New to Dis; DVC Question for West Coaters?

[50 years Too!]

I know, Bethy, we laugh that we travel over 3,000 miles to look at more pine trees!

We just aren't that into the beachy style resorts. But we really love our AKV and that is totally different that the Great Northwest.

I agree that you can't beat the location of GC. We stayed at the DL hotel in August and sighed everytime we had to keep on walking . . .

It takes about 6 hours from our leaving our driveway to get through the turnstiles at DL. I love it when that happens!

I'm another PNW whose favorite DVC is VWL. Funny thing, but there is just something so peaceful about it. Kind of spoils Artist Point for us though.
We actually can pronounce all the regions and we've been to most of the wineries featured. My house probably resembles more of a NW contemporary than a lodge, but I love to visit Disney's.
Either of you been to Skamania or Snoqualmie Falls? Skamania is 45 minutes from my house. We love to go there and pretend we are at VWL. LOL

Deb

 

[bethy]

Yes I've been to both. Snoqualmie Falls is about 10 miles from my house. DH and I do a romantic getaway at the Salish Lodge there once in a while. The kids and I go sometimes just to look at the Falls. There are tall evergreens in my back yard.

I really wish the Grand Californian had a completely different theme - oh well!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Here is something to think about...

DVC trades with a company called Club Intrawest. [I think these trades are easier to get than other II trades, and allows you to stay by the night instead of by the week.]

Anyway, you can trade into Panorama, Vancouver, and Whistler BC, Canada. The two bedrooms range from 13 to 71 points per night. Trades are always subject to change. Many DISsers have made positive comments about trading to Keystone Colorado. In the future you will have the GCV at DL, and in Hawaii, and will probably have a western cruise, and some other western locations. I wouldn't buy just for these locations.

 

[lisah0711]

I'm another PNW whose favorite DVC is VWL. Funny thing, but there is just something so peaceful about it. Kind of spoils Artist Point for us though.
We actually can pronounce all the regions and we've been to most of the wineries featured. My house probably resembles more of a NW contemporary than a lodge, but I love to visit Disney's.
Either of you been to Skamania or Snoqualmie Falls? Skamania is 45 minutes from my house. We love to go there and pretend we are at VWL. LOL

Deb

Well, Deb, I am glad that I am not the only one!

I've been to Snoqualmie Falls but not Skamania -- will have to check it out next time we are in Portland.

Our local resort is more contemporary in style, maybe that is why we like VWL, it's what we think a northwest lodge should be!

Thank goodness DVC has something for us all!

 

[drag n' fly]

I know, Bethy, we laugh that we travel over 3,000 miles to look at more pine trees!

We just aren't that into the beachy style resorts. But we really love our AKV and that is totally different that the Great Northwest.

I agree that you can't beat the location of GC. We stayed at the DL hotel in August and sighed everytime we had to keep on walking . . .

It takes about 6 hours from our leaving our driveway to get through the turnstiles at DL. I love it when that happens!

That is why we didn't buy VWL either. We live one hour from Banff and all the hotels are styled just like those around here. We live way out west and bought at AKV as there is nothing around here like it and so we felt it was the most unique. Air is about 3000 every time we go so we will do a lot of banking and take a trip with three years of points every trip. Once we retire we will go every year.

 

[mopee3]

I married my wife 40 years ago this December in Whitefish Montana and then lived in Montana until I got tired of working in the snow. Whitefish for those who may wonder is just a few minutes from Glacier National Park,some of the most beautiful lodges in the West, and the Canadian boarder, well maybe a hour and a few minutes. Glacier has lodges that look just like the VWL in WDW, in fact when we drove up to the Wilderness Lodge last April she signed like she was home.
We are leaving in just a few short days for a 13 day stay with friends. Starting at AKV which we own, on to VWL, over to the Beach Club, and finishing up at OKW. We like staying only 3-4 at each for a change of view.
We fly from Portland, about a 4 hour drive from Walla Walla, using companion a fare from Alaska Airline which cost us about $650-700 total round trip for the two of us.
We have considered buying into CGV when it becomes available but for us the lure of all those parks and resorts at WDW is just too much versus Disneyland. Not that we don’t like DL it is just not the same. Go in April some time, sit on the balcony at OKW and smell the Gardenias blooming.
We will be going again in February with just or two much older daughters, 35 and 40 years of age. We told the oldest that we will probably leave DVC to all 5 of our children. Her reply is “Hurt ME!!!”. We are going again next year in late October/November with her, her family and our son and daughter in law.
We love WDW, the parks, the resorts, the food, did I mention the Deluxe food plan, the shows, etc, etc. Who knows maybe in 10-40 years it won’t hold the same wonder for us, but for now, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!

