Any DVC'ers that are Teachers?

[puffkin]

I am considering purchasing into DVC but I have another question. I recently decided to change careers and I am going back to school to become a teacher. Therefore, in a few years, my vacationing will be restricted to Summers and school breaks. I am not sure if DVC would be the best fit since we would not be able to take advantage of slower seasons to maximize our points. And, any travel during the school year would probably be limited to long weekends, when points are higher.

So, if you are a teacher or have a restricted vacation schedule because of work/school for kids, do you thing DVC is worth the money?

 

[kaf7878]

Definately! DH is a teacher and I am a SAHM so we work around his schedule. I think it works great b/c you always know you have time available for vacations!!

We live in Tampa so we opt to do 3 smaller trips a year with our 150 pts. We do Spring Break, Summer and Xmas. You would be surprised how far your pts can go.

Spring Break is very reasonable pts wise at everyplace except Vero. Summer we do Vero but still not that bad to do WDW and Xmas is very low at Vero and HH. We normally do 2 trips in a studio and 1 in a 1BR.

 

[Ksp]

Both DH and I work/teach at the college level, so we have some set vacation times, too. Our children are still in middle and high school, and we often take their vacation time to go to WDW. (Wow, it can be busy....but it's still fun.) Since our travel is often during premium, we are usually in studios, try for rooms at OKW, and are more recently trying Vero and HH.
It's definitely been worth it.

 

[Connears]

I am a college professor and our DS is now in 8th grade. We have gone to WDW in the summer or at Christmas or spring break since he was in 1st grade. My DH insisted that we not take him out of school for any holiday. My spring break never coincided with his, but I can occasionally get away his week. We love the mid June time, before the July 4th crowds. Even christmas week is very doable (we have done it for the past 2 and and doing it this year). We are members at OKW since 1994 and really appreciate the DVC plan. e have also stayed at BCV and BWV.
Connears

 

[Pa@okw95]

The only time you get killed with the point thing is Christmas Week and the 2 weeks near Easter, the rest of the time is not bad. We went in February and April for years for the same reason you must. It does seem like an oxymoron to say restricted vacation time because you are a teacher, just a little humor there, teachers have more time off then most humans on this planet. At any rate you have the full summer and at least 2 or 3 other weeks to travel, forget the weekends. We have been doing this for years with no problem. We would go on 2 or 3, 5 day vacations down at DVC per year. You are a prime candidate for DVC because you have so much time off. My wife is an educator.

 

[Carlnne]

teachers have more time off then most humans on this planet

I think I hear an arguement in the works.

 

[jekjones1558]

I aqm a teacher (for 13 more school days--see timer). We ADORE DVC. It is true that we often are at WDW when points are higher and crowds are greater, but that is true no matter where we would travel. It is just part of being a teacher. Before DVC we paid top dollar for vacations and often had trouble getting the places we wanted. Now we can guarantee our vacation 11 months out. If you like going to WDW, DVC is a great buy!
P.S. We are obviously past the kids stage and we love it just as much now, even when we go alone.

 

[mhochman]

Well, while we haven't traveled yet with our points (actually, we haven't even been to WDW since I became a teacher), I'll add that we did not hesitate to buy fearful of my limited vacation schedule. Visiting during the summer works just fine for us, as does occasional visits during the busy school vacation periods. I think the answer is that (from what I've read) you end up going down enough-or are in that mindset, anyway-that you don't mind the crowds quite as much than if you don't know when your next trip will be.

As far as teachers having the most time off on the planet, well, technically that's true, of course. However, we get paid so little that pretty much every teacher that I work with is forced to work during the summer (e.g. summer school, camp counselor, etc.). So once you eliminate the full summer as a true vacation, you're not left with much more than anyone else.

 

[jbwolffiv]

Both DW and I are teachers and have made 3 visits in 6 years during the summer, we go in August when the southern schools start to go back. that is when you may see a decline in attendance, although not that noticable unless it is the end of the month. we will make our first trip at DVC'ers this August. We did not hesitate to join knowing our trips will primarily be in August, we are satisfied with that. OUr vacations do not match well except Christmas and we are going to wait until DD is older to go then.

 

[Tagrel]

DW is a teacher, and while I'd LOVE to be able to go in the off season, we've accepted that we have to go in the summer or other busy times. This is good, because it means we don't try to take our kids out of school either!

