How do you justify non-Disney vacations when you've spent so much on DVC?

[JimMIA]

I am totally not impressed that we don't get a single exhange in France

Am I looking in the wrong place? anyone??

Yes, you're looking in FRANCE...possibly because it's actually located on tha continental land mass of EUROPE.

But if you look at the Canary Islands, you'll find 15. Just ignore the fact that the Canaries are off the coast of a completely different CONTINENT...hello!

The Canaries are pretty much European in the same sense that Curacao is European.

 

[toniosmom]

We're in NJ and only about 30-45 minutes from the beach. We also live in a condo and have a pool in our development. That's what we do the majority of our summer, so I don't like to go to WDW at that time of year. I most appreciate our WDW vacations in the Spring, when I've had it with winter (especially this year!)

If we limit our trips to Spring break time, I'm going to have some leftover points, unless I invite guests and book larger accomodations. I was thinking about renting a bunch of points in 2012 because I have already decided that it will be a non-Disney year. I've never rented points before, so I'm a bit nervous about it. I'm investigating a cruise out of NY or NJ, saving on the increasingly expensive airfare and hoping to use the rental money to pay for it. We love cruising.

My DS6 was only 3 when I bought my DVC, so I knew that I had many years of Disney vacations ahead. I had no problem justifying the purchase to myself. We're doing a short 3-day cruise in November on the Dream, but I paid cash for that one. We are spending 5 days at WDW before then. If I like this type of split stay, I may do that again in the future, possibly using points.

 

[AnnaS]

I ave read that DCL will be making an announcement April 6 (or maybe the 7th) regarding 2012 Itinieraries with the Magic.

Stay tuned - some talk/rumors could also be a NY port. This would also change it up a bit.

 

[gkrykewy]

I don't see OP's obection to banking points and skipping a year. Yes, on the banked-in year you'll have more points to use and would probably want a DVC trip that uses more points than you're used to. But so what! You'll have a chance to try a higher-point resort like BLT for a longer stay, or do AKV concierge for a significant length of time (and use the free food to mollify your frugal sensibilities).

 

[dbs1228]

It wasn't until our youngest DD was 5 that we found the beauty of taking the family on other vacations especially cruises! With all the kids activities they offer we get adult time but yet plenty of family time it is a great balance and has something for everyone! My girls would LOVE going on the scavenger hunts with the kids clubs on board while DH and I went to the show. As they got older they would hang at the teen clubs and met a ton of kids that they still talk to via e-mail (that cruise was 3 years ago). We would go shopping on the islands as a family, do trivia contest, dinner ect.... yet we all had our own activities we could enjoy. I actually read 3 books on 1 cruise because it was what I really wanted to do chill for the week!

As far as 10 day no expire passes, they may appear more expensive but when my DD were younger we would get 3 trips out of the passes (3 years) vs. annual pass. We did not overwhelm the kids with parks everyday, we would do 1 day at each park per visit and on off days hang by the pool, shop at the outlets, ride the monorail, rent speed boats on the lake, enjoy the resort!

We love our WDW vacations but we always budget for some other vacation every year.

 

[toniosmom]

I ave read that DCL will be making an announcement April 6 (or maybe the 7th) regarding 2012 Itinieraries with the Magic.

Stay tuned - some talk/rumors could also be a NY port. This would also change it up a bit.

OMG....if Disney had a NY port on the itinerary, I'd be there in a flash!!!

 

[Tiger926]

Update:

Thanks all for the continuing discussion. Hubby still hasn't had a chance to read this thread, but hopefully tonight he will. We have had several heart to heart talks, and here is where we are:

1. Parks - We bought DVC based on the parks. If we don't go to the parks on a consistent basis (at least every other year), then we never would have purchased, as there are much cheaper timeshares we could have purchased. We also bought based on the state of the parks, and over the past 7 years since we bought, things have rapidly declined in the parks: food is grossly overpriced/subpar/character meals have been ruined, parks are showing wear and tear (malfunctions, broken rides), CMs are disengaged, and guests are just plain rude (has nothing to do with Disney, but they can help this a bit). For this reason, the tie-in product to DVC, is suffering, and this is a big concern for us.

2. DVC - We are very happy with the resorts. We have had great stays, and have stayed at almost all of them, so this is good. Unfortunately, DVC sells because it is tied to the parks. Now, that is suffering for us, so it's a problem. Unfortunately, DVC is getting punished, so to speak, as the parks aren't quite up to par for us. As we have said, we can't sell, and don't think that's the answer, but we also know with two young kids, that we can't just do a resort vacation - our DD almost throttled us the other night when I suggested not going into the parks, and then I suggested going on a cruise and skipping the parks. It was not a pretty scene - LOL!

