How has becoming a DVCer changed your vacations?

[LSchrow]

We don't stress about the cost of the vacation (we used to stay mostly deluxe - even with the CM 50% discount, it was a few grand just for the room). We've owned about 12 years, 3 resorts.

We now go at least twice a year, 10-14 days each time. Our days consist of getting up when we feel like, having coffee on our BW view balcony (available ONLY using Points), some juice and cerealn etc int the villa, maybe Walk to EPCOT or DHS (if they are crowded, we leave), a ride or two, some street performers, walk back, aly by the pool, dinner somewhere (rarely plaaned), walk back to EPCOT or watch illuminations from bAlcony. Some days we play minigolf, hit the outlets, etc. A favorite is eating ice cream on a warm night, while watching BW performers m
Every day is incredibly relaxed, we never argue, will change direction on a whim

Having APs help, and haVing an owner's locker means very littLe packing.
We all come home refreshed and feeling wonderful - many people just don't understand how we don't come home from a WDW vaca stress out. If they owned DVC, I think they would understand

 

[rmcildw2m]

For me it means always being able to stay in a deluxe resort . I was always going every year one maybe to times and getting what ever best deal I could find , but now when I go it first class every time , and saving money to boot .

 

[supersuperwendy]

Since joining DVC we always seem to be bringing family and friends with us to share in the magic! We love being able to provide accommodations for them. We don't really go more often, still once a year and we haven't slowed down. I'm still a total park commando for now!

 

[Tiger926]

Welcome Home!

Like everyone else, our vacations are much more relaxed - no worries about schedule, as we have APs, love 1 bedrooms (won't go back to studios) with full kitchen, laundry and balcony, and like the special touches like community halls. We have pretty much stayed at all Disney resorts (have stayed using points), and eaten almost everywhere, so now vacations are more laid back with more resort and pool time, as we all have our favourite places to stay!

It has enhanced our vacations so much, Tiger

 

[bangzoom6877]

1. We stay 10 nights but don't go to a park everyday, instead of staying 5-7 nights and going commando...feels like an actual vacation!

2. We can afford to stay within walking distance of Epcot and DHS now! (We own at BWV)

3. Laundry in the 1BR we stay in...never thought I would enjoy doing laundry on vacation, but it makes unpacking a breeze when coming home, only having a few dirty clothes from the drove home to NYC.

4. Much more leisurely breakfast in the villa than when we stayed at POP...no more having to bring a hot-pot and Folgers singles for coffee in the morning, and no more having to bring disposable dishes for breakfasts!

5. The option to upgrade my park ticket to an AP for $100 less than non-DVC members (for now, hope it stays that way!), and buy the TiW card and STILL save plenty of money on dining over 10 nights, even when factoring in the cost of the upgrade to AP and the cost of the TiW card...and as an added bonus, I got 10% off whenever we bought anything on property, since I had an AP. And we only go every other summer, but it worked out great last year!

6. Watching the resort prices creep up every year...even though we have only been members for 3 years...can't imagine how this will feel in 10 years from now.

 

[araffle]

Easier planning and vacation ALWAYS happens.....Whether we go to Disney or we rent our points and find something somewhere else. I traded once and had a bad experience at the Hyaat Cerromar in Puerto Rico.

 

[rock_doctor]

I am a brand new member and very excited!! I am just wondering how becoming a dvc member has changed your family vacas. TIA

Yea, we use to stay at Pop and spent on average $+3k for the room alone. So we had to be careful that we did not over spend. In addition every time we were at Pop we were having issues with sickeningly dirty rooms or nasty CMs/managers. Now with DVC we do not have to pay for the room and negating the initial outlay we now stay for a grand a year and in turn we stay longer plus they treat you much better at a deluxe. We use to go for 9 days now we stay for 2-weeks and if i can finagle a standard room we can save enough points to go for two-weeks over the summer every other year. Plus and this is a big plus...we own at BLT. So before (@Pop) i would get up and just watch Stacy until it was time to go. Now i get up early, go sit out on the balcony with a computer and just watch the fog burn off Bay Lake and enjoy the sounds of the monorail, the train from the MK and the boats coming and going from the Contemporary. So yea it has had a major impact for us. It has become our home away from home. So much so i got a Google voice phone number that is local to WDW and that is our local phone number. It rings though to my cell phone. If you are financially sound (i.e. was able to make the purchase comfortably) you will not regret the purchase at any time.

 

[gonzalj1]

Our Disney vacations are completely different now that we own DVC.

As PPs have said we are now much more relaxed. No more commando style. If we miss an attraction we know we'll be back in a year or so so no big deal.

We're also taking longer vacations. We now spend 8-13 nights on site and this probably helps with the pace.

Our vacations are now more luxurious. No more do we need to jam 4 of us into a hotel room. We usually go for a 1BR and have plenty of room to stretch out. Breakfast in the room helps keep cost down.

 

[discorsner]

OP, great thread.

We are in the research phase and this thread just sets me over the edge. We are so doing it! Just gotta finish rounding out the bank account and waiting for the perfect resale contract to come out!

