Most Spontaneous/Last Minute DVC Trip You've Ever Taken?

[lilpooh108]

I saw this in the Trip Planning boards and thought it'd be a fun topic here.

What is the most last minute/spontaneous Disney (or DVC) trip you've ever taken?

Here's ours:

On the Friday of a Memorial day weekend in 2011, we decided at 2pm we were going to fly out to Orlando that same night. We're from LA.

Got on the phone w/AA at 4pm and booked a 10pm flight out of LAX to MCO, red eye. Got off work at 6pm, packed for an hour, left at 7pm and got to the airport at 8pm. Took my then 2 year old with me.

DVC had no availability, so we Hotwired and got the Peabody Orlando for $125, booked a rental car and stayed for 2 nights and flew back on Monday, Memorial Day.

We are from CA and we literally had just been at VWL 3 weeks prior on May 5th.

DH was super supportive and it was actually really fun (the red eye sucked, though, and it ate up all of our frequent flyer miles).

It was hilarious b/c my brother (who was in the process of becoming a DVC member through resale) had texted me earlier that morning to double check availability for him at Saratoga Springs for different dates. On takeoff I get a text that said, "I asked you to check availability w/Disney over the phone and NOT IN PERSON." Hehe.

It's really his fault. He had me call DVC to check availability...and while I was on the phone we decided to go ourselves

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Can't say my spontaneous trips have been so spontaneous. My sister and I went for Leap Day, we decided to donut after seeing the One More Disney Day ads on New Years Eve. We flew in tue night, spent 24 hours in the park in wed, then took a nap and flew home thurs

My other was a trip I am taking in a few weeks, Nov 8th. My DH didn't know what to get me for my 40th birthday three weeks ago, so he planned a trip to WDW for a four day weekend my son has off from school

 

[lilpooh108]

My sister and I went for Leap Day, we decided to donut after seeing the One More Disney Day ads on New Years Eve. We flew in tue night, spent 24 hours in the park in wed, then took a nap and flew home thurs

Nice. I can't say that I can spend 24 whole hours in a park, though. How did you have the stamina? I really can't pull all nighters like I used to anymore!

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Aaarrrgh. Stupid phone autocorrect! My sister and I decided to "do it" not "donut"

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Nice. I can't say that I can spend 24 whole hours in a park, though. How did you have the stamina? I really can't pull all nighters like I used to anymore!

We napped in CoP, and on the TTA, lol. Mostly though, it was sheer desire to stay for the entire 24 hours. When we got home, we both slept all day Fri.

 

[DebbieB]

I posted this on the other thread. One time I had a business trip to Orlando and called DVC for a Thursday night in February and got a studio at BCV about 1 week ahead. I did the training Wednesday & Thursday, took a vacation day Friday and spent the day at WDW and flew home Friday night.

 

[sarahk0204]

Probably my back to back Christmas trips. In 2010, we had just gotten back from a 9 day stay at BLT lake view studio (our first DVC trip). It was August, and during our trip, I realized that the job I had started in June had been a horrible mistake. Over the course of a few days, I decided to leave that job in mid December, and DH and I planned a trip for right before Christmas. We stayed in a 1BR at SSR, went to MVMCP, celebrated my December birthday, and had a great time.

In September 2011, we were visiting friends who are also DVC. Inspired by our December trip, they planned a trip of their own. By the end of the weekend they had convinced us to go back! We did a SSR studio this time, and we surprised the kids the night before we left.

So, not that spontaneous, I suppose. However, for an uber planner like me, 3 months out is pretty spontaneous!

 

[Hunclemarco]

A friend one time needed someone to be "an assistant" so she could take her dental exam in Florida. I was that assistant....called and booked SSR for the weekend.

Another time, we were at BCV, and some friends were in the florida area and we booked them 3 days at SSR 2 days before their arrival.

There was another time we added additional days to our current stay while there.

Love spontaneous stays!

 

[com_op_2000]

Multiple times DW and I have been at DTD for the day. Decided we wanted to stay the night. Called OKW front desk (back before MS was open on Sundays) and checked in within 15 minutes.

 

[lilpooh108]

Multiple times DW and I have been at DTD for the day. Decided we wanted to stay the night. Called OKW front desk (back before MS was open on Sundays) and checked in within 15 mintes.

Nice.

 

[dsneygirl]

For Epcot's 25thm 5 years ago. We booked on either Tues or Wed and left on Friday for a 3 day weekend at SSR.

