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Trip Report-No more invited guests!
- Thread starter FreeTime
- Start date
Our first trip with DVC we invited my recently deceased husband's family as a thank you for helping us deal with his death; they were all so wonderful in helping us through so much pain. We had a group of 10 in a 2br at BWV. My boys and I ended up in the living room pull out sofa and a blow up mattress on the floor. The biggest problems were SIL felt she needed to tell my 13 year old what to do (that didn't go over well with him and he ended up hating her for the week) and MIL and Aunt wouldn't go anywhere without me. They were afraid that no one else in the group would find their way back to the hotel room - pain then - we laugh about it now.Second trip my cousin from Washington State joined us with her two sons much younger than my own and each of my boys brought a friend. One of the friends wanted to convince us that he had ADD (he didn't but was successful in annoying the rest of the group for the week). It rained all week and everything smelled like wet sneakers (from 6 boys - not real pleasant) - again a bit of a pain then - we laugh about it now.
Last trip 9 days in a studio at BWV for New Years. A friend of mine joined us and it was an absolutely perfect trip. 80 degrees and sunshine all week. The parks were packed but we've been on everything and could wait for next trip if we missed anything, so no stress at all.
Next trip my husband's niece and her new husband are joining us so far. We've got a 2br at BWV for July 4th weekend; still waiting on cousins to see if they can afford the week, if not kids can bring friends.
I love bringing people with us; I love just me and the boys. I just love being in Disney World.
11/74 - Fort Wilderness
4/78 - Contemporary
12/86 - Contemporary Garden Wing
12/89 - Grand Floridian
12/94 - Beach Club
4/00 - Old Key West & Boardwalk Villas
11/00 - Boardwalk Inn
8/01 - Boardwalk Villas 2 br
6/02 - Boardwalk Villas 2 br
12/03-1/04 - Boardwalk Villas Studio
7/04 - Boardwalk Villas 2 br
It just depends. We've gone with family and it became more work than vacation. Not because they were hard to get along with, but because they heavily commando types ("you can't talk to that character unless it's less than 2 minutes, we have exactly 3 minutes to get to Star Tours"). I had to take a 2 day vacation afterwards to recover from the vacation!
And we've gone with friends - spent some time on our own, some time apart. We had a great time and will do it again.
The biggest problem has been family who either won't commit, or do commit and then change. I've ended up re-scheduling, banking, borrowing, having to rent points we would have lost they cancelled, etc.
I think communication is key. Dean's rules are a great idea.
And we've gone with friends - spent some time on our own, some time apart. We had a great time and will do it again.
The biggest problem has been family who either won't commit, or do commit and then change. I've ended up re-scheduling, banking, borrowing, having to rent points we would have lost they cancelled, etc.
I think communication is key. Dean's rules are a great idea.
Laurabearz
I cant load my bobbin!
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2001
I never knew you were such a wild man Dean!
We have gone with family and friends before and learn a little more with each trip.
Our number one rule... Everyone gets there own villa! And I love deans... We dont wait for you... you dont wait for us.
I have a big group get together coming up (in less than 2 weeks YIPPEE) and I already know it will be a PITA, but going in with a positive atitude!
Sorry your trip was a bummer.
mamarobin24
<font color=red>Disney Nuts of the DIS unite!!!!!<
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2003
We took my bio sister and her family on the 7 day land and sea package deal last year. It went really well, once we all got used to the fact that my BIL is never happy with anything, is so overweight that he hates walking, and generally doesn't want to do anything but sit around and program his computer.
Her children are 10 years younger than my children, hence there's a lot of hero worship. We met for dinner evry night, often had breakfast, and then planned one day where we all did the same thing. This worked really well.
At Thanksgiving, we are taking my foster parents with us for a week. This should also be fun, because we have the same kind of trip planned - some time togther, some time apart, meals each night, and no worries. We are going to go to MVMCP, and the Candlelight Processional, as that is the reason we are going at Thanksgiving. That is our Christmas present to them.
Her children are 10 years younger than my children, hence there's a lot of hero worship. We met for dinner evry night, often had breakfast, and then planned one day where we all did the same thing. This worked really well.
At Thanksgiving, we are taking my foster parents with us for a week. This should also be fun, because we have the same kind of trip planned - some time togther, some time apart, meals each night, and no worries. We are going to go to MVMCP, and the Candlelight Processional, as that is the reason we are going at Thanksgiving. That is our Christmas present to them.
We have taken family and friends with us and never had major problems. When we took friends we were pretty sick of them by the end of the week because they are money tight and were constantly talking about it.
