How often do you go?

[Cinderella]

Was wondering - how often do you all go to wdw for and how long, and what other trips do you use dvc for?

I couldn't go for almost five years due to business committments etc
(I am from the UK) - but I visited many other places such as DLP and Europe.

But finally - i am in a position to take more trips and had a great 2 week trip with cruise in December and also added on. Of course now I've got the extra 250 points from 2005 to use.

I'm using some points towards my honeymoon in Aruba and SSR in October, but thinking about fitting in a one week trip with the kids before then. I really want to go two years in a row to make use of our AP's and somewhere else (or not!|) on the third year. Does that sound a little too much disney to you? How much is too much? Do you have family and friends criticising you for going a lot? I know mine used to (I used to go twice a year to make use of our AP's)

 

[Mickmse2002]

We go usually twice a year. Once, for nine nights with the whole family and once for four nights (during Food & Wine) for just Mom & Dad.

 

[spiceycat]

this last year I was there in March, May, Sept, Nov.....

next year only trying to go in March and Dec....

I hope I can do it!!!

 

[KelNottAt]

How often do we go? Never! Well, at least not yet...But if I have my way that's about to change alot.

We've been members since May 2003. We couldn't use our points that year because some other vacation plans were non-refundable.

So, our first trip home was supposed to be Sept 2004. It was cancelled due to Hurricane Frances. We got those points back without penalty and banked them.

We used the "hurricane" points to book a 5-night Concierge Collection trip in the Ozark Mountains. Had to cancel that when my mom needed us to help her move into a new house that same week. The points were placed in holding. I rented a fraction to a coworker for one night. The remainder were used to give DFIL & DMIL a Christmas present: New Year's Eve at the Yacht Club.

We FINALLY got to use our points for ourselves in June 2005 when we stayed at the Grand Californian at DL prior to our west coast Disney cruise. (But still no trip to our BWV home. )

Now we've got a REAL DVC vacation planned for August of this year. By the time we get there, 3 years will have passed since our purchase. We'll use 3 1BR villas and bring my sis and her family, plus my mom and step-dad with us.

A bigger mega-trip is planned for Aug 2008 when we take DH's family to WDW. We'll use 4 2BRs. I'm definitely gonna try to squeeze another trip in for 2007 first, though. Just the 4 of us - no guests.

 

[TinkTatoo]

We come from Ireland so only usually once a year (although we are planning for Christmas this year as well) even though it's only once a year we try and stay for a month (not all of it on-site though)

 

[AmyBeth68]

The last few years we've visited 3 times. That is quite a lot...but usually we have one longer trip (7-9 days) and a few mini trips. For 2006 we have a long weekend trip at the end of January, our week long trip at the end of August and then we plan to visit in early December for a long weekend.

Unfortunately.........I don't have enough points to cover all these trips so we ended up paying cash to stay at POR for this coming trip, we'll stay at BWV in August and December is up in the air. I'd like to add-on but I'm waiting to see what happens. Not sure that I want to add-on at SSR.....but not sure we want to do resale either.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We bought the amount of points so that, ideally, WE can go twice a year plus I can take one solo trip a year. And our 2 trips per year are one to WDW and one to HH (in the off-season). Unfortunately, no trip is longer than a week-DH can't take more than a week of vacation at a time.

 

[lovinthemouse]

We make our first trip as members in July. We have gone once a year. But now we will do a vacation with the DD and a trip just the adults. I can't wait

 

[tmt martins]

I usaully go 3 times a year Play paintball at WWoS twicw a year.
Family once
Now we are looking to go at least twice a year as family
Summer 7 day trip and altranate OCT / DEC every year with a spring trip in once in awhile.

 

[byoung]

6 times last year from one week to 3 days. I love it.

 

[littlestar]

Three times a year usually. Once with just hubby and me in the winter. And the other two trips are with the family (grown kids that are married - yes, they love it, too). Although we did go 5 times last year, that's not the norm for us. Found some great last minute Ding fares on Southwest and couldn't resist the combo of DVC points and AP rates. Our lowest Ding fare was $66.00 round trip from Indy to Orlando.

I'm so glad Disney decided to change the AP booking rules back to normal. That way people can take advantage of a great airfare and a decent room discount for a last minute trip.

 

[browniemtb]

We just bought in and I'm trying to get the wife to go once. Between school and schedules its tough to book way out. But we did purchase enough points to cover us in a one bedroom during the April vacations. The other good thing right now is that our kids are only 5 and 3, so taking them out of school for a week won't be an issue. How is the summer months, say late August, for crowds?
Brownie

 

[isyt]

Last year was 4 times, a girls weekend in Jan, 3 weeks in June with just our famile, 10 days at the F&W festival with friends and family and a quick but extra magical mom and dad weekend in Dec. Oh, by the way I go back in 2 weeks for another girls weekend (gonna ride EE, woohoo!!!!). I have stopped listening to other people, its my life and its what we find to be special!!!

 

[Cruelladeville]

Last year we went 4 times. We went for 9 days at Spring break, 9 days in July, 4 days in August, and 9 days at Christmas. Since we used so many points in 2005, we are only going for probably two trips this year, at Spring break and Christmas. Since we live on Lake Michigan, we thought it would make the most sense to give up the two summer trips.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We're up to four trips per year... and counting. It seems every year we squeeze in one more trip, and that becomes a staple for the following year!

MG

 

[bobbiwoz]

We go for smallish trips (often 3-5 DVC nights, 4-6 nights total,) about 5 times a year. We do try to get "Bumped" from our plane, and that helps with the airfare. This has been a normal pattern for us, we also do other 3-5 night trips to other places, often to the Smokies or a cruise. DH gets nearly 30 vacation days, and we use them all!

Bobbi

 

[slp87]

Not enough in my book...but too much according to DH. (He's not feelin' the Disney luv yet) We only go every other year. We are in Timbuktu, Texas and airfare is the main thing that keeps us from going more. Once we get down there we usually stay 10 nights. My brother has used the points twice in the alternating years. We're headed back in March and trying out a 1 bedroom. I can't wait!!!

 

[Cinderella]

Suzanne, our biggest difficulty is airfare too. Don't know how it works in the US, but i usually find the best deals 3 months out.

AP makes it easier to go more often. Also the new Dining Plan will make things a lot more cost effective for us this year.

You all see to go a lot, so i don't feel so bad. And December trip was last year wasn't it! Just booked 8 nts WLV for end May and 7 nts SSR for October. Next year - we might go to HHI instead.

 

[jdvm]

Four-five times per year. Organized week or two week affairs with all four kids and last minuted three-four day weekends with just the two of us. Always (almost) at Old Key West. There are many days that we don't hit the parks at all--particularly if we don't have the kids. Just a nice place to chill out and relax. We think of Old Key West as our second homw We did all of this while living in England (London). Now we live in Celebration so things are changing. But we still drive over for lunch at Olivia's and occasionally sneak away for a night or two---instant relaxation

 

[bcvillastwo]

We've been going at least twice a year and sometimes 3 times. We go mostly in the spring and fall for the Flower and Garden Show and Food and Wine Festival.