More space or more vacations?

[Jen_in_NH]

We bought DVC for the idea of more space. There are only 3 of us, but a regular hotel room with DS is not a joy - if anyone else is awake, so is he

We loved the regular kitchen, and I do actually cook breakfast and probably half of our dinners. With DS' diabetes, it's much easier than going out for dinner at odd times, and guessing at the carbs he's eating. The washer and drier is nice too with a 3 year old....

As far as microwave popcorn, I found a way to make real popcorn in the microwave!!!! Buy regular popcorn, and some brown paper lunch bags. Put 1/4 cup of popcorn and a splash of oil in the bag, fold the top over a few times, and then microwave for about 3 minutes. Then put on whatever you want for butter / salt / etc. It tastes like regular popcorn.

Now back to the DVC discussion....

 

[southtexasmom]

We are a family of 6 so space is a definate must for us. We've only stayed in a 2 bedroom since becoming DVC members. Having the washer and dryer and the extra bathroom is priceless for our family.

 

[BeesKnees]

As far as microwave popcorn, I found a way to make real popcorn in the microwave!!!! Buy regular popcorn, and some brown paper lunch bags. Put 1/4 cup of popcorn and a splash of oil in the bag, fold the top over a few times, and then microwave for about 3 minutes. Then put on whatever you want for butter / salt / etc. It tastes like regular popcorn.

Now back to the DVC discussion....

But it only takes 5 minutes on the stove so why bother? Plus on the stove you can stir it to make sure the oil coats the popcorn evenly for flavor and so that salt sticks to it properly.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

But it only takes 5 minutes on the stove so why bother? Plus on the stove you can stir it to make sure the oil coats the popcorn evenly for flavor and so that salt sticks to it properly.

I don't have the patience for the stove, but love popcorn. I always get distracted while I'm doing it, and burn the snot out of it. I hate regular microwave popcorn, but this works pretty well.

 

[Crystal_27]

We are fine with studio accommodations, but DVC allows us to book both a parks vacation (on points) and a cruise vacation (on cash) every year. We usually have enough points left over to book a couple nights prior to the cruise on points too, so we get 2 week+ vacations every year for the price of one. Before, we had to alternate between going to the parks or cruising so we are seriously lovin' having DVC so we can do both.

 

[gkrykewy]

Yeah, life as a WDW-lover is pretty fabulous as a DVC member in terms of lumping trips together. We've got an uber-trip scheduled for next June to celebrate my wife's graduation from vet school.

5 nights in an AKV studio on points
5 nights on a Dream cruise (with verandah!) on cash
3 nights in an AKV concierge studio on points

...might try to swap out that last bit for 3 nights in a BLT LV studio or 4 nights at VWL.

It's going to be amazing.

 

[LSchrow]

2 people or less, we do a studio (a full kitchen does nothing for me - we have two at home that go unused ). 4 people can be a 1 or 2 bedroom depending upon whom the people are, length of stay, and if all are staying for the entire time. the only truly non-negotiable in our bookings is BWVs, BW view.
we go for 10-12 days, 2-3x a year.

 

[edk35]

As a family of 5 with two teens space is important. We also have limited time to go on vacations but as those variables change we will shift to smaller units and longer stays.

I agree. We have only stayed in 2 bedrooms since joining DVC but last night we stayed in a 1 br. at Vero (moving into 2 Garden Rooms today) and even though these sleep 5....we need that extra bedroom. Our kids are 19, 16 and 11. That 2nd bathroom is important too.

 

[edk35]

We are a family of 6 so space is a definate must for us. We've only stayed in a 2 bedroom since becoming DVC members. Having the washer and dryer and the extra bathroom is priceless for our family.

YES I agree. Family of 5 here.

 

[VG9493]

We are a family of 5 with 2 of the kids being teenagers, so space is very important to us. We usually have my parents traveling with us also which brings us to at least 7 people. We go once a year for 8 nights OKW grand villa then we do 6 nights in a 2 bdrm at HHI. We love the fact that everyone has their own space and we are not on top of each other.

 

[BeesKnees]

I guess because I am old and crochety I don't feel the need to justify. The two of us have contemplated getting a grand villa at vero just to have the ocean view. She once stayed in a 1br by herself while in Orlando for a conference. Some may consider that a waste, I don't care.

 

[disneychic]

We opt for long stays in studios. No kids yet, so studios are fine for just the two of us.

Same situation for us, so we stay pretty much always stay in a studio. This enables us to have more vacations/stay longer.

 

[edk35]

Actually, that is my opinion as well. I purchased FULL SIZED DELUXE accommodations with DVC...not a hotel room, and that's how I view the studios.

I agree too. Even if it were just dh and myself....we would stay in a 1 br.

 

[edk35]

Oh and let me add....... we are staying in 2 garden view rooms at Vero now. We liked that better than the 1br. we were in the first night but after being in here for 2 nights... I prefer 2 bedrooms. This is okay for 2 or 3 nights...but I miss that EXTRA SPACE...I just like a vacation HOME not hotel rooms.

 

[edk35]

I can't imagine what anyone would use it for. You could heat up water I suppose or melt something. I am not sure how that translates into cooking a meal.

POPCORN

 

[Eventer98]

We are a family of 4 right now and have plans to stay in a studio for our next two trips. But if we are lucky enough to have more kids we plan on moving up to a THV or 2BR Values at AKL. Right now we travel every 8-9 months but with the bigger rooms it will def. only be once a year.

 

[nolanboys]

We are a family of 6. Space is key. We stayed in 2 rms at POFQ and so much preferred the space that we got at OKW that we joined. Even in October, when it is just DH and myself, we have a 1 bdrm for the first 3 nights. We do have a studio for the next 2 nights because that was all that was available at BWV. When the kids are older and DH and I go by ourselves each year, we definitely plan on going with 1 bdrm. That's why we bought into DVC.

 

[eporter66]

I voted more space. We live in New York, so a vacation to WDW on a whim is a rarity for us. Since we joined in 2003, we have planned to go once each year, and my wife is a runner, so she has gone down on seperate trips to do two half marathons in Disney. Other than those two trips, we have gone once a year.

I like have a 1 or 2 bedroom for the space, and we like to bring down family or friends when we go if possible. We have been creative with our points, and successful with borrowing and balancing so we can continue to go and get bigger rooms - I love having the full kitchen, and being able to put our daughter to bed and hang out in the living area and not worry about disturbing her.

I can't see our vacation pattern changing all that much, we do like to go other places for vacation during the year, so when I go - give me the space.

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

We do both, as you can tell we go often and our trips are at least for five nights. However, if we are staying longer and doing a split stay I like to end our vacation in a one bedroom, so we can stretch out and do laundry. When I win the Lotto, I will buy more points and we will stay in a grand villa on every single trip

 

[TiaMaria]

Vacation, to me, is not cramming as many people into the smallest (least expensive) space possible, and being gone from dawn to midnight.

Vacation to me is having the space and the luxury to be comfortable and move around and not wait for bathroom time.

This is why the 5 of us have 900 points and go to Disney 3 times or more per year. We generally do 2 weeks in the summer and a 4 or 5 night in both the spring and fall.