Only time we had problems with family was when my Mom came with us and her two cousins were in FL too. They needed a place to stay one night and since we had room she said they could stay with us. DH had no problem with them staying except Mom's DC male is gay and DH was not comfortable. DH got over it, but it was pretty tense that evening between DH and myself.
We are leaving in 38 days and my parent are coming with us. They invited themselves and are paying their own way. They rented points so we upgraded our one bdrm to a 2 bdrm. Mom just wants to sit on the patio and read and relax, not sure what dad is going to do. We did decide to stay an extra night without them so we could have some time to ourselves.
Only time we had problems with family was when my Mom came with us and her two cousins were in FL too. They needed a place to stay one night and since we had room she said they could stay with us. DH had no problem with them staying except Mom's DC male is gay and DH was not comfortable. DH got over it, but it was pretty tense that evening between DH and myself.
We are leaving in 38 days and my parent are coming with us. They invited themselves and are paying their own way. They rented points so we upgraded our one bdrm to a 2 bdrm. Mom just wants to sit on the patio and read and relax, not sure what dad is going to do. We did decide to stay an extra night without them so we could have some time to ourselves.
Kelly Nelly
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2003
Originally posted by Cruelladeville
I, too, feel your pain, but you are much smarter than I was, since it took FOUR terrible trips to learn my lesson!! I must be as dumb as a rock to take 4 bad experiences before learning my lesson. What did it finally take? Returning to our villa to find our guests' teenage daughter having sex on the couch!! That's not something you can just casually mention to her parents when they talk about taking another trip with us!!!
One quick little question about this situation that occured at your villa. Did the teenage daughters parents let her take her boyfriend along for the trip, if they did then that was bound for trouble. Or was this someone she met while at WDW if so I would definently would have told her parents.
sgtpet
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2001
Let me share my experience. Don't invite anyone especially family. I got my brother in law's family a 1 br at BWV last October. They wanted to go to all the parks and we felt obligated to go with them. They walked around aimlessly and if I didn't teach them to use the fast pass the only ride they would have enjoyed would have been CoP. Anyway they never thanked us nor did anything in return for our generosity. The lack of thank you was very frustrating and has taught us a lesson. Never again.
My advice is don't give your points to relatives and certainly if you travel at the same time due an event or two together otherwise do your own thing.
My advice is don't give your points to relatives and certainly if you travel at the same time due an event or two together otherwise do your own thing.
AZKathy
<font color=darkcoral>We don't need to move to a w
- Joined
- Aug 19, 1999
That is one rule before we start out with guests that the villa will stay clean and neat; everyone will pick up after themselves. It does not take much to put your stuff where it belongs and keep the living area clean! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_1_1.gif' border=0></a><a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_5_7.gif' border=0></a><a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_5_17.gif' border=0></a><a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_5_5.gif' border=0></a>
We vacationed two weeks this past summer with two other families and we got along great and had no problems with the villas.
We vacationed two weeks this past summer with two other families and we got along great and had no problems with the villas.
Cruelladeville
<a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis-sponsor/" targ
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2001
The teen who had sex on my sofa didn't bother to even pull it out, which just proves that she is as dumb as a rock!
The boy on the top was not part of our trip, but was down there at the same time. In our town, EVERYONE goes either to Florida or to Gulf Shores, AL, so there is no shortage of "playmates". He wasn't her boyfriend, according to DD. I don't know why her parents didn't guess that I was upset about something I told DD about it, so DD and her friends back home had a big laugh about it
I guess that was some vindication!!
kathleena
<font color=FF99FF>Because everyone needs a Fairy
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2001
I've taken family and never had any real problem, except 7 days with people you are not used to living with is hard on anyone. But like someone said, you laugh about it later. I thought I could never go with my DGS6 again after October, when for 7 full days, every single ride we went on, he asked two things "Is it Scaaa-weeeee?" and "Will I get wet?" This after being in the pool all day I find particularly funny. We all got very tired of it and eventually we just told him everything was sca-wee and wet. Yup Buzz is wet now Chris, they squirt you at the end.
Ah, ya, we feel a little mean now. And we are now planning a cruise and BCV stay in May 2005. So I get over it......I would rather know that I spent good time with him while I could and live with the headache for a week.
And we do have some rules. Backpacks and shoes are left in the entrance way, out of the way. Put away your own dirty dishes. No one leaves their stuff on the table if they are not sitting there, or it gets put away for the rest of the trip. And no crying or arguing in the living room. Take it in the other room so everyone else doesn't have to listen to it.
