For vacation 12/19-24 - new with ?

[disneymom2one]

Hi all ... We are long time Disney visitors although we've actually taken a break and done US/IOA for the last three years. We're going back to WDW for this year though. I will actually inherit some money due the sale of a home with a close scheduled for early July. It's been a really painful process and I would like to use a substantial part of the proceeds to buy into DVC, since we truly love WDW and are in Orlando three or four times a year and I'd like to see something happy come out of something that has been horrible for the past two years since my mom died. My big question (for now) is that our vacation start for this year is set by my husband's college (he's a prof) at December 19. By July, we would obviously be out of the 7 month window. Would it be safer to go ahead and purchase now to insure we can get reservations for that week? I would hate to buy and then not be able to use the points for the Christmas trip.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think I would have someone check availability here first, since that is a busy time at WDW. Which resort are you thinking of and are you planning resale or direct from Disney? You have a bit of planning to do first. Read everything on this forum and ask as many questions as you can to help make the descions.

 

[Cruelladeville]

This year, due to the calendar, you may be in luck for the 19-24. If you are planning to buy resale, begin NOW. The process is a bit long, compared to doing it with Disney. If you are buying SSR, then you will have your member number to make ressies in just a aday or two. Since I am very stingy with my points, I book part of my Christmas vacation on cash--there is ALWAYS a discount on rooms. You may have to take a motel room, though, if you decide to do cash, rather than a DVC unit. Sometimes you can get DVC for the discount, but that's rare. The motel rooms are 1/2 price at that time of year, though, so it's certainly something to think about. Since your DH teaches--as I do--you will be able to travel at other times of the year, too, although they are usually crowded, so you could save your points for that.

I, too, used inherited money to buy a contract (from my dad). It is such an awful, long, drawn out affair to have to go thru. By the time I got the house sold I NEEDED a trip to Disney to de-stress. Family was not stressed at all, lucky for them, since it was dumped on me. Every time I use that contract, I send my dad a prayer of thanks.