779 points less later....

[cseca]

We have reservations for a big family get together this Christmas at DL!

Although I probably shouldn't have added up all the points. I'm still hyperventilating...

Without DVC there's no way we could've arranged this. I'm so glad we bought in...

 

[bobbiwoz]

We had a 729 point extravaganza ending over July 4th, and it was wonderful. I wish you the same sort of vacation!

 

[cseca]

Thanks bobbiwoz! I hope so too.
Did you do DL or WDW?

I wish we could all stay at the same place but family waited too long and gcv is completely sold out for our dates. Thank goodness we still have the option to use points at the other 2 hotels.
Now just the 6 month wait!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks bobbiwoz! I hope so too.
Did you do DL or WDW?

I wish we could all stay at the same place but family waited too long and gcv is completely sold out for our dates. Thank goodness we still have the option to use points at the other 2 hotels.
Now just the 6 month wait!

We were at VB and WDW and it covered 9 nights. There were 16 of us in all, good friends and family. We did sometime similar in '08 and will try to repeat it in '12.

I'm glad you were able to book the hotels....I hope the time goes by quickly for you. The DCL cruise that I have the timeline for was booked 18 months out, and now we're down to 4 months!

 

[arthur06]

I wouldn't be hyperventilating I would be passed out!

 

[cseca]

We were at VB and WDW and it covered 9 nights. There were 16 of us in all, good friends and family. We did sometime similar in '08 and will try to repeat it in '12.

I'm glad you were able to book the hotels....I hope the time goes by quickly for you. The DCL cruise that I have the timeline for was booked 18 months out, and now we're down to 4 months!

WOW! That's a lot of people
But that must've been fun.
9 nights for that many points sounds so much more reasonable than what we have.
I guess that's the price for DL resorts... hehe...
Oh my... a cruise! I can't even venture to imagine how many points that would cost.
I say it must be good to be your family/friends...
4 months only!!! That's wonderful!

I wouldn't be hyperventilating I would be passed out!

Well compared to how much it would've cost by cash I spose it wasn't too bad...

 

[bobbiwoz]

Not all were around for all 9 nights...we finished up at BCV with a 2 bedroom and 2 studios, 10 people.

Bobbi

 

[momof2disprincesses]

Will you adopt me?

 

[cseca]

Not all were around for all 9 nights...we finished up at BCV with a 2 bedroom and 2 studios, 10 people.

Bobbi

BCV for a family gathering... that sounds lovely.
We did wedding at BWV 2 years ago. We had less than half the amt of points we have now. I would've done what you did if we had the points.
Better late than never right?

Will you adopt me?

I was going to ask bobbiwoz the same thing!!!!

 

[Dean]

We have reservations for a big family get together this Christmas at DL!

Although I probably shouldn't have added up all the points. I'm still hyperventilating...

Without DVC there's no way we could've arranged this. I'm so glad we bought in...

Timeshares have allowed us to do the same. Nine 2 BR units in Gatlinburg, four 2 BR units at HH beachfront (just returned), nine 1 & 2 BR units at BCV/BWV through RCI this fall; etc. HH ends up being our most expensive location to do this and interestingly, DVC will be about our cheapest this time around. We provide the accommodations and invite as many people as we can until the space is full rotating among each of our families. We had 35 people in Gatlinburg and missed out on about 12 additional people that planned to come but couldn't due to 3 pregnancies within one family. Our recent HH trip we had 21 people. We had a similar but slightly smaller HH trip last summer. I'd say these last few larger trips have been some of our best vacations. Just our way of giving back to the family and encouraging people to get together that wouldn't consistently otherwise.

 

[cseca]

Timeshares have allowed us to do the same. Nine 2 BR units in Gatlinburg, four 2 BR units at HH beachfront (just returned), nine 1 & 2 BR units at BCV/BWV through RCI this fall; etc. HH ends up being our most expensive location to do this and interestingly, DVC will be about our cheapest this time around. We provide the accommodations and invite as many people as we can until the space is full rotating among each of our families. We had 35 people in Gatlinburg and missed out on about 12 additional people that planned to come but couldn't due to 3 pregnancies within one family. Our recent HH trip we had 21 people. We had a similar but slightly smaller HH trip last summer. I'd say these last few larger trips have been some of our best vacations. Just our way of giving back to the family and encouraging people to get together that wouldn't consistently otherwise.

OMG!!! 35 people!!!!
Uuumm... could I be related to you somehow?

