Where do DVC folks go outside WDW?? Yet stay at WDW.

[np4gp]

If you have mode of transporation, consider -

St. Augustine... Celebration, right down the street, has some great restaurants and cute shops. The Florida Mall has a very cool store called Adrenalina that has a Flowrider (indoor wave machine for boogie boarding and such - wear a bathing suit under your clothes, pay a few bucks and try it out). Wet N Wild is a cheaper alternative to the Disney water parks. So is Water Mania. I-Drive has an ice skating rink and go kart tracks, a human slingshot thing, mini golf courses and more. Festival Bay has a Ron Jon Surf Shop (on opposite end of I-Drive from the Convention Center). City Walk at Universal is free to park after a certain time and has great dining (Margaritaville is our fave), clubs for the adults and a couple cool stores. Make sure to check out what entertainment might be going on while you are in town - Hard Rock Live does get some cool entertainers. Old Town has a wooden coaster and is in Kissimmee somewhere (haven't been there in years but I recall it being fun). Medival Times is a crowd pleaser. Anyway, that is my contribution Have a great time no matter what you do.

OH - PS. We LOVE Disney Quest for a day out of the parks. It is a pretty decent value for the money you spend. Other than food, every game in the place is included in your admission. It is even fun for adults. DH loves the roller coaster simulator.

 

[larry_poppins]

I am a big fan of the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art on Park Ave. in Winter Park. THey have the world's largest collection of Tiffany Glass. Pieces that were once part of his mansion and the CHicago Exposition of 1893. Don't forget to shop and have lunch on Park Ave.

The Showcase of Citrus was great. You can pick your own fruit in the orchards or they can pick it for you. You can also ship it home if you don't want to carry it. The best fresh OJ in Florida. Buys some for the villa.

Discovery Cove is fantastic. We did it this November. Worth every penny. Loved Sea World too.

Once Harry Potter is open I will return to Universal.

Larry

 

[LoveToDisney]

Assuming you have gone to Orlando/Disney several years and your kids have "done it all". And if you are going to have a car and like rides (some thrill), then I vote for Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure for your family. Your kids are at a perfect age to enjoy both parks. My DH and I enjoy US the most while our son enjoys IOA the most. Even when we stay onsite at Disney, we head over to US for a couple of mornings to ride MIB, the Mummy, etc. SpiderMan at IOA is an awesome ride. The price for a 7-day ticket at US is barely a bit more than the 1 or 2 day ticket and if your kids like the place, you can go another morning or two to enjoy your favorite rides. We like US/IOA in the mornings, head back to the villa for lunch and then off to Disney later in the date and into the night because Disney has the best fireworks (my fav).

Have a great vacation!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Assuming you have gone to Orlando/Disney several years and your kids have "done it all". And if you are going to have a car and like rides (some thrill), then I vote for Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure for your family. Your kids are at a perfect age to enjoy both parks. My DH and I enjoy US the most while our son enjoys IOA the most. Even when we stay onsite at Disney, we head over to US for a couple of mornings to ride MIB, the Mummy, etc. SpiderMan at IOA is an awesome ride. The price for a 7-day ticket at US is barely a bit more than the 1 or 2 day ticket and if your kids like the place, you can go another morning or two to enjoy your favorite rides. We like US/IOA in the mornings, head back to the villa for lunch and then off to Disney later in the date and into the night because Disney has the best fireworks (my fav).

Have a great vacation!

How close is US/IOA? They now have a special where they will come pick you up at your DIS resort!

 

[photobob]

In ten trips to WDW we ventured out only once and that was Sea World in 2007. We enjoyed it but we felt it was a been there done that situation. We really haven't gotten that feeling at WDW, we truly enjoy being immersed into the Disney feel our whole trip. I guess everyone feels that way on this board or we wouldn't have bought into DVC.

My DW who enjoys WDW but isn't quite the fanatic I am said about SW that it was ok but it was definitely not Disney.

I have never been to Universal. I enjoy thrill rides but i can only handle so much. I'm afraid the major coasters would do me in!

In 09 we are going to Vero Beach for a week and not going to WDW! Maybe we can squeeze a WDW trip in before the end of the year.

 

[edk35]

So far, the only time we've been outside of WDW is when our vacation ends.

Some day, we'll go to the other parks in the neighborhood...and maybe even to Busch Gardens since we enjoy coasters. We'd also like to go to Kennedy Space Center. But, for now, just being in WDW is enough for 14 days.

So far, the only time we've been outside of WDW is when our vacation ends.


That cracked me up.

