Any DVC Owners who live on the West Coast?

[MouseLovers2]

Just wondering if there are any DVC owners who live in the Western part of the United States on this board? What has your experience been as a DVC owner -- do you frequent WDW every year to use your points, or do you use them at DL Anaheim or the other options available? We are big Disneyland fans who live in California and we are seriously considering signing the dotted line tomorrow for points at SSR after hearing about it for the very first time this last week while on vacation there. Any feedback would be great! Thanks...

Janie

 

[FLYNZ4]

We live in Portland. We have been going to WDW most years, and have never used our points other than WDW. Prior to joining DVC, we still went to WDW most years.

We have no intention of using our DVC points at other places at this time.

/Jim

 

[wdw4life]

I've only used points @ WDW and average a stay every other year. I will be staying on points @ the GC next year for a couple of days. I am an annual passholder @ DLR and I just stay offsite or drive home. Now when DVC comes to the GC that will be a different story.

I also love Disneyland and think I have the best of both worlds.

 

[mom2dzb]

I'm out west (WA state) and just bought in to DVC. We bought enough points to stay at our home resort in a 1BR for a week every other year. I hope we are able to make it that often!

 

[tacomaranch]

We are basing how many points to buy on how many trips we will make in one year and who will be with us. Two br villa or studio?

Our plan right now is for the end of school year, bring the aides for my son, grab the step son, pick up the DD, and head down end of May in a 2 br for a few days. Then it is just DS, DH and I for MNSSHP and free dining on the last day of August going into Sept. However, now I find out we don't get free dining plan if we are DVC.

We also want an extra stay in the studio for one last trip, early or late, just in case.

Yes, we travel from Idaho Falls or Salt Lake City 3 times a year. It would be just the same amount of time to drive to CA and cost about the same in fuel.

Also, WDW is 4 different parks, two water parks, DTD and so much more than CA.

JMO, April

 

[kd5k]

Hi Janie!! We are in Utah and just bought into SSR ourselves and are in the process of planning our first trip. I posted a question similar to this just a few days ago. I was curious to see how the west coasters use thier points. Being a family of 6, don't think we can afford to do the airfare every year!

I do think we will be able to go every other year, but need to work on the left over points we will have. I know...stay longer that 1 week!! Have thought of using them for a couple of DL trips and staying at the Grand Californian.

let us know what you figure out!!

hugs!! Deb

 

[Califgirl]

We've owned since 1998, and it is by far my favorite timeshare (We own 3) We have 150 points. We travel to the East Coast about every other year. We really enjoy HHI, as my husband is a golfer and I love that resort even though I don't golf. When we go to WDW my husband brings his clubs and plays two or three mornings while we are there.

We often use our points for the GCH when we want to stay up there for a night or two, or if we're bringing friends or family. We've also used points to stay at the various concierge hotel properties and have enjoyed that as well.

This year I will have 3 trips to WDW. May was a week in a one bedroom OKW (flower and garden festival), October was 5 nights in studios for Food and Wine Festival, and next Feb will be a studio for 3 nights (and Disney Hotel for the weekend - first time I've done that to save points). The airfare is what can get you on those WDW trips.

I hope they put in a DVC at the DLR. Even though we're only an hour or so away, I'll be the first in line for an add on!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Another Washingtonian here! We bought a few years ago with the intention of doing WDW every other year or so. We've gone four times in the last two years!!! I just watch for good airfare and try to plan AP purchases in a way that allows the biggest bang for the buck.

Many members have used points to stay at DLR, but I haven't and don't plan to as I've been enough times to know there are several really nice hotels close-by. For my family, the advantages of staying onsite @ WDW far outweigh the advantages of staying onsite @ DLR...so we'd rather use the points in FL and go more often. Also, each time we have considered traveling to DLR instead, the airfare is the same (or less!) to fly to FL than CA.

 

[momsully]

We have owned DVC for about four years and have only used our points in Florida. Out of Denver Frontier runs some reasonable flights and I am always watching for a sale. We usually get AP's and last year got the DDE card and it was great. We made three trips in 2006 on our AP's. They expire in January and I am still hoping to get one more trip in!

 

[barbarabee]

Californian, here...

bought in 2002 and we go to WDW every year. Originally thought we might just go every other year, but DVC makes it way too easy to keep going back to WDW. I've never used my DVC points at Disneyland, as off-site lodging is close and cheap...but I am a proud bi-coastal annual pass holder!!!

