DVC With Friends...

[tfc3rid]

How would you handle this situation? Say I plan on going to WDW and staying at my DVC home resort. 2 friends of mine are going to come with me for a short weekend trip. Here's the question... Do you think my friends should kick in some money for the room (even though I am paying for it in my DVC)?

1984 - Poly.
1986 - Off Property
1987-1989 - Poly
1990-1994 - Beach Club
1995 - Wilderness Lodge
1996 - Beach Club
1997-2000 Yacht Club
2000 DVC - BWV Member
2001 - BWV

[joglenda1]

I would hope they would offer too... to me no matter what they give you for the room it will still be less expensive than getting a room off or on property... or at least if they buy your meals on the trip or a ticket to the parks... anything like that would be nice... :)

[catsfan]

Unless your original offer was one which included a rent-free place to stay, I would assume the friends would expect to pay. As far as calculating a price...that's the hard part. Good luck!

[dianeschlicht]

I always have used it as a way to invite people who would not go on thier own. It never occured to us to ask for money. Most of your guests are happy to share grocerys with us as well as cooking. We usually plan ahead as to who cooks which days and those people are responsible for grocerys that day. Of course, I prefer to go out, so many times if our guests can't afford that, they cook and we go out.

Disneydiane

[WebmasterCricket]

When people have stayed with us, we usualy have them take us out to eat once. This allows them to feel like they are contributing, and allows us to get something rather than nothing.

Not McDonalds either!

I generaly consider others as guests and not tennants.
This way, they also recognize that it is our room and not theirs, so they tend to respect our rules more than if we were splitting the cost between both parties.

But that's just the way we do it.

JC

[tfc3rid]

My feeling on this matter is that my friends are paying their own airfare and admission media prices. I was thinking of have them pay for a nice dinner sometime over the trip but that since they are not really WDW regulars (1 first timers) that I felt that thye would be my guest in my room. I dunno, people I speak with want them to contribute and not make them feel like they are getting a "free" trip, which I don't believe they are getting.

1984 - Poly.
1986 - Off Property
1987-1989 - Poly
1990-1994 - Beach Club
1995 - Wilderness Lodge
1996 - Beach Club
1997-2000 Yacht Club
2000 DVC - BWV Member
2001 - BWV

[eva]

For our trip in November (6 nights) we stayed in a 2-bedroom and got a studio for our mother-in-law. She told us that she would pay for all the meals and groceries. What a deal! A family of 4 spends about $150 a day on dinner alone. With the groceries added she probably spend more than $10 a point. I think that we made out and we got to feel the hero for getting "Mom's room for free".

PS We tried to pay for some of the meals but she just wouldn't let us.

[Tommy]

We got a two bedroom at HHI in January and invited our friends from Denver to be our guests. When we go to their house they take us to their cabin near Breakenridge. They do not ask us to pay.

Remember "Welcome Home"? Well, would you ask your guests to help pay your mortgage?

We use it as a way to help our friends enjoy a vacation they could not afford otherwise. If they can pay their share, then why not just rent thier own room?

DVC Hilton Head Member since 1997
My DVC Hilton Head Resort Page (http://www.members.tripod.com/~ttowery)

[maryisme]

When we were invited along as guests in our sister in law's timeshare we did not pay them for our visit. We did however treat them to a very nice dinner. After the trip was over, I sent them a large box of Godiva chocolate (her favorite) along with a thank you note.

Mary

[tfc3rid]

Here's what I am thinking. I feel that since I am going with my pals, I am paying my mortgage and therefore I can take whomever I want to take, to me I don't mind this. Certain individuals who I have mentioned this to feel that my friends would be "taking advantage" of my situation. I see it as my freinds hanging out with me for a weekend at a place that normally they would not go.

1984 - Poly.
1986 - Off Property
1987-1989 - Poly
1990-1994 - Beach Club
1995 - Wilderness Lodge
1996 - Beach Club
1997-2000 Yacht Club
2000 DVC - BWV Member
2001 - BWV

[NJDVCmember]

No way!
If you are asking them to go with you then don't ask for money! I'm sure they will offer a dinner or something.

Our friends are also in the DVC. We have more points than them. We are trying to work out a time period to rent a GV at HH together. My husband and I have no problem putting in more points than them. There is five of us so we would have to get a two bedroom anyway. The point is between friends...money or points should never be a issue!

[Tiggeriffic]

I think that being able to invite family or friends to come along and stay for free is great. As a matter of fact, our first stay is in April and we invited some of my wife's family to come along. We don't expect them to pay anything for the room. However, knowing my father-in-law, he'll probably try to pay for most of the meals for all of us.

