Disney Vacation (2 Viewers)

[The Ref]

Online check in is quicker. They already have your info so you stuff is ready when you walk up to the desk.Leaving in 4 days.

See you there Geek - leaving after work on Thursday. Thinking about being a devil and blowing out our budget out by a few hundred and secretly upgrading out of the All Star and moving up to a moderate....

Which Mod are you thinking about? We just got back a couple weeks ago from Port Orleans French Quarter and really liked it. You have the option of using the pool and/or activities there or Port Orleans Riverside. We also took the boat from POFQ to Downtown Disney quite a few times. I've also stayed at Coronado Springs and liked that one too. I liked the beds & hot tub much better at Coronado but liked the smallness, double sinks, & boat to DTD much better at French Quarter. No matter what you decide to do, you guys will have a blast! We head back down in a few weeks and I can't wait!

This late in the game I'd take whatever. When I planed my first trip last year I was all about the Coronado but the pool was closed so we upgraded to the Wilderness lodge. It's funny though, I think the French Quarter is the one that stand out to me now. In fact I'm going to call right now.

Why did I ever book at the value resort to begin with? Three night upcharge at the Port Orleans (riverside, french side was sold out) = $130.

 

[FBGirl79]

Online check in is quicker. They already have your info so you stuff is ready when you walk up to the desk.Leaving in 4 days.

See you there Geek - leaving after work on Thursday. Thinking about being a devil and blowing out our budget out by a few hundred and secretly upgrading out of the All Star and moving up to a moderate....

Which Mod are you thinking about? We just got back a couple weeks ago from Port Orleans French Quarter and really liked it. You have the option of using the pool and/or activities there or Port Orleans Riverside. We also took the boat from POFQ to Downtown Disney quite a few times. I've also stayed at Coronado Springs and liked that one too. I liked the beds & hot tub much better at Coronado but liked the smallness, double sinks, & boat to DTD much better at French Quarter. No matter what you decide to do, you guys will have a blast! We head back down in a few weeks and I can't wait!

This late in the game I'd take whatever. When I planed my first trip last year I was all about the Coronado but the pool was closed so we upgraded to the Wilderness lodge. It's funny though, I think the French Quarter is the one that stand out to me now. In fact I'm going to call right now.

Why did I ever book at the value resort to begin with? Three night upcharge at the Port Orleans (riverside, french side was sold out) = $130.

I can't wait to hear how you like it bc we are considering it for next April. It is in the middle of a refurb right now so you may want to call back tomorrow and request a refurbished room. The request isn't guaranteed but I would ask again at check in so you have a better shot of getting. The refurbed rooms will have queen sized beds which is a nice upgrade. Also for those of you with a family of 5, Port Orleans Riverside has a section of rooms called Alligator Bayou that sleep 5 bc they have a trundle bed. This may or may not still be the case after the refurb but it doesn't hurt to check. Also the new Art of Animation resort opening in the spring I believe will have more family suites as well.

 

[The Ref]

Online check in is quicker. They already have your info so you stuff is ready when you walk up to the desk.Leaving in 4 days.

See you there Geek - leaving after work on Thursday. Thinking about being a devil and blowing out our budget out by a few hundred and secretly upgrading out of the All Star and moving up to a moderate....

Which Mod are you thinking about? We just got back a couple weeks ago from Port Orleans French Quarter and really liked it. You have the option of using the pool and/or activities there or Port Orleans Riverside. We also took the boat from POFQ to Downtown Disney quite a few times. I've also stayed at Coronado Springs and liked that one too. I liked the beds & hot tub much better at Coronado but liked the smallness, double sinks, & boat to DTD much better at French Quarter. No matter what you decide to do, you guys will have a blast! We head back down in a few weeks and I can't wait!

This late in the game I'd take whatever. When I planed my first trip last year I was all about the Coronado but the pool was closed so we upgraded to the Wilderness lodge. It's funny though, I think the French Quarter is the one that stand out to me now. In fact I'm going to call right now.

Why did I ever book at the value resort to begin with? Three night upcharge at the Port Orleans (riverside, french side was sold out) = $130.

I can't wait to hear how you like it bc we are considering it for next April. It is in the middle of a refurb right now so you may want to call back tomorrow and request a refurbished room. The request isn't guaranteed but I would ask again at check in so you have a better shot of getting. The refurbed rooms will have queen sized beds which is a nice upgrade. Also for those of you with a family of 5, Port Orleans Riverside has a section of rooms called Alligator Bayou that sleep 5 bc they have a trundle bed. This may or may not still be the case after the refurb but it doesn't hurt to check. Also the new Art of Animation resort opening in the spring I believe will have more family suites as well.

Been here for about an hour.... I'll reserve judgement till tomorrow but 5 out of 5 stars is already out of play.

 

[The Ref]

Ohana is the Best thing in the history of the world

 

[oso diablo]

just got back from our week in Orlando. Did 3 of the WDW parks (all but Epcot - kids' decision), plus Legoland. My 6yo son liked Legoland the best of all. I'd give it a thumbs-up, too, but would say it's overpriced at $75. Would also imagine it would not be a fun place if it were crowded, as there are no fast-pass options. Bottom-line: if you have a kid who loves Legos, put it on your agenda.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Ohana is the Best thing in the history of the world

Yes brother. Let them know. Let everyone know.Think we'll be doing some damage in EPCOT today.

 

[The Ref]

Ohana is the Best thing in the history of the world

Yes brother. Let them know. Let everyone know.Think we'll be doing some damage in EPCOT today.

It all happened by accident too. We went to the Polynesian for a Mai thai after a dry day atthe magic kingdom. After our second we were ready to blow off epcot. Someone asked what was on site for food and the bartender told us about ohana. At that point I told everyone was with that my Internets pals talked about this place like it was the holy Grail of food in Disney world. I talked one of the other dads into going and waiting in line with me and after an hour we got a reservation for 8. We had a fantastic time! And the food was in fact awesome. Thing is one of the families we were with go to Disney twice a year and had never been and even they were raving that this was there new favorite restaraunt. Believe the hype folks. This should be two food credits...

 

[FUBAR]

Next trip will be the half marathon run early January at Old Key West. Wife called me during my lunch break to discuss 2013 plans.

We loved our trip back in April and look forward to going again at some point, but can someone please explain why people go back every year and sometimes multiple times in a year? There's just too many other things to do and places to visit to make it worth it to me. Is there nothing else you'd like to try or are you fortunate enough to take multiple expensive vacations every year?ETA: then again, as a guy who has been happily married for 12 years, I can understand how comfort can trump variety in some regards.

 

[sho nuff]

Ohana is the Best thing in the history of the world

Its good, but not as good as those who drool on it here.Been to it twice and several brazilian places...(Fogo...) and the Brazillian places kill Ohana hands down.

 

[Osaurus]

Staying at the Beach club in mid-December. It's a Christmas weekend for Mrs. Osaurus at Epcot. Downtown Disney for dinner Friday night. Any recommendations at Epcot other than Le Cellier? We are having lunch there.

