New Member Here

[themama0710]

Just recently closed on my DVC So happy! Getting ready for Feb can finally make our first vacation as a member. Since we are not booking at our home resort! Any tips / comments that may make this vacation the best first DVC vacation for my family?

Unfortunately didn't make it last Feb when we actually purchased so fingers crossed we will be going this September 2013 Know I am truly excited!

Bought direct through Disney Vacation Club, Home Resort: Saratoga Springs, Only elected to go with the 100 points for now until I know if I am going to need more !

 

[arthur06]

Congrats.

Did you buy direct or resale?

Home Resort?

Points?

Give us all the dirty details...

 

[kristie03]

Congrats.

Did you buy direct or resale?

Home Resort?

Points?

Give us all the dirty details...

Welcome Home!!! Congrats! Can't wait to "see" you here all the time...I've found that the DIS knows EVERYthing!

 

[DenLo]

Welcome Home. Don't be nervous about making your first reservation. MS will walk you through it.

I suggest you plan some time to be at the resort just to enjoy it and your villa. Remember as a DVC member you will be coming back regularly and it's not necessary to do the parks commando style any more. If you miss it this trip you can catch it the next one.

Eat most breakfasts in your villa. Even in a studio, cereals and items cooked in a microwave are easily made for breakfast. You can order groceries to be delivered to your villa/resort through a couple of companies, Garden Grocer or WeGoShop. Or if you have a car, make a trip to Walmart, Target or even a local grocery store. In June we had a family gathering and we purchased cereals, milk, healthy snacks, fruit, juices, gatorade, and sodas. We skipped doing the DDP. With all of the snacks in the room it was cheaper to buy only a few meals out and to order in pizza one night.

If you have children take time to read the activity sheet in your welcome home packet you get on check in at the resort. Many of the DVC resorts have a community hall and all have planned activities for children of various ages.

Without knowing what type of villa will you be staying in and which resort it's hard to give more detailed advice.

Relax and enjoy your membership.

 

[Micca]

Welcome Home to TheMomma!

 

[Granny]

Any tips / comments that may make this vacation the best first DVC vacation for my family?

Don't set the alarm clock the entire vacation.

Don't rush people to get out of the villa in the morning to hit the parks.

As DenLo said, plan some time to explore your resort. Every one has unique aspects and amenities that most vacationers never see. For example, Wilderness Lodge has a great tour with the history and design details that would not be apparent just by walking through the lobby.

Did I mention that slowing down would make the vacation better?

A great part of DVC is that you know you will be back to WDW many times in the future. Take advantage of that, put more rest & relaxation into the daily schedule and you'll find that you've reduced the stress and "commando" aspect of WDW visits. After all, if you miss something this trip, you can always do it next time!

Enjoy your trip, and Welcome Home!

 

[DisneyBill]

Welcome to the DIS, and DVC. If you aren't driving to the world, or if you don't have a surplus of room in the vehicle, I suggest you start your DVC life off by getting an Owner's Locker. (you get a DVC discount through the dvcmember site) The DIS and other online communities can provide lots of information, and stimulate many trip planning thoughts. - Enjoy!

 

[magicaldisney]

 

[AnnaS]

I agree with everything said above. Congratulations and enjoy your first stay. Don't forget to tell us all about your first experience.

 

[mgroshans]

Congratulations!!

 

[moredisneyplease]

agreed with the above comments. learn to take your time and go slow! one great thing about being a DVC owner is that you KNOW you'll be back so there is no need to rush it! our DVC resorts are chalked full of great activities so go and enjoy those! have a great time!

 

[supersuperwendy]

Welcome Home!!

For our first DVC trip we stayed at SSR and our family LOVED it. It was August 2009 and the end of our summer vacation. I was 6 months pregnant with our 4th child so I needed to take it easy. We made NO ADRs. NONE! We tried the quick service dining plan and really liked it. We had park hoppers and no plans so after we checked in we went to the bus stop and boarded the first bus to pull up! It was great! We did that several times over the week. We spent lots of time at the resort and relaxed. We took the boat to DTD a lot and even walked there once. We met some other DVC families at the pool and had lots to talk about. It was a great way to start out our DVC experiences! Heavenly!

Take is slow..you're DVC now!

 

[burnsoc]

Welcome Home! As others have said, take the time to enjoy the resorts. That was one of the best things DVC did for us, get us out of park commando mode. I laugh when I hear people tell me how exhausted they are after a WDW vacation. We take our time in the parks and relax at the resort, because we know we'll be back. Our vacations are so much better since we joined DVC.

 

[lah3hh]

First off...WELCOME HOME!!!

Now you will vacation like a DVC Rock Star that you are....

Relax, you have close to 50 years of going wherever you want.....no rush, no worry!!

Become a Plan 'aholic'....we love our points so much we plan wayyyy in advice when we can and then LOVE to count it down!!!

Watch out for the known dreaded DVC disease...Addonitis, it hits you when you least expect it, usually the symptoms come on strong...and worse of all, no known cure!

Other than that all I can say is...

Sit Back, Relax and enjoy the view(s) you will be experiencing!!!

 

[jstarcze]

Welcome Home and Congratulations from Mickey, Goofy, and Me!