Securing studios - retirement question

[HokieGCC]

This is my first post so if I put this in the wrong place please let me know.

We are about 5 years from retirement and are considering using DVC to stay in FL in Jan and Feb. We currently vacation there every year and know a lot about Disney etc and know we would enjoy that.

It appears if I get about 1000 points (at SSprings for example) we could book all of Jan and Feb - assuming we could be sure to get a studio most of the time. We would also like to visit Vero and maybe the Beach Club to break things up.

My plan blows up if you can't easily get studios to stretch the points as one bedroom villas require about double the points. Does anyone know how hard/easy it would be to stay in studios the whole 2 months?

Thank you in advance.

 

[CarolMN]

As long as you book your home resort when your 11 month window opens, you won't have a problem getting a studio. (So make sure you buy where you wouldn't mind staying).

You may have a problem getting a studio at 7 months for the smaller DVC resorts, but January and February (except for Presidency's week) are relatively easy to book at 7 months. Doubt you'd have a problem, especially if you don't mind using the waitlist.

If you book your home resort at 11 months, you'll be assured of a place to stay. Then you can see where elss you might stay at 7 months.

I like your plan - hope you can make it happen.

 

[HokieGCC]

We have been going through this thought process for about a week now and it is sounding more and more like a good idea. Thanks for the boost of confidence!

 

[chunkygal]

Sounds great. I would want a 1 bdr for the space and ability to cook, though.
I would think the ability to cook would make up for expense vs eating out.

 

[DVCconvert]

your plan sounds like our plan, with the exception that we'll be in one bedrooms, and want to stay for 3 months...that's why we're at about 2K points, thus far. As a PP said, so long as you book using your home resort 11 month window, you should have no problems. As I understand it,you're limited to a single ressie of 30 days, but that won't stop you as you'd just make a second ressie for your 2nd 30 day stay....Sounds great!!

 

[dbs1228]

Trying to convince my DH of this although we have about 15 years (hopefully less) and about another 1000 points to get (hopefully more!) but we too would stay in a 1 bedroom not only kitchen but washer and dryer!!!

 

[bbluvsdis]

Hi fellow Hokie! Welcome to the DIS! We are looking at the retirement also but I think we will be renting a house nearby and then adding on DVC trips. I think your plan sounds good but I couldn't spend that much time in a studio. Good luck with your decision!

 

[tjkraz]

One other thing to bear in mind is that DVC only lets members book up to 7 consecutive nights 11 months prior to arrival. Practically speaking, you'd have to call once a week for 8 weeks to book a two month stay. Probably not a deal breaker but something to be aware of.

One recommendation I'd make is to try renting points for a year before committing to this sort of plan. DVC resale prices aren't going to suddenly spike so there really isn't a reason to rush in. Rent points and try living in a Studio for two months. See if it's still something you want to do year-after-year.

I've contemplated a similar plan but am not even sure I could get by with a One Bedroom villa for 2 months, much less a Studio.

In a Studio there is no stove. The refrigerator is barely big enough for a carton of milk. The freezer compartment doesn't hold much more than ice cube trays. I can't imagine what you would eat every day. Unless you plan to regularly stock up on Hot Pockets, you'll probably be dining out a lot. And as most of us know, dining out at many Disney restaurants requires months of advance planning.

And no washer/dryer in the room? No thanks.

Walt Disney World resorts are great--but not as a replacement for a home. For a similar price you can buy/rent 2000 sq ft that's 10 minutes away from WDW. IMO, that's preferable to 350 sq ft located 5 min from the parks.

 

[Sammie]

I think TJ has given you some good advice. We have been going to Disney World for almost 30 years and no way would I want to spend more than two weeks there and certainly not in a studio.

That is alot of maintenance fees to pay for a very long time.

And at the end you have nothing to sell. I would seriously consider what TJ suggested.

Unless you buy direct from Disney there truly is no way to know they won't change restrictions to resales again.

I just could not trust them with that much of money in my retirement for that long of a period of time.

 

[HokieGCC]

Lots of good things to mull over here. Our original idea was to buy a condo in FL for the winter months (with a home in VA) but got to thinking this would be an interesting twist for the winter. Sounds like I need to consider less time at Disney or double the points to about 2000 to get the one bedroom - but thats getting into some big money. I need to bounce that against the condo idea again. I love the idea of trying it out via renting points the first year. Good thing I have 5 years to figure it out!

 

[disneynutz]

As PP staying in a studio is like staying in a hotel room and our limit is 5 days. Even when only 2 of us are on vacation we stay in a 1 bedroom.

If you are really going to spend that much time there I would spend time deciding which resorts are your favorite. 80% of your time will be spent at the resort and nothing worse than buying the wrong resort.

