stacikristine
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2008
- Messages
- 1,657
First, a little background information:
At the beginning of October, things were super slow at work (heck...they're still super slow). Therefore, I had to find something to occupy my time. The company I work for owns a travel agency, and I would pass by it periodically. The Disney brochures seemed to be calling my name! One day I decided to go for it--what could looking hurt? Well, I got the Disney Bug and I went balistic with excitement. The more I thought about it/looked at the brochure, the more I wanted to go!!! I started doing some figuring, and found out WE COULD AFFORD IT!!!
After looking at all of the prices and the busy seasons, I decided September would be the best time for us to go. And since my soon-to-be-DH and I can both pick our vacation times (unlike my family, since both of my parents are teachers), we could go whenever! Well, I texted my fiance' and told him I was putting together a Disney Dream Vacation Package. He just laughed and told me I was crazy. But he was really excited about the possibility.
I messed around with different packages and options for a couple of days, and finally decided that we could stay at POP for 6 nights/7 days.
We were going to Disney World!! Oh--and the Dining Plan is a MUST for us. It's one of the best things about Disney World!!! I was goofy excited. Sometimes all I could do was giggle. This was my first vacation to plan all by myself!!!! 
Well, I talked to one of the travel agents to see if they could get me something better, and no such luck. But it was ok, because I felt like I had a pretty good deal. I'd stayed at POP last time, and it wasn't extravagant by any means, but we loved it. We were pumped.
Then, I was super, super bored at work (do you see the pattern here?) and found the Ultimate Savings Guide ebook online. I checked with one of my co-workers to make sure I wouldn't get in trouble for ordering something online, and then I bought it! It is AMAZING!!!
I couldn't believe the savings tips and strategies! I tried to spread out my reading, but it was so good...I dove in.
Before long, I came upon the best tip in the whole-wide-world: Renting from a Disney Vacation Club owner!! As I read, I couldn't believe that I'd never heard of this before. Well...I immediately became a DISboard member, and checked out the Rent/Trade board. After checking out the point charts and looking at TONS of pictures, we decided to try to stay at AKV. Michael and I were both super-pumped at the thought!
I read every single "Points for Rent" thread and kept trying to find someone with AKV points. So many had great pp deals, but they couldn't book at AKV until the end of Feb. I called Disney and found out the Value Studio rooms book really fast--I'd better book asap. I was a little discouraged, but I'm about as persistent as they come (many times, to a fault). We finally found someone to rent points from!! And we were going to be able to stay at AKV for LESS than staying at POP!!!
Talk about squealing with excitement!!!
I don't think I'm supposed to say who we're renting from, but I will say he's been GREAT!
And there's been a lot for him to prove his patience/greatness with. First of all, since this is my first time renting, I was really uneasy about everything. I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to get screwed. I laugh now when I think that I almost pulled the "I work for a legal service, Buddy, don't screw with me!" card. 
Anyway...he had to deal with all of my questions and my "making sure he was who he said he was".
THEN...he wanted us to pay via paypal. No prob, right? Wrong. You have to understand--I live in a small town. Our bank website doesn't even work half the time. They would laugh me out of the building if I asked why our transactions took a couple of weeks to show up! It's just how it is. Let me tell you...I've never missed Bank of America so much in my whole life!! I almost cried when I moved here and had to switch banks!
To make a long story not quite as long, paypal wouldn't recognize our bank card as a credit card--even though it usually works ok. So we had to route it to our bank. Remember it's crappy. So that took forever. Then we had to verify the amounts...and on and on... until FINALLY I got an email from the DVC owner we're renting from saying that he received the payment! YES!!
Almost done...I promise. Well, he was supposed to call and switch the ressie to our names on Tuesday, but he had meetings, and they lasted too late to call. So last night, I was checking my email, and
WE HAVE A RESERVATION!!!
Now we're just waiting on the "official confirmation packet" in the mail. But we have the confirmation information! But needless to say, I'm super, super, super excited!! It's official now!
At the beginning of October, things were super slow at work (heck...they're still super slow). Therefore, I had to find something to occupy my time. The company I work for owns a travel agency, and I would pass by it periodically. The Disney brochures seemed to be calling my name! One day I decided to go for it--what could looking hurt? Well, I got the Disney Bug and I went balistic with excitement. The more I thought about it/looked at the brochure, the more I wanted to go!!! I started doing some figuring, and found out WE COULD AFFORD IT!!!
