What do you do on "off" days?

[LilyU]

I was not sure what forum to put this in, but I am wondering what do you do on "off" days....when you don't go to a park? Just lounge around the pool?

We ended up killing ourselves going to all four parks and DTD in the five days we were there, with no "down" or "off" days. We are not the type who like to lay around the pool, so what else do you do on off days?

Lily

 

[pepe of ohio]

First off we won't kill ourselves by cramming 4 parks into 5 days with the 3 water parks that are there. Our stays are 10-12 days, that builds in down days to see the other things at WDW. DTD shopping, resort shopping are a couple of our down days agendas. We also like going to other resorts in the evening for their lounge entertainment. FW is another haunt of ours, Trails End and Crocketts Tavern, mini golf, BB or TL for a day of swimming. We enjoy our resort pool, have a picnic there and return in the evenings for a dip and a drink or two. POFQ has a boat that runs from there to DTD, nice evening ride, dinner at Capt. Jacks, this could go on forever, every resort has something to see or do. The BW is another place to spend time, Jellyrolls, Atlantic Dance ESPN club. Just what I've mentioned couldn't be done in 5 days and see the parks too so that why we stay 10-12 days with down days every couple days.

 

[Pakey]

We are not pool people either. But we do enjoy going to the waterpark and just sitting, having a soda, watching other people there. Also, we like to visit the resorts, look around at them, walk the grounds. Spa treatments are nice--I've used both the Spa at GF and SSR. We did parasailing one trip. Next time we are going to try a hot air balloon ride. Shopping at DTD would take a day. We love the Cirque show at DTD; been to that 3 times. We stay at deluxe resorts so we always have a balony and we sit there and read. Another future thing I'm going to try is the afternoon tea at GF. Sitting out at the boardwalk bakery is nice, an old fashioned ice cream treat at Beaches and Cream is nice. I think there is a movie theater at DTD also but I've never been. Even after all of the trips we have made, we always feel that there is another thing to do for our next trip.

 

[Jim5150]

We tried having "off days" although they ended up being the most frustrating days. Now we just go, go, go...

 

[newholidayx2]

My off day has me sleeping till 10am before I get ready to head for the GF Cafe at 11am (hey its the morn after my 50th bday!)
Then back to EpCot for Off Kilter
then back to Wilderness Lodge for the Wishes cruise

 

[tidoublegger]

One of our favorite things to do is to check out a few Disney resorts! Last trip we parked at the Poly and walked around the lagoon. We relaxed by their beach, ate in the Kona, and shopped in the gift shops! Then we took the monorail to the Grand Floridian. Walking through the GF is a treat...the grounds are beautiful too! Taking the time to notice the little things makes the trip even more magical!

 

[LilyU]

We did do some resort browsing while we were there....We went to Poly, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary and Boardwalk. Loved them all for different reasons!

I wish we could go for 10 days but that would be ALL our vacation time for the whole year, and we like to take some long weekends here and there.

Lily

 

[allaboard]

We didn't do "off" days as much as we tried to plan some "down" time for our last big trip in summer '06. We changed resorts too in the middle. We also have toured other resorts while having a meal there - like at Wilderness Lodge. We like eating there and walking around the resort. We did the same thing at the GF this past spring so we could see that resort. Taking boats gave us time to relax as well in between all the "go, go, go." ENJOY

 

[jcc0621]

One down day this past year we went to the pool in the am, then did a little resort hopping, and finally took in the campfire/sin along at the Campground

 

[redoschi]

We usually don't do any "off" days (and we don't like to go to water parks, specially in December or stay at the pool), but this trip we'll have 2 (or kind of).

On the day we arrive (in mid afternoon) we'll check in at All star sports than head for DTD for Disney Quest and dinner.

On the third day of our trip we're planning go to a nearby outlet for some shopping and then return to DTD for some shopping there as well and Cirque du Soleil.

We're also having some off-Disney days but that is to go to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure (1 day each) and Sea World/Busch Gardens (1 day each).

If you have 5 days and want to go just 4 days to WDW parks, then I'd suggest either a DTD/DQ/Cirque du Soleil day or maybe take a shuttle/bus to Universal or Sea World for other attractions.

 

[lost shaker]

so do you have to stay at POFQ to hop on the boat to DTD? or can you get to the boat from the ASMo by bus?

--m

 

[newholidayx2]

lost shaker - from DTD you can take the boat to/from PO Riverside/FQ

 

[Amyg]

First of all we did R&R back at our resort between 1:30 -5:00 for 7 of our 8 days. On one morning we slept in till 8 a.m., had a leisurely sit down breakfast at the resort. Took a walk around the resort then went to the pool. We did head back to the park around 5 p.m.

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

Sometimes we sleep in have a late breakfast at our hotel, hang out at the rest up in our room and head out for an early dinner. We've also gone to the waterparks and also taken a ride out to the ocean. I have a friend who likes to go shopping at the outlets. My DS loved going to disneyquest with DH. We also plan our dinners on off days at a hotel we would like to take our time and stroll around at after dinner. You can rent a bikes or a watercraft. We have talked about mini golf but never seem to fit it in. Our last 2 trip were 5 nights/6 days and we decided to do 3 parks so we could have enough down time and it worked out good. Linda

 

[Kies99]

Same here. Slept in a bit, lounged by the pool, resort hopped and did a character dinner that evening.

 

[hsmamato2]

Sit by the pool with a BIG stack of library books i brought from home! seriously- I LOVE just relaxing, when do I get to do that at home? we've done trips where we stay at wdw for 14 days,and go into the parks like 4 times total..... the kids always find stuff to do- we also like to visit resorts and eat/shop- DTD- boat rides- the scenery all around WDW is so great....
sometimes we'll plan a large character meal,and plan a lazy day around just that!

 

[Safari Queen]

Sleep in, go to a resort for brunch or lunch, rent a boat from the Contemporary and tour the waters around the MK resorts or at OKW to visit POFQ and DTD, play miniature golf, walk through the woods at FW or WL, rent a bike at Boardwalk, see a movie at DTD or visit Disney Quest, go to AKL and watch the animals from the various viewing areas and look at all the exhibits from Africa, have dinner at a resort...we're never at a loss for things to do away from the parks.

 

[jphilhower]

We do a beach day to recharge. This year it was Clearwater. Next year we don't know yet but it can't be more than 2 hours awy from WDW.