To all those who go for 2 week trips....

[ZIPBAGS]

Can you convince my wife to that also?? My 3 kids and I would love to go. But, my wife thinks that 4-5 days is enough (& are finances say it also). Although, I am winning the battle. I too the older two kids last November (wife stayed home with baby). But, with convincing. I was able to get her to go in August for 6 nights! The longest we have ever gone. And we are surprising the kids.
Seriously, how do you find doing 2 week trips. When I have gone before. I always seem to go commando. Since we have such a short time span. I can imagine taking it nice and slow and enjoying everything slower.

 

[Tagrel]

Our first few trips were about 5 nights, VERY commando! Then that changed.

We have done 2 week trips since 2002. We joined DVC in 2001, and bought enough points to stretch our stays that long. We find the pace SO much more relaxing, and by travelling in August one year and July the next we can buy APs and use them for at least two trips. AP's make it really nice, because you can justify spending just the morning or evening at a park (not all day to get your money's worth!).

We find with two weeks we have lots of time for each park, enjoying the pools and getting to Universal and/or Seaworld as well. If you want LOTS of detail, check out the trip reports on my site linked below. I have reports on our two week trips for Aug 2002, July 2003 and July 2004. We're headed back for two more weeks in August this year, and can't wait! We tend to move around a lot... Each new location is like a new vacation! We have become masters of the move!

 

[ZIPBAGS]

Tagrel, Thanks for the reply. We are actually going to look into the Vacation Club. We love the WL. So we are going to check out the WL villas. Did you buy directly through Disney or did you buy a resale?

 

[Tagrel]

We own at VWL and BCV and bought directly through Disney. You can go on a waitlist to buy VWL directly through Disney, but might save some money taking the resale route. I also have slideshows on my site that provide lots of pics of both a studio and one bedroom at VWL. We love it there, and look forward to returning in August!

 

[PiRSquared]

We ALWAYS go for 2 weeks. We own timeshares off Disney, but we don't mind being off because we love Universal and Seaworld. It allows for a slower paced vacation. We do a day off at the pool/shopping every few days. Our last day there last time we got tired in the park and went to the condo, rented a movie and had pizza delivered. It was a great night. I highly recommend it. My husband has a fairly stressful job sometimes. I've noticed the first week he is still keyed up, but by the second week, he can really relax and enjoy the vacation. I HIGHLY recommend 2 weeks!!!!

 

[ZIPBAGS]

Tagrel, how long is the waiting list for the WLV? I think we will take the tour and then decide how to approach a purchase if we decide to.

 

[TonyS20]

My DH and I also enjoy 2 week trips to Disney. We joined DVC last year and own at SSR (love the extra years! ). It is easier to be gone a longer period of time when you have a full kitchen and a washer/dryer.

We find that we don't need to get up at the crack of dawn to be at the parks. There is also enough time to lounge and soak up the atmosphere. I did 5 days last year with my mom and it was a pretty hectic trip. The longer we are there the better it is for us.

We also like to travel in the off season. It is nice to not have to wait in line the entire time you are there. We also know that if something is busy, we can try it again in a few days. We also schedule tours and other special things since we don't feel like we will miss out on park time to experience them.

It is not a vacation for us unless we can forget what day it is!! That's why we enjoy the longer vacations.

 

[RickinNYC]

The longest we've ever gone is eleven days. Took some convincing on my part. My better half now agrees that going for a longer visit is the way to go from now on. Like you, we would go for six days and do everything commando, starting first thing in the morning and come back when parks close. Plus, we'd throw in water parks and Pleasure Island. We'd come back from vacation and need another one just to relax!

Now, going for as long as we do, we stroll through the parks. We get there in the morning when we want, we leave for breaks whenever. We even take a day or two break from going to parks entirely. It's so much more relaxing and really makes the trip so much more enjoyable.

If you can swing it financially and time wise, I say go for it!

