Low-key, “low-Disney” experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you inadvertently win a silent auction? Either you bid on it or not.

There was a table of prizes you could add a door prize ticket to, to be selected at random. We didn’t expect to win anything.

So, it was a raffle? I mean a small part of you must have been ok with the idea of winning or else you would have put the ticket somewhere else. It's ok to admit that this might be something you wanted to do since you're going to be spending a lot more than just the $2K to do this for 5 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We always do low key disney. Never really plan it and stay mostly at the hotel and do 2 or 3 days in the parks (never in a row). We stay at the grande lakes property (Ritz and JW). You'll need the $2k for park tickets.

One day of park tickets is only $500, and I’m worried about not being able to use the gift card on food if we stay off property, which is why I’m trying to use the gift card exclusively on hotel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that sounds like a good plan, but you should know that $2k gift card will probably barely cover the room for 5 days at a Deluxe resort. Beach Club has the best pool and walking distance to Epcot, so I think that would be a great place to start.

I would also do a dinner at Grand Floridian or the Contemporary and then google for the fireworks cruise. That will be a great low-key, adult experience.

You’re correct. Based on my research, we will end up paying for the park tickets when anything else we do/eat, but that’s ok!

Actually, thanks for mentioning that about Beach Club; that puts it higher on the list. I’m sure this will be a thing no matter where we choose, but do you think that because of the pool at this resort, it will be exceptionally overrun with children? Like, more than the others?

lol, now I think you’re a troll. Yes, there will be a lot of children.

I’m not a troll. Are you? I’ve just read that this is a very kid-friendly pool, but that does sound ridiculous when talking about Disney.

Is there a resort that is less kid-friendly?

Try Yacht Club or the Grand Floridian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you inadvertently win a silent auction? Either you bid on it or not.

There was a table of prizes you could add a door prize ticket to, to be selected at random. We didn’t expect to win anything.

So, it was a raffle? I mean a small part of you must have been ok with the idea of winning or else you would have put the ticket somewhere else. It's ok to admit that this might be something you wanted to do since you're going to be spending a lot more than just the $2K to do this for 5 days.

Oh my god, do I really have to get into the details of the charity event for you? Will you leave me alone about it if I do?

It was a charity silent auction. Included in the price of our plate was, yes, a ticket to a raffle. There was also a silent auction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you inadvertently win a silent auction? Either you bid on it or not.

There was a table of prizes you could add a door prize ticket to, to be selected at random. We didn’t expect to win anything.

So, it was a raffle? I mean a small part of you must have been ok with the idea of winning or else you would have put the ticket somewhere else. It's ok to admit that this might be something you wanted to do since you're going to be spending a lot more than just the $2K to do this for 5 days.

Oh my god, do I really have to get into the details of the charity event for you? Will you leave me alone about it if I do?

It was a charity silent auction. Included in the price of our plate was, yes, a ticket to a raffle. There was also a silent auction.

Look, you seem like you're trying to avoid the stigma of planning this trip, but just own it. Nobody cares how this fell in your lap but you wouldn't otherwise do it. It's a distraction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you inadvertently win a silent auction? Either you bid on it or not.

There was a table of prizes you could add a door prize ticket to, to be selected at random. We didn’t expect to win anything.

So, it was a raffle? I mean a small part of you must have been ok with the idea of winning or else you would have put the ticket somewhere else. It's ok to admit that this might be something you wanted to do since you're going to be spending a lot more than just the $2K to do this for 5 days.

Oh my god, do I really have to get into the details of the charity event for you? Will you leave me alone about it if I do?

It was a charity silent auction. Included in the price of our plate was, yes, a ticket to a raffle. There was also a silent auction.

Look, you seem like you're trying to avoid the stigma of planning this trip, but just own it. Nobody cares how this fell in your lap but you wouldn't otherwise do it. It's a distraction.

Why are you so combative? Do you have any actual pertinent advice?

As I said, we are leaning in. Do you have any advice?

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry. Disney is terrible. I truly do not understand the hype. It’s a middle class fantasy world that people feel they must buy into. There is no way to do it “low key” as everyone else will have some version of fast pass or exact ride time reservations for each rides and meals. If you just show up and buy a ticket at the door or try to walk into any dining you will be waiting behind alllllll the others. Plus the million wheelchairs, strollers, and rascals that are everywhere. Then you’ll pay $100 for the equivalent of prison food for lunch.

[Anonymous]

Wilderness Cabins are a bargain (for Disney) and have separate amenities / activities if you want to cut down your days in the park. Many people stay there and never go into the parks. Also dog friendly if that matters at all. Full kitchen so you can cook (if you want!) to help keep costs down too.

