Charging Friends???

[LargoLori]

I am planning a Thanksgiving vacation with 2 very close friends and their kids. I have reserved a 2bedroom at SSR. They both asked me how much the room will be to which I replied nothing, we are using our points. Both insist on paying something. How do others handle this?

 

[Deb & Bill]

How about taking the difference in points between a one bedroom and two bedroom and charging by the point? The amount of your dues for those points? Or you could ask them to buy the tickets if you don't have them already. Or pay for dinner a couple of nights.

Or you could just say "Merry Christmas and Welcome to my home".

 

[Chuck S]

You can charge them anyway you wish. Some folks will charge them the difference in points between a 1 bedroom and a two bedroom at $5 to $10 per point.

When I invite guests, I don't charge them, but they usually take us out for a dinner show or a some nice meals. If your getting the DDP, maybe they could pay for that for you, or if you all dine together, maybe they could pick up the gratuities.

Really, it is whatever you are comfortable with.

 

[LargoLori]

I was thinking I would just say take us to dinner. To be honest I can't think of a better way to use my points than to spend time with them.

 

[welovewdw]

I was thinking I would just say take us to dinner. To be honest I can't think of a better way to use my points than to spend time with them.

That's exactly how we handle it - I don't want them to feel bad or like moochers and I don't really have a clue what to charge them. I kind of feel like it's inviting someone to our home for a week or whatever - and they're our guest at our FL home.

 

[mjy]

I was thinking I would just say take us to dinner. To be honest I can't think of a better way to use my points than to spend time with them.

I have a couple of different friends that I've often invited down with me for New Years week.

I have never charged any of my friends for coming down. However, the have "paid me back" by picking up many of our dinners out.

It works really well for all of us. The cost of the meals do not add up to the cost of the rental and, at the same time, I don't have the cost of meals to worry about. Everyone comes out ahead!

 

[kda]

Seems like a matter of individual preference and what you can afford. Some very close friends stayed with us for 4 nights in a 2 BR, but we just didn't have the points to cover that + 3 more nights for just us in a 1 BR. As it was, we were borrowing, AND paying cash for one of the w/e nights we stayed in the 1 BR. Even though we got the Member's discount for the cash night, it was still ~ $300. If we hadn't rented a 2 BR for part of the trip, we'd have had enough points to cover everything.

Our friends expected to pay, and we worked out the details --- $10 a point for the extra points that was the difference between the 1 BR and 2 BR. We wished we could have treated them, but we just didn't have the points. They were THRILLED with OKW and thought they got a phenomenal deal to stay there for less than their usual room at All-Stars. They were planning to be in Disney anyway, and we're the ones who tagged along and suggested we share a 2 BR. We all felt like it was a win-win situation, especially since we were staying together.

We've encouraged some other friends to plan a trip to Disney at a time when we can go together .... we've told them we'll use DVC and have no intention of charging them. We have plenty of points now, and their budget is tighter. These friends aren't closer than the first family ------ the circumstances are just different.

 

[jennib5426]

I am taking my friends in October and they have 3 kids.
We are staying in a 2 bedroom at SSR.
I told them no charge for the room just pay for your tickets, food, transportion, all that adds up to a lot of $$$ with a large family.
They were very grateful for the free accomadations.

I told them I bought DVC to share with my family and friends and I was more excited about our upcoming trip than my past trips before I bought DVC.

 

[wildernessDad]

I haven't been charging my friends for the accommodations.

 

[UP Disney]

My sister insists on paying us as well. I am charging her what she would be paying in Pop Century which is where she would have stayed if we weren't staying on our DVC points. This way she feels like she is paying her way but it isn't the regular cost of a DVC resort. With staying with us at OKW, she'll be able to use the kitchen which will help her save some money as well. We'll eat together at any TS meals so she'll also get our DDE discount. I feel bad having her pay but she insists and if I don't let her, she'll not let it go.

 

[crisi]

We've done the "just buy us dinner" thing.

 

[kathrna]

Before we were owners, our friends had us buy the groceries and the rental car.

 

[KennySC]

We just take the number of points for the reservation times $10 then divide by the number of people staying in the unit. That gives us the per person cost. We might give a break to someone forced to sleep on the fold out. At least it gives us a fair starting point... and always a cheap way for family/friends to stay at a DVC resort.

 

[TEK224]

Both last year and this year I was at WDW for the marathon. Last year I used points for a 2 bedroom and had 5 friends with me. I did not charge them.

This year I had 8 friends come down so I had to get a 2BR and a studio. I did not have enough points for both units. My friends insisted on paying this year. We were there for a week, so what I did was charged them each $200 for the week. I took that money and used it for a down payment on an add-on. With the developer points, I was able to get both units for the week on points. I figured the monetary cost was about equal to if I had to pay cash for the weekend nights on the 2 BR and studio.

And now I'll have more points available, so when we go again either I won't have to charge them or it'll just be the "buy me dinner" exchange.

Terri

 

[wdwnut]

Hi: We've never charged for friends or family. If they want to buy a meal or so, that's all well and good. It truly is just spending time with them that is what we want.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I was thinking I would just say take us to dinner. To be honest I can't think of a better way to use my points than to spend time with them.

Sounds like a lovely solution- it sounds like it would make you happy. I am sure your friends will also be plaesed. You are very generous- have a great trip!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Both insist on paying something. How do others handle this? . . .

Our method of charging our friends for their portion (per night for a 2-bedroom)

room accommodations and tax - $37.50 per person
convenience fee for staying on-site - $5.25 per person
pleasure of our company - $78.00 per person​

 

[OKW Lover]

We never charge friends to stay in our home. If they insist, we let them take us to dinner someplace nice.

 

[dallasdisneymommy]

We do a family trip every year with my husband's parents and his sister's family and we always stay on our points -- since it's a regular occurance and not just a one time thing, they always pay for either our food or our park tickets. It's a fair way to take a family vacation, and everybody pays less than they would if they were traveling alone. We all think it's fair and have a great time!

 

[crisi]

We never charge friends to stay in our home. If they insist, we let them take us to dinner someplace nice.

The someplace nice....

This is, if your friends insist (and you don't feel guilty asking) a good chance to splurge and go somewhere you might not otherwise - like California Grill or Jiko. They will still get a bargain, even after picking up an expensive dinner tab.

Now, I'd never ask that of anyone I thought might already be stretching themselves to go - if I thought that I'd ask for dinner at Biergarten or something. But if your friends can afford it, and insist on dinner - you might consider something "nice."