How to use my points and accomodate all???

[pyrxtc]

I'll start with a list of charchters that will/maybe be in attendance;


Myself, DH,DD 14?, DD 11, DS 7, DS 5
DSis Eliza and DBil Cor
DSis Laura and DBil Dan
DB Den and DSil Jen
DB Ken and DB's GF?
DM and DF?


The question marks next to names means it will be doubtful if they go at all.

So, I am looking at Dec 08. I want to be there from Dec 4 til the 10th. my DB's and DS's want to just maybe do a long weekend. I am thinking for them all it would just be maybe the 4th thru the 7th (Thurs to Sun). I ahve 540 points available to me.

My DB Den and wife get a studios concierge for themselves as part of their wedding gift from us. Private room since they'll only be married a few months.
My DS Eliz would likea private rom sice her DH comes from a small family and we would overwhelm him and he would need alone time.

So here is my train of thought.... tell me if I could do better or you have a different plan.

Dec 4-7 -- grand Villa for my family and DB Ken and Dsis laura and significant others. Also would sleep my mom and dad if he comes. Mom maybe will , dad most likely won't. Con Studio for DB Den and wife. Studio savn view for DS Eliz.

Dec 7-10 -- my family moves to a 2 bed conc room. Possibly Mom comes also.

That brings my total to 535 points. I would love to not ahve to book the last studio for DS but I want her Dh to be comfortable. The private room was supposed to be only for DB Den for his present but like I said.

Would it be easier on every one for me to just try to get 3 -2 bedrooms and they would each ahve their own room? Or how would this work? I've been trying to go over it and figure it out. ther is always the chance I won't get the rooms I want and I need to ahve a back up plan JIC.

We have never gone on vacation as a whole family and I am the only one with kids at this time. I'm sure I'll be taking nieces and nephews before long but not yet.

Anyone wanna help.

pardon any misspellings since when I try to correct them, it eats the whol lines of words following it. :headache:

[Pakey]

Are you talking about this December--2007? Have you booked any of these rooms yet? I called at the 7month window for this week trying to get a studio for some relatives and was told that there wasn't one room available at any DVC resort.

[dianeschlicht]

Since you are looking for Dec. '08, you are right to try and plan all aspects now, since the booking window for that will open up right after the new year. I assume you have enough points to book all the 11 month booking window at your chosen resort, or will they be staying at different resorts also? Re-reading your post, it looks like you are doing AKV. If any of those points are developer points, you wont be able to book using those points until the 7 month window, and that time period will be very difficult at 7 months out. I would figure out the least points way of doing it to accommodate the most folks. Since the one couple is a given for a private room, I would have everyone else sharing either a couple of 2 bedrooms or a GV. It looks like you and your DM and DF would make up one whole 2 bedroom on your own. That would leave the studio for the newlyweds and a two bedroom for the other two couples. Figure out which is less points during your proposed dates...2-2 bedrooms plus studio or 1 GV plus 2 studios. I wouldn't worry about a private room for the one who "needs alone time", since this is a gift, and they should at least get their own room in a villa anyway.

The other option (also less points) is to get each group their own studio and keep the 2 bedroom for your imediate family plus your parents.

[Pakey]

I've been bouncing the same type of scenario around myself. We have 3 adult sons, all married, two of them have one child each. Plus there's one other couple going. So that puts us at 5 couples, 2 with a child. After debating, and really thinking on everyone's needs, we are getting one 2 bedroom for the two couples that each have a child (children will share the sleeper in the living area) and then we are getting 3 studios. The GV was out because nobody wants to share sleeping space or sleep in a non-private sleeper sofa, etc (except the 2 children). And getting a bunch of 2 bedrooms seemed like a total waste of points to have all of those kitchens sitting unused (we are not cooking AT ALL).

Having all of the extra space is nice but unnecessary if you are not eating meals in. And since you are basically "treating" everybody by using your points, I would think they'd be happy and grateful with a studio.

