Do you use points wisely or do you s p l u r g e???

[Tink-n-Belle]

We usually get a 1 bedroom but since I'm so in "debt" with my points I had to downsize this past trip to a studio--- However, I really didn't mind it too much. We have Dh, me and 2 DD 9 & 7 so it was okay.

I have been in debt since I bought. We only have 180 points so its not too hard to do this, plus I gave my awesome daycare provider 50 points as a BIG thank you for being a great babysitter all these years

I will cook a frozen pizza now and then, and we always have breakfast in the room and an occasional lunch (turkey or ham sandwich) We order from Garden Grocer--Its worth it just for the water. We drink 2 cases a week.

We have stayed the majority at BWV but have tried out the BCV for 1 night and last trip went to AKV for 1 trip. We also went to VB twice 2 nights each time (IMHO, that is the best kept Disney secret )

We had an annual pass for the 1st 3 trips and went to the parks all the time, but this time we only went 1 day (got to do Epcot and DHS in one day ) and then bought an extra ticket to go to the P&PP on Valentines Day. Next Feb I plan to do Sea World and Discovery cove. We bought 2 10 day hoppers for each of us (20 days each) and still have 19 days left on them - so we will be using them slowly. If we want to do the park alot one trip I think an AP would work better, I did get spoiled with one because we stay at the BWV and its soooo close to Epcot and just to easy to go there for dessert at night and to watch illuminations.

We usually go for a week and then spend a week at my mom's (Ft Lauderdale)
and I have just stayed put on weekends and used the points

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??
Both

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?
Nope

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year?
Nope

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points?
Yep

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip?
Nope

Do you bank?
Yep

Do you borrow?
Yep

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts?
Stay put

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?
Disney cooks...we're on vacation

Do you always go to the parks each trip?
Yep

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks?
Nope

 

[eporter66]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??
We get a 1 Bedroom, for myself, wife and daughter. We stayed in a studio once, and ever since have done the 1 Bedroom.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?
We love October for the weather and the F&W Fest. We also like Jan/Feb to get out of the NY cold. Our times will change as our daughter gets older, but we go now during the times we enjoy the best

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year? We have done both, just depends on when we want to be there.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points? We dont worry about the points, we will borrow if we need them, and bank if we decide not to go one year

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip? No - we have always used our points

Do you bank? Yes

Do you borrow? Yes

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts? Stay put, but would switch if it was the only way we could book the time we want to be at WDW

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU? Both. Usually cook breakfast in the room to get an early start, but have at one time or another had lunch in the room. 99% of the time we eat dinner out.

Do you always go to the parks each trip? Yes, there are trips where we may skip one or two parks, but we have always gone to at least two different parks on every trip

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks? Not yet

 

[Safari Queen]

We generally do a studio for just the two of us and a two bedroom when my DD, DSIL & DGD are with us. I'd love to do a one BR for us but we like to cruise on points every once in a while, and that doesn't leave much for splurging on extra space.

We rarely stay in dream or premier seasons because of points and crowds.

We try to limit the number of weekend nights. On a longer trip, we put two weekend nights in the middle.

We like to do a long trip (10-13 days) in Jan and a couple of 4 day trips in spring and fall for Flower & Garden and Food & Wine.

The only time we've paid cash was for one night at a value before our DVC stay to get the best airfares.

We sometimes bank and borrow, as required.

We tried our first split stay in Jan and enjoyed the change.

We make breakfast with a minimal amount of cooking. Other than that, it's just snacks and reheated leftovers.

We always go to the parks but we don't necessarily go every day or even every third day. We often go in just at night for fireworks or food.

 

[pixie08]

I should say we are new DVC owners so my answers really only reflect the vactions we have planned this year and next year.

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room?? Our first Anniversary is this June so we splurged with our Developer points and booked a 1 bedroom water view at the BWV. Usually for the 2 of us we would just get a studio.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?Yes, aside from our June Trip (which even with that we booked the first week of June to save a few points even though our anni is at the end of June) we tend to travel in Jan and Oct.

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year? No- we have to fly form NY so we like to try to stay 6-7 nights if possible. Although we have done a few shorter trips but even then with work not including a weekend is just impossible for us.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points? Yes. We usually include a weekend into our trip because we try to stay 6-7 nights min.

