Do most of you use your points for 1 long trip or many shorter trips?

[Beth]

Typically, we do 5-6 short, 1-3 night trips. Then we may have one, 4-5 night trip - but not every year.

I'd love to take those "long" trips that you all describe - but we also enjoy being able to go over for those long weekends several times a year - it's a great escape!

 

[Pa@okw95]

We always did 3-5 day trips , but from now on we will be doing one long trip for at least the month of January.

 

[tjkraz]

5 nights--Sunday to Thursday to economize on points. On occasion we have arrived late Saturday and booked a night off-site paying cash. Last time we stayed at Sierra Suites and got a room with two full beds, pull-out couch and a kitchen for about $60.

DW and I don't have a real high tolerance for long vacations. We honeymooned at WDW about 7 years ago. Total stay was 8 days / 7 nights. By the end of that stay, we were ready to get home. Not to say that there isn't pleanty to do at WDW, we were just ready to sleep in our own beds by that time.

I also think it would be difficult for me to get away from work for more than a week at a time.

With only 150 points, we can still squeeze in 3 trips every two years in a 1B or 2B.

 

[thechangingtable]

As a Florida Resident, I am going to be doing the 1-2-3 night trips instead of the longer trips. I just did one night at the BWV this week (after a couple of nights at the Grand Floridian with family) and I am thinking about another couple of nights during 3/18-3/27 spring break week. I am very spontaneous with 4 kids. If I plan, nothing works out LOL!

Will try Vero Beach for a couple of nights over the summer as well. It would probably be nice to have a full week though one day.

christine

 

[Mickmse2002]

We always do 9 or 10 nights in August (with kidlets) and 4 nights during the food and wine festival (without kidlets).

 

[mikeymars]

Uh...is it just me, or does it appear this thread has a large percentage of those rare animals who are swimming in 600+ points (that, or when they vacation only go during the lowest point seasons, never stay over a weekend and always stay in a studio)?

 

[ClarabelleCow]

2 - 4 or 5 night trips - but,

we did a 5 night trip to OKW in November, a 4 night to Vero this past February, 2 weeks in St. Maarten, then in August 1 week cruise and I may go down early with the kids for an additional 3-4 nights! no wonder my DH is complaining all we do is travel and have nothing saved!

 

[kathymc]

bought enough points to have a 2BR for 8 nights every other year

 

[KelNottAt]

Mikeymars -
I was wondering the same thing...and turning green with envy.

One week a year at WDW is about all we can afford financially (airfare + admissions). In addition to that, we burn vacation leave on one non-WDW vacation week with extended family. After that we're lucky to fit in local day trips around the kids' school and team schedules.

For me, multiple trips to WDW of any length would be a dream come true. Just can't swing it now for time and budget reasons. Must get my fix one week per year. Ahh, but one day...

Kelley

PS. We bought enough points to have a 2br for 7 nights in magic season.

 

[mikeymars]

>>Mikeymars -
I was wondering the same thing...and turning green with envy. <<

Glad to know I'm not alone. Part of the dynamic here is finanical resources, but a big piece is also lifestage.

I sense many of the "mega-points" types here are empty nest or retired, so (a) they have a lot of flexiblity on when to vacation (which full nesters like me don't, I have to work around school schedules) and (b) long ago paid off mortgages and college tuitions.

I'm not complaining - we initially bought enough points to do a single trip of 8-9 nights in a 1BR in peak season.

We did end up adding points last year, because we wanted a little more flexibility (as you'll see from our history below, what we have realized is that didn't buy into DVC to only do the same thing every year). But we are certainly not in the segement that takes 3-4 vacations a year of a week or more each trip.

And I also suspect that niche makes up a rather small percentage of the total DVC universe.

So don't get too envious!

 

[BillPA]

Usually 10-12 nights in the July/Aug and 5-6 nights right after Thanksgiving. Every 2 years we add 4 nights in late April or early May for the Flower Show. Have to get as many trips as possible out of those APs

 

[travelbug]

I haven't really settled into a pattern yet. I suspect that my usual pattern will be 2 trips a year, one for 7-9 days and the other for 4-5 days. I'm stuck traveling at peak times for the most part, and I vary on size of unit according to how many friends or family I bring along. I do travel other places besides WDW also, but I sure enjoy my DVC stays!

 

[David&Danielle]

Since becoming members 3 years ago we've done mostly 1 week trips or less. But after this one (leaving tomorrow... woohoo!), we are going to wait 3 years and do a really nice long trip!

DGF



I wish I knew how to count down trip!!! Plane departure in less than 24 hours!!!!! Woohoo!!

 

[HookdonWDW]

Mickeymars - We have about 400 points, but most of our trips aren't during high season. We usually stay in a 1BR... sometimes a 2 BR (rarely). We've stayed in a studio once. We live within driving distance, hence it is easier to take frequent trips - no plane tickets!

We definitely aren't empty nesters. We have one in college, and one in elementary school.

 

[mikeymars]

>>We have about 400 points, but most of our trips aren't during high season.<<

That is a significant war chest if one is willing and able to do off season.

 

[HookdonWDW]

Shhh... don't tell dh! I still have him thinking we could use another 100! We really appreciated our DVC this year when we sent dd off to college. It makes vacationing so much more viable while those tuition bills are coming in. We probably would have been more conservative with our vacation plans this past year if it wasn't for DVC.

 

[Deemarch]

We are new to this but we have one week planned at the most expensive time Christmas Week. We have two trips in our heads for next year, 7 nights in May and 7 nights in October...Just the two of us, in a studio (why waste the points for a kitchen!!). We have 200 points. Maybe we'll take a 7 night cruise in 2006 and a Sunday to Friday later in that year. Then we could still go for 2 Sunday to Friday trips in 2007 and be back with our full 200 points for 2008. Now is that planning ahead or what!!

 

[lurontravel]

We live less then three hours by car, and our kids are 2 and 4, so we take 1-3 night trips 6-8 times a year. Sometimes we take my parents, sometimes I take a friend and the kids while my husband stay home at work (he thinks he's on vacation too, when we're away). So we use anywhere from a studio to a two bedroom. Just depends. Never go during high season, since we have Seasonal passes that prohibit use during those times (not to mention the crowds are pretty bad during those times).

 

[dianeschlicht]

Because of the cost of airfare, we usually do two trips. One of a week and one of 10-11 days. This year it is 3 trips-two one weekers, and one 10 day.

 

[GraceDVC]

We have 410 points and usually visit WDW once a year for 10 to 12 nights if bringing our children/grandchildren with us in a 2-bedroom. Otherwise, we go for a little over two weeks when it's just the two of us and stay in a studio (sometimes a 1-bedroom at OKW when we feel like being spoiled). We may stretch our vacations to go 2x a year in the future if it is just the two of us, staying in a studio each time for about 12 nights each time.
Gotta love that DVC membership!