9+ months with the Mouse -1 year on the road update

[heaven2dc]

I have a couple of questions or maybe I'm just missing something. You said that you will have 6500 points (and another 1500 if you need them). If the 6500 points have been accumulated for three years ( banked, this year's, borrowed) that means you own approximately 2,190 points. The maintenance fee on that many points has to be $13,000 annually. That's a lot of money. How have you been able to use that many points each year and still have time to work?

Spending a year on points sounds like a fabulous adventure but how do you use them each year? Have you been "funning" us?

I kind of wondered how you could accumulate 6500 points but it's very understandable (as you outlined above). I think the OP doesn't necessarily use his point every year (you can rent them out or give as gifts to friends and family). I think he is very blessed to have so many points and definitely deserves this vacation of a lifetime (as I'm sure you do too!). I don't think he's been "funning" us (or at least I hope not). I wish him and his wife a very happy fun-filled year! If I won the lottery or could financially afford it, I think I would just permanently move to WDW and buy enough points to move around the different resorts every couple of months. Wouldn't that be grand!

 

[hakepb]

I showed the OP's post to DW (who is more aware of clausterphobia than me) and she immediately said, "Why would staying in a studio be crazy? As long as it has a nice french/sliding door like AKV and not just a window" (I can tell, she'd love to try it!)

I guess here are a couple of VWL studios with no balcony, but other than that I think they'd be OK. OKW might concern me because here is no couch (for reading or watching a movie on a rainy day)

Congrats and good luck!

 

[LindaBabe]

How nice you were so planful in the acquistion phase! We weren't, so much, but we did take a 6 week trip when we retired, plus two other 3 week trips during the first year.

We stayed in residence inns, dvc studios, and a rented cabin in the Smokies, besides cruises.

I would definitely start in a studio first and go to a 1 bedroom (if for nothing else than to do the accumulated laundry.

I would pack in "blocks" - that is whole "sets" of clothing in seperate suitcases, so I only needed to unpack 1 suitcase per resort or season and leave the rest stashed. First of all because I get bored with a set of clothes after about 3 weeks, and need a change.

Books - I buy used books and abandon them when done, after realizing that I moved 100 book cartons full of books that we never look at again. It's fun to go to the local used bookstore and goodwill, to see what I can find.

No cooking sounds great in theory. It certainly sounded great to me - since I do all the cooking. BUT again, I got tired of eating in restaurants, tired of chatting with servers, tired of restaurant choices, etc - so after a few days, I actually look forward to a bit of cooking. I took a small electric frypan, small cutting board, sharp knife, two each real plates, bowls, and flatware, salt & pepper shakers, my favorite spices, and a vase, packed in a "kitchen box". Your list may vary, but I would plan on having one. The meals I prepare are the same sorts of things I would make while camping.

In the winter, I rent a great townhome in Kissimmee, and volunteer at Give Kids the World. May I recommend interspersing your time in DVC and having fun, with some time in the relative spaciousness of a real 'home'. I also recommend some time volunteering on a regular basis at a place such as GKTW, just to add some structure to your life.

Military life is by nature, quite structured in many ways - and we were warned about the possibility of difficulties in transition before DH retired, So we planned our mitigations in advance. However much fun it is to THINK about playing all the time, such a life can have it's own downsides that are not obvious on a two week leave.

Good Luck!

 

[BCV2002]

We enjoy reading but I think we will need stick to using the library as to not accumulate too many books. I hadn't thought of this before...thanks for bringing it up.

That sounds like so much fun! Congrats!

As for reading, I have a great idea for you to save some space. Get a Kindle! It's an e-reader and is about the size of a paper notebook. It's got 3G so you can download a book anywhere for cheaper than a regular book. It'll save a ton of space and you can read as much as you like (also downloads newspapers and magazines).

 

[kikiq]

In the winter, I rent a great townhome in Kissimmee, and volunteer at Give Kids the World. May I recommend interspersing your time in DVC and having fun, with some time in the relative spaciousness of a real 'home'. I also recommend some time volunteering on a regular basis at a place such as GKTW, just to add some structure to your life.

My DH and I were just talking about our "retirement" at lunch today. And Give Kids the World came up as something we would love to give time to and stay in our DVC. It's nice to hear someone who has actually volunteered during their retirement.

 

[lilpooh108]

Found this amazing thread googling long term DVC stays.

