What is the minimum ideal length of stay?

[invalid_char]

OK, short of *forever*, what is the minimum ideal stay?

We made a reservation for a full week in a 2 BR for the last week in October. Having never stayed in a DVC resort we figured that we'd be best off erring on the generous side and staying in a 2BR. We booked for 7 nights. Now that the time is drawing near, we are wondering if we might also have a *magical* vacation if we cut the trip to 6 nights. We would save a lot of points this way, BUT we still want to have a great time. Is 6 nights too short? (BTW, we have enough points to stay in a 1BR for 6 nights both in October and April -- our favorite times -- so at some point we have to either get used to 6 nights or find some other way to shave points)

Thanks for your help.

 

[Eeyore2U]

I can't use forever.

I like 8 or 9 nights. I think that will change when DW and I travel by ourself. Longer trips include weekend points and I much rather have multiple trips.

 

[Doctor P]

We stayed 7 nights the last trip, but effectively only had 5 days at Disney as we came in late afternoon of the first day and left before 7:00 am on our last day. That was about the minimum stay I think, given we drive about 1250 miles each way (in the winter). Our trip in 1999 was 10 nights in Orlando (7 nights on-site) with 8 full days at Disney and another full day at Universal. That trip was very fun and we commandoed, but I think being on the road 12 days (with the trip down and back) was probably an upper limit for us (at least in the winter and doing it commando).

 

[drusba]

For point economy, 5 nights, Sun to Thurs, is the minimum ideal because you expend no high weekend points. Personally need more than that for any one trip; we often go 12 nights, Sun to Fri with only one weekend in between. Six may be ideal for some.

 

[Janis]

My favorite trip was 12 days. We normally go for 7 days. I would like to stay longer, but DH wants to leave after a week. I do agree with Eeyore2U that shorter trips can mean multiple visits. It's funny how even after 18 trips you still find something new on each trip!

 

[ncligs]

I think a lot depends if you fly or drive down(depending how far). We always fly and stay 6 nights(only 1 weekend night), 2 times a yr for now. When we retire and have more leisure time, I am sure we will drive, stop at HH for 2 nights, and stay at least 2 weeks.

 

[Caskbill]

I think a lot depends on how long it is between DVC trips.

If you can make it five times a year, then I think 3 - 5 nights each trip is a good minimum.

If you only can make it every other year or less, than I think 14 nights is a good minimum.

However, I hate to think of minimums.

 

[Pluto4President]

I would agree with 7 nights myself. However, this T'day will be our 2nd 14 night T'day trip home to BWV. All I can say about that is ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[invalid_char]

Wow! So happy for you folks who can stay for 2 weeks. Right now we can't do studios, and we want to go down twice per year, so 2 week stays are out of the question. And we thought 400 points would be adequate.

Just out of curiosity, what do you 2 weekers do for food. If you are in a studio, do you go out every night or do you somehow manage to cook meals in the studio. Just curious as we would like to be 2 weekers ourselves.

thx

 

[Pluto4President]

While we're waiting for the room to become ready - the family usually hangs by Luna Park and I take a ride to the new Publix. Load up on snacks and junk food and some cereal. Other than that it's usually Meals out...

 

[Lew]

What is the minimum ideal length of stay? Interesting question...

My wife and I had a discussion about this just a few days ago.

We remembered when we first started visiting WDW seventeen plus years ago we stayed off property (Davis Bros. on International Drive & Days Inn LBV) for the first three trips. We stayed only four or five nights and were not able to go every year. We had a young daughter and not much money...we had a wonderful time.

We then began staying on property after Disney began building resorts at a rapid pace. Our first on property resort stay was at CBR for a week. That was truly a wonderful trip...from then on a week would be the absolute minimum stay.

Since that trip we have stayed at a number of WDW resorts: YC, BC, PO, DxL. Somehow our minimum stay moved up to ten nights...that seemed absolutely decadent.

Since we have been DVC members our visits are now twice a year for two weeks minimum each time. Our daughter is now married and a member at BWV...we have taken many wonderful trips with her family to WDW.

Getting back to your question... The ideal minimum stay has many different answers...and if you're anything like us it will change over the years.

 

[spruce]

We've stayed 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 nights in a DVC resort. We have tacked a 3 or 4 day cruise to and soon a 3rd to a 2 and 4 night stay. We also own other timeshares and have combined DVC stays with a time elsewhere. 2 summers ago we had Cypress point for a week and a 5 night DVC stay. Next summer we have Orange Lake Country Club for a week and 6 nights DVC. This summer we had 21 nights at Las Olas Beach Club in Sattelite Beach and 7 nights DVC.
What is the ideal stay.....I don't know....the 28 nights was wonderful but not something we can do often until I retire. With the cruises and DVC we get 6-8 nights. With just one other timeshare week we get 12 or 13 nights. We like the longer trips of 12-13 nights. Sure we have to move once, but, while offsite we enjoy other theme parks, the beach and Disney then when we go to our DVC we stay onsite the whole time (5 or 6 nights). Plus, we find the 12-13 nights less rushed then a shorter stay so, we have a more relaxing vacation. We have done 5 or 6 nights DVC a and that's not enough with the 3 of us but my wife and I loved the 3 night weekend we took ourselves leaving our son at grandmas. What's the ideal lenght of stay....I don't know...spruce

 

[POLLY ANN]

I used to think a week, Saturday to Saturday, would be plenty. but our next trip is for 10 nights, 11 days. This way, we can go to the parks at our leisure plus have downtime for pool, shopping, or just relaxing.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Of 11 days, I'm just curious, how many "non-park" days do you have?

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Simba's Mom
Of 11 days, I'm just curious, how many "non-park" days do you have?

Simbas Mom

We have been down 6 days, a few times, and not stepped foot in the parks. (Pleasure Island,Cirque du Solei, Shopping, Resort hopping to restraunts, relaxing)

 

[BuffyFan]

We are going for a Saturday to following Sunday trip this year (in just three weeks) and this will be my first time as a DVC'er after buying in for VWL last December. Very excited about that!

As we are flying in from the West Coast, our first Saturday and final Sunday are pretty much all about travelling.

So, in the 7 full days we will have at WDW, we have planned 5 park days and 2 days free.

We are going to do Epcot on Sunday, MK on Monday, MGM on Tuesday, free day on Wednesday, AK and Illum Cruise on Thursday, a "free" park day to go where we decide on Friday, and take Saturday off before we leave early on Sunday.

As we are all adults on this trip, and we enjoy lounging around the pool as much as we like the parks, we wanted to make sure we got some down time.

Gosh, it is too early to start packing yet? :>

Steven

 

[DeeP]

If I fly into FL from up North the minimum stay for me is 5 nights, anything less than this doesn't make it seem worth the airfare. If I am going to WDW when I am already in FL than even a long weekend is great. For me the longer the better, but most of my trips to WDW are 9-11 nights per trip, 3-5 times per year. I am leaving for FL in 13 days and this trip will be for 15 nights. All but 3 days, which are for business during the day but Disney at night!, I will be in one park or another. Because I mostly stay at BWV it is so easy to just walk to Epcot or MGM to see Illuminations or Fantasmic or eat in one of my favorite restaurants so everyday I am at WDW I go to a park even if it is just for an hour or two. I could not imagine going to WDW for any length of time and not going to the parks, I spend a lot of time at my resort and at the pool each day but I also love just being able to walk to WS and go to France and pick up pasteries for breakfast or just sitting and listiening to the park music and shows, watching the people and the beautiful atmopshere of the parks, etc.