West Coast DVC members, where are you?

["Got Disney"]

Hi West Coasterspopcorn::

I live here in SanDiego and visit DL all the time and use our pts for GCH. We also visit WDW and DCL frequently.

so how often do you use your DVC and where do you stay????? Have you ever used your pts to go to Hawaii or Africa or any of the other places that we can go play????

What have you found to be the best part of your DVC? or the worst?

inquiring minds want to know?:thumbsup2

[Trebor]

We're up in Northern CA (Livermore, to be exact). We've only been members for about 7 months. We used some points for a two-night stay at the DLR this past February and have a big trip planned for WDW around Christmas.

I'd say the worst part is being so far away from Orlando that it's hard to get out there more than once every couple of years.

Hard to say what the best part is, since we haven't actually stayed in a DVC property yet.

[jemiaule]

We are in the San Francisco area and go to WDW two to three times a year. We do not have any plans to do Disneyland anytime in the next few years.

As far as trade-outs, we are not really looking to do that either. We bought our DVC solely to do WDW stays.

So are you in San Diego or near there? We have family down in Oceanside.

[ACDSNY]

We're from Elk Grove, CA (south of Sacramento) and use our DVC for WDW and DLR. I never seem to have any points leftover to do any trades. Love the flexibilty of DVC. Still hoping and waiting for a CA DVC.:love:

[Califgirl]

We're just north of San Diego, in Vista. We use our DVC similarly to you. We use points for the GCH when we want to stay overnight at DLR, or if I want to take a friend and enjoy the parks for 2 days. Lately, I've also been doing 2 trips a year to WDW (studio), if I 'go on a girls trip' but if I go with my husband we get a 1 bdrm.

We've used our points for the Biltmore in AZ and Shutters in Santa Monica. It's very easy, but there is a transaction fee. We've never used our points to cruise, in fact, we've never cruised... hopefully next spring when the Magic is back in town. :)

[keliblue]

Hello, :flower3:

We are from Georgetown, Ca. (near lake Tahoe) We have only used our points for wonderful WDW trips and try to go at least twice a year. Gotta get out of the snow sometimes :sad2:

We love DVC :yay:

["Got Disney"]

We're just north of San Diego, in Vista. We use our DVC similarly to you. We use points for the GCH when we want to stay overnight at DLR, or if I want to take a friend and enjoy the parks for 2 days. Lately, I've also been doing 2 trips a year to WDW (studio), if I 'go on a girls trip' but if I go with my husband we get a 1 bdrm.

We've used our points for the Biltmore in AZ and Shutters in Santa Monica. It's very easy, but there is a transaction fee. We've never used our points to cruise, in fact, we've never cruised... hopefully next spring when the Magic is back in town. :)

The prices on the cruise are going up...we are on the July 27th to the Mexican Riviera. Come and join us :thumbsup2 Once you cruise DCL you will be hooked for sure. We cruise almost every year.

We did plan on cruiseing this time with our pts doing a back to back Mexican cruise but decided to save our pts for more play at DL, WDW or somewhere else:thumbsup2

[bwvBound]

San Diego, here also.

We visit WDW each January for business purposes and typically stay the full week at BWV. Last year we tried a new twist: 6 nights at BWV for the conference and then two nights at OKW to "unwind." It worked so well we'll plan that again for 2008 ... but hopefully snagging those last two nights at AKV.

We don't plan on using our points outside DVC-resort stays. (We have other tools available ...)

What have you found to be the best part of your DVC? or the worst?Best: Booking DVC directly with one phone call ... rather than waiting for an exchange to come through for my narrow request of: one resort, one arrival date.

Worst: (a) Not being able to guarantee a non-smoking, non-handicapped room; and (b) DVC's seemingly awkward banking/borrowing rules.

[glewis1123]

Hi fellow west coasters

Just another sunshiney day here in Paradise, Ca - east of Chico,Ca

[disneymom8589]

A DVC member in Western Washington here! Hello fellow West Coasters!! :wave2:

[utahkennedys]

We live in Salt Lake City and go to WDW at least once each year. In a few weeks we are heading to our 2nd DL trip and staying at the DLH on DVC points.

