how soon is too soon?

[jwmccullough]

Hi Fellow DVCers,
I just got back from a week at the Boardwalk today and I am already starting to think about the next trip. My question to the forum is: is this normal??? What rules of thumb do you use to determine when to go back? I am looking at staying at another resort as my main reason, any input?

thanks in advance.
Jess

 

[Maistre Gracey]

What rules of thumb do you use to determine when to go back?

As soon as both Madam Gracey and I can get the same time off from work.

MG

 

[jimh13432]

We experience the same. Actually we usually try to have one to two trips planned all the time (right now its three! One next month, one in Oct, One Jan 2006. Gotta love the DVC Annual Pass Discount!).

We always put the DVC Confirmation letter on the refridgerator door. Its nice to see it hanging there, something to look forward to at all times!

 

[elfbo]

We came back on friday, and I found myself looking at air plane tix prices and found out if i travel before feb 17th, its only 99$ round trip. But I made myself leave the website, because we have a trip planned in Oct 05, and then told myself, we cant go back because march is comming up, busy WDW though april for spring break, and then after that it gets hot until september, and we are going in oct anyway. I dont know if i convinced myself yet though. Hehe, DH is being sensible and saying we cant go back until the fall, so I spend more time here, planning.

So yes, i would say its normal.

 

[sjcampbl]

I'm glad this topic was raised, because I have had similar questions. Although more on the opposite emotional spectrum. As a bit of background, I'm the male of the family and a bit concerned about finances. Our family of 5 (3 DD's ages 2,5, and 8) just came back from our first trip to WDW and DVC last Friday. We spent 10 days; half at VWL and half at OKW in studios.

We had a blast, came back exhausted, and spent a pretty penny.

Our plans were to try to make 2 trips from Denver per year. It was really my idea as I thought two big trips a year would help me with a real diversion from work. Our next trip is planned in July, then Jan. '06.

Anyway, after just a few days home I'm not sure I'm ready to go back so soon again. As I said, finances are a concern, but I also want to really crave it.

So, for the typical WDW vacationer, and more specifically, DVC owner, is 6 months too soon? Will the craving grow more than it is now after just a few days home. I mean, enough to overcome the financial guilt?

 

[slk537]

We used to go every other year with DH's family's TS, then every year with ours (II) and now every 6 months with DVC. For me, the planning and dreaming is such a stress relief from work so I almost need the trip for more than the week (May) or two (December) we're actually gone. And I find that the more often we go, the less we spend - we know we're coming back, so souveniers become less important and spending more time at the pool, relaxing, etc.

To answer the OP's question - I HAVE to have another trip planned before we go...that way we can say "In May, why don't we try that..." when we don't have time and it also really helps with the post trip depression. For us, they are two different vacations, too. May is "welcome to summer, warm weather, beachy" vacation. The trip after Thanksgiving is the beginning of the Christmas season for us and is absorbed with the holidays. Both of them are wonderful!

I am looking forward, with DVC, to the flexibility of taking off a few days at the last minutes when airfares drop - or a few days for anniversaries, birthdays, etc. But pre planning? Wow, yes. At least one - usually two.

And that's the way we love it.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Hi Fellow DVCers,
I just got back from a week at the Boardwalk today and I am already starting to think about the next trip. My question to the forum is: is this normal??? What rules of thumb do you use to determine when to go back?

No it's not normal for us. We usually begin planning while we are still there. On a trip a couple of years ago I remember calling DVC from EPCOT on an early morning opening because that was our 11 month window.

At this stage in our lives, we use school vacations as the rule. I could pretty much tell you when we are going to WDW/DVC for the next three years.

Have fun planning. It's one of the great things about DVC.

HBC

 

[lsutigger2]

Yep, you're normal!! Sometimes I have a trip planned before we leave home. Look at my signature and you'll see our vacation pattern. We're headed back in May after a long (for us anyway) Oct. trip. Then we'll probably be back in the fall of '05.

You've joined a great group! Who all love to share our enjoyment of our DVC!!

 

[bongo59]

how soon is too soon????? i think we start thinking about our next trip during the current stay

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

sjcampbl...

I solved your problem by choosing to do a "Disney Year" and a "not Disney" year. What this means is that I can buy an AP and go down as frequently as my finances (and points) will allow in a given year. Borrowing of points...absolutely permissable. Then the next year I'll go to Universal or somewhere else all together. I just started this Disney Year MLK weekend but the last time I had been was Oct 2002 (yea I went a year longer than planned). If I have any points banked from the prior year I'll use them to go somewhere else...which is an even better option now that I'm in Georgia.

The reason why this works is it gives Disney time to build new things for me to go and see...and Universal as well.

 

[Lexxiefern]

You're normal to me! I go very often. I have a trip in 2 weeks (Feb), then another one in March and again in May. These are only long weekend trips (4 nights) but they help me keep my sanity up here with all this snow!!

 

[Deesknee]

we were last there in Nov. 2002. I had a baby Aug. 2003 so we waited until I wasn't pregnant and the baby was almost 1yr to go again (July 2004). We purchased in May & haven't stayed on pts yet. I am now planning a June trip & Nov. trip. But that's still not enough for me (I love the planning), I am trying to help my DSIL to plan one for June for her family. Her little ones have never been & I am soooo excited for them.

As, far as the craving goes, for me it starts about 2mnths after coming home, then it lessens a little until I see a commercial or I wake up & it "smells like disney" Then I REALLY want to go that minute. My DH & kids are the same way. Well, actually one DS wants to go again about 1wk after returning home.

I do admit we spend much less the more often we go. It also becomes much more relaxing as I don't feel I have to cram everything in, after all we'll be back in a few months.

re: money

We usually go to parks for 5 - 7 days per trip. Therefor we now buy an AP that way it works out pretty close to paying for one trip admission & getting the other free. Then add on any other discounts that the AP offers, not bad for $ saving.

We don't "pay" for our accom. anymore (other than that silly mortgage & maint. fees )

Airfare has come down greatly recently, and if neccessary we could drive.

All things considered, its cheaper than therapy.

 

[Granny]

I just got back from a week at the Boardwalk today and I am already starting to think about the next trip. My question to the forum is: is this normal???

Sorry Jess, but this is definitely not normal.

Most of us have already planned out the next 3-5 years already, with pencilled notes for several years thereafter!

We had a blast, came back exhausted, and spent a pretty penny.

You will find that multiple trips to WDW will allow you, if you want, to get out of the commando park mode and more into a relaxed, enjoyable mode. Then you will find that a WDW vacation truly is a vacation.

Of course, some people just can't relax while at WDW. To each their own!


One long trip a year works for us, rather than two short ones. With a 12 night vacation, we truly relax, don't rush things and get a good dose of WDW so we don't feel the need to come back for another year.

 

[ILPHIL]

We usually start talking about our next trip in the van on the way home from the current trip!!

 

[bongo59]

a funny story on this today............my wife tells me this week that we are going cruising in 05 so rent or sell the remaining 05 points.........i did that yesterday............sold all 1330 we had left...........we are leaving for the first of four 05 cruises in a week and i did get my disney fill last weekend for golf.............she tells me at lunch that she now wants to go to disney again later this yr for a romantic 5 days...........and i just broke the news that i sold all of our points as she asked already............so we just booked with MS using borrowed points for the first time!!!!! The moral of the story is clear, The itch clearly never leaves!!!!