We have ONLY been to Sea World twice...once in Dec. 93 and Nov. 2007. We went to US in May 98. We have gone to Disney 14 times and we too stayed 14 days this past July and never left the property until we were heading to the airport.

 

[tiffany123]

Last February we took a "road trip" on a Sunday from WDW to Tampa/St. Pete, Treasure Island and across the long sky bridge from St. Pete to Bradenton before heading back to our condo at OKW. On another day we drove northwest to Homassa Springs State Park to see the manatees. Both were full day trips that cost very little except for time and gas. We didn't step foot in any of the parks in Orlando during our visit to Orlando last Feb but found something to do each day. At Treasure Island we parked in a city lot and walked along the Gulf beach for a couple of miles. By going on a Sunday we missed all the workweek traffic in Tampa and St. Pete.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We keep saying we're going to the Disney Wilderness Preserve, but so far we haven't found the time. We haven't left Disney property until it's time to leave.

 

[ransom]

We have ONLY been to Sea World twice...once in Dec. 93 and Nov. 2007. We went to US in May 98. We have gone to Disney 14 times and we too stayed 14 days this past July and never left the property until we were heading to the airport.

Wow, you've been 14 times and you still enjoy it enough to remain on-site for all 14 days!

I sometimes think it'll end up that way for us; that we'll never really get around to going off-site. I'd like to experience the other attractions, but as long as we're having fun, it's hard to spend the time and money on it.

 

[edk35]

Wow, you've been 14 times and you still enjoy it enough to remain on-site for all 14 days!

I sometimes think it'll end up that way for us; that we'll never really get around to going off-site. I'd like to experience the other attractions, but as long as we're having fun, it's hard to spend the time and money on it.

yeah I admit we are Disney junkies but my older son has been asking for the past few years to go to US/IOA so it is time we did that. When we went to Disney for 14 days....we had seen and done it all the first week but we also did some down days, sleeping in, hang at resort and such. We did OKW for 8 nights and then BCV for 6 and we LOVED BCV a lot. We spent a lot of afternoon/evenings at SAB. We just love the atmosphere of being on a vacation at Disney. Our kids are starting to enjoy not always going to the park. Never thought I would say that but they like to SLEEP TOO. We are over the commando days. Once we became DVC members our entire outlook changed about these trips. I think before it was more like "oh we better do this and that because who knows when we might be back" Now granted we did go a lot the past few years but having a 2 br. villa.....makes a nice relaxing trip and we want to have less stress and MORE rest/sleep. We feel being DVC members allows us the best of both worlds. We can hang at the parks, hang at the resorts and just take it all in ..at a slower pace now. We actually went to a movie in Nov. for the first time ever over at DTD. My friend couldn't believe we did that when we were at WDW.

 

[ransom]

yeah I admit we are Disney junkies but my older son has been asking for the past few years to go to US/IOA so it is time we did that. When we went to Disney for 14 days....we had seen and done it all the first week but we also did some down days, sleeping in, hang at resort and such. We did OKW for 8 nights and then BCV for 6 and we LOVED BCV a lot. We spent a lot of afternoon/evenings at SAB. We just love the atmosphere of being on a vacation at Disney. Our kids are starting to enjoy not always going to the park. Never thought I would say that but they like to SLEEP TOO. We are over the commando days. Once we became DVC members our entire outlook changed about these trips. I think before it was more like "oh we better do this and that because who knows when we might be back" Now granted we did go a lot the past few years but having a 2 br. villa.....makes a nice relaxing trip and we want to have less stress and MORE rest/sleep. We feel being DVC members allows us the best of both worlds. We can hang at the parks, hang at the resorts and just take it all in ..at a slower pace now. We actually went to a movie in Nov. for the first time ever over at DTD. My friend couldn't believe we did that when we were at WDW.

That sounds like a great vacation! We've been evolving in that direction as well. The last two vacations, we planned the two weekend days in the middle as non-park days. Next time, we plan to reserve both Wednesdays as "anything goes" days as well. Hanging out at our resort is slowly becoming at least co-equal with being in any of the parks. DVC is the best thing to ever happen to our vacations.

 

[edk35]

That sounds like a great vacation! We've been evolving in that direction as well. The last two vacations, we planned the two weekend days in the middle as non-park days. Next time, we plan to reserve both Wednesdays as "anything goes" days as well. Hanging out at our resort is slowly becoming at least co-equal with being in any of the parks. DVC is the best thing to ever happen to our vacations.

Just to let you know Wed. as a rule are THE AWESOME MK DAYS. IF you like Magic Kingdom....you might want to keep that in the back of your mind.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Don't waste your time doing Kennedy Space Center. We were totally bored. That said, if you really are into going, check with your local congressman's office and ask for the FREE KSC tickets. Each congressman gets so many tickets per year for their local constituents. They will start giving out '09 tickets in January, so call now!

