It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – an offsite, non-Disney, Christmas TR

[dancin Disney style]

The average Canadian is entitled to two weeks vacation a year (once they have been with a specific employer for a full 365 days) until they build seniority at their place of employment. My Steve (who has worked at the same company now for 22 years) now gets five weeks vacation a year. He's almost maxxed out his potential entitlement under the corporation he works for.....I think he gets an extra day's vacation at 25 years, but I don't think he can get much more beyond that.

My office is an anomaly. They let me take whatever vacation I want in a year (and I'm salaried, not hourly, so I don't lose any pay when I do take time off). We close for two weeks every Christmas, so that's automatic. The rest is up to me (yes, I am beyond lucky that way!). I probably end up with 5 or 6 weeks off in a 12 month period, but like I said....I don't think that's the norm. I have been with the company a long time (almost 18 years) and am the sole admin person they have. That makes me fairly valuable to them, so they indulge my vacation addiction to keep a good employee. My bosses have even been known to give me an unexpected cash bonus right before I leave on our holidays on more than one occassion.....so yeah, I never lose sight of the fact that I'm extra fortunate!

Lots of people get 5+ weeks per year. It all depends on what you negotiate for yourself. My BFF started a new job 2 years ago and got 5 weeks that would kick in after 3 months on the job. Her DH gets 6 weeks and he's only been with his company for a year. My DH had 3 weeks after 5years which was cut to 2 weeks a couple of years ago...cost cutting measure. It actually doesn't make much sense as he is salaried. So now he's been there 11 years and only gets 2 weeks a year. Come April it's negotiation time again and he's fairly certain he will not get a raise (they just built a new multi million dollar facility) but vacation time will be back on the table.

Then there's me....I own the company so I can take as much time as I want. Problem being the work needs to get done whether I'm there or not and it's very difficult to get anyone to fill in. Last year I think I took in total about 7 weeks.

 

[bankr63]

And for those who wonder WHY we need vacation, just thought I would post the noon weather here in Ottawa. This is in Fahrenheit, not Celsius. Check the wind chill in the bottom right. I Soooooo wish I was in FL today!

 

[saskdw]

Awesome trip report Gina!

I have to ask...Money aside, how do all of you Canadians take so many vacations? I know Europeans take a lot of "holidays" because they get several weeks vacation. What is the average amount of vacation weeks Canadians get???

It might vary by Province, but here in Saskatchewan everyone is entitled to 3 weeks vacation by labor standards and it goes up to 4 weeks after 10 years with the same company. There are many jobs that have more with time served, especially government union jobs.

You also won't see Canadians posting on DIS that they are taking a 3, 4, or 5 night trip to Orlando. It's usually a min of 7 days. For us we won't go if it's not at least 10 days and usually a full 2 weeks.

 

[debster812]

Gina, we are in FL right now, visiting my parents in Bonita Springs. We flew in last Sunday to Tampa, spent a couple of days up in Sarasota, and drove down. Our flight down was less than smooth, and I used your fabulous TR to distract me. I'm lucky I don't have motion sickness, just a little fear with bumpy flights! As usual your TR was wonderful, and helped to keep me quite entertained. Can't wait to start hearing the next trip's plans and exploits!

 

[dancin Disney style]

And for those who wonder WHY we need vacation, just thought I would post the noon weather here in Ottawa. This is in Fahrenheit, not Celsius. Check the wind chill in the bottom right. I Soooooo wish I was in FL today!

We're not too much warmer than that. Currently -23C with wind chill sitting around -35C. Still no complaints from me though...this is the only really cold weekend we've had this entire winter and no real snow.

Going out bikini shopping in an hour!!!!

 

[ArwenMarie]

We've stayed at a lot of the Marriott timeshares in Orlando and we've never been disappointed. Differences in age of property and stuff like that, but they are all nicely appointed and maintained and housekeeping has been great at all of them.

We've also stayed at a lot of the WDW DVCs and the Marriott timeshares are better quality in terms of units and service.

 

[Lynne G]

Hehe, we are at -15F. Lucky us. 50 mph winds, so branches and other assorted objects flying everywhere. Frigid.

Ready for the warm sunshine. Would like to be Florida bound now.

Even though I get 6 weeks of vacation, I never take more than 2 weeks at a time. Long weekends make up the rest.

Ok, link to you April trip report soon? Waiting patiently.

