0" src="http://www.raynorpools.com/ftp/plutoplate.gif" width="120" height="61">

"Walt Disney World... been there, done that, GOING BACK!"

 

[Candace]

I don't feel the need to do the parks each day, either, after being in DVC for 7 years. Even though I enjoy them, I know I will always be back, so there's no rush to "see it all" anymore. I really just enjoy being somewhere besides my house (LOL!) and relaxing in beautiful surroundings. I am a reader, so I use my vacations to indulge my love of reading, I sleep late, shop at the outlet malls, do the other "free things" like hotel hopping, visiting DD and sitting facing the water, etc. My boys are old enough to take friends and go do their things alone, so I really just try to relax and enjoy being away from work and home.

 

[mickey7861]

Boat rentals are a fun thing to do. We love to rent the pontoon boats and just cruise along. Depending on what marina you rent from they can be alot of fun. We also like to swim, read, lounge around during the day then go out for a nice dinner.

 

[normr]

Always gotta go to the area outlet malls, in fact there is a new one right near Crossroads, Downtown Disney with all its fun stuff, Orlando and Kissimee attractions like Church Street Station, Old Town, pool hop and try every pool, get the area discount magazines and try all the different restaurants like Boston Lobster Fest ( I know you're from Maine and could care less about lobsters) but there are plenty of other to try. Rent boats, take a day trip to Cape Kennedy,
or go to Tampa and try Busch Gardens, go to Wet and Wild.

and one day, i'm gonna do that helicopter tour on International Drive and speaking of International Drive, there's all kinds of neat stuff there like Ripleys Beleive it or not and another place, like Discovery World.

So as you can see, thhere is PLENTY to do without having to go see the mouse, just use the mouse's house as a base of operations,

I'm here in florida, If I can be of any help, let me know, but this site will help alot:

http://www.floridakiss.com

 

[Gail Reale]

After "doing" WDW for the past 26 years (last 6 as OKW owners), we no longer rush to the parks. When we had the free passes, we might just go in for a parade or dinner. Now we sleep in, do the pool and lunch in our home, maybe shop. I am a castmember and can spend quite a bit of time shopping the Company stores and property control areas. We have friends and family in the area (all castmembers) and we do some quality time with them. A ride to the beach for the sunset is a wonderful way to enjoy a day. Rent a boat or surrey bike. Really explore the different hotels, check out their restaurants and shops. Sit in the lobby of the GF and enjoy the piano music. Take High Tea at the GF (just marvelous!) Go horseback riding at Ft. Wilderness. Go to the top of the Contemporary and watch the MK fireworks. And that's just on property - a whole other world off site - Orlando, SeaWorld, IOA, Universal, Cypress Gardens, etc. Use the other information on these boards other than the DVC pages - they will give you some other ideas. Have a great time

 

[KNWVIKING]

We can't let too many people know about the Boston Lobster Feast, they don't have Priority seating.
The 4 park orlando flex pass is a great plan.7 days of Universal,Islands of adventure,Sea world & Wet-n-wild = $159.00 or 14 days for $169.00. We buy the Orlando Entertainment book, $30.00 at www.entertainment.com. Tons of things in there.

 

[Ms. WDW]

Funny you should post this. My family and I are probably taking our "first" almost do nothing vacation at WDW in July. We've been going to the World now for a very long time. We became DVC Members 2 years ago. This year, we are taking a longer vacaton and we're actually going "off World" to see other things in Florida!! We are not running into the parks at the crack of dawn and the mornings will be spent at the pool, arcades or whatever we want to do. I'm purchasing a Park Hopper Plus pass for 6 days and I'll be there 12 days!! It's going to seem weird I know, but it's time to relax and enjoy "the sights" that we've missed running and rushing through the World on previous trips.

Linda
Poly -'76,'78,'82,'85,'89
'90,'93,'95,'98,'99
DVC/BWV - 8/00, 07/01

"I won't grow up, I won't grow up"

 

[sueg]

We are going to Tampa to see a Yankee spring training game. Tried to get WDW Braves vs. Yankee tickets, but that's a long, sad tale. When we were in VB, we went to Dodgertown and saw them play the Mets. DH and DSs are baseball fans and spring training games are great!

 

[ericb]

Where do we go to get this? We are from Manila and will be in BWV next month and would love to have some lobster.

 

[KNWVIKING]

get on I-4,go east a little to sand lake rd exit. take sand lake east to south orange blossom trail. short ways south on orange blossom,in a little strip mall on your left. it's right near the florida mall.

 

[nickglover]

nice to hear all this - I sometimes get the impression that everyone on this board is "Disney crazy" and can never get enough of the theme parks - it's nice to hear about relaxing by the pool, reading, etc.! Buzotta - allow a little more than 2 hours to get from DVC to Clearwater Beach, but you will enjoy the beach - nice small restaurants include Julie's Sunsets and also Frenchy's. There is also Crabby Bills near the "round-about" - prepare to wait a bit for a table.

 

[AnnK]

We also used to have Ap's, but decided not to renew.One reason was the new Disney policy, the other was that we have been doing much the same as you, just using it to enter, look around for an hour, grab a bite to eat, then leave. It seemed like a waste to buy them again. ( Especially since we buy 6 "guest" and 1 child!)
Hanging around BW is fun. Our young ones love community hall and the actvities that they have for them. I like reading by the pool and just relaxing. We sometimes walk to the "Fantasia Gardens". We visit Universal, and IOA, shop DD and the kids love DQ. We did buy 7 day Hopper plus's because we knew we would want to go to the park a little. We only used two days and will have the rest for Nov. ( We bought them here at the Dis, the price was great and they were delivered right to our room exactly as promised)The AP is great for those who can get 2 or more trips out of them. We used to do that too. The kids are getting bigger and now we cannot always get two trips in the AP year because we are stuck with the school calender. The hoppers were good becasue we knew that we would have the days forever, it also meant that the days we went to a park, we made sure to do more things while there.
Any trip to Disney is great, since joining DVC I don't feel teh need to leave my resort.( My family on the other hand has other ideas.)
The gym at BW is free to members, while staying there on points. OKW has a gym too so when you are there you can use that one for free. I am not sure about VWL, maybe someone else who has stayed there would know.


Sueg,
How far are the mets from VB? How did you get the tix?

 

[sueg]

We saw the Mets at Dodgertown, when they were playing the Dodgers. The tickets were easy to get, but decided to not wait until the night of the game to buy them. It was about 1/2 hr from VB and we drove there early in our stay, during the day. The front desk had schedules. Since we went to a night game, we wanted to find the place in daylight and minimize chance of getting lost.
The food was pretty good and reasonable. We ate dinner there. Gotta go, we're flying out to OKW tonight.

 

[mrsdon]

We took the helicopter ride on international dr and it was a blast. They have various rides and prices. I would love to do it again and take the longer one.

 

[msdis]

Thanks everyone for all the great replies. It's funny but since we started staying ON property 5 years ago we have never left. We never get a car, and stay on property the whole entire time and go to a theme park every single day. A lot of you brought back some memories of things we have done, seen, and been to in the past that ARE off property. And a lot of you had some great new ideas of things to do and ways to relax. It will be fun to try and stay away from the parks. I'll let everyone know when and if we survive. LOL! Thanks again!