Given the attachments to one's DVC "Home Resort" -- tell us about the first reservation booked on your DVC points. Did you stay at your Home Resort -- or was the first stay elsewhere?
We bought 200 BWV points with Magical Beginnings in the fall of 2003. They were going to be used for a Grand Gathering the following December, but immediately we added on 50 VWL points. We were going to bank these 50 VWL points. We were going on a cruise of the Western Caribbean in December 2003 because we always wanted to see the Mayan Ruins and the area is just too hot to enjoy when we normally do our cruising, in March. We already had our air fare for the cruise, but we thought...hmmm...we have these 50 VWL points literally burning a hole in our pockets....should we use the points for a WEEKEND getaway after the cruise. Yes, there was a studio available for the Friday and Saturday in December at VWL. . We paid the price to change our airline tickets, we paid the weekend points to stay, and we bought tickets for a MVMCP. The date was December 19th, 2003. I will remember it always, our first DVC stay at our beloved VWL, no I don't remember the date because of that, it was the day our first DGS was born, we got the message when we got back to our room after the party!
Our first trip was to our VWL home resort. There are still very memorable aspects to that trip that make me glad that we decided to stay there first. That's one of many reasons my advice to any new DVC owner is to book the first stay at the home resort.
I said other because we bought OKW first and our first reservation was a split trip with the first two nights at BWV, then 4 nights in an OKW GV followed by 3 nights in OKW 2BR.
We bought Boardwalk in January of 2000 and our first visit using points was a one bedroom Boardwalk view in December of 2000! We have such great memories that I've booked the exact same thing for this December. We love the Boardwalk!
We bought at BCV in February, 2003 and immediately booked a trip for October later that year at BCV. However, we then decided to plan a trip for late May/early June but only VWL and OKW were available. So, our first booking was for our home resort, but our first stay was at VWL.
We bought SSR May '06 and stayed there in Dec '06. We had thought of trying VWL for all the Christmas decorations, but found ourselves in SSR instead. Turned out we fell in love with the resort and out of love with some of our presumed loves (we visited BCV, BWV and VWL during our December trip). I think the ability to have a quiet retreat and yet stop off at DTD for Christmas shopping is what made us fall for one over another.
Since then we've booked 3 more trips at SSR for this year, one on New Year's just to enjoy the PI party & fireworks. We started out saying we'd enjoy all the resorts and were eager to give each a try over our first two year's visits. But now I think it will take longer and come in the form of a small 3 day excursion to another resort and longer stay at home.
DH and I bought in September 2004 at SSR and first allotment of points didn't become available until April 2005. I already had a trip to the GF planned for that September so we just used that year's points to cover a few nights, since no other trips were planned. Last year we could only do one vacation and we had to be in CA for a conference anyway so we stayed at DLH on points. Finally this year we'll stay at a DVC resort and we're going home to SSR.
We bought SSR in 2004, booked VB while we were signing our contract for SSR. Love the ocean, was long ride but VB is lovley. We got a room over looking the ocean second floor, liked the restraunts in the hotel and the lounge at night. Have stayed at all 7 resorts and like them all. We do stay at BWV with BWview most of our stayes, can't beat that view.
I bought in May of 2000 and by the time friends & I made a decision, there was nothing available for the end of October. So my very first DVC trip (on my points) was a week long stay at the Beach Club (before BCV). Point wise, expensive, but worth every penny!
We bought SSR in April 2006 and our first trip "home" was in December 2006. Six days at VB and then 6 days at SSR. We are staying at OKW for 7 days March 25- April 1. Hope to stay at BWV next Jan.
We're taking our 1st DVC trip this summer. The 1st night we're staying at BCV because we're taking a Disney cruise and the cruise line bus comes there. (Last year we stayed at the BC and loved it! ) After our 3-day cruise, we're staying 5 nights at our home resort - SSR! We can't wait!!
Our first use of points was through the concierge collection. We stayed at The Jefferson in DC over the 4th of July week in 2001. It was a great first trip for us through DVC.
We bought DVC @ VWL while vacationing at WL, but our first use of DVC points was at HHI. We lived in Atlanta and DD was just 6 months old so we liked having a more laid-back vacation at a spot that wasn't too far to drive. We have great pics of her at the beach.