DVC usage before/after kids

[disney_bob]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I (who don't have kids yet) are wondering how those of you didn't have kids when you joined DVC changed your usage behavior after having kids.

Did you not go while pregnant or they were infants? How long did you wait to go once you had a child?

The reason I ask is if we decided to buy now but have kids in 2 years we wouldn't want a few years of points wasted while we're at home tending to the family.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[dsneygirl]

We purchased in 2005. Our son was born in 2006. He has been 15x in 5 years. We went 4x the year I was on mat leave. So in other words no impact whatsover. In fact I think DVC is perfect for infants/toddlers because you can have a kitchen, laundry, more than 1 room to spread out. We also didn't have to tour commando, spent lots of time at the resort and the pool. We would get groceries delivered (even formula if you need it). We're now expecting #2 and plan to spend a lot more time in 1 bedrooms rather than studios. That will be the only big change to our DVC travels.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I love Disney and the only regret I have is not purchasing DVC sooner. I would have bought it before I had kids if I'd been able to afford it. From my 11+ years of ownership, I think having a timeshare and being able to come and rest or take a break in the villas while pregnant or even better yet when they are babies would have been a plus. Also, during the years you feel you can't come, you can bank your points and use them the following year. You can use them on bigger accomodations or longer vacations, like family reunions (we've had 3 in grand villas). My son was almost 3 when I bought, he's now 14 and I expect the time will come when I will let come with his friends without me. Even further down the line, hopefully he'll let me bring my grand children when the time comes.

I expect the day will come when I go without him, and go with friends instead. THe lenght of the DVC ownership will see me through many life's changes and I look forward to them all!

 

[loveswdw]

We had taken the DVC tour at BWV in 1999 on our honeymoon but just didn't feel we could afford it then being newly married, etc. Fast forward to 2003. We decided in January that it was time to start trying to have a baby. Well, that DVC had just been sitting in the back of my mind. So I told my DH if we don't buy it now you know we won't once we have kids. We'll always say, "We can't afford it." So we bought in March 2003. Found out I was pregnant in May 2003 so the timing was right on!

Our kids are DVC "spoiled" and have been to WDW many times. Our DS7 has been 6 or 7 times already and just thinks every kid gets to go to WDW as much as he does. DS3 has been 3 times.

Forgot to add, that we traveled "home" for the first time when I was 7 months pregnant with #1. We stayed in a studio at BCV. Took DS #1 on his first trip at 15 months and stayed in a 1BR at OKW. After that 1BR we never looked back and we've always stayed in 1BRs. We took DS #2 on his first trip at 9 months and stayed with family in a 2BR at SSR. There's no better place to take kids on vacation than WDW and DVC makes it so much nicer. Being able to go back to the villa and everybody can have their own space. Ahhhh...

 

[hakepb]

I thought 6 month was great. Old enough to notice the activity, young enough to enjoy a lot of stroller time (once they start crawling they want to experience stuff more on their terms. There's still a bunch of rides and attractions with no height restrictions. And WDW is one of the most accommodating vacation destinations for young children.

Plus you need to go as much as you can before they turn 3 (and disney starts charging for tickets, DDP....)

 

[hakepb]

Vacationing with a young child is more work. So is staying at home.
If I'm doing more work, it might as well be at Disney!

 

[Iggipolka]

Pre-child, we went once a year to WDW & once a year to DL.
We went to WDW when I was 5 months pregnant and then I went to WDW with my extended family when my daughter was 3 months old for 7 days. She and I did a lot of walking around the Boardwalk wearing her in an Ergo. It was actually quite relaxing.

My daughter is now 2 and we've been to WDW with her at least 4 times, (probably more) and DL three times.

Having DVC makes it so much easier to travel with a young child. I love having the space in a 1-bedroom villa, the kitchen and the ability to take an easy mid-day break. Traveling with a child is never easy, but neither is day to day life. There's joys and frustration daily with being a parent, so it's really no more difficult than being at home.

The best part is watching my daughter's face at WDW as she experiences the magic. I find that during rides, I don't pay attention to what is happening during the ride, because I'm enthralled with watching my daughter's reactions. It's just too cute.

 

[vicki_c]

We started going more regularly when my son was 2 and I was pregnant with my daughter. We've gone about 20 times since then - they are 10 and 12. It's actually easier to go when the kids are little and up through grade school for most (including us) because you can pretty much go when you want -- especially before they start school. It's only now that we're moving into the middle school years that it's becoming more difficult.

 

[Jilian]

I'm not a DVC owner but we have 3 little ones ages 8, 4, and 1 and we still go pretty regularly. The only time we stopped going was later in my pregnancies (after 6 mos) and that was mainly because I had to pee every 2 minutes and couldn't do all of the walking or carrying of little ones. We also didn't go until each of our babies was close to a year old. 9-18 mos has always been the best ages to take out babies. Once they've each turned 2 all bets are off - - they seem to loathe sitting in the stroller for long periods of time and want the freedom to run around the park without holding hands. Other than those 2 ages every other age has been manageable. You can make it work by adjusting your trip expectations too. If you only plan on doing a few rides and then going back to the hotel and playing by the pool then you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[disney_bob]

Thanks for the responses everyone. Definitely helpful!

