Bummed about not having a trip? That's me!
Creative? Not me! Not one single creative bone in this body!
Okay Ann- it is like you read my mind this morning... I signed on today feeling the exact same way... sad that we have no trips planned . I know that I have to be grateful that we have gotten the chance to go recently, but sometimes it is hard to go on the boards when you have no trip on the horizon (and no CMO contest to keep your mind busy...haha I remember you from the huge long thread(s) that we had last year- too funny).
Well I am going to go think of creative suggestions/questions for the podcast and put in my daily entry to the What will you celebrate contest- good luck everyone.
I have a suggestion that won't necessarily cure your sadness, but seems to make a lot of sense based on your post. Please don't take this as any type of criticism. I've been in your shoes too...
If you've spent $8000 in the recent past on WDW trips, I think you should consider investing in a DVC membership. You'd be almost halfway toward a 160 point membership at this point if you were to buy directly from Disney and be way more than halfway if you bought from a resaler.
Then you would ALWAYS have a trip planned and you'd be investing in your future vacations instead of paying off your past ones and wishing you had one planned.
Just a suggestion. Have you looked at the DVC boards here?
There are a few discounts but, just like any other Disney travel you have to think about it and plan. Yes. We have an AP. We plan our trips so we can get at least two within the timeframe of the AP. In other words, if we are going only once per year, the first trip might be at the middle of September in 2009 (when we would buy the AP) and the second one would be at the beginning of September in 2010 (when the AP is still good). Then you renew (also at a signficant discount) and do the same thing the next year. You also still have to watch for cheap flights. We never do the dining plan. It's too costly and too much food for us. Plus, we find it takes up too much time to plan and do all of that dining. We probably do 1-3 sit down meals during a trip. The bonus to DVC is that, even in a studio, you have a nice kitchenette where you can definitely bring groceries in and do breakfasts.If you don't mind me asking.....how do you do it? Do you buy an annual pass? Are there other discounts that help set off the travel and food costs and tickets?
The most important thing about DVC is that you need to buy where you want to stay most of the time, instead of just buying into whatever is cheapest or whatever has incentives at the time. As there are more members, it's becoming more difficult for folks to book at a resort other than their home resort. So, if the resort is available resale, you are right, you are much better off $ wise to buy resale. Disney treats you the same, regardless.I looked up The TimeShare Store.....why wouldn't everyone buy a resale?? I just didn't get that. Am I missing something there?
That's another bonus about DVC. Your trips take on another quality. You know you're coming back. There's no need to go-go-go. You can take the time to relax. The resorts themselves are more "like home," so you're comfortable there. The one-bedrooms and above have whirlpool tubs. They have nice balconies. Etc.I am a bit of a freak while there....staying until all hours of the morning and getting up early and going right back....he has a great time while there. He would like to just relax and enjoy the resort as well though. Not me, I am all about the parks. As a dear friend on the boards here said once....I have a mixed Disney marriage.