OP-- did you ever do a trip report on this amazing trip? Would love to hear about it.

 

[LPnerd]

WOW! All I can say is fabulous. I personally could see myself in a small space for extended periods of time. My DH and I have often talked about purchasing a sail boat when he retires.

Have you thought about how you will handle things that you pick up along the way. The little mementos that may need to be shipped back to someone back home. The one thing I can't stand is clutter so I would have to have a plan in place to keep things in order.

first and foremost, thank you so much for your service... I know this is old, but felt the need to thank you and your family.

 

[anna08]

oops saw this was from 2009!

 

[k3chantal]

The wife didn't like the home base idea. She likes the idea of no cooking or cleaning for a year

Our DVC guide said we could stay for as long as we had points, but could not establish DVC as our legal residence...maybe a post office box downtown for the year

What about laundry (sorry; I have three kids so besides the cooking and cleaning it's the first thing I think about).

The big advantage of a 1 bedroom (once in a while) is the washer and dryer in the room.

Otherwise, you are hoofin' it to the laundry room........

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Congratulations and more power to you both, I'm not studio material and would need a 1 bedroom! As much as I love the ones dear to me, spending an extended period of time in one room is not my idea of of comfort or happiness, not even in retirement! To each his own!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Minniesgal]

Personally if I was going to stay anywhere any length of time I'd want laundry facilities.

I think I'd rather reduce the number of nights and have a 1 bedroom personally.

but congratulations on your retirement and great plan.

 

[sweetdana]

Can't help with the planning, just wanted to say I'm jealous. Have fun, and congrats and thank you for your service to our country.

Yup that!!!!!!!!!!

 

[OhioDVC]

Somehow I lost track of this post:

Update:

We sold our house in Ohio and put almost all of our possessions in long term storage in Orlando. We also have a 5 x 10 self storage unit in Orlando and we have a F-150 pickup with a cap on top so we have keep lots of "stuff" with us in the truck plus two bikes.

We left Ohio the end of May 2012, departure delayed one year due to traffic accident and four surgeries. Our trip started with 10 days at Vero Beach and then over to Hawaii for 6 weeks - 3 weeks at Aulani, 1 at Kauai and 1 week on the big island, with one more week downtown Waikiki. After that we basically did a beach tour or Hilton Head Island, Destin FL, Pompano Beach, Ft Myers beach, a couple of cruises and several weeks here and there at Disney World.

We were at Disneyworld from Jan 10th to April 25 except for a 4 day Disney Cruise and one week at Sanibel Island (there now).

We are off to Disneyland for 10 days and then over to Hawaii again - 3 weeks at Aulani and 2 weeks at Wyndham in Waikiki.

The next nine months or so are below:

4.25.2013 5.5.2013 Grand California Studio
5.5.2013 5.26.2013 Aulani Oceanview Studio
5.26.2013 6.09.2013 Wyndham Studio
6.09.2013 6.11.2013 Hale Koa hotel room 4-5 floor garden
6.11.2013 6.12.2013 Grand California studio
6.12.2013 6.13.2013 Wilderness Lodge Studio
6.13.2013 6.23.2013 Vero Beach 1 bedroom
6.23.2013 7.27.2013 Club Intrawest - Sandestin 2 bedroom w/2 twins
7.27.2013 8.3.2013 Club Intrawest - Sandestin 1 bedroom
8.3.2013 8.10.2013 Bay Club Sandestin one bedroom
8.10.2013 8.11.2013 Savanah, GA one bedroom suite
8.11.2013 8.18.2013 Bluewater Resort and Marina 3 bedroom
8.17.2013 9.7.2013 Waterside 3 bedroom
9.7.2013 9.14.2103 Marriott's Barony Beach 2 bedroom
9.14.2013 9.15.2013 Disney's Hilton Head Resort Studio
9.15.2013 9.22.2013 Bluewater Resort and Marina 2 bedroom
9.21.2013 10.3.2013 Seawatch on the Beach 2 bedroom Ft Myers Beach
10.3.2013 10.6.2013 Beach Club Villas 2 bedroom - Tower of Terror race
10.5.2013 10.12.2013 Surf Club of Marco Island
10.12.2013 10.19.2013 Regency of Marco Island
10.18.2013 10.19.2013 Saratoga Springs Studio
10.19.2013 10.26.2013 Cruise
10.26.2013 11.02.2013 Beach Club Villas 1 bedroom
11.02.2013 11.08.2013 Hyatt - Coconut Plantation 2 bedroom
11.08.2013 11.11.2013 Boardwalk 2 bedroom - Wine/Dine half marathon
11.11.2013 11.16.2013 Surf Club of Marco Island 2 bedroom
11.16.2013 11.23.2013 Charter Club of Marco Island 2 bedroom
11.22.2013 11.25.2013 Sandestin Majestic Sun - Wyndham 1 bedroom
11.25.2013 12.02.2013 Sandestin - Club Intrawest 2 bedroom premier
12.02.2013 12.07.2013 Bonnet Creek - Wyndham 1 bedroom presidential
12.07.2013 12.14.2013 Sand Pebble 1 bedroom
12.14.2013 12.21.2013 Las Olas Beach Club 2 bedroom
12.21.2013 12.26.2013 Old Key West 2 bedroom
12.26.2013 12.29.2013 cruise 2 cabins
12.29.2014 1.05.2014 Saratoga Springs 1 bedroom
12.29.2013 1.05.2014 Saratoga Springs studio - kids
1.05.2014 1.14.2014 Old Key West 1 bedroom Marathon Weekend - Dopey
1.14.2014 1.16.2014 Wyndham Harbour Lights San Diego studio
1.16.2014 2.02.2014 Wyndham Wakiki Walk - Honolulu 1 bedroom deluxe
2.02.2014 2.14.2014 Aulani 1 bedroom ocean view
2.14.2014 2.18.2014 Wyndham Harbour Lights San Diego 1 bedroom
2.18.2014 2.24.2014 Saratoga Springs 2 bedroom Princess Half Marathon


