Who's done a non-park DVC vacation?

[delmar411]

We're planning on not doing any parks this coming trip since I want to wait on getting the little ones their AP's until Sept.

I was thinking we could do some pool hopping, play at the playgrounds, check out other resorts....

what else can we fill the days with? We've got 3 little kids (4,3,2) and 1 bigger kid (10).

And is this going to be do-able? No parks that is! LOL DH might take our oldest into a park for some late night EMH but the little ones won't know about that, hopefully.

 

[Disneyboundf16743]

There are a lot of things to do on property. Go over to Fort Wilderness and see the petting zoo and walk around the grounds. Or you can dine with the characters at any one of the resorts and take a monorail ride afterwards just for fun.

At Animal Kingdom Lodge they have activities at the resort that the kids can participate in. You don't have to be staying there to enjoy it. Rent a surrey and ride it around the boardwalk and see some of the entertainment there.

You could also go over to Port Orleans and take the boat to downtown Disney.

There are lots of things to do.

Laurie

We're planning on not doing any parks this coming trip since I want to wait on getting the little ones their AP's until Sept.

I was thinking we could do some pool hopping, play at the playgrounds, check out other resorts....

what else can we fill the days with? We've got 3 little kids (4,3,2) and 1 bigger kid (10).

And is this going to be do-able? No parks that is! LOL DH might take our oldest into a park for some late night EMH but the little ones won't know about that, hopefully.

 

[veenstra56]

We do non-park trips often, and we really love it. It's a great way to enjoy WDW at a very relaxed pace. Most of our non-park days are filled enjoying the pool, but there are many other things to do.

Some of the non-park activities we enjoy are:
- movies at either Fort Wilderness or Beach Club (free).
- pool hopping
- shopping, etc. at DTD
- mini golf at Fantasia Gardens (across from the Swan/Dolphin
- hanging out at the boardwalk at night (we have some pizza, people watch, and watch illuminations from the bridge

With a little planning, you and your family can have a great time. Good luck.

 

[stacy6552]

We have taken no park trips the last few years. Our younger son takes a pirate cruise and/or the cooking class. We hang poolside mostly, and hopping around. We have great dinners. It is so great. But I must warn you, once you've relaxed at WDW, the parks seem exhaustive.

 

[MEK]

Maybe you could try Seaworld. A single day ticket is usually good for a second day visit. Try mini golf, DTD, movies. KSC is also a nice day trip and a relatively cheap ticket. How about a coupe days at Vero?

 

[inloveindisney]

Hmm. We haven't done one of these yet, but are definitely planning it within the next few years. I'm wondering, though, are the kids upset when they see the parks and can't go? I guess It's only really an issue with MK, you tend to pass it when on the monorail, boats, exchanging buses, etc.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

There is also the sea racers, fishing (CR), horseback riding (WL), miniature golf, typhoon lagoon or blizzard beach to consider. We plan to incorporate non park days on one of our visits also.

 

[bluenosemickey]

If you're really feeling badly about not visiting any parks, you could try to get tickets to a princess and pirate party or other such event (MVMCP etc.). If it's offered during your stay. You are allowed into the park after 4pm so it's a relatively cheap ticket for up to 8 hours of park use. Not to mention the value in this "very special" visit to MK.

You could try this for your oldest if you think you can distract the rest of the crew. There's also renting movies at the resorts, I'm sure that the little ones will have lots of titles they have never seen. Do your own movie night in the room for that evening.

I've too have been taking note of all the great suggestions here, we are trying to wean off the parks slowly. I think I worry more about what the kids are missing than they do!

 

[delmar411]

I think the plan so far is:

pools
playgrounds
fishing hole at POR
boat rides
walk to DTD and do some window shopping
movie at Fort Wilderness
go to the Boardwalk ~ I promised them we'd try the kitchen sink ice cream thing
ride the monorail
watch the fireworks from the Poly
watch the water parade ~ they still have that right?
watch illuminations from the boardwalk

 

[OlderMan]

We go 2 or 3 times per year, but haven't been to a park in almost 7 years.

We enjoy the pools, tennis, shuffle board, ping pong, air hockey, Community Hall activities, etc.

DW and DD's go shopping at the malls and outlets.

Just what works for us!

 

[Dean]

We have made several trips and not gone to the parks. The ones on property have been just 1-3 days, the rest were off property. We often stay overnight at a DVC resort when heading south for a full weeks stay. The reasons we do off property are numerous but include that we have a car and prefer to drive (even when staying on property), we feel some of the off property resorts are at least as good as the DVC resorts and the cost is a lot less, usually $300-400 for a week in a 2 BR. This fall We'll be at one of the Hilton's for exactly this type of trip, last year we were at Marriott's Grande Vista for a long weekend (week exchange but only used 4 nights) that we originally had on property reservations at a moderate.

 

[barbarabini]

At the beach club, free on the beach at night, they have movies and a campfire where you can make smores.

 

[HayGan]

Have you thought about checking out the Universal Studios deal? You get 7 days of access to either of their 2 parks for about $80 a person. Our trip next year will be a mix of US/IOA and WDW.

 

[stacy6552]

psst. the kitchen sink is at Beaches-n-Creme at the Beach Club, not Boardwalk.

 

[Sheribo]

We go every March for a non-park vacation. Yes, they do still have the electric water parade. We watch a movie poolside at SSR on Monday, Wednesday or Friday too. There is a little observation deck at the Comtemporary where you can watch Wishes over MK. Music didn't pipe in well but we were able to see Tinkerbell so it was a great view. We also do a character dinner (Chef Mickey's is good for younger kids) while we are there. My 3 kids take a highlighter and mark out every activity at the resort. There are crafts, cooking classes, games and poolside activities too. Next year, they would like to take a golf lesson! I almost look forward to the non-park vacation more than any other. We only visit the parks every 2-3 years.

But what is the kitchen sink thing???

 

[ccigliano]

We did this a couple of years ago and had a great vacation. We did the Hoop De Doo Review, dinner at California Grill so we could catch Wishes, rented a boat on Bay Lake for a couple of hours and went to MK, Poly, GF, CR, and FW. Spent and evening at the Boardwalk and watched Illuminations from the bridge, sat by the pool, rented surreys, went for walks along the nature trail from WL to FW and strolled around the RV loops. We went to different resorts at night to dine at Boma, Kona Cafe etc so that we could enjoy the ambiance of those resorts too. Have a great vacation.

 

[snowbunny]

And is this going to be do-able? No parks that is!

This will be our second year in a row with no Disney parks...my DD has an event at CSR that we'll be involved with over the 4th; otherwise we're going from AKV to Discovery Cove one day (doesn't really count as a park?) and playing some miniature golf (Winter Summerland), Cirque de Soleil show one night, walking around DTD, hanging at the pool, dinner at Ohana on the 4th. It's very doable!

 

[Dean]

But what is the kitchen sink thing???

It's an ice cream concoction. 8 scoops, all the toppings you can think of. It comes in a bowl made to look like a kitchen sink. Generally they bring it out, flash the lights, parade it around then sit it in front of you. A great surprise to see the look on people's face when they're not aware. We tend to surprise our guests when we have the chance. Last I knew it was $24 but you can go on allearsnet.com and look at the menu for beaches to make sure.

 

[Sheribo]

Thanks Dean! The 'kitchen sink' will definitely be a big hit with my family. One more thing to do on our next visit.

 

[delmar411]

psst. the kitchen sink is at Beaches-n-Creme at the Beach Club, not Boardwalk.

TY! That might have gotta some grumbles if I had gone to the wrong place while promising ice cream.