What to do with the DVC blues

[sfibelko]

We go on vacation next Saturday - a vacation planned six months ago -and long awaited. The problem: its not Disney. We have owned timeshares for years, and last September when we booked the mountains of Tennessee, it was a
Great idea. But then the DVC bug bit in January... And now that we own this time with Disney... Well... Dollywood just does not hold the same appeal. Oh yes, we are going to be at OKW in July, and SSR for Christmas, but that just seems like so far away. Now I just wish we had bought DVC earlier.. And wonder what to do with all my other timeshare weeks. Not looking for answer s here - just felt like talking. Thanks for listening!

 

[CPTJAK]

I know what you mean I am going to Mexico in 2 weeks but Disney would be nice.

What timeshares do you own

 

[CarolMN]

I know what you mean. Just got back from a 7 day cruise (to Puerta Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas). Thank goodness I had the good sense to start off with two nights at DisneyLand or the whole trip would have been blah, very blah!

Hope you have lots of fun in Tennesee - try not to think about DVC/Disney (but you will, anyway).

Best wishes -

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

I understand completely. Last year we had booked a second week at the beach after our stay at OKW. We were so depressed to leave Disney that we got to the beach and within 2 days got ourselves booked back to Disney to finish off our vacation back with the mouse. The timeshare at the beach was OK, but our heart wasn't into it.

We got into timesharing to see new places, but now we are very hesitant to do so. We know we are going to have a great time in Disney, why go somewhere else?

 

[missymagic]

Is it a possibilty to consider selling the other timeshare and using the money to buy more DVC shares???

 

[DISNEYMOMx5]

Hello to a Buckeye neighbor!! Don't be blue...at least you're going SOMEWHERE away from this fickle Ohio weather!!! Take some Disney literature along so you can dream of the many Disney vacations to come...planning is half the fun!! Do you have your countdowns started on dvcmember.com yet? Your upcoming trips will be here before you know it! In the meantime, enjoy a break from the old routine!

 

[Didney Daddy]

It has been my experience that you are either true Disney or not. It is to be or not to be. Loving Disney is not just about the trips, it is the year long pre-occupation with all things Disney. We love the tv shows, Radio Disney, Disney merchandise etc...

It is a constant in life that you can depend on and generally trust. There are so few things in life that you can depend on to be quality, family oriented, fun and safe. It brings back the child in all of us.

Have fun wherever you go, but Disney will always be in your heart.

 

[tomandrobin]

I'm glad its not just us! We have a trip to Cancun in 2 weeks and all we talk about is out 2 Disney trips we have planned for the fall and Christmas. We are even try to squeeze in third trip in there somewhere, if we can.

 

[Partridge4ever]

I'm with you! We go to Pigeon Forge/Dollywood at least once a year w/my in-laws. In fact, they offered to get a 2 bedroom unit for this week so we could all go during Spring Break. I said no, we were going to just stay home and lounge around all week. Then yesterday DH says maybe we could go to WDW for a few days. 24 hours later, the van is packed, I'm about to explode, just sitting here waiting for him to get home from work so we can load up the kids.

 

[IamAnniM]

I know what you mean - I am going through Disney Withdrawl I'm so BLUE. Used my DVC points for the Disney Cruise and had to use or loose some points and am going to Atlantis with the points - Haven't been to Disney since 10/31 and I am miserable. I was so miserable I bought more points on line and now I'm miserable WAITING for settlement (Ha) Meanwhile, I work on projects of assembling old disney photos or watch and copy my minicassettes to DVDs so I can watch my old vacations, and read websites (www.wdwig.com) and look at pictures - seems to help - OH and I look at the DISBOARDS community photos - nice to pass time

 

[sfibelko]

We own shares through something called TAN (travel advantage network) where you buy weeks of travel. Most of the places I have stayed with them have been nice – only one that I was displeased with. The English Mountain condo is online this week for $80 a night – which makes me feel bad that I paid $800 for the week with my timeshare place – but what are you going to do. We still own 7 more weeks with them, and our intention is to do Disney for a year, then save up points while we do the other next year, and so on. I know I can sell or give someone a week – but we have already paid for, so I just thought I would hold them until finished. It’s only costing me the $200 a year in dues now.

Since we are used to doing Disney every year or other year – and now own the DVC and are planning for 4 weeks in the next year to make the AP worth every penny – I may actually enjoy the year away next – do something fun like Hawaii. I want to do a cruise the following year – and the DW is now talking the Disney Cruise – Just not sure it’s the wisest use of points from what I have read.

This Christmas we have one week on site at SSR and one off week with the other (TAN) so it will be interesting to see how big of a difference it all is.

