Do family members

[MAC3]

ask to join you on vacation?

I ask because everyone that we have brought with us so far we have asked to join us. However, my brother & his family keep saying" The next time you guys go we want to go with you" I take this as We want to stay in your condo.

Has anyone else had family members politely suggest to join them?

Lisa

 

[dianeschlicht]

No family members, but we do have one set of friends who keeps suggestion this. Unfortunately, it is someone we have tried to travel with before, and we know it doesn't work!

 

[crisi]

Of course, especially when it becomes known that you take guests (and if it becomes known that you've "treated" guests), friends and relatives with an interest in going express their interest. And you can't blame them, in their shoes I'd hate to get left out because other people spoke up and my relatives or friends always assumed I wasn't interested.

The trick is to keep control over your vacations - so you aren't guilted into traveling with people you won't enjoy traveling with, or promising a trip to someone when someone else really should be first on the list. i.e. when someone says "next time you go down we want to go with you" you need to either say "yep, next time will be Jan 2004 - why don't you guys buy plane tickets and come along. We'll take care of the room if you handle the rental cars" or "oh, sorry, we already have plans for next time, why don't we figure out what year we both have available" or "oh, gee, so sorry, we have our trips all planned out and we don't have enough points to be able to treat you guys, we'd be happy to give you all sorts of advice on the best place to stay and things you should do if you go down though."

 

[dianeschlicht]

We always invite family and friends to come along for free, but one of our family members constantly refuses. She thinks WDW is too expensive even if she does't have to pay for accommodations!

 

[jx3smom]

Yep, and so far we only took MIL once and that was enough. SIL actually asked if she could rent our pts for a week at BWV over Christmas and she's be willing to give us $500.00. I about choked. That would be about 1 night! Of course DH said no.

Our DS's have been hinting about their girlfriends going but I am not ready for that yet, either.

 

[MAC3]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
No family members, but we do have one set of friends who keeps suggestion this. Unfortunately, it is someone we have tried to travel with before, and we know it doesn't work!

My condolenses. There is one group that I won't ever go to Disney with either. Learned from experience.

I just find it funny because I did exactly as crisi said.... I told my Brother et al that they could join us in 2006 (we are trying for a cruise in 2005) but in the same breath he'd better not think that Disney will be cheap because the place is taken care of. After all they are a family of 4. I told him to start saving now. He'd have to open his wallet to have a good time.

With others we have brought we've stayed for 2 weeks,sad but I don't think I could take vacationing with their family for more than a week.

 

[arminnie]

Here's my approach:

1) Do Iwant to share a vacation with these people under any circumstances? If no - conversation ended.

2) Assuming that I have already asked those who I want to treat (and these folks did not make the cut) then I would just say the following:

That would be great - we're staying at xyz resort. You can see about renting some points to stay there (ours are booked) or just stay where you want and we will meet up at the parks.

I have a trip booked (not at WDW) and a friend expressed interest in going. I said sure and told her where I was staying. We knew we could not share a room as she smokes and I have asthma. She booked her accomodations and I'm looking forward to a great trip.

I've had people tell me that they prefer their own room when we are traveling together. I would have no problem saying that we are renting at xyz and just have room for our family or that we want some down time or privacy or whatever.

Think of it this way - if it was not DVC and someone wanted to come vacation with you would you feel obligated to reserve a second room for them and pay for it? I'm assuming that you are only renting a DVC unit that fits your family anyway not a GV for 2 people. If you rent what fits your family, you really don't have extra space for others.

Some of these people really might not be looking for a free ride - they might just honestly want to share some fun time with you. For the ones that are looking for a free ride - that's their problem not yours.

 

[pumpkinboy]

inviting myself to a friend's vacation home! But maybe I am easily shocked? I have some nervy relatives too, but the extent of their impositions would be asking for a ride to the airport so they could save the $20 cab fare (they are all able bodied and live just 15 miles from BOS - we said no, and didn't feel bad about it at all). They would never have the nerve (or should I say: unmitigated gall) to invite the whole family to come on vacation with us.

We are in the process of planning for Feb 2005 and are deciding whom to bring along. And we're not going to have them for the whole time either, just the first weekend (doing the 1 BR plus studio route and hopng for a lockoff combo). Both candidates are extremely considerate ppl and one of them has been very generous with our children (the other is my Bro & SIL, who have more limited means, but are generous to our kids with their time and attention). I can imagine it would be fun for my kids to have friends their own age to play with and share the experience, and sharing vacation might be a good way to link up with friends who happen to live a long distance from us (I can think of a cousin in Germany, for example). But above all, it is up to us to invite them.

I think Minnie the Arkansan is right on with her analysis, tho:

Think of it this way - if it was not DVC and someone wanted to come vacation with you would you feel obligated to reserve a second room for them and pay for it?

oh, and Minnie, have fun next week at WDW. If you see a family of four, three of them redheaded, one a cute 6 yr old (as of Oct16!) boy in a wheelchair, that'll be us.

