UPDATED:Suffering from: No vac.days; Cruiseoholic; Exp.APs; MegaPoints; DVCwithdrawal

[SleepyatDVC]

I'm in a deep funk because I have NO DVC trips planned in the near or far future!!!! Not enough time for all the vacations that I want to take. Anyone else out there that can relate?

We got back from OKW over President's Week this past February. It was supposedly our last trip for a LONG while since we got in 3 trips on our APs in about 10 months and the APs were expiring.

DH only has 2 weeks of vacation per year. He used one in February and the other is accounted for over Xmas to travel to Houston to his parents. We had to cancel a family cruise (my side) on the Explorer of the Seas out of Bayonne this August to go to Houston (his side) in December instead.

DH said he wanted to take a break from WDW for a while since he wanted to wait before getting new APs. And because he was a little... Disneyed out!!

To make up for our cancelled cruise this year and to satisfy DH's vacation desire for "something else," I found and booked a great deal on 11 night Southern Carribean Cruise out on NYC (NCL Dawn) next April. It was the perfect cruise since it was over our girls' Spring Break - they would only have to miss 2 days of school. It was out of NYC so we didn't have to fly or spend extra travel days. And best of all, it was the right price. I think the total price would be less than or comparable to doing WDW.

So, now after researching and booking a NYC cruise, I'm itching to start planning future cruises AFTER our planned April 2007 cruise! We would also like to travel to China and the Far East soon with the kids and my parents while my father is still healthy enough to travel.

DH also is thinking about taking up scuba diving (perfect excuse for more cruises) so we are trying to work in a future trip to Florida or the Carribean for our open water dives for certification.

Problem (a good one): DH got us an early 10th anniversary gift last year of add-on points at SSR. The add-on included the previous years points as well as 100 bonus developer points. So, even after 3 long trips in the past year, we still have points left, with another chunk coming this December.

Points, points, and more points... but no plans to use them! All our future trips seem to be non-Disney related. Hmmm... I'd better start looking into renting out all our DVC points to cover all these non-Disney vacation plans! (After June 8th when my boss is out of the office! )

Then last night, we were alll watching all these Disney related shows we Tivo'ed off the travel channel and I got soooooooo homesick!!!! The girls (5 & 7) have up until now been sticking to just the kiddie rides. This last trip was the first time they attempted BTMRR - which they LOVED! As we were watching, they kept saying, we've never been on this ride, let's try it next trip, etc.

I turned to DH and told him, "there is NO WAY, I can last more than 1 year until my next trip to WDW , much less 2-3 years based on our current vacation plans. I'm taking the kids down and going WITHOUT you!!!" DH looked at our 3 sad and homesick faces and said "I guess you will have to."

DH just doesn't have the vacation days - they are all accounted for for the next 2 years. We will have to work around school schedules too. But after having DVC withdrawal and points burning a hole in my pocket, I MUST start planning another DVC trip for just me and the kids.

Goodness, I'm so spoiled (and lucky). Hope I'm not passing along my expensive travel addiction to my kids. So little time, so little money, so many trips to WDW, and so many other places in the world to visit!

Boy, I have it bad!!!

 

[sistertrip]

"Disneyed Out?" I didn't know that was possible.
Good luck planning another trip. I'm already sad because I know our upcoming trip is going to end, and the end of a Disney vacation is a very bittersweet feeling.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, I am sorry to hear that there are jobs out there with only 2 weeks vacation a year. We lived through that for 6 years when we first were married, this was in the late '60's. DH would always take the week off between Christmas and New Years, since I was a teacher and had them off and he loves Christmas things.

He did change jobs eventually and now, I think he has about 30 vacation days a year. I hope that your DH gets more somehow.

If you are both OK with your taking the girls, then go for it, they seem to be ready to enjoy WDW. If your DH can squeeze in even a weekend while your visit is longer, I would say, use the points and enjoy the weekend with all of you together as well.

Bobbi

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

I can definately relate.....

 

[SleepyatDVC]

O'kay I did it - I booked another trip today!!!

I was researching airfare all last week and checking with DVC MS for availability. We would have to go before school starts after Labor Day but not over Labor Day weekend - but after the first 2 weeks of August because I am the only one in the office until then.

I will be going by myself with DD7 and DD5. DH will stay home to "bring home the bacon" so we can afford these trips!

Airfare was high in the $220+ range and there were slim pickings at DVC.

I had 135 points left in my 12/05 UY and 373 in my 12/06. No studios for 7 consecutive nights available except at SSR - some one-bedrooms available but would put me into borrowing - was hoping for a studio to use up just the reminder of current UY points.

