Once you became a DVC member, (how) did your vacations change?

[disneymom8589]

Definitely agree with the others that our trips are more relaxed. We've enjoyed trying out different DVC resorts and the theming and amenities that each offers. We stayed at BWV for the 1st time last month and probably spent more time at the resort than the parks. Our DD joked that whenever she called us from home we were at the resort and not the parks! We spent time on the verandah reading and playing games in the parlor room. With DVC, we've also tried more restaurants.

 

[Longhairbear]

We go to WDW more often, and relax more. We don't get up early to hit the parks anymore, especially as we don't have to get out of the room so housekeeping can get in and clean. I think I like that part the best. No more hanging the "Do Not Disturb " sign on the door.
I love cooking dinner in our vacation home. Both of us love just hanging out at the resort we are at, and take in all the amenities. We also take half as much luggage, as we can wash our clothes in the unit.

 

[Flyerfan]

We drive to Florida twice a year now. One week in a studio to visit the parks and one week in a one bedroom to just relax and get away from the snow.

We love to go somewhere warm over March break and our home resort is perfect.

Sheri - from one "driver" to another (and you're even further away), how do you get past the loooong drive 2x per year? This year it will be twice for us but every year, I'm not sure. And, I've asked this many times, how do you NOT do any parks on the one trip? I want to do this, but I can't bring myself to (and DH doesn't think he can do this either). It's not like we are in the parks from morning til night, but I can't imagine not going at all for a week.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Like most others that have replied our vacations became longer , more often , and more relaxed. We find ourselves doing at least one twelve day vacation each year , and several five day vacations in addition. Like others we find ourselves sleeping in most mornings - on one trip we only set an alarm for one morning out of twelve. We decided that we wanted to ride Soarin' more than once that day so we needed to be there at park opening but even then we made sure it was a non-EMH morning . Saved a few Fastpasses for our daughter who strolled into Epcot about noon though ...

In addition , we went from a two-income to a one-income family after buying DVC. If we didn't have it now we would not be able to have the number , kind , and quality of vacations that we do. And I really NEED them , as the last few years at work have been the most stressful that I have ever experienced in my > 25 years on the job. I do believe that Disney and DVC have helped me keep my marriage and sanity because we have a place to go where we can enjoy each other and I have time to rest and relax.

BTW , "Flyerfan" - you can do a trip without the parks. We've done several that were waterparks only , and have a 5 night stay over New Years this year at AKV booked and will not have to park tickets of any kind and no plans to purchase any. I'm actually looking forward to it - at that time of year everyone will be hitting the park at rope-drop and we'll be sleeping in . It'll be easy to find me - I'll be the smiling guy with grey hair celebratng his 25th anniversary with his wife and daughter at Jiko on NYE.

 

[yandbfan]

Same as everyone else, more relaxing, can budget your vacation dollars easier, and for us as our family needs the extra space as it get bigger. Also, it is great having a kitchen. We bought frozen strawberries and a couple of bananas and made smoothies in a blender after hitting the parks. Very nice.

 

[nyck]

Boy has my vacationing changed ALOT. LOL. Well, I go on vacation probably 4-5 times a year vs. once a year. And now I go to places I never thought I could go to. And I can take my mom and friends with me. And the nice thing is that I can still travel in this bad economy.

 

[DisneyMama27]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! to all PP!

No more commando, no more exhausting days! We stay longer (10-14 days when possible) and we relax more. Our kids LOVE the pools, so we swim every single day. When it rains (yes, we go in the summer now so we can stay longer, so it is rainy season) we feel just fine hanging out in the room...the kids watch Disney channel and play with their purchases, and DH and I nap! We hit the parks in the mornings and evenings - love EMH! - and skip the hottest, most crowded parts of the day. Which means less parades, but my kids aren't parade fans anyway! When we did Christmas last year, we did more "all day in the parks" because our time was more limited and we wanted to see the Christmas parades and shows. But we would have never gone at Christmas w/o DVC.

One thing I have not read on this thread yet, so maybe it's just us... we now go in smaller groups. It started right after we bought in. DH was itching to go, and I was busy with school (teaching). So he took DD (7 at the time), and she missed a day of school for a long weekend at WLV. The next fall, he took DS10 for his birthday, and then this spring I took DD6 - it was "our turn" to go! It was SO much fun going with just one child. You really get to see DW through their eyes, and it was so special! DH loved his trips too - now, of course, DS and other DD want to go with me, and youngest DD wants to go with Daddy! Which we will do, all in good time. And though weekends are not the best point usage, we go in non-peak times for those trips and we try to stay one weekend night, and two weeknights. Air for two is so much less painful than for 5!

DH and I have gone a couple of times on our own as well, and that is a special treat!

We definitely get to slow down and enjoy Disney w/o stress, and that is worth it to us. We also now buy AP's, since we go pretty often. Right now we have 3 Disney trips planned!