 

[The Ref]

Quick Trip wrap up....

Port Orleans Riverside. Wasn't impressed. I got put in the north side of the property... and when they say property they should say plantation (It's that big). Now they do have 4 different bus stops to help move you around the property, but when you want to use the pool or get breakfest in the AM and you need to either walk a 1/2 mile or more or take a bus thats just not good. I wont be staying here again.

Getting around Disney World is a major pain in the rump..... to the point where I don't think I'll ever stay at a plave that isn't on the monorail. It takes so long to get from A to B that it almost makes a hopper pass useless.

The guy who came up with the idea to close down the park that they charged everyone $100 a day.... and then REOPEN the SAME park with different music and a different parade for an ADDITIONAL $100 should get to be CEO. What a scam these "not so spooky halloween" parties.

When you decide to go with other families and stay up late with the kids you don't need the meal plan esp the ones they are offering in 2012. If you dont eat in the AM (or if your at the Riverside) the plan isn't worth it.

Ohana was the highlight of the trip. We had a blast, the food was great, and we saw the fireworks show.

 

[AcerFC]

Quick Trip wrap up....

Port Orleans Riverside. Wasn't impressed. I got put in the north side of the property... and when they say property they should say plantation (It's that big). Now they do have 4 different bus stops to help move you around the property, but when you want to use the pool or get breakfest in the AM and you need to either walk a 1/2 mile or more or take a bus thats just not good. I wont be staying here again.

I have not stayed at Orleans but I did stay at Caribbean Beach and hated it for all the reasons you listed above. My experiences with the value resorts have been much better. but I have two small kids and we dont go back to the hotel to relax. But getting from one place to the other in Caribbean was awful.

Getting around Disney World is a major pain in the rump..... to the point where I don't think I'll ever stay at a plave that isn't on the monorail. It takes so long to get from A to B that it almost makes a hopper pass useless.

We have done it but you need to plan everything out or it could get annoying. Park Hopper is the only option for us

The guy who came up with the idea to close down the park that they charged everyone $100 a day.... and then REOPEN the SAME park with different music and a different parade for an ADDITIONAL $100 should get to be CEO. What a scam these "not so spooky halloween" parties.

In my experience with the Christmas parade, it is worth every penny. We usually plan our trip so that the parade is the first thing we do after we check in. It allows us to hit almost every major attraction with little to no lines and then we dont have to worry about hitting the big ones unless we want to fast pass. Saves a ton of time and for me, its worth it for that reason alone

When you decide to go with other families and stay up late with the kids you don't need the meal plan esp the ones they are offering in 2012. If you dont eat in the AM (or if your at the Riverside) the plan isn't worth it.

Ohana was the highlight of the trip. We had a blast, the food was great, and we saw the fireworks show.

Wish I could have eaten there. we had reservations for 9 last time we went and then they told us that the earliest we would be sitting is 11. With a 3 and 1 year old that was not an option. Was very disappointed

 

[soothsayer]

OK - back from our 8-night stay at Animal Kingdom - Kidani Village. Trip report for those that are interested:

- Kidani Village - We had a Savannah View room on the 3rd floor near the lobby. Outstanding location. The 2-bedroom suite was very nice and spacious. There were many Giraffes, Zebra and many other animals right outside our veranda throughout our stay. I really liked it there though I'm not yet ready to say it was my favorite. We've stayed at OKW, Wilderness and now AKL (as part of DVC) and each has their own charm for sure. I think for our kids (5/7) this was the best spot thanks to the animals. The pool was very nice. The big downside to Kidani Village is most food is at the Jambo House - a very long walk or shuttle ride away. We used Garden Grocer for grocery delivery service though and cooked throughout the week so it didn't impact us much.

- Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party - The advanced tickets for this were approx. $65. Considering they allow entry to the park at 4 PM (not the 7 PM they advertise) this is a great purchase. With low crowds we were able to knock out most rides the night of the party, and see a great parade and fireworks show. We LOVE the MNSSHP! Because the boys aren't interested in character meets, we can just waltz onto rides while so many others are in line to get autographs and pictures.

- 'Ohana was outstanding! This place really does rock. We had an 8 PM reservation and were seated by 8:20 (pretty normal). We always schedule our 'Ohana night when the MK has a fireworks show at closing (9 PM). So we got to watch the fireworks with the music piped in - always a great experience while consuming that feast.

- Random Park Notes - My boys did the Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studios. You HAVE to sign up for this right at the rope drop (park opening). In fact, they have signups even before the park opens to the left by the 50s Prime Time Cafe. After open registration moves to the Sounds Dangerous building. The boys got to dress in Jedi robe and fight Darth Vader on stage in front of a big crowd watching. An outstanding photo/video opp and the boys had a blast - the highlight of their trip.

Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor - I had never seen this show at the MK but enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for dumb humor (think Jungle Cruise) and this show delivered. I love the technology they use (the same as at Turtle Talk at Epcot) and my Mother-In-Law got picked on during the show. Classic.

The Dole Whips at MK are still very tasty.

We got to see Howard Jones at Epcot as part of the Food and Wine Festival. He was so great. I always liked him in the 80's - in fact the "New Song" is one of my all time favorite songs. So seeing him live was just a very cool experience. Factor in that I was drinking a great beer and enjoying an amazingly buttery Lobster Roll courtesy of the New England F&W booth and it was a highlight of the trip for me.

We went to Legoland last Wednesday. This park is great! Some have complained about the price of tickets (we got ours BOGO at pre-open prices) but if the park is as much fun for the kids as a Disney park, wouldn't a hefty price make sense? There are fun rides for the kids including a few smaller coasters. Probably the coolest thing to watch here as a parent was the "Driving School" where kids actually drive around small cars in a mini-city. The cars are not on rails or anything - they actually drive. The roads have stop signs, street lights and even a roundabout - it was hilarious watching kids attempt to navigate their little cars. They then can buy a souvenir driver's license with their picture on it for $15 - it's a cool keepsake for sure. This park was approx. 1 hour from Disney and well worth the excursion - we had a great day there.

The Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney is still awesome and surprisingly affordable.

I used Tour Guide Mike (TGM) again for my planning and it was again worth it. We had a park plan for every day including our path/plan and who was running to get fastpasses and when.

I am managing a PhotoPass share with four others that I connected with at the TGM message boards. So it's going to cost each of us approx. $30 to get all the photos we could have taken during our time in the park. There's plenty of info about how a PhotoShare works online - I recommend you check it out if you want inexpensive "pro" photos from the parks for you and your fam.

I'll field any questions if you have any. Thanks for reading.

