Tell me it is okay to not use DVC

[FreeTime]

Every year I tell the family that we are doing something different this year and every year I gravitate back to WDW and DVC. The family is fine with this. I want them to experience other places. However, whenever I start planning to go anywhere else I tell myself that I will miss the vacation club, having a kitchen (we have food allergies), having a place that caters to our allergies like Disney does, etc. and end up booking a WDW DVC trip. Is there anyone out there who only vacations at Disney? How do I break this cycle?

 

[Tara]

Every year I tell the family that we are doing something different this year and every year I gravitate back to WDW and DVC. The family is fine with this. I want them to experience other places. However, whenever I start planning to go anywhere else I tell myself that I will miss the vacation club, having a kitchen (we have food allergies), having a place that caters to our allergies like Disney does, etc. and end up booking a WDW DVC trip. Is there anyone out there who only vacations at Disney? How do I break this cycle?

Just do it. It's a big ol' world and then nice thing about Disney is that it's going to be there when you're ready to go back. And just think about the points you could save and bank for use the next year! There are places with kitchen accommodations all over the world - you can do it!

I think the trick is to plan something magical. If you're going to London, try to get in the pre-opening Stonehenge tour so you can walk among the stones, which isn't allowed during normal hours. If you're going to the Caribbean, hire a private boat for a short water tour. Etc, etc. Or if you are really having a hard time, pick a country/place represented at Disney and go see the real sites for yourself - it'll give you a much better perspective on the Disney version!

FWIW, I just spent 4 days in Paris *by myself* in March and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever done! I was lucky in that my work paid for my hotel and we used Amex platinum service to find the hotel (Hotel Lutetia on the Left Bank, which was AWESOME). But aside from that, I did everything on my own, including getting myself to Disneyland Paris for the day. One day alone I saw the Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, Versailles and the Eiffel Tower! Amazingly, I ate very well without having made any ADRs 90 days in advance. The truth is that most vacations don't really require much planning - I love planning my WDW trips as much as the next person, but I do think it's a bit of overkill, TBH and in some ways it's a bit of a relief when we go somewhere else!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Ok, I'll do it: It's OK not to use DVC. But I don't see why you wouldn't

My DH keeps talking about taking me out west to see the Rocky's, which is great, I'd love to; however... we have 2 young kinds - 3 y/o and 4 months - and it just isn't feasible right now. Going to WDW is great for several reasons: we've been there many time before so we know the place like the back of our hand - where the ATM's and bathrooms are, which restaurants to eat at, how the transportation works, etc. That makes it easy to go with 2 kids in tow because we don't stand around saying "Where do you want to go?" - "I don't know, what is there to do here?" - "Do you want to eat here?" - "I don't know, what do they have?" - "How do we get there?" - "When do they open?" - "How much does it cost?" - so on and so forth.

DVC is expanding so it will easier to travel and see more than WDW while keeping that same familiarity. Go to Hilton Head or Vero Beach for a change. What about DL or DCL? If you do back to WDW try a different time of year or look at which restaurants you haven't tried yet and make a point to try them. WDW is so big and diverse it can be a new experience every time and still be comforting.

D4D

 

[JasonDVC]

It's OK, you can do it!

This is our first year with points so we are banking them so next year we can do a big trip and then we will bank points every other year. The years we bank points we will visit family in the Azores or see another part of the world. This way, we know that every 2 years we will have a great Disney experience with our new family. It's a vacation you can count on to be great!

Plus if you want to see more of the world, just go to Epcot!

 

[amandelba]

Of course it's okay. There's a lot to see other than DVC. DW and I were talking about Belize next year. Of course you can try RCI. Or bank your points but you'll have to go 2x next year.

 

[bwvBound]

How do I break this cycle?

Yes, it is more than OK! to travel outside WDW/DVC!

First step in breaking the cycle: kick start your 'idea generator'! Start a list of places you wish to visit, things you want to do; expand your list with logistics/constraints; rework your lists into a 'vacation framework' and go from there. Keep writing stuff down! Watch for specific ideas to jump out from the noise and make themselves increasing clear (where, how, when, why) -- then start organizing these ideas into vacations.

You can do this! (over and over and over!)

 

[stopher1]

It is definitely okay to try something different. There are so many wonderful places to explore around the world - let alone right in your own country. I am very much a DL and WDW guy, but also love seeing new things/places. So far I've been to 43 of our 50 states and won't stop til I get to all 50, plus Canada and Mexico. We have a large U.S. map mounted on one of the walls in our home showing all of the fun trips we've taken since our kids were little... so far our boys have been to 36 states (our DD, being younger, hasn't been to quite as many yet but there's time).

