Forget The Parks!!! I.....

[MaXXimus]

I just cant imagine not spending all my time going to the parks. I guess if I visted more then once every few years I may give it a shot... or if I had more then one week to visit, but if I wanted to just hang out and swim and hit stores and such... I can do that at the Jersey Shore or in Ocean City Maryland.

 

[doop]

Instead of going to Downtown Disney and the resorts at random times during the vacation, we usually pick a day that we reserve exclusively for that. Also, walking through the parks can be very tiring, and this day also acts as a day of rest. But I agree with you, Disney does have a lot more to offer than just its theme parks, but on a day I pick to do a theme park, I don't stray from that goal.

 

[WildcatDen]

For us, it is all about the parks. We choose Disney to do the things we can not do at home. Now the OP did mention the monorail and I agree that is fun, especially for the kids, but when we are on property, we like to fill the day as much as possible with park related activities.

If we just wanted to hang out at a pool, we would stay here and go to the Great Wolf Lodge or Sunlight Pool at Old Coney.

 

[Tim G]

Forget the parks... I have just as much fun riding the monorail, going to Downtown Disney and visiting the resorts. Heck, I enjoy renting a water mouse from OKW and cruising the Disney water ways!

What about you?

With the monorail to Downtown Disney...
Are you sure you're talking about WDW???

 

[MaXXimus]

He didnt say "monorail to Downtown Disney" he said "riding the monorail, going to Downtown Disney and visiting the resorts."

 

[DSNYKID]

He didnt say "monorail to Downtown Disney" he said "riding the monorail, going to Downtown Disney and visiting the resorts."

That's right! thanks!

 

[emmersandjack]

i have a fairly serious competitive streak with my husband concerning mini-golf. He says he can literally see my game face come on when we near either course. Apparently, I behave as if I am the closing pitcher for the world series.

We even save our score cards, so that during the year when the subject comes up we can reference the cards to the loser.

Watch out Fantasia course. We'll be at the beach club in october, only a hop skip and jump away. Your poetry laden course will be mine!!!!:fork:

 

[CleveRocks]

My friend went down with his kids several years ago and never stepped into the parks. They road the monorail and went to Downtown Disney. They shopped and swam for 3 days.

This is the kind of person I just don't understand.

If you don't live in the area, if you have to fly on an airplane to get to WDW, I can't for the life of me understand going there but then not going to any of the theme parks at all. Ignoring the rest of the world for a minute, we live in a country FULL of wonderful, fun beautiful resort areas. There is more than WDW hotels and Downtown Disney to see in this great land of ours. The theme parks are unique, but the reosrt hotels and DTD don't have that same absoutely, undeniably unique quality the parks do.

Now again, this doesn't apply, in my opinion, to people who might drive there from 2 or 3 hours away, because there's an obvious convenience and cost-control factor. I'm talking about having to fly there. Anyone who does there (flies there) and plans never to step a toe in a park is short-changing themselves and their family of other resources our great country has.

 

[ELopez]

We used to spend all our time at the parks, but vacation wasn't feeling like vacation anymore. Now we go for about a week (usually once each year), and NEVER do back-to-back days at the parks. There's too much fun (and usually free) stuff to do outside the parks.

There's DTD, resort hopping, mini-golf, playgrounds, and the pool. We particularly love staying at the FW campground because of all the great amenities - nightly campfire, Disney movie, and sing-a-long with Chip and Dale. My kids love the CM led crafts and games they have near the pool every afternoon.

It makes our trips much more affordable, too!

 

[ELopez]

This is the kind of person I just don't understand.

If you don't live in the area, if you have to fly on an airplane to get to WDW, I can't for the life of me understand going there but then not going to any of the theme parks at all. Ignoring the rest of the world for a minute, we live in a country FULL of wonderful, fun beautiful resort areas. There is more than WDW hotels and Downtown Disney to see in this great land of ours. The theme parks are unique, but the reosrt hotels and DTD don't have that same absoutely, undeniably unique quality the parks do.

Now again, this doesn't apply, in my opinion, to people who might drive there from 2 or 3 hours away, because there's an obvious convenience and cost-control factor. I'm talking about having to fly there. Anyone who does there (flies there) and plans never to step a toe in a park is short-changing themselves and their family of other resources our great country has.

For us, it's the Disney theming. My kids are young, so they love seeing Mickey everywhere. They are thrilled to ride the transportation there. Maybe when they are teenagers, this type of vacation won't cut it, but for now it's like a dream. We are all so grateful to be able to go as often as we do. They don't want a nice resort with tennis courts and a spa - they want to see their favorite characters on everything. We fly for free (because my husband works for an airline). We stay for cheap (because we either take our camper or get the airline discount at the resorts). And we make most of our own meals (for $$ and because my husband has some outrageous food allergies).

Personally, I don't see how people can go and spend $5,000 - $10,000 in one week, while they go from park to park - exhausted. Especially with young kids, it's tough to burn the candle at both ends. I guess that's what makes Disney so great - different strokes for different folks. (I've never actually used that saying - does it fit there?) :wave:

 

[Joepic]

Taking one day to just relax from the parks is really actually pretty fun. I love to just relax in one of the hotel lobbies, just sit down and take in all the Disney atmosphere and happy-ness. It sounds weird, but who doesn't like doing this?

 

[ilovepluto23]

we have recently discovered "hotel hopping" and how much fun it can be just to explore the resorts on WDW property. It's a great way to relax and take a break from the parks. It's also a great way to scope out resorts to stay at during future visits. We visit Downtown Disney at least twice during every trip now as well.

 

[3IAlienKid]

I've always wanted to spend some time at the Ft. Wilderness area including the Tri-Circle D Ranch where they keep the MK horses. Something appealing about the fact this was part of the original WDW Resort from the 70's.

I don't have much interest in Wide World of Sports, but one day just for the heck of it I think we'll check it out, maybe watch a spring training game. Dodgers vs. Braves.