DVC - how often do u go?

[Cinderella]

I mostly did exchanges for my first almost five years of membership due to various personal circumstances, then we went in December and also did the cruise and added on at SSR.

We did last year and we will do twice this year then maybe have a year off (hopefully at HHI). We plan to do two on and one off, using the AP for two years.


I know many americans go frequently for a few days at a time, but it's difficult here because of flight expense and time etc. I'm curious - how do most of the other british out there do dvc and how often?

 

[Hilary]

Our pattern of visits seems to change every couple of years - and that's where DVC seems to fit the bill so well

We had been visiting WDW every year when we joined DVC in 2001, and have visited for three of the four years since as a family and, by banking and borrowing, with extended family. This year we'll use the points for DH and me without DDs. Next year is still up for discussion!

Our trips to Florida are usually for around two weeks, but we don't spend more than a week in WDW on points. We have mixed our WDW time with stays on the Gulf coast and the Keys, and every couple of years we'll target the Universal parks / SeaWorld and stay onsite at USF for that.

So I'd say we have averaged one week per year in WDW on points, but that's been in studios, two-bedrooms and a grand villa, making use of the banking and borrowing facilities!

 

[gilld]

We bought in 2003 with the intention of using it for a cheap second holiday - but definitely not every year - and letting family use it. So far our children have used it either at WDW or DLP or both and we went to WDW last year. We are going again this year then we'll leave it for a few years and let someone else have the points - or we'll stay somewhere for a few days on points. Every year would be too much for us - there's so much more of the world we want to see.

 

[TinkTatoo]

We go every year - staying in a private villa then using our points for 8-9 nights on site and heading down to Vero beach for 4-5 nights.

 

[LeCras]

We bought enough points so we could stay in a 1BR for two weeks every year in October, which is when we usually go. We weren't able to go this year since we are taking my family in April (needed this year's points for their 2BR) but hopefully we'll be back on track with yearly visits from 2007!

Charlotte

 

[Pootle]

Even though I am lucky enough to visit somewhere new every year, I love to go to Florida as often as possible and have been very resourceful in making it happen

Last year for instance, I managed a 2-week stay with a friend in March, only 5 nights of which were at OKW. Back in June for holiday with family; only one week of which was spent at OKW then DH and I headed off on our own for 4 nights at VB and finished with 2 nights on the Gulf coast visiting friends before flying back from Tampa. October, I managed to squeeze in 5 nights at HH when I came across flight prices to Altanta I couldn't resist . November I was back again but this time with a week in Las Vegas followed by 5 nights at OKW with same friend I was with in March.

One flight was frequent flyer business class (DH), one was BA premium economy and two were standard economy. I've been working on the not-giving-my-son-too-much-of-an-inheritance-tax-problem for years now .

This year I've not got quite as many trips to the USA planned, but if I come across a bargain flight .................

I agree totally with Hilary about the flexibility though. Ain't it just grand?

 

[Miffy2003]

Every year is my ideal and we have managed it for the last few years

I usually spend about 10 days in a DVC studio and the rest of the time (we like to go for 3 weeks if we can manage it) in other accommodation.

 

[Hilary]

I've been working on the not-giving-my-son-too-much-of-an-inheritance-tax-problem for years now

What an excellent justification! I'll have to remember that ...

 

[MickeyMcMouse]

We have shorter trips, but can visit the mouse 2 or 3 times a year. It great that its so flexable which allows use our points for anyting from 4 nights to 14 nights.

I keep saying this but we feel so lucky being able to do this.

David

 

[mark&sue]

We hope to go every year while DD is in school and do exchanges one a year too.

After DD leaves school hope to go two or three times a year and some exchanges


Susan

 

[jjpenguin]

We had planned on every other year but the since we bought DVC we have gone to Florida/WDW every year (last year was a cruise and VB but still...).
DH is setting up a business and we're on one salary so it makes sense going where a big chunk of the holiday cost is already paid. We can manage about 10 days on our points in a studio or combination of studio & 1br.

Once DH's business is a bit more settled I can see that we will be using the points more for exchanges. But I can see that I might be using some for a solo trip most years as DH loves WDW but not every year and I can't get enough....

 

[lovesdisney]

My DH have enough points to for at least 2 weeks every other year by banking points.

The years in between we like to visit different parts of USA/Canada/Caribbean.

 

[crux]

We bought the minimum 150 points at first, which gave us enough points to go for two weeks twice in three years. Within a year we'd bought an extra 72 points and can now go for two weeks every year. The plan is to also take shorter non-disney holidays every year now the mortgage is coming to an end. Also in the plan is a Walt Disney World Tour. Home to Paris, Paris to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Tokyo, Tokyo to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Orlando and then home!

 

[jools]

Crux

What a fab idea.

When we oringinally bought into DVC we had planned to go every other year, however I just can't wait that long to get back there and we end up going every year September or May time. Have enough points to stay in a studio for 14 nights. Or with some banking and borrowing have a 2 bedroom and take friends or grandparents. Last few years have been splitting or 2 week stay between 3 resorts e.g. WLV and then VB and then back to BWV.

Off to work out what points I need to do the Walt Disney around the World Tour.

 

[susieh]

We bought intending to go to WDW every 3 years for 2 or 3 weeks. And we more or less have done that using banking/borrowing to get the size of accommodation we need as point needs change per time of year.

We have used the points for HH, VB, DLP and DL too but so far havent exchanged outside of Disney. We like going to other parts of the US in the in-between years so we have been to other South Carolina, Georgia, California, New York, Washington and Colorado, as well as to Canada. We make the US trip our big holiday and have weekends or weeks away in our caravan towed to the 4 corners of the UK for the rest of our time off work.