DVC Retirement

[Stargazer65]

On another note, out of curiosity, after you stay a month, how long do you have to leave for before you come back

As I understand it, you don't really have to leave the resort at all, you just need to check out of your room. I believe you can check in on a reservation in a new room on the same day.

 

[Girlstar30]

As I understand it, you don't really have to leave the resort at all, you just need to check out of your room. I believe you can check in on a reservation in a new room on the same day.

Oh wow that's awesome

 

[gmi3804]

As I understand it, you don't really have to leave the resort at all, you just need to check out of your room. I believe you can check in on a reservation in a new room on the same day.

I wonder if you book the same room category at the same resort if you can just check out and back into the same room at the same time.

 

[Brian Noble]

If it saves the front desk a turn, probably.

 

[Simba's Mom]

As I understand it, you don't really have to leave the resort at all, you just need to check out of your room. I believe you can check in on a reservation in a new room on the same day.

That kind of makes sense. Or I know of people who spend a month at Hilton Head, then a weekend at WDW, then go back. You could do that, or vice versa for a change of scenery.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

This is our goal, do MLK-ish to President's weekend-ish. Figure if we do studios M-F and 1B S/S somewhere economical we can do laundry and eat normally a bit. We are from MA, so snowbirding in the winter doldrums seems nice. We'll see! I'd love to have the kids know where we're at and they can pop down for a long weekend or something when we're in a 1B or maybe splurge on a 2B.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

I've thought about doing this at a 2 bedroom villa or treehouse every other year. That way instead of trying to coordinate vacation times we could just say to the adult kids "This is the month we are there if you want to visit". Then it's on them to figure out if they want to go or not.

I like this idea!

 

[E2ME2]

Hi Everyone.

I was talking to my wife about how neat it would be to get enough points to stay a whole month on property when we retire. Does anyone else do this?

I just thought thought it would be great to get away from the cold and spend time just hanging out and enjoying the parks and atmosphere.

Its funny you brought this up as we were just talking about it. We have 150 points at VGF and 100 at BLT. I think you could easily do this depending on the resort you want. I know we looked and at VGF points alone we could do 3 weeks at OKW if we wanted depending on time of year. I would study the time of year, the type of room you want and ideal resort location and back into the points you would need. Happy retirement!

Recently retired, I have contemplated doing this as well. Would need a 1BR for the space, however. After 45 years of marriage, we're not honeymooners anymore.

This is my goal as well. I'm still a while off from retirement but that's the plan! Originally I was thinking one month but now I'm leaning towards two 2.5-ish week trips to break up the winter...but that's the beauty of DVC. I can wait and decide, and/or alternate!

My People!! We've been doing this since 2021 (Retired 12/31/25).
29 Nights In 2021
49 Nights in 2022
57 Nights in 2023
63 Nights in 2024
59 Nights in 2025
58 Nights in 2026 + 30 Nights in a Marriott in Lake Buena Vista
DVC-SNOWBIRDS

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

My People!! We've been doing this since 2021 (Retired 12/31/25).
29 Nights In 2021
49 Nights in 2022
57 Nights in 2023
63 Nights in 2024
59 Nights in 2025
58 Nights in 2026 + 30 Nights in a Marriott in Lake Buena Vista
DVC-SNOWBIRDS

Living the dream— how do you split your time at each resort and room type?

 

[patm95]

My People!! We've been doing this since 2021 (Retired 12/31/25).
29 Nights In 2021
49 Nights in 2022
57 Nights in 2023
63 Nights in 2024
59 Nights in 2025
58 Nights in 2026 + 30 Nights in a Marriott in Lake Buena Vista
DVC-SNOWBIRDS

My hero’s! How many points does it take to do that?!

 

[Chili327]

Living the dream— how do you split your time at each resort and room type?

Yep, that's what I'm interested in... Like 2 weeks near the parks, then 2 weeks at an OKW or SSR (or maybe CFW), than another week back near the parks. Seems reasonable.

 

[E2ME2]

Living the dream— how do you split your time at each resort and room type?

Mostly studios, occasionally a 1BR for one of the weeks. The toughest obstacle is always getting resort view at BWV in January. If successful, we can grab 3 weeks there in a studio.....
The planning & executing at 11 Months is challenging, especially since we start making the ressies while we're still on property, so rely on iPhone & wifi. This year we will be at a Marriott in LBV for December. Then it's 2 weeks AKL- Studio(Resort View), 2 weeks at BWV-Studio (Boardwalk View - Resort view was not available), 1 week at BLT-Studio(Preferred View), 3-weeks at SSR-Studio (Resort View).

 

[E2ME2]

My hero’s! How many points does it take to do that?!