3. Non DVC Vacations - We bought for the parks, but we did think we could take a cruise or go elsewhere every once in awhile, but the cost of doing so is ridiculous. Exchange fee and ridiculously high points to cruise or Adventures by Disney, make us pretty much stuck at the parks, so going elsewhere needs to come out of our own pockets, and that is ticking us off.

So, bottom line is that next summer (2012), we will not be going to WDW. Hubby has already put his foot down on this. He wants to go to a beach resort or something, which I have no desire to do, but I have no choice. He also wants to go on a cruise, and it will more than likely not be Disney, as prices are nuts. Even with a points/cash combination, it's too much. As I've also stated a bunch of times, we are not interested in renting points, nor giving them away to friends and family. I am concerned about the $1700.00 in dues I need to pay for each January, and am still wrapping my head around us taking breaks, as I'm not sure how to deal with the dues and extra points. Still working on this one...

Not sure what we are going to do, but for the first time in years, I am not looking forward to vacation at all. This is difficult for me, as I work very hard as a full time working mom. I don't do anything, and I mean anything for leisure, except go on vacation 1 and sometimes 2 times per year. I am not sure what we are going to do, but hubby and I both agree a break from the parks is in order at this time, as our last 2 trips, have not recharged my batteries at all, so I do need a break from the chaotic parks. We will be continuing with our regularly scheduled 2 week stay this summer at AKV though.

Hopefully, taking a break, and going elsewhere, will give us a renewed perspective when we return to the parks. I think the MK expansion will be completed by then, so that will be good!

Thanks for all opinions. I continue to welcome any other tips or words of wisdom you may have for us!

Tiger - who is feeling very Disney vacation confused at the moment (hubby says I'm having a vacation mid life crisis - LOL!)

 

[jekjones1558]

We absolutely loved HHI. The 6 year old on our trip would probably choose HHI over WDW. She loved all of the activities and riding a bike around the resort. We find VB to be a little too isolated. It is better for a beach vacation because it is right on the beach but there are not that many restaurants or other things to do near Vero (just our opinion, of course). Good luck. It is sad to read that you seem so disappointed in your DVC right now.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm having a vacation mid life crisis

I think that's pretty natural, really. And I suspect that it's not so much that the parks have changed as it is that you are seeing them differently---familiarity breeds contempt. A break from them will probably help you appreciate them more when you do go back.

In the meantime, though, you do have to do something with those points. You could bank forward one year, and then in subsequent years you can do longer trips, or larger units, or more "pointy" resorts to help soak up some of the excess. You could use them at Vero or HHI for your "beach" vacation, or you could exchange them through RCI. RCI is not the best value though. I know you don't want to rent them out but that's really more efficient than exchanging through RCI. A service like DVC By Request can help minimize the pain of doing so.

 

[Starr W.]

Now we love VB, actually leaving tomorrow!

It's somewhat isolated location works for us(only an 8 mile drive into VB proper). At spring break, the kids(8th/3rd grades) just need time to relax, they just finished the quarter, both had multiple tests this week and preparation has started for the OAA's.

My 9yr old loves all the activities at VB, especially the art projects and the unbirthday party.

It's been about 14 yrs since I've been to HHI, it's okay but I can't imagine what the traffic is like now.

 

[nunzia]

Have you thought about trying Disneyland Resort? It is surprisingly different from WDW, they have California Adventure becomming new, and there are alot of great day trip options.

 

[Brian Noble]

One more thought:

Even if we did [rent] though, dues still have to be paid, so dues would then need to come off of the money made from renting, even if we got $10.00/point = $3600.00, our dues are $1700.00.

But, the dues are going to be paid anyway, whether you rent points out or not. That's a sunk cost, going toward "vacations". If you rent points out, you convert that sunk cost back into cash, and for your needs right now, cash is more flexible, and possibly more valuable, than points. In other words, for 2012, would you rather have the points, or the $1700? If the latter, then renting gives you that and more.

I know you don't like any of your options here. But, you'll eventually have to choose one of them.

 

[dbs1228]

We have never been on a Disney cruise, I do feel they are too pricey also and my DH likes the option of the casino a few nights so it was out from the start. Royal Caribbean and Carnival both have AWESOME kids activities and when I asked my DD's when they were younger which vacation do they like the best they cannot make a choice between cruising and WDW, now they prefer cruising but LOVE WDW. My DH and oldest DD are NOT a beach people but I insisted on Aruba 1 year and they had a BALL. Pleasantly surprised we did a lot of sightseeing by renting a jeep, some beach, snorkeling ect....