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip? NO

Do you bank?Yes

Do you borrow? Yes

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts? Stay put...we tried splitting but hated packing/unpacking/waitng for the room to be ready- waste of time for us. We will just try to stay at the other property next time

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?Disney cooks for me (with the exception of the Hilton Head trip we are planning for next year- we plan on BBQ a lot!)! We do have a quick breakfast or snacks in the room though.

Do you always go to the parks each trip? Yes- we could not go a trip w/out a park. Although, we do not go commando since we know we will be back!

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks? NO

 

[drusba]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??

*****We get the smallest size we need, a 2BR for four-- we like space.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?

*****We have high to low season stays

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year?

******Always for a week or more and pay the points for the weekend

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points?

*******At least one is 12 nights starting on a Sun and ending on a Fri and thus it does limit it to one weekend

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip?

******* Never

Do you bank?

******* Yes

Do you borrow?

******** No

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts?

********We own at BWV and get boardwalk view, why would we want to change?

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?

*********There's a kitchen? DW makes one thing for dinner: reservations

Do you always go to the parks each trip?

**********Yes, but usually no more than 4 hours a day, many times just in evening for dinner and couple of attractions

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks?

**********Haven't done that yet; can't possibly do it because some of our favorite restaurants are in the parks.

 

[kaseyC]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??

We stay in a 2 bdrm which is the perfect size for our family of five and the major reason we purchased DVC.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?

Yes, usually Dec or early June.

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year?

Yes, sometimes we will throw in a friday night but usually just Sun-thurs.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points?
no, usually two shorter trips but that may change as the girls get older.

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip?
Haven't yet but probably will for a March 2009 trip.

Do you bank?
never!!

Do you borrow?
always!!

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts?
Stay put in one resort, usually just our home resort of BWV, this year we are trying out AKV

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?
Not really, quick breakfasts and some lunches. Always have ADRs for dinner.

Do you always go to the parks each trip?
We always spend some time in the parks but we do not feel the need to go "commando" anymore, we know we will be back.

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks?
not yet but hoping to try it next March.

 

[UConnJack]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accommodations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??

While at WDW, with the exception of one GV family reunion stay, we have always stayed in studios. Why waste the points when we spend so little time in the rooms. As the kids get older, we will likely have to upgrade to a 1br. We also do Inn rooms at VB, but we usually stay in a 1 br for our HH trips since my Dad comes to play golf with me.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?

Yes. The kids aren't in school yet, so we always go off-season (as much to avoid crowds as save points.) This will likely change soon, but will still try to take the kids out of school on occasion (at least until middle school).

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year?

We usually book and intend on a Sun-Thurs stay, but we invariably end up adding a weekend day or two.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points?

Most trips are 5-7 days. Are conscious of the weekends and sometimes try to avoid them, but its not the decision maker.

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip?

Only at HH in the off-season when room rates are $89-$139 a night. Otherwise, the $300+ a night, even with discount, is still too expensive to justify it.

Do you bank?

Haven't had to yet.

Do you borrow?

Have been in the red since day 1.

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts?

Stay put while there. Will sometimes add an off-site mini-trip.

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?

Since we get studios, we eat out. But we would cook occasionally if we stayed in a 1/2/3-br. Always do some cooking at HH.

Do you always go to the parks each trip?

Yes.

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks?

No. My wife's withdrawal symptoms wouldn't be pretty......

 

[DVCLiz]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??

We only stay in a studio if nothing else is available. Usually we stay in a 2BR for our family of three. Both of my teen daughters like having their own bed and I like having a separate bedroom!!

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?

No. We travel during school breaks or in the summer, so it's almost always a "high" season.

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year?

We usually use our DVC points only on weekdays, and move resorts for the weekend. We like to visit other deluxe resorts like the Poly and if we pay cash for the weekend we can stay an extra week with our points.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points?

We've stayed for two weeks but each time we found it was too long. Ten days is about the right length for us - any more and my daughters revert to teens who want to sleep late and watch TV all day, then stay up all night!!!!

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip?

Yes - see above!

Do you bank?


Only if I have a few points left over - I think I've only had this happen once.

Do you borrow?

All the time!!! I started out not needing to but the lure of an extra trip one year was too great, and now I am borrowing from 2009.

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts?

Almost always split resorts!! We like having different options - we love the Wilderness Lodge but if the weather is warm we want a few days to swim at SAB, so we try to book a few days at the BCV. It really depends on how early we decide to go - if we don't have much time we take what is available!!!!