However, I think that there may be situations where people would be sacrificing a vacation, or several days of one, by having someone stay with them because they need to get a larger unit. So, in this case, I think you need to determine what you feel comfortable asking these people to pay, if anything at all. Just make it clear up front.
In most cases, people would be getting a better deal by staying with you and contributing some money than they would by staying on their own.

Also, I see DVC as slightly different than owning a vacation property or inviting someone to stay at your home. With DVC, most people would be using more points if they brought along guests. Inviting someone to stay at your vacation property doesn't cost you anything.

If you have the points and want to have people stay with you for free, that's great for everyone involved. However, if you can't "afford" the points then either don't invite them or make it clear up front what you would want them to contribute to stay with you. This can be great for everyone involved too.

[Lesley]

You wrote:
"I dunno, people I speak with want them to contribute and not make them feel like they are getting a "free" trip, which I don't believe they are getting."

Seems to me that these people you are speaking with are the type who won't do anything for anyone unless they see themselves getting something out of it in exchange...something more than the positive feeling of sharing something special.

This is a matter between you and the friends who will be staying with you. If you don't feel like you're giving them a "free trip" (and I agree that you're not, especially considering they are paying for everything but the room for themselves...)then its no one else's business. If the friends wish to compensate you for your points then you can decide with them what you feel is appropriate.

We plan to bring guests occasionally and we will never ask for payment for the accomodations. I wouldn't hesitate to let them pay for dinner or something but I also wouldn't expect it. Our first guests are going to be my parents who will probably pay for a few meals and babysit, if I'm guessing correctly. If we ever have enough points to do so (probably not!) we might be willing to rent them to friends or family who ask...but that would be a situation where they would be going alone and not really as our guests in "our" accomodations.

It does sound like you know some people who need to mind their own business....


Lesley


1979 Contemporary
1992 Off-site
1994 Carribean Beach
1999 Fort Wilderness and Coronado Springs
2000 Polynesian and Old Key West
2002 Boardwalk Villas

[Margie J]

I've had friends stay with me twice. The first couple split the grocery bill with me and the husband cooked and cleaned for us every day.The second time my friends also split the grocery bill with me. Both times worked out well and we were all happy.

One time I offered a two bedroom unit to my cousins (with park passes) for five nights and they didn't offer me a dime! That bothered me a lot. I was also the one who had to call THEM and ask how things were going.

[Candace]

Recently I took two friends with me for a short 4-night trip to OKW. They were not planning a trip to WDW; they hadn't considered going there until I asked. Since they had to buy their air tickets and park passes (we only visited Epcot), I would not have considered asking for payment. It was my pleasure to take them. Here in the South we are raised to be gracious - LOL - ok, guys don't slam me! But, seriously, they were my guests and were gracious enough (they are also southern girls!) to buy me a gift while down there and a nice dinner. I got the enjoyment of sharing my "Home Away from Home" and having buddies to play with at WDW.

[mickeyc]

This is a situational circumstance. Everyone's position is a little different. I think it depends upon your relationship,i.e. have they ever invited you somewhere and are you in a position to reciprecate. Most people I know would offer something in even if it is not money. Dinner, groceries all seem like good ideas. It all depends on you!! Good luck and enjoy your vacation!!!!

[tfc3rid]

Thanks for your insights. I particularly agree with you Candace because I am going ot be taking 2 of my college buddies who I have been places with in the past. They would never think of going to WDW unless with me (they have never been, I have been, as you can tell, a lot.)

My thinking is that they are paying for getting there and admission, I took the responsibility of paying for DVC.

1984 - Poly.
1986 - Off Property
1987-1989 - Poly
1990-1994 - Beach Club
1995 - Wilderness Lodge
1996 - Beach Club
1997-2000 Yacht Club
2000 DVC - BWV Member
2001 - BWV

[dvcdenise]

Well I guess it kind of depends on who asked who. I have asked friends a couple of times to go with us and have considered them our guest. I think if they had asked us if they could go it would have been different. I have always considered one of the nice things about dvc is that we could ask people to go with us and give a gift of a vacation which anyone knows is quite an expense in itself at Disney.The other couple always offer money but we just take them up on a nice dinner one night.

[Lisa P.]

I agree that it depends on the situation. We've brought/sent friends and family on vacations several times. Every time, it meant we used more of our vacation (timeshare) resources than we would have for our own vacations alone. With 5 of us, we never share a room with others, preferring separate villas.

We've gone on jointly planned vacations where we all just wanted to stay at the same resort at the same time and I planned it. Then they just reimbursed us our actual expenses. It was a natural part of the conversations during early planning and we never had to ask.