You might consider a couple of different favorite resorts and spend a month in each.

Bill

 

[AnnaS]

When the time comes and you decide to purchase - I would not buy one 1000 point contract.

Have fun planning. We look forward one day soon also in spending a few winter weeks at one of the DVC resorts.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just be sure you buy those points on resale! You'll save quite a bit over direct from Disney, and since you are specifically using the points at Disney, the no trade option isn't a problem.

 

[dvc_john]

I do the snowbird thing in Florida. As with many of the PP's, I usually stay in a 1-br. Maybe 3 days or so is the max for me in a studio. I can't imagine staying in a studio for 2 months. I do supplement my DVC stays with stays offsite at the Hilton and Marriott timeshares.

 

[jennypenny]

This is our plan as well. We looked at buying/renting offsite, but DH HATES to drive (and I imagine that will only get worse with age). He is only willing to do it if he can stay on property. And he doesn't want to worry about another property so he doesn't want to buy someplace he has to take care of.

And we've talked about studio v. 1bd. I don't mind hanging out by the pool to do laundry. I wouldn't do it now with 3 kids and the mountain of laundry they generate, but when it's just the two of us it won't be bad. Cooking is different. We've talked about taking the autotrain down so we can pack a crock pot and other appliances we might want with us. And we've camped so keeping things in a small fridge and cooler doesn't bother us.

We still hope to have enough points for a 1 bd but we would be happy in a studio (as long as it was one with a bed/couch arrangement).

 

[DenLo]

As to staying only in a studio, how do you and your wife live now? When you are home are you both usually in the same room all of the time? Or do you find yourselves in separate rooms. Do you like to watch the same thing on TV? Or do you prefer to leave the room when your spouse watches certain shows, or do you watch your shows or sports on another TV?

You also might want to consider a resort that has lots of public areas. I'm thinking of AKV or VWL which have areas that you can read a book or take your computer and have some time alone. Even the main resort of these DVC resorts have lots of nooks and crannies that the public don't know exist. Or you could bus to another resort and and hang out.

You could also save some points by adding in a side trip or a cruise from time to time. For example you could take a break and do a 3, 4 or 7 night cruise in the middle. It's doesn't even have to be a Disney cruise.

Do either of you like to read? Consider a Kindle (or two). Or you can get a Fee Library Card (for non residents) through Orange County library system for $75 for three months. Even though it might be cheaper to just buy some books, books take up space and in a studio you don't want anything that takes up space. Also you can stream videos, download ebooks, music and audiobooks through the library. We also enjoy movies so we would take advantage of our Netflix membership (it might be Qwikster soon) for streaming movies.

Can both of you handle having a limited wardrobe? Keep in mind there isn't much closet space in a studio. And since it's winter, the weather really fluctuates in Florida, from cold - 35 to 40 degrees to warm - 80 degrees. Think layers.

Consider bringing a crockpot and griddle (or a George Forman grill), just to give you more options for meals. I would tire quickly of always having to eat out or just microwaving something or even having to use the outdoor grills at the resort.

If you plan on doing this most years, consider an owner's locker, and leave a lot of those items you'll need for your next trip in the locker. Including toiletry items, sunscreen and clothes you only wear at WDW, ziplock bags, foil and plastic wrap, spices including salt and pepper. Also leftover liquor. Why throw it out when you can use it next trip?

Personally I like the idea of staying at WDW for two months. I'm not sure how we would handle it. We would still need to maintain our home and someone care for it. I worry that would be too long to ask a neighbor, friend or relative to just watch our home, so maybe we'd need a house sitter or management company.

One last comment, state law says that a timeshare cannot allow a member to stay in a resort long enough to claim residency. So I would check with a manager at member services to see if there are any restrictions that prevent you from staying at a resort for 60 days. I remember reading something about a 30 day limit. But just because I read in on a forum doesn't make it true.

 

[DVCconvert]

...... But just because I read in on a forum doesn't make it true.

Surely you jest?!!!!

 

[DonnaL]

Our plan is similar, however, we have no intention of investing in several thousand DVC points to make it happen....even on the resale market.....we currently have a few hundred points and may purchase two hundred more or so over the next five years....enough to give us most of January in a 1 bdrm.....then for February probably move offsite.......maybe over to Reunion.....still within an easy drive if we want to play at WDW. We briefly tossed around the idea of buying a condo within a half hour or so especially over the past two years with all the great real estate deals....decided against it......don't really want to be an absentee owner......even if you don't rent the place out when you're not using it......you're still an absentee owner. So, we've pretty much decided it will be most of January (allowing a few days for the drive from PA to FL) at WDW and February somewhere close, but, offsite.