[castleri]

Another vote for 1 2BR and then studios for the rest. This way if someone decided not to go it will be a whole lot easier to cancel for just them. I have had this happen twice now. The first time I had the GV reserved and we ended up with 5 people in it instead of the 9 I had anticipated. By the time they decided not to go it was too late to try to change to smaller units. Last year I was able to cancel the studio and still keep the 2BR without any problems or penalties and had points left that will be used for two trips this year. As long as you have the 2BR for when you may all want to get together you should be fine. If the parents cancel you can still cancel a studio and put one of the other couples in with you. Good luck with your planning and hope you have a great trip.

[pyrxtc]

I've figured out a few options...

(mom told me last night she won't go)

the one above, Option A (478 points)

Option B ( 473 points)

4-10 -- 2 bed conc for us and DB ken
4-7 -- studio conc for Den & DSil
4-7 -- 2 more studio's sav view, for each of my DS's


Option C ( 509 points)


4-10 -- 2 bed conc for us and DB ken
4-7 -- Studio con for Den & jen
4-7 -- 2 bed sav for DSis's


Option D ( 472 points)


4-10 -- 2 bed conc for us and DB
4-7 -- studio conc for Den & Jen
4-7 -- 1 bed sav for Dsis's


I ave 540 points. None of them are developer points and will be making these reservations right after the new year. I am taking care of the rooms for my family to go hoping that we can get to know each other over the weekend. They are not Disney Addicts like me and are reall "annhhh" about all of this. Mom won't do Disney so she said no to going. Dad doesn't travel and if he does it is definately not to theme parks, not even for the grandkids. Not close to any of my sibling except maybe for DB Ken. Even then I wouldn't say close. Sibloings and I talk about once every month or few months or so. Ken will IM me just to say Hi. We don't live near each other and I was out and married by the time they were out of grade school. I don't want to drive them crazy but I want them to spend some time with us and my kids while they'll (kids) will still enjoy it. I don't plan on spending much time in the room. May even consider splitting conc stay to a reg sav view room also, don't know yet if I want to switch rooms.

Also, they are NOT planners!! One DSis is mad that I don't want to do Hawaii next year. I've been planning for Hawaii when my youngest DS turns 7 for 2 yrs.

I can't even get them to say if they want to go or not, Got all maybe except my DB ken and DB Den told me no last night but maybe his wife will convince him.

Talking to a friend last night, I told her I'll cancel all my family except DB Ken and she can come with ehr family. Less points and more fun! Our kids are even the same age! Ugh! Maybe I never should ahve asked them. The more I try to plan, the more frustrated I get whith their non-answers. And I still ahve over a year before the actual vacation!! :headache:

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We took my 2 sisters, their husbands, and kids to BWV in April.

Overall, we stayed on speaking terms but frankly they didn't enjoy the trip, and didn't appreciate the gesture. They would have all been happier to have stayed off site and gone to Cracker Barrel every night. One of my sisters decided to leave a day early so the vacation wouldn't be a complete bust. This same sister was extremely upset that her studio was very distant to the 2 bedroom. My sisters expected to be able to cook in the room for every meal. We had all developed our ways of doing things over the years but all felt obligated to stay together.

I started a trip report, but didn't finish it, but thing you will get the jist of the dynamics.

Lets just call this worst case scenario.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1436762

[dianeschlicht]

I think your last option is the one I would pick. The 1 bedroom should be plenty of room for the DSis's, and saves you a few points. If you think the DSIS's would each like their own room, the two studios would be the next best option, but they wouldn't have a kitchen or laundry. Remember that the ones not staying Concierge, could be quite a ways away from you, but that probably isn't so much of an issue.

[castleri]

I would definitely make the reservations so you can cancel all but your own if need be without losing any points. From what you have posted it sounds like you may not get the results you hope for. I would explain that you need some type of answer yes or no by a certain date and if there is no answer you will take it as a no. Could some of the reluctance be due to concern over the additional costs of park tickets, meals etc that I think would be paid by those you are inviting. Those of us who love WDW sometimes forget that those who don't may not be up for spending the large amounts it takes for tickets, meals etc. and don't always want to say that is their reason for not wanting to go.
Keep that friend and her children in mind. You won't make for better family relationships by pushing something on your relatives that they don't care about even though you love it. It is an extremely generous gesture on your part but one they may not appreciate. Good luck and I hope you end up with a wonderful December trip no matter who ends up going with you.

