June 21, 2011 - The Wonder breaks the Alaskan icebergs!

[rsschneck]

We have been busy planning too many cruises. With the KFM deal we booked January, March and Alaska for June. I need a second job! The other kicker is we are thinking about adding onto our DVC membership and buying into Hawaii. I am wondering if I can make a sign and stand near a freeway exit to help make money for our vacations! Anyone want to contribute?

 

[DenverVal]

I saw a preliminary points chart for Aulani - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2494121 7 nights in a 1-BR standard view during late May to early June is 259 points. At $114 per point, $29,526. Spring break (March) is 308 points for a week.

 

[rsschneck]

I saw a preliminary points chart for Aulani - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2494121 7 nights in a 1-BR standard view during late May to early June is 259 points. At $114 per point, $29,526. Spring break (March) is 308 points for a week.

I know it is a killer! We are looking at 125 point add on so we can go every third year in a one bedroom ocean view choice season (350 points)

We are still talking ourselves into or out of it. I can't decide! I just don't think it is going to be too easy to book Hawaii at 7 months as it is WDW.

 

[DenverVal]

It is such a beautiful place and all the islands are a little different. Borrowing and banking a smaller number of points sounds like an excellent idea. Can you tell I've been thinking about it??

 

[rsschneck]

It is such a beautiful place and all the islands are a little different. Borrowing and banking a smaller number of points sounds like an excellent idea.

We LOVE Hawaii! Maui mostly though. Since moving to Texas from Oregon we are not going to Hawaii but every third year (airfare is too expensive). With the incentives right now we are looking at $13000 add on which is still pretty steep considering it is for an every third year vacation.

 

[DenverVal]

Our favorite is the Big Island, and we'd really rather stay there than on Oahu, so although I had a moment of excitement, after a little number-crunching and some consideration, we've decided not to add on.

 

[rsschneck]

Our favorite is the Big Island, and we'd really rather stay there than on Oahu, so although I had a moment of excitement, after a little number-crunching and some consideration, we've decided not to add on.

Still on the fence. Do you think making reservations at 7 months is going to be easy or impossible.

 

[DenverVal]

For what it's worth, I think that holidays will be impossible to get, and the least expensive times of the year may also be hard to get. I think it will be very, very popular, but the price of airfare may make some folks take pause. It's expensive and no one can get out of paying it. And you can't drive there. Using the points every three years essentially means about 17 vacations over the length of the contract; dividing your investment by 17 is about $1470 per trip for accommodations.

 

[rsschneck]

don't forget about the annual dues every year for a resort that will be used every third year. We figure about $3000 per week on average. Don't forget you will have to pay the resort a timeshare tax with each trip as well. Arggg!
Tough decision!!!

 

[DenverVal]

My favorite B&B in Volcano Village runs about $120/night and the breakfast was the best meal of our day. I'd rather spend that money on something amazing to do than somewhere amazing to sleep. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Ginamarie]

Coming from the east coast, Hawaii is a place we may only visit once or twice in our lifetime instead of WDW which we can potentially visit once or twice a year. The DVC in Hawaii is out of the question for us, but I wouldn't be against renting points to stay there when we visit. I'm also holding out hope that DCL will take 2 week cruises from CA to Hawaii at some point, because I'd be all over that (only having to pay airfare to CA and getting another 2 weeks on DCL) .

 

[CarolAnnC]

Although we plan on visiting Hawaii in the future, and will use our DVC points most likely, we are not going to buy in there. We have about 1100 points now and will take our chances on the 7 month window.

Now that our Baltic is over, we will be starting to plan this one out in depth. In between we are taking my mom on a 3 day in October for her birthday gift. That will put me into the Platinum group for Alaska!

Anyone thinking about excursions or what they may offer yet?

 

[fabumouse]

Hey Carol... we are also now focusing on Alaska. My DD9 is annoyed, as it is 11 months away (and I'm expecting her to do some research about resources, etc.). But I just printed out some new magnets for the cruise and put them in my travel folder.