Our current "issue" with DVC is flying from SLC and then only staying 5 nights to save on "points", so that complicates matters. We just bought a new timeshare and are hoping to trade into Marriotts, etc. for 7 full nights since DH hates the trip with 2 kids under age 5 if we aren't staying a full week +. Otherwise, we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE DVC! ;)

[dwelty]

Temecula CA here. We also go to DLR quite often. We do not use our points there because we dont like the excahange rate. We can find a room really close by for a low price.

[50 years Too!]

Portland.
I bribed my husband into buying lots of points with the lure of using them elsewhere.
I have our vacations to the world planned out for the next 5 years so don't think thats going to happen!
If we have grandkids down the road, I could see us spending a long weekend with them at Disney Grand Californian.

[lisah0711]

Portland.
I bribed my husband into buying lots of points with the lure of using them elsewhere.
I have our vacations to the world planned out for the next 5 years so don't think thats going to happen!
If we have grandkids down the road, I could see us spending a long weekend with them at Disney Grand Californian.

I did the same with my husband too! He doesn't know there will neverbe enough points to do anything else -- unless we get more that is :rolleyes1

In Coeur d'Alene Idaho here (about as far west as L.A.). Use points for a few days in DL at GCH and then 6 days in WDW every other year. Hoping, hoping, hoping for a West Coast DVC some day!

What I like the most is that I can always have at least two trips in the works -- avoids the let down when one trip is over :rotfl:

["Got Disney"]

I hope also that they will have DVC at DL. With the new ships coming sure that they will do that. It is rumored that they want to make DVC at GCH also in Mexico and Hawaii :thumbsup2

Would like to see more DVC that have the same pt value as what we use at WDW. We have 400 pts a year and would like to get it up to 600.

Than pass 300 each on to our boys years down the line. My sons will be in there 60's by the time our know 400 pts expire and well I will be 99 so dont think I will need it...Dh will be even older...:rotfl2:

Even though we are still paying monthly on it it is funny because when we use our pts it feels like we are staying there for free. Go figure. Dh just laughs at me when I say "We can just go to DL and not pay anything while we stay at GCH in concierge :confused3

How special I feel to be there for free :rotfl:

[Longhairbear]

We are in Agoura Hills CA, bordering Malibu. Our home resort is VWL, and we go twice a year to WDW for F&W, and F&G. Staying at BWV in May/June. We have tried almost all of the WDW DVC resorts, and love them all equally so far, although our home resort is still our favorite.
We've used up holding account points for stays at all 3 DL hotels. It would be nice to get a CA DVC to save on points, over the number required for the DLR hotels.
The best part of DVC is that our vacation accomodations are basically prepaid/free for years to come. The worst part of DVC is not having one at Disneyland.

[debbiepump]

Seattle, WA here! We go about two times a year to our 'home' at BCV.
Alaska Airlines have a direct flight to Orlando, what more could we ask for?!?

[jbrowna]

We have an offspring that works at WDW, and even though we can stay at the CM rate (when rooms are available) and get in the parks using her Maingate Pass, we purchased DVC for the nicer rooms and the perks (like being able to add on DDP without buying a park pass).

We go to WDW at least twice a year (usually August/September and December), with occasional shorter trips thrown in (such as our upcoming four-day weekend at the end of July).

DW is an expert at frequent flyer miles, knows where to find all the bonuses and such. For example, with just one actual flight, she was able to accumulate enough miles (through dining promotions and such) to get three free roundtrips. We were also fortunate enough to get bumped from a USAir flight last fall (put us back for only about 2 hours, so it was worth it), so we're using those free flight vouchers for our trip this September. Oddly enough, flights from Portland to Orlando are often not much more than from Portland to LA, so it makes more sense to go to Florida than to California - besides, as good parents how can we not go visit our daughter? :thumbsup2

[madcoco]

Suburb of L.A. known as Vegas. Now moved to FL for most of the year. For the San Diego DVC'ers you have some of the finest weather in the U.S imho. At least the sunbathers think so.pirate:
http://i15.tinypic.com/2mgqlg0.jpg

[rsschneck]

We live in Beaverton (suburb of Portland). We have owned since 2002 and have accumulated 520 points along the way.