[pyrxtc]

They all have the means to go and know what costs are incurred, so I know it's not about the money. My DB Den just isn't into theme parks but his DFi (wife by then) LOVES Disney, almost as much as me. My younger sister is mad about Hawaii and older sister has no probs except she wants us ALL there. My other DB ken will go along with whatever.

We have NEVER in our lives vacationed as a family other than going to relatives houses for the holidays. I was hoping this could be the first of many as my DB's and DS's will start to have kids soon. Might be me just taking their kids or somethng like that.

[Pakey]

They all have the means to go and know what costs are incurred, so I know it's not about the money. My DB Den just isn't into theme parks but his DFi (wife by then) LOVES Disney, almost as much as me. My younger sister is mad about Hawaii and older sister has no probs except she wants us ALL there. My other DB ken will go along with whatever.

We have NEVER in our lives vacationed as a family other than going to relatives houses for the holidays. I was hoping this could be the first of many as my DB's and DS's will start to have kids soon. Might be me just taking their kids or somethng like that.

We own a lot of DVC points for the same reason. DH and I have 3 grown sons, 2 are married now, 1 has a child. We love going to WDW together. We did take them all to Hawaii this year but for me, Disney is so much easier with the bus transportation, ease of eating out, etc. Everyone does their own thing during the day but we all have dinner together at night. I don't know if any of the "kids" are Disney fanatics they way I am, but they enjoy the time spent together.

It sounds like you are putting a lot of thought into this trip so hopefully everyone has the best time. I put a lot of work into ours too. I want everyone else to be able to go and relax and not worry about a thing. I don't think any of them have a clue how much prep goes into these trips.

[pyrxtc]

I know they don't ahve a clue. They are already asking me why I need to know now since I can't book until January and they really don't get the ADR's that I'm going to make. Luckily I can count on what my family will eat and that is alomst anything. they will all find somethg on the menu's at the resteraunts. I'm not even thinking about that yet though.

[BroganMc]

First off, even if they don't say it, this Disneyattic appreciates all your efforts. The quest for the "Great Family Vacation" is a dream shared by all the Clark Griswald's of the world. It'll never work out exactly as you hoped, as some point you may be wanting to hold a security guard hostage, but in the end you'll get that one moment that tells you it was worth the sweat and tears.

Now for me I'd think I'd go with option B or C. B would be better because it's fewer points. If your DSis's cancel out (because one can't go over her Hawaii snit and the other is married to a xenophobic) then you can recover your points for a longer trip later.

I'm not sure how you expect C to work with two couples sharing a 1bedroom. It means you exchange a bed for a laundry/kitchen. In my experience, short trips to Disney with no kids and meal reservations means we only use the kitchen to fridge soda and we do laundry maybe once (just before we leave for home).

I'd still make the effort to invite everyone. All those grumpy pusses you are getting now have a remarkable habit of changing their tune later. But it may come down to a wave of change. You get part of your family down, they love it and want to return. Then as they talk about what they did or didn't do, the other part of the family who sat out decide they're missing something.

Under the circumstances, I'd avoid the GV. You family just isn't used to the togetherness enough to visit in their underwear (a prerequisite for sleepovers). Shame since the GVs at AKV are very neat.

Separate rooms and a few activities together (meals, gathering for a ride, morning wake-up visits) will give the family plenty of space as well as bonding time. And if one decides they don't like the experience, then they have the freedom not to repeat it later. I always take newbies with the warning that if they hate it they won't be bothered again.

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We took my 2 sisters, their husbands, and kids to BWV in April.

Overall, we stayed on speaking terms but frankly they didn't enjoy the trip, and didn't appreciate the gesture. They would have all been happier to have stayed off site and gone to Cracker Barrel every night. One of my sisters decided to leave a day early so the vacation wouldn't be a complete bust. This same sister was extremely upset that her studio was very distant to the 2 bedroom. My sisters expected to be able to cook in the room for every meal. We had all developed our ways of doing things over the years but all felt obligated to stay together.