 

[jupers]

OP, great thread.

We are in the research phase and this thread just sets me over the edge. We are so doing it! Just gotta finish rounding out the bank account and waiting for the perfect resale contract to come out!

I just have to say GO FOR IT!!! My DH was soooo hesitant but it took my Dad's passing for us to realize how short life is and just say the heck with it!! Now I have 2 trips planned in the next 6 months!!!

 

[discorsner]

I just have to say GO FOR IT!!! My DH was soooo hesitant but it took my Dad's passing for us to realize how short life is and just say the heck with it!! Now I have 2 trips planned in the next 6 months!!!

I'm sorry about your Dad.

Congrats on your two upcoming trips!

 

[tink1969]

We were married in 1996 and honeymooned in the Bahamas. We never vacationed again until 2004 when we tookt he kids to Disney and visited the DVC booth and ended up buying in!
Now we vacation every year, usually twice! LOVE IT!!!!!

 

[Gregowa]

DH and I have no regrets that we bought DVC except that we wish we had done it sooner. Our biggest problem is coming home from our trips. We always wish we could stay longer! We usually end up taking two trips a year. Our children are adults now and we enjoy the trips we take by ourselves as much as the ones we take with our children/grands or other family. We look forward to our trips and thoroughly enjoy planning them. In planning, we try to make our time at Disney fun, relaxing, and stress free as possible. We especially enjoy trying new restaurants and revisiting our favorites. Being able to buy annual passes with the DVC discount has been a wonderful perk well used by us. Since many of our trips are just the 2 of us, a studio does us just fine and helps save points for the trips when others go with us. We hope to be able to add on more points and be able to go even more often once we retire in a few years! Our DVC membership gives us a priceless amount of joy and happiness making what we paid for our points and what we pay for annual dues, money very well spent in our eyes! I say go for it!

 

[Aunt Michelle]

OP - Welcome home!

I remember the year we (my parents bought the same time I did) bought into DVC. We visited DVC on the last day of a 7-day trip that included my parents, sister/BIL/3 children. We'd saved forever to go and everyone was completely exhausted from trying to fit everything in - who knew when we might go back??

Flash forward seven years... in the next six months I've got four trips planned:

• September - 7 day solo trip, studio accommodations, doing what I want when I want.
• October - 4 day Epcot Food & Wine yearly trip with five adults, two bedroom accommodations (5 in a two bedroom yep!), adult food and fun visiting only Epcot.
• November - 10 day Thanksgiving trip, Treehouse Villa, eight people, taking advantage of school break to show my nieces and sister/BIL Disney magic as the parks transform into Holiday Splendor.
• January 2012 - 3 day Birthday Trip with my Goddaughter as she turns five, 2 adults, 3 children, one bedroom lake view at BLT.

We've been when we go only to MK for Wishes and spend the rest of the time at our DVC resort, we've taken friends and made friends. Last year we took the whole family (2 sisters, 2 BILs, Grandparents, and all nine nieces and nephews) to Vero Beach for a week (2 two-bedrooms, 2 studios), and then went on to our Epcot Food & Wine yearly trip.

Yes, I live in GA so the drive (500 miles or so) is completely doable - but the real flexibility comes in using your points however you want, and if you are flexible with scheduling you can stretch your points a long way.

Michelle

 

[DeeCee735]

We take one now. Seriously.

Ditto!

 

[Hunclemarco]

For us,
1. made us take vacations, where we didn't have one in years, now we have multiple vacations per year

2. more relaxed, as everyone else said

3. able to bring more friends and enjoy

4. where else can you plan many different vacation styles within one massive park?

 

[Goofy DVC]

I can relate to everything so far, especially the fact that DVC "makes us take a vacation." I would add one other thing. Since we vacation more at DVC, usually two trips a year now, it is much more fun between trips with the planning and new ideas for our next trip. However, it is depressing when we don't have a reservation for an upcoming trip. Always got to have a trip planned when you come home. Gives you something to look forward to. Without DVC none of that would be possible.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Truly <value> our DVC....we have to stay in Toronto for a couple of says...to get a borderline equivalent 1 BR (no kitchen, no laundry 300 to 350 sq ft) the hotel wants $399/night...plus parking...and taxes!

Give me home any time.

 

[debbieandroo]

As a brand new DVC owner, I am loving this thread!!! Thanks, OP!

 

[downontheBW]

As other PPs have eluded to, it makes it "okay" to take a vacation. It allows us to stay in deluxe resorts that we would feel too expensive to pay cash for (yeah, I know, we did pay a lot to buy in). We now can easily take a few short vacations because we can take a direct flight into MCO, have ME take us to our resort and be right onsite. No hassles.

Also, it introduced us to timesharing. I think DVC is great for flexibility - any number of nights, variety of resorts, and a reasonable value compared to others. After purchasing DVC 10 years ago, we've bought a couple more timeshares.

And the best part is that I know we'll be going back to DVC; I'm always planning our next DVC trip!