POLL: How often do you go to WDW and stay in DVC resorts?

[3DisneyKids]

We are kind of on a schedule as well. This is our "off year", so we went in March for 10 days, but let our APs expire and bought new vouchers right after we returned. We will redeem those vouchers in January when we take our next trip. The we will be going in May and December next year also. That means that 2010 will also be an "off" year, so we will likely do only March again that year.

Sheesh! Only a die-hard DISer could call it an "off year" and "only" go for 10 nights!

Since the OP is a relatively new owner, this makes sense. I know that our first year as owners we went 3 times in that year. Part of it is the excitement...we OWN DVC! Now we can go anytime we want! And so you do.

Then, as others have said, you tend to settle in to a routine...whatever that may be. Every other year or 4 times every year...or anything in between.

 

[tea pot]

We go twice a year and try to sneak a 3rd girls only or December trip in every other year.
I usually have at least two trips book at a time so when I leave I already know when I'll be back ??? Is that an addiction???

 

[edk35]

NONE OF YOU ARE HELPING MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

 

[dgaston]

And I'm sad because my vacation countdown says 70 days. We just got back late Friday

I have Vero Beach booked for our Feb vacation. We're letting the APs expire, and I don't know if we'll switch to 10 day non-expiring. That depends on whether DH decides to retire from teaching after the next school year (that'll be # 38 for him -- he could have retired after 35).

 

[DisFlan]

We usually go about once a year in the fall. This trip will be 2 times in 12 months to use APs and DDE before they expire. We'll probably skip 2009 and come back later in 2010 - to build up points and (maybe) see Harry Potter. And then do the repeat of twice in 12 months. And hope that airfare isn't quite as steep by that time. (At least we can hope.)

DisFlan

 

[dvcdisney]

We usually go 2 times a year with trips between 10-14 nights.

Since the airfare is so expensive, now more than ever, we try to make it as long as we can so it's worth it.

 

[lah3hh]

We use to go to WDW only about 1 time a year (prior to becoming DVC members). But since 1998 when we joined DVC, our number of trips has doubled or even tripled some years. However, our total number of overall vacations has increased since becoming DVC members as well.

Sometimes we have taken off years from WDW but use our points to go to HHI, DCL or exchange out somewhere with II. Just recently DH said he needed to give WDW a little break and start doing some other types of trips with our points. He really wants to grab one of those Adventures by Disney. I don't know, what do you guys think...is this a grounds for divorce?

 

[bobbiwoz]

It would be hard for me to cut back to one trip every year, or even two trips. I thoroughly enjoy Flower and Garden and the Christmas activities. Sharing WDW and Vero Beach with the family is sort of a "must do" each year that the family wants to come.

Bobbi

 

[Pinmaniac]

We usually take one or two 3-5 day trips per year plus 6 or 7 weekend trips. Works out to about 25-30 days per year. If we find things getting "ordinary" we take off a few months and are itching to get back. We can't fathom only one trip per year

 

[cokenut33]

WOW!!! What an AWESOME thread!!!! Disney is a drug. We are addicts!!! Since DVC we go at least 3 times a year, either on points or AP rates. We even got friends to buy in so we could use their points. I drive my DW nuts every time new passholder rates are released because I will price out rooms & airfare before she even gets home.
We have found that we actually don't spend as much per trip now because of DVC, our APs, and the other assorted discounts we get. We also don't buy nearly as many souveners. So we can do 2 trips for less than what we used to spend on 1.
Remember, you only live once, and if you wanna live at Disney World there's nothin' wrong with that!!!

 

[zackiedawg]

Remember, you only live once, and if you wanna live at Disney World there's nothin' wrong with that!!!

Now there's an idea I could go with...Let's see - how much would I need to bribe Disney to let me have a 2-bedroom condo year-round for the rest of my life?

 

[hrsmom]

We go a lot. (My son is 3 and he's been 8 times ) Now that my DD is starting school we'll go less though. We'll probably only go 1-2 times a year from here on out. (Although, we aleady have 2 trips planned for 2009, but one is just DH & I).

 

[hardingk]

We have a schedule that we tend to follow. We get APs for a trip and then try to get in 3 trips before they expire (say, Dec./Feb./Oct.). Then we wait until the following year and do it again. So we have one year on and one year off but we take several trips in the one year on. In the off year we tend to spend a week at Hilton Head.

We took a bit of a break from that, however, and haven't been to WDW since 10/06. We did do a DCL cruise in that time though. We've also used our points to visit Disneyland and Sedona, AZ. We'll be starting our "schedule" again this year with a 2-week stay in December, followed by a 2-week November stay next year. I'm hoping for another trip in there somewhere, but we'll have to see.