Like the pp has suggested, why not start a list of places that appeal to you as possible destinations and then go from there. Even if you use your DVC points to stay somewhere else (not the best use or value I know, but they are there if you can't pay for lodging elsewhere). I was just talking with a friend last night who lives in Maine about a possible visit and trip in to New Bruswick, Canada to explore the Maritimes next year. Lots of possibilities exist. Disney is wonderful, and we love going year after year, but there is so much more to see and experience!

 

[logan115]

I'll disagree with the PPs, and should you ever take a vacation outside of WDW or stay at a non-DVC resort you will be required to give me all of your points (while you still continue to pay MFs)

Just kidding (I think)

One thing you'll probably be presently surprised at is how cheap travelling outside of WDW can be. On a somewhat similar note I remember being in Vegas a few years ago and we stayed at Mandalay Bay. The cheapest meal we had was $15/person and that was just for a sandwich (not even a BLT). Was refreshing to get home a grab a Big Mac meal for $5

Chris

 

[BEASLYBOO]

There's a big, beautiful, world out there, and no, I'm not referring to EPCOT.

I try to alternate, 2 years of smaller DVC vacations, (yes, it's much easier for us because we live in FLA) and then every 3 years a non DVC vacation which includes world travel ($$$$). Or like last June, big family reunion, 11 of us for a week in a GV, next two years smaller vacations, which is much easier to decide since I had to bank/borrow most of my points for the reunion.

 

[thelionqueen]

Although I agree there is a big world out there, I cannot advocate vacationing anywhere else but Disney
We have vacationed there my entire life (CA & FL) and I couldn't even think of a year without it. I know most people can and do, just not me

 

[utahkennedys]

We take several nice vacations each year. In the last 6 months we have been to WDW, Marriott Newport Coast and Westin Scottsdale. We also went to DL during our Newport Beach trip. Lately I am trying to "force" us out of WDW in a way. We are going to Maui for 10 days in December and OKW/BCV for 2 weeks in Sept. However, the ONLY trip I really LOVE (and DH is starting to feel the same...) is WDW. I know why. When we go to other places, even if they are resort areas, it still doesn't totally remove us from life. People are still living there, leading their lives, etc. But at WDW, we feel mentally more removed. So, we know we need to hit WDW at least once a year and other places too, but nothing is a "true" vacation for us like WDW!!!

 

[disney4metoo]

It's OK, you can do it!

This is our first year with points so we are banking them so next year we can do a big trip and then we will bank points every other year. The years we bank points we will visit family in the Azores or see another part of the world. This way, we know that every 2 years we will have a great Disney experience with our new family. It's a vacation you can count on to be great!

Plus if you want to see more of the world, just go to Epcot!

What island in the Azores?

 

[Sandisw]

We tend to go to WDW almost every year and we love it!!! We just bought DVC, because they built BLT (we are Contemporary and MK fans and only wanted to be there).

The years we didn't go to Disney we did try the beach (Ocean City and Myrtle) but the whole time we were there, while we had fun, we kept saying we missed WDW.

So, I know where you are at. But I think you just have to do it and you will be fine...but, if you know you LOVE Disney, don't feel guilty. My children love it as much as we do and I always say they can try all those other wonderful places if they want with their own children!!!

 

[Nikisha421]

by reading this thread i am now thinking about cancelling my already booked Thanksgiving trip...and my free dining/birthday trip...there are so many other places that I do want to go but for some reason I have become addicted to Disney and much more addicted to my DVC

 

[PSC]

: I have become addicted to Disney and much more addicted to my DVC

You say addicted to Disney and addicted to DVC like it is a bad thing!

 

[rutgers1]

We are doing TWO trips next year to Disney, and at that point, I think we'll be ready for something else. We are actually excited to do something else, as we find that, even with DVC, a Disney trip is still very expensive. I realized that we can cruise for less than the price of a trip to Disney and then have double the points for the next year when we return to the mouse. Plus, we are thinking that it is time to start seeing some other parts of the country and world, as our kids think that the only place a family can go on vacation is Florida.

 

[Flyerfan]

I wish I could tell you it's OK. I wish I could tell myself it's OK. I am currently trying to decide between going back next May or going to Maine or on a cruise. I talk myself out of the other vacations very easily and find myself daydreaming about WDW. I can't help it!! The only way this could be accomplished is if I exhaust all of our points (we're close to that now) and we have no choice but to go elsewhere. Then again, there's always an add-on!

 

[Halle]

We've been members since 1993, my DH told me a few years ago that he was tired of Disney (yes I had to be resuscitated) and wanted to go somewhere new and exciting for our 30th anniversary. I booked us a trip to Vegas, stayed at the Bellagio, had fantastic dinners every night, went to the Mirage to see Jay Leno and to Cirque...water one. After the third night DH told me that he had to go back to Disney. Fortunately I don't leave home without my DVC card and was on the phone immediately booking a trip. Bottom line is you can always go home (DVC) but it is fun to try new places too.