 

[Psychodisney]

Our spontaneous trip was due to weather. We were scheduled to fly out on a Wednesday for a 3 day cruise. There was a forecast for a big snowstorm in Chicago and by Monday afternoon they had cancelled all of Wednesday's flights! Within 2 hours, I had OKW booked, flights changed, rental car and the dog dropped off at the kennel. Ended up having 2 bonus days at the parks prior to our cruise!

 

[PrincessSarah314]

We aren't quite as spontaneous as some of the other posters here. Our most spontaneous trip was taking advantage of the DVC Cruise offer last June. I think we booked just about a month before we sailed on the Fantasy, with no passports.

I got the email at the end of the day, and my DBF was already sleeping. I called MS the next day while he was at work, booked us, and surprised him when he came home from work.

Since we were going on this last-minute trip, I decided we should do 3 days before the cruise, and 3 days after the cruise as well. We stayed at AKL Jambo before and spent 1 night at SSR and 2 at GF afterwards!

 

[lilpooh108]

We aren't quite as spontaneous as some of the other posters here. Our most spontaneous trip was taking advantage of the DVC Cruise offer last June. I think we booked just about a month before we sailed on the Fantasy, with no passports.

I got the email at the end of the day, and my DBF was already sleeping. I called MS the next day while he was at work, booked us, and surprised him when he came home from work.

Since we were going on this last-minute trip, I decided we should do 3 days before the cruise, and 3 days after the cruise as well. We stayed at AKL Jambo before and spent 1 night at SSR and 2 at GF afterwards!

That's pretty spontaneous! We also called for the cruise offer...but just couldn't justify the costs (our airfare from LA would have wiped out the savings).

So we did the next best thing----waited for an IGT rate for Alaska and booked the Disney Wonder instead!

 

[NewJerseyDVCMembers]

We flew home to NJ on a Saturday, after a week in WDW in December of 2009. We had a few days of vacation left and had already planned to fly to Myrtle Beach for a night to see Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede on Monday. Our flight took off on time but couldn't land in MB because of fog, we circled for nearly an hour and were told we would have to return to Atlantic City airport and wait, so we flew the hour back up the east coast and returned to AC. At the gate they told us the flight wouldn't depart until mid to late afternoon, it was already 10:30 am. We decided to skip the whole thing because it was only one night and the airfare was less than $75 for the both of us, we cancelled the car and room without penalty. As we prepared to leave the gate area we heard an announcement for "Orlando." We looked at each other and went to work on our smartphones. My husband went to the desk at the gate and asked if we could be transfered onto the Orlando flight, a surprised agent looked at our reservation and asked "you want to fly to Orlando for one night?" As she proceeded to change our flight, I called member services, they told me a studio at BWV was available, so I booked it. By now the final boarding call for Orlando was occuring, the agent printed our boarding pass on the departing Orlando flight and had us booked on the late return from Orlando the next night. I finished the call with member services as we were walking down the jetway. They had set up our ME and my husband was able to get in touch with OL and had our lockers set up for delivery. We were on property by 2:00 and left the next day at 6:00 pm. Its one of our favorite Disney trips ever!

 

[daisyduck123]

Our only spontaneous trip was Jan. 2011.

DD (was 16yo at the time), had just gotten out of the hospital after a 9 week stay . (Yes, she'd been in there over Thanksgiving, Xmas, & New Years).

We all decided that she needed to "get away" for awhile & also celebrate being released from the hospital. We found availability at SSR & booked it. We were on a plane within a week, along with friends, another DVC family whom we often vacation with.

DD had to do Disney for a week in a wheelchair, with an ostomy bag, but it was worth it. We had a great time!

 

[NeedMorePoints]

DW and I found a great deal at the Poly two weeks before we left. Just a weekend jaunt. Arrived on Saturday to depart on Monday. Had a wonderful stay at the Poly (much better to be in FL than IL in February). Monday morning Chicago is snowed in, all flights cancelled. Rebooked flight for Tuesday and headed to the Poly front desk to try to extend our stay. CM says sorry, all booked up. Asked if any other resorts have rooms available. CM checks but comes back to tell me that the WDW hotel reservation system computer is experiencing "technical difficulties" and I should try back later. Back at the room we call DVC but they also are having computer problems. We checkout of the Poly at 10:30 am with the computer system still having problems, leave our bags at Bell Services, and head over to MK with the reassurance that the computer system will be "back up shortly, just call us periodically" advice from the CM.