 

[Reaper]

OK - back from our 8-night stay at Animal Kingdom - Kidani Village. Trip report for those that are interested:- Kidani Village - We had a Savannah View room on the 3rd floor near the lobby. Outstanding location. The 2-bedroom suite was very nice and spacious. There were many Giraffes, Zebra and many other animals right outside our veranda throughout our stay. I really liked it there though I'm not yet ready to say it was my favorite. We've stayed at OKW, Wilderness and now AKL (as part of DVC) and each has their own charm for sure. I think for our kids (5/7) this was the best spot thanks to the animals. The pool was very nice. The big downside to Kidani Village is most food is at the Jambo House - a very long walk or shuttle ride away. We used Garden Grocer for grocery delivery service though and cooked throughout the week so it didn't impact us much.- Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party - The advanced tickets for this were approx. $65. Considering they allow entry to the park at 4 PM (not the 7 PM they advertise) this is a great purchase. With low crowds we were able to knock out most rides the night of the party, and see a great parade and fireworks show. We LOVE the MNSSHP! Because the boys aren't interested in character meets, we can just waltz onto rides while so many others are in line to get autographs and pictures. - 'Ohana was outstanding! This place really does rock. We had an 8 PM reservation and were seated by 8:20 (pretty normal). We always schedule our 'Ohana night when the MK has a fireworks show at closing (9 PM). So we got to watch the fireworks with the music piped in - always a great experience while consuming that feast.- Random Park Notes - My boys did the Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studios. You HAVE to sign up for this right at the rope drop (park opening). In fact, they have signups even before the park opens to the left by the 50s Prime Time Cafe. After open registration moves to the Sounds Dangerous building. The boys got to dress in Jedi robe and fight Darth Vader on stage in front of a big crowd watching. An outstanding photo/video opp and the boys had a blast - the highlight of their trip.Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor - I had never seen this show at the MK but enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for dumb humor (think Jungle Cruise) and this show delivered. I love the technology they use (the same as at Turtle Talk at Epcot) and my Mother-In-Law got picked on during the show. Classic.The Dole Whips at MK are still very tasty.We got to see Howard Jones at Epcot as part of the Food and Wine Festival. He was so great. I always liked him in the 80's - in fact the "New Song" is one of my all time favorite songs. So seeing him live was just a very cool experience. Factor in that I was drinking a great beer and enjoying an amazingly buttery Lobster Roll courtesy of the New England F&W booth and it was a highlight of the trip for me.We went to Legoland last Wednesday. This park is great! Some have complained about the price of tickets (we got ours BOGO at pre-open prices) but if the park is as much fun for the kids as a Disney park, wouldn't a hefty price make sense? There are fun rides for the kids including a few smaller coasters. Probably the coolest thing to watch here as a parent was the "Driving School" where kids actually drive around small cars in a mini-city. The cars are not on rails or anything - they actually drive. The roads have stop signs, street lights and even a roundabout - it was hilarious watching kids attempt to navigate their little cars. They then can buy a souvenir driver's license with their picture on it for $15 - it's a cool keepsake for sure. This park was approx. 1 hour from Disney and well worth the excursion - we had a great day there.The Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney is still awesome and surprisingly affordable. I used Tour Guide Mike (TGM) again for my planning and it was again worth it. We had a park plan for every day including our path/plan and who was running to get fastpasses and when.I am managing a PhotoPass share with four others that I connected with at the TGM message boards. So it's going to cost each of us approx. $30 to get all the photos we could have taken during our time in the park. There's plenty of info about how a PhotoShare works online - I recommend you check it out if you want inexpensive "pro" photos from the parks for you and your fam.I'll field any questions if you have any. Thanks for reading.

Where did you book through? Just the WDW site or TGM?

 

[soothsayer]

Where did you book through? Just the WDW site or TGM?

My In-Laws are part of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) so they book through DVC. We had previously purchased our park tickets through undercovertourist.com.

 

[boofatty]

We are going next weekend 3rd-6th. Got an invite through priority club, 3nights plus two disney passes at orange lake resort for $250. I need to sit through a 2hr condo presentation, but I hope that won't be too bad.

We'll get there next Thursday and likely hang at the pool. Then try to get two full days at disney. We made our first ever trip last spring and just hit magic kingdom. This year we're thinking of finishing what we missed at MK and then doing either animal kingdom or movie studios. My kids are 4 and 6, so we're thinking more bang for our buck at movie studios.

 

[ODoyleRules]

Where did you book through? Just the WDW site or TGM?

My In-Laws are part of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) so they book through DVC. We had previously purchased our park tickets through undercovertourist.com.

I was thinking about staying at the Animal Kingdom villas a year from now. Do you know any tricks I can do between now and then to have this cost only a small fortune?

 

[soothsayer]

Where did you book through? Just the WDW site or TGM?

My In-Laws are part of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) so they book through DVC. We had previously purchased our park tickets through undercovertourist.com.

I was thinking about staying at the Animal Kingdom villas a year from now. Do you know any tricks I can do between now and then to have this cost only a small fortune?

The only thing I can think of is to do some web research on buying DVC points from members. There are boards where DVC members sell their points for a year - they book your stay with their points and you pay them a negotiated rate for their points (typically quite a bit less than what you'd pay off the street for the room). There is risk - but you'll discover what you need to know with some homework. I have no personal experience with the sale of DVC points, but I know lots of people do Disney that way.

 

[ODoyleRules]

Where did you book through? Just the WDW site or TGM?

My In-Laws are part of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) so they book through DVC. We had previously purchased our park tickets through undercovertourist.com.

I was thinking about staying at the Animal Kingdom villas a year from now. Do you know any tricks I can do between now and then to have this cost only a small fortune?

The only thing I can think of is to do some web research on buying DVC points from members. There are boards where DVC members sell their points for a year - they book your stay with their points and you pay them a negotiated rate for their points (typically quite a bit less than what you'd pay off the street for the room). There is risk - but you'll discover what you need to know with some homework. I have no personal experience with the sale of DVC points, but I know lots of people do Disney that way.

thanks - I'll look into this.

 

[RBM]

Where did you book through? Just the WDW site or TGM?

My In-Laws are part of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) so they book through DVC. We had previously purchased our park tickets through undercovertourist.com.

I was thinking about staying at the Animal Kingdom villas a year from now. Do you know any tricks I can do between now and then to have this cost only a small fortune?

The only thing I can think of is to do some web research on buying DVC points from members. There are boards where DVC members sell their points for a year - they book your stay with their points and you pay them a negotiated rate for their points (typically quite a bit less than what you'd pay off the street for the room). There is risk - but you'll discover what you need to know with some homework. I have no personal experience with the sale of DVC points, but I know lots of people do Disney that way.

thanks - I'll look into this.

www.dvcrequest.com/This is what we did when we booked, and it went very smoothly. Going in a month to Beach Club Villas.

 

[moleculo]

Looking to put something together for early next year. We've stayed off property every time I've ever gone...my wife and I have gone 3 or 4 times and taken the girls (2 and 5 now) twice all ready, looking to kick it up a notch this time. We've never taken the girls for more than a quick, one day weekender. Usually when we go, we stay in a cheaper hotel near by and try to eat off-campus...that, or eat at a quick-dine place in the park.

