Dvc has changed me.

[stmize]

Another thing I've noticed is I used to buy a lot of park tshirts etc and some things I still do but I tend to buy more Dvc merc for instance this yr I got a cool water bottle with a straw a pink tshirts a grey sweatshirt a magnet clip for fridge and other stuff

 

[Chuck S]

I still buy several non-DVC T-shirts, assuming they have products I like. Some trips I find quite a few, other trips, nothing.

 

[stmize]

I bought some Mickey jeans and a cool Mickey blue and black sweater and disney pins but most other stuff was Dvc

 

[brettcw23]

We still do rope drop but go at a leisurely pace. We now will take longer breaks back at the resort. Getting to the parks early enables us to ride the attractions without waiting in lines.

 

[TEK224]

No more APs, now you can switch to non expiring 10 day tickets. One of my favorite things is talking to CMs and Guests around the resort.

Bill

Bill,

Just wondering... do you think it's worth it to get the non-exp MYW instead of an AP? Is it because you only go once a year or you don't visit the parks alot when you go?

I love my DVC. Sometimes I go solo, other times I bring friends or the nieces and nephews. I still park hop and do rope drop (or close to it) at times. If I do rope drop, I'll then go back to the room in the afternoon to relax and hit another park at night. I love the extra space and the W&D.

But I think what helped me "relax" more was getting an AP. When I had MYW pass, if I only wanted to get to a park for a short time (or for dinner at EPCOT), I felt like I wasted a day off the ticket. With the AP, if I go to a park for 2 hours and then leave I don't have that feeling of "not getting my money's worth". Now, I only get an AP if I know I'm going to be tehre a couple times a year. Otherwise it's a MYW ticket.

 

[Caren90]

Bill,

Just wondering... do you think it's worth it to get the non-exp MYW instead of an AP? Is it because you only go once a year or you don't visit the parks alot when you go?

I love my DVC. Sometimes I go solo, other times I bring friends or the nieces and nephews. I still park hop and do rope drop (or close to it) at times. If I do rope drop, I'll then go back to the room in the afternoon to relax and hit another park at night. I love the extra space and the W&D.

But I think what helped me "relax" more was getting an AP. When I had MYW pass, if I only wanted to get to a park for a short time (or for dinner at EPCOT), I felt like I wasted a day off the ticket. With the AP, if I go to a park for 2 hours and then leave I don't have that feeling of "not getting my money's worth". Now, I only get an AP if I know I'm going to be tehre a couple times a year. Otherwise it's a MYW ticket.

I am curious to read Bill's rationale for this as well.

Stephen

 

[spencerbomar]

I could kick myself many times over that we didn't buy back in mid nineties.

Most new owners, if not all don't remember that until the end of 1999 DVC enticed purchase by providing "free" park passes.
A studio and 1BR rental entitled the member to 2 passes for your length of stay, and a 2BR was 4 passes.
Since we joined in March 1993, we went to the park for free for 6 years.
Great benefit, huh?
And now our points can be sold for about 150% of what we paid for them even having used them for 20 years.
I love that our guide and others advised us that DVC was not to be considered an investment.

 

[disneynutz]

Bill,

Just wondering... do you think it's worth it to get the non-exp MYW instead of an AP? Is it because you only go once a year or you don't visit the parks alot when you go?

I love my DVC. Sometimes I go solo, other times I bring friends or the nieces and nephews. I still park hop and do rope drop (or close to it) at times. If I do rope drop, I'll then go back to the room in the afternoon to relax and hit another park at night. I love the extra space and the W&D.

But I think what helped me "relax" more was getting an AP. When I had MYW pass, if I only wanted to get to a park for a short time (or for dinner at EPCOT), I felt like I wasted a day off the ticket. With the AP, if I go to a park for 2 hours and then leave I don't have that feeling of "not getting my money's worth". Now, I only get an AP if I know I'm going to be tehre a couple times a year. Otherwise it's a MYW ticket.

We have been members for many years and we go into the parks less and less as time goes on. We used to vacation at WDW 3 times per year maybe 10 days per trip. Then twice per year, still about 10 days per trip. Depending on what's going on we still have AP vouchers that we can use but we also have several 10 day hopper and non hopper, non expiring tickets.

Looking at our park pattern one day I realized that spending the money on APs didn't always make sense based on how many days we went into the parks. Same thing with park hoppers, why buy hoppers if we don't hop?

Now by deciding ahead of time which trips will be park trips and which will not, we have saved hundreds of dollars by matching the admission media to our park schedule.

The freedom to have a AP and to go into a park to have dinner or just to go on a ride or attraction is nice but it does get expensive.

Bill

 

[Caren90]

We have been members for many years and we go into the parks less and less as time goes on. We used to vacation at WDW 3 times per year maybe 10 days per trip. Then twice per year, still about 10 days per trip. Depending on what's going on we still have AP vouchers that we can use but we also have several 10 day hopper and non hopper, non expiring tickets.

Looking at our park pattern one day I realized that spending the money on APs didn't always make sense based on how many days we went into the parks. Same thing with park hoppers, why buy hoppers if we don't hop?

Now by deciding ahead of time which trips will be park trips and which will not, we have saved hundreds of dollars by matching the admission media to our park schedule.

The freedom to have a AP and to go into a park to have dinner or just to go on a ride or attraction is nice but it does get expensive.

Bill

Thanks for responding Bill. This is what I thought you meant but I am glad to have your explanation to confirm it.

I think we are beginning a similar phase in our Disney life and I will need to look into our ticket costs/ purchases more carefully.

Stephen

 

[mickeymom629]

I must be in the minority because I still love to plan (okay, obsess ), be at rope drop and "see it all". Of course, maybe I haven't been able to go as often or for as long as you pp's have lately but, even when we were going annually, I still was trying to fit it all in. I just can't stop myself and I know my family would like to relax more... Now my kids are older and we are going back in January for the first time altogether in 5 years and I find myself trying to plan some breaks in our 7 nights in the World. If only I had 2 weeks...

 

[Tormania]

I can see similiarities in park experiences for many of you that go frequently with how we treat Sea World / Fiesta Texas here in San Antonio. We have season passes so we come and go at our leisure, never hurried, never pressured and it makes each visit so much less stressful and we can always go back again later in the season and do other things.

The difference for us is a trip to WDW is a BIG deal for us. We will be "renting" our first DVC points next month for a week long trip after Thanksgiving next year. It will be our DS first trip and I'm super excited. For us anyway the distance from WDW and our limited vacation schedules really makes it difficult at this point in our lives to become DVC Members but happy to have the option to rent points and get a similar experience as DVC Members without all the other associated perks. I have a cousin who has been a DVC member for about 3 yrs now so I can live vicariously through her trips as well for now.

But I do like the idea of being able to relax and truly enjoy the parks and resorts rather then feel like I have to rush from here to there constantly to get it all in in just one trip. That is our plan for our trip next year anyway, slow down and take it all in nice and slow.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Isn't it wonderful to actually relax while on vacation?! That is the best change for most DVCers.

Gone are the commando days! DVC ownership is a beautiful thing, and sharing it with friends and family makes it even better!