Need a Plan B!

[MaryAnnDVC]

For the last 4 years, we've been going to Orlando on Thanksgiving and staying 3 nights at Portofino, 7 at Disney...the last two as DVC members at BWV. Now we've decided not to take the kids out of school anymore. (*sob*)

So...we need to come up with a plan to use our points. Thinking of just a few days at Disneyland in April (if available) or in the summer (did that in 2001, then a few more days at my sister's in Long Beach), OR trying a Disney cruise (not on points) and then a few days at WDW in the HEAT (ugh!) because it's looking like we're going to have to do it eventually if we can only go on school vacations. (*snif*)

Besides those options, I know there's the Conceirge Collection (we did a couple of nights at the Equinox in Vermont in 2001) and the World Passport Collection...but the WPC confuses me. Can someone give me the Reader's Digest Condensed Version for Dummies of how this all works and any suggestions for destinations? We live in the Northeast, and would have to keep it to mainland USA, which is part of the problem...my mind is thinking "Hawaii! Australia! Europe!" but DH's wallet (and DH) is saying to drive or fly cheap.

Do the vacation points on the chart mean that's the number of points it costs for the accomodations elsewhere?? As in 270 points for a 2-bedroom for a week during high season at a WPC location?? That seems low, relative to what it costs to stay at Disney for a week.

Thanks for any and all info. (Please talk slow. )

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

BTW, we're not into tennis, golf, and other sporty resort type of activities...more into beaches and relaxing and/or touristy stuff, like entertainment and historic sites.

 

[TimeforMe]

Maryann: Have you considered going to HHI? It is our home resort and we just absolutely love it. The beaches are beautiful, plenty of activities, but very relaxing. You can also take day trips to Charleston or Savannah.

 

[JimC]

We have also heard great things about DVC's Vero Beach Resort. We are headed there in May for our first trip to that resort. It is also a reasonable drive to Kennedy Space Center (a must see at least once) from there.

 

[rbuzzotta]

MaryAnn, we have resorted to going in the summer now!!

We have gone the past 2 summers and this past summer it was hotter in Boston then it was in Disney!!

We take it much slower, spend 2 weeks there (leave for the weekend to explore other FL destinations and save big points).
We either fly or drive but we think we will drive this coming July and stop on the way somewhere to see some sights (haven't figured tthat out yet).

Hawaii is still an option for us (yes, my b-day present), but since doing my research, I think we will go in 2004 and not this year!! I want to plan better and of course, save some money!! We are researching April 2004 and I will probably take the girls out of school for 3 days at that time......flights arrre half as much then as they are in July!!

Good luck...

 

[Regina]

It's always sad when this happens. We used to vacation with the family during the same time of year as you, but it got much too hard for them to miss school.

We've done Christmas/NYE and summer. We've also gone down around Memorial Day. They usually add on the snow days that they haven't used to that break (but forget about that happening this year.)

Other than that, I can't offer much advice.

Good luck! I'm sure that you'll find a plan that works.

 

[goofyforwdw]

Easy answer LEAVE THEM HOME. We too have found it harder and harder for the kids to miss school so we plan on the on long weekend and school vacation but if not the Dad and I go and leave them home (not a bad thing at all )Lucky for us they are really good kids and take care of each other and the pets and the house oldest is now 20 but we left when he was 18 youngest is now 15 almost 16 and the middle is 17 almost 18 So they can handle it and so can I
Brenda

 

[natt]

We drove last summer to go hear the DVC presentation. We dreaded the thought of the heat, but told ourselves that since we knew we were going to buy, that we'd obviously be back, and not go with a "must do it all" attitude! We had less humid weather than we did the summer before at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg! That trip was more unbearable! The crowds at WDW were not as horrible as what we thought either! Plus the washer/dryer helps with "summer park clothes"!

This year, we are going again the week of August 17, and will get back with one day to spare before the kids go back to school! Good luck with your decision!

 

[ErinC]

Mary Ann, we are planning to go the same time, after Thanksgiving in 2003. DD 7 will miss one week after Thanksgiving. We did this when she was in Kindergarten, and had no problems. Now we have a new Principal, and I've heard he is a real stickler about missing school for family vacations. My DH has a convention that week in Orlando that we will be attending for our family business. I plan to include that in my letter for her reason to be absent from school that week. I'm already concerned that it's going to be somewhat of a battle over the absence, so it may be her last trip during school time. I've thought about other times of the year that are special to our area, like Mardi Gras, our kids get out for 2 days, so at least she wouldn't miss a whole week of school. Also, this year, our spring break does not correspond with Easter, our Break is the last week of March. I would think that would be an okay time to visit. I was born and raised in Florida, and the thought of being at Disney in the summer makes me sweat just thinking about it. Last year DD got out of school May 17th, we did the 4 day cruise, and then 4 days at VWL which ended up being over Memorial Day weekend. The crowds were heavy, but we were lucky with temps in the low 80's. Just plan the best you can and realize this won't last forever!