We've also given vacation time as gifts. Each time, we knew ahead of time what it would cost us and we chose to offer it, knowing that those families could not possibly afford this kind of vacationing. Each family offered something in return as a thank you gesture. Some have paid for a really nice dinner out for our family. One provided extra breakfast & snack treats during the week. One watched our children while we spent a late night out as a couple, after the trip was over. Each time, we appreciated their gestures.

On the flip side, I've been the recipient of a short DVC stay with a friend. She kindly offered to share her DVC studio (& passes) with me during a women-only WDW trip with a group of friends. Without her offer, I wouldn't have gone since our finances were terribly tight at the time. A token thank you gift was all I could manage and she was most gracious. I'm sure your friends will appreciate your generosity. :) Enjoy their company! :D

[LauraS]

If I invited friends or family to join me for vacation time in WDW I would never ask them to pay. I'm inviting them as my guests in that situation.

If you discussed an arrangement ahead of time detailing the fact that your guests would provide some monetary compensation, then I guess that's okay, especially if they're getting a great deal.

Personally, I'd feel funny asking for money from friends or family going with me. I'm sure that your friends will offer up a nice dinner or something in return for your generous offer.

Laura

:cool:

[ChristineM]

I think it depends upon who you are inviting. If it is close family and we wanted to treat them, then no we would not ask for any money. We are going with friends in October and they really wanted to go back to WDW with their twin boys. Since we all live in the UK, it is very expensive and this will be their first trip with them. They were going to stay on I.D., but we felt they would enjoy DVC better. Since we would use double the points, we asked them to pay the maint. on the points. We thought this was fair, as we would not get to use those points our selves. Also they feel as though they are "paying" their way and we are not giving them charity. They get 18 nights for about $40 a night, a lot better than I.D. I think you have to way up each situation and deal with if differently. Our friends would not feel comfortable taking it without doing something. Hence they would not enjoy their holiday, this way they are really grateful for being able to stay on site. You never know they might buy into DVC themseleves.

[brittsmamabwv]

we just bought our dvc last february and are still in the "honeymoon" period, ie...taking family to disneyworld. In September we took my mother in law and rented a two bedroom as opposed to a studio or one bedroom that would have suited my family of 3 fine, because we were basically getting a week less vacation due to renting a larger place, she paid $50.00 per day. In may we are taking my sister and her family and renting two studios. they will pay $100.00 per nite for their studio which they are more than happy to pay. I think that anyone would be getting such a good bargain, i'm sure they would not mind chipping in <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif" alt="razz"> null

[Shelly S]

I am taking my sister and her husband for 15 nights in September. I used my points for 2 studios and ran short about 40 points, because i didn't want to borrow too many. I ended up renting the 40 points and told my sister she would have to pay $430 for the points I rented. She gave me the money happily the next day. Where else could she get a 2wk vacation for four hundred bucks. I am thrilled to be able to take her and I know she would do the same for me if she owned and not us. We will split the rental car. Money is never an issue for us and I'm sure she would contribute more, but I told her the points are already paid for and that there is no need.

Shelly

[vernon]

I think there are a lot of circumstances that alter the answer to this, as has already been said there is no right or wrong answer, just which feels comfortable to you.

#1 is did you have to rent a bigger unit to accommodate them? If not then I think straight out asking for cash looks like getting them to pay for your vacation ( but I'd be dissapointed if they didn't make a gesture like springing for a GOOD meal somewhere). If you did then I think it is reasonable to expect them to pay something towards the cost, but if that is the case it is best to explain this BEFORE you make the booking.

Other factors could be if they have done similar things for you in the past, their financial situation, are they takers who need prompting to pay their way ( it happens even with good friends !!) or length of time your staying ( for a long weekend dinner is probably fair, for three weeks in your own bedroom with full facilities, a decent wedge of cash is called for JMHO).

I don't think charging people is wrong IF it is explained beforehand and you are booking a larger unit expressly to accomodate them. For people that like to show their largesse then I think grand gestures are fine, but some people do feel uncomfortable receiving, what they feel are too generous a gift and like to reciprocate to a level they feel is equal. Unless your upfront on a reasonable cost it is easy to unintentionally offend, I find this is often the case with less well off brothers,sisters or cousins.

Do what makes YOU happy, I'm sure you will all have a good time.

[fl]

You should not ask for any money. It is inapropiate if they are your frieds, closest frieds. I have been in the same situation before and asked nothing, nothing in return. He is a childhood friend of mine that we have been in closest contact for the last 30 years. I would have been a offense for he and his family to ask for money or something in return