How often do you go

[studog100]

Hi everyone
We just got back from a week long vacation (5th in that many years) at WDW and since we have gone every year, we decided to purchase. I have known about DVC for a few years as I rented points from some members but I felt I should invest my own money rather than pay someone else's mortgage. The only regret I ever recall reading was that "I wish I would've bought when I first heard of it or years ago". With that being said and our family loves WDW, we did it.
Now we only bought 150 points and my question is for those that have 150 pts or want to offer advice, how do you use them?
I have only stayed in a studio and loved it. Just curious.

 

[bongo59]

our avg has been 5 times per yr for the last 26 yrs

 

[athenna]

I bought 150 points in Dec, and will be making my first trip as a DVC member next month. I am staying 5 nights in April & 6 nights in Nov-Dec. Both in studios, which is all I need for now. I am sure within a couple of years I will want to do a small add on, but right now, I can live with the 150 points.

 

[dyingtodisney]

we "spent" 183 points in june and stayed 12 nights in a studio at SSR. We are opting for primarily studio stays while kids are younger. Being opposite genders I figure they won't be willing to share a bed much longer. That being said we stay in a 2 bdr for the first time this week and will probably not want to go back after that to a studio.
With our add on contract at VWL we stayed 12/26-1/3 at VWL and used banked, current year, and borrowed for that stay but it was magical at the lodge during the christmas season and well worth it. that trip was in a studio also.

 

[NMW]

We like to go every year! DVC seemed like a great choice for us since we were paying for 8 nights at a Deluxe resort every year. We looked into DVC and thought that we must have been crazy not to do this before. We decided not to do our trip at the POLY and bought a DVC resale at BWV instead. Our first trip as DVC members is in Dec (8 nights at BWV). For us, we just prepaid the resort part of our vacation for pretty much the rest of our lives!
Also, it may sound silly, but another thing that really appealed to us about owning DVC was staying in the 1 and 2 bdr villas because of the washer and dryer. We hate, hate to go to a laundry room while on vacation. This was the only thing about vacationing at Disney that stunk for us. Having them in the villa is really important to us.

 

[Alexander]

With our 220 points we can do a full week in a 1 bdrm or 2 seperate weeks in a studio. We have opted for the latter. We usually visit twice a year. This year we will squeeze in three as my parents just retired and have become official Snowbirds. We stay with them in their condo during our Feb. trip however. This will likely become our pattern for the future. 1 week in Feb with parents, 1 week in April on points, and 1 week in August on points. This until the 1 bdrm bug bites and I only go twice...Nah, scratch that, I'll just add on!

 

[CarolMN]

When we first bought, we went 2 times a year and one year, I believe it was 3 times. Now we are settled into once a year, in early December. Have only stayed in a studio once - the other trips were all in 1 or 2 bedrooms. Used the 2 bedroom units when we invited family along, and the 1 bedroom when it was just the two of us.

Started out with 200 and then added on 50 before our first trip home. Beginning with this year's points, we'll be back in the "banking" mode - I see more than one trip a year in our future, LOL!

Best wishes -

 

[magicmouse2]

1-2 times per yr average 14 nights each trip. If we lived in the US it would be much more!!!

 

[SEC]

We also go at least two weeks in the fall for the Food and Wine Festival. However, last year, we went 3 times, I would like that to be the norm! However, my husband insists we go somewhere else also for vacation within the year.

 

[CarolAnnC]

There was a time when I would make 5 trips per year down to WDW. The past couple of years it has been more like 2 trips per year.

It is difficult with new jobs, and college aged daughters. So once in the summer, and once around Thanksgiving is about all we can manage for now, whaaaaaaaa! LOL! I was spoiled for sure...

 

[DVCLiz]

I have 165 HH points, which I think we will use each summer. We can stay in a two bedroom for five nights, and that is about the right length of "beach vacation" for us. We love Hilton Head and I don't see us getting tired of it, so that's what we will do with those.

I also have 165 BCV points, and we've done different things with them. We can stay 4 nights in a two bedroom in the summer, so that's one possibility. This summer we are staying 3 nights in a 2 BR and I used some banked points and the rest of my 2005 BCV points for a solo trip at Easter.

I also have tended to switch resorts and stay a couple/few nights on cash - those point totals on weekends are very high and I just love the two resort vacation!! I know some people hate it but if I thought I could never stay at AKL or try something new again, I'd be very unhappy!! And with an AP rate, sometimes cash discounts just make sense. Don't get me wrong, though, if I had enough points to fully fund my trip each time, I'd use them without hesitation!!

 

[bigalpf1]

I would suggest using your points Sunday thru Thursday and staying in a value or moderate on Friday and Saturday if you want the whole week.

 

[caveat lector]

We are fortunate to have a school district that utilizes a 9 week on, 3 week off cycle sytem. So, we have been 2 weeks in September each year since 1997. The party's over after next year. Then we have to decide between pulling the kids from school, or going at a peak time. YIKES!@@@@@

 

[TW1]

We have just 150 and it has allowed us a Sunday-Friday week in HHI (68 points) every year plus a trip to WDW every other with the banked points. Last year we banked almost the entire amount to make 2005 special. Sporng break in HHI, plus two full weeks in August for our 15th wedding anniversary including 5 nights in BCV, 2 at Vero and a 5 more in HHI.

If you're feeling tight on points, you can always rent a few from another member for $10-$11 each. We haven't but may next year.

 

[Pinmaniac]

We went 7 times last year. Mostly weekend stays, but did stay for a week in December. So far this year we have been twice and are going back definitely in April, September, October and December. If the bug bites there may be a May and November trip as well. During the summer months we tend to stay away from Disney and do trips that involve using our boat.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Ideally, we'd like to make one week-long trip per year staying in a 1BR.

 

[EdTreo]

Almost every other month for a few days. It's an hour and half drive from where I live.

 

[kaf7878]

We have 150 pts and almost always stay in a studio on non Fri/Sat nights for less points. We usually go three times a year to VB for three nights each and then a couple 1 or 2 night trips to WDW for Halloween or Marathon Weekend.

 

[Desnik]

Our story sounds almost exactly like the OP's!!

We have 150 SSR points. I do plan on adding on in the future. As for now we figure we can get 2 trips per year. This year we are going to Vero in June for 4 nights in an Inn Ocean view room, and 5 nights at BWV preferred view, and 2 nights at SSR studio in Nov.

The year after we are thinking of doing HHI and WDW, also in studios.

Right now studios are fine for us. DD is 7yo and DS is 2yo.

I could probably stretch those points more if we were to stay at OKW, and paid cash for the weekend at WDW.