Snow-Wigd and the Christmas Elves, a December pre-trip!

[Native NYer]

Hmmm may need to check out renting points to see if DVC is def the way to go. It'll also be a way to add nights on our August trip

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Hmmm may need to check out renting points to see if DVC is def the way to go. It'll also be a way to add nights on our August trip

I say go for it, just make it a Sun/Thurs extension.....

 

[shannn]

I'm renting points (from a IRL friend) for our December trip. It has been really easy. We're going to stay at OKW & SSR, so I guess I'll get a chance to check them out.

We're considering DVC pretty seriously. We've been trolling the Timeshare store for 250 point contracts. I'm trying to convince Sam that it's worth the extra money to make BCV our home resort. He wants to go for OKW.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I'm renting points (from a IRL friend) for our December trip. It has been really easy. We're going to stay at OKW & SSR, so I guess I'll get a chance to check them out.

We're considering DVC pretty seriously. We've been trolling the Timeshare store for 250 point contracts. I'm trying to convince Sam that it's worth the extra money to make BCV our home resort. He wants to go for OKW.

I really like OKW, alot. In fact I would be quite sad to think that I wouldn't be staying there ever again.
With that said, if you buy your points at OKW, it may be hard to use those points for a Beach Club stay.
I hear Beach Club books up early, probably at 11 months out.

That's why we bought there first.

 

[MEK]

I really like OKW, alot. In fact I would be quite sad to think that I wouldn't be staying there ever again.
With that said, if you buy your points at OKW, it may be hard to use those points for a Beach Club stay.
I hear Beach Club books up early, probably at 11 months out.

That's why we bought there first.

Anita:

How many times have you stayed at OKW? I have never stayed there, but I am hoping to in spring of 2011 when I take the soccer moms. I like that the studios have two double beds. When you are taking friends, who wants to sleep on a pull out? I think 2 studios with 2 double beds makes the most sense.

Tell me what you like best about OKW. I have been wanting to try it, but I never read too much about it.

 

[stitchaholic]

i am totally in, i loved the last one,maybe i will get motivated to start my PTR

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Anita:

How many times have you stayed at OKW? I have never stayed there, but I am hoping to in spring of 2011 when I take the soccer moms. I like that the studios have two double beds. When you are taking friends, who wants to sleep on a pull out? I think 2 studios with 2 double beds makes the most sense.

Tell me what you like best about OKW. I have been wanting to try it, but I never read too much about it.

Hmmmm, what I like best, well, it's beautiful! The last time we stayed we were just across the bridge from the General Store so it was a short walk to the main pool. It just has that laid back Key West feel. If you want to see some pictures I have them in my first trip report. I'm sure you'll argree, it's lovely....

i am totally in, i loved the last one,maybe i will get motivated to start my PTR

I'm glad you are here! Yes, you must get started and let me know that you did!

 

[hollybearsmom]

I would love to see New Years Eve fireworks someday, I'll bet they were grand

Just catching up, I'm not going at Christmas this year so I'm reading all the trip reports I can to enjoy it anyway....

When we went last year, we were at Rope Drop for MK, and the morning was really not that busy. I think families may have been opening presents in their rooms, we had a wonderful time up until about 11am, then it was hour+ waits for everything...
At night, we went to MK on the 30th for the pre-New Years/New Years fireworks and then went to Epcot on the 31st. Both were packed, but we went with the sole intent of seeing fireworks and planned on sitting in our spot for three hours. One of us would go get a snack with one child and the other would play one of the many games we put in our backpack. Then the other parent would take a walk and get something. We were by Caseys, but up just a little bit to get out from under a tree.
It was hard with a stroller, but I wouldn't have wanted my kids on the ground for that at all. I felt safer knowing they were belted in and a little cushioned in the stroller. I walked by the front wheel to make sure noone fell into them, and dh pushed.
And after the fireworks, head to the back of the castle and a few rides before going down mainstreet. Avoid the looooong lines for transport, and enjoy walking out through the shops or a quick stop at the bakery.

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[jewjubean]

Aww!! You started a December Trip report!!! I am coming to the Kitchen sink for Ros's birthday so make sure you add me in there!! And I bet I come crash some of your days in the park. Gotta meet my adopted family!!!

