saintstickets
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2009
Im always up for something new so this will be my first attempt at a Pre-Trip Report. I have penned 3 TRs previously with limited success so why not? If you have not read any of the prior TRs, get ready for lots of pics, a bit of sarcastic humor, some helpful information and a propensity to attempt to wax eloquent without butchering the Kings English (South Mississippi Style). For those of you that have followed along previously, jump right in, the waters fine, swim up to the pool bar for your favorite adult beverage and dont hesitate to splash around!!
A bit of background information usually begins most TRs so here is mine. I have been a life-long lover of Disney since I was knee-high to a grasshopper (see didnt take long for that Southern Style to emerge). I grew up watching Mickey Mouse Club and Disneys Sunday night movie. My dad even made me a coon-skin hat when the Davy Crockett films were in vogue. Anyone remember Davy Crockett and the River Pirates with Mike Fink? My first trip to a park was in 1967 to Disneyland followed by a High School Senior trip to WDW in 1973 and another trip in 1980. DW and I were married in 1982 and we visited WDW in 1985 leaving our 11 month old twin boys with grandparents to take our first trip without kids. There were several trips scattered throughout the next 2 decades and then we came across Disney Vacation Club (DVC). Uh oh! I was hooked and it was all over but the crying or in this case, the cheering. Our 3 children were getting older and we werent far from being empty-nesters (DD is getting married tomorrow!). DW and I wanted to travel some and we both loved WDW so it seemed like a good fit for us. We purchased our first DVC contract in late 2009 and before we went on our first vacation using the points, we purchased another small contract. That addonitis is a very addictive malady! Since that time we have purchased 3 more small contracts as cash flow allowed. Using DVC points, we have stayed at OKW, AKV, BWV, BLT & VWL. I wont bother going into the details about DVC but it has been great for us. If you are planning on visiting WDW at least once every other year and wish to stay in deluxe resorts, DVC could very well be cost-beneficial to you as it has been to us. Thats all I will say about DVC as there is a whole section here on the DISboards where you can learn all there is to know.
As previously stated, DW and I were married in 1982. I wanted to plan a nice trip for us at our 25th anniversary but family passings and other life events prevented it from happening. Last year I started trying to come up with something for our 30th anniversary when I read that Disney was opening a new DVC resort in Hawaii. DW and I went to Kauai for our honeymoon so the plan began to form. Also at this time, DD and her boyfriend of 4 years became engaged. I had told our children for years that if they eloped, I would pay for their honeymoon. After seeing the stress big weddings cause, I figured this would be the answer. DD said she wanted to take us up on the offer and wanted to go to Hawaii for her honeymoon in 2012 (Did I mention DD is getting married tomorrow? ). Hmmm DD wants to go to Hawaii DW and I could return to Hawaii for our 30th anniversary DVC is opening a new resort in Hawaii? See where this is going? After calculating the cost of paying for two trips to Hawaii, I realized that we could purchase additional DVC points at about the same cost as the two hotel stays, use them for the two trips and still have the points to use for the next 30 years! A win, win, win!!!
A bit of background information usually begins most TRs so here is mine. I have been a life-long lover of Disney since I was knee-high to a grasshopper (see didnt take long for that Southern Style to emerge). I grew up watching Mickey Mouse Club and Disneys Sunday night movie. My dad even made me a coon-skin hat when the Davy Crockett films were in vogue. Anyone remember Davy Crockett and the River Pirates with Mike Fink? My first trip to a park was in 1967 to Disneyland followed by a High School Senior trip to WDW in 1973 and another trip in 1980. DW and I were married in 1982 and we visited WDW in 1985 leaving our 11 month old twin boys with grandparents to take our first trip without kids. There were several trips scattered throughout the next 2 decades and then we came across Disney Vacation Club (DVC). Uh oh! I was hooked and it was all over but the crying or in this case, the cheering. Our 3 children were getting older and we werent far from being empty-nesters (DD is getting married tomorrow!). DW and I wanted to travel some and we both loved WDW so it seemed like a good fit for us. We purchased our first DVC contract in late 2009 and before we went on our first vacation using the points, we purchased another small contract. That addonitis is a very addictive malady! Since that time we have purchased 3 more small contracts as cash flow allowed. Using DVC points, we have stayed at OKW, AKV, BWV, BLT & VWL. I wont bother going into the details about DVC but it has been great for us. If you are planning on visiting WDW at least once every other year and wish to stay in deluxe resorts, DVC could very well be cost-beneficial to you as it has been to us. Thats all I will say about DVC as there is a whole section here on the DISboards where you can learn all there is to know.
As previously stated, DW and I were married in 1982. I wanted to plan a nice trip for us at our 25th anniversary but family passings and other life events prevented it from happening. Last year I started trying to come up with something for our 30th anniversary when I read that Disney was opening a new DVC resort in Hawaii. DW and I went to Kauai for our honeymoon so the plan began to form. Also at this time, DD and her boyfriend of 4 years became engaged. I had told our children for years that if they eloped, I would pay for their honeymoon. After seeing the stress big weddings cause, I figured this would be the answer. DD said she wanted to take us up on the offer and wanted to go to Hawaii for her honeymoon in 2012 (Did I mention DD is getting married tomorrow? ). Hmmm DD wants to go to Hawaii DW and I could return to Hawaii for our 30th anniversary DVC is opening a new resort in Hawaii? See where this is going? After calculating the cost of paying for two trips to Hawaii, I realized that we could purchase additional DVC points at about the same cost as the two hotel stays, use them for the two trips and still have the points to use for the next 30 years! A win, win, win!!!