3-day Wonder (3/13-16) - more info than you can possibly stand!

[ArmandXG]

Hi! I just read most of your post. I absolutely loved it. We will be setting off in Dec for a "Wonder"ful 4 day cruise with my elderly parents.
I love the photo's, especially the one of Deck 4. For some reason, it evoked a lot of emotion from me. In Oct of 06' DH and I cruised on the Magic. We spent quite a bit of time on Deck 4, relaxing in those wonderful chairs, watching the world go by. We did late night strolls, and even spent a few minutes making last minute phone calls home before our room opened on embarkation day. It is one of my favorite spots on the ship.

On another note, My nephew is also a Marine. He is currently in Columbia (Santa Marta) and is on a ship hitting several ports around the world. Wishing all our troops a safe return home.

 

[luckymom24/7]

So loving your report, have it bookmarked! If you don't write for a living, you need to start thinking about it...anyway, we have 4 fantastic kids - 8 yr. old twin boys, a 5 yr. old daughter and a 10 mth. old boy. We've been to WDW once a few years ago, and I have now decided that I am actually a misplaced true Disney princess - have always loved all things Disney, and now want to live in WDW! So my question is...on a very moderate income, what are the benefits/drawbacks and any helpful info regarding joining DVC? Also have other questions for you, as we are taking a Disney cruise next year...I'll post those later. Thanks in advance...

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Luckymom, we are genuinely people of modest means. But our DVC rationale went like this:

(1) We are going to spend money on vacations every year. We glady deny ourselves some things that others might view as necessities. For instance, we are a car dealers nightmare ... we drive our vehicles until the wheels drop off. Both our vehicles have 100K plus miles on 'em ... our Nissan Quest is just a few miles shy of 200K, and I finally sold my Camry a few months ago which was 400 miles shy of 300,000 (and now I think that selling it was a mistake.) But we have a more-than-adequate house, we're paying our bills, we run our A/C, and we don't miss any meals. We are content, and God's good.

(2) And, since we're gonna vacation, and we are gonna go to WDW ... I think of DVC as "anyway" money. As in, "I'm going to vacation anyway, so I'm actually not out any more cash than I would be if I were paying each time to stay in All-Stars or Pop Century." And we're sure getting more spacious accomodations.

(3) We paid cash for half and financed half of the purchase. In a perfect world, we would have paid cash. That might be a sensible deciding factor for folks on the line.

(4) With all that in mind ... it just made sense, sort of, financially. I wouldn't think of it from a purely money-saving standpoint, although I think you can do better than break even over the cost of staying in on-property hotels. But we bought it to share, and we virtually always take friends or family with us.

(5) Throwing all financial considerations out the window, and listening to my heart ... it might just be the best single purchase we've ever made, if you place value on things money can't buy. Knowing that, one day, grandkids will be able to experience the benefits of a decision that Grandma and Pawpaw made years ago ... well, that's just something special, y'know?

(6) And, not to belabor a point here - if you've waded throught this never-ending thread, you know that we love Disney. What better way to assure my habit/compulsion/obsession continues to have "legs"?

The only conceivable drawbacks, if you want to consider them such, is that we do pinch pennies in other areas of our lives. There are some tradeoffs, as I've noted. Before I took on a boatload of debt to purchase, it would be prudent to know darn well what your budget can stand, and NO FUDGING. But again, taking counsel of your heart, you just have to decide what your priorities are, based on your values, and spend accordingly.

I have absolutely no regrets. And talking to a DVC "guide" (charming Disneyspeak for "salesperson") was totally low pressure, and there's none of those headgames that unfortunately characterize some timeshare transactions. Ugh. I can sure recommend a guide for you!!! (PM me if you have some more DVC questions.)

And, of course, we did use DVC points for this cruise, wrestling this thing back on topic. Maybe it's not the most "efficient" use of points. Oh, well.

 

[luckymom24/7]

Thank you for such a well-detailed reply! You've given us much to think about...have to check our budget, no fudging! And please, we all want to know - Are you a writer?! or are we Disney fans the only lucky recipients of your talents? Only voicing what many are already wondering...

 

[jenseib]

I really know nothing about DVC.... but how many points do you use for a cruise? And how many for a stay at the world?