I noticed that they are offering free meal plans for the time we are going, so that, coupled with the wife wanting to take the girls to Cinderellas table, makes me think that staying on property will be worth it.

So, here's what I've got so far:

3 day, 4 night trip, staying at the All-star movie resort. 3 day tickets for myself, my wife, and the two kids (one of whom is <3, so free) and an upgraded meal plan...$1340, all told.

planning on heading down 1/25. This looks to be about the ideal time to go WRT crowds...last time we were there was Superbowl Sunday, so roughly the same time. I've gotta say...it makes a big difference going when the sun isn't beating on you and the crowds are manageable. I'm thinking that staying on property and having a direct bus to and from Magic Kingdom will make everything even better.

also, 'Ohanas. Based on recommendations in this thread, I'll be sure to schedule this in.

Question: For an extra ~$150, would it be worth it to upgrade from the value level to moderate?

 

[Disco Stu]

Looking to put something together for early next year. We've stayed off property every time I've ever gone...my wife and I have gone 3 or 4 times and taken the girls (2 and 5 now) twice all ready, looking to kick it up a notch this time. We've never taken the girls for more than a quick, one day weekender. Usually when we go, we stay in a cheaper hotel near by and try to eat off-campus...that, or eat at a quick-dine place in the park.

I noticed that they are offering free meal plans for the time we are going, so that, coupled with the wife wanting to take the girls to Cinderellas table, makes me think that staying on property will be worth it.

So, here's what I've got so far:

3 day, 4 night trip, staying at the All-star movie resort. 3 day tickets for myself, my wife, and the two kids (one of whom is <3, so free) and an upgraded meal plan...$1340, all told.

planning on heading down 1/25. This looks to be about the ideal time to go WRT crowds...last time we were there was Superbowl Sunday, so roughly the same time. I've gotta say...it makes a big difference going when the sun isn't beating on you and the crowds are manageable. I'm thinking that staying on property and having a direct bus to and from Magic Kingdom will make everything even better.

also, 'Ohanas. Based on recommendations in this thread, I'll be sure to schedule this in.

Question: For an extra ~$150, would it be worth it to upgrade from the value level to moderate?

Stay longer if at all possible. Take advantage of the kids not being in school yet.

 

[moleculo]

Looking to put something together for early next year. We've stayed off property every time I've ever gone...my wife and I have gone 3 or 4 times and taken the girls (2 and 5 now) twice all ready, looking to kick it up a notch this time. We've never taken the girls for more than a quick, one day weekender. Usually when we go, we stay in a cheaper hotel near by and try to eat off-campus...that, or eat at a quick-dine place in the park.

I noticed that they are offering free meal plans for the time we are going, so that, coupled with the wife wanting to take the girls to Cinderellas table, makes me think that staying on property will be worth it.

So, here's what I've got so far:

3 day, 4 night trip, staying at the All-star movie resort. 3 day tickets for myself, my wife, and the two kids (one of whom is <3, so free) and an upgraded meal plan...$1340, all told.

planning on heading down 1/25. This looks to be about the ideal time to go WRT crowds...last time we were there was Superbowl Sunday, so roughly the same time. I've gotta say...it makes a big difference going when the sun isn't beating on you and the crowds are manageable. I'm thinking that staying on property and having a direct bus to and from Magic Kingdom will make everything even better.

also, 'Ohanas. Based on recommendations in this thread, I'll be sure to schedule this in.

Question: For an extra ~$150, would it be worth it to upgrade from the value level to moderate?

Stay longer if at all possible. Take advantage of the kids not being in school yet.

considering a longer trip. Trying to not burn through a good chunk of vacation this early... as planned, it's only 3 days off. It's very possible I get talked into a full week, which may or may not include Sea World.

 

[soothsayer]

Question: For an extra ~$150, would it be worth it to upgrade from the value level to moderate?

I say yes - I think the extra space and nicer room will be more comfortable for your family. But I've never been one to enjoy staying in smaller rooms so I'm always going to lean upgrade...

 

[17seconds]

Reluctantly driving up to Disneyland end of Jan. Wife is running the Tinkerbell half marathon and we decided to take our kid for his 5th birthday while we're there.

Not looking forward to it. He's not that into Disney and it's going to cost lots of money. Staying at the Paradise Pier hotel. I hope the Star Wars and pirate stuff is good because that's all he really cares about.

 

[Gopher State]

Antigua nightclub is located on the beautiful historic Church Street, in the heart of downtown Orlando. Antigua is an upscale nightclub dedicating itself to its clientele. Antigua features a sleek, sultry multilevel design with an emphasis on dramatic lightning showcasing 20 foot cascading waterfalls and seemless architecture.

Antigua offers a club experience like no other. Exceptional amenities include sound and intelligent lighting, 3 lavish VIP areas, 4 bars, two 15 foot high dance boxes overlooking the club, two fish tanks, 13 plasma TV's and very sexy attentive staff that will cater to your every need.

No matter which face of entertainment you are looking for, Antigua will accommodate you at every turn!

Best strip club near disney

 

[FBGirl79]

Ohana is the Best thing in the history of the world

Yes brother. Let them know. Let everyone know.Think we'll be doing some damage in EPCOT today.

It all happened by accident too. We went to the Polynesian for a Mai thai after a dry day atthe magic kingdom. After our second we were ready to blow off epcot. Someone asked what was on site for food and the bartender told us about ohana. At that point I told everyone was with that my Internets pals talked about this place like it was the holy Grail of food in Disney world. I talked one of the other dads into going and waiting in line with me and after an hour we got a reservation for 8. We had a fantastic time! And the food was in fact awesome. Thing is one of the families we were with go to Disney twice a year and had never been and even they were raving that this was there new favorite restaraunt. Believe the hype folks. This should be two food credits...

shhhh...don't give them any ideas. We have friends that have been upwards of 5 times and had never been until we all went in September and they loved it too. 35 more days until we are back there. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

ETA...saw that you didn't like Riverside. Do you think if you had a car it would have been better? I think you probably would have enjoyed Port Orleans bc it is so small everything is close and easily accessible, one bus stop, etc. We always drive bc I cannot imagine having to rely only on Disney buses with the way we like to park hop, leave for lunch at DTD and go back and forth from the room.

 

[FBGirl79]

Where did you book through? Just the WDW site or TGM?

My In-Laws are part of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) so they book through DVC. We had previously purchased our park tickets through undercovertourist.com.

I was thinking about staying at the Animal Kingdom villas a year from now. Do you know any tricks I can do between now and then to have this cost only a small fortune?

