Have you put a DVC vacation on hold?

[tvwalsh]

With the stock market tanking, I was wondering if I was the only one who cancelled a reservation for a DVC stay to save money and because of the economy's effect on my finances.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

 

[janni518]

With the stock market tanking, I was wondering if I was the only one who cancelled a reservation for a DVC stay to save money and because of the economy's effect on my finances.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Nope and this exactly the reason we bought in. Previous to buying DVC we hadn't had a "real" vacation in 8 years and I vowed that would never happen again.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We already have air for our plans out through May. We don't have air for our September WDW trip, and are unlikely to cancel, but if so, that would be the only one.

What we could possibly cancel is our European Cruise for early September '09. We have air for that one, and the deposit on the cruise, and the nights before/after, but still, this will be an expensive cruise, and if it turns out to be too rich for our finances when we have to pay (I think June is the deadline), then we will definitely NOT cancel the short DVC September trip.

Bobbi

 

[mickeymorse]

Our January trip is all prepaid so I won't cancel that one (besides, we need a vacation just to break up all the doom and gloom) but our summer trip is still in the process of planning so that is still up in the air. I don't foresee us postponing, but lets wait and see what the next couple of months hold for us.

 

[bwvBound]

With the stock market tanking, I was wondering if I was the only one who cancelled a reservation for a DVC stay to save money and because of the economy's effect on my finances.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

The only DVC trip on our books is our annual January conference. We booked our BWV room and air months ago and are not going to cancel -- but are uncertain on how to handle the event registration ($4000+ for two passes). In years long past our employer paid full fare for both of us ... then only one of us ... then only one registration w/out any help on travel expenses. This year: no assistance from the employer, we are responsible for 100% of our conference and travel costs. Ugh. So far, it looks like one of us will attend the conference ... and the other will spend hours in the room reading the materials. We'll both be burning vacation hours for the privilege.

On the bright side, we have a great vacation planned for our anniv in Feb: 9 nights on Kauai combining an RCI exchange with 2 nights in our Kapa'a timeshare. Booked the timeshare components about 11-12 months from travel and finally scored acceptable airfare this week. We also have a 2BR in Carlsbad, CA booked for late May (RCI Exchange) -- but usually give that week to family.

So beyond the two trips early in the year ... our 2009 calendar is pretty empty. That leaves plenty of opportunity for last minute, really cheap travel. I'm expecting to see lots of offers coming by email ...

 

[Tozzie]

With the stock market tanking, I was wondering if I was the only one who cancelled a reservation for a DVC stay to save money and because of the economy's effect on my finances.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

No, I actually booked another trip for next october this past week. I am fortunate to have a secure Job that I am not going to lose (not even a possibility) nor is my salary going to change so I will continue to enjoy my vacations as WDW is my escape from reality for a week or so.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Nope. We will be going to WDW in December and then returning next fall. We've also booked the Eastbound Transatlantic DCL cruise for April '10 because the rates were so great.

For our December trip, we already have our AP vouchers, the room is covered by our DVC membership and we tend to eat about 1/2 of our meals in the room. Also, as it stands now, this trip is actually costing us less than it would have a couple of months ago because the price of gas has fallen so much. We drive, and are going to be able to travel, round trip, for less than $275. Not bad at all! So, in effect, our DVC trip isn't going to cost us much more than staying home for those two weeks!

 

[kenny]

Nope actually added another unplanned trip for April. Without DVC never would have done this but figured we have the points so the room is free and we have an AP so the parks are free.

Just needed to buy airfare and pay for food (we would have to eat at home too so this is almost a wash).

Thanks DVC!

 

[Melani]

Nope and this exactly the reason we bought in. Previous to buying DVC we hadn't had a "real" vacation in 8 years and I vowed that would never happen again.

That sounds just like us.

 

[FreeTime]

We haven't cancelled our cruise on points (next week) and are still planning on paying cash and staying onsite before and after. We have however, not reserved a room at DL for next summer as we are not sure what the airfare will be (and my FIL is set on driving, not something we want to do). So, we are thinking about not going on our EOY trip out west and just renewing our AP's.

