Charging guests you bring along

[trishy]

This summer we're going with an older couple who have been friends for a very, very long time. We decided to "let" them pay a portion because they wanted their own studio. We stay in a 2 br and usually there would be plenty of room, but then in this particular situation we all agreed it would be better to have separate rooms. However, when we go to WDW next year with a different couple, it's no big deal to share the 2 br with them and we won't ask them for any additional $$. Make sense? I guess what I'm saying is - if it works out that we amicably share a unit, we're not really out any additional $$, but if we have to pay extra for the extra people, then they'll pay a discounted portion. The main thing is having friends/family to share the experience with - the $$ ranks pretty low to us.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Originally posted by ForTheLoveofDisney
Mrs. Snowgod,
You have good points too. I'm afraid I've got both situations. First of all I invited my BiL. He's a single guy who's SOOO much fun to be around. I just know he'd LOVE Disney. So, I said to him, hey, why don't you come down with us? It won't cost you a thing for the room, all's you'd be responsible for would be your flight down, park tickets and food. Then, my sister kind of in a round about way suggested, but more like asked, about us all going in Dec. If that's the case, I will have to borrow like 60 or so points from next year because we'll definately need a two bedroom. If I didn't have to borrow any points, I'd have the attitude, well, we're going anyway but that's the situation I'm in.
Thanks for your input.

I've asked people for money here and there. In the situation you described I'd tell my sister that it would cost me too much for her to go along as well (because you would have to upgrade). If its early December she probably could get a room at a good price and join you that way or (if you are so inclined) invite her along on a later trip. One thing you left out was the type of room you planned on staying in and how many people are in your family. If it would be just the 3 of you she could sleep on the floor.

 

[Pa@okw95]

My guests are my guests- I buy them tickets to the parks (5 day Hoppers), and I pay for all the food and snacks, soda water, coffee, breafast stuff. I also pay for all character meals, usually 2 a trip. In return my guests usually pay for a meal or two. When you are my guest you do not pay for much of anything but I do not give them keys with charge privileges, I draw the line there. My guests pay for anything they buy in the parks of course. If they want to go to a water park, golfing, or anything else they pay for that. DVC has become a real expense for me, that is why I laugh when people talk about DVC saving money, not me.

 

[nanajoyx2]

This October we are bringing our children (DS & DD), their spouses, and our 4 grandsons. We paid for the plane tickets, hopper passes, and MNSSHP. Haven't made any PS ressies yet, but when we do, we will pay for these too. These are our children and we wouldn't think of charging them for this vacation. Last summer I invited my best friend to join me. I was going to be there in a studio, so adding her didn't cost me any points. Since her plane ticket was more than mine (she lives in CA), I bought her a 5 day hopper pass at the Disney Store before I left home. She paid for a few of our dinners and for our E ride tickets. The two of us had a great time celebrating 50 years of friendship together and we hope to share another vacation without our husbands at WDW again.

No one has ever invited themselves or asked to use our points. I don't know what I would do concerning charging them if the situation ever arose. My extended family knows how often we use our points, so I don't think it is likely to happen, and I don't think they understand the point system for time shares anyway.

 

[Richyams]

Like many others, we bought alot of points with the intenetion of sharing them. We get the GV at OKW almost every year for twelve nights, have one couple and kids the first week and a different one the second with a crowded weekend in between.

We have never charged or taken anything. family that can afford too, and we have a few of those, will buy a nice dinner or two and groceries, for families that can't, and we have a couple of those also, it allows us to take them on vacation....you can't really hand a family member a couple grand, its a whole lot easier for them to accept when its just a free room and some extra passes we have laying around(The free passes made that part even easier)

If I was in a position of being young, having bought this because of seeing its great value and really stretching my budget to afford DVC, that is a whole different picture. Now I would need to charge and be completely honest about it. $10 per point for extra points required is more than fair.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by Richyams


If I was in a position of being young, having bought this because of seeing its great value and really stretching my budget to afford DVC, that is a whole different picture. Now I would need to charge and be completely honest about it. $10 per point for extra points required is more than fair.