 

[RADOPT]

Because of my daughter (special needs) we couldn't do the parks commando if we wanted to and have to go when it is cooler. Our first trip was 15 nights, in 3 different hotels (por, akl & wl). I really really really... needed a vacation! It was wonderful! We did a ton of stuff but NEVER rushed. When we were at WL, we would make last minute PS for Tony's in MK and take the boat over. We would go to 2 or 3 parks on some days, just to enjoy a meal or parade or just enjoy the atmosphere. We did 3 different parks for the parades in one day (for my daughter). I used "Fairy Godmothers" (wonderful!!!) for a sitter for my daughter so we could see the fireworks, etc. We has plenty of time to see everything we wanted but not enough to see everything. Usually vacation are for everyone else in the family and not necessarily for mom - we still are in the same mode as at home. Our trip was definately a "mom's vacation". I did laundry but that was about it. I got to relax, enjoy WDW and all the little things, and have fun with my daughter/mother. Life at home in the normal rush is not usually "fun". Two weeks would give you a nice relaxing, fun vacation with time to enjoy were you are and your family - and time to "smell the roses".

 

[Tagrel]

Tagrel, how long is the waiting list for the WLV? I think we will take the tour and then decide how to approach a purchase if we decide to.

I have no idea how long the waitlist is... It could depend on several factors including the number of points you want as well as use-year. Talking with a DVC guide would be very helpful. I'm sure they would try to convince you that SSR is the way to go (extra years, etc.), but if you REALLY want VWL you can push for it.

 

[ZIPBAGS]

I'm sure they would try to convince you that SSR is the way to go (extra years, etc.), but if you REALLY want VWL you can push for it.

I have heard they are pushing SSR. They are not selling as quickly as they hoped. I really don't want to be at SSR. I am in love with the WL area.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

With air fare for five people from Philadelphia to Orlando it makes more sense for us to take a long trip once a year than several shorter trips. Ours keep getting longer. 2003 - 7 nights/8 days 2004 11 nights/12 days 2005- 17 nights/18 days. We have three small children and I like to take things easy, instead of having to do it commando style. ALso we break the trip up. THis year its 2 nights at Nick Hotel, 11 nights at GF and 4 nights at HRH. We are also doing Sea World for the first time this trip. We are doing a shorter trip this January for DH to run the marathon 4 or 5 nights. I think that will be a whole different experience.

 

[newholidayx2]

This Aug DS13 & I will be at WDW for our first mother/son WDW vacation and our first 2week vacation ever!
8nights VWL, 6nights BCV

 

[dgdbloe]

We did 2 weeks last yr for 1st time at Disney and are doing 16 days this yr- staying in time share for 2 weeks and flight was cheaper out on a Thursday than a Sat- so booked 2 nights w/hotel kingdom(can't beat some of those prices). The 2 extra nights were less than the add'l fee for 4 of us to fly on a weekend. We don't eat too many meals out- maybe 2 breakfast a week and 2 main meals - but cooking on vacation is diff than the rush at home- we bought premium annual passes last yr- so no park fees this yr- if you don't own a time share-but get a good rental deal on a home or condo- it is less $$ than staying in hotel and you save on meals out. 2 weeks is wonderful- more realxed-try it-

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Can you convince my wife to that also?? My 3 kids and I would love to go. But, my wife thinks that 4-5 days is enough.

I feel your pain. Although we don't have a problem affording it, my wife is a hardcore workaholic and cannot handle being "out of the loop" from work any longer than 7 days. She actually gets board and irritated with too much relaxation, if you can believe it!! Maybe, with our first baby on the way and an undeniable change in her priorties, we might make it there for 2 weeks yet!

 

[Danauk]

We do 2 week trips, but we do have to fly from England so we have to make the 9 hour flight worth the while. We usually stay at the BCV and do many park days (plus a tour or 2 this time) and spend some days off site (universal, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, days out shopping etc.) However our trips are every 2 years as they do tend to be quite expensive as we like to make the most of it when we are finally there. We travel with our friends and stay using their DVC points.

 

[milmore104]

We live quite far away from the nearest airport. We have to drive down the night before are flight out and stay in a hotel near the airport. So as you can imagine I don't find many deals on our airfare! The lowest I've got is $230pp. So we figure if we're going down it can't be less than 10 days. The cost of the airfare and the hotel the night before, the airport parking costs, and the hassle of getting a dog sitter it's easier for us to go for a long trip then a few short ones each year. It is also a lot nicer. We take things slow have fun and relax.

 

[marcbelt]

I always go commando. 5 days, if you've been to Disney before, is enough. If you want 2 weeks, get an annual pass and go 2 or 3 times (that's what the AP does for us---forces us to go to use that pass!) a year instead of 1. If I had to wait a year to go back to WDW I would go mad. Kids love this too...