I started a trip report, but didn't finish it, but thing you will get the jist of the dynamics.

Lets just call this worst case scenario.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1436762


I just got a PM to add to the trippie, :banana: :banana: :banana: so you guys will see more installments if interested. If you enjoy it, PLEASE let us know.

[crisi]

It is generous, but

(1) Book seperate rooms
(2) Be upfront about costs
(3) Don't be surprised when you are left holding the bag on rooms - maybe on very short notice
(4) Don't be surprised when your guests who do like it (or don't like it) start to view your points as their entitlement. "That was great, you should do it again next year, didn't you say you could use those points for Hawaii."

[TLSnell1981]

It is generous, but

(1) Book seperate rooms
(2) Be upfront about costs
(3) Don't be surprised when you are left holding the bag on rooms - maybe on very short notice
(4) Don't be surprised when your guests who do like it (or don't like it) start to view your points as their entitlement. "That was great, you should do it again next year, didn't you say you could use those points for Hawaii."

You think like I do. You will have tired people and tired people get cranky. This spoils trips and causes hard feelings. I think I would at least get one villa, 1 or 2 bedroom, so you would have a full kitchen and a little more living space if you guys want to hang out.....but would definitely do the rest in studios

[BroganMc]

(4) Don't be surprised when your guests who do like it (or don't like it) start to view your points as their entitlement. "That was great, you should do it again next year, didn't you say you could use those points for Hawaii."

You know I've heard that, but it never feels like a problem to me. When they discover I have something they want, I just start accepting bribes. Highest bidder wins.

Yeah, I'm evil.pirate:

[DISNEY FIX]

It is generous, but

(1) Book seperate rooms
(2) Be upfront about costs
(3) Don't be surprised when you are left holding the bag on rooms - maybe on very short notice
(4) Don't be surprised when your guests who do like it (or don't like it) start to view your points as their entitlement. "That was great, you should do it again next year, didn't you say you could use those points for Hawaii."

Good luck but just be prepared for the above.

[pyrxtc]

Well, I know I'm going to try to use points for hawaii but not next year. Yougest DS is only just turned 4. My sister is planning on getting military housing for her trip. She didn't look it up and doesn't realize how it works. She wants to use her DH rank to get a better price but if she reads up on it, she'll see that it goes by whoever has the higher rank if both are military.

I hope it goes well. We all have enough in common that we should have fun. And I know their nights will be spent at the bar so I can do what I want then. Well at least 2 sibs will be at the bar every night or buying beer for the room.

[robinb]

I would go with option "B" where each sister's family gets their own room. I also wonder why some people get concierge and others do not. I don't think that would fly with my family.

[CarolA]

(Am I the only one who thinks that next November we are going to hear... My family cancelled and I now have 200 points in holding??? This one has the makings of a real doozy! No one except the orgainzer really seems to want to go.)

[dianeschlicht]

I do agree that the parties need to WANT to go to Disney, or this wont work. When we invite family and friends to share DVC with us, we tell them there is NO backing out after the 7 months before mark. We figure that gives us plenty of time to rebook a smaller unit if we need to. So far we have had no issues with that policy, and if they can't agree to our terms, we cancel the invitation. A stipulation is committment, and if they can't do that, they can't go at all. Only once did we book a w bedroom and then have difficulty finding someone to share it with us, but that was our fault for just booking at "our" favorite time and trying to plug travel companions into it. Now when we invite someone, we start the process a year and a half out and schedule around their times. We have the same stipulations about committment, and we have never been burned. Of course, I don't invite folks I think would burn us anyway!;)

[robinb]

pyrxtc, don't let some people scare you! Yes, your family could back out and leave you holding the bag. But I wouldn't expect it. I have arranged a couple of Grand Gatherings for my family and things worked out for me ... even if there were a few bumps along the way.

(1) I would put anyone who you think might back out in their own studio. That way you are canceling a single room and you don't get stuck with an expensive room which is under utilized.