Didn't want to book the room until I was sure of airfare but wasn't sure if $220+ airfare would entice me to make a last minute trip since I was use to $135-$185 fares. I would usually only pay over $200 if it was a holiday period.

Well over the weekend I found some reasonable fares of $176 on Spirit. Had to wait until today to book it 'cause I didn't want to book my airfare until I knew I had a room available. Was considering another airline with resort airline check-in but not only did Spirit have the best fares, they had the best schedule (am going, pm returning), the other airlines had evening flights down and early morning flights returning. Kept checking the fare to make sure it was still available. Lol!

Called MS today when I got a chance (while pulling up the airfare on the internet) to figure out the room situation. My dates were somewhat flexible. I had a choice of 7 nights in a one-bedroom at VWL or BWV (252pts) or OKW (196pts). SSR was the only resort with all units except the GV available - studio (112pts) or one-bedroom (225pts).

I also investigated the possibility of switching units between the one-bedroom and the studio. Thought the one-bedroom was a waste of points and room since it would be just me and the kids who would wind up sharing my bed anyways. But the studios at BWV, VWL and BCV were usually one night here, one night there - they did have 2 consecutive nights over the expensive weekend nights so I could save the points there but I would have to move 2X with 2 kids and it would be very complicated if I decided to get the DDP.

Had my heart set on one of the resort DVCs, namely VWL, so that it would be easier for me handling 2 kids by myself, taking them to the pool everyday,etc. But with the high points for a one-bedroom, I wasn't sure if it was worth it for a "just 'cause I have current year points, last minute" trip. Especially since I was planning to rent out some points to offset an Easter cruise.

So I was leaning toward the SSR studio or the moving 2X scenario where we would be in a 1bdrm for 3 nites, then the studio for 2 nites, and then back to the 1bdrm for 2 nites. The problem with the first was that even though SSR was a beautiful resort where I whave no problem with staying at, we wouldn't have a car this trip (using ME) and there was no way to guarantee a room near the pool and I really wanted that convenience since I knew we would be popping to the pool everyday. The problem with the second was besides the packing/unpacking, the DDP (if we do it) would be complicated - all the dining credits would have to be used up by midnight of EACH check out date.

Had to run by the different choices with DH so I hung up with MS and called him. He told me forget about SSR or OKW without him and the car, forget about moving back and forth, forget about the mucho points, and just get the one-bedroom for the whole trip. He did tell me to consider BWV (BCV wasn't available at all) over VWL because it would be easier for me to pop in and out of 2 parks out of 4 with the 2 kids. MK was still accessible by bus and I couldn't walk to MK from VWL anyways.

But I still couldn't get over the high points due to last minute planning. DH told me to stop stressing over it and just use the points, that's what he got them for me for anyways. Is it any wonder why I love that guy so much?!!!

So, I got back on the phone with MS and booked the 1bdrm at BWV for the entire 7 nights and added ME and DDP and booked the airfare on-line. So, the trip is a go!!!!

I'm bursting with but no one else can understand my enthusiasm ("didn't you just get back in February?" ) or my agonizing over points and rooms and DDP and such. Only my good friends and fellow DVCers here on the disboards can!!!!

Sorry for the long ramble and thanks for letting me share!!!

Have my airfare ($526.80), ME ($0), and food (DDP$419.79)!! Yeah under $1k for the 3 of us.

Uhh... was anyone paying attention and notice in my first post when I mentioned that our APs had expired? O'kay so my under $1k trip is gonna need tickets...

To be continued on another thread...

 

[NYMomof4]

LOL I can totally relate to all the travel planning! I think BWV is a good choice for you with your DDs. We may see you around in August-we'll be across the lake at BCV from 8/26-9/1. If you are doing the DDP I would start planning and make some calls-I know that it will be a little busier with the free dining at that time. Enjoy the excitement of planning-I think that's the best part!!!

 

[dgaston]

I have similar grief. My AP is expired. My DDE expires the end of June. It is like mourning the death of good friends. But we only have a long weekend in October and a Mom and Daughter College Graduation trip in early January planned for a long time. We are going on a DCL cruise in Feb, but DS17 wants to visit Universal afterwards and it's his HS graduation present. We will probably try HH for the first time in April. All this means I need to get 10 day non-expiring tickets for the first time. I am going to miss WDW so much!

 

[LSchrow]

WOO-HOO!!


funny how so many of us need to/try to go an ENTIRE year without WDW, but just can't do it

LOVED your "ramblings" btw, they sounded sooooooo familiar (the frenzied ramble when the "OH-NO! how am i going to work a trip in?!!" hits, then the gazillion possibilities & numbers flipping around, finally the "EUREKA!!! i CAN GO!! )


btw, our "we're not going to WDW this year" trip will be 8/27-9/4 at the BWVs, so we'll prob see you there

 

[ACDSNY]

Doesn't everyone need to have a future trip planned? It's no fun otherwise. My DH says he thinks I have more fun planning the trips then actually going. Nah, but sometimes I wonder if he's right.

