Who's done a trip with limited park visits?

[robndani]

Hi Everyone! Here's a little background: We usually go to Disney twice a year. We have 5 year old twins and we are DVC members. We usually travel for 7 nights. We were there Sept 2014 and we just got back a week ago.

Here's my question: Has anyone done a week trip with only 3-4 park days? We're thinking of doing that this Fall. Rather than spend $5000-$7000 to go to Atlantis or Beaches, I thought we'd try to make a WDW trip a little more resortish/relaxish.

We would probably do 1 or 2 days at MK/Epcot and maybe 1/2 day at HS or AK. We would just spend the rest of the time at the pool, other resorts, DTD (which we've avoided our last few trips) and the Boardwalk.

I don't want to feel like we are missing out on the parks while we are there. I guess we could do a few character meals at hotels as well.

Any thoughts/experience with this? Thanks!

 

[smilie]

I'm thinking about doing the same thing. I'm taking my 6 yr old DD for the first time. We're only going for a total of 4 days. I'm not sure which parks to do. MK is a MUST as well as AK (she loves animals). Not sure about the other too. Anxious to read replies.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

We skipped our planned Beaches Ocho Rios vacation in November to do 11 days in Disney (which cost less than 5 days @ Beaches!) with the intention of taking it easy and relaxing.

We had 7 day tickets and ended up adding days on while we were there -- we were bored! It was nice to go in and out of the parks as we pleased and not feel rushed. Plus, the cost to add days was nominal. The disadvantage was that we didn't pick FP+ because we didn't plan on being in the parks those days.

I sure did miss the relaxing beach vacation though -- so H & I are headed to Sandals Negril in April without the kids

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Our entire trip in July was parks-free aside from one day at Typhoon Lagoon. We spent the rest of our time at our resort (Wilderness Lodge), Fort Wilderness, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Downtown Disney. We had an absolute blast! We had no trouble filling our time with Tri Circle D Ranch, the pool, exploring the resorts, shopping at Downtown Disney, and a round at Winter Summerland. We did do two character meals - a dinner at Chef Mickey's and a breakfast at 'Ohana. Our daughter is four and she had a fantastic time. We were able to really relax during that vacation and still have a fantastic time. We have talked about doing more parks-free trips in the future.

 

[robndani]

I sure did miss the relaxing beach vacation though -- so H & I are headed to Sandals Negril in April without the kids

That's what I'm talking about!

I'm thinking about doing the same thing. I'm taking my 6 yr old DD for the first time. We're only going for a total of 4 days. I'm not sure which parks to do. MK is a MUST as well as AK (she loves animals). Not sure about the other too. Anxious to read replies.

My kids love Epcot, if you're there during F&W, it's a must!

 

[smilie]

robndani-if you could pick between HS and Epcot, which would you pick for kids?
I haven't been since 2005, I know a lot has changed since then.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We usually go for 7 to 14 or 15 days, and have always spent every day (morning til close) at the parks (possibly taking a couple hours to go eat dinner at a monorail resort). We did spend one morning at Blizzard Beach once, but went to the parks after we changed.

For the first time, we're thinking about spending a couple days at the resort pool and exploring the boardwalk, DTD, etc. I'm actually a little hesitant since we've never done any non-park days before. I don't want to feel like we've spent $$$ and traveled so far to not take full advantage of the parks. However, my brother and parents (who are going with me, DH, DD, and DS) have never been to any of the Disney resorts, never been to the boardwalk, etc, so they're looking forward to exploring (with DH and I as their guides). I almost feel like adding days so we could at least go to a park for a few hours if we so choose.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

robndani-if you could pick between HS and Epcot, which would you pick for kids?
I haven't been since 2005, I know a lot has changed since then.

Your daughter is 6? I'd say Epcot. My DD has loved Epcot since her first trip to WDW when she was 19 mos old. I'm not sure why, but she LOVES Spaceship Earth. She also loves exploring the WS, trying different treats, watching the drummers in Japan, getting her passport signed, etc.

She likes HS, but there aren't many rides she has been both tall enough for, and interested in, there. (For instance, she's been tall enough for ToT for a while, but has been too scared to ride.)

 

[smilie]

Your daughter is 6? I'd say Epcot. My DD has loved Epcot since her first trip to WDW when she was 19 mos old. I'm not sure why, but she LOVES Spaceship Earth. She also loves exploring the WS, trying different treats, watching the drummers in Japan, getting her passport signed, etc.

She likes HS, but there aren't many rides she has been both tall enough for, and interested in, there. (For instance, she's been tall enough for ToT for a while, but has been too scared to ride.)

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you. I was leaning more towards Epcot anyway because I really love it. I forgot about the passport and all the street entertainment. And you're right about the rides. I don't see her wanting to ride anything in HS.