I will second looking into renting DVC points. We are renting points for our November trip and staying at AKL, Kidani Studio w/Savannah view and for 7 nights it is $1176 for the stay ($10.50 per point). We bought an AP during our trip in September so we essentially prepaid for our tickets last month with a discount. Just make sure you have a written contract with whoever you rent from and do your homework and you should be fine. We are thinking about doing it again for our April trip. Someone else asked about going multiple times a year or year after year. This is our 3rd year going and like I said above, we just bought annual passes so we can go in November for 8 days and then again in April (knowing me, I will try to squeeze in one last trip next September before they expire to get even more out of them). There are a lot of places we want to go and have other trips in the works for next fall but I tend to compare it to people who go to the beach, camping, mountains, etc. every year. Disney is our beach trip...we haven't gotten bored yet with things to do there and with some smart planning, it can be a relatively inexpensive vacation for everything included which allows us to take more trips. I go to a cabin in the mountains every spring with the girls and places like Nashville, DC & Chicago are just long weekend trips if we want to drive somewhere and get away for a few days.

 

[ODoyleRules]

www.dvcrequest.com/This is what we did when we booked, and it went very smoothly. Going in a month to Beach Club Villas.

I will second looking into renting DVC points. We are renting points for our November trip and staying at AKL, Kidani Studio w/Savannah view and for 7 nights it is $1176 for the stay ($10.50 per point). We bought an AP during our trip in September so we essentially prepaid for our tickets last month with a discount. Just make sure you have a written contract with whoever you rent from and do your homework and you should be fine. We are thinking about doing it again for our April trip.

Thanks for the input. I'll look into this.

 

[chet]

Spent the day at Universal's Islands of Adventure. We only waited in line for two rides: Harry Potter Experience and Hippogriff roller coaster. HPE was well worth it, and I wouldn't wait for hippogriff again,

Everything else was <5 min. Dragon Challenge was awesome. Dr Doom and Hulk are skips IMO. Spiderman was great.

Mykos for lunch was meh.

 

[The Ref]

Ohana is the Best thing in the history of the world

Yes brother. Let them know. Let everyone know.Think we'll be doing some damage in EPCOT today.

It all happened by accident too. We went to the Polynesian for a Mai thai after a dry day atthe magic kingdom. After our second we were ready to blow off epcot. Someone asked what was on site for food and the bartender told us about ohana. At that point I told everyone was with that my Internets pals talked about this place like it was the holy Grail of food in Disney world. I talked one of the other dads into going and waiting in line with me and after an hour we got a reservation for 8. We had a fantastic time! And the food was in fact awesome. Thing is one of the families we were with go to Disney twice a year and had never been and even they were raving that this was there new favorite restaraunt. Believe the hype folks. This should be two food credits...

shhhh...don't give them any ideas. We have friends that have been upwards of 5 times and had never been until we all went in September and they loved it too. 35 more days until we are back there. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

ETA...saw that you didn't like Riverside. Do you think if you had a car it would have been better? I think you probably would have enjoyed Port Orleans bc it is so small everything is close and easily accessible, one bus stop, etc. We always drive bc I cannot imagine having to rely only on Disney buses with the way we like to park hop, leave for lunch at DTD and go back and forth from the room.

Sorry... I should keep my mouth shut. I want them to keep it at 1 table credit as well because I'm already trying to pull something together for next year.I did have a car. And when I tried to drive to the Magic Kingdom I had to drive all the way across the property then to the transportation center THEN I had to get on a people mover THEN I had to get on the Monarail THEN I had to do it all over at the end of a very long day with a 3 year old that was cranky but still in a better mood then my tired wife. I supose I would have the same issue with any of the other Moderates. But as far as Riverside its self it's just huge to get around, the rooms were very basic and not all that big, and we never had breakfest because the mess hall was 1/2 mile away. For the three night get away to meet up with old freinds it wasn't all that bad.... but if I'm going for a week I have decided to spend the money and go with a deluxe next time..... and it's a good chance it will be the polynesian. Bet you cant guess why? It's also close to the epcot monorail.

 

[FBGirl79]

Ohana is the Best thing in the history of the world

Yes brother. Let them know. Let everyone know.Think we'll be doing some damage in EPCOT today.

It all happened by accident too. We went to the Polynesian for a Mai thai after a dry day atthe magic kingdom. After our second we were ready to blow off epcot. Someone asked what was on site for food and the bartender told us about ohana. At that point I told everyone was with that my Internets pals talked about this place like it was the holy Grail of food in Disney world. I talked one of the other dads into going and waiting in line with me and after an hour we got a reservation for 8. We had a fantastic time! And the food was in fact awesome. Thing is one of the families we were with go to Disney twice a year and had never been and even they were raving that this was there new favorite restaraunt. Believe the hype folks. This should be two food credits...

shhhh...don't give them any ideas. We have friends that have been upwards of 5 times and had never been until we all went in September and they loved it too. 35 more days until we are back there. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

ETA...saw that you didn't like Riverside. Do you think if you had a car it would have been better? I think you probably would have enjoyed Port Orleans bc it is so small everything is close and easily accessible, one bus stop, etc. We always drive bc I cannot imagine having to rely only on Disney buses with the way we like to park hop, leave for lunch at DTD and go back and forth from the room.

Sorry... I should keep my mouth shut. I want them to keep it at 1 table credit as well because I'm already trying to pull something together for next year.I did have a car. And when I tried to drive to the Magic Kingdom I had to drive all the way across the property then to the transportation center THEN I had to get on a people mover THEN I had to get on the Monarail THEN I had to do it all over at the end of a very long day with a 3 year old that was cranky but still in a better mood then my tired wife. I supose I would have the same issue with any of the other Moderates. But as far as Riverside its self it's just huge to get around, the rooms were very basic and not all that big, and we never had breakfest because the mess hall was 1/2 mile away. For the three night get away to meet up with old freinds it wasn't all that bad.... but if I'm going for a week I have decided to spend the money and go with a deluxe next time..... and it's a good chance it will be the polynesian. Bet you cant guess why? It's also close to the epcot monorail.

Yeah I should have put that in my post...we almost always drive EXCEPT to MK. I hate driving to MK so we always take the bus. Coronado Springs was nice but it is a huge resort as well and a lot of people don't like that either. We didn't mind it but we did have our car to drive to the pool and stuff at night bc it was on the opposite of where we were. You can also pay for a preferred room at most of the resorts with a location close to the main building which might be something to look into.

 

[FBGirl79]

www.dvcrequest.com/This is what we did when we booked, and it went very smoothly. Going in a month to Beach Club Villas.

I will second looking into renting DVC points. We are renting points for our November trip and staying at AKL, Kidani Studio w/Savannah view and for 7 nights it is $1176 for the stay ($10.50 per point). We bought an AP during our trip in September so we essentially prepaid for our tickets last month with a discount. Just make sure you have a written contract with whoever you rent from and do your homework and you should be fine. We are thinking about doing it again for our April trip.

Thanks for the input. I'll look into this.

