Has anyone ever stayed for 2 weeks?

[dvcdisney]

Our usual stays are between 10-14 nights. We have done 2 week stays and they are great. They are not too long and we feel that we can take it easy.

We only have two trips a year to Disney and so we try to make it worth it. The flights are expensive and quite a long way.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Ok, now I am jealous. Anyway I can work out a 12 day stay with 174 pts.?

 

[igitur]

Ok, now I am jealous. Anyway I can work out a 12 day stay with 174 pts.?

I know what you mean! When I first started thinking of next Christmas, I said one week in a 1 BR. But we just came back from WDW and spent some time in an AKV Studio and I was pretty surprised at how roomy they really are (we've always gotten 1 BRs.)

We've got some leftover points from 2007 so by including those, we're able to make it a 15 day stay in a studio! I know it'll be a bit more cramped but we've had the 4 of us in a cruise ship cabin and NOTHING is as cramped as that was!

 

[La2kw]

We usually go for at least 14-15 nights. We only get out to Florida once a year since we live in California.

 

[starbox]

Ok, now I am jealous. Anyway I can work out a 12 day stay with 174 pts.?

We pay cash for one of the weekends!

 

[bwvBound]

We are here for 12 nights this trip ... but have never done two weeks. Enjoy!

 

[BroganMc]

My dad and I have been going for 14 days at a time since '05, twice a year (April/May and Oct/Nov/Dec). Before that, we'd only go for a week in early March.

The difference between trip styles is night and day. With one week you are constantly on the go. If you get sick or tired or something unexpected happens it can turn a trip into a disaster. When you're living there for a while then those inconveniences are quickly forgotten.

One thing you will notice is that Christmas week the parks will be exceptionally full and attraction wait times dramatically increased. We did fine park touring at New Year's but that was because we were able to do the late night EMHs (up till 4-5am). I doubt your kids would be up to that schedule. It's for nightowls.

Depending when you go, you may find you ride more the first week and just enjoy the ambience more Christmas week.

Plan on stocking your kitchen with lots of snacks and bring extra laundry supplies. Sharing the Christmas tree is another good idea to make it feel like home. We bring some lights to string around the room and balcony. We also bring a library of entertainment stuff for chilling in the room (e.g. books, DVDs, etc.). And of course I always have my travel laptop so we can check in via internet regularly. (If you have a lot of electronics, a small travel surge protector is very handy. We use a little 3" 6 outlet strip from Walmart for our cell phone charging station, camera battery charger, and laptop plug in.)

We love going for a couple weeks. It gives you time to get to know CMs and avoid the frustration of big lines. And we never feel a trip is wasted by unexpected illness. We do take newbies with us sometimes so have for one week lived the "never enough time" vacation again. We always make sure we have several days after them just to relax.

Have fun! Disney at Christmas time is remarkable.

 

[funatdisney]

We usually go for at least 14-15 nights. We only get out to Florida once a year since we live in California.

I know what you mean. We live in California, too. It takes quite a bit to get the four of us out there not to mention the expense. We are going this June for 10 days. I'm looking forward to touring the parks much like I do at Disneyland. Take my time and really enjoy the parks. I plan to rest in the afternoon and take advantage of the EE and late closing times for those staying at the resorts. We usually go in Oct. My kids have a week off in Oct. Another good time to go since there are no lines to speak of!

 

[dismorgh]

We haven't before, but will be going for 2 weeks this year! We asked the boys if they wanted one week in a 1 bedroom, or 2 weeks in a studio, and 2 weeks won.

 

[igitur]

We haven't before, but will be going for 2 weeks this year! We asked the boys if they wanted one week in a 1 bedroom, or 2 weeks in a studio, and 2 weeks won.

I'm glad to hear you're doing two weeks in a studio too! My husband was a bit apprehensive but in looking at everything, the kids were the only ones using the whirlpool tub, we can bite the bullet and "share" a tv and the only meal we really eat in is breakfast and that can be accomplished with a studio!

I figure it'll give us more "together" time and if we can't all get along in a studio we'll chalk it up as experience and never do it again! Better to do it now than when the kids are older!

Deb

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

we do 2-weeks nearly every year in february. last year we had extra points that we got which had been banked from TSS add-on so we stayed just shy of 3-weeks.

we went week before presidents week, week of pres week and week after. best trip ever. very relaxing, crowds were insane during presidents week and we just chilled around the clown pool and quiet pool when crowds were heavy, took advantage of the EMH in evening and slowed down to just stroll around and look at the details we have missed in the past.

I recommend longer stays to anyone who hasn't tried it.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

We've done several 12 night stays over the last two or three years - I'm beginning to find that this is just about the perfect length of vacation. It usually takes me two or three days to get into full "vacation mode" - to be fully rested, relaxed, and happy. With a one-week vacation you're halfway through your vacation at that point ! With almost two weeks I can enjoy this feeling for some time, and truly take my time and enjoy myself. If 1/we don't want to hit the parks first thing in the morning no big deal - we sleep in. The pace of a longer vacation is so much more pleasant. You have time to explore those things you might not pay attention.

