How do locals use points?

[disney junky]

The plan is that when I retire in 4.5 years, we'll relocate to Orlando area. My question is, if I am living nearby and possibly even working at WDW, what would I do with my points. How do people who live nearby use their points?

 

[mrsdon]

Im wondering about that also
We just moved about 20 miles from the enternace of OKW
I think we will be using our points outside the DVC collection

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm not and never will be a local, but I would imagine locals could use their points to have the benefits of any onsite guest. I think it would be fun to drive over, visit a park, have a nice dinner, and then spend the night knowing I didn't have to worry if I'd had a glass or two or wine, or if we'd decided to stay late to see a parade or fireworks. Or I might use them to let friends or family have a WDW vacation, knowing that I could see my relatives without having to do their laundry and feed them at my house!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, lots of us want to retire to the Orlando area. We're planning to downsize from these 4 bedroom, to only 2. Family is welcome to come for the day, but we intend to put them up, and be guests at DVC for the duration of most visits!

We'll see how things work out. Pixie dust for everyones plans and happy retirements.

Bobbi

 

[gcbsdad]

I don't live in Orlando but we are only 60 miles from WDW. We tend to take allot of shorter trips. Since buying in September 05 we have stayed:

09/05 - 2 nights at OKW
12/05 - 2 nights at VWL
01 & 02/06 - 5 nights at BWV
04/06 - 3 nights at SSR
09/06 - 2 nights at BCV

And in about a month

12/06 - 4 nights at VWL

 

[lovespugs]

Since relocating to Orlando I don't get the same bang for my buck with the points because I tend to make several short visits each year, almost always over a weekend. I know weekends aren't a good use of points, but I love staying on site but I wouldn't pay cash when I can just drive home at night. Here is what we often do over a year:

1 weekend in June for our anniversary
1 weekend in October for F&W
1 weekend in December for MVMCP
1 trip to Vero Beach

I'm not retired though, so I'm limited in when I can visit. If I were retired, I would always stay mid-week during the off-season.

 

[Fsued123]

I don't live in Orlando but we are only 60 miles from WDW. We tend to take allot of shorter trips. Since buying in September 05 we have stayed:

We live in the Tampa Bay area, which is about 90 miles away and we take 1-2 day mini vacations. We were at SSR last month for 2 days, next Friday we'll be a VWL, then back to SSR for Christmas and BCV for a day in Feb 07. I really like being able to go with my family at anytime......

 

[goldilocks_63]

Or keeping points for when in-laws or grandchildren come to visit, I imagine.


Goldi

 

[Beth]

We joined in April, 1997, and it takes us just under an hour to get to WDW.

I keep a spreadsheet for all of our stays, and it looks like we've booked right at 100 trips.

We've stayed at every DVC resort, at least twice. We have never stayed at any DVC resort for more than 5 nights, and I think we've only done that twice.

We've sent my SIL to the Swan in SF for two nights during her honeymoon. We sent my nephew this past fall to HH for 4 nights. We've sent both sets of parents to WDW and Vero many times for different occasions. We took 17 family members to OKW last Memorial Day to celebrate a milestone birthday. We've done two DCL cruises. We've done the CC in Asheville, NC.

But mostly.... it's just 1-2 night stays to WDW. And yes, we spend the dreaded weekend points. My husband took a new job a couple years ago, and his vacation time dwindled, so we have had to take the time when we could...

Last month, we got a GV at SSR for one night, and brought over both sets of parents to celebrate both fathers' 70th birthdays. We reserved the Grand I and took them out to see the MK fireworks. We're DINKs - so we tend to spend a lot of points on our parents and extended families - and we love it!

We're heading over this morning - as soon as we get packed - to see the Art Festival at DD, then stay the night at SSR in a studio. It's always amazing how just getting away for one night really relaxes you... We always return home feeling like we were gone longer than just one night....

Anyway - you asked. We enjoy our membership SO much. And - living so close - it's great to be able to bring friends/family over with us! (They love it, too!!!)

 

[gcbsdad]

We joined in April, 1997, and it takes us just under an hour to get to WDW.

I keep a spreadsheet for all of our stays, and it looks like we've booked right at 100 trips.

We've stayed at every DVC resort, at least twice. We have never stayed at any DVC resort for more than 5 nights, and I think we've only done that twice.

We've sent my SIL to the Swan in SF for two nights during her honeymoon. We sent my nephew this past fall to HH for 4 nights. We've sent both sets of parents to WDW and Vero many times for different occasions. We took 17 family members to OKW last Memorial Day to celebrate a milestone birthday. We've done two DCL cruises. We've done the CC in Asheville, NC.

But mostly.... it's just 1-2 night stays to WDW. And yes, we spend the dreaded weekend points. My husband took a new job a couple years ago, and his vacation time dwindled, so we have had to take the time when we could...

Last month, we got a GV at SSR for one night, and brought over both sets of parents to celebrate both fathers' 70th birthdays. We reserved the Grand I and took them out to see the MK fireworks. We're DINKs - so we tend to spend a lot of points on our parents and extended families - and we love it!

We're heading over this morning - as soon as we get packed - to see the Art Festival at DD, then stay the night at SSR in a studio. It's always amazing how just getting away for one night really relaxes you... We always return home feeling like we were gone longer than just one night....

Anyway - you asked. We enjoy our membership SO much. And - living so close - it's great to be able to bring friends/family over with us! (They love it, too!!!)

Howdy Neighbor.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm not local, but my parents live an hour away. We stay at WDW for a couple days every time I come down. We did OKW in June, we're doing SSR next week and right before Christmas, then in May we're doing VB and SSR.

 

[mikron]

I live 80 miles from disney, my wife and i visit at least 6 times per year. DVCLiz and Fsued123 hit it on the head in the way we use our points. We have extra points to rent to help pay the dues also. Its just a nice quite time away from home and to injoy the resorts. We stay at disney sometimes and never go into the parks. Disney is a short hop to Sea world, Universal and more. You could bank points and book a grandvilla for a big family get together sometime.

 

[JimC]

We just moved to Orlando (15 minutes NE of MCO) and that has been something we have wondered about. Here is what we are doing for now.

Keep the points. We still like to be immersed in a relaxing holiday. No airfare, no rental cars, no travel hassles!! Now our vacation visits are for five nights. No more Fr/Sa nights. No need to get a full week when we are so close. That gives us a fair amount of extra points at OKW We will use the extra points for additional visits and using other resorts. Our BCV points already provide for a five night December visit.

Quick day trips are mornings till just after lunch or late afternoon till evening, but no full days. We use these trips for in between our holiday visits.

We will try this out for a few years and adjust from there. Though we are very seriously considering points at the new resort when it opens.

 

[madcoco]

Happy Thanksgiving Beth and all! We plan on using more of our points at our home resort VB and a few trips to HH.

 

[TDC Nala]

I sometimes consider becoming a local.

I'd stay some weekends and the food & wine festival (to get the bus transportation and not have to drive after wine tastings or PI) and trade out the rest for cruises or Disneyland.

 

[pixiedustforever]

When I lived about 2 1/2 hours from WDW, I would drive up for short 2-3 day trips. I usually stayed Sundays through Thursdays to utilize the lower point per night. A studio was usually perfect for me (and frequently a friend tagged along.)

You can tell by my "history" of visits in my signature.

Pixiedust to all!

Pixiedustforever