Just for fun I did a little cost comparison. For those who like to stay in Deluxe rooms I would definitely suggest looking into renting points. I knew we were saving money but didn't know quite how much until I did this. Booking through Disney Website: Magic Your Way Plus Free Dining Package.3 Adults7nights/8 daysStudio-Animal Kingdom Lodge w/Savannah View8 day Park HopperGrand Total: $4,485.39Renting from DVC Member: $10.50 per point3 Adults7nights/8 days Studio-Animal Kingdom Lodge w/Savannah View = 112 points ($1176)8 day Park Hopper Annual Pass Upgrade X 3 = $578.31Disney Dining Plan = ($45.99 per day X 7) X 3 = $965.79Grand Total: $2720.10***If you don't already have a ticket discount like we did, you would be paying $351.45 per adult for an 8 day hopper so in my scenario that would make the Grand Total $3196.14. Still a substantial savings. Just wanted to type it out so people can get an idea of how to make sure you look at your vacation a couple of different ways to get the best value. There is a risk involved bc you are trusting a stranger but with a contract I figured the $1765.29 savings was worth it.

 

[The Ref]

www.dvcrequest.com/

This is what we did when we booked, and it went very smoothly. Going in a month to Beach Club Villas.

I will second looking into renting DVC points. We are renting points for our November trip and staying at AKL, Kidani Studio w/Savannah view and for 7 nights it is $1176 for the stay ($10.50 per point). We bought an AP during our trip in September so we essentially prepaid for our tickets last month with a discount. Just make sure you have a written contract with whoever you rent from and do your homework and you should be fine. We are thinking about doing it again for our April trip.

Thanks for the input. I'll look into this.

Just for fun I did a little cost comparison. For those who like to stay in Deluxe rooms I would definitely suggest looking into renting points. I knew we were saving money but didn't know quite how much until I did this. Booking through Disney Website:

Magic Your Way Plus Free Dining Package.

3 Adults

7nights/8 days

Studio-Animal Kingdom Lodge w/Savannah View

8 day Park Hopper

Grand Total: $4,485.39

Renting from DVC Member: $10.50 per point

3 Adults

7nights/8 days

Studio-Animal Kingdom Lodge w/Savannah View = 112 points ($1176)

8 day Park Hopper Annual Pass Upgrade X 3 = $578.31

Disney Dining Plan = ($45.99 per day X 7) X 3 = $965.79

Grand Total: $2720.10

***If you don't already have a ticket discount like we did, you would be paying $351.45 per adult for an 8 day hopper so in my scenario that would make the Grand Total $3196.14. Still a substantial savings.

Just wanted to type it out so people can get an idea of how to make sure you look at your vacation a couple of different ways to get the best value. There is a risk involved bc you are trusting a stranger but with a contract I figured the $1765.29 savings was worth it.

This guy gets $13 a point, but he handles all the paperwork and makes sure it's not a scam.

http://www.dvcrequest.com/?oid=15_1

Costs a little more, but it seems like it might be worth it.

 

[FBGirl79]

www.dvcrequest.com/

This is what we did when we booked, and it went very smoothly. Going in a month to Beach Club Villas.

I will second looking into renting DVC points. We are renting points for our November trip and staying at AKL, Kidani Studio w/Savannah view and for 7 nights it is $1176 for the stay ($10.50 per point). We bought an AP during our trip in September so we essentially prepaid for our tickets last month with a discount. Just make sure you have a written contract with whoever you rent from and do your homework and you should be fine. We are thinking about doing it again for our April trip.

Thanks for the input. I'll look into this.

Just for fun I did a little cost comparison. For those who like to stay in Deluxe rooms I would definitely suggest looking into renting points. I knew we were saving money but didn't know quite how much until I did this. Booking through Disney Website:

Magic Your Way Plus Free Dining Package.

3 Adults

7nights/8 days

Studio-Animal Kingdom Lodge w/Savannah View

8 day Park Hopper

Grand Total: $4,485.39

Renting from DVC Member: $10.50 per point

3 Adults

7nights/8 days

Studio-Animal Kingdom Lodge w/Savannah View = 112 points ($1176)

8 day Park Hopper Annual Pass Upgrade X 3 = $578.31

Disney Dining Plan = ($45.99 per day X 7) X 3 = $965.79

Grand Total: $2720.10

***If you don't already have a ticket discount like we did, you would be paying $351.45 per adult for an 8 day hopper so in my scenario that would make the Grand Total $3196.14. Still a substantial savings.

Just wanted to type it out so people can get an idea of how to make sure you look at your vacation a couple of different ways to get the best value. There is a risk involved bc you are trusting a stranger but with a contract I figured the $1765.29 savings was worth it.

This guy gets $13 a point, but he handles all the paperwork and makes sure it's not a scam.

http://www.dvcrequest.com/?oid=15_1

Costs a little more, but it seems like it might be worth it.

absolutely. In my above scenario, that is still only $280 more. You can still easily save over $1000 on a trip by renting points even when compared against one of Disney's special offers like the Free Dining Promo.

 

[ATC1]

Next trip will be the half marathon run early January at Old Key West. Wife called me during my lunch break to discuss 2013 plans.

We loved our trip back in April and look forward to going again at some point, but can someone please explain why people go back every year and sometimes multiple times in a year? There's just too many other things to do and places to visit to make it worth it to me. Is there nothing else you'd like to try or are you fortunate enough to take multiple expensive vacations every year?ETA: then again, as a guy who has been happily married for 12 years, I can understand how comfort can trump variety in some regards.

I am a DVC member and the points can be used anywhere. It's just that the kids are at the age where going regularly is the best thing ever. There is so much to do and we don't feel like we have to do everything. I don't mind the trips, my wife plans them well and always includes what everyone wants. It's just that she never stops with the planning even trips 2 years and 4 trips later. Also, in May she planned an adult 3 day cruise while the kids are in DW with the grandparents, then another couple of days in the parks. When we initially joined the DVC we paid $96 a point for 40-50 years back in 2006. I think the points are around $115 a point. You guys paying $13 a point for a one time visit and you want to use it multiple times, you should really consider joining if you liked the high valued resorts. (It's the only way to go now.) $13 a point would pay for 8 years where a membership (with perks like discounts on annual passes)would be for 40-50 years for the same price.

 

[gmbacm]

Next trip will be the half marathon run early January at Old Key West. Wife called me during my lunch break to discuss 2013 plans.

We loved our trip back in April and look forward to going again at some point, but can someone please explain why people go back every year and sometimes multiple times in a year? There's just too many other things to do and places to visit to make it worth it to me. Is there nothing else you'd like to try or are you fortunate enough to take multiple expensive vacations every year?ETA: then again, as a guy who has been happily married for 12 years, I can understand how comfort can trump variety in some regards.

I am a DVC member and the points can be used anywhere. It's just that the kids are at the age where going regularly is the best thing ever. There is so much to do and we don't feel like we have to do everything. I don't mind the trips, my wife plans them well and always includes what everyone wants. It's just that she never stops with the planning even trips 2 years and 4 trips later. Also, in May she planned an adult 3 day cruise while the kids are in DW with the grandparents, then another couple of days in the parks. When we initially joined the DVC we paid $96 a point for 40-50 years back in 2006. I think the points are around $115 a point. You guys paying $13 a point for a one time visit and you want to use it multiple times, you should really consider joining if you liked the high valued resorts. (It's the only way to go now.) $13 a point would pay for 8 years where a membership (with perks like discounts on annual passes)would be for 40-50 years for the same price.