 

[jenjolt]

All this talk of DVC makes my heart soar and my head swim!! We are getting closer and closer to making a decision but we really want to pay the very last school bill for the spring semester but I'm not very good at being patient LOL!!!

Anita once again I have to thank you so much for all your tips and advice it has been heaven sent!!!! I have been able to really look into some more avenues I wouldn't have thought of before!!

OKW is another resort we would love to buy into (one of our 3 choices) but I'm still leaning towards Beach Club LOL!

 

[DreaGirl]

We're back from our trip and I brought you back a little something...

 

[manntra]

All this talk of DVC makes my heart soar and my head swim!! We are getting closer and closer to making a decision but we really want to pay the very last school bill for the spring semester but I'm not very good at being patient LOL!!!

Anita once again I have to thank you so much for all your tips and advice it has been heaven sent!!!! I have been able to really look into some more avenues I wouldn't have thought of before!!

OKW is another resort we would love to buy into (one of our 3 choices) but I'm still leaning towards Beach Club LOL!

Jen,
I would go with BC if you are going resale because you will (most likely) always be able to get into OKW...goes the same for SSR. Drink that kool aid!

Tracy

 

[brookelizabeth]

Here's the text about the Merry Mixer, it sounds like fun!


Merry Member Mixer
Celebrate the holiday season by mixing and mingling with all your Disney Vacation Club neighbors. This complimentary Member event will be held at the International Gateway entrance to Epcot® every Friday in December from 3 to 5 p.m. Remember to bring your Member I.D. — it's required for admission.

The whole family is invited for an afternoon of festive fun, such as Disney character photo opportunities, an activity area just for kids and a merry special giveaway. We'll also be decking the halls and enjoying light refreshments.

This event is just one of the many perks of a Disney Vacation Club Membership — and our holiday gift to you.

We look forward to seeing you there!

This event is held on the first four Thursdays in December:

December 3
December 10
December 17
December 24

Now I'm seeing a little mistake, the dates are clearly for Thursdays but it also says held on Fridays....

I suppose that I'll need to do some checking with member services, I hope that I didn't get all excited over something we won't be able to attend.
Anyway, even if we can't go, we will be merry, it's Christmas in Disney!

I see why they don't, but I REALLY wished they offered one during the last week of December too! Thursday, the 31st would be so perfect for us. All well, another time! I look forward to your review on it.

Just catching up, I'm not going at Christmas this year so I'm reading all the trip reports I can to enjoy it anyway....

When we went last year, we were at Rope Drop for MK, and the morning was really not that busy. I think families may have been opening presents in their rooms, we had a wonderful time up until about 11am, then it was hour+ waits for everything...
At night, we went to MK on the 30th for the pre-New Years/New Years fireworks and then went to Epcot on the 31st. Both were packed, but we went with the sole intent of seeing fireworks and planned on sitting in our spot for three hours. One of us would go get a snack with one child and the other would play one of the many games we put in our backpack. Then the other parent would take a walk and get something. We were by Caseys, but up just a little bit to get out from under a tree.
It was hard with a stroller, but I wouldn't have wanted my kids on the ground for that at all. I felt safer knowing they were belted in and a little cushioned in the stroller. I walked by the front wheel to make sure noone fell into them, and dh pushed.
And after the fireworks, head to the back of the castle and a few rides before going down mainstreet. Avoid the looooong lines for transport, and enjoy walking out through the shops or a quick stop at the bakery.

Looking forward to reading more!

We will be there over NYE with 1 little one. Thank you for the tips! We plan to stay out of the parks on the 31st completely, watching the NYE fireworks from the Poly beach with MeMom!

We're back from our trip and I brought you back a little something back...

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Just catching up, I'm not going at Christmas this year so I'm reading all the trip reports I can to enjoy it anyway....

