[tinkerbell]

I was looking back over the location, location, location poll and thought about how little time we spend in the room. I know when we stayed at AKL we wished we had had more time to spend at the resort. The year we stayed at the Poly we did have more time for hanging around the resort .. but most of the time ..we only go to the room when the parks are closed :)
so what about everyone else ?

[dznygrl]

Ugh, I NEVER spend enough time at the resort--and I always regret it! The most I ever saw of the Poly was late-night swimming, or racing to the monorail in the morning. :hmmm

[BuzzLightyear]

We try and spend a few half or quater days just enjoying the resort.
It would be easy to spend a whole day since the resorts are so interesting, but ...just got to get to the parks as much as possible too!!

[mickaholic4077]

The last trip I took to Disney and stayed,I spent at least a third of my day at the resort(PC) because the previous 2 times I stayed,it was only to sleep.

[sjpurple]

We usually eat one meal at the resort. We try to swim in the pool too. I wish we couls spend more time at the resorts but we never seem to have enough time.

[MagicalMoments]

We do not spend much time at the resort. Maybe stop back for a quick swim (when it is warm when we are there) or a quick snack. And after the parks close, a late night swim. That is the main reason we stay at value resorts. But if I can pull off the Poly this Oct or next March, my plan would be to schedule some time to enjoy the surroundings of the resort. I do not find the value resorts to be very relaxing. And at busy times which is when we go, there's so many kids and sports teams there, it is very hectic. That was my feeling after our last trip!

[baloo]

Depending on our length of stay, we try to have at least one day to experience the resort. On our last trip part of our stay was @ POFQ, we rented a surrey bike, swam in the pool and ate lunch @ the food court. Later that night we went to MGM to see Fantasmic. A lot can also depend on what time of year you're there. Weather for swimming and park hours can determine your schedule. Don't get me wrong we've had some trips that were pretty "commando" and we didn't have time (or make time) for some relaxation. But it is fun to be able to actually see the resort and do some things outside the parks when you can.:D

[Thia327]

We usually eat breakfast at the resort (unless we have a CB )
If it's nice we'll spend some time at the pool - We don't do this when we're going to AK, since they aren't open late.

We don't spend a lot of time in the room - When DD gets up she's running for the door and wants to leave :)

[dab]

We usually plan at least one whole day off from the parks just to enjoy the resort. Our last trip we had Ultimate Hoppers with the Fairytale Package and wanted to get full use of the park days. We didn't take a full day off but did return for lunch, swim and a nap every day. My fav. trip was 9 days at the Poly and we only got a 5 day hopper taking about every other day off from the parks. We were still very busy but were much more relaxed and enjoyed that trip tremendously! It's easy to get sucked up in the hustle and bustle trying to get your money's worth!

[lawwin]

We spent one relaxing afternoon in the Old Man River pool at POR, and I enjoyed it. My DD loved the slide. Just ask her. We walked on the walkways around the resort. Then we took the boat over to DTD to spend the evening. I found the whole experience very relaxing after the frenetic pace we had been keeping up.

We also had to laundry one night, after getting drenched at AK, and my DD got to spend time in one of the quiet pools at the resort. It was much later in the evening after the parks closed ( this was in the fall - Oct. - when the parks close earlier) and there were a few people who were also doing the same thing. She met some new people, made some new friends from England, and had some fun while her DGD was doing laundry and Mom was watching and reading from a lounger. We had a relaxing time after a hectic day, didn't lose any park time, and enjoyed some of the wonderful opportunities that the resorts have to offer.

I can't wait to see what we will get to do on our planned off day at SSR this year. We have now decided to plan an off day to just be lazy and enjoy the resort and see some things that we might otherwise not get to experience if we didn't take some down time at WDW. Like the campfire at Fort Wilderness and some of the other pools at the DVC resorts (we can do that as DVC members - pool hopping). She wants to try the one at Boardwalk that looks like a big Roller Coaster.

[Willbegone]

We spend very little time at the resort. Usually get back to the resort about 7-8PM and then to room. We hope to stay at the WL next and I want to plan sometime to just enjoy that resort because it is soooooo beautiful!

[hiner]

The last time we went it was just the two of us (stayed at CBR)and it was so relaxing. We slept in a little, ate at the resort a few times, hung around after and listened to the island band, walked all around the resort and on the last day, just layed in a hammock until we had to leave.

One question though.......

A lot of the guide books, and people suggest resort hopping. How do you do it if you can't even explore the resort you are staying at? I would love to do it, but I know my DH and DS most likely will not be into it.

[MerlinMatt]

Generally, we only use the resort to sleep at night.

Last year, on a 4-night trip, we never went back during the day. We were out of the room before 8 most days (before 7 on three days for EMH) and didn't return until after 10pm.

This year, on a 5-night trip, we have one "nap" day where we will likely return to the room to change (BB in the morning) and nap before dinner. We have another possible "nap" day, but will likely go shopping instead.

On a longer trip, I could certainly imagine one day where we'd get up late, go hang out at the Boardwalk, then over to DTD for some shopping, then back to the resort for some pool time and relaxing and maybe even go to bed early.

[joseph3947]

We get up early and get a simple breakfast and coffee (got to have that) and head for the pool. Sit by the pool until it "officially" opens then go back to the room. Get ready and head for one of the parks or what ever is planned. When we get back to the resort it's usually late, sometimes we walk around or go to the bar or eat if we are hungry. Sometimes go to the hot tub (spa). Go to bed and start over again the next day. You know "been there, done that, doing it again"!!! WDW lovers!!!
:D :) Joe

[bumble]

We are going to use our resort to the fullest!!! When we go again in May we only have 1 day planned for the parks, AK because its the only one we havent been to yet. Other then that we have a CB PS at Chef Mickey's and one at the Rainforrest Cafe in the AK. I think the kids are mostly wanting to play at the pool and the playground. Maby rent a boat or a surry bike.I sure hope so, then we dont have to travel around much. Last time DH an I went comando and saw as much as we could. We had just gotten our AP's. We were very tired when we got home.