snowbirding

[lbdpw1285]

does anyone plan to use dvc as a winter snowbird getaway?
like from sometime in december thru march or april or any part of that time.
we are going from jan 3 to 29 this year. hopefully in 2 years (retirement!!!)
we will buy more points to go from jan 2 to approx march 1.
who else????? please share

 

[justloveit]

What a wonderful plan. Good luck with it. We just golfed with someone who spent about 6 months a year down there and would bring family members along at different times. I don't think we will ever be able to do that, but it sounds like a dream!

 

[Donna M]

We should have enough points to stay for three weeks in a 1 bd at the same place. I've looked into moving to studios for the weekend and we may just have to do that to stay longer. Anything to get out of NH in the winter!

 

[RCharnay]

You're describing my fantasies! No need for a car, a kitchen for home cooking, beautiful surroundings and all the excitement you could want if you choose to leave the resort. Heaven!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I would love to do that! I better start saving money to buy more points!

 

[3happydancers]

Gee, I never thought to do this but it does not sound like a bad idea!

 

[Pixieflip]

My plans exactly!!! Someday...

 

[Sully]

We have done it the past 3 years. We arrive the last week on January and leave after the first week on March. We stay in studios and do a lot of our own cooking. We stay at Vero Beach, SSR, and OKW. This year we are also staying at AKV, SSR, VB, and a week cruise on the Magic.

 

[robertdangelo]

I have often thought of Snowbirding at WDW. You have to hop from resort to resort... there is a limit of weeks you can stay at one resort, correct?
Bob

 

[pouncingpluto]

I would love it except for the no pets policy. So it's a no-go... even 35 years from now or whenever it is that I retire, I can't see myself without dogs!

 

[jennypenny]

We have added on a few times and plan to add on more to get to 8 weeks at Disney. Our plan is mid January through mid March each year. We figure if we drive down and bring a crock pot, electric griddle, and some decent bedding we'll be all set. Maybe I'll even bring our small fridge with us so we have two.

 

[dvc_john]

I do what you are planning, but not all at DVC. This year, for example, I will be there December thru February, staying at AKV, VWL, OKW, THV, BCV, BWV, and a couple of the local Marriott timeshares and a couple of the Hilton timeshares. And I spend Christmas week at relatives near Tampa, but come back to Orlando for New Year's.

Some may think moving around a lot is a pain, but I enjoy it. I save points by doing studios on weekends, and 1-br or larger weekdays. I get to enjoy all the resorts, and for the offsite weeks, I can visit Seaworld and Universal, or just relax by the pool. It's a great way to spend the winter.

 

[Dizny Dad]

I have often thought of Snowbirding at WDW. You have to hop from resort to resort... there is a limit of weeks you can stay at one resort, correct?
Bob

Is there a limit as to how many consecutive weeks we can stay in one resort?

 

[DenLo]

Is there a limit as to how many consecutive weeks we can stay in one resort?

Never heard of that one. In fact I recent saw a thread where a soon to be retired officer was planning on having a year off with his wife at WDW. No mentioned that he couldn't stay at any resort for more than a certain time. His guide told him that the only restriction was that you could not establishing residency at WDW.

 

[DenLo]

We have done it the past 3 years. We arrive the last week on January and leave after the first week on March. We stay in studios and do a lot of our own cooking. We stay at Vero Beach, SSR, and OKW. This year we are also staying at AKV, SSR, VB, and a week cruise on the Magic.

Wow wow!

I would think you'd have to stay in studios at least part of the time so not to use more than the 5000 maximum points you can own. Okay so I'm exaggerating how many points it would take to stay there for 2 months. Just chalk it up to my being jealous. Maybe we could stay there for that long every three years. Somehow that just doesn't sound as neat. Bummer.

Congratulations to all of you snow birds.

 

[jennypenny]

I think I remember the limit being 6 weeks at one resort? And 6000 points total.

 

[Rob S.]

That has been my plan all along since I bought into DVC. I plan on having enough points to spend January through March there every year when I retire. I figure that I'll need between 1500 and 2000 points if I stay mainly in studios. I'm about halfway there now. I wouldn't mind moving every few weeks either. That way I can stay at all the resorts every year.

 

[lbdpw1285]

thanks for all the replies!
we also look at it this way, over the course of time , if we bought 2000 pts, approx $200k, it is still less expensive than many 1 b-room golf condos around fla where you still have maint fees, but not as many amenities (trash&towel, full clean every 8days gated community, security)
you have sole responsibility year round when you are not there etc etc.
it may not be perfect, but we think it's a viable option.

 

[MinnieGi]

DH and I have already talked about doing that!!! Of course its about 25 years away, but we're already looking forward to it!!

 

[ohtarabell]

On the other hand, you could buy 10 weeks (2bdr lockoff) at the Marriott in Palm Desert for about 80k. Have a 1 bedroom for 10 weeks, a studio for 10 weeks and probably easily trade for weeks in Orlando or elsewhere at one of the Marriott properties. Onging cost would be about 10k per year and you wouldn't be tied to a single location. I know it wouldn't be exactly the same..............Just something to think about.