Unexpected benefits

[VickiVoice]

As we (im)patiently wait for our ROFR to pass (OKW), my DH and I spend a lot of time talking about the way our vacation-ing will change after DVC. We love taking our girls (8 and 6) to Disney, but we frequently feel the need for another vacation after our vacation! I thought I'd toss this out to the veterans, what are the benefits of owning DVC that pleasantly surprised you? Especially the ones that are a little more intangible. These are some of the benefits we're looking forward to, but I'm sure there are some that we can't predict!


More leisurely vacations - won't have any problems (guilt) spending an afternoon by the pool or dining in the room.

Less travel time - with DVC resorts closer to the parks, we'll spend less time on those blankety-blank buses! (not my fave)

Rainy day getaway - with discounted annual passes in our pockets we won't always feel the need to jump into the closest shop to wait out the storm. We can discover the joy of hanging at the resort!

Sharing with family - We can't wait to bring family members who haven't yet "caught the Disney bug" and show them all of our favorite things!


Care to share?

 

[KiminChicago]

I think you've listed all the unexpected benefits that we've experienced. Don't forget that you do have some other options besides WDW with DVC too. We've been to Hilton Head once and are planning on going again this year -- it can be a nice break once in a while. And we're also trying to figure out a time when we can use our points for a trip to Aulani in Hawaii.

I'm still really hopeful that the Washington DC area Disney resort comes about too, I'd love to stay there too. I'm hopeful that as time goes by, and the economy (hopefully) recovers, we'll see Disney building more resorts in other popular vacation spots, giving us more places to use our points!

 

[KiminChicago]

I just thought of another benefit -- the extra space! DH, DS14, DD12 and I love being able to splurge and get a two bedroom villa. Our home resort is AKV and you can't beat a two bedroom with three bathrooms. The kids each get their own bed and bathroom and it makes getting ready in the mornings so much faster and hassle free.

And the refrigerator, can't forget that! Last time we went in October '09, it was unseasonably hot, even for Florida. I had a bunch of inexpensive wash clothes that we brought from home. At night we'd soak them, put them in zip lock bags and pop them in the freezer. In the morning we'd grab a few and throw them in the back pack. It was so refreshing to pull one of them out and lay it across the back of my neck to ool off. We also had frozen bottles of water from the freezer so we had cold water all day and it was much cheaper than buying bottles in the parks!

 

[VickiVoice]

The frozen shirts - What a great tip!

And a trip to Hawaii in a couple years would be great. My DD8 helped us make the decision to finally buy when she asked if she could use it for her honeymoon some day. How could we say no?

Thanks!

 

[PoohsFan1]

I think that both of you are right on the money. We haven't been DVC members for very long (bought in September 2010) and will be taking our first trip as members in May. Everything that you both have listed is what we are really looking forward to whether it is this trip or future trips. The one thing I am most looking forward to is the fact that I can go as slow as I want to and to really look at the wonderful detail that goes into everything that Disney has to offer, also to really appreciate what Walt's vision was before he died. I love going to Disney and really stopping and smelling the roses, with DVC that will allow my family to do that and then some .

 

[kamik86]

I agree about the rainy day thing... it poured one day when we were in AK last time and being our second trip in less then 6 months we just stopped on teh way for a show for a while hopeing it would go over fast and when it didn't went back to the hotel. Changed dinner plans online to Epcot after checking the forecast to see the rain was forecasted to stop by 3:00 and had a great time just relaxing.

 

[crisi]

Nookie.......

 

[GoofItUp]

A benefit to us: taking family with us at SIGNIFICANTLY reduced rates! We're doing a big family trip and will probably be at AKV. Those going with us are paying us less than what a value room would cost. There's no way they could stay at one of the deluxe resorts if we didn't have DVC. (I know many on here take guests for free...we're just not quite there yet!)

I also NEVER use to do laundry on vacation. I considered it a waste of valuable time. On our last trip to VGC, though, I enjoyed relaxing in the laundry room, reading my book, while washing clothes. (Granted, the only other resort I've done laundry at is BWV and it didn't work as nicely, but the VGC laundry room is really nice.)

The kitchenette is a big plus to us. We don't really eat cooked meals, but it works well for a light breakfast before we leave in the mornings or a microwavable lunch on the days we don't go to the parks.

Eventually we will work into bigger accomodations which I look forward to, but for now the studios are great for us and a nice way to stretch our points while vacationing with family/friends.

