Now that you own DVC are your trips more relaxed?

[kenny]

We recently purchased our DVC ownership and are planning our first trip.

I remarked to my DW that I am looking forward to all our trips now since I will be more relaxed. Knowing we will be going every year now, I won't feel the pressure to do EVERYTHING every trip. If I don't ride Peter Pan 200 times (only 100 now ), it is ok. I will get it next trip.

I just feel like now we can relax more and take our time. Really make it a true vacation. In the past we always tried to schedule some down time, but it was few and far between. Maybe we'd have a drink while swimming for an hour, but never just a lazy day to recoup, etc.

My DW doesn't believe me. She still thinks once I am there I am going to get my itch to go commando again!

I was wondering what all the long time owners think. Do you find yourself more relax and just "flow" during your trips, or are you still go go go.

Thanks

 

[OlderMan]

Our trips to WD are now MUCH more relaxed.

We rarely even visit the theme parks now.

DD's prefer the pool(s), Community Hall, etc. to the parks.

 

[dianeschlicht]

After 11+ years of ownership, we still go to the parks every day, but we no longer do commando touring. We just take in the few things we want to do that day. The other thing we do is not plan every minute. We definitely do more "fly by the seat of the pants" type touring. We use our knowledge of crowds at Disney to determine where we go and when. If it gets crowded, we just head to a different park. We ALWAYS take some down time in the middle of the day, and we never feel rushed to do anything. If we miss it, we pick it up a different day. We just returned from an 11 day trip. The last day we knew we had several things we still hadn't done that we wanted to do, so we ended up going to 3 of the 4 parks on our last day. Never felt rushed for any of them either, since we know we'll be back. It is SO much more enjoyable the DVC way!

 

[starbox]

Our first year of membership, we still read the guide books, did the parks pretty much commando, and had a schedule ahead of time.

Last year, we ended up coming back to the resort and swimming almost every afternoon.

I'm going again in two weeks - and aside from the PnP party and making a couple of dining reservations and buying a new book to read by the pool - I have nothing pre-planned!

So we've totally changed.

 

[PEANUT1]

We have only had our DVC for a year and our second trip is in May. I think that after a few trips we will be more relaxed and feel more like going to disney is like going home...but for now, we still have lots of stuff planned.

I don't think I will feel the need to see everything bc I know we will be back very soon (like a couple only trip in October). Life is good.

 

[eliza61]

Way more relaxed! I rarely if ever get to the parks at rope drop and I'll go into the parks for an entire day and possible only ride 1 attraction. What's funny is that I'll still come back home saying what a fabulous trip I had.

 

[lwilliam]

more relaxed
in fact, our family actually LOVES the fact that we don't have maid service every day - we were there during the Christmas holiday and actually cancelled our trash/towel service so we didn't need to worry about someone coming into room - we had the washer/dryer - why do we need service?
Had a 21 yr. old with us, this way he could sleep as long as he wanted.
We DID stop the commando and started to relax.

 

[jimmytammy]

Definitely!! Our 1st trip home was a bit hectic cause it hadnt sunk in yet that we would be returning again and again. But we caught on pretty quick after that. DVC resorts are a great place to relax on those rainy days.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

I am so hoping for a more relaxed style of touring. We have been doing the commando style for years, and I come back home needing a vacation from our vacation. I still have some early morning reservations, I just can't stand the thought of getting started too late. But I think I will be more relaxed about taking a mid-afternoon break. We also are doing a couples only trip in September and I am really looking forward to just strolling around Epcot enjoying all the sights with my DH.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

Our first trip home will be this December and I've actually told the kids they can sleep in. In years past, we would get up early and head to the parks and do as much as possible so that we felt we got our money's worth.

We also never did any of the extras - such as taking out the boats, going miniture golfing, or even enjoying the pool at the resort. Now we will actually take the time to do these things and not worry about making sure we do everything in the parks. We'll be back August 2009!!

 

[edk35]

I am so hoping for a more relaxed style of touring. We have been doing the commando style for years, and I come back home needing a vacation from our vacation. I still have some early morning reservations, I just can't stand the thought of getting started too late. But I think I will be more relaxed about taking a mid-afternoon break. We also are doing a couples only trip in September and I am really looking forward to just strolling around Epcot enjoying all the sights with my DH.

