started making a month's-worth of reservations!

[starbox]

After much discussion, DH and I decided to bite the bullet and plan to stay in Florida for an entire month this summer (we both work in education so it's possible). Still not totally sure what we'll do with our actual house - hoping to find a college student or missionary family through DH's work that is/are on sabbatical can house-sit as I don't really want to shut it down for a month.

But - I am excited! We'll be renting a house in Vero and will do several three-day trips to different DVC resorts mid-week and a stop on the way to and from Disney. Have BLT and AKV successfully booked - waiting for 7 months to reserve BCV.

This should be interesting!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Awesome!!!

We did this a few years back and had a great time!! We stayed 12 nights at BCV, 2 nights at Ft Desoto Beach and 12 nights at SSR.

We barely went to the parks, but we had such a nice relaxing time and it really felt like home. We even did it all in studios. The boys were much smaller then

Extra pixie dust for your BCV ressie

 

[Brave teacher]

That sounds fantstic! I look forward to the day that I am able to do something like this.

 

[starbox]

Liferbabe - glad to hear a similar scenario worked for you in the past. All our Disney days will be in studios - laundry, groceries, and space back at the house.

That sounds fantstic! I look forward to the day that I am able to do something like this.

We've worked our way up to this - and I'm still nervous about it! It seems like I want to spend more and more time in Florida every year. I'd love to spend the entire summer down there. Oh - who am I kidding - I'd like to spend my entire LIFE down there!

 

[BroganMc]

You could do what friends of ours did, sold their house in MD, bought one outside Melbourne and moved the entire family to FL, including the teen & college-age kids. (The kids voted to relocate because they wanted to go to FL universities.) The mom got a job as a CM. Only flaw in their plan was the dad couldn't relocate his job as easily. He's a commuter now. Still they are all very happy and came out ahead financially. (A $400k house up here bought a $200k house down there with in-ground pool.)

Made GM and I very tempted. Me even more so once idiotic MD legislature voted to impose sales taxes on web designers. We'd pick up and leave if not for all our family being up here.

My perfect world has us down in Florida for the winter (late Sep through April) then back here for the summer (actually at the beach in OC, MD). It's just too hot and humid for me in FL over the summer.

 

[BroganMc]

BTW starbox, we've done this too. Actually we do 3 weeks every Spring and Fall balancing time between our Marriott and Disney timeshares.

When you stay put in a place for longer than a week (10-14 days preferably) you feel like it's home.

Make sure you take down some of your blankets, pillows and whatever is your creature comfort. I always bring my lightweight comforter and mobile office (wireless router, couple laptops, external speakers, etc.).

When you plan your trips, spend some time doing a lot of non-park things. My favorite days begin with high tea at GF then end with fireworks on Poly beach. Or else it begins with breakfast on the Boardwalk and a few rounds of Fantasia minigolf. And when you do go into a park, think of it like a day at the neighborhood park. Bring a picnic lunch, find a nice spot and spread out to have a long 2 hr lunch while you people watch. Watching all those commandos and newbies studying their maps and synchronizing watches like a military campaign is hilarious.

 

[starbox]

BTW starbox, we've done this too. Actually we do 3 weeks every Spring and Fall balancing time between our Marriott and Disney timeshares.

When you stay put in a place for longer than a week (10-14 days preferably) you feel like it's home.

Make sure you take down some of your blankets, pillows and whatever is your creature comfort. I always bring my lightweight comforter and mobile office (wireless router, couple laptops, external speakers, etc.).

Sounds like a good plan! I always want more blankets on vacation!

It will be interesting to see how we do the parks - we've sort of evolved into taking a very laid-back approach to the parks and spending more time in the resorts - but that was with 10 days in the park at a time. With a bunch of 3-4 night trips - I wonder if we'll be in the parks more?

 

[BroganMc]

With a bunch of 3-4 night trips - I wonder if we'll be in the parks more?

Probably. Short trips usually translates into us logging more park time.

Your best bet is to concentrate on different parks for different trips.

i.e. Book BWV and BCV then go to EPCOT, alternate resorts with DHS visits.
Book BLT or VWL and go to MK and the surrounding resorts
Book AKV and go to AK
Book OKW and SSR then go to DTD with maybe a late night EMH somewhere. (EPCOT is closest).

 

[podsnel]

So happy for you, Starbox!! It sounds like a wonderful June for you!!

 

[Crystal_27]

Ahhhhh, that sounds heavenly. I can't imagine a better way to spend summer vacation.

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi starbox,
Your plan sounds fantastic and I am sending some pixie dust your way for the Beach Club reservations. Have a wonderful trip and please be sure to post a trip report when you return so we can see the extended trip went.
________
UGGS

 

[starbox]

Hi starbox,
Your plan sounds fantastic and I am sending some pixie dust your way for the Beach Club reservations. Have a wonderful trip and please be sure to post a trip report when you return so we can see the extended trip went.

Will do! It's crazy - the whole thing has been hypothetical until now when the actual reservations are due to be made. I'll admit, the thought of June in Florida has seen me through many a rough day....