We looked at summer point costs, and bought enough points to get us through our desired times. We also hit the end of August (well, sometimes!) to save a few points and see fewer crowds. The upside is that the parks are typically open later in the evening during the summer, so it allows for more pool and/or nap time midday before returning to the parks. We stick to Sun - Thurs day for the most part, but might also have one Fri or Sat on points as well. Then we go offsite to Universal or Sea World for the weekend. We have moving down to a science, and it has very little impact on our vacation at all.

As to all the vacation teacher's get - well lets just say I'll take my 4 weeks of ANYTIME vacation over forced, unpaid, only during prime time vacation. I've seen first hand all my wife has to put up with and I know I could never do it. And the beauty of America is that if you want to be underpaid and unappreciated you too can have summers off!

 

[Candace]

Buy in! You will not regret it. Sure, you'll go during busier times, but remember (as I do daily....) that someday you will not be teaching (just two more years for me), and you can take longer vacations in cheaper point seasons. I plan to REALLY enjoy my DVC when I retire.

 

[msdisney53]

We've been DVC members since 1999 and it has been well worth it. Teacher's convention time in NJ puts us in the lower season and some of Christmas break is split. we avoid saturdays when we can or opt to stay at the Swan,who offers a nice teacher's rate. Last year we split our time between the Swan and BWV and are still able to cruise in June by borrowing some points.
I would do it all over again.

Denise

 

[Doug7856]

Originally posted by Tagrel
. . . And the beauty of America is that if you want to be underpaid and unappreciated you too can have summers off!

So So True!

My DW is also a teacher. We have been committed to peak travel times since we were married 10 years ago. We joined DVC last October and will be taking an extended weekend in early December (DW does get 2 personal days each year). However, most of our travel is in the summer and that is the time we expect to most use DVC. We hope that having a 1BR will make summer a lot easier than a standard hotel room.

Since we're new to DVC, I can't speak from experience, but so far we love DVC and the flexibility it offers (+ DW will retire in 20 years and we can then go whenever we want!).

 

[patsal]

I am a teacher and find DVC to be a great way to vacation with my family. As another poster stated, you only get killed with points Christmas and Easter weeks. The others are almost always in magic season when a studio can be had for 70 points S-Th. I find DVC helpful also becasue of the pre-paid accomadations. Since I am only a seasonal worker--I don't get paid for all that summer time I have off--I need somethig that works well into the budget. As far as other things go, if you have children, you will lose vacation flexibility once they are in school anyway.

 

[metus]

I am a teacher, and this was a debate for us. Here is my response...since I am limited to traveling on certain times of the year it will be expensive anywhere during those peek times. We know we will always want a Disney Trip, and love spending our holidays there. When we have kids, it will be the only times they can travel as well. So...it just made good sense to invest in DVC, because it will always guarantee a trip each year during those expensive travel times.

 

[DisneyMim]

Hubby is a teacher and we were one of the first people to buy into DVC way back in 1991. It has worked perfectly for our family. Yes, we have to go during school vacations, but that is true to wherever we go. We have always loved to travel and have been doing this for years. I would not let this stop you.

ENJOY!!!

 

[Pinnie]

Not really going to add anything new to the mix here and I agree with what everyone has said. I am a teacher and can ONLY vacation during our school breaks and bought enough points to stay at our DVC "home" during the high point Easter week, a few scattered long weekends in the summer, a long weekend in Feb when we have mid winter break and I do take 2 Personal Days in December to go down for a 4 day weekend.

As to that comment about teachers *** having the most time off on the planet**** I am not even going to qualify that anymore.

pin

 

[MrsG]

I was a teacher when we bought into DVC. One of the things that attracted us was that we could reserve a week in the summer or winter or Easter break 11 months in advance. In other time share exchanges, summer was extremely difficult to get anywhere we wanted to go.

The only thing is that points are higher during these times. I would recommend that you figure out the maximum points you need for these times and buy accordingly.

Go for it! We are very happy we did.

 

[ellynsoh]

Fellow educators, don't forget that we get to take additional classes during the summer, at our expense! That's another great way to use our "more vacation than anyone else on the planet".

 

[blossomz]

My sister and I are both teachers and we bought in without a second thought! We wait all year and count down through the school year to our next trip home! It is hot in the summers, but we just love it! It is the best thing we ever did!