Do you live IN Disney World (literally)?

[Debbie6221]

I just watched the Holiday special again and now I feel really bad that women died. She looked healthy.

 

[Disney Doll]

When I was staying in beach club two years ago one of the cast members told me that they have a couple that comes in and stays for 3 months. Vacation club members, they use beach club as there winter home.

We are DVCers. We own at OKW. The first time we stayed there, back in 1997, we were actually moving from POR to OKW. The bellman who came to help us with our luggage told us that his parents did that. They gave him the money to purchase enough points at OKW (using his CM discount) so that they could stay there for 3 months. They lived in Ohio. I think he said it cost about $125K. They stay in a 1BR for January, February & March. He said they didn't want to own anything down there, because they didn't want to worry about it, or have him (their son) worry about it, when they weren't there. So these people go down there and spend 3 months in the area, so they can spend time with their CM son & his family who live down there. Then when they leave, they shut the door and walk away...no worries. They spent about as much on points as they would have on buying something, when they die the points will be split amongst all their children (my understanding is they bought the points in smaller contracts) or can be sold if the children don't want them.

It seemed like a fabulous plan to me. You live in a roomy condo. Someone comes in and cleans it once a week and changes your towels etc once a week, you're on WDW property, you can use or not use theparks as you desire, you're close to your children who live down there.

I so want to be those people.

 

[NYBlue1]

We are DVCers. We own at OKW. The first time we stayed there, back in 1997, we were actually moving from POR to OKW. The bellman who came to help us with our luggage told us that his parents did that. They gave him the money to purchase enough points at OKW (using his CM discount) so that they could stay there for 3 months. They lived in Ohio. I think he said it cost about $125K. They stay in a 1BR for January, February & March. He said they didn't want to own anything down there, because they didn't want to worry about it, or have him (their son) worry about it, when they weren't there. So these people go down there and spend 3 months in the area, so they can spend time with their CM son & his family who live down there. Then when they leave, they shut the door and walk away...no worries. They spent about as much on points as they would have on buying something, when they die the points will be split amongst all their children (my understanding is they bought the points in smaller contracts) or can be sold if the children don't want them.It seemed like a fabulous plan to me. You live in a roomy condo. Someone comes in and cleans it once a week and changes your towels etc once a week, you're on WDW property, you can use or not use theparks as you desire, you're close to your children who live down there.

I so want to be those people.

I think its an awesome idea as well, something I may do once I retire, i always have figured to be a two places kinda person and this is a great way to accomplish that with really no strings to worry about once you leave!

 

[MushyMushy]

Although it sounds like a really nice thing to do, I wouldn't like the 3-month DVC thing for practical reasons. I would think you could buy a really nice RV for that price, stay at WDW for as long as you want (maybe do the 6-month thing) and then go somewhere else interesting for a while.

The more I've been thinking about this, the more I really like the idea!

 

[MyGoofy26]

Although it sounds like a really nice thing to do, I wouldn't like the 3-month DVC thing for practical reasons. I would think you could buy a really nice RV for that price, stay at WDW for as long as you want (maybe do the 6-month thing) and then go somewhere else interesting for a while.

The more I've been thinking about this, the more I really like the idea!

When I did my college program, there was a retired couple that I worked with that had an RV and spent months at a time in the Orlando area, working at Disney just for fun and a little extra money. When they weren't at Disney, they did mystery shopping. They got signed up with a company a couple years before this conversation that did "mystery shopping" of various cafeterias and things around the country. I guess it's a little bigger than the mystery shopping that some people around here do on the side. They would fly people to various locations and put them up while they checked things out. They made a deal with the company that the company would give them a cash equivalent of the travel expenses they usually pay out to others. The wife told me they just wanted to travel, they didn't really care where, so this gave them places to go and paid for all of their travel expenses since the money the company gave them more than covered the costs of the RV, gas, etc. Plus they'd get the occasional free meal when they were "working" and hen their actual pay for doing the work. They got to go all over the country. They'd mostly have to check out university and hospital cafeterias.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I'm totally fascinated by this thread! I'm not a roughin' it kind of gal and I can't afford an RV, so it's never even occurred to me that someone might live onsite at the Fort Wilderness Campground. I'm so intrigued!

Maybe when DH and I retire we'll have to buy a nice 5th Wheel or pull-behind (I know how much RVs cost and you can't get much of anything for even $100,000, so that's out!) and head down to Disney for a few months a year. I guess they don't allow pets in the campground, though. Hmm....still musing over this...I want to hear more.