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?

We never cook a meal. We might use the microwave once or twice for snacks, and we keep soft drinks and ice cream in the freezer/refrigerator. If I'm on a solo trip, I keep cheese and crackers, too. No real cooking - if we don't want to go out we order room service.

Do you always go to the parks each trip?

Yes. If I'm on a solo trip I sometimes skip one or two days and lounge around the room/resort. If the girls are with me, we might skip one or two days if we are on a long trip. Otherwise, we hit the parks everyday. As they have gotten older, we sleep in sometimes and go after lunch and stay late.

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks?

Never. When I want that kind of vacation, I use my points at Hilton Head. If we are in Florida, we are going to make it a park trip!

 

[Starr W.]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room?? We always stay in a 2br for the 4 of us,

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points? NO

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year? No

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points? We do one long trip, plus at least one 3-4 day.

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip? NO

Do you bank? Yes

Do you borrow? Yes

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts? Stay put

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU? No cooking, just snack and eat cereal or such for breakfast

Do you always go to the parks each trip? At this point, yes

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks? NO, not yet

 

[Hollymom1229]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??
Right size so far, but when DH and I have a little one we'll move up to a 1 BDR, for room, privacy, and a kitchen.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?
Sometimes, but more based on when we want to go.

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year?
Nope, that would waste precious vacation days.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points? Generally, it'll be 8 nights this year and 7 nights next year, though sometimes I get in a quick weekend trip.

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip? Don't see the point in paying again, that's what my points are for.

Do you bank? Sometimes

Do you borrow? Sometimes

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts? Unless there is no other option we stay put.

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU? Rarely, we almost always let Disney cook.

Do you always go to the parks each trip? Always go to each park, but not as many days now.

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks? I would someday for a short weekend trip, but not yet.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??
Someday, I would like to have one bedrooms when just DH and I go, but for now, even with 855 points, mostly all we get is studios for us two. Once we had OKW 1 bedroom and that was as wonderful as people say they are. When family comes we get a 2 bedroom and 1 -4 studios.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?No, but I am so happy that December is low points because I hope always to be able to go in December!

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year? No, if I'm in Florida, I'd be happy to stay for a weekend, and we do sometimes.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points? We don't do 1 long trip. My longest trip will be this June, and it's from a Friday night to Saturday, just over a week.

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip? Not DVC cash ressies. Sometimes we stay in Pop, we do like it.

Do you bank?Sometimes

Do you borrow? Usually

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts? I very much like AKV, and the value points on a weekend makes it seem "OK" to me to stay there and then switch over to another resort for a longer stay. In the past, I have booked BCV on a Saturday, just to enjoy SAB for one or two days a year, and then go to a different resort for a longer stay. Now we own at BCV, so I won't need to do that. We can have longer stays there. So, it will probably be only AKV that we stay at for weekends before going to a different resort

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?I do some cooking, but mostly we eat out.

Do you always go to the parks each trip?Yes, we have AP's and so it's painless to go to a park.

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks?No, but I would be OK with that idea.

Right now, can't wait for the BCV Flower and Garden show stay. It will be 5 nights for me, but including the Friday and Saturday nights because DH could only take 1 vacation day, so we needed to be there for the weekend.

Bobbi

 

[Anal Annie]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room?? Right size - we're a family of 3 so studios work fine for us.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points? If we can. Last summer we went in mid-August when the points dropped to save a few. But won't pull DS out of school to go so only if we can work it around school breaks.

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year? No - that's not say that we won't do it that way in the future sometime!

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points? We usually vacation for a week to 10 days and will slip in a long weekend somewhere if we can.

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip? Yes! The DVC discount is a great bonus. We used it for a cash ressie in January and are using it again in July.

Do you bank? Yes!

Do you borrow? Haven't YET!

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts? Packing is not a hobby that I do for fun. We stay put.

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU? Does oatmeal count?

Do you always go to the parks each trip? YES!!

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks? NO!!

 

[bwvBound]

Responses below in red.

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??
It is only the two of us ... but we tend to book 1BR units.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?
Yes. Our visits tend to be during January, early December and other low-season windows.

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year?
We don't avoid weekends. We use our points on weekdays and weekends alike.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points?
Yes, we generally stay for 10-12 nights -- but mostly because of travel costs from the West Coast.