 

[mamatojon]

Another from WA state! We have so far only used our points at WDW - we've only taken 1 DVC trip (3 WDW trips total) so far. After staying in a 1BR I can't see using my points in Anaheim because the rooms are just hotel rooms and I keep thinking "for this amount of points I could have my little apartment in WDW" - for me airfare is about the same to LA or to Orlando, and day per day the cost is the same on each coast. The only thing we hate about going to Orlando is the two travel days and the time change. We plan on making yearly trips to WDW and in years where our points are short we will take a cash trip to DL or go somewhere else. I went to DL so much before we started WDW in 2003 that I don't feel a burning need to get back there real soon, that may change though!

 

[DVC2000V]

SF,CA

We bought 2000 during our first ever trip to WDW - but have'nt been back since then -planning on it though for 2007 -
Used our points mainly at GCH when going south - have also used it in Hawaii , Whistler,BC & Canmore in Alberta - so far worked for us

there are lots of exchanges here in the West - Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Wyoming, BritishColumbia & Alberta in Canada - with the prices of airfare for family of four(kids in school - dont like to pull out of school for the sake of cheaper flights) we figured we'll do West coast first -

 

[Barreras Family]

We bought in 2003 and also originally thought we'd go every other year and so far we have not only gone to WDW every year we've also added on SSR points.

Go figure the best laid plans and all.

I've also made watching airfares almost an art form.

Rudy

 

[figment795]

DH and I are from Beaverton, Oregon own at SSR since Aug 2004. Have Annual passes have been going 3 times a year since 2004.

 

[MyLove4Disney]

I have been going to WDW almost every year for the past 16 years at least one time each year sometimes twice. Every other year my work sends me for a conference which is at one of the WDW hotel resorts. So that is taken care of. So I needed to take care of the oposing years. DVC wow, I learned that later than expected, just bought at the beginning of this year. Should have done it 15 years ago.

I have used my points for studios which are big enough for me and my daughter. So I can go for quite a few trips. We are also taking a cruise in 2007.

We are AP holders for DL as well, but I would not use my point for DL Resort Hotels, I know GCalif is beautiful, but because we know the are pretty well, I have found so many of resort hotels that are as nice if not better for really good prices, and we almost always drive 415 miles from home. Like to have the freedom of my own car to come and go. We don't feel like we are missing anything by not staying on property at DL, but in WDW that is a very different story.

 

[PinkTink63]

We live in West Linn OR! We stayed at DVC last year and bought soon after with the F&F deal. We used to switch off between WDW and DL, but really prefer WDW. We always stayed in moderates before, but once we stayed at DVC, we knew we always wanted to stay there! We plan on going for many years even without our son. We love Disney and we love Florida! There is just so much to do there. We are going to go to the Keys after our Disney trip next summer.
If you haven't been to WDW, you have got to go! The nice thing about DVC is...that you can use your points at DL. Who knows, they may build DVC at DL one of these days!

 

[PinkTink63]

I just watch for good airfare and try to plan AP purchases in a way that allows the biggest bang for the buck.

Also, each time we have considered traveling to DLR instead, the airfare is the same (or less!) to fly to FL than CA.

I have noticed this also! We usually get airfare to Orlando for about $230.
Matter of fact we paid over $300 to California this past summer!

 

[jemiaule]

Just wondering if there are any DVC owners who live in the Western part of the United States on this board? What has your experience been as a DVC owner -- do you frequent WDW every year to use your points, or do you use them at DL Anaheim or the other options available? We are big Disneyland fans who live in California and we are seriously considering signing the dotted line tomorrow for points at SSR after hearing about it for the very first time this last week while on vacation there. Any feedback would be great! Thanks...

Janie

Hi Janie - We are in California and own DVC. We bought because we go to WDW at least 2 to 3 times a year. We never go to DLR anymore. Well I take that back, we went in the end of September due to us being in town for a speaking engagement and decided to go for a couple of days.

I have no idea how good the points trade would be for staying at a DL Resort. There has been rumor someday there may be a DVC at DLR so that may add more value to you also.

 

[junglejoy]

We are considering DVC and have been for two years! We were waiting for a resort at DLR but after taking our first trip to DW this fall we may not wait!

All of you who fly and stay DVC, do you rent a car or is WDW transportation adequate (or hopefully better than adequate)? It seems like DVC is geared to those with cars, but if we didn't have to rent one we'd be that much closer to our next trip!

Thanks!

Great tread btw. I've enjoyed reading all of you westeners' dedication to Disney!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Renting a car is about 50/50 for us. We usually only get one if we are spending time off-site. If we plan to spend the entire time @ WDW, we just use their transportation and have never been disappointed yet (including Magical Express).