Two weeks at DVC?

[vbalacek]

We typically use our DVC for an annual 6 day vacation, Sunday through Saturday. So far, we have never left the Disney property-- off-site is like the "mysterious beyond" to us.

My DH recently changed jobs, and now "must" take his vacation weeks consecutively (2 weeks in a row). He thinks 2 weeks in Florida sounds great, and we're trying to add on to help stretch our points (although now we typically go in October, as the kids get older, we'll probably have to start going in the "expensive" summer months.).

To those who spend long vacations in Orlando, do you enjoy spending 2 weeks at DVC, or are 2 weeks at DVC a little too long?

Do you primarily stay on Disney property or take advantage of other things in Orlando area (universal, sea world?) If you are planning on going to other places, is it easy to access them from Disney? (Would you need to rent a car?)

Do you stay at DVC through the weekend, or do you move offsite to conserve points? (or spend a week on site and week offsite?)

Any thoughts from experienced long-timers would be appreciated!

 

[spiceycat]

I have only done this a couple of times - I miss my other cats too much....
Spicey comes with me...

I start my vacation with an offsite timeshare - I try for a Sunday night (vs sat or Fri) - so it will quit on Sunday night the next week. Sometime this is not possible....

if I got the Sunday night - I just check into the DVC resort that next Sunday - if I find I need a Sat or a Fri/sat - I generally go to one WDW value resorts first.... then check in to DVC on SUnday.

Okay I am cheap.....

now this only works if you own another timeshare and it is cheap enough (maintence fees) that you don't mind trading it to Orlando.

 

[spiceycat]

forgot I used skyauction on one of those trips....

 

[Credit Man]

Our usual summer trip is 12 days, so it only involves one weekend. We do stay at DVC throughout our stay.

 

[TinkTatoo]

We come from Ireland and as the journey is almost 24 hours door to door we try and stay as long as possible. This year we have two trips planned (it's normally only 1 per year) In the summer we are staying for a month and have 16 nights off site in a private villa - we will still visit Disney but will also use this time to visit Seaworld, Universal, go shopping and just chill by our pool. We will then move to OKW for 8 nights and spend all that time on site before finally spending the last 4 nights at Vero Beach.

At Christmas we will be staying 3 weeks with 5 nights at AKL, 9 nights at the Contemporary and the last 6 nights at OKW. We will spend most of this time on site with just on visit to Seaworld & Universal to see their Christmas decorations plus on or two days shopping.

The maximum DVC stay I would do would be 12 nights so that we only have 1 weekend worth of points

I have only done this a couple of times - I miss my other cats too much....Spicey comes with me...

We had a Spicey a lovely tortie who is sadly no longer with us. Our two boys now are Stitch & Simba two lovely ginger & white brothers

 

[LIFERBABE]

We are checking in for 12 nights at SSR this Sunday.
We are in a 1 bedroom and plan to spend the entire time on Disney Property. I dont even want to leave for groceries, but I may have to, but that is it!

Last year we stayed a month. 12 nights at BCV, 2 weekend nights in Tampa on Marriott Bonus Bucks and 13 more nights at SSR. That was all in studios.

We let our Universal AP's expire last year. I didnt like the fact that their guests were allowed unlimited front of the line access and caused our waits to be pretty long. We were AP holders for 4 years, and it was no longer worth it to us to drive to US/IOA to stand in line, when we could be relaxing by the pool. We can stand in line at WDW, dont need to travel down the road to do the same.

We have Sea World San Antonio nearby, so we normally do that 1 weekend a year.

To go other places offsite, you will need a car. We drive or when we fly, we always get a rental. Lately, I've been content staying on property, even when we have a car.

I would stay a month again in a heartbeat! Im thinking 12 nights is going to go fast!

 

[rinkwide]

...Do you stay at DVC through the weekend, or do you move offsite to conserve points?

Since weekends at Disney are high on points and busy in the parks, try staying at one of the fine Universal hotels and use their Front-Of-The-Line perk to bypass the waiting crowds. I think that's a fine alternative to buying extra points if you'll be staying in Orlando for more than 10 days.

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

we do the 2-week stay....love it we typically do disney and universal. This year we plan to try sea world also. We rent a car for the trips off site. driving to the other parks is a piece of cake, very good road signs.

 

[DVCconvert]

I/we regularly stay at a DVC resort 2-4 weeks per visit. You'll LOVE it!

 

[zdesiree]

We went on Nov 25 for two weeks. We stayed offsite for three nights, in those days we went to Magic Kingdom (since it was the first time for our kids and the older thought that once we step out of the plane WDW was right there), Sea World and Universal. Then we moved to OKW for 9 nights and they just love it. At first my husband thought it was too many days but later he changed his mind. So I will say, go for it. You won't regret it.

 

[brivers222]

The closet we came to two weeks was our past trip of 9days 8 nights.

I could of stayed A LOT longer

 

[slk537]

I have only done this a couple of times - I miss my other cats too much....
Spicey comes with me...

Me too!!! We just got back from 2 weeks and the only things I really missed were all my kitties!

