1/17/09 Magic anyone???

[Eeyore'sthebest]

We are using our DVC points so we had to book within 3 days of getting off the boat to get a reduced rate. I booked when they opened Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Even the woman at Member Services laughed at me!!

 

[Georji]

Georgi, I saw you EVERYWHERE! I was room #6549, I think I saw you in the hallway, I for sure saw you at the kids club, I was walking behind you at Castaway Cay, and I think I was behind you at the buffet one day. It's so weird to say hello to someone you have actually never met though. I told my friend one day at the kids club though "I think that's Georji from the boards" she said "say hi", but I didn't even know if that is your real name or what. You were the only person I recognized from the pics on the boards. Anyway, we too are HOOKED! I booked the same cruise for same time next year and my aunt and her family are coming too! She's never been, but she is a Disney addict and has been to the world too many times to count. Anyone elso book onboard?

You should have come and said hi! That would have been cool! Let me see a photo of you! And yes, my real name (believe it or not), is Georji! Anyway ... I didn't book onboard ... just because we're not sure what next year will bring!

 

[Georji]

We are using our DVC points so we had to book within 3 days of getting off the boat to get a reduced rate. I booked when they opened Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Even the woman at Member Services laughed at me!!

How many DVC points do you have a year? What property do you own at? Are you happy with DVC?? We nearly bought, but then decided to wait ... we'll probably still do it but are waiting a bit longer. It seemed like the cruises were so expensive with points ... we have a family of 4 so it just seemed unrealistic to get like 600 points a year ... I don't know.

What is your guys suggestions?

 

[Laura22]

How many DVC points do you have a year? What property do you own at? Are you happy with DVC?? We nearly bought, but then decided to wait ... we'll probably still do it but are waiting a bit longer. It seemed like the cruises were so expensive with points ... we have a family of 4 so it just seemed unrealistic to get like 600 points a year ... I don't know.

What is your guys suggestions?

We went to that first DVC presentation, just to try for the $300. Man, they nearly talked us into it. I woulda dove right in but the husband kept a clear head, unfortunately! We would have just gone with the minimum 160 points as we already have another time share week.

 

[owensjro]

How many DVC points do you have a year? What property do you own at? Are you happy with DVC?? We nearly bought, but then decided to wait ... we'll probably still do it but are waiting a bit longer. It seemed like the cruises were so expensive with points ... we have a family of 4 so it just seemed unrealistic to get like 600 points a year ... I don't know.

What is your guys suggestions?

Cruises are expensive on points. You get somewhere between $6 - $9 per point in value whereas renting you can get $10 and staying at a DVC resort you can get up into the $13-15 range.

However, I look at it as a pre-paid vacation. In the long run no matter whether I get $6 per point or $15 per point in value I will still come out ahead. We bought our first points back in 2001 and hit the break even point (ie, cash value of each vacation > initial cash outlay + each year of dues) in 2006. So any vacations beyond that are "free" once you subtract the yearly dues from them.

We now have points at Hilton Head (our initial buyin), AKV, and we bought BLT while on board this last trip. We're at 755 points and that is enough for us all to cruise each year and do a disney trip in the same year. We actually used the bonus/developer points plus our new points to book back-to-backs next June. We're doing the 4N Wonder and a 5N wonder June 4-13.

We've been buying our points in smaller chunks and trying not to buy more until the others were paid off. It's much easier than buying 600 right up front.

Jim

 

[hgon76]

okay, I thought I could figure this out but I guess I am more computer illiterate than I thought. How do you post a picture on this board? I have vista if that helps.

 

[Laura22]

When you reply to a thread or start a new thread there is a little yellow box with a picture of a sun and mountains on it just above where you type. Click that and paste in the location of your picture. (You will need to upload your photo to the internet first - I use smugmug to host my photos.)

 

[4Goofys4Dis]

How many DVC points do you have a year? What property do you own at? Are you happy with DVC?? We nearly bought, but then decided to wait ... we'll probably still do it but are waiting a bit longer. It seemed like the cruises were so expensive with points ... we have a family of 4 so it just seemed unrealistic to get like 600 points a year ... I don't know.

What is your guys suggestions?

We're DVC members too and LOVE it - just waiting to get more points (its never enough!)

We are also a family of 4 and we have 250 points. We find it works for us and this cruise was paid for in points. We took my parents and brother's family to Disney last year on them, banked what was left, used the current years points and then borrowed a few more from next year and we still have enough to go to Disney for 5 days this summer.

As long as you know how to use the points, you can make it work. We have not gone a year without a vacation and Saratoga Springs (SSR) is our home resort...we would like to add on to AKV just to be able to book at the 11 month mark, but now SSR has the Treehouse Villas which is REALLY cool!

Anyway, feel free to PM me if you have any questions. We really do like it and it does spread out the cost of our vacation over the course of the year (or if you pay it out right you are pre-paying your vacations).