I think vacation is a mind set. If you go dreading vacation you will NOT have a good time. If you go thinking "this is a new adventure that I am on with my family and lets see what this destination has to offer" you maybe surprised. It is all about perspective. I could never understand anyone who goes on vacation and has a bad time, crap happens but it is all what you make it, come on it is vacation!!!!!!!!!!

 

[staceymay00]

Tiger926, it seems like your only choice is to find somewhere to go that will use your DVC points and not require much more additional cash. You don't want to sell some of your points, you don't want to rent them out and you don't want to use them at Disney. That leaves either not using them at all or using them for something that is not a great value and you may not be too excited about. I would definitely pick the latter of those two options.

I have absolutely no experience with using DVC points for something besides Disney, but from looking at the DVC vacation planner it seems there are options besides a Disney cruise. Hilton Head is a great island with more to do than just the beach. You could take a day trip to Charleston and/or Savannah. You could spend some time at HHI and then go on a non-Disney cruise. That would cost money out of pocket, but you will not be buying park tickets and food during the cruise. How about a city vacation? We spent three nights in Chicago last summer - so much to do and we could have easily filled a week. There is a Chicago hotel listed in the planner as well as other cities. I saw at least one option in British Columbia. There is a lot to see and do there. My DH and I went before we had kids and I would love to go back one day.

Looking at your signature I see you have been to Disney a lot the past couple of years. So have we, although not for two weeks at a time like you have been, and we also are cutting back a bit. It doesn't mean we no longer like WDW, but I just don't have the desire to spend quite as much time or money there as we have over the past few years. I used to think I would get bored being at the beach for a week, but this summer our only planned vacation is a week on HHI (not at the DVC resort since we don't have extra points to use). I am actually really looking forward to it and so are my kids!

Good luck figuring things out.

 

[crisi]

There is another choice. Sell the points (or one contract - I think there are two) take the loss, and move on.

If you don't want to rent, don't want to use the points at Disney (or not as many of them as you own), don't see any trades you are interested in, then you are either paying dues and getting no value, or you are spending your precious vacation time (and dollars) doing something you don't want to do.

 

[lisaviolet]

Edit. Again. Smiling.

All the best to you and your family with your decisions Tiger,

Lisa

 

[Starr W.]

There is another choice. Sell the points (or one contract - I think there are two) take the loss, and move on.

If you don't want to rent, don't want to use the points at Disney (or not as many of them as you own), don't see any trades you are interested in, then you are either paying dues and getting no value, or you are spending your precious vacation time (and dollars) doing something you don't want to do.

Well it's taken how many pages before someone came up with some common sense.

Sometimes you have to bite the bullet, take the loss on your purchase price and save those thousands on MF's. We all know DVC MF's are not the lowest on the block. Once out of the those you can vacation when and where you want.

 

[Tiger926]

We absolutely loved HHI. The 6 year old on our trip would probably choose HHI over WDW. She loved all of the activities and riding a bike around the resort. We find VB to be a little too isolated. It is better for a beach vacation because it is right on the beach but there are not that many restaurants or other things to do near Vero (just our opinion, of course). Good luck. It is sad to read that you seem so disappointed in your DVC right now.

Thanks for your kind words. Had a vacation booked there for last month, but cancelled it, as we just didn't think there would be enough to do there without being able to swim. We would like to try HH, but probably for a few days, as going in the summer, it is much hotter and we have that to deal with.

I'm not sure if it's disappointment, so much as confusion about what we want to do next with our vacations?

I think that's pretty natural, really. And I suspect that it's not so much that the parks have changed as it is that you are seeing them differently---familiarity breeds contempt. A break from them will probably help you appreciate them more when you do go back.

In the meantime, though, you do have to do something with those points. You could bank forward one year, and then in subsequent years you can do longer trips, or larger units, or more "pointy" resorts to help soak up some of the excess. You could use them at Vero or HHI for your "beach" vacation, or you could exchange them through RCI. RCI is not the best value though. I know you don't want to rent them out but that's really more efficient than exchanging through RCI. A service like DVC By Request can help minimize the pain of doing so.

One more thought:

But, the dues are going to be paid anyway, whether you rent points out or not. That's a sunk cost, going toward "vacations". If you rent points out, you convert that sunk cost back into cash, and for your needs right now, cash is more flexible, and possibly more valuable, than points. In other words, for 2012, would you rather have the points, or the $1700? If the latter, then renting gives you that and more.

I know you don't like any of your options here. But, you'll eventually have to choose one of them.