Other trips, we go with friends and get a 2br. Nice with 4 adults in all that room. We each have our own space. The only difference between them and us is that they like to do more as couples, myself and DH tend to do our own thing more. So we compromise and we have nice trips. See below for the next two:
Ah, ya, we feel a little mean now. And we are now planning a cruise and BCV stay in May 2005. So I get over it......I would rather know that I spent good time with him while I could and live with the headache for a week.
And we do have some rules. Backpacks and shoes are left in the entrance way, out of the way. Put away your own dirty dishes. No one leaves their stuff on the table if they are not sitting there, or it gets put away for the rest of the trip. And no crying or arguing in the living room. Take it in the other room so everyone else doesn't have to listen to it.
Other trips, we go with friends and get a 2br. Nice with 4 adults in all that room. We each have our own space. The only difference between them and us is that they like to do more as couples, myself and DH tend to do our own thing more. So we compromise and we have nice trips. See below for the next two:
kathleena
<font color=FF99FF>Because everyone needs a Fairy
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2001
I've taken family and never had any real problem, except 7 days with people you are not used to living with is hard on anyone. But like someone said, you laugh about it later. I thought I could never go with my DGS6 again after October, when for 7 full days, every single ride we went on, he asked two things "Is it Scaaa-weeeee?" and "Will I get wet?" This after being in the pool all day I find particularly funny. We all got very tired of it and eventually we just told him everything was sca-wee and wet. Yup Buzz is wet now Chris, they squirt you at the end.
Ah, ya, we feel a little mean now. And we are now planning a cruise and BCV stay in May 2005. So I get over it......I would rather know that I spent good time with him while I could and live with the headache for a week. It will all come back to haunt him - I'm a scrapbooker and I have a nice title for a Chris page of course - Is it Scaa-weee?
And we do have some rules. Backpacks and shoes are left in the entrance way, out of the way. Put away your own dirty dishes. No one leaves their stuff on the table if they are not sitting there, or it gets put away for the rest of the trip. And no crying or arguing in the living room. Take it in the other room so everyone else doesn't have to listen to it.
Other trips, we go with friends and get a 2br. Nice with 4 adults in all that room. We each have our own space. The only difference between them and us is that they like to do more as couples, myself and DH tend to do our own thing more. So we compromise and we have nice trips. See below for the next two:
Ah, ya, we feel a little mean now. And we are now planning a cruise and BCV stay in May 2005. So I get over it......I would rather know that I spent good time with him while I could and live with the headache for a week. It will all come back to haunt him - I'm a scrapbooker and I have a nice title for a Chris page of course - Is it Scaa-weee?
And we do have some rules. Backpacks and shoes are left in the entrance way, out of the way. Put away your own dirty dishes. No one leaves their stuff on the table if they are not sitting there, or it gets put away for the rest of the trip. And no crying or arguing in the living room. Take it in the other room so everyone else doesn't have to listen to it.
Other trips, we go with friends and get a 2br. Nice with 4 adults in all that room. We each have our own space. The only difference between them and us is that they like to do more as couples, myself and DH tend to do our own thing more. So we compromise and we have nice trips. See below for the next two:
gracelrm
<font color=teal>Wow - you learn something new eve
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2002
Oh, now I'm scared. We've invited DH entire extended family (20 in all) to stay on our points this summer. We've had to bank, borrow and buy more points in order to do this. I hope I don't end up killing someone!!!!! DH wants to make "our" itinerary and give to everyone and tell them those are our plans and they are welcomed to tag along if they want. I'm afraid that will encourage too much togetherness. None of the family has been except for one niece and our family. I'm afraid they'll want to spend all their time in the parks and I like a little rest and relaxation on vacation! DH's nephew is likely to ask if he (17) can bring his girlfriend along - I believe we'll have to say no after reading Cruelladeville's post
We have had much better luck taking friends than family. We have a trip coming up in May/June to take my daughter and 3 friends for her birthday, and my SIL just invited herself for the THIRD time!! The first time, my DH refused to go on the trip when we told him his sister was coming. The second time, I told her he just didn't think it was a good idea for us to vacation together. She whined, and I gave in, telling DH it would not be so bad. After the first trip with her I knew better; I just hoped it would be easier the 2nd time. Wrong!! Even though I cooked all breakfasts and my older kids cleaned up the dishes each morning, she always made us late for early entry. After a week of cooking and cleaning for her and her 2 kids, we were all exhausted. My DH was upset because she always knocked on our door the minute he got in the jacuzzi! To be honest, a little hanky-panky on the couch would have probably done her more good than the Zoloft, but that was the only thing that didn't happen all week! We have invited 3 different families, in addition to my daughter's friends, to join us in May/June. My neighbor will be in a studio at the BW with us, but my other friend and my daughter's teacher will be at OKW, and that suits everyone fine. We may hook-up for a meal or something, but will otherwise be on our own. The trip is a gift for the teacher, and he won't know about it until 3 weeks before we leave(but his wife already knows, as does the principal), so I doubt they will join us at all. I was really looking forward to not being a tour guide this trip...I just need to find a way to tell SIL without her taking it personally.
