Hey all,
My family and I are now seriously considering joining Disney Vacation Club. A little background on us, my family loves theme parks and amusement parks. My family consists of me (44M), my wife (46), oldest daughter (13) and youngest daughter (11). We are Cedar Fair platinum pass holders and love visiting our home parks of King's Island and Cedar Point. For spring break we are traveling to Oahu and the Big Island and are making sure we hit some parks, like Knott's and Disneyland. We have consistently traveled to Disney World at least once a year since about 2007, and many years multiple times. My in-laws have a place in Fort Myers so it is an easy drive up to spend a couple of nights at Disney.
Confession time, I have never stayed at a Deluxe Resort. The "best" resort I have stayed at is Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort in around 2014, I think before it was renovated. We almost always stay at Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's All Star X Resorts, or the Hampton Inn in Davenport. Quite frankly, the décor at Disney's Pop Century Resort and Disney's All Star X Resorts drives me absolutely bonkers. The rooms are small but clean and decent enough, but I don't understand why Disney thinks that people looking for value also want to feel like they've been dropped into Roger Rabbit. I've never stayed at Disney's Art of Animation Resort and maybe it is better.
My wife and I are at the point where we are ready to upgrade our resort experience. She went to Disney World twice this year and we were looking at yet another weekend this year (we are not doing that). So I decided to revisit Disney Vacation Club. I had looked at it in the past when we were okay with Value resorts and it obviously did not make financial sense. Disney Vacation Club never makes good financial sense but neither does going to Disney World or Disneyland multiple times a year.
I think we are ready to make the plunge. I started my "research" last weekend and my-oh-my what a world you have here. After a week of looking into this it was only last night that I learned what DVD stood for. Also, I don't know what "walking a resort" means because I haven't looked it up yet. I assume it is something like booking a resort a few days earlier than you intend to stay and then canceling the earlier days if you get the later days? Anyway, that is not the point of this post. This is turning into a book so I honestly don't know the point of this post.
Some final details about us, we like to travel to Disney World in January (MLK) and February (President's Day and family birthdays) to escape the winter cold. We also sometimes go the third week in March for Spring Break for longer trips. I'd like to get enough points to be able to comfortably get a 1 bedroom at any of the resorts so I am thinking 350 points would be great.
Another note, we are spontaneous travelers which I understand does not work well with Disney Vacation Club. I hope that larger resorts like Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa would have last-minute availability during times of the year that we like to travel.
Finally, we LOVE Disney's Fort Wilderness. We really enjoy camping there because of the brilliant theming and the large number of trees. Also, the lack of giant plywood decorations that you see at the Value resorts is a plus. We are huge fans of the National Parks and their Arts and Crafts and WPA-style art. Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge seems like a natural fit for us. We have visited it just to check out the lobby and dine at Artist Point. However, I have never stayed there or seen the rooms.
Regarding "Blue Card," I feel that I really want the have this membership even though the perks are not worth it. It is more of an emotional thing. Because I am spending all this money I want to be a full-fledged member. I know it sounds stupid. I can be convinced to just buy resale but I am unfortunately leaning very much toward direct for my first contract.
After my research, I have decided that 150 points direct at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge with a December Use Year (because we typically travel in January-March) is my first choice. People are saying that if I buy direct in November with a December Use Year I will receive banked 2020 points but I don't know if this is true. I haven't had a conversation yet with my guide. I'd probably buy additional resale contracts in the near future to get up to around 350 points.
Originally I was thinking of buying 150 points at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa direct because of the lower point costs and low maintenance fees. However, I feel like I would regret not buying at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge because it would be hard to book there at 7 months. I've never been to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa so who knows, maybe I would love it?
Other options are to buy at any resort resale and skip the Blue Card, as well as skip Disney Vacation Club altogether and keep staying at Value resorts or Moderate and Deluxe resorts.
If you have made it this far through my long-winded post, what do you think of my options? I've created a poll for feedback.
One final thing, do you think it would be worthwhile to go down there to check out resorts this month before buying? I'd like to buy in November so I can get the 2020 points (if this is true) and to take advantage of discounts. I feel like it would be a wise decision to actually see the places before making such a large purchase. I could probably get down there November 29th and 30th.
Any feedback is much appreciated!!