 

[profdsny]

Well, assuming that you can camp there for 3 months or so at a time, could you not also be a seasonal cast member? Then you really get the best of all worlds.
Also, while we are talking about RVs, I suppose if one doesn't mind, you could just get a tent site and stay that way also. Hmmmmm..

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My sister and I did the Fort Wilderness Segway tour a few weeks ago and we talked to the guides about this. They said that some people come down every winter and camp and for the people who do it every winter they put them in the same campground loop. That loop has a Christmas decoration contest and we were amazed at how some of the people went all out decorating. Some of the people work at WDW during that time, which gives them a discount on the rates. They said that a person only has to work at WDW for 40 hours/year to get some of the benefits.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

head down to Disney for a few months a year. I guess they don't allow pets in the campground, though.

Oh yes, they allow pets!!! $5/night.

When we bought our Outback Travel Trailer a few years ago, Outback had new 5th wheels for as low as $25,000. (this was at a dealer near the mfr. in IN).

We totally want to do the couple month thing at Ft. Wilderness when we retire!

 

[Magickndm]

I guess they don't allow pets in the campground, though. Hmm....still musing over this...I want to hear more.

They have a pet loop.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

When I was staying in beach club two years ago one of the cast members told me that they have a couple that comes in and stays for 3 months. Vacation club members, they use beach club as there winter home.

I don't even want to know how many points this would take

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Thanks, Magickndm and ILoveDisney&Cruising! Now that I know FW allows pets, I can let my 3-months-at-Disney-every-year fantasy run wild!

 

[Disney Doll]

I don't even want to know how many points this would take

2668 from 1/1/08 to 3/31/08

 

[zalansky]

My DH's cousin just bought a camper and they stayed at WDW campgrounds the week before last - so we decided to go over for a few nights and spend time with them...with us staying at Boardwalk. I had never been to Ft Wilderness and was blown away at how nice it was and how so many people go all out and decorate their campsites. They had a golfcart so we rode around for over an hour looking at everyone's decorations. We met one woman who was handing out candy canes to all the admirers. She told us she and her husband work in Melbourne during the week and leave their RV at the campgrounds for months and just go on the weekends. She also said their neighbor (at the campsite) has her site reserved until 2009! We couldn't believe it. I was tempted to run out and buy a camper but then realized I just couldn't do with that small a space. It was VERY cool there though and I would love to stay there for months!!!

 

[clkelley]

We have the Ft. Wilderness retirement plan in our future also. Six months in the winter at the Fort working part time as seasonal cast members, then 6 months around the rest of the country.

 

[Debbie6221]

This just seems so cool to me! I wonder what the waiting lists. I still have little ones (with school and such) so I don't see this happening for us for years but what a dream! Same with the people using points and booking for a long stay. I once figured that if we booked at a value resort and spent as much money as we have spent at our stay at GF we could stay pretty long ourselves. My ultimate dream is one month at WDW!!!!! Preferabley at GF with that monorail I love so! (I said it was dream didn't I!)

 

[Planogirl]

I love hanging out at Fort Wilderness. Unlike the rest of the resorts, FW has kind of a laid back, friendly atmosphere and so many people seem to be good friends there.

My biggest issue would be the lack of space. I can't imagine living in a small motor home for so long.

 

[Debbie6221]

I love hanging out at Fort Wilderness. Unlike the rest of the resorts, FW has kind of a laid back, friendly atmosphere and so many people seem to be good friends there.

My biggest issue would be the lack of space. I can't imagine living in a small motor home for so long.

I agree. Again, it is probably what you are or aren't used to too. Plus, if people are on the go go go they probably just use the place to sleep.

 

[bord1niowa]

We have camped at Fort Wildernss in a pop up. Our plan is to retire early in 4 years. W will be spending time at Fort Wilderness. We stayed at a value resort this past summer and when we went back to the Fort, we missed it sooooo much. It's so nice to leave the hustle and bustle of WDW and have a quiet home to come back to. We'll be camping there in June again for 12 days. RV's are not as expensive as you think. Everybody sees these shows on TV with the million dollar RVs, they're not all like that or that expensive. Most RVs do not get used much at all, so a several year old one may cost a lot less and have a lot of life in it. I have seen many in very good condition in the 10-25K range. Sometimes less than you would spend on a car! RV parks in FLorida are pretty inexpensive too. You can stay at one long term for about $300 a month, plus your actual used electricity. Very affordable AND close to Disney. We have budgeted retiring in a Motorhome and it is actually less than keeping up a house, as long as you don't have a mortgage on a RV, meaning one of those million dollar ones...lol.

 

[annie_in_wonderland]

Wow this is amazing! What a fun thing to daydream about doing!