I hate to say this but we agree too. We went and did the Now and Then Tour which is the only thing that made the trip enjoyable but the tours are not free. You pay to get in and you pay to go on a tour (And $200 later I didn't think it was worth it money wise). Anyways... there were two teenagers on our trip and they fell asleep on the bus. You could hear the Dad ranting in the background about how much money he spent for them to sleep on the bus. My kids were 7 1/2 and 11 years old. It was neat to see but definitely would be more interesting if someone in the family was into the space program.

We stayed offsite this trip to force ourselves to explore Orlando. The only thing we did offsite was go to Space Kennedy Center. We had plans to visit the Gulf coast but the weather wasn't in our favor so, we didn't want to make the long drive. I think, we like staying onsite too much. In the future we'll probably only rent a car on the days we need it which might not be ever. I really wanted to go to Celebration but we never made it over there.

 

[edk35]

I hate to say this but we agree too. We went and did the Now and Then Tour which is the only thing that made the trip enjoyable but the tours are not free. You pay to get in and you pay to go on a tour (And $200 later I didn't think it was worth it money wise). Anyways... there were two teenagers on our trip and they fell asleep on the bus. You could hear the Dad ranting in the background about how much money he spent for them to sleep on the bus. My kids were 7 1/2 and 11 years old. It was neat to see but definitely would be more interesting if someone in the family was into the space program.

We stayed offsite this trip to force ourselves to explore Orlando. The only thing we did offsite was go to Space Kennedy Center. We had plans to visit the Gulf coast but the weather wasn't in our favor so, we didn't want to make the long drive. I think, we like staying onsite too much. In the future we'll probably only rent a car on the days we need it which might not be ever. I really wanted to go to Celebration but we never made it over there.

See that worries me too. I had read other people say similiar things about the Space Center. I doubt we will do it. I am also thinking that maybe we will rent a smaller car just for the 2-3 days we go to US/IOA. I need to figure this all out.

 

[ransom]

Just to let you know Wed. as a rule are THE AWESOME MK DAYS. IF you like Magic Kingdom....you might want to keep that in the back of your mind.

Since we stay at VWL, it'd be an easy option for us to head right over there whenever we feel like it. So thanks for tip!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Just to let you know Wed. as a rule are THE AWESOME MK DAYS. IF you like Magic Kingdom....you might want to keep that in the back of your mind.

What happens on Wednesdays that makes MK great? Less crowds, thats what I would need!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I hate to say this but we agree too. We went and did the Now and Then Tour which is the only thing that made the trip enjoyable but the tours are not free. You pay to get in and you pay to go on a tour (And $200 later I didn't think it was worth it money wise). Anyways... there were two teenagers on our trip and they fell asleep on the bus. You could hear the Dad ranting in the background about how much money he spent for them to sleep on the bus. My kids were 7 1/2 and 11 years old. It was neat to see but definitely would be more interesting if someone in the family was into the space program.

We stayed offsite this trip to force ourselves to explore Orlando. The only thing we did offsite was go to Space Kennedy Center. We had plans to visit the Gulf coast but the weather wasn't in our favor so, we didn't want to make the long drive. I think, we like staying onsite too much. In the future we'll probably only rent a car on the days we need it which might not be ever. I really wanted to go to Celebration but we never made it over there.

I was so glad we got the FREE KSC tickets, otherwise my DH would have been sounding like that dad!! You paid this much for this!!! My kids are not into mini-movies, people talking science, etc. All of the exhibits were ok, nothing I couldn't have missed. The launch pads are so FARRRRRRR away, you could not appreciate them. The bus tours were nothing but driving by buildings.......the food court was really EXPENSIVE!!
Am I deterring anyone from a visit yet?

 

[edk35]

I was so glad we got the FREE KSC tickets, otherwise my DH would have been sounding like that dad!! You paid this much for this!!! My kids are not into mini-movies, people talking science, etc. All of the exhibits were ok, nothing I couldn't have missed. The launch pads are so FARRRRRRR away, you could not appreciate them. The bus tours were nothing but driving by buildings.......the food court was really EXPENSIVE!!
Am I deterring anyone from a visit yet?

YES YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NASA who?? WhAT??? I don't understand!!!

 

[edk35]

Since we stay at VWL, it'd be an easy option for us to head right over there whenever we feel like it. So thanks for tip!

I have an inside secret. LOL Trust me........

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I have an inside secret. LOL Trust me........

Please tell, what is it about MK and Wednesdays?