Have you ever planned a trip to WDW just for fun?

[AdamsMum]

I was feeling a bit out of sorts in the middle of winter. Nothing makes me happier than planning a trip to Disney, so I decided to plan a fake trip as I was trying to economize that year and not going to WDW was the most money I could save.

The trouble was, once I did all that planning, I ended up taking the trip! I guess that's why alcoholics don't keep booze in the house! It all worked out in the end though, no great financial disasters or anything. Just wondering if this happens to anyone else.

 

[Chuck S]

I guess it depends upon how far you actually go with the fake planning. If you actually reserve a room at a DVC resort with no intention of using it, you are denying another member the ability to book that room for their real vacation. As long as your daydream planning has no impact on others, no harm no foul, but when you start taking Disney accommodations that you know you won't use from other families, that is just wrong, IMO. DVC accomodations are getting more difficult to book less than 7 months out as it is. I never book any trip, DVC or non-DVC, if I do not plan to go. I usually book airfare shortly after I book the room (unless I'm driving) and thus I am committed. I booked OKW for January last week. The next day, after I was sure a friend was going, we booked flights out of Austin. If he wasn't going, I'd have booked out of San Antonio, but as long as one of his kids can take us to/from the airport, we fly out of Austin as it is a bit cheaper and they have better flight times. When I go solo, I fly out of San Antonio and leave my car at the security parking across the street.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Well, I posted yesterday about when I mentioned to DH that he did not have any WDW trips between January and July next year, we wound up borrowing and booking a Late January, early February trip to get out of winter in NJ.

We also booked a “Goodbye to the Great Movie Ride and Energy” two summers ago! That was super fun, and even got to meet a VWL groupie! Planned about 2 weeks before the trip.

We are retired, so do not have to clear vacations with anyone. We are lucky.

 

[Marionnette]

I was feeling a bit out of sorts in the middle of winter. Nothing makes me happier than planning a trip to Disney, so I decided to plan a fake trip as I was trying to economize that year and not going to WDW was the most money I could save.

The trouble was, once I did all that planning, I ended up taking the trip! I guess that's why alcoholics don't keep booze in the house! It all worked out in the end though, no great financial disasters or anything. Just wondering if this happens to anyone else.

I've done it without making reservations. Usually it's a last-minute, Just-Get-Me-Away-From-Here kind of feeling. I'll check the RAT, check my points, check flights, hey - I've got an AP, I've got some gift cards for food, etc.

But then reality steps in. Who would take care of the dogs? Can we take the time away from our business right now? What about the birthday party/wedding/baby shower etc. that I'm supposed to attend? Oh, and I need those points for the big trip that I promised so-and-so that we would take in the fall.

Being an adult with responsibilities can really suck sometimes.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Does planning a DVC trip when you are not yet and may never be a DVC member count? LOL. We won't be going back to WDW until at least SW:GE opens, but that doesn't stop me from planning my fantasy BCV resale purchase, where I wake up in my booked at 11-months studio, stroll right over to HS during EMM (because they will definitely be having some kind of upcharge pre-park opening breakfast thing for Star Wars Land, right?) Then we'll hop over to Epcot to have lunch at F&W booths, then back to BCV for some pool time in Stormalong Bay....all in 2020.....

 

[AdamsMum]

I guess it depends upon how far you actually go with the fake planning. If you actually reserve a room at a DVC resort with no intention of using it, you are denying another member the ability to book that room for their real vacation. As long as your daydream planning has no impact on others, no harm no foul, but when you start taking Disney accommodations that you know you won't use from other families, that is just wrong, IMO. DVC accomodations are getting more difficult to book less than 7 months out as it is. I never book any trip, DVC or non-DVC, if I do not plan to go. I usually book airfare shortly after I book the room (unless I'm driving) and thus I am committed. I booked OKW for January last week. The next day, after I was sure a friend was going, we booked flights out of Austin. If he wasn't going, I'd have booked out of San Antonio, but as long as one of his kids can take us to/from the airport, we fly out of Austin as it is a bit cheaper and they have better flight times. When I go solo, I fly out of San Antonio and leave my car at the security parking across the street.

I totally get that. Once I book resort room, I go.

 

[bwvBound]

I guess it depends upon how far you actually go with the fake planning. If you actually reserve a room at a DVC resort with no intention of using it, you are denying another member the ability to book that room for their real vacation. As long as your daydream planning has no impact on others, no harm no foul, but when you start taking Disney accommodations that you know you won't use from other families, that is just wrong, IMO. DVC accomodations are getting more difficult to book less than 7 months out as it is. I never book any trip, DVC or non-DVC, if I do not plan to go.