Can you explain a little more how this works? you paid $96 per point one time cost for 40-50 years? Can you sell your stake if after 20 years you are done with Disney? How many points do you have? How many points are typically needed?

 

[In The Zone]

www.dvcrequest.com/

This is what we did when we booked, and it went very smoothly. Going in a month to Beach Club Villas.

I will second looking into renting DVC points. We are renting points for our November trip and staying at AKL, Kidani Studio w/Savannah view and for 7 nights it is $1176 for the stay ($10.50 per point). We bought an AP during our trip in September so we essentially prepaid for our tickets last month with a discount. Just make sure you have a written contract with whoever you rent from and do your homework and you should be fine. We are thinking about doing it again for our April trip.

Thanks for the input. I'll look into this.

Just for fun I did a little cost comparison. For those who like to stay in Deluxe rooms I would definitely suggest looking into renting points. I knew we were saving money but didn't know quite how much until I did this. Booking through Disney Website:

Magic Your Way Plus Free Dining Package.

3 Adults

7nights/8 days

Studio-Animal Kingdom Lodge w/Savannah View

8 day Park Hopper

Grand Total: $4,485.39

Renting from DVC Member: $10.50 per point

3 Adults

7nights/8 days

Studio-Animal Kingdom Lodge w/Savannah View = 112 points ($1176)

8 day Park Hopper Annual Pass Upgrade X 3 = $578.31

Disney Dining Plan = ($45.99 per day X 7) X 3 = $965.79

Grand Total: $2720.10

***If you don't already have a ticket discount like we did, you would be paying $351.45 per adult for an 8 day hopper so in my scenario that would make the Grand Total $3196.14. Still a substantial savings.

Just wanted to type it out so people can get an idea of how to make sure you look at your vacation a couple of different ways to get the best value. There is a risk involved bc you are trusting a stranger but with a contract I figured the $1765.29 savings was worth it.

This guy gets $13 a point, but he handles all the paperwork and makes sure it's not a scam.

http://www.dvcrequest.com/?oid=15_1

Costs a little more, but it seems like it might be worth it.

I've got a couple of questions about this.

1. Can you make payments on this or do you have to pay it all up front?

and

2. Do you get the free wifi in your room that regular DVC members get?

 

[ATC1]

Next trip will be the half marathon run early January at Old Key West. Wife called me during my lunch break to discuss 2013 plans.

We loved our trip back in April and look forward to going again at some point, but can someone please explain why people go back every year and sometimes multiple times in a year? There's just too many other things to do and places to visit to make it worth it to me. Is there nothing else you'd like to try or are you fortunate enough to take multiple expensive vacations every year?ETA: then again, as a guy who has been happily married for 12 years, I can understand how comfort can trump variety in some regards.

I am a DVC member and the points can be used anywhere. It's just that the kids are at the age where going regularly is the best thing ever. There is so much to do and we don't feel like we have to do everything. I don't mind the trips, my wife plans them well and always includes what everyone wants. It's just that she never stops with the planning even trips 2 years and 4 trips later. Also, in May she planned an adult 3 day cruise while the kids are in DW with the grandparents, then another couple of days in the parks. When we initially joined the DVC we paid $96 a point for 40-50 years back in 2006. I think the points are around $115 a point. You guys paying $13 a point for a one time visit and you want to use it multiple times, you should really consider joining if you liked the high valued resorts. (It's the only way to go now.) $13 a point would pay for 8 years where a membership (with perks like discounts on annual passes)would be for 40-50 years for the same price.

Can you explain a little more how this works? you paid $96 per point one time cost for 40-50 years? Can you sell your stake if after 20 years you are done with Disney? How many points do you have? How many points are typically needed?

$96 per point and the minimum points to buy at is 160. That would be $15,360. There is a fee you pay per point yearly depending on the resort you select. You can sell the membership at any time or sell the yearly points like some of the FBG here bought them. However, you are not stuck to disney resorts. You can use the points through RCI to stay outside of disney resorts pretty much anywhere you want. Disney has resorts on beaches and now in Hawaii. I like the beach resorts because you get the same Disney service on a beach and no theme parks. The dates you want to stay, the resort you want to stay at and the type of room (studio, 1 BR, 2 BR, grand villa) will determine how much you need. We go once during the slow time and once during the mid level season and 200 is enough for us.

 

[Mr. Chumley]

Can some one explain this whole point thing to me? Or tell me where a good explanation of the system is. I've never heard of them.

 

[schlesinj]

Can you explain a little more how this works? you paid $96 per point one time cost for 40-50 years? Can you sell your stake if after 20 years you are done with Disney? How many points do you have? How many points are typically needed?

$96 per point and the minimum points to buy at is 160. That would be $15,360. There is a fee you pay per point yearly depending on the resort you select.

You can sell the membership at any time or sell the yearly points like some of the FBG here bought them. However, you are not stuck to disney resorts. You can use the points through RCI to stay outside of disney resorts pretty much anywhere you want. Disney has resorts on beaches and now in Hawaii. I like the beach resorts because you get the same Disney service on a beach and no theme parks.

The dates you want to stay, the resort you want to stay at and the type of room (studio, 1 BR, 2 BR, grand villa) will determine how much you need. We go once during the slow time and once during the mid level season and 200 is enough for us.

To add to the above information. It is a time share that Disney runs. Here is a site that resells them: http://www.dvc-resales.com/index.htm. The good news is you can buy less than 160 points. Depending on which resort the maturity of the interest goes away.

 

[gmbacm]

Next trip will be the half marathon run early January at Old Key West. Wife called me during my lunch break to discuss 2013 plans.

We loved our trip back in April and look forward to going again at some point, but can someone please explain why people go back every year and sometimes multiple times in a year? There's just too many other things to do and places to visit to make it worth it to me. Is there nothing else you'd like to try or are you fortunate enough to take multiple expensive vacations every year?ETA: then again, as a guy who has been happily married for 12 years, I can understand how comfort can trump variety in some regards.

I am a DVC member and the points can be used anywhere. It's just that the kids are at the age where going regularly is the best thing ever. There is so much to do and we don't feel like we have to do everything. I don't mind the trips, my wife plans them well and always includes what everyone wants. It's just that she never stops with the planning even trips 2 years and 4 trips later. Also, in May she planned an adult 3 day cruise while the kids are in DW with the grandparents, then another couple of days in the parks. When we initially joined the DVC we paid $96 a point for 40-50 years back in 2006. I think the points are around $115 a point. You guys paying $13 a point for a one time visit and you want to use it multiple times, you should really consider joining if you liked the high valued resorts. (It's the only way to go now.) $13 a point would pay for 8 years where a membership (with perks like discounts on annual passes)would be for 40-50 years for the same price.