(2) Give yourself a little wiggle room on the "drop dead" date. I would tell them that you need to know FOR SURE by November 1. If they don't have airline reservations or driving plans by then that's a BIG red flag. You will want to share with them when you get your airfare so they know when a good deal is happening.

(3) Get the OK to book the rooms and then back off for a while. Non-DVC people simply don't understand our obsession with planning. They also don't understand that we need to book the resort at 11 months day-by-day or ADRs right at 180 days. Bugging them only annoys them and they don't take things seriously when you really need them to make a decision.

(4) Since you say that they will eat just about anything, I wouldn't even worry about what they want and book what I wanted. I would book one Grand Gathering experience (I really liked the IllumiNations Dinner) and then I would book one meal per day AT MOST. You will have to go through the Grand Gatherings people for all your reservations because you will have 14 people.

(5) Make your own park plan and share with everyone else. If they want to join you ... cool. If they want to do their own thing ... that's cool too. Meet up in the parks if you need to and don't wait for late risers to get up and get going. I learned this lesson the hard way.

(6) Share the plans with them about two months ahead of time. That will solidify things for them and it will be REAL. That will give them a full month to back out and for you to cancel reservations if you need to.

Good luck!

[JimMIA]

You have received a lot of great advice already, so I'll just make a couple of comments.

I agree with Robin that, although we've all read the horror stories, I would not expect people to back out.

I would, however, be alert to the possibility, and I would protect myself against it. I like Robin's wise suggestion about not constantly pressuring people for firm decisions, but I would let them know there will be a drop-dead date -- and if they don't have their ducks in a row on that date, I'm cancelling their ressie. And I would do just that, and refer them to CRO if they wanted to join us on their own.

I'd also be cautious about the concept of people being well-able to afford a Disney vacation. That may be true, but there is a reason why they haven't gone to Disney often...or ever. The reason is, it's just not high on their priorities. Just because someone has plenty of money doesn't mean they choose to spend it on a Disney vacation.

The thing that compounds the priority problem is that people who don't visit WDW don't really know how much it costs.

Tickets alone start at $75 per day for adults. The cheapest adult 3-day (no hopping, no pluses, expires in 14 days) is $216.20. That's $70 each per day, just for park tickets.

How often have we heard people laugh about DDP -- "$38 per day, just to eat? You must be kidding!" They don't realize that is likely a savings if they are going to be restricted to onsite dining; they think they can eat for $20 a day.

Add airfare and trinkets to food and tickets, and WDW is still an expensive vacation even if your room is provided free by a generous family-member. Lots of people can afford WDW, but not everyone wants to spend their money that way.

I'm a firm believer that most cancellations we read about are caused by sticker shock. It's not until the person starts actually making airfare arrangements, looking at rental cars, looking at ticket prices, etc that they really start to add things up and go, "Uh-oh! I have somewhere else I need to be during that week!"

We have taken relatives once -- Grandma and Great Aunt -- and it was the best trip we've ever taken. But we were paying everything (including GA's airfare from Boston).

There's a big difference between paying everything and inviting people on a vacation that may cost them several thousand bucks.

[pyrxtc]

I would go with option "B" where each sister's family gets their own room. I also wonder why some people get concierge and others do not. I don't think that would fly with my family.

I'm getting concierge for myself and my DB Den gets it since he will have gotten married not too long before and this was supposed to be just him wiht us and when my DS's wanted to go, I said I had points but explained that it would be sav view not conc. I don't think they'll care much.

I think I'll do the seperate rooms and see what Ic an do from there. I'm giving them until the 3rd week of Dec (i'll figure exact date later) to let me know. If they don't tell me I'm not booking. If noone tells me, we're inviting friends. Or we'll just bank our points and try t do the member cruise for 2009.

[robinb]

I'm getting concierge for myself and my DB Den gets it since he will have gotten married not too long before and this was supposed to be just him wiht us and when my DS's wanted to go, I said I had points but explained that it would be sav view not conc. I don't think they'll care much.Right ... but you'll have 10 people hanging out in the concierge suite eating breakfast and enjoying snacks and free wine and beer while 4 people are left out in the cold. My guess is that they say they're OK, but that they really don't understand what it is. If you upgrade everyone to concierge, then your 2BR will not be the group "hang out" place, the lounge will.

