do you usually have your next trip planned before the current one?

[imgoingtodisney]

I tried doing that last Nov. Had our 1st trip "home" to VWL planned for this Oct. So I had to postpone 2 trips actually.
Do I dare to plan on booking VWL for next Oct 04 before we take this Nov vaca?
Just want to know if you guys usually book your next trip before your current begins? Does it usually work?

 

[DrDO]

We currently have 3 trips planned. Going to the flower and garden festival May 11-15 at BWV, VB this July for 5 days, then early december for the Christmas activities.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Oh my yes. The sheer math of two (or three) trips per year, plus the 11 month window forces multiple trips planned at once.

I love having multiple trips planned.....it's like money in the bank!

 

[jel0511]

I usually have multiple trips planned. When we were there in Feb, I already had our July trip planned. After getting home in Feb, I planned our non-WDW trip to St. John. I'll probably plan our next trip, either next month if we decide to go for Easter, or when we get back in July if DH and I decide to get away that week instead!!!

 

[reneesam]

Oh yes! Isn't that what DVC is all about? Those planned trips are my hobby and my sanity!

 

[KNWVIKING]

Absolutely. Always use the 11 month window. I'll actually be booking my May 2004 trip during my 2003 June trip.

 

[ZerasPride]

We are going on the cruise in November and I was hoping I coudl talk DH into a couple of days at Disney (or even Universal afterwards). DH did not go for that idea. I just couldn't bear the thought of not going to Disney this year so my sister and her two darling nieces (5 and 1-1/2) are going with me in August. November 2004 we'll be at Hilton Head for a week with extended family and then unfortunately we'll have to give DVC a break for a year. We will be totally tapped out of points (even with borrowing) so we won't have another Disney trip until 2006 (ouch!). I don't know if I can go that long but I'm going to try.

As another poster mentioned, planning Disney trips is my hobby so I've always got one planned in the back of my mind. That's how I was able to pull this August trip together rather quickly. I love DVC and my only regrets are that we did not purchaser sooner and buy more points up front!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yes, I have to! I can't leave at the end of one trip to WDW without knowing when I'm coming back. It would just be too sad. Even if plans change later, I just have to have the next trip planned in my mind.

 

[InstImpres]

I never use to but know always. I was so jealous of all the people with the multiple countdown clocks but now I'm one of them.

We also have made a decision to have a yearly girls only (adults and dd's) trip so I always will know that is coming.

That being said plus all the posters before me...do you see how the add-on bug happens so easily?

Happy travels,
Sandy

 

[carone0318]

As you can see by my countdown, I officially have 2 trips booked. I am also going 11/30 - 12/5 in 2004. Then in 2005 we are going to DL 8/27 - 9/6. I just have to wait for the 11 month window to come around. I think that we are taking a break from Disney in 2006 , because we want to go to World Cup in Germany!

I think to maximize your point usage, you have to be thinking ahead, so you know how many points that you have and what you can and can't do.

Besides, I love planning!!! Not only am I a planner by profession (inventory planner), but I am planner (for everything, not just Disney) personally. Would you believe that I have had my kids Christmas shopping for Dec 03 done for a month now. Call me crazy

 

[zulaya]

"Do you usually have your next trip planned before the current one?"

The short answer: Yes.

Currently have June 6-8 coming up, and also Nov 15-19. In 2004, we most likely are going early December, but if the extended family isn't coming we might go in mid-October and catch MNSSHP and F&W.

 

[boardwalk prof]

Now that we go twice a year, there are always two ressies at any one time. Nice to have those confirmation letters piling up.

I have even made ressies for my next trip when we were at WDW at the 11 month window.

I will add that it is unusual for me not to reserve at the 11 month window. I have a spread sheet with trips planned out to 2008.

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

We almost always go in May and Dec (first 2 weeks), so we typically have 2 reservations almost all the time. But, I have planned out our point usage thru the end of our 2005 use yr. My mom turns 65 in 2005 and we are planning to get a Grand Villa at BWV for a week, so that will mean our 2004 UY has to be less than normal so we can bank points. So, right now I have 5 trips planned, but only have reservations for 2 of them

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Most of the time, we have either two or three trips booked, depending on where we are in the 11-month booking window. This year is the exception because we did not go to WDW for spring break (London instead) and are using the points for an October visit to do the Food and Wine Festival (first time for this; usually I cannot get away in October, but I will be on sabbatical this fall). As a result, we currently have 4 trips booked: June (BWV and VB), October (BWV), January (BWV and VB), and March (BWV). The January, June, and March visits are our more typical schedule.

Ralph

 

[westjones]

I have the next 4 years mapped out on paper , but only 1 trip booked at this time.

I wish we could go twice a year, but DH says he doesn't want to drive it twice. I am 'thinking' that if we try to spread out our driving more, he may not mind it as much. But we will see.

Our next trip is in September (4 nights OKW and 3 nights DCL). It seems SO far away, but our summers are pretty busy with the kids' activities so maybe it will go fast.

Anyway, if DH knew how many times I have changed and rechanged my '4 year plan' (which he doesn't know about because he thinks I plan too much anyway) he would have me declared legally insane!!!

I just figure that I want to get the maximum use of my 150 points (that is all we can afford, we won't be adding on any more than that). We are a family of 4 so we can use studios for our trips (although in September we are slurging on a 1 bedroom at OKW since the points weren't too high).

I stopped planning at 4 years out only because DH's annual conference isn't scheduled yet for that far out and we have to plan around that. So yes, I plan and plan and plan! I think it is a lot of fun! Just dreaming of all the things we will get to do! Just wish DH had more vacation time so we could go more often (but then I would need more points and that would take more planning, and well it is a never ending cycle.

DJ

 

[mouseclick1]

We usually have 2 planned at a time. Right now we have a 4th of July trip to HH booked, and a Christmas trip to BWV. I am patiently waiting until May 12 comes along so I can book our Easter cruise!

 

[DebbieB]

I usually have at least 2 planned. I book OKW for May in October and BWV for December in January. Then I sometimes throw in a non-DVC trip with friends in February.

 

[BillPA]

Me too. I have 3 booked now, 1st is May 16 for 4 night OKW 2 BR, then Aug 2-9 at BCV studio, then to VB w/2 OV inn rooms (wait listed for a 2 BR) until the 13th, then Nov 28- Dec 3 back at BCV studio (wait listed for VWL, day by day). I have next summers trips planned, just waiting for the 11 month mark to book those. And like others, on paper, the next several years are pending.

Oh I love my DVC!!

 

[ncligs]

We always have at least 2-3 (DVC trips) planned at the 11 month window.According to board guidelines we are only allowed to have 2 countdown timers though .

P.S. This doesn't include our Vegas trip in June....and a trip to San Antonio this July.

 

[lsutigger2]

I have our trips planned for soon (see below!) and for next year for my birthday cruise. I also have at least one trip "planned" in my head - we'll either go in early Dec. or next Feb. Our college baseball team will be in Orlando playing Central Fla. in Feb. and they may need some fans to cheer them on, don't you think?