 

[mopee3]

I married my wife 40 years ago this December in Whitefish Montana and then lived in Montana until I got tired of working in the snow. Whitefish for those who may wonder is just a few minutes from Glacier National Park,some of the most beautiful lodges in the West, and the Canadian boarder, well maybe a hour and a few minutes. Glacier has lodges that look just like the VWL in WDW, in fact when we drove up to the Wilderness Lodge last April she signed like she was home.
We are leaving in just a few short days for a 13 day stay with friends. Starting at AKV which we own, on to VWL, over to the Beach Club, and finishing up at OKW. We like staying only 3-4 at each for a change of view.
We fly from Portland, about a 4 hour drive from Walla Walla, using companion a fare from Alaska Airline which cost us about $650-700 total round trip for the two of us.
We have considered buying into CGV when it becomes available but for us the lure of all those parks and resorts at WDW is just too much versus Disneyland. Not that we don’t like DL it is just not the same. Go in April some time, sit on the balcony at OKW and smell the Gardenias blooming.
We will be going again in February with just or two much older daughters, 35 and 40 years of age. We told the oldest that we will probably leave DVC to all 5 of our children. Her reply is “Hurt ME!!!”. We are going again next year in late October/November with her, her family and our son and daughter in law.
We love WDW, the parks, the resorts, the food, did I mention the Deluxe food plan, the shows, etc, etc. Who knows maybe in 10-40 years it won’t hold the same wonder for us, but for now, HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!

Got to go, the BBQ beer butt chickens are calling and I am getting hungry.

Monty

 

[nunzia]

Beth & Lisa, you two are cracking me up because that's exactly what my DH and I have discussed...we will NOT be buying into VWL just for that exact reason...although, we absolutely love the Northwest and I think N. Idaho is one of the most beautiful places in America BUT we live it everyday and don't want to see it on all vacations.

I also live in (well, very near) Cda, that's so hilarious...small world!

Thanks for all of the advice so far; it really is helping with our decisions. We also like the idea that DL does not take ALL DAY on a plane .

and we here in the desert love the lodgey feel of the DGC! I don't need to see more adobe on my vacations! And pine tress?? what a novelty

 

[dnoyes]

Beth & Lisa, you two are cracking me up because that's exactly what my DH and I have discussed...we will NOT be buying into VWL just for that exact reason...although, we absolutely love the Northwest and I think N. Idaho is one of the most beautiful places in America BUT we live it everyday and don't want to see it on all vacations.

I also live in (well, very near) Cda, that's so hilarious...small world!

Thanks for all of the advice so far; it really is helping with our decisions. We also like the idea that DL does not take ALL DAY on a plane .

Another Idaho DVCer here. We did look at VWL and we thought they were very nice but like you say they are just like being at home. On top of that we have a cabin in eastern Oregon so I have more pine cones then I can take already.

Piscesqueen can't you get a flight to LA then on to Orlando? that should only take you about 6 hours.

 

[Piscesqueen]

Piscesqueen can't you get a flight to LA then on to Orlando? that should only take you about 6 hours.

I'm new to all things Disney ! We've only been to DL once and we have an opportunity to invest into DVC and are very strongly considering it but I am concerned about flight costs since there are 6 of us . I haven't looked into flying into L.A. but would that be more cost effective or just cut back on flying time?

I love Oregon , we even took our 2 week honeymoon exploring Oregon. We even strongly considered moving there. ~*East Oregon Amazing Rivers*~

I would love any advice another fellow Idahoan could offer...well, any Northwester for that matter. We are considering making the drive to Seattle every other year to save on flight costs...any advice ? Thanks!

 

[PinkTink63]

I'm new to all things Disney ! We've only been to DL once and we have an opportunity to invest into DVC and are very strongly considering it but I am concerned about flight costs since there are 6 of us . I haven't looked into flying into L.A. but would that be more cost effective or just cut back on flying time?

I love Oregon , we even took our 2 week honeymoon exploring Oregon. We even strongly considered moving there. ~*East Oregon Amazing Rivers*~

I would love any advice another fellow Idahoan could offer...well, any Northwester for that matter. We are considering making the drive to Seattle every other year to save on flight costs...any advice ? Thanks!

