We have officially joined the ranks of Disney Vacation Club Members. This is kind of like Disney's version of a timeshare, but it is more like pre-paid vacations. Unlike a timeshare where you buy a week in a specific unit, with the Disney thing you buy however many points you want and as long as you have points you can go. So you could use all of your points in 1 trip or you could use them over 2 or 3 trips or however many. We have looked into it several times and have always thought it was something we should do since we do go on a yearly basis, but just never did anything about it. Then we met some people who are also members and they kind of gave us the ins and outs of doing it and gave us a place where you can buy resales. Given the current state of the economy there have been a lot of points going up for sale at pretty cheap prices so we started watching them. One listed that was for 200 yearly points with 243 available to use before Dec. 1, and then on Dec. 1, there will be the 200 available for 2008 as well as another 102 that are left from last year ~ I would have to say these people selling it were hurting for money because they were dumping the thing ~ so we decided that this was a pretty good one to buy with all of the extra points that we would be getting for free. Since we were already going in November we figured we would just immediately rent out the 243 points that have to be used before Dec. 1, and pocket the money. Well as luck would have it turns out that the people who were selling it had already made a reservation with those points and had then cancelled it ~ another reason I say they were hurting for money ~ so now these points can only be used for last minute travel ~ you trip has to be within 60 days of making the reservation. Now this posed a problem for being able to rent the points out as the Food and Wine Festival starts Sept. 26, and goes through Nov. 9, and lodging during this time is scarce. We managed to get a reservation for Oct. 1 - 8, and tried to rent the reservation instead ~ didn't happen ~ Scott figures because it is for an entire week and a Wednesday - Wednesday deal ~ kind of strange vacation dates. Fortunately for us Scott has 5 weeks of vacation a year that he has currently only used 1 of so we decided that we would just go if we could find a cheap enough air fare rather than lose the points (not that we paid for them). We found an air fare and so it's off to Disney for an entire week on Oct.1. This will make 3 trips this year ~ good god! Hunter was pretty convinced that he had died and gone to heaven when we were just going 2 times this year ~ now he is positive that he has died and gone to heaven! We are actually pretty excited about this trip ~ we have never been in October so we will get to do the Epcot Food & Wine Fest as well as Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party ~ something new. This will also actually be a relaxing Disney vacation ~ if you have ever been you are already well aware that the words "relaxing" and Disney World" do not go together. It is typically blowing and going the entire time you are there, but since we have already been once and will be going back again we can actually just have a lovely leisurely vacation. We are going to buy annual passes too so it's not like we even have to go to the parks everyday ~ you can spend a day hanging out at the hotel and not feel remotely guilty about it! Our "home" resort is Saratoga Springs, but you can make reservations at any of the vacation club properties ~ we will be staying at Saratoga Springs this time which we have been told has a FABULOUS spa ~ I think I am most excited about that part as I will definitely find my way there for a massage! Okay, so maybe I might be a little more excited about the Halloween party ~ it is after all my favorite holiday! Hunter is very excited about getting to trick or treat at Disney World ~ we have already gotten his costume and everything. Should be loads of fun, but I honestly have no intentions of going 3 times in a year again!
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