Depending on how many extra points I extend, I charge. I am the scenerio Richyams is describing to some extent. It is not a total stretch in my budget but, I have calculate on renting a portion of my points to offset my costs until I get more vacation time and cash. This past year we had my SIL and niece who I didn't charge as we shared a 1 Bdr., next year with her bringing my other niece we will need a 2bdr and I will need some monetary support. Also we are doing a party for my parents in a GV and everyone knows I can't obsorb that expense. So, I think it does depend on your situation and comfort level.


Pa@okw95 - I'd be happy to buy you a dinner or two in WDW or CT in exchange for 5 day hoppers, just let me know when and where!

 

[Hilary]

I just had to share my experience of bringing guests!

Last year DH, 2 x DDs and I spent two weeks in Florida (from the UK) with DH's sister and her family, and DH's brother and his family - 12 of us in total.

Each family took care of their own expenses apart from the accommodation for the first week, which we provided from our DVC points. For the second week we all went our separate ways, then met up again before flying home.

We had a GV at OKW for five nights and three Studios at VWL for two nights for the whole group - this used up pretty near three year's worth of our points, but it was something we wanted to do to make a family trip possible. We didn't ask for any payment, but we were treated to a meal by the other two families and had an extra generous Christmas present from one couple .

The real eye-opener came when we all met up after the second week apart - one family had gone down to the Keys and they couldn't wait to tell us all about the fanastically luxurious accommodation they had found at one of The Radisson hotels there!

Now, I have no reason to believe The Radisson was anything other than luxurious, but it would have been nice to have been told they enjoyed OKW and VWL as well!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
My guests are my guests- I buy them tickets to the parks (5 day Hoppers), and I pay for all the food and snacks, soda water, coffee, breafast stuff. I also pay for all character meals, usually 2 a trip. In return my guests usually pay for a meal or two. When you are my guest you do not pay for much of anything but I do not give them keys with charge privileges, I draw the line there. My guests pay for anything they buy in the parks of course. If they want to go to a water park, golfing, or anything else they pay for that. DVC has become a real expense for me, that is why I laugh when people talk about DVC saving money, not me.

WOW!!! Can I be your guest? That is extremely generous of you.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

One of my greatest joys in life is to be able to GIVE. I am reading these posts, and becoming somewhat depressed that you all seem to have "normal" families. In that, you treat them to free accomidations at WDW, and they recipricate throughout the trip. My family would not do that. I have 11 brother's and sister's and the sister I am bringing next April is the ONLY sibling I know who will be grateful. All my other brother's and sister's would accept an invitation, and not even offer to pay for a meal or even an ice cream cone. AND, they would probably expect another invitation the next year, or they would just come right out and ask "so, how many points can you spare this year" or something like that. So, with that, the only sister who will be welcome to my DVC is the sister I am taking next April. She is even more generous than I, so I know she will insist on paying for alot when we get down there, PLUS she has teenagers! LOL BABYSITTERS!

I am so happy to be able to do this for her, because she loves Disney, and it is always a struggle for her to save for a trip. She has 5 kids. So, if I can eliminate the cost of accomidations for her, that saves her almost half of what the trip would cost otherwise. Since my family wiil be on the Cruise for the first 4 days,, she and her family will be on their own in a 2 bedroom. Then when we get off the ship, we will all move to a GV for two nights. She will already have the place stocked with food, so when I get off the ship, I won't have to worry about stopping at a store. I can't wait!

 

[Pa@okw95]

When you buy your guests hopper passes and pay for a couple of character meals, food in the 2 bedroom, it makes for a real pleasant trip. I never heard anyone say anything negative about the situation, one of my relatives did complain about not having his type of coffee, but that was it. It makes for a real fun vacation. Some of my guests could not afford to come there, or it would be a real stretch on the budget to do so.. It really is a great feeling to watch someone enyoy WDW who otherwise be not able to do so. It was a lot easier on my pocketbook when we got the tickets for free, I must say that. I do not pay for their way down like one person said they do. I have paid for my granddaughters, my sons and my daughters air in the past. Now they make more money than I do, so they can pay their own way, well not my granddaughter. Friends of the family get free tickets but not airfare. WE all have a great time, but I enjoy it the most when it is just my wife and I, it is a lot less work and no strain wanting to make sure everyone enyoys themselves. I would have never been able to do this when we were first starting out like a lot of you are. Getting old has a few advantages, only a few.

