Buying thoughts

[mcap2004]

I agree with Msmithmd. Disney trips in general seem to bring out the worst in families at times. I've seen reports of the guest demanding the master in a 2 BR and someone being charged a fraction of the real price feeling like they were being taken advantage of. Many feel have the attitude that one you own a timeshare it's free otherwise. I've also seen many reports of other family members inviting themselves in or the grand parents inviting others without the knowledge or permission of the owner/planner. This is an area where one has to be clear and certain and even then, be prepared for curve balls. It often works (always has for us) out but when it doesn't, it can be very ugly.

I agree. A trip can definitely bring out the worst in ppl. I experienced it firsthand last summer with my MIL. And in regards to what you and Msmithmd said, I completely agree. I feel that if we are going to put so much of our earned hard money into this, then it should be something WE alone get to enjoy. While I also think that one time is ok to invite them, I need to express how they need to not overstep and expect it all the time. Thank you

 

[lovin'fl]

To answer your question, mcap, about which resort for studio rooms:

OKW studios have 2 queens while the other resorts have a queen and a sleeper sofa. OKW also has the largest rooms. OKW, AKV and BWV are good for point conserving as they have the cheaper views (BWV and AKV do...OKW is just the cheapest resort). And it's best to own there to book those cheaper views (before the 7 month window). AKV has longest life (expires later than OKW and BWV).

We stayed at OKW with my inlaws for Xmas of 2011 (then we did AKV for Xmas of 2013). We had my MIL and FIL in our 2BR at OKW and MIL insisited DH and I stay in the 2nd bedroom (the studio part) with my twin DDs so they (my DDs) could have a real bed and not sleep on the sleeper in the living room (and DDs wouldn't want to share that studio part with MIL and FIL)...sigh...so MIL and FIL got the king bed and the jetted tub. In 2013, I booked them their own 1BR at AKV . We had our own 2BR. I also booked SIL (her family of 3) a studio (at both OKW and AKV). I wanted to book SIL and MIL into a 2BR at AKV to save points (over booking a studio and a 1BR separately) but MIL wanted her own space from SIL .

 

[DizBub]

We stayed at OKW with my inlaws for Xmas of 2011 (then we did AKV for Xmas of 2013). We had my MIL and FIL in our 2BR at OKW and MIL insisited DH and I stay in the 2nd bedroom (the studio part) with my twin DDs so they (my DDs) could have a real bed and not sleep on the sleeper in the living room (and DDs wouldn't want to share that studio part with MIL and FIL)...sigh...so MIL and FIL got the king bed and the jetted tub. In 2013, I booked them their own 1BR at AKV . We had our own 2BR. I also booked SIL (her family of 3) a studio (at both OKW and AKV). I wanted to book SIL and MIL into a 2BR at AKV to save points (over booking a studio and a 1BR separately) but MIL wanted her own space from SIL .

Wow! These people need to buy their own DVC or make their own cash reservations.

Unwritten rule is owners/payers get the master bedroom. Guests deal with it.

Kudos to you for trying to keep the peace.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've been owners since 1997 and our son was four years old. We go once or twice a year. We usually stay in one bedroom villas because to us the real reason for DVC is in the one bedroom villa. We are a family of three and our son is in college (he's graduating in the spring and will be on his own then). We still get a one bedroom villa because we like the space and amenities when it's just the two of us. We've added a cousin or two on our trips for our son to have someone along to buddy up with when he was younger. Now if he joins us, he might bring along a friend and they get the living room.

Out of our 30+ trips, we've only brought someone along that we needed a larger villa four times. These are our points and we use the heck out of them.

If we wanted to just stay in studios, we would have just paid to stay in a hotel room and not bought into DVC.

lovin' fl: your inlaws need to pay their own way. Yikes. A bit pushy, no?

 

[mcap2004]

To answer your question, mcap, about which resort for studio rooms: We stayed at OKW with my inlaws for Xmas of 2011 (then we did AKV for Xmas of 2013). We had my MIL and FIL in our 2BR at OKW and MIL insisited DH and I stay in the 2nd bedroom (the studio part) with my twin DDs so they (my DDs) could have a real bed and not sleep on the sleeper in the living room (and DDs wouldn't want to share that studio part with MIL and FIL)...sigh...so MIL and FIL got the king bed and the jetted tub. In 2013, I booked them their own 1BR at AKV . We had our own 2BR. I also booked SIL (her family of 3) a studio (at both OKW and AKV). I wanted to book SIL and MIL into a 2BR at AKV to save points (over booking a studio and a 1BR separately) but MIL wanted her own space from SIL .

That was very nice of you to do that. I would probably also have done what you did but you are putting yoir hard earned money into something you're going to own for a long time. I feel while it's a nice gesture to do every once in a while, it shouldn't be done all the time. People shouldn't be demanding anything from you family or not esp. if they are staying in something so expensive for free.

But how do you go about saying something without making them feel offended. Because I can't recall the last time my DH DSs, and I took an actual trip without having someone tag along. I want to get every bang for my buck when it comes to buying DVC.

 

[mcap2004]

Wow! These people need to buy their own DVC or make their own cash reservations.

Unwritten rule is owners/payers get the master bedroom. Guests deal with it.

Kudos to you for trying to keep the peace.

I agree completely. I want to be able to vacation with my points more than once but every where we go, my MIL and FIL always want to come too. I mean they've always paid their own way and that's fine but I want some alone time with just DH and kids. but I don't want to be taken advantage of because we will have these points, so how do you even go about saying something without making them feel like they're not wanted or making it sound so mean?

 

[mcap2004]

If we wanted to just stay in studios, we would have just paid to stay in a hotel room and not bought into DVC.