Your idea is a lot like ours!!

 

[lovinthemouse]

We try to go at least 2 times a year. Since becoming members we do it so different. We always drive. It is about a 16 hour drive and we don't mind it. We really don't buy the typical souviniers. We utilize the AP discount so our biggest expense is food. We usually stay in a studio and eat breakfast in the room as well as snacky things and drinks. Now with gas prices as they are we may drive down for longer trips. This New Year's will be our first trip with the $4.00 a gallon prices.

 

[PutnamDS]

We used to go once every year, or every other year. Now it is so much more...
this year we went in July and have trips planned for September, October, December, January 09 and May 09....Yikes....

As longs as the airfare stays reasonable, I could see four trips a year being the norm for a long, long time to come.

Deb

 

[DVC-Don]

I got two or three times per year and always stay at a DVC resort. Pushing 30 times now.

 

[fishermouse]

3 or 4 times a year sometimes VB orHH instead of WDW but we are HOOKED on DVC. Daughter was married in the Wedding Chapel this past Jan. Disney made it very magical. Used two years worth of points for guests and wedding party. We'll borrow for the rest this year and next. Have to stay in a studio a few times.

 

[Anal Annie]

We go four times a year, with each visit being at least 8 nights.

Mike - I am looking for a job - I think I wanna work where YOU work! Could I telecommute?! I am cheap labor! As long as I got lots of vac. time!

We just got back on the 27th from a LONG AWAITED trip to AKV and 7 n on DCL...now I'm depressed 'cuz our AP's are expiring on the 16th and I have no new ticker to watch! We're letting our AP's expire until we can plan for more trips (I need a job )!! No need to let AP's sit unused if we don't have a trip planned...but I am already watching fares on Kayak.com for long weekends next winter...but then I remember we won't have passes any more....it IS a vicious circle!

 

[edk35]

Mike - I am looking for a job - I think I wanna work where YOU work! Could I telecommute?! I am cheap labor! As long as I got lots of vac. time!

We just got back on the 27th from a LONG AWAITED trip to AKV and 7 n on DCL...now I'm depressed 'cuz our AP's are expiring on the 16th and I have no new ticker to watch! We're letting our AP's expire until we can plan for more trips (I need a job )!! No need to let AP's sit unused if we don't have a trip planned...but I am already watching fares on Kayak.com for long weekends next winter...but then I remember we won't have passes any more....it IS a vicious circle!

Our PAP's expire on the 16th too....so we must have been have been at Disney the same time last year??? We also live in MD. I am sad................because we are going to have to stick to once a year probably after this next Nov. trip. We went 3 times last year and it will be 3 times this year but we have dd starting college next year and we have our so starting high school this year....it just gets harder and harder to go. My youngest son will be in 4th grade this year....so not too hard to take him out of school a day or two each school year to go with a school vacation/break. It is the older two.

 

[Anal Annie]

Our PAP's expire on the 16th too....so we must have been have been at Disney the same time last year??? We also live in MD. I am sad................because we are going to have to stick to once a year probably after this next Nov. trip. We went 3 times last year and it will be 3 times this year but we have dd starting college next year and we have our so starting high school this year....it just gets harder and harder to go. My youngest son will be in 4th grade this year....so not too hard to take him out of school a day or two each school year to go with a school vacation/break. It is the older two.

Yes - we were on the same SW flight home to BWI last summer...I remember 'cuz one of your kids has a nut allergy & they didn't pass out the peanuts on the flight, right?!

We also went 3X this past year but I don't know if we'll be able to go back down again over the winter or not. We really enjoyed our long weekend over MLK last yr. (we're in Montgomery Co & our schools were closed on Mon. for MLK and then on Tues for a "professional day" so it worked out perfectly but his year they've planned that professional day for the following Mon. so we don't have the same nice long weekend and DS starts middle school this yr.) So since our AP's are up we may not go back down again until mid-August next year! We're trying to save our points to do an extended family trip for my parents 50th anniv. (AND I got laid off so there's really no extra money for new AP's or flights!) So it's double depressing! If we decide we can afford to get away it might actually be cheaper to just plan a quick trip to Mexico or something thru Costco Travel than to buy new AP's 'cuz those darned AP's just lead to planning more trips to WDW!! We used AirTran this summer and we have a $112 credit with them that we have to use (book) by January so I'm chomping at the bit to plan something! LOL....