Where will VGCGroupie Buy Next (Post-Trip Reveal Prediction Poll)

[PolyRob]

When the budget airline isn't an option since I used multiple new credit cards to buy my direct purchases and racked up over 1 million miles, so now I use those to cover other flights like to Aulani. But there is still food costs, I try to keep costs down by not eating as much table service and I work very hard at my gift card collecting to help cover costs for food and dues, I average a steady 15% savings.

Never pay for a flight again with CC points! Just put the taxes on something with good insurance. Same with Disney GCs! They can subsidize dues, tickets, food, merch, LLs, etc. 15 - 20% isn't too hard to find if you're hunting sales or bonuses stacked with credit card offers. This makes it much easier to digest!

 

[VGCgroupie]

We're at 450. Would like about 80 more at VGC in a couple of years to get larger villas. But will probably have to sacrifice my one small contract, a 50 pt BLT, because DH ridiculously thinks we have enough DVC points and it'll partially offset the new cost.

Hopefully the economy isn't looking scary in a couple of years because then DH will say no to more VGC, even with the the small BLT sacrifice.

All that to say, I'm jealous of @VGCgroupie 's ability to get spousal approval! 1000 points, wow! Congrats!

Thanks! He may have alterior motives.. I was hit yesterday with a "hey since we can spend money on Boardwalk me and the kid can buy that mini Jeep now right"?

Photo of said mini jeep that they want to modify to run on magnets .. which also cost money

 

[VGCgroupie]

View attachment 979280

Never pay for a flight again with CC points! Just put the taxes on something with good insurance. Same with Disney GCs! They can subsidize dues, tickets, food, merch, LLs, etc. 15 - 20% isn't too hard to find if you're hunting sales or bonuses stacked with credit card offers. This makes it much easier to digest!

And I love the hunt for CC offers and GC deals! A win win

 

[PolyRob]

And I love the hunt for CC offers and GC deals! A win win

You definitely get a rush!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Oh no! Time to ditch the family, I guess. Pretty sure that's grounds for divorce.

We are finding we wish we could go more often. It will be almost 1 year between our last WDW trip by the time we get to Disneyland in December.

And it will be around 18 months between our last Disneyland trip and this December one.

We find by the 6 month mark, we're ready to go back. Maybe once our son is out of school in 7-10 years, we'll be able to go more often. But we don't like to pull him out of school for more than 1 trip a year. And we do want to take some non-Disney trips too. So that really just leave 1 vacation in the summer and 1 vacation during the school year.

Counter point: more time between trips gives you more time to miss it! Then it's even sweeter when you do get there

 

[ClaraOswald]

5% for how little effort it takes is amazing. I will admit to hitting up 4 different stores in person in one day to get my savings .

Which stores have you found the best deals?

So sitting back and reflecting on how this comes across as super crazy… $9992 for dues.

I just want to preface this with the month before I bid on my first DVC contract we took a vacation to Disneyland and the room charge was $5500 and we only stayed 3 nights in 2 studios. Now that we are DVC we are getting many many more vacations for our money including a grand villa at Aulani next month which never would’ve happened without DVC.

I know I'd be paying way less towards vacations without DVC. We'd stay at POFQ at WDW and off-site at Disneyland. And we wouldn't go nearly as often.

BUT....I'm really happy that we're able to go more and stay in nicer places that we'd never do if we paid out of pocket for each trip. To me, it's worth it!

10 years ago me wouldn't have thought so. But current me does!

View attachment 979280

Never pay for a flight again with CC points! Just put the taxes on something with good insurance. Same with Disney GCs! They can subsidize dues, tickets, food, merch, LLs, etc. 15 - 20% isn't too hard to find if you're hunting sales or bonuses stacked with credit card offers. This makes it much easier to digest!

I need you all to teach me your ways!

And I love the hunt for CC offers and GC deals! A win win

I'm horrible at this!