It is a s l o w go for us as far as relaxing but we have only been members a year. We have stayed DVC twice so far and I have to say we did enjoy our trips with more down time than usual. We usually never do the down time thing. For years and years we were all about getting up at zero dark thirty, staying late and getting it ALL DONE. We noticed on our very first trip...we were at the pool far more than we ever thought we would be, we were at DTD a lot too. Oh and did we ride a surrey bike???? Yes we did!!!!! So it is a slow process for us but it is HAPPENING. We are lucky that our kids actually like to stroll around the countries and EC. They are fine with a slower day too.

WE can't wait til our 12 night trip this July. This will be our longest trip ever and we KNOW there will be plenty of time to relax and really enjoy our trip without being exhausted when we get home. At least that is the plan. WE are also going back in Nov for 7 nights and because it is crowded Thanksgiving week....we know already that the plan will be to focus on the atmosphere of the holiday, take in the decorations and just have some nice family time. We plan on doing less park time on that trip.

 

[starbox]

Our first trip home will be this December and I've actually told the kids they can sleep in. In years past, we would get up early and head to the parks and do as much as possible so that we felt we got our money's worth.

I will say that we continue to get up early - but only because it pays off with minimal crowds (we travel in summer - so that probably makes a difference). We are usually done with the parks by lunch and then don't go back till after dinner.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

...but our trips are way more relaxed these days; Not sure if for any one reason or one of many...

...we've been enough times to have done all the 'must-dos' many times
...we've finally perfected our family's 'touring style' and plans
...the DVC resorts relaxed nature entices one to slow down and enjoy
...knowing we will return many times

So maybe for us owning DVC was more of a natural transition as we began to feel the need for more laid back treks to WDW.

 

[nhdisnut]

We are certainly more relaxed! We still tour the parks almost daily, but because we now visit so often (we've averaged 3 visits a year over the past few years), we no longer feel that we have to do or see everything in the parks. We pick and choose. Often we find ourselves saying "Ok, we'll skip, whatever ride and catch it next time!" Sure beats our first trip back in 2000 when we didn't know we would be visiting so often and we did everything all day.....talk about exhausting!

Now we take pressure-free breaks each day, do some extras (rent boats, play tennis,etc.) that we would not have ever done before, and really take time to relax.

I had someone at work today make the claim that WDW is not a true vacation (with relaxation built in). Before DVC I might have agreed to a certain extent. Now I can happily disagree!

 

[tink4ever]

We have been owners since 2001 and it did take us a couple of years to learn how to relax. Our kids are now in their 20's so they just want to sleep and go to the pool and eat at all of the restaurants. We go to the parks for the sights, to go on our favorites and then just play it by ear. We have learned to truly enjoy everything about Disney. We went 4 times in 07 and we have 2 trips planned for 08 so we know we will not miss anything. But without DVC this would not be possible. It has truly helped us enjoy Disney much, much more!!!

 

[AKV707]

Not a veteran owner, DW and I have had only one DVC trip so far. But even on that trip, we were way more relaxed. AS th op said, we know we are coming back, so no need for commando.

We did really feel a sense of "home" at OKW on that trip.

We already know that our next trip, this time to or home AKV, will be very relaxed. We are planning on lots of time at the resort.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I really don't think I ever did commando, but the difference DH feels is that he's no longer sad when we have to leave, because he knows he's coming back. I'm still sad when we leave

The difference for me is that we nearly always go over to VWL during our trips to ride the bikes to and around Ft. Wilderness. That area, the lake, the area by River Country and Discovery Island were part of WDW that I always liked, I felt away from the multitudes, and now we always take the time to do that, so I enjoy my vacations even more now. What we haven't done in a very long time is ride the mini boats around the lake. Maybe this next trip!

Bobbi

 

[CarolMN]

Way more relaxed.

We leave for our next trip in about 6 weeks (first time for Flower & Garden Festival) and I haven't even made any ADRs yet.

 

[LoveTheWDWMagic]

Our trips are more relaxed. We still go to the park/waterpark/or DTD, but if we miss a certain ride or show, it is "ok" since we can ride or watch it next year. With both our kids in school, we go during the summer months and we usually go back to our room (BWV) during the hottest time of the day and either swim in the pool or hang out in the community hall.
Congrats on being a new DVC member and enjoy your trip!!

 

[delmar411]

It's good know that a lot of ppl get more relaxed. I'm having a hard time w/ our Dec trip because the park hours are shorter and the commando in me is freaking out! LOL Hopefully after a few more trips I'll chill out.