Have you ever considered a Resort-only stay at Walt Disney World? You might be thinking, “But how can I go to Disney and not go to the parks?!”
A couple of years ago, park tickets were outrageously expensive (aren’t they always?), and we just couldn’t justify spending that much money for a vacation over Spring Break. So our family of 4 tried a resort-only trip. I had my doubts. What would we do for the whole time? How would we fill our days? Would we feel the Disney magic without the parks?
Three reasons you might consider this type of vacation:
1. You want to save money.
Park tickets just keep going up in price. Maybe money is tight for your family this year, but you still want to be able to experience the Disney magic. As a DVC Member, your hotel room is already paid for, and there are still plenty of Disney things you can do as a resort guest.
2. You want to try some new experiences inside the Disney bubble.
There are so many things to see and do at the Walt Disney World Resort. If your family is like mine, we like to get the most out of our park days. Now that our kids are older, we try to go from park open to park close, and we don’t always have extra days to spend at the resorts because we have to be back home for school or practices. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for other things.
3. You want a relaxing vacation.
How many times have you returned from a Disney trip more tired than when you left for vacation? Every. Time. (It is so worth it, right?) Maybe you want to have an easy-going vacation, where you don’t have to worry about times, reservations, and schedules. You want a vacation where you can sleep in and decide what to do for the day over breakfast.
Now that we’ve talked about why you might enjoy this type of vacation, you might be wondering what can you do. Well, I’m so glad you asked! Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of things that are available. These are things we did with our teenage daughter and tween son.
Explore Resorts:
Search for Hidden Mickeys
The resorts are so beautiful, unique, and perfectly themed. They deserve to be explored. Searching for Hidden Mickeys is one of my teen daughter’s favorite things to do. Most Hidden Mickeys are the classic 3 circle Mickey head, and we use a book that gives clues to where they are located. There are so many of these at the parks and resorts. It really makes you appreciate the planning and design that goes into making WDW so magical.
Scavenger Hunts
Did you know that each resort has a character Scavenger Hunt? Each resort has its own character cut-out, and it gets moved every day. If you find it, take a picture and show it to a Cast Member at the Front Desk. The CM will give you a button for the first finding, and after that, you get stickers to complete the button. Our family loves a scavenger hunt, and these do not have to be completed in the same visit. You can come back and continue the search later.
Seasonal Decorations
Depending on the season, you might discover some Easter eggs at certain resorts, literally. Around Easter, the Culinary Department displays hand-crafted Easter Eggs, made from chocolate and other edible materials. They are beautiful, unique, and created by cast members. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, you will find gingerbread creations in some hotel lobbies.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Check out Animal Kingdom Lodge! We had talked about staying at AKL, but we are never in the room enough to enjoy the animals or justify the long bus ride to the parks. On this particular trip, we stayed a couple of nights at Kidani Village, and it was amazing. I now see why so many people like this resort. We had plenty of time to see the variety of animals from all the viewing spots, enjoy the pool, and appreciate the unique qualities of this resort. A word of warning: the hallways at Kidani Village all look alike, and it’s easy to get lost if you’ve never stayed there before. Ask me how I know.
Experience Your Resort’s Activities
The resorts have so many activities, and it’s easy to pass them by when you’re rushing off to the parks. There is no time for evening campfires or outdoor movies. We run out of time to explore the many options at Community Hall or relax at the pool. Did you know that some resorts have playgrounds? Many resorts also have outdoor games, like corn hole, ping pong, or bocce ball. Every resort is different!
Play Miniature Golf
Disney has four fantastic Miniature Golf Courses split between two different locations. Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf is located near the Swan & Dolphin Hotels. The Fantasia Gardens course is whimsical and fun, perfect for families of all ages. The Fairways course is much more challenging, making it more appropriate for teens and adults. Winter Summerland Miniature Golf is located near Blizzard Beach, and it has a Summer Course and a Winter Course, both of which have Christmas themes. We have tried them all, and they are all fun and full of surprises! There are lots of places for cute or silly photo ops. Your tweens and teens will love it!
Fireworks
Even on a resort-only vacation, you can still enjoy the nighttime shows. You can see Magic Kingdom fireworks or the Electrical Water Pageant from any of the Magic Kingdom resorts (resort viewing areas may be limited to guests staying at that resort during peak times). We grabbed some treats and took the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom entrance and stood outside to watch! One of the security guards even showed us his favorite place to stand and watch. You can see Epcot fireworks from the Epcot resorts, or from the bridge between the Boardwalk and Beach Club. You can also hear the music of Fantasmic and see a few fireworks on the walkway between Hollywood Studios and the Epcot resorts.
Water Parks
The Water Parks are so much fun for tweens and teens. If you are traveling with little ones, there are some play areas specifically designed for younger kids. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach each have unique theming and a variety of attractions. The water parks are just as immersive as the parks and resorts with fun back stories. You can’t go wrong with either one. From the lazy river to the steepest slide, there is something for everyone. It’s a great way to beat the heat!
Try New Restaurants
Have you ever wanted to go to a certain restaurant, but getting there and back will waste precious park time? Now is the time! Head over to Disney Springs and enjoy Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming. Spoiler: It’s delicious! Take the boat from Disney Springs to Port Orleans and try the Beignets. You won’t be sorry! Maybe you’ve always wanted to visit Beaches & Cream and order the Kitchen Sink. Do it! It’s an experience, and with no other plans, you have time for the nap you will need after the sugar crash.
Disney Springs
Disney Springs is beautiful. Take the time to leisurely explore the shops and restaurants. With time to spare, you can wait in line for Gideon’s Bakehouse and judge for yourself if the cookies live up to the hype. Catch a movie at the AMC theater, or go bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes.
Use Disney Transportation
I don’t know about you, but our family has always loved Disney transportation. I know it gets a bad rap with wait times and crowds. However, there is something about taking a break from your primary mode of transportation, the vehicle that you constantly use for pickups, drop-offs, and errands that is littered with crumbs. The freedom to ride with no car seat or booster seat is fun for kids and parents alike. The Cast Members, background music, printed advertisements, scenery, and special sounds or announcements all work together to create a sense of ambience and nostalgia. In my opinion, Disney transportation enhances the magic.
Did you know that there is a Skyliner Scavenger Hunt? We learned about the Skyliner Scavenger Hunt at the Riviera Community Hall, and it was so much fun for the whole family. It allowed us to ride the Skyliner, explore resorts we wouldn’t normally go to, and discover hidden gems. Pro Tip: Take your Refillable Mug with you. You will get thirsty along the way, and there are so many spots to fill it up.
Final Thoughts
In the future, we will likely go to a more balanced trip with park days and rest days. We did miss being in the parks, but I’m so glad we tried a resort-only Disney trip. It allowed us to try things that had been on our Bucket List for a while. There were endless options of things to see and do, even though we didn’t go to a park. Our kids enjoyed having input on where to go and what to do on the fly, and we had so much fun just being together as a family without being glued to the My Disney Experience App on our phones.