 

[jump00]

Brrrrrr it's so cold.....-25 here, near Toronto Ontario.
Thanks for your kind words Gina!!! I'm so sorry you suffered a brain tumour - I hope you are symptom / side effects free now. Was it a while ago? You are so brave.
It also sounds like you work for a wonderful company!! They are lucky to have you too.
Can't wait for your next pre trip report .

Jump00

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

And for those who wonder WHY we need vacation, just thought I would post the noon weather here in Ottawa. This is in Fahrenheit, not Celsius. Check the wind chill in the bottom right. I Soooooo wish I was in FL today!

Yep, this weather makes me dream of being a snowbird. 6 months in Canada, 6 months in the south....I could definitely handle that .

It might vary by Province, but here in Saskatchewan everyone is entitled to 3 weeks vacation by labor standards and it goes up to 4 weeks after 10 years with the same company. There are many jobs that have more with time served, especially government union jobs.

You also won't see Canadians posting on DIS that they are taking a 3, 4, or 5 night trip to Orlando. It's usually a min of 7 days. For us we won't go if it's not at least 10 days and usually a full 2 weeks.

Flights from the west are generally quite a bit pricier than for us in Ontario, so I don't blame you guys a bit for making each trip a full two weeks long. That definitely gets the most bang for your airfare buck.

Gina, we are in FL right now, visiting my parents in Bonita Springs. We flew in last Sunday to Tampa, spent a couple of days up in Sarasota, and drove down. Our flight down was less than smooth, and I used your fabulous TR to distract me. I'm lucky I don't have motion sickness, just a little fear with bumpy flights! As usual your TR was wonderful, and helped to keep me quite entertained. Can't wait to start hearing the next trip's plans and exploits!

Ack, so sorry to hear of your bumpy flight!! Those scare the crap out of me . Hopefully, your trip home will be much smoother sailing.

Glad to hear that my report provided you with a little diversion from the turbulence. I will have the next PTR up by tomorrow night, I promise!

We're not too much warmer than that. Currently -23C with wind chill sitting around -35C. Still no complaints from me though...this is the only really cold weekend we've had this entire winter and no real snow.

Going out bikini shopping in an hour!!!!

Okay, we're all waiting for photos .

We've stayed at a lot of the Marriott timeshares in Orlando and we've never been disappointed. Differences in age of property and stuff like that, but they are all nicely appointed and maintained and housekeeping has been great at all of them.

We've also stayed at a lot of the WDW DVCs and the Marriott timeshares are better quality in terms of units and service.

I am pretty sure we have narrowed it down between the Grande Vista (one bedroom) and Cypress Harbour (2 bedroom). $80 difference, both close to SeaWorld. If an SVR week doesn't come up on Skyauction or II by the time we're ready to book, then I'll let Steve pick between the two Marriotts (I will be happy with either!).

Hehe, we are at -15F. Lucky us. 50 mph winds, so branches and other assorted objects flying everywhere. Frigid.

Ready for the warm sunshine. Would like to be Florida bound now.

Even though I get 6 weeks of vacation, I never take more than 2 weeks at a time. Long weekends make up the rest.

Ok, link to you April trip report soon? Waiting patiently.

I am so sorry I haven't got that initial entry posted yet.....I came down with a bit of a bug over the past couple of days which has derailed my intended progress, and then Saturdays are devoted to housecleaning and spending time with my mom. Tomorrow I'm all by my lonesome....Steve is working all day, Jake and Sunshine are in Kitchener visiting her family, and its still supposed to be sub zero outside, so it will be a good day to get my PTR kicked off. So hopefully by tomorrow afternoon at the very latest!

Brrrrrr it's so cold.....-25 here, near Toronto Ontario.
Thanks for your kind words Gina!!! I'm so sorry you suffered a brain tumour - I hope you are symptom / side effects free now. Was it a while ago? You are so brave.
It also sounds like you work for a wonderful company!! They are lucky to have you too.
Can't wait for your next pre trip report .

Jump00

I was officially 17 years tumor-free this past Christmas . I definitely don't consider myself brave (it was the scariest time of my life!), just incredibly blessed. Other than a few minor side effects (a few little quirks that I like to think just add to my charm ), I'm better than ever. Considering I was initially told I had a 50% chance of living 5 years, any little oddities that persist are absolutely bearable .

Stay in and stay warm this weekend!!

 

[dixonsontour]

Great report as usual looking forward to your next one.

 

[Callie]

Great report!
Looks like we are going down to Orlando in June...ack going to be a sauna. But free lodging via my moms DVC I can't complain.
Would love to go in October again, but I don't think my boss will give me another week off that month since I'm already going to DC.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Great report as usual looking forward to your next one.