[pyrxtc]

sorry can't afford all conc but I am not giving it up. besides, who says I won't be sneaking them up there anyways?? Then we can all share in the bounty and nobody will know the dfference. They could be visiting my room on that floor and evryone will see them coming out. My 2 bedroom sleeps 8 or 9 and the studio sleeps 4 so it would be the same number of people as if we all crowded into the rooms as the alloted number. But it won't cost me as many points!












Not that I would ever do anything like that. But I KNOW my sisters won't care. I'm not worried about it at all.

[Mickey'sApprentice]

You have received a lot of great advice already, so I'll just make a couple of comments.

I'd also be cautious about the concept of people being well-able to afford a Disney vacation. That may be true, but there is a reason why they haven't gone to Disney often...or ever. The reason is, it's just not high on their priorities. Just because someone has plenty of money doesn't mean they choose to spend it on a Disney vacation.

The thing that compounds the priority problem is that people who don't visit WDW don't really know how much it costs.

Tickets alone start at $75 per day for adults. The cheapest adult 3-day (no hopping, no pluses, expires in 14 days) is $216.20. That's $70 each per day, just for park tickets.

How often have we heard people laugh about DDP -- "$38 per day, just to eat? You must be kidding!" They don't realize that is likely a savings if they are going to be restricted to onsite dining; they think they can eat for $20 a day.

Add airfare and trinkets to food and tickets, and WDW is still an expensive vacation even if your room is provided free by a generous family-member. Lots of people can afford WDW, but not everyone wants to spend their money that way.

I'm a firm believer that most cancellations we read about are caused by sticker shock.

There's a big difference between paying everything and inviting people on a vacation that may cost them several thousand bucks.

These comments are right on the money!!

DDP would have solved most of our problems, but DBIL said $38/day per adult that is insane! I immediately dropped the subject.

[crisi]

I'd also be cautious about the concept of people being well-able to afford a Disney vacation. That may be true, but there is a reason why they haven't gone to Disney often...or ever. The reason is, it's just not high on their priorities. Just because someone has plenty of money doesn't mean they choose to spend it on a Disney vacation.
.....

Add airfare and trinkets to food and tickets, and WDW is still an expensive vacation even if your room is provided free by a generous family-member. Lots of people can afford WDW, but not everyone wants to spend their money that way.


A number of years ago we had a non-Disney family vacation fall to pieces. Originally we all wanted to get together - my parents, my one sister and her boyfriend, my other sister and her husband, my husband, two children and myself - we'd go to Mexico in April.

First there was the "where to go" issue. We had two kids. Someone decided they didn't want Mexico. They wanted to cruise - they picked a cruise line that had saltwater pools and a poor children's program - plus only had ten cabins on the whole ship that would sleep four.

However, we were told that we could book connecting rooms - and the "we could well afford it" was brought up.

Then needed to be over Christmas. And on my BILs schedule - this was despite my husband explaining repeatedly that HE had a hard time taking off around Christmas, HE ran a top ten eCommerce website and from October - mid-January tended to be bad - but being out of town for Thanksgiving or Christmas was a cardinal sin.

That was about the time the whole thing fell apart. First we were told where we would vacation. Then we were told when we would vacation. And finally we were told what we could afford to spend on vacation - a vacation at a time of year we didn't want to go, on a ship we didn't want to be on, with a family I love dearly, but who was making it obvious that they weren't even listening to my needs.

[pyrxtc]

Well, this isn't planned as afamily vacation originally. It was to be my family vacation and inviting my brother along since his DFi LOVES Disney. My other siblings decided they wanted to come too. My youngest brother is the easiest. he said to tell him when and he'd take the time off. I ave only one sibling upset about dates and another who doesn't want to go but prob will and another who won't answer my questions about going. She just keeps asking me how much the hotel will cost despite me saying it was on me.