I’ve heard Epcot is now “Drunkcot” on weekends starting around 2/3pm and earlier if there’s a festival going on. With that comes the aggression and sexual stuff you’d expect. Lots of families plan to visit Epcot during the week or if it has to be on a weekend, head out early.

[Anonymous]

Would you enjoy the parks at ALL? My vote would be to skip the Disney hotel and use the $$ to do Premier Pass at a few of the parks— we did it for animal kingdom and really enjoyed the flexibility it offers.

FWIW, I am generally kind of in the anti-Disney camp, but doing in a lower key way where you pay for convenience makes it more palatable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you inadvertently win a silent auction? Either you bid on it or not.

There was a table of prizes you could add a door prize ticket to, to be selected at random. We didn’t expect to win anything.

So, it was a raffle? I mean a small part of you must have been ok with the idea of winning or else you would have put the ticket somewhere else. It's ok to admit that this might be something you wanted to do since you're going to be spending a lot more than just the $2K to do this for 5 days.

Oh my god, do I really have to get into the details of the charity event for you? Will you leave me alone about it if I do?

It was a charity silent auction. Included in the price of our plate was, yes, a ticket to a raffle. There was also a silent auction.

Look, you seem like you're trying to avoid the stigma of planning this trip, but just own it. Nobody cares how this fell in your lap but you wouldn't otherwise do it. It's a distraction.

Why are you so combative? Do you have any actual pertinent advice?

As I said, we are leaning in. Do you have any advice?

You're not getting a lot of advice here b/c of how you kicked this off.

[Anonymous]

I would do Animal Kingdom too. It’s the most beautiful of the parks and has a lovely vibe. Amazing animal trails, a bird show, a 20 minute immersive safari ride, you wouldn’t need to do anything intense if you didn’t want to. Visit in the last 4 hours of park operation and lines should not be bad at all.

Stay at the Grand Floridian, the Wilderness Lodge or the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Look at online photos to see what vibe you prefer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that sounds like a good plan, but you should know that $2k gift card will probably barely cover the room for 5 days at a Deluxe resort. Beach Club has the best pool and walking distance to Epcot, so I think that would be a great place to start.

I would also do a dinner at Grand Floridian or the Contemporary and then google for the fireworks cruise. That will be a great low-key, adult experience.

You’re correct. Based on my research, we will end up paying for the park tickets when anything else we do/eat, but that’s ok!

Actually, thanks for mentioning that about Beach Club; that puts it higher on the list. I’m sure this will be a thing no matter where we choose, but do you think that because of the pool at this resort, it will be exceptionally overrun with children? Like, more than the others?

lol, now I think you’re a troll. Yes, there will be a lot of children.

I’m not a troll. Are you? I’ve just read that this is a very kid-friendly pool, but that does sound ridiculous when talking about Disney.

Is there a resort that is less kid-friendly?

No, Ms. AI Bot, there is no "Disney resort that is less kid friendly". But I appreciate the effort to tack onto the thread about Disney adults being weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you inadvertently win a silent auction? Either you bid on it or not.

There was a table of prizes you could add a door prize ticket to, to be selected at random. We didn’t expect to win anything.

So, it was a raffle? I mean a small part of you must have been ok with the idea of winning or else you would have put the ticket somewhere else. It's ok to admit that this might be something you wanted to do since you're going to be spending a lot more than just the $2K to do this for 5 days.

Oh my god, do I really have to get into the details of the charity event for you? Will you leave me alone about it if I do?

It was a charity silent auction. Included in the price of our plate was, yes, a ticket to a raffle. There was also a silent auction.

Look. If you are really into doing Disney in a way that is laid back and not kid centric, and you otherwise don't have much of a desire to do it, it makes no sense to spend 5 days there and spend probably an additional 8k on top of the 2k prize that you won. What I would do, is spend that 2k to stay for 2 nights (or 3 if you find a good deal) at one of the high end Disney properties (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary) and plan to just hang around the pool, have some drinks, relax and pretend you're on a resort anywhere else. And then if you want to, for fun, you can just buy 2 single day passes for Magic Kingdom and wander around for a few hours just to check it out since you've never been. Or, if you've been to Magic Kingdom, then buy single day passes for either Epcot or the wilderness one. Or, don't, and just relax poolside.

[Anonymous]

Just you and your DH or are there any kids? Any thing can be a low key Disney experience. Just go for a few hours and spend the rest of the day at the pool. If there's nothing in particular you want to see, you won't miss anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just you and your DH or are there any kids? Any thing can be a low key Disney experience. Just go for a few hours and spend the rest of the day at the pool. If there's nothing in particular you want to see, you won't miss anything.

This. I’d look at the FS if you’re looking at the Polynesian and GF too. When we priced it all, FS was substantially less.