Any DVC'ers that are Teachers?

[bnlbebes]

DW and I are both elementary school teachers, and have never had a complaint about DVC. We usually take the week after school is out to go somewhere (WDW, CA, DCL, HHI) and have taken long weekends to go during Christmastime (not to be missed!). So have no reservations about joining as a teacher! DW said that she would never go to WDW in the summer (too hot) when we joined, but we really haven't had a problem.

I bet you can't wait to hear, "Welcome Home!"

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by puffkin
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?

Cindy is a teacher

and we always go in Feb during Presidents week to OKW, and VB during the summer. We have been members since 99 and have never regretted DVC.

 

[gracelrm]

DH and I are both teachers. DVC works for us. We eventually ended up with enough points to go yearly during the higher point seasons. We also have a fall break in early October, which allows us short break to either Vero or HH. Like others have said, that is the time of year we'd have to travel even if we weren't DVCers - so DVC fits us just fine. Now if we could only predict the years when there would be very few snow days so we could make our ressies for early June and save a few points. This year we're to be there on June 13th, thought that would give us enough time if we had lots of snow days and to get all our inservice days in - and we only missed two days for snow and we're out of school today

 

[Jacksmom99]

Another teacher here!! We always go the third week of August (which is our anniversary too!) and like the fact that the southern schools are back in session and it's a little less crowded. We have not gone during Feb or April vacation yet, but are planning a trip for Feb 05. I have also been able to put together a long weekend trip using my personal days for a girls' weekend with my mom. I also agree that once my children are older, we would not want to take them out of school anyway, so we'd be confined to school vacations. The beauty of DVC is that it will still be around when I retire in 25 years or so.....then I can go in January and stay as long as the points last!!!

 

[RLevy29]

I am a teacher and we bought into DVC in 2000. We have not had a problem using our points and have no regrets.

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!

Thanks for the laugh. I get so tired of hearing"You only work 9 months." I know when my DH comes home he can do whatever he wants. I have at least 2 hours of work each night. He can take vacation time when he wants to take it. This works out well for us with planning because we have to go by my calendar. DVC is perfect because we can plan in advance.

 

[Snow Shoe]

Both of us are school teachers. DVC was the best thing to happen for us. I teach college year round, I get two weeks vacation whenever I want it, and my DW teaches Special Ed. in the TDCJ/Windham system of Texas. We've always gone in the summer working around DW "summer break" schedule, and never had any problems. We've decided that for Christmas 2006, all of our kids, their spouses and children Christmas is a trip to WDW.

 

[living la vida mickey]

I'm a teacher and we've been members since 1993. No problems and we love our DVC!

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by 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.

Actually you end up with a lot less than many people. My BIL works for a major manufacturing company and many in his plant get up to 8 weeks vacation. And that is paid vacation. Teachers don't get more time off they are unemployed during that time.

 

[denecarter]

Teacher... YES! 7 years, science

DVC... YES! 1 year, BCV & OKW 150pts each, go during Christmas break (before is "cheaper"), summer, next year trying Spring Break (lucked out with timing, lower points)

All that time off... ROFLMAO! I'm lucky enough to be in one of the first NASA Explorer Schools. In the past year, I've spent a summer week in Seattle, a summer week at Johnson Space Center, three Spring Break days in Maryland, two school days and a weekend in Atlanta, Mother's Day weekend plus three school days in Florida, a Saturday at a "special" event, three evenings at Family Science Nights, and several mornings before and evenings after school at meetings, taught six classes full of 8th graders, graded their papers, and painted a space mural across the new wall in my room for our astronaut visit. This summer, I'm "off" ten weeks... of course that includes a week at NASA Ames in California. Then the district has me Father's Day weekend plus three days in Austin, and another 5 days training or being trained.

Then school starts for teachers August 9th...

Thank god for WDW!

 

[twotoohappy]

Hi,
I work at a middle school, my sister's at an elementary school and we've both gone to WDW during peak and non-peak times. If you have personal days, use them on a Mon. Tues. and make it a long weekend.
Even if you go during the busiest times, you can still hang out by the pools
No time is too busy for me as long as I'm at WDW and not in MA! (as for points, as another poster said, stay at the Swan using the teacher's discount and then use your points Sun-Thurs)
Good Luck!

 

[dmoore22]

I guess I'm a Disney Dittohead. We agree with all the previous posts. I'm an administrator and my wife teaches in addition to working around our kids' school and college schedules. DVC has been well worth it. By prepaying for accomodations (we bought resale) we are staying twice as long as we would have if we did a pay as you go. Now we can afford to vacation each summer which we couldn't do before on an educator's salary. Plus, since we itemize, we get to deduct the property tax of the maintenance fees.

 

[SamS]

I'm a high school teacher with 30 years under my belt. My wife and I bought DVC two years ago, and will make our second June trip in three weeks. It's warm, but not unbearable. The year we bought we went in June as well ('02), and it rained a great deal. Not just showers, but all-day rains a few days. Rained last June as well, although not quite so badly. We're hoping for better luck this year. Also went this past December, arriving Xmas day and leaving on Jan 2nd. It was very crowded of course, but okay for my wife and I. I felt very sorry for the children. We'll go again in December, but probably early in the month. Two years to retirement, and then we'll really enjoy the flexibility of DVC.

 

[antnee]

works for me being a teacher

 

[tax58]

My DW was an accountant for 20 years and became a kindergarten teacher in 2001 and we have enjoyed the DVC trips every year since she became a teacher.

 

[crbalb]

DH and I are both teachers, and DH even teaches summer school for 8 weeks (June and July) We are very thankful for DVC's flexibility to accomodate our vacation times and possible long weekends. We are also thankful, because it "forces" us into taking the much needed break. We definitely don't want our points to go to waste.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Shouldn't it be "who are teachers" ?

 

[manning]

I think I hear an arguement in the works.

Running for cover!!!!!!!!!

 

[lodgelady]

Hi Puffkin! I am also changing careers to become a teacher, but since I live in Mass, I have to get my Masters Degree in Ed first!
Anyway, I am glad you posted this question as I have been wondering the same thing.

We have been enjoying our 150 points for the past 4 years, but were able to do some fudging by pulling our kids out one or two days before or after a break to make it work best.

We have been thinking of adding on for some time, looks like we will need to for sure when I begin teaching.

Good luck and best wishes on your up coming wedding!

 

[waltskids]

Definitely, DH and I are both teachers and we have used our DVC points often. We added on to cover the higher point costs in the summer. It has allowed us to have wonderful vacations in the summer as well as short getaways during they year. It was well worth the investment for us. Good luck with your new career!

 

[slp87]

I am a teacher and my DH is a farmer, so while I'm off during June & July, that's his busiest time. We're limited to spring break (mid March) or Christmas time (never). We've decided that March is the time we'll go and have had a great time! DVC is perfect for us!!