Ever gone to Disney and skipped the Parks entirely?

Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
CtDisneyGuy33 said:
As I research and find more and more great restaurants/bars/activities outside of the main parks but still on disney property, I wonder if people have ever stayed on Disney property, skipped the parks and just enjoyed the hotels and the other things in the Disney-sphere?

Between the pools, bars, restaurants, etc - this has to happen more than I realize, right??
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I know that Disney has some nice pools, but, for the price the rooms can only be described as mediocre. If one's desire is to spend way more then it is worth for a hotel room, then I suppose it has been done. The resorts are there to support the parks, in an of themselves, they offer no real need. DVC people are, of course, the exception to that rule, but, for the most part I wouldn't see the point.

It is absolutely correct that there are some really fine places to go to offsite, and you can find much better accommodations offsite as well. Nice pools, nice rooms, nice surroundings and at a lesser price. I would agree that it may happen from time to time, but, I am at a loss to explain why. I guess like myself, I don't find that the resorts enhance my visit to the parks, they my find that the parks do not enhance their enjoyment of the resorts. Everyone is different in personality and agenda.
 
CtDisneyGuy33

CtDisneyGuy33

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thanks to all who responded. I couldnt see myself going to Orlando in any way (work or pleasure) and not finding even half a day to go to the parks never mind a whole week.
 
JillC LI

JillC LI

Well-Known Member
Never have, never would. The Parks are our main draw to Disney even though we certainly enjoy the food and resort as well.
 
Club Cooloholic

Club Cooloholic

Well-Known Member
A few years ago, the company I was with put on a huge expo in anaheim, and I stayed about a 15 min walk from the gates od Disneyland. I had an evening or two where I could have gone to it, but it felt weird to go without my wife. We are going for the first time to DL in a few weeks with our two kids and are pumped, and I look forward to us both experiencing it all for the first time.
PS-Our company did rent Knotts Berry Farm for a night...meaning they closed it to all but the expo particpants(all food was free too) so I got my ride fill. Just wish they had rented DCA maybe lol, heck they rented AKL the year before!
 
Texas84

Texas84

Well-Known Member
We will take an 'off' day at the resort but, no. Never. However, I have been on business trips to Orlando where I didn't make to the parks. But I did always go to Downtown.
 
T

Tigger 68

Member
Last July my wife, 9 month old at the time, and I were visiting family in FL and we decided to stop at Disney for 3 days. We are DVC members and stayed at BWV and knew beforehand we weren't going to drag our 9 month old in the parks in the summer heat. We got the dining plan and just enjoyed the resorts and took our daughter to some character breakfasts in the hotels and then enjoyed nice signature meals for dinner. We went resort hoping, spent quality time at downtown Disney, and enjoyed the pool. It was very peaceful and a different Disney experience. I did get the shakes though when seeing the MK and not being able to go inside.
 
C

crazynakedguy

Member
I have but I live in Florida so...

I was there for a Project Management conference at Coronado Springs. I stayed at the hotel for 3 days but didn't go to the DIsney parks. I did go to Universal twice during that time.

I skipped Disney because Fantasyland expansion was still under construction and it was supposedly crowded.

I did eat at the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom though

oh and I went to Downtown Disney for a bit.
 
D

doctornick

Well-Known Member
I have read a number of DVC members who say they sometimes stay in the resorts and don't go to the parks. And other DVC members who might go for (say) a week stay and only do the parks 2 or 3 days in that time.

Personally, I think it's crazy, as I wouldn't travel to Orlando and spend the money (even at the discounted DVC price) to just spend time on the property there. So, I'm in agreement with most of the people in this thread who consider the parks the main/only reason to be at Disney.

That said, I will agree that there are certainly some fun and interesting things to do on property away from the parks. While I wouldn't go to WDW and not visit the parks the majority of my days, I do see value in taking a relaxing pool/resort hopping day or spending some time doing some of the other activities. We did the Pirate and Pals cruise last visit and it was great. I would like to go to Ft Wilderness next time to go to the Hoop-De-Doo and pettnig zoo and campfire. There's obviously golf as well, with reprotedly pretty good courses (and mini-golf too).

Also, I think WDW markets packages to foreigners (especially British folks) for ~2 week stays on property and I could see doing that and spending a bunch of days in the parks but also spending a number of days on the resort doing non-park things.
 
l4dybu6

l4dybu6

Active Member
Not stayed there, but since I live in Orlando sometimes we drive up to DTD or one of the hotels and eat. Especially during the blackout days....
 
Jeff2140

Jeff2140

Member
images
 
got2lovedisney

got2lovedisney

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
We did that one year for Xmas. Our Seasonal passes were blacked out but I scored such a great rate at the Wilderness Lodge that I couldn't pass it up. (BF said the guy behind me at check-in had his jaw drop when he overheard the rate I got) We spent our days resort hopping, pin trading, eating and taking lots of pics of the holidays decorations at each resort.
 
Crystal J

Crystal J

Member
We stay at Wyndham Bonnet Creek - It is not "On-Site" but about as close as you can get being off-site - Hollywood Studios and the Epcot Resort area is <2 Miles away. There were family friends staying there the same time we were and never went to the parks. I have talked to quite a few people in the lobby and arround the resort that stay there - but never go to the parks.
 
kelknight84

kelknight84

Well-Known Member
We have a popup camper so we stay at the campground frequently and skip the parks. The campground has tons to do, we go to DTD and usually Sea World since we get in there for free.
 
MY_NAME_STITCH

MY_NAME_STITCH

Well-Known Member
pjkdog said:
A few years ago, the company I was with put on a huge expo in anaheim, and I stayed about a 15 min walk from the gates od Disneyland. I had an evening or two where I could have gone to it, but it felt weird to go without my wife. We are going for the first time to DL in a few weeks with our two kids and are pumped, and I look forward to us both experiencing it all for the first time.
PS-Our company did rent Knotts Berry Farm for a night...meaning they closed it to all but the expo particpants(all food was free too) so I got my ride fill. Just wish they had rented DCA maybe lol, heck they rented AKL the year before!
Click to expand...

I have stayed at WDW hotels and just a few minutes from DL on business trips but have not set foot in either place without my DW. We have an agreement that we will only go into the parks together. It's just one of the things that we share as a couple. I even stayed at the Contemporary on one visit. I could see the inside of MK but couldn't go in. That's okay because we were returning to WDW in two months for vacation.
 
erasure fan1

erasure fan1

Well-Known Member
Well I guess I will be joining club crazy this year. We are spending 4 days at the yacht and beach club and no parks for us. A 3 day pass is just not worth the price right now. Almost $1400 with tax :eek:, no chance! So this year its dinner at Ohana, breakfast at the beach club and maybe a day at seaworld. The rest of the time will be at the pool and relaxing.
 

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