Trying to decide if a trip to Disney World without park tickets would be something we would enjoy this time around. My family is all adults and we have done the parks every other year for the last 7 years.”

Hi Pat!

Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.

I can honestly say that I enjoy my time outside the parks at Walt Disney World as much as I enjoy being in the parks, and I think it is perfectly possible to have a wonderful vacation by not stepping foot inside any of the parks.  Firstly, the Disney Resort hotels are all worth a visit!  While we cannot pool hop (only Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel may use the hotel's pools) you can still enjoy the ambience, take a walk around the beautifully landscaped grounds, enjoy a drink, or a meal, and maybe discover a new Resort hotel that you have not stayed at before.  Also, can I just say Disney Springs? !!  This is one of my favourite places in the whole of the Resort, and I do spend a lot of time there.  With its wide-ranging choice of fabulous stores, a whole array of restaurants to suit everyone several times over, and the street-side entertainment, you could easily spend a few days there with no admission ticket required.  If you did want to enjoy some beach (or ski slope!) time, have you thought about purchasing water park tickets?  I always quite happily enjoy a few days at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Disney's Blizzard Beach, for a more relaxing time away from the four theme parks.  If you were thinking of spending a whole day at the water parks, you could rent an exclusive reserved space - Beachcomber Shacks or Getaway Glen Umbrellas at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, or Polar Patios and Lodge Umbrellas at Disney's Blizzard Beach.  The same phone number serves both water parks, for all enquiries, pricing details and reservations: (407) 939 7529. 

Disney buses will take you from your Disney Resort hotel to Disney Springs, and to the water parks.  To travel between Resort hotels you would either take a bus to any theme park and transfer to another bus from there, or some Resort hotels are linked by other transport.  You can travel between the Magic Kingdom Resort hotels by boat or monorail, and some of the Epcot Resort hotels are within walking distance of one another. Later this Fall you could enjoy using the Disney Skyliner, for wonderful views over Walt Disney World, or I also love taking a relaxing boat ride, just for the sake of it!  For magical door-to-door transport, the Minnie Van Service is driven by knowledgeable and friendly Disney Cast Members and is available to book on the Lyft app.

Please come back and visit us if you have any other questions. We will be happy to help you plan your magical vacation to Walt Disney World.

~ Sue