WHat has been your biggest splurge using your points?

[alldiz]

7 day cruise on DCL (Fantasy) and stayed concierge.

DCL concierge...Nice splurge!!! Hope to try concierge one day....BEst shot is AKV

A week in a GV at OKW for the whole family to celebrate my retirement!!!!! Loved it, thinking about doing it again for a couple of days!!!!

This is what DVC is made for amazing family memories
Kerri

 

[alldiz]

A week in a GV at OKW for the whole family to celebrate my retirement!!!!! Loved it, thinking about doing it again for a couple of days!!!!

Now that's a retirement celebration!!!

2 week 2 bedroom ocean view room at Aulani! I still can't believe we did that. We had just added a new VGC contract and picked up a bunch of points.

Nothing better than some "new" points to spend. 2 wks aulani OV 2 Bedroom....WOW heaven!!

2 splurges. First was a one week family trip with a GV, a 2 bedroom and 2 - 1 bedrooms, BWV, all BW view. I don't remember how many points it was but it was a lot. Second was using the old concierge collection for high end resorts in Hawaii--1 week at Mauna Lani on the Big Island and 1 week for Kapalua Bay resort on Maui. Again, I don't remember how many points, but it was a boatload. Both splurges worth every point.

Never got to trade out with old system or new that sounds amazing.

374 pts 2 bd dedicated 6 nights at VGF Dec 30 - Jan 5th for me, DH and 2 college age DD. Family said I knocked it out of the park on that trip. Worth every point.

All the validation in the world when the family loves it as much as you!!

We used 2 years of points on a GV for Thanksgiving. So excited. We have 12 people coming and it's our first time in a Grand Villa.

Whole family over a holiday at WDW sounds like best thanksgiving ever!!

We've done lots of splurges with our points over the years. Several trips with 20+ people makes for some great family times. Last year we were able to do 5 days in an oceanview gv at Aulani after a cruise. This year we have 20, maybe 22, staying at BWV for a week for the Food & Wine festival.

I have such a tiny family, only chance we will have that many people is maybe a bunch of my DD's friends. Probably her wedding which she wants at WDW. When she said about 40 people....I was like hmmm maybe
Thanks everyone
Kerri

 

[OKgirl]

We stayed in an Aulani Grand Villa last summer for 4 nights after a Pride of America cruise. Took my family of 5, my parents, and my in-laws. Well worth the points spent!

 

[alldiz]

We stayed in an Aulani Grand Villa last summer for 4 nights after a Pride of America cruise. Took my family of 5, my parents, and my in-laws. Well worth the points spent!

Grand villa at Aulani
I am also taking the POA cruise, did you love it?
Thanks
Kerri

 

[mac_tlc]

Three nights in a Beach Cottage at Vero Beach last year. Was lucky enough to get it at 7 months.

This year .... not so lucky.


mac_tlc

 

[OKgirl]

Grand villa at Aulani
I am also taking the POA cruise, did you love it?
Thanks
Kerri

Yes we had a wonderful time! Weather didn't cooperate as much as I would have liked. Went to see Volcanoes National park and it was so foggy and rainy you couldn't see 15 feet in front of you. We were also traveling with a 3 year old and couldn't do the more active excursions which left us with the "sightseeing" excursions. This tends to be primarily older/disabled adults doing these (no offense intended); as a result it was very long bus tours with long waits to get off and back on the buses and several stops at souvenir places. I really wanted to do the more active tours but we couldn't with a younger child. The cruise had great food and service and we also enjoyed the nightly shows much more than the Carnival shows. I was a bit disappointed with the family suite however. If you've traveled in a suite on Royal Caribbean, you get a lot more room for the price! It was a great way to see all the islands, but my family agreed that Aulani was the most fun part of the trip!

 

[bmalonef45]

2 bedroom villa at Aulani for Spring break a few years ago. There are only 4 of us but we wanted our space and didn't want to to be folding the fold away up all week.

 

[Halle]

We are very fortunate and have had a couple of splurges. GV at Aulani ocean view for six nights.
GV and 2 studios at BWV 12/27-1/2. That is what we love about DVC so many options.

 

[kittylady1972]

So many great splurge stories. The year after we bought DVC we did 4 nights Thanksgiving week in a GV at SSR with family. It was nice but so long ago. Beyond that I consider using our points to book a few nights at Disneyland Resort a few years ago a splurge because we didn't have to pay cash for all of our nights. These great celebration stories have me wanting to splurge like that and treat even more family and friends to a stay with us in the future.

 

[alldiz]

We stayed in an Aulani Grand Villa last summer for 4 nights after a Pride of America cruise. Took my family of 5, my parents, and my in-laws. Well worth the points spent!

WOW that sounds Awesome!!

