TeresaNJ
Magic Begins With Me
- Joined
- Sep 13, 1999
- Messages
- 5,784
We bought into the DVC three years ago, and that has enabled us to take about three trips per year. It is a mortgage for us, but we bought an affordable amount of points, and when it is paid off, we will have free lodging, other than annual dues, until 2042. Works for me, I'll be 95 by then, and will have passed it on to my kids and grandkids.
We always buy AP's, the regular ones, not the premium, and the cost is the same as a 7day park hopper, but is good for a full year. We usually stagger buying them throughout the year, so not paying all at once. Plus our kids are older, so only have to dish out for the 18yo. The older two buy their own. One trip/year is with all the kids, and the other two just my husband and I. We don't make a ton of money, but we also don't go out much. We watch movies on cable, eat out minimally, (DH is a fabulous cook, so I'm spoiled), don't spend much on clothes, are happy with our "lived in" furniture, and save all our change. DH has quite a bit of frequent flyer miles, so sometimes have a free airfare for one of us. We ALWAYS fly. I can't justify my discomfort for a 16 hour drive, when I can be in Florida in two hours by plane. But, I would drive if that was the only way I could go. I search for great airfares, sometimes I spend hours on the internet searching for flights. We always make a grocery stop on the way from the airport, for breakfast items and snacks, soda, etc. Also, I usually don't use my DVC points for Friday and Saturday nights, as they are double points, but get an AP rate and pay cash for those nights. DH had a sales meeting in Orlando last May, and I tagged along, we stayed at AKL on an AP rate, and DH's company paid for those nights, and the other nights we stayed at VWL on DVC. DH has another sales meeting in two weeks in Clearwater, and of course, I'm tagging along again, staying at CBR for the first time on AP rate, DH's company will pay for the two nights of the conference, and we'll pay the other three. Fortunately for me, DH's company is based in Minnesota, and the "bosses" like to get away from the cold, so always schedule at least one of their quarterly meetings in Florida, close to WDW. They don't care if DH stays at WDW with me and commutes to the meetings. The one in Orlando was close, but DH will have to commute 1 1/2 hours for this one. I offered that he could stay overnight in Clearwater, but he said no way, he is driving back to spend the night with me!!
So that is how we go to WDW more than once a year.
We always buy AP's, the regular ones, not the premium, and the cost is the same as a 7day park hopper, but is good for a full year. We usually stagger buying them throughout the year, so not paying all at once. Plus our kids are older, so only have to dish out for the 18yo. The older two buy their own. One trip/year is with all the kids, and the other two just my husband and I. We don't make a ton of money, but we also don't go out much. We watch movies on cable, eat out minimally, (DH is a fabulous cook, so I'm spoiled), don't spend much on clothes, are happy with our "lived in" furniture, and save all our change. DH has quite a bit of frequent flyer miles, so sometimes have a free airfare for one of us. We ALWAYS fly. I can't justify my discomfort for a 16 hour drive, when I can be in Florida in two hours by plane. But, I would drive if that was the only way I could go. I search for great airfares, sometimes I spend hours on the internet searching for flights. We always make a grocery stop on the way from the airport, for breakfast items and snacks, soda, etc. Also, I usually don't use my DVC points for Friday and Saturday nights, as they are double points, but get an AP rate and pay cash for those nights. DH had a sales meeting in Orlando last May, and I tagged along, we stayed at AKL on an AP rate, and DH's company paid for those nights, and the other nights we stayed at VWL on DVC. DH has another sales meeting in two weeks in Clearwater, and of course, I'm tagging along again, staying at CBR for the first time on AP rate, DH's company will pay for the two nights of the conference, and we'll pay the other three. Fortunately for me, DH's company is based in Minnesota, and the "bosses" like to get away from the cold, so always schedule at least one of their quarterly meetings in Florida, close to WDW. They don't care if DH stays at WDW with me and commutes to the meetings. The one in Orlando was close, but DH will have to commute 1 1/2 hours for this one. I offered that he could stay overnight in Clearwater, but he said no way, he is driving back to spend the night with me!! So that is how we go to WDW more than once a year. 
I have a 15 y/o DS that hates WDW so I leave him home with his dad who really can't stand WDW any more then every 5 years or so. So that leaves my 5 y/o DD that goes with me all the time. I also drag my mom with us as she is also a Disney freak. Just us girls living the good life at WDW!
Maybe the "magic' will return if she has children of her own.. but for right now, she's taking a pass on trips there.
That's why I enjoy our trips so much when we're there and plan my tushy off with different things to do so DH and I can really enjoy ourselves. 
Last year we added Universal to our vacation and are doing so again this year.
We like staying at the Portofino Bay Hotel, and love front of the line access. 
It suits all of our vacation needs. There is so much to do at Disney World, we still have yet to do it all! And every year they are adding more stuff. Can't beat that anywhere." Then I tell them how we now stay concierge, then that's too much info then their eyes start to glaze over and they ask, "What's concierge?"