Dean-
Corona must be the beer of choice for DVC trips; it's usually the only time my DH has one, too.
Dean-
Corona must be the beer of choice for DVC trips; it's usually the only time my DH has one, too.
We won't vacation with anyone that can't handle this rule!
We have taken both friends (we had never been away with before) it was the best time ever! Going away with the same friends this year!
Family had fun with them too but got the feeling after it was over that SIL "wished she hadn't spent all that money"!
Honestly, I love bringing people with us to Share the DVC experience but I'm tiring of the feeling that I have to show everyone around!
My Brother has "HINTED" about going down with us next time we go. I told him straight out that his wallet doesn't open wide enough to get him into WDW (he's too tight to enjoy it). If we do decide to bring him it will only be for a week. Trust Me!
Lisa
Duchie
"Answers are the easy part, questions raise the do
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
I just made our reservations for my family, my parents, my GM, and my sis for the week after Thanksgiving. Sort of a spur of the moment decision, but now we're all very excited about the trip! But now I've got some great ideas on how to avoid problems. I booked two 2BRMs rather than 1 GV and now I'm glad I did - my kids are the ones who would drive everyone crazy!
Thanks to everyone for suggestions and stories!
Thanks to everyone for suggestions and stories!
Just wanted to add that I surprised both my sisters with a trip to the BW for Christmas, 2004. When I booked the 1-bedroom and the 2 studios, the agent at MS said " I'm assuming you would like to request that the 3 rooms be close together", to which I responded "you know what happens when you assume" ! 
Towncrier
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 23, 1999
We shared a Grand Villa at Old Key West with my sister and her family in 1998. I won't make that mistake again. Although I love my sister dearly, she and I do not see eye to eye on a lot of things, especially things with dollar signs. She is way too frugal for my tastes. This was the only vacation where we've put out the points for a GV and being there with family ruined the experience for me.
But the funny thing is that for every other trip to WDW, we've taken my mother-in-law along for the trip. For the most part, that has been a very positive experience. I guess when it comes to vacations, MIL Marge and I get along better than my sister and I.
But the funny thing is that for every other trip to WDW, we've taken my mother-in-law along for the trip. For the most part, that has been a very positive experience. I guess when it comes to vacations, MIL Marge and I get along better than my sister and I.
A couple we are friendly with recently casually invited us to WDW (1st time)with them in August/Sep on their DVC points. Our sons are in the same class, and we've had dinner and drinks a couple of times. We both left it at "let the wives talk about when there is no wine around and we'll see what happens".
Glad to see all these tips of what may or may not be expected from us. Myself, I would not like to be guided around. Just would want to do a common meal everyday maybe and of course let the kids get together at the pool and waterparks and meet at the kiddie rides (3 and 5 yo). But I would definitely want some freedom to explore on our own.
I would feel guilty not paying them something and would gladly give $10 a point for the extra points they would have to use or buy meals. I just can't understand the posts where people mention that friends (or family) take advantage of the invite and pick up one meal for the whole trip. You're letting these folks tag along on a first class vacation that they may not otherwise ever take or even be aware of.
Just my gripe against ungrateful people I guess.
Thanks for all the info on here.
Glad to see all these tips of what may or may not be expected from us. Myself, I would not like to be guided around. Just would want to do a common meal everyday maybe and of course let the kids get together at the pool and waterparks and meet at the kiddie rides (3 and 5 yo). But I would definitely want some freedom to explore on our own.
I would feel guilty not paying them something and would gladly give $10 a point for the extra points they would have to use or buy meals. I just can't understand the posts where people mention that friends (or family) take advantage of the invite and pick up one meal for the whole trip. You're letting these folks tag along on a first class vacation that they may not otherwise ever take or even be aware of.
Just my gripe against ungrateful people I guess.
Thanks for all the info on here.
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