 

[Poorman]

Nobody in our family asks to go with us.

That said I just invited my 2 SIL and their families to go with us next September and to my surprise they said yes.

Now I have to book 3 studios and 1 2 BR at BWV to accomadate all that are coming.

I know it will be a great time and we are looking forward to it.

 

[Dean]

We usually do a family trip about every other year. We rotate who we ask trying to be fair to ourselves and others. This past summer, we had enough room to invite everyone for a week at the Beach on HH and everyone went. If anyone ever invited themselves along, they'd be off the invite list permanently.

One thing people must guard against is others in the family assuming DVC (or othe timeshares) don't cost you anything. Many look at it like a free vacation to you so why shouldn't it be free to them. Most every family has the one letch that expects you to give them free lodging, pay their way, etc. Some even go so far as to invite othes to go with you without your knowledge or blessing. It's best to set the ground rules early and be firm.

 

[disneychick05]

We will be going home for the first time in Oct. 2004 for DS's 3rd b-day. My father is retired and will be flying down to stay with us for a few days. My mom won't fly and is a teacher so she will not be coming. I can't wait to share our first DVC trip with my dad. He is the one who got me hooked on all things Disney and this trip is going to mean a lot to both of us. The dillema is that my in-laws have lots of time and money on their hands and my MIL sort of said something about them coming down and "getting their own place." The thing is that I want this first trip to be something that myself, DH & DS enjoy ourselves. MIL & FIL fall into the category of those who "just don't get it" when it comes to DVC & WDW in general. I would love to treat them to a future trip but in the meantime I have to figure out how to deal with this issue if they bring it up again. In my opinion you should bring who you want, when you want as long as it makes you happy. I wonder if bringing guests will make me feel obligated to them during the trip. Overall, do what you feel is appropriate...after all it's your DVC and you should enjoy it!

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by disneychick05
. MIL & FIL fall into the category of those who "just don't get it" when it comes to DVC & WDW in general. I would love to treat them to a future trip but in the meantime I have to figure out how to deal with this issue if they bring it up again.

I would think about when your next trip will be and suggest that trip time to them...a special time for just them to have their grandson all to themselves

Good luck
Sandy

 

[MAC3]

disneychick05,

I was telling DH the other day that I'm dying to take a Disney Vacation without newbies in tow.. Believe me I love sharing the DVC experience with others that won't otherwise experience it.
It's even better if the "GET IT". You should tell your MIL that you want to share this experience with you Dad and they will be next.

I do feel obligated to show people around when they are with us. Especially someone like my brother who has never been before but I want him to experience it. My problem is that we usually take 2 weeks at Disney and I know I can't take vacationing with them for that length of time.

Thus far he has been the only person to suggest to us that the next time we went he wanted to come with us. I have 3 other brothers 2 of which I would NEVER ask.

Dean,

My DB is the type of person that thinks by having the room secured that it will be a cheap vacation. That's why I told him he's going to have to open his wallet wide. Giving him numbers like it's going to cost you 1,200.00 just to get in the park with a family of 4. I think many think Hey it's paid for!!!!

Have a Disney Day Everyone!
Lisa

 

[TwirlerGirl]

We've owned since 1997 and invited guest to join us twice. When we purchased, we where careful to tell everyone from the start that joining us or gifts of time were by invitation only, so don't ask. We earn the $$$, we decide on how to spend it.

The first time we took guests was in 2000 I invited my sister & DBIL to join us for the Thanksgiving Holiday at WDW. We had vacationed together before and knew the problems of one family being early risers/ quick to get ready (us) and the other being high maintainence, need about 1 hr+ just to dress (sis). We were going to treat them to the room when sis asked if she could bring her DGD and her DD (they live in another state). She volunteered to pay the difference in cash for the room size change. We had already reserved a 2 br so an invitation was extended to all. Sis insisted on giving us something towards our stay of 5 nights. I made all arrangements, air tixs, rental car, towncar for her DD & DGD, Special event tixs, PS, grocery list, discounts on Park tickets ...
We agreed on $300 for the room, plus half of the car rental & groceries. Iit was a great trip. I just wish sis who got up at 7:30 AM could have gotten herself out of the room before 9 AM and that's without breakfast for her. I know we could have left without them but chose not to. Sis is in the beauty industry and wouldn't think of venturing out unless she's picture perfect.
Moral : You can enjoy your guests' company if you know their vacationing faults and are willing to deal with them after all it is their vacation too.

The last time we took guests was 2002. We took my DS and family. The whole vacation was geared on the grandchildren. A new day has come. We gifted the DGkids with the Mouse and we were their servants for the week. Truely a gift from the heart and the best thing about DVC. DS paid for his families tixs, food and transportation. We even watched the kids while DS and DDIL went out a couple of evenings. DS is still thanking us and has hinted that they would enjoy a trip with us again when invited.

This year we gifted youngest DS with a week for his honeymoon at HH (his choice, Not WDW???). This is why I love my DVC. Gifts of love, creating joyful memories, how much better can it get?

Sandy