Any DVC members live close (100 miles or less) to WDW?

[Simba's Mom]

I was wondering if we retired to the Tampa area, if we'd live too close to WDW to consider it a vacation spot where we might stay for a week or so. So I was wondering, I know it's been asked how far away some live-I was wondering how many DVCers live close, say within an hour or two, and still frequently vacation there?

 

[vbfamily]

We did live in Holiday, FL, which was pretty close but now we are stuck(literally sometimes-snow) in Michigan.

I would like to know if people who live close by go more frequently.

There is a good chance DH will be transferred to Vero Beach FL someday (cross your fingers) and I was wondering what we would do.

I'm anxious to see the posts on this topic

 

[MICKEY M0USE]

I live in Palm Harbor. The Beach Club Villas are 1 hour and 40 minutes from our house. We spend 2, 5 night weeks and 3 or 4 weekends a year. I love how close it is and it is still a great get a way!

 

[Pig Pen]

I may be losing my job soon. If so, we will sell our house and move about an hour away from WDW (my parents retired there and have offered to give me my inheritance early - which is a half-acre lot)!

If this happens, I think I would use DVC for weekend jaunts and maybe for cruises or exchanges.

Of course if I lose my job I may need to rent out my points for awhile!

 

[Beth]

We live about 50 minutes from WDW, and signed our first contract in 4/97.

Since then, we have made over 40 reservations...

Some of them were for friends/family - but most of them were just one or two-nighters.

We stayed 2 nights in September, 4 nights (2 Vero, 2 WDW) in October, 1 night in November, and just returned from a 3 night stay at OKW, yesterday. Alas, we won't be heading back until the member cruise in February...

We truly don't get tired of it. But I "am" envious of those that speak of their 8-12 day visits - that would be "heaven!"

I had the same fears as you - but I think DVC is actually "ideal" for those of us who live so close! We are often able to take friends/family with us for short getaways!

 

[ez]

We go about 4x a year

 

[LodgeMan]

I live in Tarpon Springs (90 miles away) and think it is perfect distance and LOVE to get away over there.......Other than Orlando, I am not sure you can ever be " too close"

 

[Scoootch]

We moved down here to Fla. from up north a year and a half ago and now live an hour and a half from WDW. Since moving down here, we have gone from 1 or 2 week long trips a year to 2nights here, 1 night there, whenever the mood hits us to go to WDW!!

We love being so close we can drive whenever we want to and still feel like we are far enough away from home that we are on a trip. The downside now is that we like to take alot of weekend trips and the pts for these weekend trips are a killer! NEED MORE POINTS - LOL. For us though, we rarely take only a day trip because neither DH or myself likes to have to drive back home an hr and a half late at night after a full day in the parks. Plus one day is just never enough -lol.

 

[KNWVIKING]

While I live in NJ now, my plans are to move close to WDW when youngest graduates college-or at least shortly thereafter. My one fear is that WDW will become to "ordinary" for lack of a better word. Our 4 trips a year from here all seem fresh & adventerous, something we look forward to & count down the days- kinda the thrill we had as kids waiting for Christmas. Would be really disappointed if we lost that.

 

[Greg K.]

When we cruised on the Magic last year, our tablemates were DVC members.

Not only that, they live just outside Orlando.

Not only that, SHE works part time for Disney!

They use their DVC points for cruises, trips to Hawaii, occasional weekend stays on property for holidays or special events.

Meanwhile, the woman who sold us our DVC membership -- and who, of course, lives near Disney and works for Disney -- is ALSO a DVC member! As are many of her colleagues. Her home resort is Vero. But she used her points this year for a trip to Europe.

The possibilities are endless.

 

[madcoco]

Part time residents actually Nomads.Live in Rentals on the Treasure/Space Coast part of the year.(hopefully Melbourne Beach will be primary residence by this time next year if DD will move before starting HighSchool.Sure would cure a lot of "jet lag." )

 

[snwwht]

We live in St.Pete Beach and just became members a month ago.When we figured out what a night here and a few nights there(in deluxe on property hotels) was costing per year it became an easy decision for us.We go at least once a month for at least one night and sometimes 2 or 3.

 

[lehrsj]

We purchased in 93 and at the time lived in the St. Louis area. In 1997 we moved to Orlando.

I use a lot of points having the entire family (12 - 15) here every other year. (10 day stay) We also will stay a few days when friends come to visit. We also do an occational 2-day stay from time to time on our own.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I hear reports of people going for short trips (the often part really appeals to me), but does anyone go for a week or two at a time? I really appreciate all the feedback so far-keep it coming!

 

[madcoco]

Yes.It may sound crazy but some of us go off the deep end.We usually book up to 5weeks with our points and cash for weekends at DVC during the summer.I will travel out to check on things while DD and DW stay or vice versa.If we would move to FL permanently, I think those kind of trips would definitely go by the wayside.It would be frequent short trips through the year.

 

[lurontravel]

I live about 135 miles from WDW and Have for most of my life. We spend anywhere from one to four nights at a time at WDW. The reason being that I have the flexibility of going often (every one to two months). I take my "BIG" trips to Europe, etc. If you are not into travelling to other places, you will still probably want to spend a week or two there at a time. It's just so darn convenient to go for little jaunts... and btw, I don't use my points for anything but WDW. Hope this helps..........

 

[Cinderelli]

We live just north of Tampa in a small community called Lutz. We are just over an hour from WDW. We used our points for the 1st time last year (2001). We also bought the FL Residents Seasonal Pass last year (a good deal for FL Res). We went a ton of times (as you can see from my signature) and we also did one day trip. We enjoyed every visit and never tired of it.

We have taken this past year off (since March). We'll buy passes again next year and have our first trip planned for spring break in March (only 3 more months to go).

We truly enjoyed all of our visits last year, however, have enjoyed taking this year off and doing other things (Niagara Falls, etc.) and saving our points. It makes the excitement of our upcoming trip seem more fun by taking some time off. It also gives us the chance to bank our points and have even more fun the year we go (by taking friends/family with us).

We enjoy the beach and traveling all over the place, so for us we do other things one year, then do major WDW the alternating year.

It's like having your cake and eating it too! Best Wishes!

 

[Tinker-Bon]

We live in Brandon..just about an hour away..and we are there all the time!! Sometimes it's just for the day but lots of times during the year we will stay for a night or two..especially when we have friends or relatives visiting!