 

[icydog]

I've had different experiences with sharing villas and Concierge pts. My sister often joins us for a WDW or Vero vacation. We get a 2 bdrm and charge her $7 a point for the differnce in points between a 1 bdrm( what we would get on our own) and a 2 bdrm. I have also taken her by ourselves to the Arizona Biltmore and paid for the whole thing in pts. She bought most meals to recipricate. She pays for 1/3 of the expense for food and restaurants and car. She always shares with us but she never buys us anything.
We are taking my Dh DSs in December to OKW in a 2 bdrm for a week. We are paying for one sister's arifare. tickets, food and everything else . The other sister is paying her own airfare and tickets but we again will pay for food dining out etc. One sister is better off than th e other so she is willing to pay for her own fares and tickets but draws the line when it comes to paying for her own food. I think they think we are loaded or something because we are always on vacation, LOL!
In April 2004 we have reserved a Beach Cottage for 5 days and then a GV for the weekend at BW, for my step kids and grandkids. The only way they said they could come is if we paid their airfare so we will. It will cost a fortune but being with them will be worth it.
We have taken many friends with us as well. This Feb I took my best friend and her granddaughter with me and my grandaughter to BCV in a 2 bdrm. I paid for her park ticket and part of her granddaughter's. We split restaurant charges but I wound up paying for the car. I wanted so much for this trip to be magical that I really "bought" her to go with me. She doesn't realize what this trip cost, or doesn't care. Anyway, that is all behind us and we are still wonderful friends. I would take her again but she says she is not a "resort" sort of person. This makes me sad since I feel I am always trying to sell her to come with me and when she did she is unhappy and unapprecaitive..
We always let my son and my daughter use the DVC when they want and they don't abuse it. In fact they only go down once a year for 2-3 days in a 2 bdrm at OKW. I don't hink they even will avail themselves of this again because they say they are bored with Disney.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

It really seems to come down to what people can afford, and how much they desire the company of their guests.

The recurring sentiment seems to be that many people bought points with the intention of sharing. That's certainly true for us.

I am amazed by the comments regarding people who didn't appreciate the free accommodations/tickets/airfare. That is incredible! Makes me wonder about human nature.

 

[Lexxiefern]

It is so nice to see so many of you are so generous! It is also very sad to read about those who have been taken and do not appreciate it.

We had a trip planned for October and I really wanted my sister to come along. She just went in January with us so she said she did not want to go to disney again. So I asked her if she would go if we payed for her hotel. She didn't like the sound of that. I went ahead and booked it anyway. I told her she had to come because I had to borrow points and I would lose them if she didn't. Her DH will not go if we are paying for the room. So she will pay me and then I will give it back to her so he doesn't know. To me it is more important for them to come with us than the money.

I also just asked my mom if she would like to go with me. Just her and I and my DD who will be 3. She was delighted! My mom is very, shall we say financially challenged? She will be paying for her air, tickets and food. I told her I will pay for the rental car. I would love to afford to pay for my mom's whole trip, but we are young and not loaded ourselves.

I was going to just buy 150 points, but doubled that to 300 so I could afford to take some friends/family with us sometimes.

 

[cheyita]

I haven't gone through this experience yet, but I have always figured it would depend on which family members it involves. For my own children, who are still young, I assumed that even after they are grown we would allow them to use the points without any reimbursement (just not all our points every year!).

I would be more than happy to treat my parents and my in-laws to free stays without taking a dime.

If any of our siblings and their families join us, we would ask for something. We would need to get a larger or additional room, so we would ask to make up for the difference in points, even if it didn't require us to rent extra points. I figure they would still appreciate getting a great vacation deal. I guess the same goes for close friends.

 

[TiggerFreak]

We don't charge imediate family. Brothers,sisters,mothers,fathers,etc...

All others we ask the going rental rate and everyones happy.
If there is more that 3 of us we always get a 2Bdr, so the folks in the 2nd bedroom get a studio rate with the amenities of a 2bdr.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by cheyita
I haven't gone through this experience yet, but I have always figured it would depend on which family members it involves. For my own children, who are still young, I assumed that even after they are grown we would allow them to use the points without any reimbursement (just not all our points every year!).

We have coworkers and friends who's grown and married children call them up and ask to use their points. Unless they are going too they say no. If they are going they don't charge them at all. We've seen a number of horror stories about family members, friends or neighbors that just invited themsleves. Or when you invite your parents and they invite (at your expense) other family members without the owner's knowledge or permission ( many similar sceanarios).

