Who is planning on going Christmas or New Year's next year?

[nisiemouse]

We may have to cancel our summer ressies at BCV and OKW. There is an annual meeting at dh's work over the summer and that date will not be finalized until probably April. Dh's dad has also been diagnosed as terminal with a year or less to live. We are thinking it may be safer to plan a trip leaving right after Christmas and I was wondering who was already planning on calling at the 11 month window. We have been at this time once before (prior to being DVC members). Did anyone go this year and if you did any ideas on places to stay the Fri and Sat before Christmas to save a few points?

 

[DisneyHumbug]

We went this year. I made the ressie at 9 months. We stayed at VWL from Mon. 12/23 - Sun. 12/29. We were with a group who stayed in the Lodge and those are the dates we all decided on, and there was no way I was going to move just for the weekend. The crowds seemed to arrive 12/26.

 

[travelbug]

Hi, nisiemouse! I'm so sorry to hear about your father-in-law. I hope he will be as pain-free and comfortable as possible.

I stayed at BWV over the holidays this year Dec. 28-Jan. 4. It was my first Christmas at WDW, and it took my breath away with all the gorgeous decorations. I do plan to be back this coming Christmas, probably for the exact same dates. Only this time they will fall on Sun.-Sun., instead of Sat.-Sat. I'm thinking of flying in a day or even two early, and maybe staying at one of the All-Stars. Would probably rather stay on-site, since I'll probably be relying on Disney transportation.

I marked the dates in my planner when I'll need to be on the phone to MS by 9 AM, since I'm trying for one of those elusive standard 2BR at BWV. Best wishes to you as you change your travel plans and get it all worked out.

 

[nisiemouse]

Travelbug, We are thinking of the same dates Sun-Sun for the DVC portion maybe arriving on the Fri before and staying somewhere else. Good luck with the BWV standard view. This will be the first time I have called at 11 months if this is what we decide to do . Thanks for the good wishes and have a great upcoming trip. Denise

 

[mouseclick1]

We are planning our first Christmas trip. We are going to start out with 3 days at Universal, Christmas Eve at AKL, then 25-30 at BWV.

 

[WDWguru]

We're going for it! We'll be staying at VWL from 12/29 through 1/2 (well, checking out on the 2nd). That'll cover my birthday and NYE. I know it'll be crowded, but can't WAIT!

I'm all set to call day-by-day starting in a few weeks.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We are planning our second New Year's trip for next year to the BWV's. We had such a good time this year that we are going back again for 2004. We plan on going from December 28 to January 5. Not sure if we will try for a Standard View or not. We had one this year but are interested in something near Community Hall and the quiet pool.

HBC

 

[zurgswife]

We are going in 2003 for Christmas and New Year's can't wait to start making the ressies....

 

[Doctor P]

We're not going at that time this year, but I feel privileged that we were able to meet you on your last trip at that time of the year!!!

 

[Cinderelli]

Every year during the holidays, I get so stressed out. My DH and I always say "next year we're leaving town - we're going on vacation". Unfortunately, we are in the same situation as nisiemouse. My DHs mother was diagnosed last July as having 6-12 months. She has spent every Christmas with us since our "oldest" DD was born (she's turning 9). It will be a difficult Christmas if we have to spend it without my MIL.

Thus.......we've pretty much decided we will do the "world" next Christmas/New Years. We'll stay here and be with our local family on Christmas Eve. Get up Christmas Day and open Santa's presents, have a lovely breakfast........then ask the kids if they'd like to go to Disney World? We hope to be at the World by noon! We'll be staying 12/25 - 1/2 at beautiful OKW (we hope). I've got to get the calendar marked so I can start calling day by day at the end of this month. I've never been so excited about planning something this far in advance in my entire life.

Hope to see lots of you there!

 

[nisiemouse]

Thanks Doctor P. We really enjoyed sharing the cruise and getting to meet you and your family. I never thought then that I would get to be your "neighbor" in the future.
Cinderelli, So sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. I tend to get stressed out over the holidays also. What a great surprise for the kids. I have to admit I am a little down about the possibility of postponing but I did love our last trip at this time. It just seems like it will be safer to change our ressies to this time if we think we might need to wait. It would be much easier to try and do a summer trip on shorter notice if it worked out but impossible to go after Christmas without planning far in advance. Good luck calling at the end of the month!
Thanks for all the replies. If we reschedule I hope to see some of you there.

 

[SamS]

My wife and I are relatively new DVC Beach Club members, and have already booked for 2nd and third weeks of June, using upfront points. We are going to call Member Services at 9:00 on Monday, the 27th of this month to begin reserving for December 25th through Jan 1st. Other posts I've read have suggested that an open reservation (day by day) may be necessary to obtain accomodations. Anybody have opinions about that? Our home resort, as I said is BCV, and we'll be booking a studio, for ourselves, and possibly my sister who turns 60 on the 22nd of Dec. I'd prefer to wait until Feb. 3rd and book the entire stay at once because we'll be skiing in Vermont during the 11 month window, but going home Jan. 31st. However, we're concerned about availability if we wait instead of doing day by day. What do you more experienced DVC members think? Am I okay to wait until 11months before checkout, or shouldn't I take a chance?

 

[Cruelladeville]

Cinderelli and Niesiemouse,
I am sorry to hear about your relatives. My father was also diagnosed with colon cancer in July, with 2-3 months, since he refused chemo (he's 84)). Well, we are almost into February, and it's like he's not sick at all. Every day is a gift to us, we know it can't last forever, but for now we try to forget what is coming. For Christmas this year we did stay at BC 12/23 to 1/3, and the days before Christmas were 1/2 price. We could have gotten Coronado Springs for $98, instead took BC for $198 per night for the entire vacation, but next year I am booking on pts, since I bought another contract. All the resorts were decorated and were so lovely, but WLV was especially lovely. We are booking at our home resort at the 11 month window (BW), but I am hoping to transfer at the 7 month window. I don't want to stay for New Year's next year, though. I have never seen so many poorly behaved drunks in one place before. Several of the BC staffed were assaulted by them, and I found that very unpleasant.

 

[yasuern]

First - I am so sorry to hear about you FIL - I hope in his time left he is happy and surrounded by the people he loves. You and your family will be in my prayers.

As for where to stay to save a couple of points - I would post on the resorts board or budget board or orlando area hotels and attractions board. Lots of info. Good Luck!

 

[Nink]

We are hoping to go Dec. 31 - Jan. 4. Four of our friends are planning on coming with us.

I am getting a little nervous about reservations. We want to stay at OKW, which is not my home. BCV is. If I have to wait until July 2003 to make the ressies, I may not get the two bedroom we would like to stay in.

This will be our first trip at New Years. I usually travel the Friday after Thanksgiving for a week.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated from all of the experienced New Year revelers.

 

[nisiemouse]

Nink: I would book BCV at 11 months and try to switch to OKW at 7 months. OKW is the largest resort but I don't have experience as to how quickly it fills up for New Year's. We were able to reserve OKW at a little over 7 months for Thanksgivng but I would think New Year's would be more popular. Of course be careful if you do this since BCV requires more points and depending on when your use year is you don't want to miss any banking deadlines if points free up when you switch your ressies. Good luck.