The Disboard DVC Christmas tree tradition!

[bobbiwoz]

DH is on his way to the Notre Dame home game that is later this afternoon. Yesterday, he set up our Christmas tree, but left the major decorating to me. The tree actually looked pretty good with just garland and lights, but he knows that our Christmas ornaments are mostly memories for me, and I wouldn't be happy just leaving the tree as is.

We have been donating a tree to the Christmas tree tradition since 2005, and many of our pretty ornaments have come from people who have shared our trees through the years. We also include an ornament for each family in our tree box, that's why I have to shut sign ups off once we have finalized the list. So, we also have our yearly offerings of ornaments.

I'm taking a break from decorating, but I've counted over 20 special DVC ornaments from Disboard friends, most of whom I've never met in person, but each one is treasured. Some have left home made ornaments that stay with the tree that is sent, and some have given ornaments to all. I've had an "elf" who helped prepare gifts for every user as well.

I just want to say Thank You to all who have helped make my Christmas Tree decorating very special.

If you've missed out the tradition and have never participated, I hope you can try to make one tree exchange in the future.

Bobbi

PS. I am warm and toasty, DH and our DS and DGC will be in 20 degree weather with a 90% chance of snow at game time. I am a very lucky person!

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Right back at ya baby!

 

[sarahk0204]

Thank you for helping to keep the tree exchange going! I am so glad to figure out a way to keep it going, and dividing the work load was your idea. Enjoy your decorating!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you for helping to keep the tree exchange going! I am so glad to figure out a way to keep it going, and dividing the work load was your idea. Enjoy your decorating!

Thank you for coordinating! It seems to be going well!

Tree is finished, now to arrange our crèches.

 

[LSchrow]

although i doubt we'll ever have the opportunity to participate in a tree-sharing, the thought of such a wonderful tradition, created with so many people & memories, is truly touching.
hope your holidays are as beautiful & heartwarming as you

 

[WilsonFlyer]

DH is on his way to the Notre Dame home game that is later this afternoon. Yesterday, he set up our Christmas tree, but left the major decorating to me. The tree actually looked pretty good with just garland and lights, but he knows that our Christmas ornaments are mostly memories for me, and I wouldn't be happy just leaving the tree as is.

We have been donating a tree to the Christmas tree tradition since 2005, and many of our pretty ornaments have come from people who have shared our trees through the years. We also include an ornament for each family in our tree box, that's why I have to shut sign ups off once we have finalized the list. So, we also have our yearly offerings of ornaments.

I'm taking a break from decorating, but I've counted over 20 special DVC ornaments from Disboard friends, most of whom I've never met in person, but each one is treasured. Some have left home made ornaments that stay with the tree that is sent, and some have given ornaments to all. I've had an "elf" who helped prepare gifts for every user as well.

I just want to say Thank You to all who have helped make my Christmas Tree decorating very special.

If you've missed out the tradition and have never participated, I hope you can try to make one tree exchange in the future.

Bobbi

PS. I am warm and toasty, DH and our DS and DGC will be in 20 degree weather with a 90% chance of snow at game time. I am a very lucky person!

You know, Bobbi, that is simply wonderful.

And therein lies part of the "problem." I think what you guys are doing is fantastic, and maybe it's just me, but I've always been afraid to get involved because, quite frankly, I have never understood how it all works and who's responsible for what and so on.

We're going to be at Jambo from the 29th until the 4th, and my DD8 would have died to have a tree, yet again this year, I opted to not "get involved" because I didn't understand how it all works.

For example, I guess everyone leaves a new decoration on the tree? The donor gets the tree back in the end? Who knew! Does the tree move decorated or is it taken down and apart every time and boxed and moved? Where's the tree come from (I guess your post sort of finally answered this one for me.)? I'm afraid of not knowing what to do!

We go almost every Christmas because it's my favorite time of year in the parks and resorts. It's simply breathtaking. I think we'd really enjoy being a part of this. I just wish someone would explain it all to the rest of us.

I hope I haven't taken away from your thread. That was certainly not the intention. Instead of almost dying like it did this year (I think.), I just think this thing could be even bigger if more of us understood how it all works. Maybe I just missed the explanation thread.

 

[bobbiwoz]

You know, Bobbi, that is simply wonderful.