[BroganMc]

Well, this isn't planned as afamily vacation originally. It was to be my family vacation and inviting my brother along since his DFi LOVES Disney. My other siblings decided they wanted to come too. My youngest brother is the easiest. he said to tell him when and he'd take the time off. I ave only one sibling upset about dates and another who doesn't want to go but prob will and another who won't answer my questions about going. She just keeps asking me how much the hotel will cost despite me saying it was on me.

Sounds like they are suffering from the "this wasn't my idea" with a touch of "totally clueless".

How did your other siblings enter into the fray, may I ask? Was it their idea or yours?

[JimMIA]

Well, this isn't planned as afamily vacation originally. It was to be my family vacation and inviting my brother along since his DFi LOVES Disney. My other siblings decided they wanted to come too. My youngest brother is the easiest. he said to tell him when and he'd take the time off. I ave only one sibling upset about dates and another who doesn't want to go but prob will and another who won't answer my questions about going. She just keeps asking me how much the hotel will cost despite me saying it was on me.It sounds to me like you really have nothing more than your original plan -- your family and Ken & new wife.

And that's assuming Ken and wife are all set with the dates, costs, etc. Don't forget that if they have just gone through a wedding/honeymoon, etc, a big vacation may not be the top thing on their to-do list. They might enjoy something like this a lot more a year or two down the road.

I would set out your plans and tell the rest of the family that you would love to have them join you on your vacation. If they want to take advantage of your generous free lodging offer, you need to know their unchangeable plans by X date.

After that date, they are welcome to make their own plans and join you, but you can't provide their rooms because DVC availability will be limited, and they will be much better off making their own arrangements. Lodging is just where you sleep, so they'll be able to join in all the family activities no matter where they decide to stay.

I would not hound them to make decisions. Sometimes it's a lot easier on everyone if someone just "can't make a decision that far in advance" than it is for them to say no. If they really want to go, they'll decide. If they don't, "can't plan that far ahead" works fine.

[pyrxtc]

Sounds like they are suffering from the "this wasn't my idea" with a touch of "totally clueless".

How did your other siblings enter into the fray, may I ask? Was it their idea or yours?

My DSis tried to tell us we were all going to Hawaii and I told her I already ahd plans for next year. I don't know who decided to make it a "family vacation" but it wasn't me. I did say I could provide the hotel after it was mentioned and agreed upon but after that I just told them when I needed to know by. Now I am being questioned and not listened to. I think I may end up down there with just my family and DB Ken. Maybe DB Den's wife but doubtful. We'll know in a few weeks.

[dianeschlicht]

My DSis tried to tell us we were all going to Hawaii and I told her I already ahd plans for next year. I don't know who decided to make it a "family vacation" but it wasn't me. I did say I could provide the hotel after it was mentioned and agreed upon but after that I just told them when I needed to know by. Now I am being questioned and not listened to. I think I may end up down there with just my family and DB Ken. Maybe DB Den's wife but doubtful. We'll know in a few weeks.

Okay, since you have met the big resistance, I think you might need to market it differently. I understand wanting to make a big family trip, but it can and will be a headache if everyone isn't totally on board with the plan.

First, I would put together as much information as you can, both about the resort AND the reasons you need committments. I would put togehter copies of resort phots, room phots, and floor plans from the website. I would also let them know the "booking rules and time lines", and let them know how this will negatively impact you financially (yes it's financial if you lose points) if they back out too late to change your ressie. Then I would ask if they prefer to all be together or if they want to each have a private room. Make sure they understand what, if anything, their financial obligation is. We usually tell folks we invite that it is accommodations plus breakfast, but that they are on their own for transportation, park passes and dinners etc. Sometimes if it's folks we know are short on $$, we will plan to cook one main meal in the villa a day, but most end up taking us out for a nice signature table service one night as a thank you. It's not required, but a nice gesture. Let them know just how much planning you will do, and try to get them to see the exciting part of it. I put together whole packets for each family group the first time we did this, and we planned 18 months out! Nobody backed out, and everyone was able to spend that 18 months saving for a few extras. We stayed in a GV, and had a blast! I think marketing on your part is the best answer here. Plus, if they find they CAN have their own room, should they choose that option, it might make them all feel better about it.

Oh, and don't tell them you can "get the room free". That is a BIG mistake.