I was going to suggest flying out of Seattle for you. The flight we usually take flys from Portland to Seattle and then on to Orlando. That is Alaska Airlines, by the way! Buying for six is quite a chunk of change! We are only three and airfare is getting so expensive! That is why we will only get one trip every summer for now, but we make it worth our while by staying three weeks!

Sign up on orbitz, travelocity, and SW ding fares, because they will send you alerts when there is a change in airfare.

 

[Brancaneve]

I live on the west coast as well and we went to WDW for the first time this February. Our cruise and week at AKL would have cost us $6,000 at least out of pocket but we were able to use our points. After that trip, I felt that we had made such a wise choice in buying into DVC becuase the quality of our vacation was unbelievable! We are going back in 95 days because we were given 2 free annual passes to WDW, and the kids were just begging to go back. I would definitely invest in DVC rather that forking over the $15,000 on this one trip!

DL is currently building DVC Grand California Villas. Have you thought about purchasing this?

 

[Longhairbear]

We are west coasters, and live about an hour from DLR. We go to WDW twice a year, and stay at our DVC. Once the VGC are open, we will book a few times there as well. I hate driving home after doing the parks all day. It will be nice to sleep over.

 

[dnoyes]

I'm new to all things Disney ! We've only been to DL once and we have an opportunity to invest into DVC and are very strongly considering it but I am concerned about flight costs since there are 6 of us . I haven't looked into flying into L.A. but would that be more cost effective or just cut back on flying time?

I love Oregon , we even took our 2 week honeymoon exploring Oregon. We even strongly considered moving there. ~*East Oregon Amazing Rivers*~

I would love any advice another fellow Idahoan could offer...well, any Northwester for that matter. We are considering making the drive to Seattle every other year to save on flight costs...any advice ? Thanks!

I just did a quick search on flights out of Seattle to both LA and Orlando.

Round trip to LA was $206 per person and is less then 3 hours.

Round trip to Orlando was $247 with a hour lay over in Denver and a total travel time of 7 hours.

$1236 to DL for all 6 of you ...
or $1482 for Disney World. I guess it comes down to how long you want to sit in a plane ....

I fly to Florida a couple of times a year for reasons other then Disney (family) and have never paid more then $300 and a few times as low as $190

 

[adminjedi]

We are a family of 7 plus a fiancee. We go every year and get a 2 bdrm suite for a 10-14 day vacation. We originally bought 250 pts, thinking we would go every other year. We immediately knew we needed more. So, we bought 280 more. Then we realized we would like to be able to have friends and family join us. Still not enough points! We just added 248 points! Now we plan on adding a winter trip just the two of us. Our ultimate goal is to have 5 contracts around the 250 pt range to leave one contract for each child.
We have been fortunate enough to get free mileage award tickets for all of us the last three years! We are so glad we made the decision to be DVC members, even though it is a long flight to get to Orlando! DL is nice for a day, maybe two, but nothing like the DW experience!

 

[ACDSNY]

We're south of Sacramento so we make a couple of trips each year to DL when SWA offers Ding fares to SNA or LAX. Our trips to WDW are further apart and usually a week or more since the airfare is so much higher.

We just came back from a wonderful trip to Kauai on an II exchange (Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club). We probablly would not have gone if not for DVC.

 

[Piscesqueen]

We just came back from a wonderful trip to Kauai on an II exchange (Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club). We probablly would not have gone if not for DVC.

I was wondering about II too , how did the transaction work out for you? I would also be doing II's exchange if I bought into DVC but I'm very unsure about it because it seems like not many DVC'ers think it's a wise choice. The guide I spoke to said that he has some clients that NEVER visit WDW and chose the exchange travel instead and that they were happy but I'd love to hear about personal experiences with II. Thanks ahead of time! Maybe I should start a thread asking this question too; I think I will !

 

[ACDSNY]

I was wondering about II too , how did the transaction work out for you? I would also be doing II's exchange if I bought into DVC but I'm very unsure about it because it seems like not many DVC'ers think it's a wise choice. The guide I spoke to said that he has some clients that NEVER visit WDW and chose the exchange travel instead and that they were happy but I'd love to hear about personal experiences with II. Thanks ahead of time! Maybe I should start a thread asking this question too; I think I will !

Most will tell you your best use of points is at WDW. That being said, once in a while we plan on exchanging to visit other places. I put our request in for Kauai about 18 months in advance of our Fall 2008 travel times and listed both Marriott's for a 2 bedroom unit. We matched in April 2008 for travel at the end of Oct 2008. Very smooth transacation just the waiting for a match was a killer. We had a great unit at Marriott Waiohai Beach Club with a partial view of the ocean.