 

[hgon76]

This is all I get when I try to copy and paste from photobucket.
Any suggestions?

 

[hgon76]

[/IMG]

Okay, I think I somewhat got the idea now. Only, I can either do REALLY big pics, or REALLY little pics

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

We have 312 points now. We bought 160 of Bay Lake Tower while we were on the boat. So between those points and the developer points, we were able to book without using too much into the 2010 points.

We mainly use our points at the Campground so we can do 6 nights at the campground for about 50 points. It really makes them last!! In fact, I think I calculated that between the two cruises this year , we are still able to do at least 2 solid weeks at the campground next year. We love to camp and use the RV a lot. I was shocked when DH wanted to buy into Bay Lake Tower. But he has been looking and drooling over it since they started building. Oh well. I didn't kick and scream too much.

We're probably set point wise for now. But who knows??!

 

[NCMiles4]

Does anyone know Jenn's full name from the entertainment staff? She ran the karaoke and the dance parties most nights in Studio Sea? My daughter LOVED her and wants to send her a letter? Thanks for your help!

Servers: Agus and Erwin-they were great!!

 

[Bytor01]

okay, I thought I could figure this out but I guess I am more computer illiterate than I thought. How do you post a picture on this board? I have vista if that helps.

I use webshots.com. You upload to there and then you click on the picture you want to post. In the bottom right hand corner it will say POT TO FORUM. You click on that and then you can click on the size 100 to 600. You then copy the url and then paste it where you want the picture in your post.
It is easy.

Tim

 

[fltink]

I have to send out big props to the following crew members....

The best server in the world...Mo, and his faithful and funny assistant, Hilash.
They were PHENOMINAL! Best serving team ever!!!!!!

Sasha in Palo.....we still love you, now even more than ever and it was awesome to see you for three meals!!!!

Nyoman, the beverage manager....you rock. Again, great to see a dear friend.

Nambiar and Dinesh....our new friends and the best bar servers... you will be missed.....til we meet again!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NCMiles4]

Hey Laura!

I LOVED your pictures from the cruise, and I recognize you from the ship. It looks like you have a great camera. Can I get some of the pictures from the shows? Our camera wouldn't take very good pictures without the flash.

 

[miles4nc]

Wow what a great vacation! So glad we were gone that particular week because apparently the weather STUNK the whole time we were gone. Whoo hoo!

Here's my trip report, complete with scanned navigators from each day if anyone wants to steal them lol.

Not sure if I saw any of you on the ship, but I did see lots of decorated doors!

Will it let me link to my website? Guess we'll see...

]

Laura-

We were on the same trip and I LOVED your report. I recognized your family right away. We were in the same dinner rotation. It is funny on a ship that big you see the same people over and over. Small world..we are from Wilmington NC! When my son found out he missed a snow day he was a little sad. It is the 2nd one in the 7 years since we moved down here from the Boston area. Anyway..just wanted to say great post and I loved re-living our trip through your picutres. I love the fact you went to Disney on the end of your cruise...what a nice surprise.

Thanks for sharing and have a great day!

 

[mmouse37]

Get this...my DD Allie just trumped my trip. I thought I was the cat's meow going on a cruise and getting away (kids and hubby were bummed but they could not go) and now DD calls me the other night and tells me she was just invited to the SUPERBOWL!!!!!

Georji...your brother will be jealous...DD was invited by Hayden so she is hopping on a flight and going to Florida tomorrow!!!...what a life!!!

MJ

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

MJ - How cool is that??!!! I think that's great that your DD and Hayden are still friends. I can't even imagine how hard it must be to maintain normal friendships in the environment she works in.

I hope she has an amazing time! You'll have to post when she returns with as many details that she shares.

 

[mmouse37]

MJ - How cool is that??!!! I think that's great that your DD and Hayden are still friends. I can't even imagine how hard it must be to maintain normal friendships in the environment she works in.

I hope she has an amazing time! You'll have to post when she returns with as many details that she shares.

Will do!!! I know they are invited to a pre game party on Sat night and another post game party on Sun night so I hope she has some good stories!!!

MJ

 

[Georji]

Get this...my DD Allie just trumped my trip. I thought I was the cat's meow going on a cruise and getting away (kids and hubby were bummed but they could not go) and now DD calls me the other night and tells me she was just invited to the SUPERBOWL!!!!!

Georji...your brother will be jealous...DD was invited by Hayden so she is hopping on a flight and going to Florida tomorrow!!!...what a life!!!

MJ

Gollie, her life is TOUGH! How can she handle all those harships! LOL! I think that's great ... it's fun to live life when you're young! When I was younger I dated a MLB player for many years, and as much fun as being in the spotlight is, it's probably equally difficult. Either way, I think that's AMAZING! I'm not sure who I'm rootin for, but I hope the right team wins! And yes, my brother will be HUGELY jealous!