 

[benseven]

#1 - LOVE reading how alike our vacations are! I've been having trouble putting it into words exactly why I'm so thrilled we bought DVC, and you all have found the words. Thanks!

We plan in advance, so DH just insists on those days off.
Knowing we'll be back eliminates the "gotta go, gotta go"-ness of the whole trip.
Save $$ on tickets by buying 10 day, pluses, non-exp. - I know they'll get used!
Go for longer trips - we can still only go once/year, but now we go for 10 days or more
RELAX and enjoy the whole WDW experience, enjoy the quiet places DVC resorts offer, and of being away from home
More spending money!

 

[karendvc07]

I agree with everything that has been said. I have found that we take the time to enjoy the whole Disney experience instead of trying to cram as much into our day as we can. Of course, we have our favorite rides that are on our to-do list. But, what my boys (8 & 12) and I really look forward to is planning our dining choices. Also, now that my kids are getting older we like to do the evening Magic Hours and sleep in late the next day. Often, they would rather spend their day at the pool than wait in lines at a park!

 

[goofypooh]

DisneyMama27-My next trip in January is with DD4 (at that time) and my parents. At first I felt a little guilty for not taking my older kids & they complained a little bit, but they know that all of us are going back next summer. Also, it is hard for them to miss school. But, I am really looking forward to the one on one time with my youngest & being able to do things at her pace. It is so hard when you are trying to get in everything that everyone wants to do.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We go more frequently and for longer trips. Our norm now is 18-12 days and 2-3 times a year. We still do go to the parks nearly every day, but we no longer do it like there is no tomorrow. The only time we tend to tour heavy duty now is when we have guests with us who aren't used to so many Disney trips.

We now favor mostly Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Those are two of the best places to just "stop and smell the roses" and soak in the scenery and atmosphere. I can sit on a bench between Africa and Asian for hours at a time! I LOVE the walking trails among all the lesser animal exhibits too. Epcot is great for soaking in atmosphere as well in World Showcase.

We do still go to a night show nearly every night. We will often do Illuminations 3-4 times a trip and also Wishes. Sometimes we just go back into a park specifically to watch a parade or show.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Our trips to WDW have not changed all that much. We go the same amount that we used to and enjoy everything the same way that we used to. We don't go more often or stay longer.

We do vacation more however, but those extra trips are to places other than WDW. The $$$$ we've saved by owning DVC has translated into other types of vacations to other places. DVC has paid off really well in this way for our family.

HBC

 

[DMKEDM]

FOr us, it's primarily what all the other posters have said--more relaxed, more frequent vacations with more time spent on "other" things (things other than the main attractions in the parks, although we go to them, too)...

But for me specifically, there are two other noticeable and major changes--

First, I've been able to take dear ones (my "almost-daughter" and her tiny children, another dear friend and her 9 and 10-year-olds, DS' DGF, etc.) which would never have happened w/out DVC to share with them. That's really special.

Second, I have enough points that I can now use WDW as a "remote work site" rather than strictly as vacation. This means that even if I can't take major time off ("major time" means more than 1-2 days in a row), if I'm in a relatively light period with my work focused on writing and telephone contacts, I can take my laptop, do my writing and make my phone calls, and still have evenings (or afternoons, or mornings, or whatever the schedule allows) at Disney! SOOOO worth it! I've probably done 4-5 "work days" trips to Disney in the last 3 years...this only works on those days when I don't have meetings and it doesn't make much sense if I have 10 or 12 hours worth of work to do for most of the days involved...but for days that are 8 hours or less in terms of "obligations" it works great! You do have to do one of these trips with the "head set" of "this is not vacation; this is work time spent off site"...but if you do that, it's a heavenly way to work!

Finally, we have a "rule" in our family: regardless of the guests we've invited, we make clear that we all have different paces...people who want to start earlier, stay later, move faster are very welcome to do so...as are people who want to start later, leave earlier, or move more slowly...we insist that guests and us do NOT have to do "everything" together...

This has made our "guest trips" work out so so SO well...everyone gets to do what they want to do, at the pace they want to do it, and having made "the rule" clear ahead of time, no one stresses about going off on their own --

Hurray for DVC!

 

[Action]

Our family has been going to WDW for over 30 years and we Still haven't seen or done everything there is to do. With buying into DVC in 2001, we are able to go to a nicer room on propert and sight see at the different hotels, look at all the deatils the resorts have to offer. The parks have become second nature to us and we don't have to ride the rides so much but enjoy the surroundings the parks offer.

I have taken trips with my DD alone and we have taken extended family trips with friends and other family members using our points. We are ready to try using points for other resort vacations, so that will be next for us and BTW, we too a 4 day cruise in 2007, first one ever, but not the last.


Ron