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip?
No -- but we do combine DVC Points plus inbound exchanges using our other timeshare. Often we'll book 7 nights via the II exchange and then use the DVC points to add a night or two on either side.

Do you bank?
Every year so far ...

Do you borrow?
Not yet.

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts?
Split: 6+ nights at BWV for a conference and then we have to go somewhere else to unwind.

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?
We'll eat out once every 2-3 days and get by on left-overs and cooking in between.

Do you always go to the parks each trip?
No.

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks?
Almost - but not quite. Our January 2007 visit was almost park-free ... except for attending a Pirate'n'Princess hard ticket event.

 

[GGOOFY1]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room?? Right size unless not available and I have to have my Disney fix!!

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points? No around the kids schedules

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year? No

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points? Yes, after this year we will empty nesters, so our trip planning might change!!

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip? Yes

Do you bank? Yes, rarely

Do you borrow? All the time!! It took 501 pts for a GV in Aug. I have borrowed my UY 2010

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts? Split, usually cash for weekend stays to extend out trip

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU? Cooking this year for 6 18year old boys

Do you always go to the parks each trip? yes

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks? no

 

[drag n' fly]

We splurged this one time on a cruise with developer points etc. Sounds like those points are going the way of the dodo bird which is a good thing I think as it will make bookings a little easier. Once the DVC honeymoon is over we will stay at our one bedroom at AKV or bank and borrow and do a split stay.

 

[Alexander]

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room?? Stay in the right size.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points? We travel when school is out, usually high-point times.

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year? No, we usually stay one weekend night too.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points? We usually visit 3-4 times/year, 5-6 nights each.

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip? Only once.

Do you bank? What's that?

Do you borrow? Yes!!

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts? We stay put.

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU? Don't cook at home, surely won't on vacation!

Do you always go to the parks each trip? Pretty much.

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks? Did this once. We always take a few days of no parks each trip.

 

[nightshaderose]

I'm a new member, so most of this is planning and speculation. I intend to do 1-2 trips/year, and may or may not invite friends to go with me.

Just curious who stays in just the right size DVC accomdations to meet their family/vacationers needs or do you stay LARGER just for the extra room??
I'm planning on a 1BR for the annual Food & Wine Fest trip, largely for the jetted tub, but I suspect I'll be happy with a studio the rest of the time.

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?
I plan my trips during cheaper(ish) seasons in order to avoid the worst of the crowds.

Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year?
Absolutely. As long as high-speed internet is available, I can even work from WDW if I must.

Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points?
No. Before I bought DVC, my financial situation was variable enough that there was no telling when I would be able to go again, so I'd try to stretch the trip as long as possible. Now, since I know I'm going back, I'm satisfied with shorter trips that can maybe be more focused (some trip soon I'm going to make a point of doing everything that's wet).

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip?
Not so far.

Do you bank?
Yes

Do you borrow?
Not yet. Maybe down the road if I want to do something big for friends/family

Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts?
Not yet, but it's an interesting idea

Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?
For the most part, I'll let Disney do the cooking. Half the reason I go is for the restaurants.

Do you always go to the parks each trip?
Yes. I'm not sure I could be on property and Not go to AK. My current strategy is to get an AP just before the F&WF this year, use it for that trip, a trip in spring 2009 , and 2009 F&WF (a little earlier than this year's trip), do something else winter/spring 2010, and repeat with a new AP for F&WF 2010. (yes, I'm a compulsive over-planner)

Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks?
It doesn't seem likely (see above), but if I get the chance for a few days or a short working vacation during a time when I don't have an AP, it's possible.

Elizabeth

 

[Donald's Fan in PHX!]

I plan on one week in WDW and a few days in DL each year.

 

[Poohgirl]

Do you plan your trips during a season to get more bang out of your points?
I have, it depends on how many WDW trips I want to plan for the year
Do you only go for weekdays so you can go more often each year?
no
Do you stay for ONE LONG trip each year not worrying about weekday vs. weekend points? Yes, some years its one long trip, others 3 trips!

Do you combine cash ressies with points to help stretch your trip?
Yes, I have only when a point ressie was not available for a day or two
Do you bank?

Do you borrow?
always
Do you stay put or do you split trips between different resorts?
This year is our first split DVC stay
Do you cook while staying at DVC or let Disney COOK FOR YOU?
cook? what is that?
Do you always go to the parks each trip?
yes
Do you ever go and never step foot in the parks?
never