Can you explain a little more how this works? you paid $96 per point one time cost for 40-50 years? Can you sell your stake if after 20 years you are done with Disney? How many points do you have? How many points are typically needed?

$96 per point and the minimum points to buy at is 160. That would be $15,360. There is a fee you pay per point yearly depending on the resort you select. You can sell the membership at any time or sell the yearly points like some of the FBG here bought them. However, you are not stuck to disney resorts. You can use the points through RCI to stay outside of disney resorts pretty much anywhere you want. Disney has resorts on beaches and now in Hawaii. I like the beach resorts because you get the same Disney service on a beach and no theme parks. The dates you want to stay, the resort you want to stay at and the type of room (studio, 1 BR, 2 BR, grand villa) will determine how much you need. We go once during the slow time and once during the mid level season and 200 is enough for us.

So you paid $19K up front and how much per year do you typically pay per point? And that gives you 2 one week stays approximately or do you go for more then a week x 2 for your 200 points? What type of accommodation do you generally choose?

 

[ATC1]

Can some one explain this whole point thing to me? Or tell me where a good explanation of the system is. I've never heard of them.

DVC membership websitePoint chart for 2011 and 2012

Also wanted to add that you can bank points for year before and you can also barrow points one year in advance.

 

[ATC1]

Next trip will be the half marathon run early January at Old Key West. Wife called me during my lunch break to discuss 2013 plans.

We loved our trip back in April and look forward to going again at some point, but can someone please explain why people go back every year and sometimes multiple times in a year? There's just too many other things to do and places to visit to make it worth it to me. Is there nothing else you'd like to try or are you fortunate enough to take multiple expensive vacations every year?ETA: then again, as a guy who has been happily married for 12 years, I can understand how comfort can trump variety in some regards.

I am a DVC member and the points can be used anywhere. It's just that the kids are at the age where going regularly is the best thing ever. There is so much to do and we don't feel like we have to do everything. I don't mind the trips, my wife plans them well and always includes what everyone wants. It's just that she never stops with the planning even trips 2 years and 4 trips later. Also, in May she planned an adult 3 day cruise while the kids are in DW with the grandparents, then another couple of days in the parks. When we initially joined the DVC we paid $96 a point for 40-50 years back in 2006. I think the points are around $115 a point. You guys paying $13 a point for a one time visit and you want to use it multiple times, you should really consider joining if you liked the high valued resorts. (It's the only way to go now.) $13 a point would pay for 8 years where a membership (with perks like discounts on annual passes)would be for 40-50 years for the same price.

Can you explain a little more how this works? you paid $96 per point one time cost for 40-50 years? Can you sell your stake if after 20 years you are done with Disney? How many points do you have? How many points are typically needed?

$96 per point and the minimum points to buy at is 160. That would be $15,360. There is a fee you pay per point yearly depending on the resort you select. You can sell the membership at any time or sell the yearly points like some of the FBG here bought them. However, you are not stuck to disney resorts. You can use the points through RCI to stay outside of disney resorts pretty much anywhere you want. Disney has resorts on beaches and now in Hawaii. I like the beach resorts because you get the same Disney service on a beach and no theme parks. The dates you want to stay, the resort you want to stay at and the type of room (studio, 1 BR, 2 BR, grand villa) will determine how much you need. We go once during the slow time and once during the mid level season and 200 is enough for us.

So you paid $19K up front and how much per year do you typically pay per point? And that gives you 2 one week stays approximately or do you go for more then a week x 2 for your 200 points? What type of accommodation do you generally choose?

We paid $16K, so much down and financed the rest. I think we pay about $70 a month in dues. These are rough numbers*** We do different vacations every year so the points can fluctuate. We have 210 points. One year we may bank points and one year we borrow. This year we did a 6 day land and sea combo. 3 days in the park at Animal Kingdom and 3 days on a cruise. We also did a studio stay that sleep 4 for 5 days. It all depends on what you want and the time you want to go. Usually the busier the park the more points per night it will cost. So, we like going in the slow time. Also, my in-laws are members, so we pool points to stay in nicer rooms that fit us all and include kitchens and separate bedrooms. My last post had a link to the point schedule to the resort and date you may want to go.

 

[GoFishTN]

Next trip will be the half marathon run early January at Old Key West. Wife called me during my lunch break to discuss 2013 plans.

We loved our trip back in April and look forward to going again at some point, but can someone please explain why people go back every year and sometimes multiple times in a year? There's just too many other things to do and places to visit to make it worth it to me. Is there nothing else you'd like to try or are you fortunate enough to take multiple expensive vacations every year?

ETA: then again, as a guy who has been happily married for 12 years, I can understand how comfort can trump variety in some regards.

I am a DVC member and the points can be used anywhere. It's just that the kids are at the age where going regularly is the best thing ever. There is so much to do and we don't feel like we have to do everything.

Am I reading this website right? There's a $19K initial fee?http://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/about/cost/

 

[ATC1]

Next trip will be the half marathon run early January at Old Key West. Wife called me during my lunch break to discuss 2013 plans.

We loved our trip back in April and look forward to going again at some point, but can someone please explain why people go back every year and sometimes multiple times in a year? There's just too many other things to do and places to visit to make it worth it to me. Is there nothing else you'd like to try or are you fortunate enough to take multiple expensive vacations every year?

ETA: then again, as a guy who has been happily married for 12 years, I can understand how comfort can trump variety in some regards.

I am a DVC member and the points can be used anywhere. It's just that the kids are at the age where going regularly is the best thing ever. There is so much to do and we don't feel like we have to do everything.

Am I reading this website right? There's a $19K initial fee?http://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/about/cost/

In that situation, 160 points at animal kingdom at current prices...yes. That is at $120 a point.

 

[AcerFC]

My wife and I talked with one of the people at the little stands about the DVC points. It just didn't seem worth it to us. You have to pay a lot up front and then $800 or something like that every year even if you don't go that year. I just didn't get it but it sounds like some like it so that's good

 

[3 hour lunch]

Bumping an old thread...I've read through several pages of this and lots of it has been helpful. We're likely going in April with our girls, 6 and 4. A few days in Tampa with family, and a few days in Orlando (off the park sites, since we have to have a car anyway). We'll likely just priceline a hotel. Besides Magic Kingdom, what other park would you recommend? We figure it would be between Hollywood Studios and Epcot? The girls are into all of the princesses and movies; the 4 year old might not even meet the height requirement for many rides....

 

[Evilgrin 72]

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Antigua is not a strip club.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Spent the day at Universal's Islands of Adventure. We only waited in line for two rides: Harry Potter Experience and Hippogriff roller coaster. HPE was well worth it, and I wouldn't wait for hippogriff again,

Everything else was <5 min. Dragon Challenge was awesome. Dr Doom and Hulk are skips IMO. Spiderman was great.

Mykos for lunch was meh.

Hulk is one of the best coasters I've ever been on, and I've been to every "coaster park" this country has to offer (Magic Mountain, Great Adventure, Cedar Point, both Busch Gardens, etc.)