Same time next year?

[MaryPA]

For those of you that go everyyear - even multiple times in one year, Do you go the same times or the same months? And could you tell me why?

We "bought in" last year but won't have our first DVC stay until August this year and also December this year. Before this we didn't go every year - let alone twice in one year. I am trying to do the planning for the next year or so and wondered about going the same times each year or keep changing.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We don't go the same time every year. Although there are times we really like to be there (Food and Wine Festival, New Year's Eve, August at Vero Beach) it doesn't always work out that way.

Sometimes we use the points to stay when family are with us (that's what the points went to last year and this year) sometimes we do spur of the moment weekends.

One of the many reasons we love our DVC is because of it's versatility.

We do like to do Christmas there about every three years or so.

 

[JimMIA]

We bought DVC after a trip in February. We had a great time in Feb, but will probably not go back because the weather was problematic (cold! -- of course, for us "cold" means any time the temps plunge into the 70's!)

We try to avoid WDW peaks most of the time, because we have the luxury of only being 3 1/2 hours away and go for several short trips a year. I'm sure our approach would be very different if we were going for a week or two once a year.

Our first DVC trip was a "first week of December" trip. We enjoyed it, but more because we had Grandma and Great Aunt with us than because of the seasonal decorations and events. We had great difficulty with ADRs for Epcot restaurants and decided not to do December again -- although now with the DDP, we could probably do the CP dining packages and get the meals we wanted. We also thought MVMCP was one of those once-is-enough experiences. Too crowded, and especially too crowded with really rude people.

We went in May, knowing it was Flower & Garden, but frankly not expecting to be dazzled after being there during the holidays (We're not flower people). Wrong again! F&G was really enjoyable. The crowds were much less, the decorations were spectacular, and the weather was great. We will go back in May again next year.

Our next trip is November. We believe that will be a lower crowd time and the weather should be fine. Nothing special going on, but that's fine with us...just a short visit, staying in a studio for the first time.

Our next trip after that will be May 07, and then we may try a September trip...or if DDP is still around, a December trip with CP dining.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Not always the same time next year for us. Probably the most common is New Year's. We really try to maximize our annual passes so it is more like same time every other year.

This year we are doing Thanksgiving and New Year's, getting at least four trips from 1 AP. We already did April and February. So we will skip next February but go back for either Thanksgivng of 2007 or wait until February 2008 then do it all over again.

HBC

 

[OKW Lover]

We go typically 4 times a year - sometimes more.

January or early Feb just to get a break from winter and because the crowds are low.
May for the Flower & Garden Show
October to early November for Food & Wine
Early December for all the decorations and MVMCP

 

[mikesmom]

We used to go annually about the 3rd or 4th week of May. This was about 5 minutes after DS had his last day of school (really ready for vacation) and DH was just coming off an annual business trip to DC. This got us in after school let out and (we hoped) before all the Northern schools got out and it REALLY got crowded.

Once DS hit college and had session or jobs all year round our trips changed. DH and I now go faithfully for a 4 day sometime in the first 2 weeks of October. Time to hit the F&W and before DH goes on his lecture rounds. Occasionally we also go a few days early February as DH has a meeting in Orlando at that time. There also have been a few scattered trips inspired by an anniversary or the end of a really tough project at work.

I suspect summer trips may come back as our assorted children build families, want to go to WDW and we again work around school schedules.

 

[tmt martins]

We hit June every year as DD gets out of school. Then do a small trip sometime during the year.

This year as we bought in we did the PAP's so to accomodate DM & DsF we are going late JUne and will get of early June in next year to end our PAP's.

We have a Dec 5 nights booked on points and will try to get an Oct and early spring small trips on cash or rent points to maximise our PAP's

sow e are bound by school right now I don't mind taking out a few days but a week would be to hard to make up.I also have to do all my vacation at the beginning of the year so all is planed on that as well.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

We get a two-bedroom villa every year at a DVC resort. This year, 2006, will be Vero Beach, Florida.

We always vacation in late May, June, July or early August. We must schedule our vacations around our 3 kids school & sports schedules.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

We tend to go around the same time each year because it works best for our families schedules. I can see it changing though if and when our needs change.