After this the next plan is for a saints tour - St Croix, St Johns, St Thomas St Martin and Jamaica.


Also, to answer an earlier post, maintenance fees run just under $40K a year and we have 9 different timeshares.

Right now we are having a terrific time and I can't imagine going back to living in just one house and vacationing 2 weeks a year. My wife is having a great time and lost over 20 lbs and exercises 2-3 hours a day, me just 1-2 hours. Everything is down - blood pressure, A1C, cholesterol and TV watching. Our marriage is the best it has been in 35 years - I tell people we meet that we eloped after 34 years of marriage. Friends and family join us quite often and we have met new people on the road.

Our 25 year old daughter is a school teacher and joins us for most of the summer plus Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break and several weekends for Disney races. Our son joined us quite often be less now that he just joined the Air Force and started pilot training.

This is not an inexpensive way to live but if you can afford it, it is phenomenal. We saved up for about 5+ years.

 

[myxdvz]

Somehow I lost track of this post:

Update:

We sold our house in Ohio and put almost all of our possessions in long term storage in Orlando. We also have a 5 x 10 self storage unit in Orlando and we have a F-150 pickup with a cap on top so we have keep lots of "stuff" with us in the truck plus two bikes.

We left Ohio the end of May 2012, departure delayed one year due to traffic accident and four surgeries. Our trip started with 10 days at Vero Beach and then over to Hawaii for 6 weeks - 3 weeks at Aulani, 1 at Kauai and 1 week on the big island, with one more week downtown Waikiki. After that we basically did a beach tour or Hilton Head Island, Destin FL, Pompano Beach, Ft Myers beach, a couple of cruises and several weeks here and there at Disney World.

We were at Disneyworld from Jan 10th to April 25 except for a 4 day Disney Cruise and one week at Sanibel Island (there now).

We are off to Disneyland for 10 days and then over to Hawaii again - 3 weeks at Aulani and 2 weeks at Wyndham in Waikiki.

The next nine months or so are below:

