Quantity or quality when booking?

[dizneeluvr]

Hi everyone!

Not normally a bargain shopper by any means, I have found myself becoming a DVC ``bargain girl" of sorts. I find it FUN to see just how far we can stretch our points each year.

Since there are only four of us...I prefer to stay in a studio while at WDW because we are so rarely in the room.

We stayed in a studio that was very nice at HH last month, yet in the future I would prefer a 1 bedroom there when possible because there is some more relaxing room-time at that resort.

I love to scrounge some extra points up and go to Big Cedar for a few nights in the summer as that is only a 4 hour drive for us.

We don't knock off weekends simply because when you are flying (like to WDW) we need the all important ``saturday stay'' for flight purposes. I like to go for atleast a full week to the DVC resorts.

When you plan your trips do you tend to go for shorter periods so you can have bigger accomodations? Or do you go smaller so you can have more?

Just wondering if anyone else gets part of the DVC thrill out of planning.

Laura

 

[Mickmse2002]

I love planning our trips! We normally shoot for a 9-night stay when we go to WDW. We are a family of 5 so a studio is a bit tight. We are very comfy in a 1-bedroom at OKW.

 

[Chuck S]

It depends...if we've invited other folks along with us, we get two studios for privacy and quiet. If it is "just us" we get a 1 bedroom.

 

[yesdisneyfool]

We are trying to squeeze in 3 trips a year so we elect to stay in a 1b in Feb (5d & 4n) and a studio on the other trips usually (4d & 3n).

We like this because we can enjoy the magic more often.

We use weekends due to kids in school but when they are on their own - watch out we'll be there even more with those cheap weekdays.

 

[JADEMM]

We did a 2 br at BWV with us 2 adults and 2 kids plus one cousin child and it was way overkill but awesome. Each child in thier own queen bed. Felt pretty stupid actually. Otherwise we go for the studio twice a year over a 1br once a year.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Oct 2003 we are planning on the VWL studio for DH, DS (who will be11) and myself. This past year we rolled our points to this year so the 3 of us can cruise just on points.
In the future we will be wanting a 1 bedroom as DS gets older.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by dizneeluvr
When you plan your trips do you tend to go for shorter periods so you can have bigger accomodations? Or do you go smaller so you can have more?

Laura....we are kind of the opposite.

On a short stay (4 nights) later this summer, we are booking a studio since we know we will be in a little more of a commando mode. Okay, not commando (never again, thanks to DVC!) but definitely more park time per day.

On our longer stay next month (8 nights), we booked a 1BR for the four of us. For a stay that long, we intend to take full advantage of spreading out and not "cramming" four people into a studio.

So we tend to book larger accommodations for the longer stays.

But in answer to your original question, yes we do find ourselves trying to find ways to stretch our points. We have no interest in moving out for weekends so we are talking about studios, different times of the year, and even switching to OKW to save a few points on a stay! If that's sacrificing, I'll sacrifice any time at all!!!

 

[JonHM]

Laura-

We are the same in that we want to stretch our points as far as possible, but we go about it differently. We take multiple short trips a year (easier for us than for many because we live in NC - a short/relatively inexpensive flight away) and do the Sunday - Thursday thing - BUT we always stay in a 1BR or 2BR.

I love playing with all of the numbers to see how we can squeeze an extra day out here or there...

 

[BillPA]

Another way to s t r e t c h out the points, is to stay 3 nights in a studio, like on Fri, Sat and Sun then switch to a 1 BR for 4 nights. This helps with the high points on the weekend in a 1 BR. And to add to the enjoyment, switch DVCs too. like 3 nights at VWL then 4 nights at BCV or BWV. If you do this make sure you stay in the studio first.

 

[DeeP]

I also love stretching my points to get the maximum out of them.
Since my children are now in college, I am quite happy staying in a studio. When the children join me then we get a 1 BR., but they usually go 1x a year to my 3-4 x a year. I also, usually arrive at WDW on a Fri and will stay Fri & Sat nights at another non DVC WDW resort and then move to a DVC resort on Sunday. I love staying at the different WDW resorts for a couple of nights and by doing this and gettting an AP rate at the other non DVC resorts, I get the best of both worlds at very little cash cost to me and a great savings on DVC points which equals out to more trips per year!

 

[PKS44]

Laura-

Hi neighbor! I just thought I would shre another little tip with you if you don't want to stay a Saturday...fly Southwest they don't require a Sat stayover, rates are very competitive and they have at least 2 NONSTOP flights STL to MCO everyday, maybe more, I'm not sure...

As for your question, I really want to stay longer, but the longer we stay the more room I would like to have, as a studio room will get a bit "close" after a few days..

Paul

 

[DVC1996]

We tend to plan 5 night stays when at a DVC resort. At WDW dh and I usually stay in a studio if it just the two of us but prefer a two -bedroom unit when the kids ( ages 19 and 22 now) come with us. Also at WDW we usually stay at OKW since we own points there,the points are lower, and the accomodations appear more spacious and relaxed.

 

[eva]

I guess that we are usually a bit extravagant with our points. When it is just the two of us we always get a 1-bedroom. When the 2 girls come with us we get a 2-bedroom. We usually stay 6 or 7 nights. But we normally only go once a year. This year my sister and her husband are joining us and we will be in a grand villa. We really don't like moving on our trip so we usually rent the largest accomodation that we will need for the stay. This trip our daughters aren't joining us the first couple of days, so there will only be 4 in the grand villa the first 2 nights of our stay. I know that we could rent a 2-beroom the first 2 nights but I hate the idea of moving all of our stuff. Plus, the room will likely not be ready and we will not have anywhere to relax in the afternoon if we did move. One of the reasons that we bought DVC was to indulge ourselves, which I guess we are pretty good at.

 

[Lora]

We've stretched out point usage by taking the weekend off to go visit FL relatives and staying in the studio (fam. of 4) for the whole stay.

For our last trip we spent 1/2 the time in a studio, and 1/2 in a 1 BR with the weekend trip in West Palm Beach. My husband wants to get the 1BR from now on because it's just nice to have your own room away from the kids, and it has the jacuzzi...and the kitchen is nice, too.

For our next trip, we're in a 1BR for all but the few days my parents will be with us. Then, we'll have a 2BR to share w/ them. It's nice to get more days, but having a comfortable stay is important, too. So, unless we get desperate, we'll skip the studio for a while.

 

[Cinderella]

I envy u people over there for being able to take more shorter trips. Flights from the uk are too expensive and we would be permanently jet lagged.

We try to stretch our points by going at a time when we will use less points. We are staying in a one bedroom next trip but, the time after that hope to do the three or four day cruise and stay in a studio the rest of the trip to scrimp on points. What I would really like to do is add on points!