How did DVC ownership change your trips?

[Sandisw]

We went yearly during the summer as a family....I am a retired elementary school teacher.....but I have loved Disney since I was little....first visit was in 1972 when I was in 2nd grade!!

The age range for my children...all now adults is 7 1/2 years from the oldest to the youngest, so once the two older were in college, we still took the youngest.

Once we bought DVC in 2009, it stayed yearly for a few years, and then I found ways to add a long weekend. Fast forward to today, 900 points later, and I try to go 4 - 6 times a year...

It's part of my retirement plan....visit Dec to March for 3 to 4 nights each month to escape the Syracuse winters.....then always one or two more trips if I can!!

The best part about it is that I see it as a place to go to unwind, and don't have to do park heavy trips any longer....with the AP, I don't feel its a waste to pop in and out.. But, it all depends on who I am going with! Some love park heavy trips and others do not!!

 

[MartyParty]

Since I’m usually on here asking a million contract questions , I wanted to switch gears.
Instead of points/ROFR/prices, I’d love to hear from long-time DVC owners:
How did your Disney vacations actually change once you owned points?
Did you go more often? Stay in bigger rooms? Become more relaxed planners?
Or did ownership not change much at all?
We have always been park people morning til night but I want to stop all that
No echo chamber… I’m just looking for real, honest experiences. Thank you!

The DVC marketing fits us well. Yes, to longer stays, bigger rooms, and more relaxed planning. Although it's hard to get the relaxed part into my DW's thinking as she still wants to maximize every minute of that ticket purchase in the parks! : )

One unexpected change. We've also recently become park hopper people. Staying longer makes the price difference smaller. Also, we like staying at BLT. You can easily hit MK in the morning then Hollywood Studios or Epcot at night. Or do an early AK morning to see animals then return to BLT rest up and MK at night till close.

 

[TheThousandthSoul]

We went yearly during the summer as a family....I am a retired elementary school teacher.....but I have loved Disney since I was little....first visit was in 1972 when I was in 2nd grade!!

The age range for my children...all now adults is 7 1/2 years from the oldest to the youngest, so once the two older were in college, we still took the youngest.

Once we bought DVC in 2009, it stayed yearly for a few years, and then I found ways to add a long weekend. Fast forward to today, 900 points later, and I try to go 4 - 6 times a year...

It's part of my retirement plan....visit Dec to March for 3 to 4 nights each month to escape the Syracuse winters.....then always one or two more trips if I can!!

The best part about it is that I see it as a place to go to unwind, and don't have to do park heavy trips any longer....with the AP, I don't feel its a waste to pop in and out.. But, it all depends on who I am going with! Some love park heavy trips and others do not!!

I'm curious.
Did you ever try to fly with Breeze Airways from OGS? I'm asking for a friend.

 

[Sandisw]

I'm curious.
Did you ever try to fly with Breeze Airways from OGS? I'm asking for a friend.

I am flying Breeze for the first time from SYR to Vegas in February.......its direct....but, other than that, Jetblue from SYR is my go to for trips to MCO.

And, after a few bad experiences using others to FLL and MIA when I am crusing from there, I will only do Jetblue to MCO and then use the Brightline train to get to south FL!!! Doing that in August when I get to experience the Disney Destiny!!!

 

[TheThousandthSoul]

I am flying Breeze for the first time from SYR to Vegas in February.......its direct....but, other than that, Jetblue from SYR is my go to for trips to MCO.

And, after a few bad experiences using others to FLL and MIA when I am crusing from there, I will only do Jetblue to MCO and then use the Brightline train to get to south FL!!! Doing that in August when I get to experience the Disney Destiny!!!

OK thank you!
I like JetBlue too. I was asking about Breeze as they now fly direct (sometimes non-stop, sometimes with an additional landing) from OGS. The pricing is competitive and the airport provides free parking.

I'm so glad to know you will get onboard the Destiny!!! That is wonderful!
I can't wait to watch the reports in the upcoming days.

Do you swap your points with a TA for cruising?

 

[VGCgroupie]

I'm curious.
Did you ever try to fly with Breeze Airways from OGS? I'm asking for a friend.

I haven’t flown this route but fly breeze often, flying in a couple weeks with them again, and have never had any problems. My only complaint is they quote your route taking longer than it should so you always arrive early!

 

[tidefan]

Must be nice to have good air options! Our only Nonstop option out of BHM is Southwest, otherwise, you're connecting, usually through ATL. Usually, that SW nonstop is over $500 per person, so we just drive...

 

[TheThousandthSoul]

OK thank you!
I like JetBlue too. I was asking about Breeze as they now fly direct (sometimes non-stop, sometimes with an additional landing) from OGS. The pricing is competitive and the airport provides free parking.

I'm so glad to know you will get onboard the Destiny!!! That is wonderful!
I can't wait to watch the reports in the upcoming days.

Do you swap your points with a TA for cruising?

Oh and I forgot ... Breeze also flies from OGS to Vero Beach.

 

[TheThousandthSoul]

I haven’t flown this route but fly breeze often, flying in a couple weeks with them again, and have never had any problems. My only complaint is they quote your route taking longer than it should so you always arrive early!

That's a happy problem.

 

[Sandisw]

OK thank you!
I like JetBlue too. I was asking about Breeze as they now fly direct (sometimes non-stop, sometimes with an additional landing) from OGS. The pricing is competitive and the airport provides free parking.

I'm so glad to know you will get onboard the Destiny!!! That is wonderful!
I can't wait to watch the reports in the upcoming days.

Do you swap your points with a TA for cruising?

I have but my newest work adventure allows me options to do other travel!

However, some of the point levels for a few I have checked were not that bad. But now that I can use points for my AP; that will help with any extra points I might have!

 

[Chili327]

I have a giant running list of restaurants on Oahu that show which ones to return to and to avoid going back to and which ones were meh

We're gonna need to see said list.

 

[intamin]

We're gonna need to see said list.

I'll upload it in a bit, just know I'm a bit of a food snob growing up in SoCal and tend to like seafood