So here we are, HOMELESS in the MAGIC KINGDOM. Walking around the park with our rain ponchos on, we keep checking back with DVC and RESORTS. After lunch, we try again and DVC Member Services CM says, "Oh the system has just come back up. We have a standard studio at BLT available tonight. Do you want to book it?" Needless to say we did.

I still can hear my DW say "I love my DVC."

 

[taaren]

I fly standby frequently since an immediate family member works for a major airline.

So twice in the last year I've ended up with unexpected 1-2 day layovers in LAX ... if I know I have an 8 hour period open during the day, I just hop on the Disneyland Express and use my Disneyland AP. DH thinks I've been aiming for risky flights just to get my DLR fix. They've been fun to do spontaneous trips, but kind of lonely to do on my own.

 

[lilpooh108]

I fly standby frequently since an immediate family member works for a major airline.

So twice in the last year I've ended up with unexpected 1-2 day layovers in LAX ... if I know I have an 8 hour period open during the day, I just hop on the Disneyland Express and use my Disneyland AP. DH thinks I've been aiming for risky flights just to get my DLR fix. They've been fun to do spontaneous trips, but kind of lonely to do on my own.

Hi Taaren

I've seen you on the DLR boards too! Next time you are going down to DLR unexpectedly...just post on the DLR boards and I'm sure someone can meet up and do a ride or 2 w/you!

 

[sskem96]

We flew home to NJ on a Saturday, after a week in WDW in December of 2009. We had a few days of vacation left and had already planned to fly to Myrtle Beach for a night to see Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede on Monday. Our flight took off on time but couldn't land in MB because of fog, we circled for nearly an hour and were told we would have to return to Atlantic City airport and wait, so we flew the hour back up the east coast and returned to AC. At the gate they told us the flight wouldn't depart until mid to late afternoon, it was already 10:30 am. We decided to skip the whole thing because it was only one night and the airfare was less than $75 for the both of us, we cancelled the car and room without penalty. As we prepared to leave the gate area we heard an announcement for "Orlando." We looked at each other and went to work on our smartphones. My husband went to the desk at the gate and asked if we could be transfered onto the Orlando flight, a surprised agent looked at our reservation and asked "you want to fly to Orlando for one night?" As she proceeded to change our flight, I called member services, they told me a studio at BWV was available, so I booked it. By now the final boarding call for Orlando was occuring, the agent printed our boarding pass on the departing Orlando flight and had us booked on the late return from Orlando the next night. I finished the call with member services as we were walking down the jetway. They had set up our ME and my husband was able to get in touch with OL and had our lockers set up for delivery. We were on property by 2:00 and left the next day at 6:00 pm. Its one of our favorite Disney trips ever!

Wow, I love it! Totally sounds like something me and DH would do!

We are in the midst of planning a spontaneous trip at the moment! Not quite so last minute, but definitely unexpected.

Once in a while, somebody in DH's company will get some WDW passes from somewhere that expire at the end of the year, and they send an e-mail out to give them away if they can't use them. We were last at WDW in Feb, with our next planned trip for March 2014, which is killer when we're used to going 2-3 times/year. So DH has been saying lately that he sure wishes he'd get one of those e-mails. We even talked about it Wed. night at a church meeting when we were going over our spiritual skills assessments tests we'd just taken and discussing whether we were spontaneous people or not, and he said, "Well, if I get one of those e-mails..."

So the very next day, he calls me and says he just got an e-mail, 4 1-day passes available, expire 12/31/12, and he wants to know if we can convert them into 2 2-day passes. Umm, we just use 2 on 1 day and 2 on the next day. Oh yeah, he gets a little confused when he's excited about Disney and he thinks this is something I need my disboards knowledge for! So I said just take them and we'll figure it out! So we're flying down on Mon 12/3 after we drop the kids off at school and will be home on Wed 12/5 in time to pick them up after school! Got a studio at AKV for both nights. Got direct flights from the airport that's about a mile from our house. Paid a little extra for the fully refundable fare because our oldest is having lots of health issues we don't know what we're dealing with there yet. My mom will stay with the kids the 2 nights we're gone, so we don't even have to pay the house sitter! My mom and the house sitter's mom are both nurses, so I figured either way I'm probably ok leaving for that short of a time. Last time we planned a night away without the kids, my mom ended up sick in the hospital and we had to take them with us, so at least I have a back-up plan this time!

Now our biggest challenge will be keeping it a secret from the kids, especially since the sick one keeps asking when she will get to go home, meaning AKV!