Question for those DVCers who live far from WDW

[Bichon Barb]

For those of you who can't to drive to WDW in a day, on average, how often do you get to WDW? And how long are your stays at DVC resorts?

We are having a hard time making a decision on DVC ownership. At least for the next 8 years, our vacations revolve around school breaks, and flying out of Syracuse during Feb or April or Dec breaks is very expensive! So we'd have to be prepared to drive it (which entails two 11 hour days.)

Any thoughts or input is most appreciated.

 

[DonnaL]

We live in NE PA (about three hours south of Syracuse) so we're pretty much in the same boat as far as distance (about a 19 hour drive). I would never drive to WDW since my limit is about 11 hours in a car!! We live only about two miles from a regional airport (even though it's called an international airport ...very limited flights) but cannot get a direct flight and what we can get is VERY expensive. So.....we've been driving two hours to PHL and getting direct Southwest flights and we're in Orlando in two hours......not to mention the fact that SW has some GREAT prices. Our last trip in December was $116.90 pp rd trip PHL/MCO. Given those prices we've been going two to three times a year depending what else we've got going on that year (i.e. family weddings, graduations, etc). Not sure if SW is in Syracuse....but, I know they fly out of Buffalo and I think either Rochester or Albany also (not sure though). So, you might want to check it out. Prior to buying DVC we only went to WDW every four or five years....partially due to the expense (flying out of our local airport) and partially due to our kids' schedules (school and sports). Since we only have one still in school now our schedule has opened up somewhat, although my DH is an adjunct faculty member at PSU so we sort of have to plan around his class schedules in addition to work schedules.

 

[Simba's Mom]

It sounds like we're about the same distance from WDW as you. This past year, we got to WDW 4 times, with a variety of help on the air fare. DH travels a lot, so 3 of the trips were covered by FF miles. The fourth trip was a Southwest Airlines special, on very short notice. When DH retires, since he'll no longer travel and get FF miles, my main requirement for a retirement location is that it be within a days drive of WDW. Right now, only two airlines come to any airport within 125 miles of us-sort of limits competition and thus, low fares!
Almost forgot to add, when we do get to WDW, we stay no longer than a week-DH's job is such that he can't take more than a week's vacation at a time. Can't wait for that to change! Since I'm a much bigger Disney Nut than he is, last time I stayed for a second week.

 

[debbiepump]

I live on the other side of the country, in Seattle. Found the only airline that flies direct (Alaska Airlines) and so far have made it to WDW once to two times a year.
Kids are grown, so trying to book around school holidays aren't a problem for us.
No, we can't do spur of the moment trips to WDW due to the distance we travel, but then we don't have any problems getting a room having to plan so far in advance!

 

[shellbelle1971]

For us the biggest consideration is getting there. DH has to accrue enough frequent flier miles to fly all 8 of us, or I have to find a very good fare on sale because driving from Salt Lake City is just not a realistic option.

Knowing that, we bought enough points to take the kids every other year for 7 nights in a 2-bedroom October. (Our kids have a 3 days off school in Oct., plus the weekend that we "stretch" to a week by taking them out of school for a couple of extra days.)

After doing that, DH and I have enough points left over for long weekend of 3-5 nights in a studio or 1 bedroom (depending on time of year we go) on the "off" years when we don't take the kids.

It isn't enough! LOL! We'd love to go more often, and when finances permit will probably buy enough points to go with kids every year. But until then, this is a good plan for us.

 

[westjones]

We are 17 hours away. We only own 150 poins and that will be plenty for us because we will only be going once a year. Spring break here is still cold, so I get through the winter thinking of the sunshine at Disney!

We have a rule of thumb--if we can get roundtrip airfare for under $200 per person, we fly....otherwise we drive.

We go for 5 nights in a DVC unit (hate paying for weekend points), and maybe going to another resort on Friday night (or leaving early). That is the plan anyway (we haven't been sticking to it).

After driving back to Indiana one spring break (leaving on a Saturday) we deicded that maybe it is better to leave on Friday anyway. We are hoping the roads aren't as crowded.

This year we lucked out and got airfare, but next year we may be driving.

We have drove it quite often, and as much as I HATE the long drive, it is worth it to get to be at Disney!

DJ

 

[Towncrier]

That was a major concern when we initially purchased DVC in 1995. My wife and I discussed the fact that we would not be able to afford DVC and the cost of flying to/from WDW once a year. Our purchase would only work if we could stand the annual drive from NE Ohio (about 20 hours). We were within the time period where we could cancel our DVC ownership the first time that we made the trip with our then 6yo and 8yo. We actually enjoyed that ride and the annual trips each year since.

So we make the 2200 mile roundtrip at least once a year and will continue to do so until 2042.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We are 1100 driving miles from WDW. We decided the first year of ownership, that if we drive that far, we are staying at least 10 nights. Even flying, we stay because we dont get cheap airfares much out of DFW.

So we stay 12 nights with 1 weekend in between for most trips.

We have a 12 nighter coming up in May and then another over Christmas break. Driving is really not bad when we have so much time in between, plus we have a car while there, so we can check out other places.

So far so good, and I really don't miss flying all that much. We still fly, but only once a year max when we have a shorter trip planned (like DCL).

