1. When did you become a member?
2021
Congratulations on the new membership and welcome home!
2. Did you buy direct or resale?
First contract is resale, but I am planning on buying direct in small contract increments going forward.
3. Where do you own?
I bought at HHI, mainly due to the low cost per point. I know the MF's are high, but I don't plan on keeping the contract. I bought resale to allow me to avoid the direct purchase minimum contract sizes for new members. Now, I will be purchasing direct at BCV in smaller increments moving forward and that will be my home resort. I'm banking on the 2022 refurb bringing the rooms up to something closer to CCV while still enjoying the beauty of Wilderness Lodge. I'll probably unload the HHI contract at the end of next year (Feb UY). With current pricing trends for resale, I should probably break even with broker fees, etc. No worries either way.
Hilton Head is lovely, we stayed there once and really enjoyed it. Are you planning on a stay there before you unload the contract?
4. Do you vacation in DLR, WDW, Hilton Head, Vero or Aulani? If so, how often?
As a former (11-years!) DL CM, we've only just started going to WDW in the last 5 or 6 years. I still have family working for the Mouse so we're sticking with Florida and the benfits of Silver Pass entry for the time being. I may try Aulani, but growing up in So Cal, our annual vacations were to Hawaii and while I love Oahu (favorite place in the Islands may the the North Shore and Hale'iwa), I really can't stand Kapolei, it's way too dry and hot (we have that here, right? LOL).
5. Are you a DLR AP holder and/or WDW AP holder?
Funnily enough, I started at Disneyland in 1981, and was there through 1992. My oldest sister started in the park in 1986 and we've had at least one (sometimes 2 or 3) family members working for the Mouse ever since (including my dad on Steam Trains when he retired, and more recently my son), so I had a "claim to fame" of never having paid to enter either park from 1981 until 2019. A string of almost 40 years! In January of 2019, I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy an AP, so I could go in and get lunch or dinner or just sit whenever I wanted and didn't need to bug anyone to sign me in. Told myself I hadn't broken the streak, because I didn't HAVE to get the AP, I just WANTED to get the AP. HAHA We all know how long THAT lasted...LOL
Oh no! Sorry that happened to you! Hopefully, we'll hear about the new AP program soon.
6. What is your favorite airline when traveling to WDW and why?
Platinum Medallion member with Delta due to business travel, so it's Delta for me every time. Having their main hub in Atlanta seems to keep a good schedule at most airports in FL, and flights seem to be plentiful. They have a huge number of flights and gates at MCO. I also have a soft spot for Delta going way back to their Circlevision sponsorship in DL back in the day (the "Official Airline of Disneyland"). Old but fond memories.
Yup, we're starting to become Delta loyalists ourselves as we like their early morning flights to MCO.
7. When is your next trip to WDW?
Probably March or April of 2022. We're flexible and prefer 1 and 2 BR villas, so we have some choices. See below.
8. What is your average length of stay when visiting WDW?
I love to travel. Do lots of other things during the year (overlanding, ski/snowboard trips, etc.), and actually prefer one or two shorter trips to WDW. Our average stay has been 4 nights over the past 5 years and I think I like that. Other than a trip overseas, I'm not sure I'd like to be in one spot on a domestic vacation for a week or 10 days, but that's totally personal preference. Besides, two shorter trips makes availabilty a little easier and if you're using airline miles for travel, then it's like two vacations instead of one! See above.
9. Favorite WDW park?
MK (again, former DL CM so I have a nostalgic soft spot), with Epcot close behind.
10. Favorite DVC resort?
I've only stayed at OKW and SSR (and GCH several times in non-DVC rooms) , as far as DVC goes. Stayed at DCR, CSR, and POR for cash room stays on other trips.
11. What do you find to be your biggest frustration planning a WDW trip?
As others have said, I think I much preferred the MaxPass system at DL over Fast Passes at WDW. Biggest frustration though is booking dining. I don't know what I'm having for dinner tomorrow, or when, never mind six months from now. And locking in a block of time for dinner that far out has proven to be a bit of a scheduling boat anchor, at least for us. I'm a show up and see what happens kinda dude. We're from So Cal, right?!!!
. Pre-Covid I had both.
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