I am starting to feel guilty about taking vacations when others are struggling. However, when we bought DVC almost 10 years ago we said to ourselves that if we ever couldn't afford a vacation we would at least have a nice place to stay with a nice pool! So I try to justify my guilt by thinking that we made a good decision.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

we're taking more.....

empty disneyworld is 1000% better than crowded disney world.

unfortunately...the DVC inventory is still ridiculously booked up....and I can't get what i really want

but hey, i'm sure that i'm imagining the negative effect of all those rooms at Saratoga and Animal Kingdom

 

[permavac]

We're still going end of January/beginning of February. I'm so glad I didn't get the extra days at a DVC that I posted for (to rent) since we were able to take advantage of the 4/7 package and added an extra week for the same price I was hoping to do 2 more days! All other trips are on hold for us next year though - usually do a total of 3 or 4 per year. We're one of those "few" households that might be affected by the auto industry going under...

 

[spiceycat]

so sorry you are having problems

going March - ssr (dp)
May (cash and DP) - pofq and ssr
Sept - BWV (ii exchange)

that is done. Now I do need a new annual pass - had a reservation at Pop in march - but decided to use the DP instead - yea I know losing 3 days in room and tickets.

will have to watch the budget - so probably more eating in the room. or I might go with the cs dinning.

might go in Dec - that one depends.

 

[PatsMom]

We're going the 30th of November for a week and evidently for one bedrooms it is pretty solidly booked - we have been waitlisted everywhere for a one bedroom because DD found a friend who's mother was willing to let her miss a week of school to go. That was about two months ago and we immediately called to waitlist. We'll still have a great time in our studio at Saratoga (which is great for DH, DD and me but a little crowded when there are four of us).

We also havea trip scheduled for the week before President's Week to get one more trip out of our annual passes. And we are starting to plan a trip for September (the first with just DH and I since DD is off to college in the fall). The September/October trip will be for my birthday on the 30th of September. I'll be 50 and decided it was a great way to celebrate.

I don't have airfare for September yet but the other trips were paid for long before the big market drop. My pay is affected by the stock market so it is possible that we will end up cancelling September's plans if my salary drops enough.

 

[thepops]

The only DVC trip on our books is our annual January conference. We booked our BWV room and air months ago and are not going to cancel -- but are uncertain on how to handle the event registration ($4000+ for two passes). In years long past our employer paid full fare for both of us ... then only one of us ... then only one registration w/out any help on travel expenses. This year: no assistance from the employer, we are responsible for 100% of our conference and travel costs. Ugh. So far, it looks like one of us will attend the conference ... and the other will spend hours in the room reading the materials. We'll both be burning vacation hours for the privilege.

Check with your tax advisor, if you're required by your employer do attend, you may be able to deduct all or part of it from your taxes. You won't get it all back, but if you've got to spend it, you might as well get something for it if you can.

 

[DisneyDreams21]

I think it has forced me to plan a little better (more meals in the room etc...) but I grabbed a 3 day sale with Southwest in Oct. for a $72 RT flight in December (about $90 with taxes). With the APs and DVC this is a great Christmas gift to myself : )

 

[bwvBound]

Check with your tax advisor, if you're required by your employer do attend, you may be able to deduct all or part of it from your taxes. You won't get it all back, but if you've got to spend it, you might as well get something for it if you can.

Thanks -- the conference is job related by not required. Just updates our skills, resets our attitudes and keeps us connected to community.

 

[Alisha&Jay]

I think it has forced me to plan a little better (more meals in the room etc...) but I grabbed a 3 day sale with Southwest in Oct. for a $72 RT flight in December (about $90 with taxes). With the APs and DVC this is a great Christmas gift to myself : )

You're flying for $90 RT from NY to Orlando? That's amazing! Don't you love a good deal.

For our family, we are going for a long weekend in Dec, last minute. But it is only costing us groceries (we have AP's and airfare was only $295 because we had 4 unused tickets that were reissued for the $295 and we got 1 ticket free with credit card reward points). We also have a Feb trip planned for the school vacation, but we are driving down from CT. Again we have the AP's and will buy groceries. Beyond that, we have no idea because my DH is self employed, a custom home builder, and we never know what will come along after the current project is completed.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Nope, does not sound familiar to me. In fact we have four DVC vacations planned (and booked) over the next ten months.

 

[starbox]

We've been doing 2 trips (June and July) each summer (paying cash for one weekend of the first trip) and this year we are not going to Disney in July.

With the economy in the dumps, there are really great deals on travel - so we're going to use points for the weekend that first trip and spend the $$ we would have spent on the weekend and the extra week of Disney meals and go someplace else!