 

[Figment2]

One trip is always same time - a week around Halloween in a 2BR at OKW (friends and I take turns using our points). We also do a long weekend either in late April or early May (for F&G). This year I decided to attend a pin event again (it's been several years) so I'll be going in Sept. (1BR BVW). Last month a friend told me she really wanted to see WDW at Christmas so I've also got a long weekend in Dec. reserved (1BR BWV) (doesn't take much for me to plan a vacation).

Cyn

 

[jekjones1558]

We don't care for the REALLY hot, humid weather, so that eliminates June - Sept. We tend to go in Oct. for Food and Wine, Dec. for Xmas stuff, early spring to escape the long Minnesota winter, and late spring for warm weather in anticipation of Minnesota summer. We usually bring guests for at least 3 of the 4 trips, so sometimes the schedule changes to accommodate their needs.
Before I retired (I was a teacher), we were forced to travel with the crowds. It is SO nice not to have to deal with peak season now!

 

[shellbelle1971]

We go at the same time each year that we go. Our schools have a break in October for the teachers' convention, so we love to go then. Low crowds, good weather, food & wine festival. It's perfect for us! But because we live in Utah, and airfare is expensive for all 8 of us, we tend to go every other year, or 2 out of 3 years, but not every year.

 

[simzac]

We go January 1st every year because that's when the Adventure season starts. This is the only time of the year during this season when we can go with our sons who are still in school. How long we stay each year depends on when they go back to school after the holidays.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We used to go at the end of May every year because we had to-I was a teacher and it was a tradition that the day after graduation, off we'd go! Even though I haven't worked in a school for several years, it's a habit to go in May. I find I look forward to the F&G festival. And DH likes getting there right after the golf rates go down. Now that we've got a little more flexibility on when we go, we still haven't broken the May habit.

 

[BobNed]

We go at the same general time each year - early December to see the Christmas festivities, but we alternate first and second week to maximize our APs. We went in May this year for the F&G Festival and we'll probably add that to our regular mix.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

The reasons for going given times of the year can vary....

At first I fell in love with May because it was empty and warm. Then the fourth week in January was great because I lived in NJ...probably 95% of the time it was like Memorial Day type temps for NJ with an occasional cold snap. With heated pools thats still warm enough to swim.

Now I'm enamored of the F&W season. Again its warm, hurricane season is mostly over and its just croweded enough that venues that require crowds (like the adventurers club) are entertaining. F&G in May is nice also.

At the same time I'm working on trips during times of the year I haven't had much experience with like summer and New Years Eve. I figure I'll try summer just once on my own schedule and call it a day. New Years we tried to get reservations too late last year so I'm giving it a try again this year. I've got a studio for New Years Eve and two nights afterwards. I'll probably get a hotel for 12/30 just to keep the point cost down.

 

[Coloradomom]

We've always gone the last week in October because that is when DS and DD have fall break...a wonderful tradition in our school district! Now that we own at SSR we went for spring break, a different experience with more crowds but still fun and for DD (16) a great way to meet other HS kids. (DS 21 is in college).
Funny because next spring break DD will be on tour with a school group and she said "Sorry you guys won't be able to go to WDW" . We looked at her and said "Why not?" She cannot believe we will go without her.
I suspect even once she graduates we will go late October because we do enjoy it then, with the nice weather and the Food and Wine festival.

 

[jdvm]

What a good question! Whether they intended it or not, Disney created a vacation home on demand when they came up with the DVC concept. The varied responses to your question show just how individual ther uses of DVC are---which is the beauty of the program. With DVC you really have a second home...use it when you want.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Cold blooded Minnesotan here, so we don't like the heat and humidity of the summer months. We most often travel in December and January. Love the lower crowds and the lower temps then. Hey, it's always warmer than home! We have also done October, August, September and March. We often do December one year and a year later do January and NYE. We went in March for the first time this year and combined it with a spring training trip to Fort Myers for the Twins spring camp. That's likely to become an annual trip, but I really want to do F&G sometime!

 

[cobbler]

We go the same week every year and then if mix up any other trips we may have. It's the week after Thanksgiving. It just started out that I made my husband take me home via Disney World after visiting his family in Alabama and well, the tradtion stuck

It doesn't feel right if we miss that week for vacation.