For example i recently purchased a digital slr camera. My wife and daughter were both somewhat anxious about using it. On this last trip my daughter decided she wanted to use it to take pictures of some of the roses in the rose garden at Epcot. Later she spent about twenty minutes photographing the garden area near Le Cellier. She had fun, we had fun watching her and this would not have been something we would have done if we were in rush-rush commando mode.

BTW, we did 12 nights over Christmas/New Years. Very crowded - and we enjoyed every minute of it. Did a few rides, saw some shows, and in general took it easy. A Very nice vacation !!!

 

[sssteele]

My wife and I have our biggest this year in December. We have a 4 night cruise (Dec 7 -10) followed by a split stay at BCV and VWL for 15 nights, leaving for home the day after Christmas. We'll probably try to switch to AKV in the middle since we haven't stayed there yet. Retirement is right before Thanksgiving, so we're planning many stays. Since we have so far to travel, we will probably go for longer stays. Might need to consider an AKV add-on as well.

 

[jdvm]

Before we moved to Celebration we would stay at Old Key West a couple of times a years for 2-3 weeks. Usually 2 weeks around Easter and at least three weeks in July/August. My wife and I would also pop in for long weekends a couple of times per year.

Staying there that long and having annual passes completely changed the way we vacationed in Orlando. Yes, we did get up early and hit the parks when they opened. But we almost always left at noon. Many days we didn't go to a park at all but used the DVC pool hopping privileged to visit other resorts.

In effect, we treated Old Key West like it was our second home.
Being at WDW without the pressure to cram as much in as possible is soooo much more relaxing and enjoyable.

John

 

[dismorgh]

I'm glad to hear you're doing two weeks in a studio too! My husband was a bit apprehensive but in looking at everything, the kids were the only ones using the whirlpool tub, we can bite the bullet and "share" a tv and the only meal we really eat in is breakfast and that can be accomplished with a studio!

I figure it'll give us more "together" time and if we can't all get along in a studio we'll chalk it up as experience and never do it again! Better to do it now than when the kids are older!

Deb

We all figured that whenever we go, we spend so little actual time together in the room. We stay out either at the parks or the pool until late, maybe watch late news if it's on, then hit the sack. My wife and I always get up first, get ready, then relax and drink coffee while the boys get ready. Works quite well! We are thinking of bringing an air mattress for one of the boys, so they won't have to sleep together (they will be 17 & 16 for the trip).

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

Due to the cost of the airfares it would not make any sense for us to do a WDW trip for less than 2 weeks, in the early years we returned home needing another vacation but lately we have taken the parks at an easier pace. Take time is my number 1 tip, make good use of the pools and of course have a relaxed fun vacation.

PS, We can do 2 weeks in a studio too.

 

[ransom]

We stayed for two weeks this last December (albeit on cash, not points). It was wonderful!

We even had time to spend an entire day just hanging out at the Lodge, enjoying the amenities and doing a little laundry!

The relaxed pace made it well worth it. But it was still hard to leave once the two weeks were up!

 

[magsmom]

2 weeks in August, usually 16 days. 10-11 nights in a studio.

Last year, it was so HOT, we had to do the parks early and come back to the resort for the afternoon. It was wonderful.

However we usually pay cash for the shoulder weekends (AllStars at the beginning, POFQ at the end). This year we are switching DVC resorts in the middle to liven things up.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

We were lucky enough to be able to spend 5 weeks this past June/July with 3 straight weeks onsite and 2 offsite. We were able to do 4 weeks the previous August, so we got quite the use out of our annual passes. Sadly, my husband was not able to join us for the whole time, but he flew down for a weekend and then for the last 2 weeks of each trip. Luckily I am self employed and since the summer is not my busy work time, I was able to do all of my work through my laptop and through the mail.

We tend to become vampires when we are there also. Hitting the late hours (where my children can stay on a ride because there is no line and ride it over and over) and then sleeping late and utilizing the pools and/or water parks during the hot daytime hours. We do spend a few early days in the parks but that is usually to see shows that aren't done in the evenings or to go on rides that are totally different during the day vs the night (like the Jungle Cruise). The drawback to being night owls is that the Dream Team staff are early morning people. We have tried to find anyone who got a dream filled in the late evening hours but have not been able to.

Planning on doing the same extended trips again in August 08 and then June 09.

 

[Sully]

Last year DW and I did the last week of Jan. in an Inn room at VB. We then moved to WDW and did 2 weeks in a studio at SSR and 2 weeks in a studio at OKW. This year we are doing all of Feb. in a studio at SSR and a week in an inn room at VB. 36 nights seems just right.