We currently have 890 points

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Mostly studios, occasionally a 1BR for one of the weeks. The toughest obstacle is always getting resort view at BWV in January. If successful, we can grab 3 weeks there in a studio.....
The planning & executing at 11 Months is challenging, especially since we start making the ressies while we're still on property, so rely on iPhone & wifi. This year we will be at a Marriott in LBV for December. Then it's 2 weeks AKL- Studio(Resort View), 2 weeks at BWV-Studio (Boardwalk View - Resort view was not available), 1 week at BLT-Studio(Preferred View), 3-weeks at SSR-Studio (Resort View).

2 Weeks at a BWV Boardwalk View

8 weeks on < 900 points is pretty impressive.

I think for us we’d want to have at least 2 night villa stays every 10 days or so to do laundry!

 

[AdamsMum]

I have enough points for a studio for a month. But I have animals and rental properties to look after, so I can't really be gone that long.

Yeah, I've got a built in dog sitter in my daughter and her (veterinarian) hubby, but I don't think it's fair to the pup to just disappear for a month. Being from Canada, it's a bit much to do trips of a few days. My sweet spot is 8 - 10 nights at a time.

 

[Judique]

2 Weeks at a BWV Boardwalk View

8 weeks on < 900 points is pretty impressive.

I think for us we’d want to have at least 2 night villa stays every 10 days or so to do laundry!

The resort villa washers and dryers at BWV just don't dry some things such as jeans and definitely towels. Washer is fine. I've had to carry loads to the laundry room to get stuff dry.

The lucky villas (I think OKW?) that have full size laundry pair are usually fine. Most of the time, I don't have to do laundry as I tend to overpack a lot, but then I'm driving so I have that luxury of bringing stuff. Getting ready for my next trip a week from Tuesday so I'm sorting through what I want to bring.

I had the retirement at WDW dream! Still do but don't want to be gone from home more than 10 days as I have pets. DD looks after them for me. Mostly because of this I split my trips into 3 trips. This adds transportation costs and overnights on the way as I'm older and won't do a straight through trip, but it works for me by keeping track of my credit cards rewards.

This year I've done the food and wine Halloween trip. Doing the pre-Christmas trip next week. Then the end of January trip last week of January.

Would like to add a February trip. It will happen next year, I mean - 2027. For 2027 I'm aiming for a January week, a February week and a March or April week at Hilton Head.

 

[E2ME2]

2 Weeks at a BWV Boardwalk View

8 weeks on < 900 points is pretty impressive.

I think for us we’d want to have at least 2 night villa stays every 10 days or so to do laundry!

Yes - laundry can be a chore but, when you're staying 8 weeks, a few down days are expected. That's why occasionally we throw in a week in a 1BR. However, last year we had 1 week at Kidani in a 1BR and got stuck with an ADA room that had not been refurbished. (Nothing at all like the 1BR at Jambo, so we ere disappointed in wasting extra points). The large laundry at SSR is the best, and that's usually our longest stay.

 

[E2ME2]

The resort villa washers and dryers at BWV just don't dry some things such as jeans and definitely towels. Washer is fine. I've had to carry loads to the laundry room to get stuff dry.

The lucky villas (I think OKW?) that have full size laundry pair are usually fine. Most of the time, I don't have to do laundry as I tend to overpack a lot, but then I'm driving so I have that luxury of bringing stuff. Getting ready for my next trip a week from Tuesday so I'm sorting through what I want to bring.

I had the retirement at WDW dream! Still do but don't want to be gone from home more than 10 days as I have pets. DD looks after them for me. Mostly because of this I split my trips into 3 trips. This adds transportation costs and overnights on the way as I'm older and won't do a straight through trip, but it works for me by keeping track of my credit cards rewards.

This year I've done the food and wine Halloween trip. Doing the pre-Christmas trip next week. Then the end of January trip last week of January.

Would like to add a February trip. It will happen next year, I mean - 2027. For 2027 I'm aiming for a January week, a February week and a March or April week at Hilton Head.

SSR has a decent laundry room - and that's where we have our longest stay

 

[toesmom]

Mostly studios, occasionally a 1BR for one of the weeks. The toughest obstacle is always getting resort view at BWV in January. If successful, we can grab 3 weeks there in a studio.....
The planning & executing at 11 Months is challenging, especially since we start making the ressies while we're still on property, so rely on iPhone & wifi. This year we will be at a Marriott in LBV for December. Then it's 2 weeks AKL- Studio(Resort View), 2 weeks at BWV-Studio (Boardwalk View - Resort view was not available), 1 week at BLT-Studio(Preferred View), 3-weeks at SSR-Studio (Resort View).

Studios are fine, this sounds so great, not sure I'll ever have that many points, but I think we have enough to do 2 months staying in studios when we retire.