****Official December 2011 Thread****

[ThereYouSeeHer]

We are going to do direct from Disney & most likely SSR since its $99 per point where the other resorts are around $120 a point. Although my uncle is a CM and he said that he may be able to get us a discount depending on when we decide to do it. If that's true then we'll be able to do it sooner. We do know that we want to pay the costs up front & not do finance so we're hoping to have the money by next December or next June if my uncle can get us a discount.

My DH was the one who suggested we do it. Right now we've been mostly staying in Values and while there is nothing wrong with them its a tight squeeze for our family of five. We're staying in our first Moderate on this trip but we know that we will need more space soon since the kids are getting older. For us it'll be cheaper to do DVC and pay the up front costs and only $600 a year rather then pay $5000 a trip for a Deluxe hotel.

Wow, $99 is a nice price point! I've also heard they can allow a 100 point buy-in, even though they advertise a minimum of 160. Do you know if that's true? If you can also get a CM discount, that would be great!

I totally agree about paying in full. That is the only way we would go, which is why we would be years out from making that decision! And that's true about needing more room as the kids get older. We only have two little ones right now, so we're content to stay in a smaller room.

We've stayed at SSR before. The whole resort is really nice!

 

[LaurenLC]

We are going to do direct from Disney & most likely SSR since its $99 per point where the other resorts are around $120 a point. Although my uncle is a CM and he said that he may be able to get us a discount depending on when we decide to do it. If that's true then we'll be able to do it sooner. We do know that we want to pay the costs up front & not do finance so we're hoping to have the money by next December or next June if my uncle can get us a discount.

My DH was the one who suggested we do it. Right now we've been mostly staying in Values and while there is nothing wrong with them its a tight squeeze for our family of five. We're staying in our first Moderate on this trip but we know that we will need more space soon since the kids are getting older. For us it'll be cheaper to do DVC and pay the up front costs and only $600 a year rather then pay $5000 a trip for a Deluxe hotel.

We own 250 points at SSR and our annual maintenance fee is over $900.00... I'm just curious as to where you were getting a $600.00 fee from?

 

[Juliealto]

We own 250 points at SSR and our annual maintenance fee is over $900.00... I'm just curious as to where you were getting a $600.00 fee from?

If they're looking at a starter contract of 160 points, $600 isn't too far off the mark. The dues on our 160 pt contract at BLT are under $600 per year and 160 points is right around what we need for 8 nights in a Deluxe Studio @ OKW or AKL at Christmas or Easter or during the summer.

Like many who contemplate DVC but aren't sure it matches their travel style, we are also budget travelers. When we are on a non-Disney trip and the room is mainly a place to shower and sleep then we're pretty content to stay at Super 8 and Travelodge. DVC is a treat we gave ourselves to allow us a comfortable space to spread out in and a more relaxed state of mind during many years of future trips to WDW and the surrounding area. Some people buy an RV as an investment in their future family vacations; we bought DVC.

 

[21hearts]

We own 250 points at SSR and our annual maintenance fee is over $900.00... I'm just curious as to where you were getting a $600.00 fee from?

I was just guessing at how much it would cost per year. I know a few people who have points and I took all of their yearly fees and averaged them out which was actually $602 but I rounded down.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

I was just guessing at how much it would cost per year. I know a few people who have points and I took all of their yearly fees and averaged them out which was actually $602 but I rounded down.

Here is some information from online:

What are the maintenance fees at each resort?

Annual dues, per point, for 2011 at each resort are estimated as follows:

Bay Lake Towers $3.89
Grand Californian $4.07
Saratoga Springs $4.51
Old Key West $4.98
Animal Kingdom $5.01
Beach Club Villas $5.28
Wilderness Lodge $5.34
Boardwalk Villas $5.46
Hilton Head Island $5.68
Vero Beach $6.78
Aulani $4.31

 

[rebelbuddhist]

Does anybody have any favorite seasonal meals or treats they are looking forward to?[/QUOTE]


We ALWAYS do a CP with dinner or lunch at Le Cellier or Corral Reef, but certainly NOT Chefs de France or Nine Dragons (bad food,poor service).
Also, Fantasmic with dinner package at Brown Derby or Mama Melrose's.
Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House is also tops on our list.

