Question for those DVCers who live far from WDW

[Bichon Barb]

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!!

That's the exact same ages as my two boys.

 

[Cruelladeville]

We are in the middle of nowhere, too, living in northern Michigan. It's a 23 hour drive from here to WDW, so we fly when we can, although we have a 2 hour drive to the nearest airport. We are going to WDW at Spring Break, and we paid $495 for first class, because coach was $430. At Christmas we drove because we couldn't find cheap airfare. We go down 3 times a year for about 10 days each time, and I am bummed because I couldn't go down this weekend. I need a real Disney fix.

 

[sfibelko]

We live just north of Columbus, Ohio, and usually do the drive (16.5 hours each way). Fights for the four of us are usually $1,000. So the drive for $400 makes sence. Just leaves another $600 to spend in the park.

 

[magicmama]

I live 1560 miles from WDW. I go to WDW about once a year. And I usually drive. But its because I stop and visit family in TN or AL and need a car while I am there.

If I go more than once a year, I will fly if I can get an airline ticket for less than the cost of gas to drive.

Since I go to TN or AL every year to visit family, I figure my main travel cost to be from AL to Orlando. In a few years, I'll be moving back to the south which will shorten my drive.

 

[SueBill]

We live in Tennessee and the drive is approximately 14 hours. We don't ever fly because I have a major fear of flying !!
We will be going 3 times this year with our first trip home in 25 days !!!

 

[deide71]

Here in Minnesota aiirfare is always dicey. When we went last Dec. I was able to get non-stop flights for $180 (X5 is still $900, but I won't drive it with 3 little ones).

For our trip in Octber I have been doing some serious manuvering... I bought enough Wendy's vouchers for 2 tix on Airtran for $150, I used my NWA FF miles to buy a ticket for a friend who needed airfare to WY @ the last minute for $200, and the remaining two airfares will run about $400. So, in essence I will pay $550 for airfare for 5.

It's a lot of work, but kind of fun too.

 

[soarin'family]

We live in a western suburb of Philly. We own 500 points at BCV, and DH has a stressful job--so when we go--it is once a year--but we stay for two full weeks. Hubby just doesn't start to relax until the 4th day!!!
Usually we drive--thank God for DVD players, Gameboys, and headphones!!

This year, however, we decided to cash in all of our AmEx points for Amtrak Auto Train! It will be an adventure. You get on the train in Lorton VA (4 hours from us) they load your car (which can be packed to the gills with stuff--unlike flying!). You board the train at 4pm and when you wake up the next morning, at 8am, you are in Florida--only an hour or so from Disney!

It will save some wear and tear on my vehicle as well.

Has anyone ever done this before? How did it work out?

My two sons are 7 and 10, so they are the perfect ages for a train adventure such as this one.

Amy

 

[La2kw]

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.

We live in California, go every summer, and spend at least two weeks.

 

[Disneylovers]

Like jomik1, we also live in the western suburbs of Chicago, also bought in 2004, and also went back down in August 2004 to check out home, for three nights. Last summer we headed to DL, banked our points, so this year, we're doing 4 nights at VB (in less than six weeks) , then 6 night at WDW in June (with four additional family members joining us). Since our pattern is go to WDW every other year, and try to see some other places our "off" year, we plan on using our points to check out other resorts. Oh, and we NEVER drive, DH can barely keep awake after two hours in a car, we always fly. If you look at our list of previous trips, we traditionally go down during spring break (due to our dd's school schedule). We really wish we had bought into DVC earlier, it just wasn't financially feasible earlier on. But, we're glad we're in now!!!!

 

[jomik1]

Bichon Barb - My boys are in 7th and 5th grade this year. My younger son turns 11 while we are at WDW and my older son turns into the dreaded teenager in June

We thought we might be forced to drive because airfares have been just awful for the last week in March. We finally found a nonstop out of Midway on Airtran for $206 per person. We had to adjust a little and leave Friday night instead of Saturday morning but it sure beats paying over $400 with stopovers. I was able to book Friday night at The Allsport for $90 so we are still ahead of the game.

Disneylovers - Howdy neighbor I'm a little north of you.

We also wished we had bought earlier. We originally looked at DVC in 2000 but it just wasn't the right time financially then. I'm so glad we decided to revisit the issue. I'm looking forward to many years of fun and relaxation.

 

[minniemoms]

Central CA. here, will NEVER drive. Just bought into it, and plan on going every other year. I guess banking the other year? Have only taken 3 of our 6 children, and then only 1 at a time. The grown ones. So we plan on 2007 flying the ones still at home out. Even at that it is a 2 hour drive to any near by airports. We do go to DL, twice a year, and sometimes more, even with a 6 hour drive. Hope they will build one in CA. But I can't wait to use it.
I did go to WDW last year twice tho, because I had DD working there. That was fun.

 

[gilld]

We live in the UK so we have to drive 90 miles to the airport for a 3 hour check-in. Fly across the Atlantic for 9 hours, and then fight our way through the chaos that is MCO before the drive to BCV. Then 2 weeks later we have to do it all in reverse! We do this most years! Is it worth it ? - YES!

