Since joining DVC how have your spending habits changed?

[poolgirl]

We're going home for the first time this November. But we've stayed at FW Cabins at least five times of our 25 plus visits in the last ten years. I find and so does DH that eating breakfast alone every morning at home, having evening snacks available and an occassional meal at night after a day at the parks saves a fortune!! It's also a matter of renting a decent car vs. a covertible or luxury car saves a ton too. Knowing where to shop for food vs. just outside WDW makes a big difference and having lots of bottled water in the fridge. vs. buying H20 at the parks.

We've always stayed at GF, BW, BC or the like and having all the @ home amenities seems to make a big difference.

oh yea- having an AP when you go more than 10 days per year seems to make a big difference in the amount of $ you would spend on passes.

After visiting 25+ times in the last ten years - we don't buy much in regards to souveneirs but we need to watch out with the high end of collectibles. My DH is notorious for buying something else to add to the collection! The problem is - I love the stuff as much as he does.

So just like you - being new to DVC - it only made sense to purchase!

Enjoy your next visit!

 

[lodgelady]

we spend the same amount (which by the way is our pre-planned vacation budget) but what we get for the money is vastly more wonderful!

 

[eva]

We spend a lot more than we used to. For one thing we go much more often then we used to. Plus, since we don't have to save for accomodations, we end up spending the money on nice dinners out. We probably spend about the same amount per day that we use to, but now we go more often.

 

[mickey7861]

We do spend less. Pre-DVC we always stayed for 2-3 weeks in the summer, splitting the days between moderate and deluxe resorts. Now we use our points for those 3 week stays. We eat breakfast in the villas, go to the parks for a while then return to the villa for swimming and lunch/snacks. We only eat one meal out each day....BIG savings for my family. We also have the kitchen stocked with soda, water, snacks. The $$ we spend on groceries is money we would have spent at home anyway. That lower cost for dining out makes a huge difference for my family. We have always bought AP's and still do so that's no different. Since my kids are older now the souvenir cost is lower too. Having free laundry rooms available is a cost saver too. I always end up doing laundry and now the washer/dryer is either right in our villa or we have the free DVC ones available to us.

 

[Love Tigger]

Usually DH & I spend more, but not quite double the amount. It seems that what we save in the way of accommodations we now spend on dinners out and recreation. We do a grocery stop for beer and water but we're not big on cooking and eating in. (I'm on vacation & I'm not cooking.) We now do a sit down dinner almost every night and at least two big blow out dinners on each trip. Pre DVC those two dinners would have been our food budget for almost a week. Since we know we're coming back the next year, we make time do more of the extra/fun things. We play miniature golf, rent the watermice & bikes, go to Cirque, take the behind-the-scene tours, and go on Illuminations cruises when we can.

 

[DaveH]

We have done one trip so far DVC. Park tickets the same. Meals was the same because we did not do anything in the room. This next trip we plan on getting stuff at the store on the way to WDW. That should save some. I used Brita bottle for the water and refill bottles from the parks and saved some on the water. We are paying more for room right now because we used All Stars. The rooms now are much better. A big plus for us and we know in the long run we will save $$$ on the rooms. I agree not putting money for room during trip we spend that money on maybe a better meal or something special. Because of only one trip I do not know which way we are going on that. I bet would be the same or more overall just on different things.