We have used our points for numerous vacations
one 3 night cruise
one 4 night DVC cruise
once we stayed at DLH and once at GCH
used concierge collection once to stay at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission
DVC stays: 3x at HHI
3x @ BCV
1x BWV
2x SSR
3 x OKW

Have not tried Vero, VWL and will want to try VAK in the future.

We use our DVC 2-3 trips per year. LOVE IT!

["Got Disney"]

We also can use out Sky miles for traveling to WDW but sure hate that long plane flight of at least 7 hrs each way with a layover. Sometimes using your miles you get lousy flights or have to book so far in advanced that we have all theses pts and dont use them...go figure:confused3

WE like to use our miles for like Hawaii. We also like to go to Disney last minute so DL with our pts works great in that sence. WE always go to WDW when we are cruising.

We were at WDW over this past dec and did 6 days at WDW and 10 days Christmas cruise. In 2008 we will be doing 7 days at DL and 7 day cruise however the ship will be out this way so can avoid flying and drive about 1 hr 15 minutes:thumbsup2

For us Westcoaters we deffinatly need a DVC here at DL.....and sure that will come along with the new ships. With 4 ships they are sure to leave on at least here and they will hopefully accomidate(sp) us. :)

[Jessica R.]

We are in Beaverton as well. At our current rate we are going to WDW once a year. Alaska Air is starting a direct Portland to MCO flight in September so that might change things. We will be at BWV the first 2 weeks of May.

[PattiPB]

Hello fellow west coast people!

We go to DL (almost) monthly, and go to WDW twice a year (summer and December).

This summer will be our first stay on our points, although we've traded through II for DVC before. We stay on Harbor Blvd at DL, but can't wait for a DLR DVC at a reasonable rate of points.

Glad to see so many of us westerners on the DVC boards!

[Califgirl]

You guys are making me realize I need an add-on! I wish Disney would hurry up with the Calif DVC!!!

["Got Disney"]

You guys are making me realize I need an add-on! I wish Disney would hurry up with the Calif DVC!!!

Califgirl where in SD are you from....LaMesa here.:thumbsup2

[Califgirl]

I'm a little north of San Diego, in Vista. :)

[tootsiemolly]

We currently live in Boise, ID! We use to live in Salt Lake City for the last 15 yrs. We travel to WDW once a year. However, this year we made it 2x. We also go for the 5 nights to save on points. However, we recently added on and so we are surprising our kids with a trip for x-mas. We are all flying to WDW our fam, my sister's fam, and my parents. I hope we all get along and have a great time! This will be my sister and her families first trip! The kids will all unwrap various disney items for Christmas, and we will actually travel over MLK.

We have owned SS for 3 years and we have only stayed at SS. This will be our 5th stay :banana:

[lisah0711]

We currently live in Boise, ID! We use to live in Salt Lake City for the last 15 yrs. We travel to WDW once a year. However, this year we made it 2x. We also go for the 5 nights to save on points. However, we recently added on and so we are surprising our kids with a trip for x-mas. We are all flying to WDW our fam, my sister's fam, and my parents. I hope we all get along and have a great time! This will be my sister and her families first trip! The kids will all unwrap various disney items for Christmas, and we will actually travel over MLK.

We have owned SS for 3 years and we have only stayed at SS. This will be our 5th stay :banana:

Hello to a fellow Idahoan -- it's an adventure getting from Idaho to WDW but worth it when you finally get there! I am sure that you will have a great time on your surprise trip. We are going in January too.

[Zoom]

Hi fellow west coasters! We're here in corona, calif. We just bought DVC last Jan07, first trip home in 11 days! can't wait:yay: We also cruised with DCL twice and loved it, hoping for the new ships base here in DL for Hawaii,Mexico & Alaska cruises.