 

[Goofy DVC]

We are dealing with the opposite scenario. We joined in 93 when DDs were 6 and 4.Had some great years and great times with our DVC. Now we have started going solo, just mom and dad, no kids. That experience is just as much fun but in a different way. We will continue to enjoy it until the next phase comes,grandkids.. Then the cycle starts all over again.

 

[akl-fan]

We bought during our Honeymoon in 2008. I had a pregnancy with problems in 2009 so couldn't fly to the USA. We exchange our points into RCI and stayed in the UK. We took our DD aged 11 months for the first time in 2010 and are going again this September for 14 days.

 

[las3888]

We conceived DS on our first trip as DVC owners, we went again when I was about half-way through my pregnancy, we were very lucky to be able to go (just me and DH) within a few months of DS' birth for a long weekend, and then we took DS when he was 8.5 months. All wonderful trips with great memories!!!! We continue to go at least 2x a year. DS is now 6. We are now struggling with having to go during summer and school breaks, as well as pulling DS out a little but I understand that gets more and more difficult to do the older they get. So we are left with having to go during peak season with peak crowds. During infancy, toddler and preschool years, we were able to really just go whenever we wanted. That was really wonderful.

It goes by really really fast! I am already starting to worry about what it will be like when DS is older and will there be a day when he won't want to go to WDW??? Sigh....

 

[bgraham34]

We purchased it pre child a few years ago and went while my wife was pregnant twice and took my 5 month old son down and we just planned another trip in Dec and he will be 14 months.

 

[kenny]

We purchased our initial contract when DD1 was 3. Our trips did not change at all from when we went pre kids and non-dvc to post kids and DVC.

DD1 went on her first trip at 2. We went when DW was pregnant with DD2. DD2 went at 5 months and again at 9 months.

I think it all depends on the type of parent you are and the type of children you have. For DW and I, kids did not stop us from going to disney when we wanted to go. Even the trips were pretty much the same but that is more attributed to our children that are just night owls and go everywhere with us and are used to everything. We typically stayed in the park to closing before kids, and really didn't change that with 2 kids.

Yes there are the melt downs from time to time (but some of them are mine!) when we would leave the park early but in general our trips are the same.

I wouldn't worry about not going once you have kids. There are tons a little babies at Disney and while some will say don't bring them to this or that age, ANY age is good. They each have their own pluses and minuses.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

We were married in '96, honeymooned there, but did not buy DVC 'til '99. Went on several trips, typically 1x/year, and traded out to Disneyland (borrowed points to do it) in '01. Timing was perfect because we had DD in 2002, so we didn't have any points to "waste" (I think we banked a few). Started taking DD on her first birthday (magical!) in '03 and have gone 1x or 2x (this year 3x!) per year ever since. Even had to do an add-on a year or two ago!

So, long story short, we enjoyed DVC before kids, and enjoy it even more now.

 

[lilpooh108]

Traveling with babies under 12 months is super easy...they sleep, they eat, they sleep some more.

DVC makes it easier---kitchen, sinks to wash bottles, microwave to sanitize bottles, pack & play, high chair...it is SO much easier than staying in a hotel room.

We bought in last year, and have already taken our now 2 year old four different times. She loves it And so do we! She's at the age where she recognizes the castle, rides and of course, the princesses. Lots of fun.

 

[jodifla]

DVC is a great choice for little children. We bought in '96, and our son was born in 2001. We took him for the first time at 5.5 months, then 13 months, then 18 months, 2 years, 2.5 years, 3 years, etc.


Each trip was great, and it was wonderful to have a one bedroom with an infant.

 

[crisi]

You can bank and borrow points to get around the "travel late in pregnancy" or "travelling with a very young child" restrictions (the second isn't a restriction, but I'd wait until a baby was fully vaccinated against whooping cough before taking them to Disney). Older babies and toddlers do great at Disney, but require fairly significant changes in your touring style until they are pretty much in elementary school - even late elementary school.

Lots of people go to Disney pregnant and have a wonderful time. I was a miserable pregnant lady when sitting on a couch, exhausted, at home and can't IMAGINE why I'd want to travel if pregnant. So you'll have to see how that goes.

Grandma's often become frequent guests in the "toddler/pre-school" age.

 

[cel_disney]

We went in December with a 4 month old (and a 4 year old) and it was great! I dont think pregnancy really has that much of an impact on our travel plans...we didnt go in September because I didnt want to deal with a 2 month old in the heat - but it wasnt a big deal to select a December vacation instead!! And the washer/dryer/kitchen made things SOOO much easier to enjoy ourselves!!!

We toured in 2002 and regret constantly that we didnt buy in until 2009! We went 6 times in that period!!

We enjoyed Disney for years before having kids and do now with kids, and we are sure we will without them in a few decades as well!!