Planning Future DVC Trips

[WolfpackFan]

I know this has been discussed in the past, but I'm just curious - how far in advance do you start thinking about how you will use your DVC points. Right now I'm planning four years out.

1) 2004 - have already booked a VWL studio for six nights the week before Easter (April 2004).
2) 2005 - plan to use points to either stay at a 1BR at either HHI or Vero (June 2005).
3) 2006 - plan to do an II exchange for a resort in Hawaii and do it either the week before or the week after we do a NCL Hawaii cruise (June 2006).
4) 2007 - VWL in a 1BR for a week (January or February 2007).

Granted, I've only actually booked the first trip. But I have all of them recorded in the DVC Planner program. The only one that might change is 2005, if we can't get into HHI or Vero because of the shorter booking window, we might try an II exchange at either Boston's Custom House or Manor House in Williamsburg. Does anyone else plan this far out or am I just nuts??

 

[Granny]

If we were planning on doing cruises or exchanges, we'd probably plan further out. As it is, we have firm plans for 12-18 months out and then...since we know we'll be going to WDW....we pretty much wing it for the next trip.

I have run scenarios of accommodation types and DVC locations a few years out..so, in a way we do plan out a few years. But as for firm planning, we're a year or so out.

You are not nuts.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We try to plan in two year intervals to take advantage of our Annual Passes. One year with and then almost one full year without.

For example, we are getting annual passes for this Christmas/New Year's trip. But next year instead of going for Christmas, we will go for Thanksgiving, which will get us three full trips of use out of these annual passes.

HBC

 

[CK1]

We have firm plans for 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008. We have plans for other trips pretty much out to 2018, at which point our youngest child enters college. Beyond that, we have "this would be nice" plans that I constantly rearrange and add to, but nothing definite. I do, however, have a chart that lists our pts all the way to 2042, the ages of our kids, my and dh's ages, and our anniversaries -- I play with this often. On the one hand, it's neat to think of all the vacation years ahead and all the possibilities... but on the other hand it is sad to see how we all age and how soon our 3 kids will be adults. We really do have them for a short while, and you only go through life once. It's depressing, but verrrry motivating --- carpe vacation with your family whilst ye can!

 

[KelNottAt]

I'm obsessed with scopin' out all our vacation possibilities (DVC & non-DVC). My DH, on the other hand, drives me crazy with a "don't bother me about it 'til it's time" attitude. So here's what I've got planned...it might all change when he's finally able to focus on it.

2004:
DVC: HH in June if I can get 7 mo reservation, otherwise it's BWV
non DVC: Las Vegas and Grand Canyon with extended family for my 40th and mom's 60th bday's.

2005:
DVC: rent points to pay cash for 7-day DCL Western cruise in July
non DVC: Outer Banks with DH's extended family (22 in one house)

2006:
DVC - BWV GV for us + my parents + DSis and her family
non-DVC: visit mom at her new house in Fort Myers

Kelley

 

[Nink]

I am so glad to see others consumed with Disney planning!

1. 2003 - Nov.; 1 bdrm, BCV

2. 2004 - May ; 1 bdrm, BCV
Nov. ; Animal Kingdom Lodge, Savannah View

3. 2005 - Nov.; 1 bdrm, OKW

As you can see, I am getting spoiled with the one bedroom concept.

This time, I leave in 21 days. I can hardly wait. I keep shaking my travel time clock on my desk to make sure it is working properly. Come on Nov. 28!

 

[pmcpmc]

2004 july 21days bwv
2005 july 21days bwv
2006 july 21days bwv
2007 july 21days bwv
don't like to plan too far ahead

 

[JimC]

Vacations planned:

2004: two trips to WDW and one to Hawaii

2005: three trips to WDW and one to San Diego/DL

2006: one trip in January to WDW. Rest of year open for now.

Now if I could only stop tinkering with the whole thing

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

We plan about 12 months out....but we mix in other trips besides DVC............these are all confirmed below.

1.Feb 21-26-OKW and 4 day Disney cruise

(didn't use pts)

2.April 2-6 San Antonio-Final Four

3.June 26- Vero Beach (Beach Cottage)

4.July 24- Las Vegas

5.Dec 23-30 OKW and West Palm Beach (visit sister)