There's no place like home, a December 2011 DVC pre-trip. 12/2 p56 DL and WDW updates

[rentayenta]

Because Wendy and Derek are DVC owners, we've stayed at BWV, VWL and BCV. They've stayed at SSR.

LOVE BCV.

Keith owns at BCV and loves it too. I want SSR/THV first because we bought there. I would love to get to So Cal and try the GCV after but if we do APs for WDW (which DH is leaning towards ) then Disneyland won't be until 2012 at the soonest.

 

[punkin413]

If something happens and WLV doesn't open up, you will love AKV. Try to get a Savannah View. Honestly, it's unreal. We loves Jambo and if I am not mistaken, more rooms have SVs. Are you doing a Studio?

I can't wait to try them all. So far we have stayed at OKW and AKV. Gab is begging to do a split stay at THV/AKV during our next trip. She was over the moon with that SV.

In order, I would like to try:
SSR/THV
GCV
BWV or BCV
WLV
BLT


but honestly, I think they are all fabulous in their own way.

yep, we're doing a studio. honestly i think we'd be happy with any of them. i've stayed at OKW and SSR so far. i do hold a grudge against OKW because i left my tink necklace in the bathroom and when i called to see if anyone found it, they were not very nice and the whole thing was just not handled well. plus i just wasn't digging the decor, but that's really something i can look past. i LOVED SSR, especially in congress park because we could walk to DTD. here are mine in order:

VWL (especially at christmas)
BLT
BWV
BCV
AKV
SSR (just because i've already stayed there)
OKW

 

[rentayenta]

yep, we're doing a studio. honestly i think we'd be happy with any of them. i've stayed at OKW and SSR so far. i do hold a grudge against OKW because i left my tink necklace in the bathroom and when i called to see if anyone found it, they were not very nice and the whole thing was just not handled well. plus i just wasn't digging the decor, but that's really something i can look past. i LOVED SSR, especially in congress park because we could walk to DTD. here are mine in order:

VWL (especially at christmas)
BLT
BWV
BCV
AKV
SSR (just because i've already stayed there)
OKW

That sucks about your necklace! Did they ever find it?


I like your order. It's funny what appeals to each of us. Forewarn if you stay in a Studio at BLT, the bathroom vanity is straight across from the kitchenette. Go look at the photos. The view though is amazing!

I just can't wait to go home.





DH has called twice tonight from ther FD asking questions about DVC for 2 of his fellow

 

[winkers]

DH has called twice tonight from ther FD asking questions about DVC for 2 of his fellow

have aliens taken over his body?
I think you have turned him into almost as much of a fan as you.

Maybe you should give lessons!

 

[punkin413]

That sucks about your necklace! Did they ever find it?

nope. and i knew exactly where i left it - hanging on the towel rack in the bathroom. they said the maid didn't turn it in. sounds like a dishonest maid to me! and i had to call like 3 or 4 times because they wouldn't ever call me back after they "checked." this was within an hour of me checking out, mind you.

it was just an excuse for me to buy a new necklace when i ray and i returned 7 months later!

DH has called twice tonight from ther FD asking questions about DVC for 2 of his fellow

wow....i'm impressed with your disney-converting abilities. ray is still a disney muggle for the most part. don't get me wrong - he loves it. he just pretends like he doesn't in front of everyone else. it's so annoying.

 

[rentayenta]

have aliens taken over his body?
I think you have turned him into almost as much of a fan as you.

Maybe you should give lessons!

In all actuality, I am rather low maintenance as far as "stuff" is concerned. Disney is about the only spendy thing I require. It could be a lot worse for him. At least he gets to go with me.

nope. and i knew exactly where i left it - hanging on the towel rack in the bathroom. they said the maid didn't turn it in. sounds like a dishonest maid to me! and i had to call like 3 or 4 times because they wouldn't ever call me back after they "checked." this was within an hour of me checking out, mind you.

it was just an excuse for me to buy a new necklace when i ray and i returned 7 months later!





wow....i'm impressed with your disney-converting abilities. ray is still a disney muggle for the most part. don't get me wrong - he loves it. he just pretends like he doesn't in front of everyone else. it's so annoying.

The maid taking it is disgusting and them not returning your calls makes it sting even that much worse. No wonder you don't like OKW; I wouldn't either. Glad you got another necklace though.

I am rather surprised that Michael is so open about it to be honest. Last summer he was all chatting up the DDP and this summer it's DVC. Who knows what it will be next year? I am hoping it will be the benefit of adding on points at the GCV.

 

[rentayenta]

26 days until Arizona/Vegas!!! ​

395 days until THV!!! ​

215 days until ADRs!!! ​

56 days until DVC ressie!!! ​

187 days until Mexico!!! ​

And with that, whilst DH was all jacked up on the DVC last night, we had a nice planning discussion. We are 90% sure that we are not going to be getting APs, at least for right now.

We really really really want to take the kids to Zihua, Mexico for the holidays in 2011 and just have it be our big family present with a few small trinkets thrown in No extended family, no cooking, no cleaning......

However in order to do Mexico with all of us I think we will need a 2 bedroom villa which will cost 270 points for 7 nights. Before I get too ahead of myself, I need to call MS in the morning and see how many can sleep in a one bedroom in the resort we are looking at. I already emailed the resort last night and am waiting for a response.