Two weeks is EXCELLENT! My dad has asked if I thought it would be a little long and I wondered myself, but answer? No way! We stayed two nights at SSR in a studio, and our first full day was spent at the pool and DTD - didn't even hit a park. Then we moved over to Universal's Royal Pacific for Friday and Saturday night where we took advantage of the Express passes from our room keys and saved on DVC points. Sunday it was back to VWL in a 1 br for six nights and we were able to settle in and really enjoy relaxation. Then we ended with a four night splurge at the Polynesian. (Oddly...I desperately missed my DVC while we were there...!)

We had several days that were resort days. We may get up, go to the parks for 3-4 rides and lunch and then head back for swimming. Then a nice dinner out and evening activities. We definitely didn't feel like we needed a vacation from our vacation when we got back...we were plenty relaxed and still had done plenty.

Our next scheduled trip is "only" 9 nights and I'm already a bit nostalgic for the nice long vacation....

 

[mjmcca]

I ususally drive from NY to Fla so If it isnt at least 12-14 days I feel it isnt worth it. On my Easter trip I stayed at SSR and OKW paying cash (CM Discount). It was the tipping point and I bought in to DVC. I dont think I will be able to stay that long on points unless I start saving them ( I already used all of my points and some of next years points on a trip back to the world in May. I didnt have to worry about banking deadlines!)

 

[MdmMim]

My winter WDW trip is usually between 18-34 days. I find a longer vacation to be very relaxing. No rush to see or do anything. I do stay on DVC points the entire time, and do not rent a car, so I use Disney transportation to get around.

I visit the parks a lot but I do have days off, where I just relax and take it easy.

 

[Pluto 2]

i usually go for 12 nights i check in on a sunday than leave on the next friday morning. that way you only have one friday and one saturday where the points are a lot higher.
2 weeks is not too long of course you have all the disney theme parks, 2 at universal, sea world, busch gardens. than you have all the tiny ones where we try to hit one of them each time we go, like gator land, holy land. go see the space shuttle etc. have fun

 

[mjmcca]

My winter WDW trip is usually between 18-34 days. I find a longer vacation to be very relaxing. No rush to see or do anything. I do stay on DVC points the entire time, and do not rent a car, so I use Disney transportation to get around.

I visit the parks a lot but I do have days off, where I just relax and take it easy.

34 days at Disney would be a dream vaccation for me!!!

 

[Greg K.]

We stayed 14 days last summer, and this summer we're staying 19!

We love longer stays, and yes, we do wander away from WDW a few times. This year, we're going to hit Sea World (haven't been there in YEARS) and maybe Busch Gardens, too.

The great thing is, once you've been to Disney several times, if you stay longer you can pick and choose what you want to do, and set your own pace. I'm going to try something different this year: a couple of backstage tours. We're also planning to spend more time in the water parks or by the pool.

By the end of a longer vacation, we're usually rested, relaxed, revived -- and ready to come home. It's a nice feeling.

 

[athenna]

I would love 2 weeks at DVC
I don't think I would even venture off property. The only exception to that would probably be to get groceries.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We typically use our DVC for an annual 6 day vacation, Sunday through Saturday. So far, we have never left the Disney property-- off-site is like the "mysterious beyond" to us.

My DH recently changed jobs, and now "must" take his vacation weeks consecutively (2 weeks in a row). He thinks 2 weeks in Florida sounds great, and we're trying to add on to help stretch our points (although now we typically go in October, as the kids get older, we'll probably have to start going in the "expensive" summer months.).

To those who spend long vacations in Orlando, do you enjoy spending 2 weeks at DVC, or are 2 weeks at DVC a little too long?

Do you primarily stay on Disney property or take advantage of other things in Orlando area (universal, sea world?) If you are planning on going to other places, is it easy to access them from Disney? (Would you need to rent a car?)

Do you stay at DVC through the weekend, or do you move offsite to conserve points? (or spend a week on site and week offsite?)

Any thoughts from experienced long-timers would be appreciated!

Wow, where does my DH sign up for a job like that? Unfortunately he's in a job where he can only take one week at a time. However, I got a 2 week DVC vacation last year. DH and DMIL were with me for the first week, then they left, I changed to another DVC resort and had a second week solo. Although I've been on many solo trips and loved them, somehow seeing DH and DMIL leave from WDW made me kind of miss them (especially DH). However, I could tell that if DH could stay at WDW with me for 2 weeks, I'd love it! Actually, I'd probably enjoy it if I'd gone there solo for 2 weeks.

 

[VLee]

The longest time that we have stayed thus far have been 8 and 9 nights. In 48 months, we made 8 trips. On some, we switched DVC resorts or stayed the first weekend in value resorts and checked in on Sunday. We have experienced the Epcot flower shows, Food and Wine, Halloween, Christmas, and celebrated two birthdays. Our next celebration might be a wedding.

My goal is to have enough points to stay an entire month when I retire in three years. I will drive with the grandchildren so we can visit off site places, shop at the outlet malls, and do whatever we want. They will be 6 and 9 by then.

My only problem is who will take care of my dogs for that length of time. We have 5 Schnauzers.