After looking at all of the prices and the busy seasons, I decided September would be the best time for us to go. And since my soon-to-be-DH and I can both pick our vacation times (unlike my family, since both of my parents are teachers), we could go whenever! Well, I texted my fiance' and told him I was putting together a Disney Dream Vacation Package. He just laughed and told me I was crazy. But he was really excited about the possibility.
I messed around with different packages and options for a couple of days, and finally decided that we could stay at POP for 6 nights/7 days.
We were going to Disney World!! Oh--and the Dining Plan is a MUST for us. It's one of the best things about Disney World!!! I was goofy excited. Sometimes all I could do was giggle. This was my first vacation to plan all by myself!!!! Well, I talked to one of the travel agents to see if they could get me something better, and no such luck. But it was ok, because I felt like I had a pretty good deal. I'd stayed at POP last time, and it wasn't extravagant by any means, but we loved it. We were pumped.
Then, I was super, super bored at work (do you see the pattern here?) and found the Ultimate Savings Guide ebook online. I checked with one of my co-workers to make sure I wouldn't get in trouble for ordering something online, and then I bought it! It is AMAZING!!!
I couldn't believe the savings tips and strategies! I tried to spread out my reading, but it was so good...I dove in. Before long, I came upon the best tip in the whole-wide-world: Renting from a Disney Vacation Club owner!! As I read, I couldn't believe that I'd never heard of this before. Well...I immediately became a DISboard member, and checked out the Rent/Trade board. After checking out the point charts and looking at TONS of pictures, we decided to try to stay at AKV. Michael and I were both super-pumped at the thought!
I read every single "Points for Rent" thread and kept trying to find someone with AKV points. So many had great pp deals, but they couldn't book at AKV until the end of Feb. I called Disney and found out the Value Studio rooms book really fast--I'd better book asap. I was a little discouraged, but I'm about as persistent as they come (many times, to a fault). We finally found someone to rent points from!! And we were going to be able to stay at AKV for LESS than staying at POP!!!
Talk about squealing with excitement!!! I don't think I'm supposed to say who we're renting from, but I will say he's been GREAT!
And there's been a lot for him to prove his patience/greatness with. First of all, since this is my first time renting, I was really uneasy about everything. I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to get screwed. I laugh now when I think that I almost pulled the "I work for a legal service, Buddy, don't screw with me!" card. Anyway...he had to deal with all of my questions and my "making sure he was who he said he was". THEN...he wanted us to pay via paypal. No prob, right? Wrong. You have to understand--I live in a small town. Our bank website doesn't even work half the time. They would laugh me out of the building if I asked why our transactions took a couple of weeks to show up! It's just how it is. Let me tell you...I've never missed Bank of America so much in my whole life!! I almost cried when I moved here and had to switch banks!
To make a long story not quite as long, paypal wouldn't recognize our bank card as a credit card--even though it usually works ok. So we had to route it to our bank. Remember it's crappy. So that took forever. Then we had to verify the amounts...and on and on... until FINALLY I got an email from the DVC owner we're renting from saying that he received the payment! YES!! Almost done...I promise. Well, he was supposed to call and switch the ressie to our names on Tuesday, but he had meetings, and they lasted too late to call. So last night, I was checking my email, and
WE HAVE A RESERVATION!!! Now we're just waiting on the "official confirmation packet" in the mail. But we have the confirmation information! But needless to say, I'm super, super, super excited!! It's official now!
Things just got so crazy with the wedding and Christmas and everything. Plus we all got "talked to" about our internet usage at work, so I had to lay low for a while. Luckily, DIS shows up as "uncategorized" or something like that. The biggest issues were people shopping and looking at sports and entertainment. So I'll try to sneak on here when I can again! It's hard to make time to get on at home--I'm working 40+ hrs a week and then taking 19 hrs of classes at night (online)! 
But no more excuses--I'm getting back on DIS! 
I found you through Lady Lallie's PTR (seems to be a trend doesn't it?! 
) SO awesome to hear about your AKL deal! AND getting married AND you're first WDW together! I'm tuning in for more! 
