Charging guests you bring along

[Cruelladeville]

I liked Lexxiefern's unintentional pun on most of us being"taken", which, sadly, is often the case for one time, at least. I make it clear with our guests that the room is free but they are responsible for our meals as payment, either as groceries or in the restaurants, whichever they choose. I have one family member who refused, saying that we were financially "better off" than they, so we should pay for everything--they were dis-invited, thank you very much! So, yes, that does happen, but no one wants to force them to take a vacation for pennies on the dollar! My one sister is a gem--she insisted on paying for everything when she slept on our floor for one night! (a ressie snafu) However, when family/friends request that we follow their vacation timeline and they decide on the accommodations and location, then everything is on a cash basis only. That will usually take care of most people who invite themselves to Florida on my points--I use my points as gifts, but good taste demands that you don't ask for a gift, and most definitely you don't dictate the size of it!!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Like many here, we offer our DVC as a freebie for our guests. We always book a 2br, as we know someone will join us. We enjoy sharing our DVC, but we certainly don't buy them hoppers. Dinners costs are equally shared on our trips.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

We have not charged family yet for accomodations. But we make it clear that we expect them to share grocery costs, pay their own park tickets, meals out, etc. If anyone took advantage or seemed ungrateful, they would never be invited again.

The first year we were members, we took my sister and her family to HH and we ended up paying for everything because it ended up being a lot less expensive than we thought it would be. My sister was very grateful and bought us an extra nice Christmas gift, plus they ended up buying DVC and we got the $200 referral, so I figure we are even.

Last summer, we took my inlaws and my brother's wife to WDW with us. MIL insisted on paying for all of the groceries and bought refreshments for all of us (including my brother's wife) while at the parks. I had told my SIL up front that the only thing she would have to pay for was her souviners. My brother was in Kuwait at the time, we wanted her to go and I knew she wouldn't be able to afford it otherwise. Overall it was a great trip.

This summer, we are taking my entire family (mom, dad, sister's family and brother's family) to HH in a GV. My sister's points paid for 1 night and we covered the rest. In July, it will be all of DH's family in a GV at OKW. I expect no problems or issues with anything from my family. DH's family might be another story. Based on some of the things one of his sister's has done so far, they will never be invited again. But this is a once in a lifetime all family trip, so we will make the best of it.

We also gave a co-worker of DH a 2 night stay at BWV on 6/1-6/2 because she helped DH get a position. They were going to spend a couple of nights at Disney at the all-stars, so we thought this would be nice for them.

Sorry this is so long, but this is what has worked for us so far.

 

[Dean]

One point that applies that hasn't been brought up yet (unless I missed it) is that many people see timeshare as FREE. They'll say "since it doesn't cost you anything". It's just their ignorance but that's the way many people see it.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

We haven't had anyone inviting themselves yet, but there's only my brother and I when it comes to siblings. DH and I bought dvc so that we could share with our family, but we only invite our immediate family along. We will be taking my brother and his girlfriend for the second time this year. We pay for the room and most of the meals. They are in college and work p/t jobs so I know that they don't have a lot in terms of money. We don't mind taking them for vacation because they don't take anything for granted and it feels really nice when you're giving and the recipient doesn't take advantage. We've told them that all they need to bring is spending money to buy souvenirs and an occasional burger if they want. We bought their ap's for universal last year and a two day tix for wdw. With the military special they'll be buying the tickets tix for this year and using the ap's for universal.
We are trying to talk my parents into going with us the end of this year, but dad is not a "vacationer." His idea of a vacation is bbq'ing in the backyard with the family drinking a cold one. Hopefully this trip will hook him. I just love taking vacation as a family so I don't mind if I have to come out a little out of pocket. For me I like to be able to look back and remember what we did together instead of just looking at it on the videos or photos of it.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

that many people see timeshare as FREE

This is why we make sure we tell our guests, this would cost xxx rack rate, and we paid xxx in dues for this room, so it is clear that this is isn't free.

The problems we are having/had with DH's sister for our July trip concerned just this. Since it is cheaper to fly over a Sat, we booked a 2bdr and studio so we could all be together on Sat night before checking into the GV on Sun. Well, due to SIL and her husband not planning or budgeting properly (plus spending their plane tix money on new furniture) and insisting on a non-stop flight , they are not arriving until 11:00pm that Sat night. We booked BCV because we knew their kids would love SAB and all that. We ended up canceling that studio and told them that they needed to stay off-site for that night. We explained that the rack rate for that night was $289 + tax and that because weekend points are so high (32 pts), it was going to cost us over $100 out of pocket (dues) and we didn't feel that we should pay because they couldn't plan better. There is more to this saga, but would take WAAAAAAY to long to go into here!

And, yes, this is the sister that will NEVER be invited again.

 

[Bella2000]

Originally posted by Dean
One point that applies that hasn't been brought up yet (unless I missed it) is that many people see timeshare as FREE. They'll say "since it doesn't cost you anything". It's just their ignorance but that's the way many people see it.