And therein lies part of the "problem." I think what you guys are doing is fantastic, and maybe it's just me, but I've always been afraid to get involved because, quite frankly, I have never understood how it all works and who's responsible for what and so on.

We're going to be at Jambo from the 29th until the 4th, and my DD8 would have died to have a tree, yet again this year, I opted to not "get involved" because I didn't understand how it all works.

For example, I guess everyone leaves a new decoration on the tree? The donor gets the tree back in the end? Who knew! Does the tree move decorated or is it taken down and apart every time and boxed and moved? Where's the tree come from (I guess your post sort of finally answered this one for me.)? I'm afraid of not knowing what to do!

We go almost every Christmas because it's my favorite time of year in the parks and resorts. It's simply breathtaking. I think we'd really enjoy being a part of this. I just wish someone would explain it all to the rest of us.

I hope I haven't taken away from your thread. That was certainly not the intention. Instead of almost dying like it did this year (I think.), I just think this thing could be even bigger if more of us understood how it all works. Maybe I just missed the explanation thread.

This is a summary of our involvement.

We joined DVC in 2003, and that year there was a thread here asking if anyone wanted to share a tree. This was before the idea really took off. It was before Magic Express, so we had a car, so it was no problem to drop it off at OKW, we had stayed at VWL. The most wonderful surprise for us was that the VWL CMs had set it up, it was lit and beautiful in our studio as we entered! A request for donation was probably asked for for the return trip.

In 2004 we celebrated mom's 85 th birthday, and we signed up for the BWV tree. By this year, the trees mostly stayed in a particular resort. This tree was a Fiber optic tree, so festive. When we returned home, after Christmas our Kroger had the exact model tree for sale! I took that to be an omen, I bought it, and decided to send that tree down every year we stay at BWV. (We alternate December stays at VWL & BWV.)

So...this is our tradition. We send a tree down each year. Generally we pay the postage down, and donations are collected for the return trip. I send small gifts for each recipient, and people are asked to sign the Memory Book that is enclosed.

Sometimes, we have stayed at other resorts for a weekend with family, and for those weekend, we have had an SSR tree and a BCV tree.

Last year the participation size exploded.....so many trees, so many participants, it seemed our coordinators needed a break. I suggested that each resort have a coordinator. Sarahk0204 liked the idea and got the ball rolling.

What people do is up to them. Some donors are bringing the tree down, one offer was for a tree that would not be expected to be returned to donor. I have brought my tree home by car last year, and will do so again.

Participants have been very generous, or not, I do not know, no one keeps tabs. Sometimes there are ornaments included for me as well as others.

What I include in box besides gifts:
List of participants...to be taped to outside of box.
Tape because the tree is boxed after each user....but sometimes an "in person" exchange has taken place.
Magic Marker
Scissors
Extension Cords
Extra decorations, lights to be used where wanted.
Memory book to sign
Donation for postage envelope

I think that's it.

This year we sent VWL tree, I had the BWV tree in my kitchen. We alternate trees, but unfortunately the BWV tree's bulb no longer works, so I'll be buying a new BWV tree!

Any questions?

Bobbi

PS. Notre Dame won!DH is home & DSon's family is back in sunny and warm FL!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

No and THANK YOU!

I'm going to give it a shot next year!

 

[sarahk0204]

No and THANK YOU!

I'm going to give it a shot next year!

Yay! We try not to be scary.

 

[twinmomplus2]

A few weeks back while cleaning out a junk drawer, I found the little spiral notebook, we had in with the very first Boardwalk tree! I do believe it was the fiber optic tree a previous poster has just mentioned.
I will have to go see some of the names.
I know for sure Bobbiwoz and Jerkjones have notes in it! Let me go look!

Haha found it!! Yes it was the 2004 fiber optic tree. And according to the book this was the 2nd year.

The first family. Was...Joellen, Dave and Joann

The second was Holly and Steve Staugatis.
(Sp)

The third was my family!

The fourth was Melinda, who according to her note was sick and in the room!

Bobbiwoz the 5th,Celebrating her Mom's 85 birthday with a group of 14.

Also included is a lovely note from Bobbi's sister Nancy.

And lastly.., Jody and Jim Capirchio.

I wish I was tech savy enough to post pictures of the little notes they are very sweet!!