Counter point: more time between trips gives you more time to miss it! Then it's even sweeter when you do get there

True. One thing that sucks is that I look forward to it for so long....then the trip arrives and it's so short. It's there, then gone.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I know I'd be paying way less towards vacations without DVC. We'd stay at POFQ at WDW and off-site at Disneyland. And we wouldn't go nearly as often.

I was a bit opposite. At DLR I would only stay on property. At WDW I was thrilled to stay at POP and I loved it.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I was a bit opposite. At DLR I would only stay on property. At WDW I was thrilled to stay at POP and I loved it.

As an adult, I've only been to WDW a handful of times. Before DVC, we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside once and Pop Century twice (all before our son was born). We liked both but figured we'd likely switch to POFQ for future trips...until we bought points.

 

[VGCgroupie]

As an adult, I've only been to WDW a handful of times. Before DVC, we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside once and Pop Century twice (all before our son was born). We liked both but figured we'd likely switch to POFQ for future trips...until we bought points.

The Skyliner access from the rooms we would request at POP was equivalent to the VGC/DCA entrance in distance. It was amazing. If I went and stayed cash again I would for sure stay there.

 

[tx911]

The Skyliner access from the rooms we would request at POP was equivalent to the VGC/DCA entrance in distance. It was amazing. If I went and stayed cash again I would for sure stay there.

I’ve not stayed at Pop. I did stay at Gran Destino tower a couple of times and liked it a lot.

Are those the preferred room category at Pop?

 

[AstroBlasters]

View attachment 979280

Never pay for a flight again with CC points! Just put the taxes on something with good insurance. Same with Disney GCs! They can subsidize dues, tickets, food, merch, LLs, etc. 15 - 20% isn't too hard to find if you're hunting sales or bonuses stacked with credit card offers. This makes it much easier to digest!

I haven’t found the mythical 15-20% to be sustainable.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I’ve not stayed at Pop. I did stay at Gran Destino tower a couple of times and liked it a lot.

Are those the preferred room category at Pop?

No they face the back garden type area. If I remember right the preferred face the pool. Room 5113. Ground floor, room to butt in Skyliner in under 2 minutes.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

True. One thing that sucks is that I look forward to it for so long....then the trip arrives and it's so short. It's there, then gone.

Yeah, I get it. That's why I also like to do a DCL trip to get my Disney fix while seeing news places

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I haven’t found the mythical 15-20% to be sustainable.

At large volumes it's very tough!

 

[tx911]

Yeah, I get it. That's why I also like to do a DCL trip to get my Disney fix while seeing news places

Except the DCL trips are even more expensive!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Except the DCL trips are even more expensive!

It depends, no park tickets or dining... But probably yes in general, unless going in a slow season or a repositioning cruise

 

[VGCgroupie]

I haven’t found the mythical 15-20% to be sustainable.

For me it’s rather easy. Sometimes it’s 10% sometimes it’s 30% but I keep a spreadsheet and I consistently average 15%. Target and the grocery store is the easiest and makes up the bulk of my purchases.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Yeah, I get it. That's why I also like to do a DCL trip to get my Disney fix while seeing news places

Going on my first cruise in April. I’m scared a will fall head over heels for cruising

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Going on my first cruise in April. I’m scared a will fall head over heels for cruising

It's a different kind of vacation. Don't be scared, variety is nice sometimes!

 

[ClaraOswald]

The Skyliner access from the rooms we would request at POP was equivalent to the VGC/DCA entrance in distance. It was amazing. If I went and stayed cash again I would for sure stay there.

See, the Skyliner was the reason we were DITCHING Pop. I have no desire to step foot on that thing.

For me it’s rather easy. Sometimes it’s 10% sometimes it’s 30% but I keep a spreadsheet and I consistently average 15%. Target and the grocery store is the easiest and makes up the bulk of my purchases.

What cards are you getting for 10-30% off??

Going on my first cruise in April. I’m scared a will fall head over heels for cruising

I don't think I'll ever go on a cruise. Partly because I don't think my son would like it (and I worry about his safety.) And partly because I think I'd end up feeling sick the whole time. (Oh...and documentaries like the Poop Cruise one certainly don't help. )