Yes we had a wonderful time! Weather didn't cooperate as much as I would have liked. Went to see Volcanoes National park and it was so foggy and rainy you couldn't see 15 feet in front of you. We were also traveling with a 3 year old and couldn't do the more active excursions which left us with the "sightseeing" excursions. This tends to be primarily older/disabled adults doing these (no offense intended); as a result it was very long bus tours with long waits to get off and back on the buses and several stops at souvenir places. I really wanted to do the more active tours but we couldn't with a younger child. The cruise had great food and service and we also enjoyed the nightly shows much more than the Carnival shows. I was a bit disappointed with the family suite however. If you've traveled in a suite on Royal Caribbean, you get a lot more room for the price! It was a great way to see all the islands, but my family agreed that Aulani was the most fun part of the trip!

What time of year did you go? Yes it's tough with young kids for sure to tour.

2 bedroom villa at Aulani for Spring break a few years ago. There are only 4 of us but we wanted our space and didn't want to to be folding the fold away up all week.

We had a 2BR at OkW once when the other family cancelled last minute. We were only 4 of us and it was nice to not have to use the couch....but wow that was a huge room!

We are very fortunate and have had a couple of splurges. GV at Aulani ocean view for six nights.
GV and 2 studios at BWV 12/27-1/2. That is what we love about DVC so many options.

Exactly. I never thought I would want a timeshare, but I love the flexibility and options with DVC!

So many great splurge stories. The year after we bought DVC we did 4 nights Thanksgiving week in a GV at SSR with family. It was nice but so long ago. Beyond that I consider using our points to book a few nights at Disneyland Resort a few years ago a splurge because we didn't have to pay cash for all of our nights. These great celebration stories have me wanting to splurge like that and treat even more family and friends to a stay with us in the future.

Yes these stories inspire me to get a GV one day and fill it with friends.

Thanks everyone
Kerri

 

[bobbiwoz]

We stayed in an Aulani Grand Villa last summer for 4 nights after a Pride of America cruise. Took my family of 5, my parents, and my in-laws. Well worth the points spent!

How was the cruise?

 

[dvcdisney]

I generally try to use my points wisely. However, my family and I have vowed to stay at every DVC resort. So, although we have stayed at SSR a few times, we considered the Treehouse Villas a separate entity. Last year, my family of 4 stayed at the Treehouse Villas for 4 nights. We normally do not get a villa larger than a 1 bedroom so this was a treat for us. The only larger villa that the Treehouse that we have stayed in is a Grand Villa in AKV.

Although we've used more points in our vacations than the TreeHouse Villa stay, I would consider it a splurge since we would not normally book that size villa. So, I don't consider our 14 night stay in Aulani a splurge since we booked a villa that was appropriate for my family of 4.

Was it worth it? Yes, since we can scratch that off our list, but I wouldn't book it again unless we had more than 4 people.

We've stayed at all except for the Poly Bungalows. I don't think I would splurge on that until they fix the noise issue we encounter on our stay at the Poly. Also, I would definitely want more than 4 people to stay there. But it would be wonderful, I'm sure!!

 

[alldiz]

I generally try to use my points wisely. However, my family and I have vowed to stay at every DVC resort. So, although we have stayed at SSR a few times, we considered the Treehouse Villas a separate entity. Last year, my family of 4 stayed at the Treehouse Villas for 4 nights. We normally do not get a villa larger than a 1 bedroom so this was a treat for us. The only larger villa that the Treehouse that we have stayed in is a Grand Villa in AKV.

Although we've used more points in our vacations than the TreeHouse Villa stay, I would consider it a splurge since we would not normally book that size villa. So, I don't consider our 14 night stay in Aulani a splurge since we booked a villa that was appropriate for my family of 4.

Was it worth it? Yes, since we can scratch that off our list, but I wouldn't book it again unless we had more than 4 people.

We've stayed at all except for the Poly Bungalows. I don't think I would splurge on that until they fix the noise issue we encounter on our stay at the Poly. Also, I would definitely want more than 4 people to stay there. But it would be wonderful, I'm sure!!

Yes the treehouse villas look cool. Did you feel you were out of the way compared to previous SSR stays? I too would like to check off list but that deters me. 14 nights Aulani equal Heaven!!
Poly Studio lake view Is my new favorite room because I loved the poly so much!! but I don't think I could ever Splurge on the Bungalows.
Thanks
Kerri

 

[bobbiwoz]

I tend to agree about never splurging on a Poly Bungalow. If it is going to happen, it will be when I'm going on a DCL cruise with 4 friends in spring 2018. I'm either trying for a BLT GV or a Poly bungalow. The GV has more real beds.