Great report!
Looks like we are going down to Orlando in June...ack going to be a sauna. But free lodging via my moms DVC I can't complain.
Would love to go in October again, but I don't think my boss will give me another week off that month since I'm already going to DC.

Thank you both!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

My April PTR is official started! Please follow me over to the Universal trip reports board and join in the chatter:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/wa...ersal-seaworld-an-april-may-2016-ptr.3483799/

I have 69 days to fill and would love your company!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Okay, we're all waiting for photos .

As requested.....



Just a candid shot that I took this morning....sorry I'm not looking my best

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

What a shame having to post such a sub standard bikini picture dancin Disney! Personally I would have left it

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Lots of people get 5+ weeks per year. It all depends on what you negotiate for yourself. My BFF started a new job 2 years ago and got 5 weeks that would kick in after 3 months on the job. Her DH gets 6 weeks and he's only been with his company for a year. My DH had 3 weeks after 5years which was cut to 2 weeks a couple of years ago...cost cutting measure. It actually doesn't make much sense as he is salaried. So now he's been there 11 years and only gets 2 weeks a year. Come April it's negotiation time again and he's fairly certain he will not get a raise (they just built a new multi million dollar facility) but vacation time will be back on the table.

Then there's me....I own the company so I can take as much time as I want. Problem being the work needs to get done whether I'm there or not and it's very difficult to get anyone to fill in. Last year I think I took in total about 7 weeks.

I know it varies but overall, US companies are not that generous with vacation time. Some no longer give sicks days so you have to use your paid time off (vacation) if you get sick! And many large companies do not negotiate, your vacation days are tied to how many years you have been w the company.

And I can tell you it can be near impossible to take more than a week off at a time. My husband has vacation days built up so I suggested a 2 week summer road trip. He said that sounded fun but taking off 2 weeks is just not usually possible and it is pretty rare for someone to take off that long.

So for those of you that gets lots of vaca and take long trips, enjoy them

 

[dancin Disney style]

I know it varies but overall, US companies are not that generous with vacation time. Some no longer give sicks days so you have to use your paid time off (vacation) if you get sick! And many large companies do not negotiate, your vacation days are tied to how many years you have been w the company.

And I can tell you it can be near impossible to take more than a week off at a time. My husband has vacation days built up so I suggested a 2 week summer road trip. He said that sounded fun but taking off 2 weeks is just not usually possible and it is pretty rare for someone to take off that long.

So for those of you that gets lots of vaca and take long trips, enjoy them

For sure there are lots of variables here too. Some people get sick days, some do not. Some people get personal days, most do not. I think most companies have policies about when you can take your time off as well as how long you can take at one time.

My staff can take whatever/whenever the exception being in mid Nov-Christmas. I only contract staff so if they don't work they don't get paid. The people that are employed by the facility that I run my business in are all union and they have to apply for time off a minimum of 3 months in advance and it goes by seniority. I constantly hear from them about not getting days that they asked for.

 

[dancin Disney style]

What a shame having to post such a sub standard bikini picture dancin Disney! Personally I would have left it

Ya sorry....I know you can't un-see that

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

As requested.....

View attachment 151330

Just a candid shot that I took this morning....sorry I'm not looking my best

Pink polka dots? Really?

I had you pegged for a leopard print girl myself .

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I know it varies but overall, US companies are not that generous with vacation time. Some no longer give sicks days so you have to use your paid time off (vacation) if you get sick! And many large companies do not negotiate, your vacation days are tied to how many years you have been w the company.

And I can tell you it can be near impossible to take more than a week off at a time. My husband has vacation days built up so I suggested a 2 week summer road trip. He said that sounded fun but taking off 2 weeks is just not usually possible and it is pretty rare for someone to take off that long.

So for those of you that gets lots of vaca and take long trips, enjoy them

For sure there are lots of variables here too. Some people get sick days, some do not. Some people get personal days, most do not. I think most companies have policies about when you can take your time off as well as how long you can take at one time.

My staff can take whatever/whenever the exception being in mid Nov-Christmas. I only contract staff so if they don't work they don't get paid. The people that are employed by the facility that I run my business in are all union and they have to apply for time off a minimum of 3 months in advance and it goes by seniority. I constantly hear from them about not getting days that they asked for.

A job with flexible and generous vacation is worth its weight in gold, in my opinion. Its one of the main reasons I have stayed with this company since Jake was 2 and a half years old. I'm not getting rich there (as far as wages go) but its wonderful to still have a life even though I have a job.