Thanks for your suggestions and all of your knowledge - we already go for 2 weeks each summer, and this is as long as we can go for, as hubby has to be back in his office. As a teacher, I have off the whole summer, but hubby does not, so our trips are already pretty long at 2 weeks, and can't be longer. We talked about using extra points to upgrade to 2 bedrooms or more costly point resorts like BLT once in awhile.

If I could ask - why is RCI not the best usage of points? Hubby found Ron Jon Caribe Royale Resort for 7 days for only 160 points, plus $95.00 fee, but that same room is approx. $275.00/night. What am I missing?

Have you thought about trying Disneyland Resort? It is surprisingly different from WDW, they have California Adventure becomming new, and there are alot of great day trip options.

We would like to go to Disneyland, but the airfare is expensive. We are considering it though.

We have never been on a Disney cruise, I do feel they are too pricey also and my DH likes the option of the casino a few nights so it was out from the start. Royal Caribbean and Carnival both have AWESOME kids activities and when I asked my DD's when they were younger which vacation do they like the best they cannot make a choice between cruising and WDW, now they prefer cruising but LOVE WDW. My DH and oldest DD are NOT a beach people but I insisted on Aruba 1 year and they had a BALL. Pleasantly surprised we did a lot of sightseeing by renting a jeep, some beach, snorkeling ect....

I think vacation is a mind set. If you go dreading vacation you will NOT have a good time. If you go thinking "this is a new adventure that I am on with my family and lets see what this destination has to offer" you maybe surprised. It is all about perspective. I could never understand anyone who goes on vacation and has a bad time, crap happens but it is all what you make it, come on it is vacation!!!!!!!!!!

I am dreading next year's vacation, as I can't sit on a beach for 7 days. I burn, and can't really wear sunscreen due to allergies, so it's no fun for me at all. We went to Vero, and I had a very difficult time with the sun, and the bugs at night - I am highly allergic to bug bites and bug spray, so it was difficult. So, it means I can't explore as many adventures with my family as I have to spend time inside if we are on a beach for 7 days. With WDW, there is lots of opportunity to be inside, as well as under covered shelters. I am a very positive person by nature, and am very grateful for what life has given us, but for the first time, I am conflicted about vacation. WDW is a safe and comforting place, so the idea of planning other trips, is a bit scary for me at this time.

Tiger926, it seems like your only choice is to find somewhere to go that will use your DVC points and not require much more additional cash. You don't want to sell some of your points, you don't want to rent them out and you don't want to use them at Disney. That leaves either not using them at all or using them for something that is not a great value and you may not be too excited about. I would definitely pick the latter of those two options.

I have absolutely no experience with using DVC points for something besides Disney, but from looking at the DVC vacation planner it seems there are options besides a Disney cruise. Hilton Head is a great island with more to do than just the beach. You could take a day trip to Charleston and/or Savannah. You could spend some time at HHI and then go on a non-Disney cruise. That would cost money out of pocket, but you will not be buying park tickets and food during the cruise. How about a city vacation? We spent three nights in Chicago last summer - so much to do and we could have easily filled a week. There is a Chicago hotel listed in the planner as well as other cities. I saw at least one option in British Columbia. There is a lot to see and do there. My DH and I went before we had kids and I would love to go back one day.

Looking at your signature I see you have been to Disney a lot the past couple of years. So have we, although not for two weeks at a time like you have been, and we also are cutting back a bit. It doesn't mean we no longer like WDW, but I just don't have the desire to spend quite as much time or money there as we have over the past few years. I used to think I would get bored being at the beach for a week, but this summer our only planned vacation is a week on HHI (not at the DVC resort since we don't have extra points to use). I am actually really looking forward to it and so are my kids!

Good luck figuring things out.

Thanks. We are trying to figure it out. Like I said above, going to WDW is safe and comforting, so now looking at other options is a bit scary. We are restricted by my teaching schedule, my hubby's work schedule and a few other things, so it's not as easy as everyone here is making it out to be. We are talking about as much as we can though, and will have a vacation date tonight to try and figure it out some more.

There is another choice. Sell the points (or one contract - I think there are two) take the loss, and move on.

If you don't want to rent, don't want to use the points at Disney (or not as many of them as you own), don't see any trades you are interested in, then you are either paying dues and getting no value, or you are spending your precious vacation time (and dollars) doing something you don't want to do.