That is such a wonderful thing you do. I wish I could understand other timeshares and trade ins (RCI, and stuff) but I'm too scared to venture into those other timeshares. Too afraid that I paid too much or got the ones with too much MFs.
I can't believe that some timeshares could be bought for $1. It just seems too good to be true. Although I'm sure if you're an expert (and you are), you can play the system and come out way ahead.

I hope to be able to do this get together more often but I think this might be a once in so many years deal (5 or 6 years). Just can't afford to do it more often than that yet.

 

[Dean]

OMG!!! 35 people!!!!
Uuumm... could I be related to you somehow?

That is such a wonderful thing you do. I wish I could understand other timeshares and trade ins (RCI, and stuff) but I'm too scared to venture into those other timeshares. Too afraid that I paid too much or got the ones with too much MFs.
I can't believe that some timeshares could be bought for $1. It just seems too good to be true. Although I'm sure if you're an expert (and you are), you can play the system and come out way ahead.

I hope to be able to do this get together more often but I think this might be a once in so many years deal (5 or 6 years). Just can't afford to do it more often than that yet.

Don't sell yourself short, you could do it if you wanted. We do feel good about giving back and getting people together. Ultimately timeshares likely don't save me a dime but allow me to do things I couldn't do otherwise.

 

[cseca]

LOL!!!
Well... our waitlist came through so make that 833 points!!! OY!!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

LOL!!!
Well... our waitlist came through so make that 833 points!!! OY!!!!

Great! It's what you really wanted, right? Have a grand time planning!

 

[BeesKnees]

I think our family Christmas next year is somewhere close to that.

I love taking people with us. It warms my old crochety heart to know there are children in our family that were only able to experience this rite of passage thanks to us.

 

[cseca]

Great! It's what you really wanted, right? Have a grand time planning!

Definitely! Love my family but I don't know if having all 9 of us in the same room would be good... but I figure it was only for a couple nights so we were fine...

Saw the good news on my dvc page today... I'm ecstatic! But freaking out at the same time... Good googly moogly that's a lot of points...

I think our family Christmas next year is somewhere close to that.

I love taking people with us. It warms my old crochety heart to know there are children in our family that were only able to experience this rite of passage thanks to us.

Isn't it wonderful?
I definitely know how you feel. My family has been wonderful to me so it's my turn to "treat" them this time around. Definitely won't make sense to do things like this with cash. But DVC made it possible.
I feel so blessed...

Good luck planning your vacation next year. It'll be wonderful!

 

[BeesKnees]

Isn't it wonderful?
I definitely know how you feel. My family has been wonderful to me so it's my turn to "treat" them this time around. Definitely won't make sense to do things like this with cash. But DVC made it possible.
I feel so blessed...

Good luck planning your vacation next year. It'll be wonderful!

It really is. Pictures of those kids experiencing disney are worth 100x what I paid for my membership. They don't realize when I invite them to go along it is for purely selfish reasons.

Don't tell anyone though... I have my curmudgeon reputation to protect.

 

[SorcerersApprentice]

Couldn't agree more, BeesKnees! We took a family trip last month for our 30th anniversary. There were 31 of us in the Grand Californian villas! It took 820 points (yikes), but worth each and every one. We are frequent DL visitors, but some of the family had not been in years and it was truly special to enjoy the magic with them.

Mary

 

[Sammie]

Don't sell yourself short, you could do it if you wanted. We do feel good about giving back and getting people together. Ultimately timeshares likely don't save me a dime but allow me to do things I couldn't do otherwise.

That probably is the true value of a timeshare and the reason for us it is not always the best deal.

 

[cseca]

Couldn't agree more, BeesKnees! We took a family trip last month for our 30th anniversary. There were 31 of us in the Grand Californian villas! It took 820 points (yikes), but worth each and every one. We are frequent DL visitors, but some of the family had not been in years and it was truly special to enjoy the magic with them.

Mary

Oh my... 820 pts so you know how I feel...
If you don't mind me asking how many rooms did you have for those points?

That probably is the true value of a timeshare and the reason for us it is not always the best deal.

I think looking at overall picture, it probably doesn't save us $ (if you add up the flight cost, extra food cost, souvies, the fact that I can stay in a cheaper place, etc.).
But lodging value wise I think it has save us $, especially after 6 years of owning the points. I would have never even considered staying in a deluxe level resort at Disney if not for DVC before. But now that we have a little one, the idea of not having a washer/dryer or a fridge for a week long trip is very scary. It's amazing how much more stuff we have to bring when adding 1 little itty bitty baby on the trip

...

Don't tell anyone though... I have my curmudgeon reputation to protect.

Haha!
A curmudgeon who takes everyone to disney...
I'm sure there aren't many of you out there... but don't worry, your secret is safe with us!