 

[iu97alum]

Your TR was AWESOME!!!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Thank you for such a well-detailed reply! You've given us much to think about...have to check our budget, no fudging! And please, we all want to know - Are you a writer?! or are we Disney fans the only lucky recipients of your talents? Only voicing what many are already wondering...

Yeah, I write. One novel under my belt, which did pretty well (for a while! )another in the works. My day job is as associate editor of a large weekly religious newsjournal. And I've written a lot of curriculum for youth groups, devotionals, etc. The aforementioned novel is available on Amazon (is it OK for me to say that?)

Jenseib, I'd encourage you to check out the Disney Vacation Club boards here on DIS. There are tons of variables that go into determining how many points go into a stay - it depends on size of villa, time of year, which resort, etc. I've typically counseled folks just to get the smallest contract they can, if they're uncertain ... they can always add on. There are a lot of good "starter" links on the home page here at wdwinfo.com. Check those out, and if you've got some specific questions, just PM me.

One other thing ... I would NOT buy into DVC for any other reason than to stay at DVC properties.

 

[Lezlee]

Loved the TR we are cruising the Wonder 3 day in January and your report makes the excitement even that much greater.!! So glad I found it!

Thanks to your son!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Thanks, Lezlee. I appreciate it.

Our next Disney experience won't be until May '09, but we'll be at WDW on my birthday. Fun, huh?

 

[iu97alum]

Thanks, Lezlee. I appreciate it.

Our next Disney experience won't be until May '09, but we'll be at WDW on my birthday. Fun, huh?

can't wait for that TR!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Yeah ... I've not done a land-based TR. It'll be interesting, just to see how a birthday is handled during next year's "celebrations." I won't be using the free admission option; I'm thinking about doing the FASTpass thing. I wonder if it's only good for one park, of if we hop, I can use it in other parks if I'm visiting the same day?

Guess I'll have to do a little research. AKL Villas, here we come - a BUNCH of us.

 

[jenseib]

Yeah ... I've not done a land-based TR. It'll be interesting, just to see how a birthday is handled during next year's "celebrations." I won't be using the free admission option; I'm thinking about doing the FASTpass thing. I wonder if it's only good for one park, of if we hop, I can use it in other parks if I'm visiting the same day?

Guess I'll have to do a little research. AKL Villas, here we come - a BUNCH of us.

Whats the Fastpass thing? Is it different than the normal fast pass?

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Whats the Fastpass thing? Is it different than the normal fast pass?

This is cool. If you visit a park on your birthday, you get in free. If you're an annual pass holder, or hold a multiday pass, you can get a 1 day pass to use later, or you can get the cash value of the pass applied toward most merchandise purchases. (But no meals.) OR, you can get a special Fastpass that is good for up to five that you can use anytime, multiple times. I don't know if you can use it in all parks for that day, or if it's only good in the park you picked it up in.

Man... if it was good in all the parks, it'd be a commando's dream. Imagine hitting all four in one day!

 

[my three girls]

Loved your report. Our next cruise is in late May 09. Thanks.

 

[DizneeLvr1]

I also loved your report. We are cruising 1st time in March 2009, so I was taking notes on everything! Thank you for sharing in your amazingly descriptive way!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Y'all are too kind. And if there are any individual questions I can answer, just let me know. Or, post them here ... all of us are smarter than one of us!

 

[Goofy442]

Loved your trip report. People either love Disney or they hate it. I always get you are going back to Disney didn't you just come back. My oldest son from the time he was little said he wanted to live in Disney well he is doing the College program and loves it.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

AND ... after months of idleness on this thread, I'm gearing up for a new land based TR. Going to WDW on my birthday, staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, planning on the bestest trip ever.

Stay tuned!

 

[cdotla]

Well, it's about time!!! LOL!

I certainly hope beyond hope that you write a TR for it!

AND ... after months of idleness on this thread, I'm gearing up for a new land based TR. Going to WDW on my birthday, staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, planning on the bestest trip ever.

Stay tuned!

 

[mousetravel]

I just read/enjoyed your TR. We are planning a Disney Cruise in March.
I had to giggle about the Waffle House comment. We are used to good ole' southern food: fried chicken, mac & cheese, sweet tea, etc. We feel like it's a little "too fancy" for us to eat duck, lamb, etc. We have been on a cruise before (not DCL), and we ate burgers & fries more than anything. I'll probably have to try out all those fancy foods you spoke of!

Can't wait for your next upcoming TR!