[coloradodad]

Since the Boise folks have chimed in, here in Denver we are just getting ready to join, but would love a DL resort too - cheaper and shorter travel.

mg

[La2kw]

Hey! :wave2:
We're in the L.A. area. We go to Disneyland regularly, but we rarely use points at Disneyland. The Villas at the GC will change that! ;) We go to WDW every year for at least two weeks. We use our points there.

[TravelingJen24]

Here in the valley of Cali, Fresno, ca. We go to WDW for one full week a year and sometimes use our points for DL. I haven't traded anything yet for our points but we did use a broker to get a 2 bedroom villa at the four seasons in Carlsbad. We love that hotel and if we could afford the dues there we'd buy there too.

[mello]

Hi fellow west-coasters!

We've only been members for about a year & a half. We went to WDW for 2 weeks in '05, for 5 days in '06, we're taking this year off and going for 3 weeks in '08. (We take that same Alaska non-stop from Seattle - they've got a great airmiles program!)

So far we've only used our points at WDW, but we'll likely use them for a little hop to DL at some point in the future. Not sure about trades. We've talked about maybe DCL some day, or maybe using some points for a concierge collection stay in Hawaii or WA DC, but we'll see.

[M&C]

Another San Diegan here - Chula Vista, annual passholders at Disneyland. Go to Disneyworld every year except for a couple of years (since we moved from the midwest). Realized that while we love Disneyland, we do miss Disneyworld so we bought DVC. Now, I'm supposed to get the first call from my guide when GCV becomes available. He told me so last week. I'm still waiting......:rolleyes1

M&C

["Got Disney"]

Another San Diegan here - Chula Vista, annual passholders at Disneyland. Go to Disneyworld every year except for a couple of years (since we moved from the midwest). Realized that while we love Disneyland, we do miss Disneyworld so we bought DVC. Now, I'm supposed to get the first call from my guide when GCV becomes available. He told me so last week. I'm still waiting......:rolleyes1

M&C

I want GCV also....we stay there all the time and would love to use less pts than 33 pts for a reg room a night...that is during peek season however. But we sure love it there!!!!!:thumbsup2

[juju]

Also from Seattle, BWV since 2000. Try to go down about 2x a year too Whenever I ask my husband if he wants to use our points at another location, he just asks me if I'm crazy. Recently returned from seeing Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort, but didn't use DVC points, already have them used up for Oct trip.

[jbrowna]

Recently returned from seeing Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort, but didn't use DVC points, already have them used up for Oct trip.

Details! We want details! :yay: Do you have a trip report posted anywhere?

We're planning on taking the whole family to Tokyo Disney Resort sometime in 2009 -- we've been many times to Disneyland over the years, our DD works at Disney World (so we get down there fairly regularly), and we went to Disneyland Paris in 2005, so Tokyo and Hong Kong are beckoning. :eek:

[minnieandmickey]

Another central valley owner here. We bought last year and are making our second trip in October. Spending a lot of points bringing friends to FWF this year, and sending the in-laws to HH for their 40th, and taking DD to DLR. Would love to go twice a year but the airfare is getting rediculous, anyone find anything good for this year? Nothing under 350 for us so far. Oh well guess I will be using them at DLR, and going to WDW every other year, better than nothing.

["Got Disney"]

Another central valley owner here. We bought last year and are making our second trip in October. Spending a lot of points bringing friends to FWF this year, and sending the in-laws to HH for their 40th, and taking DD to DLR. Would love to go twice a year but the airfare is getting rediculous, anyone find anything good for this year? Nothing under 350 for us so far. Oh well guess I will be using them at DLR, and going to WDW every other year, better than nothing.

DL works...stay at the GCH with your pts and go to the Water park, Universal and Knotts along with DL. Break it up :thumbsup2

Thats what we do. DH loves to hang at the Hotel while me and the kids are in the park. He enjoys DL but like you we live close and have been there many many times. Even the kids enjoy hanging at the hotel.

That is why we break it up and go other places. Sometimes we will just stay at GCH and do the water park for a couple of days and not even go into DL unless we have renewed our AP.

We need DVC at DL :dance3:

[ACDSNY]

Would love to go twice a year but the airfare is getting rediculous, anyone find anything good for this year? Nothing under 350 for us so far.

