So glad we bought DVC!

[mrsminniemouse]

Hi!
We just returned from a 14 night stay in an off site villa near the 192. We married at WDW and have stayed on property for years but we booked this trip 15 months ago when I was pregnant. We had no idea what to expect of parenthood or how it would affect our usual WDW holiday so we choose a villa with its own pool and invited my parents along. The villa was great, the gated community was great but it sure wasn't Disney!!!!

We had a fun time but my parents wanted to do the parks commando style (a bit much for us with DD who is 1 on Saturday) Dad doesn't like to drive in the US (Unfamiliar roads etc) so DH had to drive everywhere so it meant they could never go anywhere alone therefore we never got any 'us' time. Dont get me wrong, we had a good trip but it made me realise the flexilibilty staying on property gives. We could have done the parks in a more relaxed style plus my parents could have used WDW transportation and we could have relaxed more.

As I said, we booked this trip during pregnancy but once our wonderful DD was born we decided we could manage a trip to WDW, so we spent 14 nights at The Beach Club in December when she was 6 months old. It was our best trip ever, relaxed and slow paced PLUS we bought SSR on our last day.

We viewed OKW this trip. I cannot wait to stay there. It looks great!! We ate at Olivia's and really enjoyed that too. We went to the SSR open day and thought that was beautiful (cannot wait to try it out in September- this time in a 2 bed lock off with friends) I will try to post my observations about SSR in a separate post.

JUst wanted to say really, I am glad I tried an off site villa but so glad I am in DVC so I can stay within the magic from now on!

Have a great day everyone!
Mandy

P.s We did an Illuminations Cruise. It was fabulous!!!!!!

 

[spiceycat]

always nice to here from someone who is happy with their purchase!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes, thank you for sharing your enthusiasm!

Bobbi

 

[FLYNZ4]

We stayed at a Marriott timeshare last summer with my family. It was the first time in ages that we spent any time at all off property... and the first time ever that we visited WDW without the majority of our time being on property.

I have to admit that it just is not the same experience when you are off WDW grounds. Our kids (17, 19, 21) were captive because they were not old enough to drive our rental car... and there was no good public transportation to the parks. We had to schlep them back and forth between the condo and WDW when they wanted to do some things on their own.

We were in Marriott Cypress Harbour. I would prefer not to do that again. The problem is that we have become very accustomed to "condo style" accommodations (we travel in condos extensively in the PNW)... and we are not satisfied with hotel rooms anymore. On the other hand... going to WDW and staying off-site is a major let down. Hence... that is why I am here looking to buy DVC. On the plus side... it was very cheap for us to exchange into the Marriott. We got 2 weeks in the Marriott 2BR unit for only the equivalent of 4 days worth of points from our other condos.

The Marriott was a nice condo... quite large, and very comfortable... but as someone who has make at least a dozen trips to WDW (maybe 2X that number) I have to say that you just cannot beat the convenience and atmosphere of being on Disney property.

/Jim

 

[fkj2]

Well, it seems Dorothy was right--"There's no place like home."