How far ahead do you have your trips planned?

[PSC]

Even though we aren't tied to school schedules and can go just about any time of year, all of our upcoming 2008 trips were booked at the 11 month window.

I think I read somewhere that if you weren't a planner before DVC, you will become one.

Now I've got to start thinking about 2009, to maximize the AP usage LOL!

 

[tomandrobin]

We have trips either booked or planned thru the end of 2009. With all the points we have and two other timeshares, you have to plan out where and when the next trip is going to be.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I have two trips planned in my head for 2008, one in October and one in December-but haven't officially booked yet.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Right now I am planned through 2009. We have a pattern we tend to follow, and the only thing that changes that is if someone we invite has only specific times they can go.

So far, we are booked for March this year, and will book January next month. Then we plan on May of '09 and possibly Thanksgiving or early Dec. again. Looks like this year is a 2 trip year, and next year is back to a 3 trip year. We tend to do that now. We used to do the "skip a year" thing and do 3 the next, but with the DVC/AP discounts, we tend to now do 1 or 2 trips one year and 2-3 the following. It used to be early December and January were my favorite times to visit WDW, but I have learned that I really enjoy the weather in the spring, and May is so beautiful with the flower and garden festival! We throw in a March trip every other year so we can also take in Twins spring training camp down in Fort Myers. That's the plan this year.

 

[wildernessDad]

I have an Excel spreadsheet with points usage until the year 2014, but that is mostly a place holder. I usually figure out where I want to stay about a year and a half in advance and make the reservation(s) at the 11-month point.

 

[alldiz]

BWV April 17-20th(studio), OKW April 20-25th.(1BR)

WLV Oct 12-17th(2BR).....we'll stay 3 nights before that somewhere....
maybe BCV or BWV for F&W fest
Kerri

 

[DVC Mike]

I have an Excel spreadsheet with points usage until the year 2014

Wow, WD! 2014!

 

[DVC Mike]

April 08 - 4 nts in Tokyo Disney (Ambassador Hotel on Pts)
July 08 - 8 nts Adventures by Disney Germany (Pts for me, cash for DD)
Sep 08 - 7 nts AKV
Sep 08 - DVC Member Cruise (Pts for me, cash for DD)
Sep 09 - Back to Back Disney Magic cruises (booked thru DCL)

Wow! You have a lot of great trips planned. Your Disney trips look great!

I would very much like to visit Tokyo Disneyland (as well as Paris), and my wife keeps telling me we should plan an ABD tour. We're doing our first DCL cruise (4-night on the Wonder) this April, but otherwise just have WDW trips planned (4 in 2008 and 4 in 2009). Maybe 2010 will be the year we do ABD and/or Disneyland Paris?

 

[ead79]

We have a good idea of how we'll be using our points through December 2010. We have 160 points, so we have to plan pretty carefully to maximize those points.

Our plan right now is AKV savannah studio this March, AKV 1 BR concierge this December (woo hoo to the extra points we got when we joined!), then AKV 1 BR savannah view in December 2009. For December 2010, we'll do a studio the whole trip, but I haven't decided if we want to do AKV again or try another DVC resort.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

I am a major planner and are also a new DVC member. Our first trip is Dec 2008 and I also had plans for May 2009. However, my daughter just got engaged and she plans to get married in the spring of 2009.

She and her fiance were also supposed to come with us on the May trip so until the date is set for the wedding (she became engaged 2 months ago) I'll have to wait to set a date for this trip.

The May trip was a big deal because her fiance has NEVER been to WDW and he is 30!!! He is really looking forward to going. I suppose I'll just have to be patient and wait for their date and then see when I can actually plan that trip.

I also want to do a Land/Sea trip, hopefully in 2010 and schedule another trip for my Nephew who is serving in Iraq. He'll be home permenantly June of 2009!!

 

[UP Disney]

We are new to DVC in December. We only have two trips planned - one in March and one in June of this year. We only have 57 points left so we will have to start planning what we will be doing with those and what future trips we want. However, the June trip is a family trip with my mother, sister, niece & nephew and that is taking all my time.

 

[BroganMc]

Come winter my favorite thing to do is read lots of books and plan my future adventures.

Due to timeshare rules and work schedules, I usually work out our next year's travel plans in the Fall. I put together a little calendar schedule, e-mail to family and extend an invitation to stowaways.

Right now we have two Disney trips booked (April and October), a trip to Williamsburg over the summer, and plans for another NYE in Disney. Otherwise we'll just head to the beach for a weekend here and there. I tell folks we're going minimalist this year. Just our usual haunts.

Next year I have ideas for London and perhaps a Land/Sea Disney cruise.

 

[BankBunny]

DH and I are also new to DVC, but I have one trip booked (Sept 14-25 2008 at SSR) and have 2 sets of plans to take us through 2012. I had to plan ahead because we're planning a big family trip in 2012 (Me, DH, Dsis in-law, dbro in-law, 2 Dnephews, and dm in-law & df in-law) for my in-laws 45 wedding anniversary. I had to make sure I could bank enough points ahead to accomodate all of us. I then had to make an alternate plan in case ds in-law and db in-law decided to take the boys sooner. I offered to have them come down with us and do 2 studios. also, we want to try and experience all of the DVC resorts so each year that I want to try and get reservations at 7 months have hotel alternatives. We'll see what happens. Can you tell I'm a bit of a planner??

 

[dvcdisney]

I have planned all my trips (only twice a year) until 2011. I'm hoping the points will remain the same. I do have the resorts and dates planned out (thanks to advance calendars).

However, I have only booked two trips so far since 11 months in advance is the earliest. But everything is all worked out.

I know, I'm a little crazy. But I love planning, I feel closer to Disney.

 

[NewmanFam6]

I am currently planning a trip for January 2009. I am already thinking ahead to the trip we want to take Dec 2010 though-It makes DH shake his head at me

 

[ransom]

We have our vacation plans written down through December 2012.

 

[wildernessDad]

Wow, WD! 2014!

I know, I know. The DW hates it when I talk points to her. I love points and the concept of points.

 

[claire_ont]

Currently have the Mar 08 and Dec 08 trip planned (still two nights worth of ressies left to book tomorrow at 9 am sharp).

I have had a number of points transferred in but by end of Dec 08, I will get only a reduced number of points in Oct 09, and then my full points in Oct 10.

I am now looking at a beach type trip for spring 09. I am considering VB or HHI. It sounds like an add-on will almost be mandatory... It is pretty bad when you can join and use almost 3 years worth of points in less than 9 months...

Claire

 

[JimC]

We know about two years out in detail (08/09 now in place). Also have spreadsheet with long range usage.

 

[christianweecare]

We have 3 "official" trips on the books for 2008. We will be at OKW in 16 days, VB & VWL in May, and SSR in Dec. Next year we will probably spend only one day at WDW on way back from VB. How sad now that I think about it. However, we will be back on our beloved Disney Magic in Sept. 2009.