When we went last year, we were at Rope Drop for MK, and the morning was really not that busy. I think families may have been opening presents in their rooms, we had a wonderful time up until about 11am, then it was hour+ waits for everything...
At night, we went to MK on the 30th for the pre-New Years/New Years fireworks and then went to Epcot on the 31st. Both were packed, but we went with the sole intent of seeing fireworks and planned on sitting in our spot for three hours. One of us would go get a snack with one child and the other would play one of the many games we put in our backpack. Then the other parent would take a walk and get something. We were by Caseys, but up just a little bit to get out from under a tree.
It was hard with a stroller, but I wouldn't have wanted my kids on the ground for that at all. I felt safer knowing they were belted in and a little cushioned in the stroller. I walked by the front wheel to make sure noone fell into them, and dh pushed.
And after the fireworks, head to the back of the castle and a few rides before going down mainstreet. Avoid the looooong lines for transport, and enjoy walking out through the shops or a quick stop at the bakery.

Looking forward to reading more!

Thanks so much for joining in! Your post makes me feel so much better about taking the stroller. Thanks to DISers like you, we all have much better trips!

Aww!! You started a December Trip report!!! I am coming to the Kitchen sink for Ros's birthday so make sure you add me in there!! And I bet I come crash some of your days in the park. Gotta meet my adopted family!!!

You know that I can't wait to finally hug my adopted DIS daughter! You are more than welcome to join us anytime! After all you are a part of the family! I'm thinking you might even want to join us for a slumber party if you work schedule allows! We have an extra spot for you!

All this talk of DVC makes my heart soar and my head swim!! We are getting closer and closer to making a decision but we really want to pay the very last school bill for the spring semester but I'm not very good at being patient LOL!!!

As you can tell by our latest purchase I am not patient either....
With that said, we waited for three years to actually buy our first points.
Now to be quite honest, Marc retired from one district and we had earmarked some of his money for DVC points.
So at this point he is double dipping. He get retirement from one district and is teaching in a different district.
We also had a bit of a windfall recently that allowed us to buy our last round of points. Plus our home is paid off.
I know that it isn't easy for a two teacher income to afford DVC. So I hope this explains it a bit.

Anita once again I have to thank you so much for all your tips and advice it has been heaven sent!!!! I have been able to really look into some more avenues I wouldn't have thought of before!!

OKW is another resort we would love to buy into (one of our 3 choices) but I'm still leaning towards Beach Club LOL!

I do wish we had bought in much earlier! Beach Club is a wise choice. With Beach Club points you will always be able to book into OKW and SSR at 7 months. On the other hand Beach Club can be difficult to book at the 7 month mark...

I'm hoping that you will get to experience a DVC stay in your near future!
That first "welcome home" will hook you!

We're back from our trip and I brought you back a little something...

I love it! Thanks for thinking of me..... you know I think his shoes are really cool!

Jen,
I would go with BC if you are going resale because you will (most likely) always be able to get into OKW...goes the same for SSR. Drink that kool aid!

Tracy

Very good advice Tracy, the best advice I got in DIS chat on Sunday nights was to buy where you really want to stay!

I see why they don't, but I REALLY wished they offered one during the last week of December too! Thursday, the 31st would be so perfect for us. All well, another time! I look forward to your review on it.

I'm most excited to go to our first Merry Mixers!

We will be there over NYE with 1 little one. Thank you for the tips! We plan to stay out of the parks on the 31st completely, watching the NYE fireworks from the Poly beach with MeMom!

I can't tell you how much I wish we were joining you all for NYE! I'm so excited that we will be saying hi to MeMom and the girls in July!
When do we get to meet you?

 

[jenjolt]

We are definitely taking our time on this!! And we have been saving for over a year what we figure the monthly payment will be!! However just all this advice has helped so much and I know when the right time comes we will finally be owners!!! I can't tell you how excited I am for you getting more points...more trips that is FANTASTIC!!!!

A Christmas trip...with your whole family..just sounds so wonderful!! I'm really getting anxious for your trip report to start since your other one is done...well sort of LOL!!!!! You and Marc are such a hoot!!

 

[MeMom]

Smart move - retire from one place, collect the pay, and work somewhere else.

I have thought of doing that when the time comes, but I still have a while. I got a late start. I wouldn't trade the time I had at home when the older kids were little, but if I had gone straight from college to teaching and stayed straight though I could be retiring now. It's just hard to keep your head above water with one income - that being a teacher's salary. If I could quit my Disney addiction, I'd be better off in the money department.