 

[dvcdisney]

Yes the treehouse villas look cool. Did you feel you were out of the way compared to previous SSR stays? I too would like to check off list but that deters me. 14 nights Aulani equal Heaven!!
Poly Studio lake view Is my new favorite room because I loved the poly so much!! but I don't think I could ever Splurge on the Bungalows.
Thanks
Kerri

Yes, we did feel out of the way compared to our other SSR stays, but we expected it and planned accordingly. We used the very secluded TreeHouse Villa pool (only 2 people other than us) and it was great. We walked to Disney Springs as well. But we didn't walk to the other pools in the SSR property. Everywhere else, we drove. We didn't take any Disney transportation...not even sure if we saw any bus or boat during our stay.

I agree about Aulani....we are definitely planning on going again and likely just as long. Our vacations are usually 2 weeks long since airfare is so expensive everywhere we go, but when we went to Aulani, this was part of a 3 and 1/2 week vacation which started in San Diego, then Aulani, then Disneyland. I don't like being on planes so if I'm flying for that long, I'm staying longer than usual.

I wish I liked the Poly Lake view as much as you do. When we stayed there, we were assigned a first floor villa very close to the ferry/monorail which we found too loud, too early.

 

[bwang123]

so far, 2 bedroom Savannah view at Kidani. We invited our friends family to go along with us and they brought along a babysitter so we could have some adult nights out. Plenty of room for everyone.

 

[alldiz]

Yes, we did feel out of the way compared to our other SSR stays, but we expected it and planned accordingly. We used the very secluded TreeHouse Villa pool (only 2 people other than us) and it was great. We walked to Disney Springs as well. But we didn't walk to the other pools in the SSR property. Everywhere else, we drove. We didn't take any Disney transportation...not even sure if we saw any bus or boat during our stay.

I agree about Aulani....we are definitely planning on going again and likely just as long. Our vacations are usually 2 weeks long since airfare is so expensive everywhere we go, but when we went to Aulani, this was part of a 3 and 1/2 week vacation which started in San Diego, then Aulani, then Disneyland. I don't like being on planes so if I'm flying for that long, I'm staying longer than usual.

I wish I liked the Poly Lake view as much as you do. When we stayed there, we were assigned a first floor villa very close to the ferry/monorail which we found too loud, too early.

Ok....so good to know. We usually don't rent a car, but one time we will go to Universal. So then we would stay at SSR, OKW or now maybe Treehouse.
We were lucky enough to have 2nd or 3rd floor. Beautiful view of lake and fireworks. Bungalows blocked Electrical Water Pageant. View must have been amazing without Bungalows there. But they looked cool. I do not see the value at all though. We were in Moorea so near the ferry, but when door was closed was not an issue.
I hear ya about the 2 weeks when flying so far. My boss doesn't like it but hey. I am not flying to Europe or Hawaii without being away for 2 weeks.

so far, 2 bedroom Savannah view at Kidani. We invited our friends family to go along with us and they brought along a babysitter so we could have some adult nights out. Plenty of room for everyone.

Babysitter!!! Now that's a vacation
Thanks
Kerri

 

[dvcdisney]

Ok....so good to know. We usually don't rent a car, but one time we will go to Universal. So then we would stay at SSR, OKW or now maybe Treehouse.
We were lucky enough to have 2nd or 3rd floor. Beautiful view of lake and fireworks. Bungalows blocked Electrical Water Pageant. View must have been amazing without Bungalows there. But they looked cool. I do not see the value at all though. We were in Moorea so near the ferry, but when door was closed was not an issue.
I hear ya about the 2 weeks when flying so far. My boss doesn't like it but hey. I am not flying to Europe or Hawaii without being away for 2 weeks.
Thanks
Kerri

We decided that if we're staying at Poly again, we will not be booking Lakeview. The amount of points was not worth it especially when there's a chance we would get a ground floor again next to the monorail. Aside from the very early morning noise, it wasn't much of a Lakeview. I think the Standard view would have been a far better choice.

 

[alldiz]

We decided that if we're staying at Poly again, we will not be booking Lakeview. The amount of points was not worth it especially when there's a chance we would get a ground floor again next to the monorail. Aside from the very early morning noise, it wasn't much of a Lakeview. I think the Standard view would have been a far better choice.

Yes I agree with the ground floor. That is one thing I can't do I always request high floor. Got a thing about the geckos getting under door. LOL
I really did enjoy the resort much more than I thought I would.
Kerri

 

[Simba's Mom]

Our biggest splurge was the one we just booked yesterday. DH and I are staying in a 2 BR for a night, just the two of us. Actually, we have extended family that's leaving to go home one day, and DH and I decided to stay an extra day. Before that, I THOUGHT our biggest splurge was when we decided to stay in a 1 BR, instead of our usual studio, for a week in HHI. But that ended up costing us money, because after that, we bought more points because we decided to always stay in a 1 BR there.