Thanks!
My family and I are now seriously considering joining Disney Vacation Club. A little background on us, my family loves theme parks and amusement parks. My family consists of me (44M), my wife (46), oldest daughter (13) and youngest daughter (11). We are Cedar Fair platinum pass holders and love visiting our home parks of King's Island and Cedar Point. For spring break we are traveling to Oahu and the Big Island and are making sure we hit some parks, like Knott's and Disneyland. We have consistently traveled to Disney World at least once a year since about 2007, and many years multiple times. My in-laws have a place in Fort Myers so it is an easy drive up to spend a couple of nights at Disney.
Confession time, I have never stayed at a Deluxe Resort. The "best" resort I have stayed at is Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort in around 2014, I think before it was renovated. We almost always stay at Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's All Star X Resorts, or the Hampton Inn in Davenport. Quite frankly, the décor at Disney's Pop Century Resort and Disney's All Star X Resorts drives me absolutely bonkers. The rooms are small but clean and decent enough, but I don't understand why Disney thinks that people looking for value also want to feel like they've been dropped into Roger Rabbit. I've never stayed at Disney's Art of Animation Resort and maybe it is better.
My wife and I are at the point where we are ready to upgrade our resort experience. She went to Disney World twice this year and we were looking at yet another weekend this year (we are not doing that). So I decided to revisit Disney Vacation Club. I had looked at it in the past when we were okay with Value resorts and it obviously did not make financial sense. Disney Vacation Club never makes good financial sense but neither does going to Disney World or Disneyland multiple times a year.
I think we are ready to make the plunge. I started my "research" last weekend and my-oh-my what a world you have here. After a week of looking into this it was only last night that I learned what DVD stood for. Also, I don't know what "walking a resort" means because I haven't looked it up yet. I assume it is something like booking a resort a few days earlier than you intend to stay and then canceling the earlier days if you get the later days? Anyway, that is not the point of this post. This is turning into a book so I honestly don't know the point of this post.
Some final details about us, we like to travel to Disney World in January (MLK) and February (President's Day and family birthdays) to escape the winter cold. We also sometimes go the third week in March for Spring Break for longer trips. I'd like to get enough points to be able to comfortably get a 1 bedroom at any of the resorts so I am thinking 350 points would be great.
Another note, we are spontaneous travelers which I understand does not work well with Disney Vacation Club. I hope that larger resorts like Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa would have last-minute availability during times of the year that we like to travel.
Finally, we LOVE Disney's Fort Wilderness. We really enjoy camping there because of the brilliant theming and the large number of trees. Also, the lack of giant plywood decorations that you see at the Value resorts is a plus. We are huge fans of the National Parks and their Arts and Crafts and WPA-style art. Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge seems like a natural fit for us. We have visited it just to check out the lobby and dine at Artist Point. However, I have never stayed there or seen the rooms.
Regarding "Blue Card," I feel that I really want the have this membership even though the perks are not worth it. It is more of an emotional thing. Because I am spending all this money I want to be a full-fledged member. I know it sounds stupid. I can be convinced to just buy resale but I am unfortunately leaning very much toward direct for my first contract.
After my research, I have decided that 150 points direct at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge with a December Use Year (because we typically travel in January-March) is my first choice. People are saying that if I buy direct in November with a December Use Year I will receive banked 2020 points but I don't know if this is true. I haven't had a conversation yet with my guide. I'd probably buy additional resale contracts in the near future to get up to around 350 points.
Originally I was thinking of buying 150 points at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa direct because of the lower point costs and low maintenance fees. However, I feel like I would regret not buying at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge because it would be hard to book there at 7 months. I've never been to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa so who knows, maybe I would love it?
Other options are to buy at any resort resale and skip the Blue Card, as well as skip Disney Vacation Club altogether and keep staying at Value resorts or Moderate and Deluxe resorts.
If you have made it this far through my long-winded post, what do you think of my options? I've created a poll for feedback.
One final thing, do you think it would be worthwhile to go down there to check out resorts this month before buying? I'd like to buy in November so I can get the 2020 points (if this is true) and to take advantage of discounts. I feel like it would be a wise decision to actually see the places before making such a large purchase. I could probably get down there November 29th and 30th.
Any feedback is much appreciated!!
Thanks!
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