It all comes down to the reasonableness and personalities of the people involved. Most people know up front those that will be reasonable and appropriate and those that will not. I just read in yesterdays paper in Ann Landers (or another one of those Dear XXX pieces) about a friend who always managed to duck out on the check. Writer's answer, she's no friend, when the time comes ask her if she has the money and let he know she's expected to pay her fair share. Next step, go separate ways. Unfortunately hard to get away from family sometimes. Anyone see "The Great Outdoors" with John Candy and Dan Akroid(?sp)?

 

[Hilary]

Anyone see "The Great Outdoors" with John Candy and Dan Akroid(?sp)?

Saw this many years ago and loved it Bought it on video just a couple of weeks ago to watch before our family vacation to Canada this summer (wanted to be reminded of the bit about the bears!), but we won't be taking any 'extra' family on that trip .

 

[vernon]

I think there are a lot of diffent answers to this question and much depends on the circumstances. Most importantly, IMHO , is if you have to use more points in order to book a larger room. If you do then , IMHO , there is a cost to you. If you are doing this as a treat for relatives, then that's fine. But it does leave you with the potential problem for people who invite themselves. I do think it's fair if there is some kind of "trade off" so no one feels they have been taken advantage of. It maybe equally important that a less well off relative doesn't feel "beholding" to a more affluent one, Even if the "room cost" is say $500, having it as a "bargain" that they take you to X restaurant is their share does ease any problems in that area.

I have "charged" relatives and generally work on either $9-10 per point or the cost of a room at an All Star for the duration. Sometimes it has been a $$ payment, sometimes they have paid for park tickets for the group, sometimes they have paid flight tickets for the group and sometimes they have paid for accomodation if we have split the stay with an off site stay. It's whatever works out for you, I know some people for a short stay opt for the guest paying for a meal one night ( although it may be worth pointing out a Mchappy meal is not consider sufficient as I know a member who fell foul of that tactic one year LOL )

IMHO the most important part of this is NOT to be shy or embarrassed about how you lay out the options. It can give the impression that you're trying to pull a con trick on them. It may help to write it down for them to take away and read through it, but also to help you to make the points as you would like to. It is potentially embarrassing and in embarrassing moments people have a tendancy to rush what they are saying and miss out important parts. I would work something like

Dear X , we would very much like you to consider coming on a joint vacation with us. We understand that you might want to stay in a seperate resort and just meet up at certain times as well as spending some time doing "our own things". The best deal I have found with a quick search would be $xxx staying at one of Disney's All Star resorts, although you may find a better deal at those resorts with more looking. If you did want to stay off site then you can do it cheaper, to stay at the same resort as us, renting from Disney would cost $xxxx . As a cheaper alternative possibility we could rent a larger unit than we had planned if you didn't mind entering into that type of arrangement with us. ( If you'd be sharing a 2 bedroom unit you can explain the extra facilities they would have access to like kitchen washer etc while their "room" is basically what a standard hotel room is)
I'd then put down some costs and points on paper

1) All Star cost
2) DVC resort cost from Disney
3) Separate DVC room through you
4) A dvc room that shares facilities if you're renting a 2 bedroom or a grand villa

5)The extra facilities and benefits (pool hopping)


It may sound harsh to put things on an "official" footing, but it really does save difficult moments if you're able to give them all the saliant points and they have the opportunity to think it through before rushing into things.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We charge when we have a room larger than for the wife & I.
2) We think this is only right.
3) Only now, the children are grown and we can't collect on the money they owe us.

 

[TandyR]

Our first trip as DVC members was last year and we invited my MIL and her husband along. We got them their own studio because we have two small girls (5 and 2 years old at the time) and my MIL and her husband would like to have more down time then staying with us would give. We didn't ask them to pay for the room, but they had to pay for their own tickets and their own meals when we ate out, but if they ate in the room with us we would cover that. (They ended up not joining us in the room.) They ended up surpricing us and paid for DD5 every time we ate out (DD2 was free most of the time.) and they treated us to a nice sit down meal at Marroco (I forget the resturant's name.) so we thought that was nice. We plan to do it again, but not for awhile because we don't have enough points at this time to get them their own room again. We are trying to get them to buy into DVC.