Exactly Dean! We still have not told family or friends that we own for that reason. We have had no issues in the past pre-DVC to pay for family (MIL etc) to come with us. It's a wonderful vacation and memory for our daughter. My SIL has a beach timeshare and it's amazing to me how many people want to just "visit" or show up. That being said she would expect that if her kids (all adult - 20 somethings) wanted to use our DVC without (or with us) that they would not pay (for room, tickets or plane). We don't believe that they should be so entitled, especially since it would not be appreciated. Good kids just spoiled. So, we will continue to stay quiet about DVC and hope no one asks a direct question to us about ownership.

 

[Mickey]

We had my sister in law and brother in law join us with there two kids. We came up with I thought was a moderate fee for them to stay with us. They got a nice vacation for a good value and we had a few extra bucks in my pocket to spend. It was a good vacation for all of us and they never once questioned the amount, with the exception they thought is might not be enough. I think family members should pay, otherwise you are paying for there vacation. There is enough cost associated with a vacation to have to pay for someone elses. Just my two cents.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Thanks, all of you, for your great input. I've been talking to my husband about all of the great advice that I've received on this subject. I'd love to share Disney with family and friends at no cost to the guests, like some of you are able to do, but at this time it's just not possible for us. Young couple, just starting out, look forward to the one week a year when we can just reconect as a couple and forget about life for a while. That's why we bought into the DVC, for the savings. I really appreciate the advice that Vernon gave as well as Mickey's

There is enough cost associated with a vacation to have to pay for someone elses.

If I ever took our parents, which I plan too someday, I definately would NOT charge them. After all they gave us in our lives. However, in the case of siblings and definately friends, at this time in our lives, from all I've read it would be perfectly acceptable to ask for at least $6-8 a point especially if we had to go over our points for the year.

 

[tiggerguy2000]

Unless you have a 2bedroom or a grand villa then why would you try to crowd yourself.I have a family of five and the 1 bedroom is enough but add more to that room ,No way.The 2 bedroom with family is okay but friends from the block, Not good.You wan't to be comfortable when on vacation

 

[anniet]

Going down in 2005 with 4 other couples (family members) and have already agreed on $100 per night per couple, since any moderate hotel would cost them more than that! We'll need a GV and 2 studios in OKW. They expect to pay SOMETHING for a hotel room, and it cuts down on the awkwardness of them trying to take us to dinner, pay for our drinks or shows or whatever.

We all went in 2000 (pre-DVC) and stayed at Coronado Springs for $90, per night so they see OKW as an upgrade and for an increase of only $10 over a five year period, it's not a bad deal.

 

[akghutton]

We took my parents to BWV for one week in a 2-bedrrom villa. Because we were taking care of the accommodations, my parents bought our park tickets for my husband and me. We also split the cost of transportation to and from the airport and groceries with them. It was still a great deal for them and helped us with some of the additional expenses of a trip to Disney. Everthing worked out so well that we have invited them along on our next plannned trip in 2004.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by anniet
Going down in 2005 with 4 other couples (family members) , We'll need a GV and 2 studios in OKW.

Annie,

Did you check with Richyams if it is OK to use a GV?

 

[NancyDVC]

We have taken my sister, her 3 kids, and my folks twice. We told them we took care of accommodations. We split groceries. Everyone takes care of their own tickets and meals. (The first time we went as a family we still had free park passes.)
My sister treated us to a nice dinner the first time a "Disney" gift and the last time she treated all of us to the dinner package for the Candlelight Processional instead of a sit down Tahnksgiving. It worked out well for all of us.
This year I am trying to get my sister to get away for a week at HH. (She has a very tough new job-lots of pressure and hasn't had a vacation in some time.) We offered her the points for the stay and she has to take care of getting there and her expenses.
Great birthday gift I think.

 

[anniet]

Originally posted by ncligs
Annie,

Did you check with Richyams if it is OK to use a GV?

No, I figure he's just going to have to live with it!!!

 

[lizanne]

I think it depends on the situation.

We usually take friends or family and rent a Grand Villa. We like to stay about 10 nights and we don't have enough points if we use them for weekends.

What we do is pay for 1 weekend night and our guests pay for the other. No one has ever had a problem with this arrangement. Anyone familiar with Disney rates knows that they could never stay for 10 nights in such accomodations for the same amount.

On the other hand there have been times when we knew the people going with us could not afford to pay for the night and park tickets or the relationship was such that we really just wanted to treat the person (single sister - mom). We borrowed points and didn't ask them for anything. In one case we were given a nice gift, in another case they took us out to dinner one night before leaving Disney, but a simple "thank you" would have been enough.

 

[KellyDVC]

DVC is a great bargain, but unlike some other timeshares the use of the units is not fix. Some relatives do not quite understand this. I have in the past suggested a trip, explained how we may not get the larger unit, etc, so everyone should contact WDW and check room rates and locations. WOW, the responses you get, and then when we offer similar, or better, accomodations for such a lower price, everyone is thanking us profusely. If family thinks DVC is free, let 'em join, if they think its a great bargain let 'em pay.

Everything has always worked out well in the past - and it will in the future.

Good Luck!

Brian