The thing about flying to Zihua is that flights are spendy to get there. Like spendy spendy. So........we may have to shorten our THV trip by a couple of nights because of cash donut and if we need a 2 bedroom (270 points) for Mexico vs a 1 bedroom (160 points) then we will be borrowed out through almost half of 2012's points for both trips and DH is not loving that idea. Here is what it looks like thus far if we stick with the 11 nights in October 2010 as far as points.

We will use 323 points:

• 10 from '08
• 170 from '09
• 143 from '10

So that leaves us 27 points from '10. Add the 270 for Mexico and our values look like:

• 27 from '10
• 170 from '11
• 73 from '12

If we only need 160 for Zihua then we are sitting pretty

• 27 from '10
• 133 from '11

Now if a 1 bedroom will work for Mexico, none of this matters and we'll stick to 11 nights in October, 2010. My best guess tells me if Disney allows 5 in a one bedroom then Club Intrawest might too.


On another note, DVC could severe the relationship with this property and then we would have to look into renting our points out and paying cash for Zihua.

 

[jordanyosh]

If you need to cut your THV vacation down, try not to go under 8 nights. The time just goes by too quickly if you go with any shorter of a stay. Of course, some WDW is better than none.

 

[Native NYer]

BLT is going up to $120 a point on October 4th for non-current DVC members. I haven't heard of any increases on AKV though. Plus you can always buy re-sale.

Wow, that is a lot! How much is it per point at AKV? I need to start doing some research.

 

[rentayenta]

If you need to cut your THV vacation down, try not to go under 8 nights. The time just goes by too quickly if you go with any shorter of a stay. Of course, some WDW is better than none.

I agree. It's just not worth it, which I know may sound silly to some, to go for under 8 nights. It's not like we drive and can make a couple of trips per year and really it's the first few days of Park Hoppers that are expensive. After a week it's like an additional $5 a day which is nothing relatively speaking.

Wow, that is a lot! How much is it per point at AKV? I need to start doing some research.

Currently the referral incentives are gone which stinks. Current incentives my dear for new members:

New Member Purchase


Animal Kingdom Villas***
$112 base price less $10.00 promotional discount; 160+ points

Special Offer: With the "Magical Beginnings" program, save an extra $5 per point by selling-back first year's points to DVC


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Villas****
$112 base price less $5.00 promotional discount; 160+ points



Beach Club Villas*
$106 base price; 160-point minimum purchase


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BoardWalk Villas*
$106 base price; 160-point minimum purchase


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hilton Head Island*
$92 base price less $5 promotional discount; 160-point minimum purchase


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Old Key West***
$101 base price; 160-point minimum purchase


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saratoga Springs**
$112 base price less $10.00 promotional discount; 160+ points


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vero Beach*
$92 base price less $5 promotional discount; 160-point minimum purchase


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel****
$112 base price less $15.00 promotional discount; 160+ points

Special Offer 1: $500 Disney Visa Reward Dollars for purchase using Chase Disney Visa card; offer expires 9/15/09

Special Offer 2: Two free adult Annual Pass vouchers for every 160 points purchased; note discount drops from $15 to $10 per point with this offer


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Villas at Wilderness Lodge*
$101 base price; 160-point minimum purchase



* Contract ends on January 31, 2042
** Contract ends on January 31, 2054
*** Contract ends on January 31, 2057
**** Contract ends on January 31, 2060




And that "magical beginning" sell back offer is garbage.

 

[rentayenta]

Jennifer, here is a look at Annual Dues too:





http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_easyfaq&task=view&id=51&Itemid=148

 

[Native NYer]

Thanks for the info!!!

 

[rentayenta]

Thanks for the info!!!

Anytime. I am a total enabler.

 

[winkers]

I think taking the family to Mexico for the holidays is a great idea.

The dvc points confuse the heck out of me.....do you use points for each stay plus a fee?

 

[rentayenta]

I think taking the family to Mexico for the holidays is a great idea.

The dvc points confuse the heck out of me.....do you use points for each stay plus a fee?

Ya know, I like the Mexico idea too. As much as I'd like APs, and maybe finances will one day allow that, I am still too interested in taking the kids to other places in addition to Disney. Ooo, I need to add that to my countdown. I can put in for my Zihua exchange 24 mos in advance. The good news is that it leaves plenty of time to change my mind before it comes through not that I would.



There are no fees when staying at any of the Disney Villas. There is a $95 fee to trade out like we did for Mexico next year. It's a one time fee for the entire trip. DVC also gets to skip that horrific 12% room tax garbage.

 

[Native NYer]

Anytime. I am a total enabler.

 

[rentayenta]

25 days until Arizona/Vegas!!! ​

394 days until THV!!! ​

214 days until ADRs!!! ​

55 days until DVC ressie!!! ​

186 days until Mexico!!! ​

Now with over 200 views in 2 days, I know there are lots of folks reading. Feel free to post.

 

[jordanyosh]

posting.

 

[rentayenta]

posting.

Sweet, thanks! Maybe this thing is boring?

 

[DisneyJo]

Jenny, you boring??? Never