 

[MrShiny]

We live in Chicago and bought into DVC in 2004 (first trip was in 2005). e went twice last year (a 2br at SSR/BCV for 7 nights in June, a studio for a 3 nights in September/October at VWL for MNSSHP (kid's had an institute day)).

Thisyear, we are doing 1 BR for 6 nights at SSR/BCV in June (followed up by a cruise, but not on points) and 4 nights in December in a 2BR at SSR (or VWL if I can get it).

In 2007, we are planning a Thanksgiving trip to San Diego/DL using points.

So overall, we tend to go once or twice a year.

We have been flying Southwest lately, and their rapid rewards with my personal American Express points and work Hilton HHonors points and Diners Club points has allowed us to fly for free most of the time.

We wouldn't have done the MNSSHP trip without DVC I'm sure. As we had the miles, DVC and AP's, it was a very cheap trip!

 

[cobbler]

We live about a 21-22 hour drive away. We go once a year at a minimum. It seems to alternate, every other year or every third year we are down 2x. Although I am trying to figure out ways to get down there much more since we have accomodations at our disposal.

We have never flown down, always drive. It takes 2 days. 12-14 hours the first day, the remainder the next day. Hubby likes to drive, does all the driving, kids have DVD players in the car and so on.

We don't live where we can get good airfare from airlines like SW. Its a 3 hour drive to either Detroit or Chicago to do that and by the time we pay for parking . . . So we drive.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Thanks so much for all of the replies!

Now that Transmeridian is no longer, we no longer have any direct flights to Orlando. We could drive 2.5 hours to Albany or 3 hours to Buffalo to take Southwest. Rochester (1.5 hours) has Airtran. But because everyone in NYS has the same school breaks, these flights fill up quickly. There is also the parking cost.

 

[mnasf]

For those of you who can't to drive to WDW in a day, on average, how often do you get to WDW? And how long are your stays at DVC resorts?

We're in CA. We bought DVC last year and our first stay will be this summer. I have 3 kids 2-11 so we're the school holidays, too. We plan to go about every 2 years while the kids are small and our stays are about 2 weeks because it takes so long to get there and deal with the time change, etc.

 

[mydogdrew]

Seems like way too far to drive. I'll take three hours in a plane over two days in a car anytime. Besides, you must have $400-$500 invested in gas for trip like that (plus maintenence, hotels). I would have to stay two weeks to justify that amount of time in a car.

 

[Bichon Barb]

We've only driven it once and that was last April when we towed our RV down there and stayed at FW. The drive was a bit stressful, but it was totally worth it.

We've been RVing since 1998. Once you get used to vacationing with your home away from home, hotel rooms just don't do it any more. That's one of the reasons DVC is looking so good to us.

 

[jomik1]

We live in western suburbs of Chicago. We bought in 2004 and we went down in Aug 2004 for 4 days & July 2005 for 5 days. We have our next trip scheduled for this Spring Break for 8 days (March 25-April 1). So far it seems to be once a year. It's hard to go more than that due to our kids schedules. We have 2 boys, 12 & 10. Between school, baseball, basketball & football it's hard to find a good time to go. We pretty much try to go when we have the least amount of conflict!!

 

[jmatias]

We live in Hawaii so we have no choice but to fly

Anything under $500 roundtrip is pretty good. I always keep an eye out for specials and we don't hesitate taking the kids out of school 1-2 days early if we can save $$$$.

We usually travel in the summer and stay for at least 2 weeks since we travel so far. We would love to stay at a DVC resort the entire time but most times we stay a week off site ( we own Marriott timeshares) and then a week on site.

This year our plans are:

July 24-29 BCV
July 29 - Aug 5 Disney Magic cruise
Aug. 5-10 Hilton Sea World ( though trying to work on a DVC stay)
Airfare: Delta FF miles for 5 people

December 14-24 ( haven't decided resort yet)
Airfare: Delta FF miles for 5 people
pulling kids out of school 1 day early for xmas break

For us, the airfare is a big part of the cost but actually to get anywhere from Hawaii its a big part of the vacation expense.

 

[wannabe]

We live in Maine and we try to go twice a year. I always book our flights way ahead of our departure. We try to fly on weekdays when it is cheaper. We average anywhere from $270 to $330.

As far as school vacation, we take our son out of school before vacation and he makes up his work during the actual school vacation. We tried going after school vacation and that didn't work as well. We usually book a 1 or 2 bedroom at BC or BW and stay an average of 10 days.

It is duable if you want to really spend some time watching the airlines. I find I do better dealing directly with the airline. We leave March 5th and I booked the flights in August. Can't wait.

 

[byoung]

Southwest moving into Philly was a big factor on me buying my DVC. $49 flights and sometimes even lower Ding flares.

 

[wyodan]

Living in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming we have to drive at a minimum of 2 hours to get airfare at $450 or so. If we drive to Denver (5 Hours) we can get a much better deal.

We purchased enough points to do 1 week in a two bedroom every two years. We figure going every other year will be just right for us, even though we would like to go more often.

 

[wisbucky]

We live in Wisconsin and driving is out of the question for me. We usually fly Midwest Express which is a straight shot. We are a good 2 1/2 hours away from the airpot. When we orginally purchsed DVc we planned on going only once a year. But now we have made a habit of going 3 times a year. March, Ocotober and December. We usually stay between 5-8 days.