Cheers to this years swappers 10 years later!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

A few weeks back while cleaning out a junk drawer, I found the little spiral notebook, we had in with the very first Boardwalk tree! I do believe it was the fiber optic tree a previous poster has just mentioned.
I will have to go see some of the names.
I know for sure Bobbiwoz and Jerkjones have notes in it! Let me go look!

Haha found it!! Yes it was the 2004 fiber optic tree. And according to the book this was the 2nd year.

The first family. Was...Joellen, Dave and Joann

The second was Holly and Steve Staugatis.
(Sp)

The third was my family!

The fourth was Melinda, who according to her note was sick and in the room!

Bobbiwoz the 5th,Celebrating her Mom's 85 birthday with a group of 14.

Also included is a lovely note from Bobbi's sister Nancy.

And lastly.., Jody and Jim Capirchio.

I wish I was tech savy enough to post pictures of the little notes they are very sweet!!

Cheers to this years swappers 10 years later!!

Cheers to you! Thank you for posting!

Another memory, a friend, Cheryl, made all who came to Mom's party, a beaded and sewn craft Christmas Ornament. Highlighted on each was the person's first name initial. Cheryl will be joining me on 2014 DVC MC!

 

[twinmomplus2]

Cheers to YOU! This has been a tremendous amount of work, for YOU to have kept this going all
These years!!

I am so grateful you did! I am pleased to say I am participating at AKV next week!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Cheers to YOU! This has been a tremendous amount of work, for YOU to have kept this going all
These years!!

I am so grateful you did! I am pleased to say I am participating at AKV next week!!!

No, it has not been me.....wdwstar perhaps....she organized everything...we donors took the list from her, she had an elf, Jim???...last year..MrShiny.

Enjoy the holiday tradition!

 

[sparkyboy]

A big thank you to all who are coordinating the trees. This is our first Christmas away from home and I was delighted to find about the tree exchange and our family will be participating at BWV.

 

[dgaston]

Phooey, I didn't include the memory book in the BWV tree exchange. I can add it when we're there, but will have missed two families. Maybe they'll see this, and can add a small notebook. We only have 6 families.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Phooey, I didn't include the memory book in the BWV tree exchange. I can add it when we're there, but will have missed two families. Maybe they'll see this, and can add a small notebook. We only have 6 families.

Well, right now the VWL tree is lost!!!! So...it's a good thing I have these memories, that may be all we have!!!

 

[lovin'fl]

Bobbi-the ornaments you've gotten from the tree exchange...are they on your tree at home that your DH set up for you? If so, can you post a picture? I'd love to see it. We are not setting up a tree or any decorations as we will be at AKV from the 19th to the 25th (while that's part of the draw to spend Xmas at WDW, not having to decorate, I do miss having a tree in my house).

I was too late to get in on the exchange this year (saw the threads in 2011 when we first did WDW for Xmas and hoped to get in on it the next time we went...which is this year). I bought a small (like 2 foot) tree at Target with little sets of ornaments, a tree skirt and topper...for real cheap and it's light and will fit nice and snug in my suitcase. I bought window stickers too for our balcony door. In 2011 we had nothing in the way of decorations and I regretted that. One of my DDs did not want to go to WDW for Xmas this year because she wanted to have a tree and decorations, so this will be nice for her. The tree will be small and sit on a table but it will still be nice. Does anyone know if the main doors to the villas are magnetic or if there's a way to hang an Xmas sign?

 

[bobbiwoz]

The ornaments are just incorporated into our home tree. There are some from Disboarders on the VWL tree, but that's missing right now.

We have two trees set up in our house, I replaced the BWV tree that would have gown down next year (but the bulb went, we had to trash it) with a small tree that I now have in the kitchen.

Your little tree sounds just what would be needed to cheer up your daughter on her vacation!

Remember to bring an extension cord or two. I like to have an extra set of lights that I drape over a mirror or near the slider.

 

[lodge]

Well, right now the VWL tree is lost!!!! So...it's a good thing I have these memories, that may be all we have!!!

our tree was for the first user too. It took 4 phone calls, 3 visits by the family to try to obtain it....we spent too much on this endeavor.

 

[bobbiwoz]

our tree was for the first user too. It took 4 phone calls, 3 visits by the family to try to obtain it....we spent too much on this endeavor.

Our first family had no issues, but the second family could not get it...it is lost. I am working on it. The system worked so well, but it seems to have real flaws now.