 

[carolmb]

Hawaii is one of my favorite vacations. We have stayed on Ohau once, the Big Island 5 times and Maui once. Hoping to go back and stay at the DVC at some point.

Now that we are back from the Baltic cruise all I have been thinking about is Alaska. I think we will fly into Seattle a few days before and take the ferry to Victioria for one night and then to Vancouver for a couple of nights before the cruise. I am trying to look at all of the possibilities to figure out a ballpark budget. I really want to go whale watching.

Carol

 

[mousemom11]

We're back from the Mediterranean, so I'm starting to think about Alaska. After the long flights to Barcelona, we're very happy that all we need to do is drive from Seattle to Vancouver for the Alaska cruise.

Tentatively, our plan is to spend 3-5 days in Vancouver pre-cruise. Our shore excursions will all be DIY, so once we decide what we want to do, I'll post it here to see if anyone else would care to join us.

 

[Ginamarie]

We're back from the Mediterranean, so I'm starting to think about Alaska. After the long flights to Barcelona, we're very happy that all we need to do is drive from Seattle to Vancouver for the Alaska cruise.

Tentatively, our plan is to spend 3-5 days in Vancouver pre-cruise. Our shore excursions will all be DIY, so once we decide what we want to do, I'll post it here to see if anyone else would care to join us.

Lucky! We're planning to fly from NY to Seattle and then will have to take the train from Seattle to Vancouver. The flight is about 6 hours, so only a LITTLE shorter than our flight after the Transatlantic in April!

I'm hoping the rumors about DCL coming to NY in 2012 are true. I'd love to be able to drive to the port!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Hey Carol... we are also now focusing on Alaska. My DD9 is annoyed, as it is 11 months away (and I'm expecting her to do some research about resources, etc.). But I just printed out some new magnets for the cruise and put them in my travel folder.

You are getting an early start, lol! I need to do some research myself and start determining exactly what port excursions will be appealing to us..

Hawaii is one of my favorite vacations. We have stayed on Ohau once, the Big Island 5 times and Maui once. Hoping to go back and stay at the DVC at some point.

Now that we are back from the Baltic cruise all I have been thinking about is Alaska. I think we will fly into Seattle a few days before and take the ferry to Victioria for one night and then to Vancouver for a couple of nights before the cruise. I am trying to look at all of the possibilities to figure out a ballpark budget. I really want to go whale watching.

Carol

I think we will fly direct to Vancouver. DH has lots of airline miles this year so I am hoping we can take advantage of those and get us directly there. Though, Seattle is appealing as well..

 

[mousemom11]

Lucky! We're planning to fly from NY to Seattle and then will have to take the train from Seattle to Vancouver.

You might want to consider the QuickCoach, which departs directly from the airport. It has more daily departures than the train, and that way you don't have to schlep your bags across the airport, onto the light rail train, and walk a few blocks in a not-so-nice neighborhood from the light rail to the train station.

http://www.quickcoach.com/

 

[Ginamarie]

You might want to consider the QuickCoach, which departs directly from the airport. It has more daily departures than the train, and that way you don't have to schlep your bags across the airport, onto the light rail train, and walk a few blocks in a not-so-nice neighborhood from the light rail to the train station.

http://www.quickcoach.com/

I saw the quickcoach. I think we're going to spend a couple of nights in Seattle before the cruise, so we'll probably be renting a car (or two). I still have to figure out all of the details though. This is actually as difficult to plan as the end of our Transatlantic cruise!

 

[DenverVal]

Thanks for the link, Mousemom! It's been a while since I checked airfares, and I was surprised to see how much more it will cost to fly to Vancouver versus Seattle. Even with a round-trip fare of $99, it's still a savings over flying to Vancouver.

I've never been up that way. Mapquest estimates 3 hours.