 

[Tea4Alice]

we'll be at BLT magic view 12/4-12/10. First time as DVC and first for Christmas, also taking our DGD to MVMCP on the 6th.

 

[shocky5]

Does anybody have any favorite seasonal meals or treats they are looking forward to?

We ALWAYS do a CP with dinner or lunch at Le Cellier or Corral Reef, but certainly NOT Chefs de France or Nine Dragons (bad food,poor service).
Also, Fantasmic with dinner package at Brown Derby or Mama Melrose's.
Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House is also tops on our list.
[/QUOTE]

We love Le Cellier and are planning on a CP package there. We have never seen Fantasmic (scandalous, I know) but we are hitting it this year! We also love Donald's Safari breakfast and that is going to be a repeat - also love O'hana's!

You are in my area of the world - did you have any tornadic activity the other night? We were fortunate. We did watch the rotation pass over while NOT on the ground. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the recent storms in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri...

 

[Meriweather]

Getting those ADRs ready to go......almost to the 180 day mark

Then wait for booking for CP.

We did get our tickets to MVMCP.........we're going Dec. 6

 

[rebelbuddhist]

Getting those ADRs ready to go......almost to the 180 day mark

Then wait for booking for CP.

We did get our tickets to MVMCP.........we're going Dec. 6

Sure hope the CP bookings are easier than last year.... WDW kept saying they would be available on a certain date and then they weren't. Does Edward James Olmos always narrate on Christmas Day or have there been other narrators Dec 24-27?

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Does Edward James Olmos always narrate on Christmas Day or have there been other narrators Dec 24-27?

I think he's been doing it since about 2008. I believe there have been others before that though.

 

[lustergirl]

one day closer

 

[21hearts]

Another day down!

 

[smitty1212]

Hi everybody! Excited to be going and staying at CS 12/3/11-12/9/11! Going to MVMCP on 12/4/11. First Christmas trip, so here is a question I have - does the MK regular parade and Wishes fireworks that are not part of MVMCP have a holiday theme, or are they like they are the rest of the year?

 

[petals]

180 days so from tomorrow I can make ADR's (Although techically where I am it's already tomorrow but have to wait for time difference to catch up )

 

[bitohoney]

When does booking for Candlelight Processional open up?
I'm getting the nervous/excited jitters already.
Can't make ADRs until June 26th.

 

[Juliealto]

Hi everybody! Excited to be going and staying at CS 12/3/11-12/9/11! Going to MVMCP on 12/4/11. First Christmas trip, so here is a question I have - does the MK regular parade and Wishes fireworks that are not part of MVMCP have a holiday theme, or are they like they are the rest of the year?

It's the standard Wishes and MSEP on non-MVMCP nights (unless they create a special 40th anniversary night parade or fireworks show between now and then). After the final MVMCP they run the Christmas party parade during the afternoon.

 

[rebelbuddhist]

When does booking for Candlelight Processional open up?
I'm getting the nervous/excited jitters already.
Can't make ADRs until June 26th.

Last year, Disney kept saying a date maybe or check back in a few days or next week. I forget when they actually started taking reservations but think it
was in July-- late in July if I remember correctly. I do know it was weeks after our 180 day in June. Hope it is different this year and reservations can be made on-line.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

When does booking for Candlelight Processional open up?
I'm getting the nervous/excited jitters already.
Can't make ADRs until June 26th.

Last year, I believe the partial narrator list was released around the 1st weekend of August and bookings opened the last weekend of August. However, many narrators were still not listed at the time booking opened.

Unfortunately, the CP process has become more burdensome over time. It is frustrating to guests that the list is not complete before bookings open, and it is also frustrating that it does not correspond with ADR booking dates. Online reservations for CP would be awesome, since wait times on the phone can be over an hour when packages are first opened to the public.

Hopefully, the process will be smoother this year!

 

[21hearts]

Only 6 days to go before I can book ADRs.