Seven more years for me to pay on my house. It will be so nice to have that behind me. Maybe then I can think about DVC. I can get a few years out of it and then pass it on to the kids when I croak! They would most likely love an inheritance like that! As a matter of fact, they may contribute to my demise even sooner than I think!

We are in the process of finalizing our summer dates, but it will be for sure during the Fourth of July week because of summer school and camp. I imagine I'll be booking our rooms at Pop within the next couple of weeks.

Baylor - I hope you have great Halloween fun this weekend!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

We are definitely taking our time on this!! And we have been saving for over a year what we figure the monthly payment will be!! However just all this advice has helped so much and I know when the right time comes we will finally be owners!!! I can't tell you how excited I am for you getting more points...more trips that is FANTASTIC!!!!

A Christmas trip...with your whole family..just sounds so wonderful!! I'm really getting anxious for your trip report to start since your other one is done...well sort of LOL!!!!! You and Marc are such a hoot!!

Jen, if you can do it when you are young like you are now, that's terrific! Just think of all the years you will have to enjoy it!

Smart move - retire from one place, collect the pay, and work somewhere else.

It was a smart move for him, he has an at risk title, so he works with students and doesn't have the headaches of the classroom teacher.

I have thought of doing that when the time comes, but I still have a while. I got a late start. I wouldn't trade the time I had at home when the older kids were little, but if I had gone straight from college to teaching and stayed straight though I could be retiring now.

I got a late start too, it was good to be home with the kids were little. I did miss that with Baylor though...
We are almost the same age so I would be ready to retire soon too but at this point I plan to teach for at least 10 more years.

It's just hard to keep your head above water with one income - that being a teacher's salary. If I could quit my Disney addiction, I'd be better off in the money department.

I can imagine how hard it is on one income, you must manage your money very wisely!
You know if we have to be addicted to something it might as well be something as wholesome as Disney. Besides, it's nice to be in such good company!

Seven more years for me to pay on my house. It will be so nice to have that behind me. Maybe then I can think about DVC. I can get a few years out of it and then pass it on to the kids when I croak! They would most likely love an inheritance like that! As a matter of fact, they may contribute to my demise even sooner than I think!

Wow, seven more years! That's wonderful. Just think of the new DVC resorts that will be built in the next seven years!
I'm sure your kids will want to keep you around, you are great help with the little ones, plus think of how many more babies you will have around in a few more years!

We are in the process of finalizing our summer dates, but it will be for sure during the Fourth of July week because of summer school and camp. I imagine I'll be booking our rooms at Pop within the next couple of weeks.

We were going to call and see about a resort for July today. I have no idea where we will be staying... gosh I hope we can call tomorrow.
Maybe it will end up being someplace we haven't been before, it would be fun to try VWL, BWV, or BLT! My guess is it will be OKW or SSR since we have waited so long.

Baylor - I hope you have great Halloween fun this weekend!

I'll give him your message, this will be his first year to be turned loose on the neighborhood with our ornery redheaded neighbor boy!
Winkers? Is it true that redheads are ornery?

 

[wsushocker]

You and Marc are such a hoot!!

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

Hey Wigd get any new Vera's for your Trip? Did you see the new vera's that are out?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I was over on Happydogs trippie last night and saw some terribly cute Mickey Christmas stockings that she is planning on taking to Disney....
So I copied her idea!

We headed out shopping today and right at our own Target I found three Mickey stockings and three Minnie stockings. I still need to find one more Minnie but the two other Targets we checked out today didn't have either one.
Tomorrow we will try the other two Targets in the Wichita area.
I have a friend that has an embroidery machine so I plan to have our names put on the top...

I'll post a picture of them tonight.
Last weekend we were Target shopping and found a treasure trove of Disney stocking stuffers. Needless to say I'm just showing you a sample of each item we bought. I had a full cart!
Tins to put Disney gift cards in...

Some board books for Harper's stocking...

Mickey pens and mini journals for stockings...

Dry erase boards and notepad...

Mickey head spill in the parking lot.....

I'll post more pictures of shopping for a Disney Christmas later tonight!