That's exactly how I feel and I'm trying to get that through my DH's big head. I told him if his parents are always going to want to come then we might as well forget about buying into DVC because the purpose of the points is to take advantage of those beautiful spacious rooms. I don't want my kids or us for that matter,
to miss out on experiencing something like AKV Kidani or villas. We've never been to experience it because we always book like at pop or AoA. But now that we are looking into DVC, I would definitely want to take advantage of those points. We are a family of 4 and my boys are 3 and 8 so I still have quite some time with them to vacation before they leave the nest.

 

[Msmithmd]

I agree completely. I want to be able to vacation with my points more than once but every where we go, my MIL and FIL always want to come too. I mean they've always paid their own way and that's fine but I want some alone time with just DH and kids. but I don't want to be taken advantage of because we will have these points, so how do you even go about saying something without making them feel like they're not wanted or making it sound so mean?

Buy only enough points for your own needs. Invite the extended family to come along if you wish. But they are either staying on cash, renting from another member, or staying off property. That way it "isn't your fault, since you don't have enough points to cover their stay."

My family heads back to WDW in three weeks. We are staying at VWL, while my sister and her family are staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. Our trip will be equally satisfying as it would be if we were staying in the same lodging, and possibly less stressful since we will have some down time just with our primary family units. And that said, my sister's family and my own get along exceptionally well, and would be happy to stay in the same room. Still, some alone time will be healthy for everyone.

IMO buying enough points to cover the stays of other people should only be done if you are comfortable with everything that entails. Clearly from your prior posts, you aren't.

Trust me, there's nothing wrong with that all. It's very rare for people to want to spend their entire vacation with their in-laws, especially over and over. Don't fret it. Just buy enough points to cover your own needs, and leave lodging for others up to them.

 

[lovin'fl]

I should have added that MIL does pay for use of some of our points, so I don't mind being accommodating, though I will say that there might not be another family Xmas trip as it's just too tough to keep 15 people happy.

 

[mcap2004]

Buy only enough points for your own needs. Invite the extended family to come along if you wish. But they are either staying on cash, renting from another member, or staying off property. That way it "isn't your fault, since you don't have enough points to cover their stay."

My family heads back to WDW in three weeks. We are staying at VWL, while my sister and her family are staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. Our trip will be equally satisfying as it would be if we were staying in the same lodging, and possibly less stressful since we will have some down time just with our primary family units. And that said, my sister's family and my own get along exceptionally well, and would be happy to stay in the same room. Still, some alone time will be healthy for everyone.

IMO buying enough points to cover the stays of other people should only be done if you are comfortable with everything that entails. Clearly from your prior posts, you aren't.

Trust me, there's nothing wrong with that all. It's very rare for people to want to spend their entire vacation with their in-laws, especially over and over. Don't fret it. Just buy enough points to cover your own needs, and leave lodging for others up to them.

Thank you. Everyone has been so helpful.

 

[DizBub]

I agree completely. I want to be able to vacation with my points more than once but every where we go, my MIL and FIL always want to come too. I mean they've always paid their own way and that's fine but I want some alone time with just DH and kids. but I don't want to be taken advantage of because we will have these points, so how do you even go about saying something without making them feel like they're not wanted or making it sound so mean?

We actually bought planning take family at least once a year in a 2 bedroom. We have 3 daughters and alternate years with 2 of them.

Our youngest and her husband bought DVC at the same time we did and we normally travel together each year at the same time we are hosting one of her sisters.

That said DH and I enjoy our solo trips immensely and try to go at least 2 times a year alone. My youngest DD keeps telling me we could go more often, stay longer or in 1 bedrooms always if we just stopped inviting people to join us. My oldest has a large family who needs a 2 bedroom to themselves and plans to buy her own DVC in the future.

 

[Dean]

I agree. A trip can definitely bring out the worst in ppl. I experienced it firsthand last summer with my MIL. And in regards to what you and Msmithmd said, I completely agree. I feel that if we are going to put so much of our earned hard money into this, then it should be something WE alone get to enjoy. While I also think that one time is ok to invite them, I need to express how they need to not overstep and expect it all the time. Thank you

In my experience from these and similar boards and luckily, not first hand, the planner/owner often assumes such a gift will bring out the best and the reverse is quite the rule. I've seen many plan and deed down they know that this or that person is a problem but they convince themselves it'll be OK for some reason or the other and it's often worse than normal. Sometimes being very blunt and clear can head it off, other times it doesn't. Fortunately we've been lucky and don't have anyone that routinely brings drama in our family group for trips. We had 37 people in HH this summer. I must say that all of our top trips were our family trips, it'd be a shame if that wasn't the case. We love sharing and getting family together, it's our way of giving back. Basically I plan ahead so it's all seamless including planning NOT to control other people's vacation. This is an area where DVC members (and many others) can cause issues. They plan so much that they get people out of their comfort zone and they basically control other people's vacation.

Wow! These people need to buy their own DVC or make their own cash reservations.

Unwritten rule is owners/payers get the master bedroom. Guests deal with it.

Kudos to you for trying to keep the peace.

I should have added that MIL does pay for use of some of our points, so I don't mind being accommodating, though I will say that there might not be another family Xmas trip as it's just too tough to keep 15 people happy.

I'm certainly not suggesting what you should do but in general it's a recipe for disaster to have such issues and it's likely worse if they pay for part because they feel even more entitled. Being VERY clear up front prior and enforcing it if necessary are important to avoid repeat performances. Ultimately it's not fair to be unclear. Personally I'd want a clear understanding and agreement that all understood and agreed to (and abided by) or I'd have my own contract and they could have their's if they wanted.