And finally....the biggest benefit for me personally....when I walk out of the park to the bus stop, I get in line for a cool resort that I've always wanted to stay at. Previously, I stayed where I could afford and suffered "hotel envy" seeing the people in lines for BC or AKL or whatever. I could never figure out how they could afford or justify those accomodations. Well, now *I'm* in that line, getting to try those places out. And I LOVE it!

 

[GoofItUp]

Nookie.......

Wow...I guess we'll have to stay in larger accomodations to figure this benefit out!

 

[riatees]

As far as needing a vacation after your vacation, we did this two years ago. We spent 5 days in Disney and than we move to Vero Beach for 3 more nights to relax and recover from our vacation!!

 

[nunzia]

although the nookie thought is lovely I think it is just that we can always feel that we can gift rooms to our family and friends..(and of course, since we always have our own room.....)

 

[hakepb]

Balconies and in-room coffee machines make for wonderful mornings.

With relatives near Tampa, I, too have discovered that beach time after WDW makes a perfect and relaxing vacation.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Right this second I'm enjoying that "more relaxing vacation" perk. Sitting poolside at BWV on the iPad while DH and DS swim.

A big perk for us is that we can take a longer trip. We are on a 15 day trip and there is no way, at this point in our lives, that we could have afforded to stay here this long if it weren't for DVC!

 

[Disneylvr1971]

We take longer trips now. Usually 10-14 days. We never would have spent the money on a room like we get now. (would have stayed at a value resort) It also encourages us to take a yearly vacation. DH is a business owner and probably wouldn't take a vacation except we don't have upfront room costs and he wouldn't want to waste our points. We are a family of 3 so DD gets to bring a friend with her every year. Absolutely love our DVC. Wish we had done it years ago.

 

[VickiVoice]

These are all great! Not that I was having buyer's remorse, but it's always nice to reassured. Great benefits I didn't think of - the laundry, real coffee on the balcony in the morning, a Vero recharge at the end of a trip and bus stop envy! At our last trip in 2010, the line from HS for POFQ was 6 busloads long! That's a long time to hold a sleeping 5 year old. Oh - and having your own bedroom has it's benefits too, I'm sure!

 

[mousefan1972]

Feeling like we are "home", even when we're on vacation....

Also having a washer/dryer in our villa is a huge plus for me. I have one of those kids (my DD age 7) who spills something on herself as soon as she gets dressed. Usually by the end of our trips she's wearing stained clothes, and it is quite embarrasing. Now I can throw a load of wash in the washer as we're on our way out to the parks, then throw it in the dryer when we return. And I can pack a lot less clothes... love it!

 

[CoffeeCup]

The biggest perk to us is knowing we can go to AKL once a year to sit on our balcony to watch the animals. We love having a washer/dryer and not having to take as many clothes as we used to take. We don't cook real meals on vacation, but it's great to be able to make coffee whenever I want, keep cold drinks in the refrigerator, and have food for simple breakfasts and lunches. Our vacations are much more relaxing since we know we'll be coming back soon and don't need to try to do everything every visit.

 

[sarahk0204]

I agree about the rainy day thing... it poured one day when we were in AK last time and being our second trip in less then 6 months we just stopped on teh way for a show for a while hopeing it would go over fast and when it didn't went back to the hotel. Changed dinner plans online to Epcot after checking the forecast to see the rain was forecasted to stop by 3:00 and had a great time just relaxing.

ITA When it poured in Epcot last December, we headed back to the resort and went to see TRON in DTD. Before DVC, there was no way I would have wasted valuable park time on a movie that we could see at home.

Balconies and in-room coffee machines make for wonderful mornings.

A cup of hot tea works well, too

And finally....the biggest benefit for me personally....when I walk out of the park to the bus stop, I get in line for a cool resort that I've always wanted to stay at. Previously, I stayed where I could afford and suffered "hotel envy" seeing the people in lines for BC or AKL or whatever. I could never figure out how they could afford or justify those accomodations. Well, now *I'm* in that line, getting to try those places out. And I LOVE it!

I would read about people who always stayed deluxe and figured that would never be me. Now it is!

 

[Kimmy]

I think we relax more that we are DVC members. We come back everyday for a break, which is really nice. I am spoiled by the space, kitchen, washer & dryer. I treated family & friends to trips the past few years, & that makes me so happy seeing how they just loved the resort. All the DVCs have something different to offer, they are all great. I only have one regret, I should have purchased DVC sooner!

 

[photobob]

Nookie.......

The Nookie factor makes one never want to stay in a studio unless you leave the children at home!