Thanks, but I am not convinced that selling is the right thing to do, plus it will cost us a mint to do so. This is the very first time hubby and I have felt we need a break, and based on most responses, that seems to be normal, so not sure why you would jump to the drastic conclusion that selling our contracts is the right answer? We have never looked at other options before, and that is why I started this thread. This is the first time in 7 years of owning, that we have had these feelings, so that hardly qualifies us to sell all of our contracts. That is not our intention, we just need a change at the moment.

Well it's taken how many pages before someone came up with some common sense.

Sometimes you have to bite the bullet, take the loss on your purchase price and save those thousands on MF's. We all know DVC MF's are not the lowest on the block. Once out of the those you can vacation when and where you want.

Thanks, but I also said right at the beginning that I don't think selling is the right answer, plus we would lose a ton of money. Nowhere did I say that we don't ever want to go to WDW again - we are just experiencing a bit of a hiccup in our DVC relationship at the moment. Selling contracts would be very premature and irresponsible at this point. Just need a break!

Edit. Again. Smiling.

All the best to you and your family with your decisions Tiger,

Lisa

Thanks. I could have sworn that today at school I read a really long post by you. I only got through part of it - did you delete it? Why? The part I read was good.



Thanks again to all. I'm sorry this thread has gotten so long - sorry about that. I am also sorry if my posts were confusing - I am a bit conflicted at the moment. In almost 7 years of owning, this is the first time we have come down this road, and since I value the amazingly supportive opinions that are shared on this board, I wanted to post, to see how others handle their vacations. I did not mean to imply that we hate WDW - that's far from the truth! But, due to so many trips, we just need a break in order to recharge our WDW batteries. We have made a few changes for the summer, and are looking forward to that.

I have received some great advice, tips and opinions. We do need to try and figure out what to do, but when you are conflicted or confused about something that you know very well and are so comfortable with, it throws you for a loop, when you have feelings that you never thought you would have.

Our main issues are:

- prepaid vacations (shelled out so much $ to ensure 50 years of vacations)
- amount of vacation money we have spent thus far

For these reasons, I am having a hard time justifying any additional vacation spending, but since we are bit burned out on Disney, we have limited choices: go to Disney, exchange, rent or sell. Trading out is all foreign to us, and our cruises were all paid in cash. Lots to learn about using DVC for non-Disney vacations. We also need to discuss our vacation budget some more, and what our expectations are in regards to it.

Even though we have the money to go on additional vacations, since we have already spent so much on Disney, I feel guilty even entertaining that idea, so I truly wanted to see how others figure out their vacation budgets and planning of vacations, when it's not WDW, despite spending so much already on DVC. We know now it was a bit naive of us to assume that by buying DVC, that would be our only vacation. We now have to come to terms with these new feelings, and that's a bit hard at this point!

Thanks again for the amazing support on this thread, Tiger

 

[staceymay00]

Well it's taken how many pages before someone came up with some common sense.

Sometimes you have to bite the bullet, take the loss on your purchase price and save those thousands on MF's. We all know DVC MF's are not the lowest on the block. Once out of the those you can vacation when and where you want.

I agree, selling off some of the points seems like the best choice in this situation, however the OP previously stated they will not sell at a loss. In the long run it will be cheaper to take the loss selling some points instead of continuing to pay MFs on points they don't want to use, not to mention park tickets for WDW trips they would rather not take.

ETA: I posted this before I read your last post. It sounds like for now you just need a break from Disney for a year (or at least your DH does) - nothing wrong with that! I think banking the points and using them the following summer for DVC accomodations that require more points is a good suggestion. The 2BR villas are great for a family, or splurge on location/view. It sounds like you can afford to spend additional funds on a non-Disney vacation next summer, so do that and don't feel guilty!

 

[Starr W.]

I agree, selling off some of the points seems like the best choice in this situation, however the OP previously stated they will not sell at a loss. In the long run it will be cheaper to take the loss selling some points instead of continuing to pay MFs on points they don't want to use, not to mention park tickets for WDW trips they would rather not take.

ETA: I posted this before I read your last post. It sounds like for now you just need a break from Disney for a year (or at least your DH does) - nothing wrong with that! I think banking the points and using them the following summer for DVC accomodations that require more points is a good suggestion. The 2BR villas are great for a family, or splurge on location/view. It sounds like you can afford to spend additional funds on a non-Disney vacation next summer, so do that and don't feel guilty!

We didn't go to Vero Beach last year(summer trip to Hawaii) so we banked the points and booked a Beach Cottage for this year.

To the OP, sometimes a bigger unit works wonders on your view of WDW. Thanksgiving 2009, we took my sister and got a GV at SSR. It was totally worth it, after a rainy day at MK. Sister went off and sulked in her room, boys went off to their room and DH and I could sit in the living room with an adult drink and relax.