I'll let you know if you can get too much Disney. In July I'll be in Disneyland with my sister and 5 year old niece for two days, then the next week I'll be at WDW for a conference. Of course you can't attend a conference without doing some park time.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I looks like the stars and planets are really "lining up" for this last minute trip!!!

Yesterday I called Disney Dining for a "what the heck" check to see if there were any cancelations for CRT during our trip. It was WIDE open. I had different choices of multiple dates and times for breakfast as well as lunch!! Even the CM was totally shocked!!!

I opted for lunch since we had done the breakfast eons ago. Also it seemed a slightly better use of the double DDP credits!! I got to pick my ideal date AND time! Not bad for a little over 2 months out! Now what are the chances of that!

Boy, my girls will be excited. DH commented that maybe that means that the parks won't be too crowded. Gee, I hope so.

Didn't bother making any more ADRs - have no idea what we are planning to do yet beyond the CRT.

I am having lots of fun planning! Whereas, a week or so ago I was in the dumps without a trip on the horizon!!

Have a Disney Day!!!!!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just goes to show that where you live makes a big difference on costs! A $200 airfare for us would be a bargain! Minnesota really only has NWA and Sun Country, so our choices are limited, and they can charge whatever they want, since we are a captive crowd. I don't think I have ever dont much better than $225.

Hope you have a GREAT time (of course you will!), and come back afterwards and give us the full report!

 

[AnnaS]

....and our "we're not going away or going to WDW this year will be 8/6-11".

We originally had plans to stay in a 1 BDR 8/6-14 at OKW.

Then the rumored med cruise became official and we decided to go for it - used many points for one cabin (3 people) and one cabin for DH and I with cash.

Had to pay for my son's trip to Italy (high school Easter trip) and help my college son's trip to Acapulco). We had my nephew's engagement, my dd's confirmation, our three nieces communion and my ds's high school gradutation/prom and we are not done. Three more biggies to come (newphew's - bride - bridal show, wedding and my parent's 50th wedding anniv.) before the year ends.

Of course we decided to cancel our August reservations .

We all agreed and understood that we could survive without a big family trip. Well I could not so now my sister, dd and I will be in a studio and my cousin and her dd will be in another studio at OKW.

I am happy now. Thanks for reading

 

[SleepyatDVC]

We may see you around in August-we'll be across the lake at BCV from 8/26-9/1. If you are doing the DDP I would start planning and make some calls-I know that it will be a little busier with the free dining at that time. Enjoy the excitement of planning-I think that's the best part!!!

WOO-HOO!!

btw, our "we're not going to WDW this year" trip will be 8/27-9/4 at the BWVs, so we'll prob see you there

Don't know if either of you have little kids but you may find this interesting.

In the midst of my Disney planning, I found out that the DoodleBops will be performing at MGM-DS on 8/20-8/23/06 and the Wiggles will be performing on 8/29-9/1/06 while we will be there. An added benefit to our last minute trip!!

Woo Hoo! Personally, I don't care for the DoodleBops (too clownish looking) but the girls enjoy them. And the girls are "too old" for the Wiggles. But we are all looking forward to seeing them LIVE!! There's also some Mickey Magic Show thing from 8/24-8/27/06.

A few years ago (when the girls were younger), the Wiggles were performing in NYC and I checked for tickets. They were over $100 each!!! Holy Moley! We could be a third of the way to WDW! No way we wanted to see the Wiggles that bad!

Had my ADRs all set but will now need to make a few changes to fit our schedule around the shows. Looks like we will be spending more time at MGM-DS this trip.

Boy, am I glad DH convinced me to pick BWV over VWL. I just need to give him a big ole kiss again!!!

 

[bigsmooth]

Yesterday I called Disney Dining for a "what the heck" check to see if there were any cancelations for CRT during our trip. It was WIDE open. I had different choices of multiple dates and times for breakfast as well as lunch!! Even the CM was totally shocked!!! :

SleepyatDVC, I have you thank you for this piece of wisdom. In my planning for what will be my kids first extended trip to WDW (they've only been once for one day), I did not even bother looking at reservations for CRT because I have always heard that it is impossible to get into unless you book the first day possible. Well, after reading your note I gave Member Services a call and made reservations for lunch with my two daughters (5 & 8) for CRT in October. I had my choice of pratically any time for breakfast for lunch. I think they will love this (we are also doing the Bibbidi with them earlier).