If you keep an eye on expedia and travelocity you can find some good rates way in advance. We're flying next week on Delta for $217 RT on tickets I purchased back in Nov. We usually go to WDW Sat to Sat.

[funatdisney]

Hi everyone! I am not a member YET. We stayed a the OKW (rented from here in fact). We love DL and WDW. We loved our stay, and have considered buying into DVC every since. We are from Ventura Ca, and flew out of Burbank on Jet Blue. They had a nonstop, but discontinued it in Nov 06. So I have a question to ask. When you fly out of the LA area, what airline do you normally use? What times do you prefer to fly? Out of LA? Burbank? This is the main reason why I don't take the plunge and buy. DH hates to fly. He loved Jet Blue. I never have seen him so relaxed after a plane ride. Makes for a good time at WDW when DH is in a good mood the first day. Sets the tone.
Second question. I have heard that there are plans to build a DVC here at DL. Has there been an official announce given for DVC members about this? That could also help me with my decision. We go to DL two to three times a month, but love staying at the GCH. I wouldn't mind staying for a week.

[keliblue]

If you keep an eye on expedia and travelocity you can find some good rates way in advance. We're flying next week on Delta for $217 RT on tickets I purchased back in Nov. We usually go to WDW Sat to Sat.

WOW.. that is a great rate. Is that out of Sacramento ??

[ACDSNY]

WOW.. that is a great rate. Is that out of Sacramento ??

Yes, it's SMF-LAX-MCO going and MCO-SLC-SMF on the way back.

[glewis1123]

Yes, it's SMF-LAX-MCO going and MCO-SLC-SMF on the way back.

hmmm just moved from San Jose to Paradise and AA has horrid flights - we like to fly down to LA and catch the non stop to MCO on a red eye but AA doesn't fly to LA from SMF - guess I'll have to change miles credit card to Delta :thumbsup2

[bigsmooth]

another from seattle (another fan of the alaska direct flight, also a fan of the $50 companion fare that comes with the alaska credit card each year).

I doub't we'd add on at the DL DVC, but would love to stay there. I could see making that our spur of the moment destinations (i.e. call member services and see what's available for a long weekend). Who knows. I've joked to the DW about adding on at a different resort, we've thought about it.

[keliblue]

hmmm just moved from San Jose to Paradise and AA has horrid flights - we like to fly down to LA and catch the non stop to MCO on a red eye but AA doesn't fly to LA from SMF - guess I'll have to change miles credit card to Delta :thumbsup2

I believe United also flies direct to Orlando from L.A. we are hoping to do the same (red-eye) in September. Otherwise its SouthWest out of sacramento..:sad2: I hate wasting the whole day on a plane.. no red-eye's

[glewis1123]

I believe United also flies direct to Orlando from L.A. we are hoping to do the same (red-eye) in September. Otherwise its SouthWest out of sacramento..:sad2: I hate wasting the whole day on a plane.. no red-eye's


us 2 or should I say 3 - ds is 13 - we've had to change our flights on AA out of SMF this June SMF>DEN>MCO w/3 hr layover in Denver but get into MCO at 5am.

SFO has a non stop flight to Miami also that we've done when we lived in SanJose

Looking at flights now for November for my birthday trip to the world.

[Longhairbear]

I hope we get one of the new ships that Disney just made official today.

["Got Disney"]

I agree I want a new ship:thumbsup2 I want it to go to Alaska, Mexico and Hawaii and I want it to be cheep :dance3:

[jazzmanmgt]

We are from the SF Bay Area and usually go to WDW every other summer. We have been members almost 5 years now and really enjoy staying on property. Usually we will be in a 1 br and on occasion a studio. Most times we split our say using AP discounts so we get about 10-12 total days. We have stayed at SSR, OKW, and this summer we'll do 3 days at Vero Beach and 7 days at VWL. So far we've never used our points outside of WDW. What we like best is staying on property and the complete Disney experience. What we dislike the most is the $$$....thus why we go every other year, need time to save up in order to do it right!