To DSNEYMOMx5 – Hey fellow neighbor! Did you see the interesting article in the Dispatch – 75% of the US population lives with in a 500 mile radius of Columbus? What this state won’t do to make itself sound better!. I can not take the cold any more – I need warmth. I checked out so many Disney books, I just don’t know that there is any more I can read on this trip about Disney – I just makes the July trip seem further away.

On a bright note – I was just promoted to IT manager and so this will be a nice relaxation prior to moving on to more responsibility. I work for Nationwide – Don’t you just love our commercials!

To Didney Daddy: you would not believe the Disney life we lead – Our family room is like a tribute to all that is Disney – Art, cells, figures, toys, ect. Planning is fun too. I was watching a show the other night about the new Expedition Everest, and a traveling Dinosaur named “Lucky”. I did know a woman at work who would break her visits down in an itinerary by the minute… but that is just to detailed for me. Just making the list of what I want to see, do, ride and eat is plenty for me.

To tomandrobin : I will trade you TN for Cancun!

To Partridge4ever: any fun hints you have for me about the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area would be welcome. I see there is supposed to be a good cave there, and outlet malls. My fun is hunting old antique stores for Disney trinkets to add to the family room.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I see I'm in good company here....we love our DVC & our wdw vacations. We own an offsite timeshare as well. And while we have some fun trips using it, it's just not the same as our DVC. We're actually toying with selling our offsite timeshare (and we know we'll take a loss on that), and buying more DVC points. My husband is still a little hung-up on the fact that we own our offsite week for life though......but we're big disney people. I told him, that the time "for life" rolls around, it won't be worth much anyway and the dues/maintenance will probably be pretty hefty as they increase every year.
But we watch the disney movies, listen to the music, one of our bathrooms is Mickey themed, I have a huge curio shelf that my dh made that houses all of my disney collectibles etc.....we're starting
So the OP, I know how you feel. So even though it's not a trip to WDW.....have a great time in TN

 

[sfibelko]

My other TS is just for weeks - not life - so I can understand why you might be inclined to hold on to them. We started with 150 points knowing we had the other, and keep debating adding on more, but want to do at least one stay at DVC property before making the commitment.

What TS do you own that is for life?

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Count me in too. Disney is awesome. Just came back from NYC 2 hours ago and I wished the whole time I was in Disney.(And for the money I spent for the weekend, I could have gone to Disney for a week on my points) My cousin got married at St Patricks Catherdal (which was the highlight of the whole trip) however NYC just doesn't do it for me, but neither does the Cape nor Maine nor ....... Give me Disney any day. I have no desire to go anywhere else. That's why we bought DVC.

 

[Deesknee]

I am not the OP, but thanks to everyone, I just turned to my DH and said "see, we're not alone". Are biggest problem teen daughter doesn't want to go until 2009 when she graduates! See ya DD. We're going to WDW ASAP

 

[sfibelko]

Funny - I remember when my DD wa all excited about meeting Mickey, and Buzz znd Woody... now that she is turning 16 she is excited about meeting Bill, ans Frank, and Bob. She asked me the other day if WDW would be a good place to meet a boyfriend, or if she can go to Pleasure Island be herself yet.

On a side note of what to do while waiting on next Disney trip -- We bought a 5 mega pix Kodak yesterday - that will make our 2006 disney memories 2 mega pixals better than our 2005 memories.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I remember when my DD wa all excited about meeting Mickey, and Buzz znd Woody... now that she is turning 16 she is excited about meeting Bill, ans Frank, and Bob. She asked me the other day if WDW would be a good place to meet a boyfriend

I have a 15 1/2 yo myself. I'm thankful she hasn't gotten to this point yet ! She and my youngest are still trying to hold on to that "magic" for a bit longer. I really thought my ds (who is a freshman in college) would want no parts of our summer WDW trip this year.....thought he'd laugh at me and turn it down flat, but he's actually wanting to come with us ! I am counting down the days until all three of them lose interest, but secretly hoping that won't ever happen

 

[sfibelko]

Same here - we did disney as honeymooners - willing to do it alone as mature adults sans children - but I do so enjoy how young my kids make me feel when we are there.

 

[byoung]

Having a hard time finding any vacation days to go anywhere else this year, except planned Disney trips. You know what, I have 5 weeks of vacation.

 

[sfibelko]

My company tried something new this year - combining all your sick time, family illness days, vacation days into one pool. While this upsets some, I hardly ever take sick time. Result is that I went from 3 weeks of vacation to 4 1/2. So same for me - we will be at DW 3 weeks this year - and of course TN next week.