 

[nono]

We're a DVC family that takes whole vacations at WDW and doesn't hit the 4 majors. After using an annual pass for 2 years, we take 1 year off (2 years off the majors this go-round). What do we do? Swim, cookout, see shows (Luau, Hoop Dee Do, La Nouba, Gospel Brunch, movie in DtD), visit a water park, play shuffleboard (OKW), go for a run, go bowling (Splitsville), play mini-golf, play 9 holes, play tennis (BWV), go horseback riding, swim some more, sleep late, eat late, hang out on the Boardwalk, hang out with DVC friends, take advantage of Community Hall offerings...my kids are 11 & 8 and are glad to have a "hang out" vacation at WDW. They don't miss the parks at all on our non-park visits. (Ages 11 & 8 presently, so they've been through the "no parks" years for three cycles).

Oops, cut off my second paragraph:

I think you'll have a lot to do on your non-park days, so I wouldn't stress about it. Also, depending on pool hopping rules, visiting other pools for young kids is as exciting as all get out.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

This style has worked for us--we stay somewhere where we want to play and relax. I don't think we'd be happy doing this at the All Stars, but had a great time a couple years ago at Polynesian this way. I think any of the DVC properties would also be great because they have good dining options and good pools. Our upcoming trip, we are going to the park most days, but only for a short time--either morning or evening--each day. The rest of the time we'll be sleeping late and hanging out at the pool. Once you buy three or four days on a ticket, the cost to add more isn't a lot, so we don't feel like we're wasting our money by just going to the park for a short time. And then you don't get home exhausted and that is so nice also.

 

[robndani]

robndani-if you could pick between HS and Epcot, which would you pick for kids?
I haven't been since 2005, I know a lot has changed since then.

I would say Epcot, unless she like thrill rides (Rockin' Rollercoaster/Tower of Terror) and/or Star Wars. Mine are 5 and we usually end up going to HS, using our FP for Toy Story Mania (which is awesome) and then wandering for a bit or eating and leaving. We never make it a full day there. If you decide to go there, there are lots of options for her, but I would always say Epcot, as would my kids. The KidCot stops are fun for them to color a Duffy Bear or Agent P and get stamps and talk to people from various countries. My kids also LOVE Test Track and Soarin! Definately worth trying those! We love the food and atmosphere of the World Showcase.

Have fun!

 

[JoeA]

Wife and I went for 4 days in May. We took one day and went to 3 parks just riding our favs. We spent part of one day at Typhoon lagoon. And the rest of the time relaxing poolside.

We're also DVC FWIW.

 

[TXHauntedMansionFan]

We have had mixed results with this. One trip we planned a couple of resort days and the kids in our group had a blast running around the pool and then having a DTD dinner at Raglan with some Ghiradelli thrown in. A couple of years later we tried the same and they were complaining by the end of the first evening. We ended up adding another day to our tickets and heading back to the parks the next morning.

It was definitely nice though to take a day (or two) during the middle of our trips to recharge and enjoy the resort amenities.

 

[Missytara]

I have done a solo, no parks trip, all resorts trip for 8 days and it was the best trip I ever had by myself. Do it!

 

[HatboxHaint]

Pretty sure our next trip will be 4-5 days and just attending two of the MSSSHP/MVMCP parties. Going everyday and trying to squeeze every penny our of those MYW tickets is just stressful plus the kids enjoy the pools as much or more than commando-ing thru the parks. I will miss AK, but it's pretty much not changing till the Avatars come.

 

[robndani]

I also think the location will matter. I was thinking Beach Club Villas because of Stormalong Bay, but then there's the lure of Epcot right there. If we go with AKL Kidani, I think there's less draw to leave. It more secluded and there's good pools, food, animals and even a Community Hall and Kids Club.

 

[brookmey]

We've had some no park vacations and very much enjoyed them. We spent lots of time at the pool, resort hopped for meals, rode the monorail around, went mini golfing, rode the boats to and from resorts, spent time at Fort Wilderness at the Tri Circle D ranch, watched nightly movies at our resort, and participated in some of the organized activities around the pool. We also did the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage to see Wishes. I thought my kids might get bored, but that never happened. It was really fun to experience a more relaxed Disney vacation.

 

[lisski76]

We are trying this on our upcoming trip. We are going for 12 days and have a 5 day park pass. We are staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, which has tons to do to keep us busy on our non park days.

 

[Lovetherodent]

I like 4 days in the park. We go open to close (hence my motto, sleep is for the weak!) during busy times when the park has long hours (maybe take a short afternoon break). Then, we can leave, go to the beach for a couple of days, fly home early and spend a day in the airport city shopping, whatever.