 

[rocketriter]

We live in Chicago. We bought enough points to take us to WDW every other year, since we find that going every year gets repetitious. There are always a few points left over that, with careful planning, we can put to use trading out through II every few years. As it gets harder to take our kids out of school, we'll probably add more points so we can continue the same pattern during one of the busy (off-school) seasons.

 

[WDWLVR]

We bought into DVC because we had gotten to the point of going to Disney at least once a year. Since we bought into DVC seems we got a little more often. Sometimes we fly, sometimes we drive. Sometimes we go for a full week, other times we go for a long weekend (or combine it with another trip like a cruise). We love the flexability of DVC.

Our plan for this year is:

2 days in a Boardwalk studio after a 7 day DCL cruise (early June)

2 days in a Boardwalk one-bedroom before the DVC Member Cruise (October)
4 night DVC Member Cruise (October)
2 days in a Boardwalk one-bedroom after the DVC Member Cruise (October)

We are also planning a long weekend in December but don't know if that will be on points or not yet. Probably not as we don't want to dip into our 2007 points.

 

[sssteele]

We live in Southcentral PA, near Harrisburg. We drove first four times after buying DVC, and have flown twice. Transmeridian Airlines used to operate out of Harrisburg, so we flew Xmas '04 (about $250 round trip per person).
Xmas '05, after TMA cesed operations we drove to Baltimore and flew Southwest in order to get a direct flight (about $270 round trip per person). I don't mind driving, but my wife is now spoiled, so I guess we'll fly most of the time. It's hard to compare costs, because of itangible cost of 2000 miles wear-and-tear on the vehicle. We stay in a motel in Georgia when we drive, so that has to be included, as well as gas and food.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We live in Minneapolis, and the airfares from here to Orlando are no deals like folks get on Southwest or some of the other discount carriers. We usually shop airfares for quite awhile once we have made our DVC ressies. Then when the price gets to where we think it is affordable to us, we buy. Often it is about 3-4 months prior to the trip. We have driven the 1500 one way trip several times. It isn't my preferance, but certainly doable. Given a choice, 2.5-3 hours in the air is far superior to 25 hours of driving!

We have owned DVC for 9 years and will go as often as 3 times a year and sometimes skip a year. With gas prices the way they have been lately, and the fact that we now are usually only paying for 2 fares, we try to fly all the time. Of course, our trip March 1st might hit a snag, since we are booked on NWA, and they may be striking about that time!

 

[crisi]

Also in Minneapolis (St. Paul side actually, but they let you cross the boarder now without a Visa).

We bought points intending to do every other year vacations, so far that has held (though my husband is going down in a few weeks for a short trip with his brother). We go for a week - usually Saturday to Saturday. I find seven days every other year enough Disney for me - although we will cruise DCL in our off year this year and did that the year before - but I expect this will be the last DCL cruise for us.

With a family of four, airfare is a big part of our trip - and I don't look forward to 24 hour car rides with little kids (kids at all, roadtripping was never my thing and "Mom, she's touching me" would drive me nuts).

 

[murcor]

We are on the east coast of Canada so we fly. We like to stay 10 - 12 days. I know some people will use their points for 2 or 3 mini vacations a year, but since we fly 1 long vacation it is. This works out great for us as it gives time to relax

 

[Disney Doll]

We live in southwestern CT, which would be a 22-24 hour drive if we drove straight through.

We are fortunate to have 4 major airports, and a few minor ones too, within a 2 hour drive of our house, so aurfare isn't generally a problem. We can usually get it for under $200 round trip.

That being said, I wouldn't have a huge problem driving to WDW either...I'd just have to plan a trip, make the drive part of the trip, stop along the way. I could never do a speed run 24 hour straight trip. DH & I would go insane.

When I was a kid, my family would take a summer vacation every year. A couple of times we drove to Florida. My dad would make the drive part of the vacation. We'd leave our house pretty early...like 4 or 5 AM... and drive for about 8 hours, at a leisurely pace, stopping for rest breaks and breakfast and lunch. We'd usually get to Virginia the first day, stop, have dinner, sightsee in the area where we were, swim in the pool etc. In those days, staying in a motel, eating at a HoJos and swiiming in the evening in a pool was a big treat for a kid! The next day we'd do the same thing...up and out early, breakfast and lunch and rest breaks, sightseeing and swimming in the evening. The second day we'd get to mid-Georgia somewhere. The third day we'd reach our destination.

I have wonderful memories of thoise trips. Our country is a great one to drive, if you have the time. There is so much to see and do, it's quite enjoyable.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We are on the east coast of Canada so we fly. We like to stay 10 - 12 days. I know some people will use their points for 2 or 3 mini vacations a year, but since we fly 1 long vacation it is. This works out great for us as it gives time to relax

LOL, and some of us do several 10-12 day vacations to DVC a year! That is actually what we are doing this year. We were down for 11 days the begining of the year, are going for 10 days in March, and will do another 10 day trip in December. Gotta get the most out of those APS!!!