4.25.2013 5.5.2013 Grand California Studio
5.5.2013 5.26.2013 Aulani Oceanview Studio
5.26.2013 6.09.2013 Wyndham Studio
6.09.2013 6.11.2013 Hale Koa hotel room 4-5 floor garden
6.11.2013 6.12.2013 Grand California studio
6.12.2013 6.13.2013 Wilderness Lodge Studio
6.13.2013 6.23.2013 Vero Beach 1 bedroom
6.23.2013 7.27.2013 Club Intrawest - Sandestin 2 bedroom w/2 twins
7.27.2013 8.3.2013 Club Intrawest - Sandestin 1 bedroom
8.3.2013 8.10.2013 Bay Club Sandestin one bedroom
8.10.2013 8.11.2013 Savanah, GA one bedroom suite
8.11.2013 8.18.2013 Bluewater Resort and Marina 3 bedroom
8.17.2013 9.7.2013 Waterside 3 bedroom
9.7.2013 9.14.2103 Marriott's Barony Beach 2 bedroom
9.14.2013 9.15.2013 Disney's Hilton Head Resort Studio
9.15.2013 9.22.2013 Bluewater Resort and Marina 2 bedroom
9.21.2013 10.3.2013 Seawatch on the Beach 2 bedroom Ft Myers Beach
10.3.2013 10.6.2013 Beach Club Villas 2 bedroom - Tower of Terror race
10.5.2013 10.12.2013 Surf Club of Marco Island
10.12.2013 10.19.2013 Regency of Marco Island
10.18.2013 10.19.2013 Saratoga Springs Studio
10.19.2013 10.26.2013 Cruise
10.26.2013 11.02.2013 Beach Club Villas 1 bedroom
11.02.2013 11.08.2013 Hyatt - Coconut Plantation 2 bedroom
11.08.2013 11.11.2013 Boardwalk 2 bedroom - Wine/Dine half marathon
11.11.2013 11.16.2013 Surf Club of Marco Island 2 bedroom
11.16.2013 11.23.2013 Charter Club of Marco Island 2 bedroom
11.22.2013 11.25.2013 Sandestin Majestic Sun - Wyndham 1 bedroom
11.25.2013 12.02.2013 Sandestin - Club Intrawest 2 bedroom premier
12.02.2013 12.07.2013 Bonnet Creek - Wyndham 1 bedroom presidential
12.07.2013 12.14.2013 Sand Pebble 1 bedroom
12.14.2013 12.21.2013 Las Olas Beach Club 2 bedroom
12.21.2013 12.26.2013 Old Key West 2 bedroom
12.26.2013 12.29.2013 cruise 2 cabins
12.29.2014 1.05.2014 Saratoga Springs 1 bedroom
12.29.2013 1.05.2014 Saratoga Springs studio - kids
1.05.2014 1.14.2014 Old Key West 1 bedroom Marathon Weekend - Dopey
1.14.2014 1.16.2014 Wyndham Harbour Lights San Diego studio
1.16.2014 2.02.2014 Wyndham Wakiki Walk - Honolulu 1 bedroom deluxe
2.02.2014 2.14.2014 Aulani 1 bedroom ocean view
2.14.2014 2.18.2014 Wyndham Harbour Lights San Diego 1 bedroom
2.18.2014 2.24.2014 Saratoga Springs 2 bedroom Princess Half Marathon


After this the next plan is for a saints tour - St Croix, St Johns, St Thomas St Martin and Jamaica.


Also, to answer an earlier post, maintenance fees run just under $40K a year and we have 9 different timeshares.

Right now we are having a terrific time and I can't imagine going back to living in just one house and vacationing 2 weeks a year. My wife is having a great time and lost over 20 lbs and exercises 2-3 hours a day, me just 1-2 hours. Everything is down - blood pressure, A1C, cholesterol and TV watching. Our marriage is the best it has been in 35 years - I tell people we meet that we eloped after 34 years of marriage. Friends and family join us quite often and we have met new people on the road.

Our 25 year old daughter is a school teacher and joins us for most of the summer plus Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break and several weekends for Disney races. Our son joined us quite often be less now that he just joined the Air Force and started pilot training.

This is not an inexpensive way to live but if you can afford it, it is phenomenal. We saved up for about 5+ years.

What a way to live!!!! Am so jealous

I want to be you when I grow up.

 

[Anna114]

Not what I would want to do BUT you brought tears to my eyes. The fact that you have found each other again and having the time of your lives.... God bless you and thank you and your son for your service. It's people like you that make this country great.

 

[Sammie]

I see you are going to be in Sandestin for a good bit of time, I love that area and oh my the great restaurants there and on 30A.

 

[disneychic]

WOW!!! This is amazing! God Bless you and your family!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Mick@Tink]

If not too personal, may I ask what timeshares you own to make this wonderful vacation-life happen?

 

[nunzia]

Wow..how amazing and so glad you came by and gave us 'the rest of the story'. What a mammoth amount of planning and scheduling..I'm an uber planner but my head almost exploded looking at your list

 

[disfanforlife]

Thank you for sharing. Your plan looks amazing! You give us all something to dream about.