I'm not sure I agree. FWIW, I book plenty of timeshare reservations (across multiple systems) on speculation. I've booked cruises and later cancelled or rescheduled, too. I don't feel that my booking a reservation on "maybe" is taking it away from another family. We are all able to use the waitlist and somebody got it once I cancelled it.

One of my other timeshares notes that nearly 1/3 of all reservations are cancelled. As a group, we all do lots of booking and cancelling.
As we must (largely) book far in advance, booking on spec is just part of the game.

 

[AdamsMum]

I'm not sure I agree. FWIW, I book plenty of timeshare reservations (across multiple systems) on speculation. I've booked cruises and later cancelled or rescheduled, too. I don't feel that my booking a reservation on "maybe" is taking it away from another family. We are all able to use the waitlist and somebody got it once I cancelled it.

One of my other timeshares notes that nearly 1/3 of all reservations are cancelled. As a group, we all do lots of booking and cancelling.
As we must (largely) book far in advance, booking on spec is just part of the game.

Agree, I did have to cancel a standard BW studio about a month out for Food and Wine, that was tough to do, but someone was happy.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

I was feeling a bit out of sorts in the middle of winter. Nothing makes me happier than planning a trip to Disney, so I decided to plan a fake trip as I was trying to economize that year and not going to WDW was the most money I could save.

The trouble was, once I did all that planning, I ended up taking the trip! I guess that's why alcoholics don't keep booze in the house! It all worked out in the end though, no great financial disasters or anything. Just wondering if this happens to anyone else.

Aren't they all for fun?

 

[AdamsMum]

Aren't they all for fun?

True, but the danger for me is then wanting to take the trip and ignoring all else. Oh well, you only live once right? Might as well be happy.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Never booked a fake trip lol. And we ve cut back somewhat.

 

[DizDaD7]

I'm not sure Ive ever done a fake trip, but the planning parts of the real trips gets me through those down times when we are not there....
Going on the Disboards, and watching vids and stuff, get ya through the lulls.

 

[Jedi Dad]

I was feeling a bit out of sorts in the middle of winter. Nothing makes me happier than planning a trip to Disney, so I decided to plan a fake trip as I was trying to economize that year and not going to WDW was the most money I could save.

The trouble was, once I did all that planning, I ended up taking the trip! I guess that's why alcoholics don't keep booze in the house! It all worked out in the end though, no great financial disasters or anything. Just wondering if this happens to anyone else.

I have a disease called "Sleep Planning". I wake up in the middle of the night in front of the computer with WDW spreadsheets I don't remember making... Its a real disease... you know, with like Doctors and stuff....

 

[Chuck S]

I have a disease called "Sleep Planning". I wake up in the middle of the night in front of the computer with WDW spreadsheets I don't remember making... Its a real disease... you know, with like Doctors and stuff....

I fall asleep in front of the computer doing my monthly bookkeeping on my rental properties. Disney planning holds my attention, bookkeeping is boring.

 

[Jedi Dad]

I fall asleep in front of the computer doing my monthly bookkeeping on my rental properties. Disney planning holds my attention, bookkeeping is boring.

It happens to the best of us...

 

[Popouri DVC]

Does planning a DVC trip when you are not yet and may never be a DVC member count? LOL. We won't be going back to WDW until at least SW:GE opens, but that doesn't stop me from planning my fantasy BCV resale purchase, where I wake up in my booked at 11-months studio, stroll right over to HS during EMM (because they will definitely be having some kind of upcharge pre-park opening breakfast thing for Star Wars Land, right?) Then we'll hop over to Epcot to have lunch at F&W booths, then back to BCV for some pool time in Stormalong Bay....all in 2020.....

I love this....

I would so buy some BWV or BCV resale if I had some extra cash laying around right now....

Such a fantastic dream

 

[Donna M]

I planned the whole buying a tent camper, even looking at real ones, but luckily never followed through. We were just reminiscing on how DVC is sooo much better for us than if we had gotten the camper. We would have sold it by now. Using DVC is the way to vacation now.

I went through buying a moped phase too. Doing all the planning is fun for me till I get to the actual cost, then I reconsider everything and move on to the next big thing....right now it's a new suv idea.