Do you avoid telling some people about a DVC purchase?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

very few of them even really know what DVC is.

Even my in-laws who have an RCI contract had no clue what DVC is even when we said "Disney Vacation Club" they were like "huh?" though when I said "it's their timeshare thing" just to give some relation they were like "ahhh" but didn't really go any further than that. And they've been to multiple timeshare presentations (most of the time to get that "freebie" or low cost trip).

People who are really into Disney majority of the time overestimate the knowledge that the outside public have of Disney, especially a niche corner of it with DVC, or like you said care.

 

[Stargazer65]

If the topic of vacations come up we tell folks we are in DVC, and vacation there frequently. We don't talk about the financial details of our lives much. I don't really have friends or family that would be judgmental about finances.

 

[aceshigh73]

Fortunately nobody we know pries into our business, and very few of them even really know what DVC is. People know we go to Disney a lot and once in a while we might say something like “we joined DVC, it lets us stay in villas that have kitchens” and that’s usually the end of it. On this forum where we live and breathe points, contracts, expiration dates, direct and resale, 7 months and 11 months, and so on, it’s easy to forget just how little “normal” people know, or care, about all of this.

True, I barely knew anything 2 months ago, and we already own Marriott Vacation Club for many many years. DVC is a different animal alltogether. I tried explaining it to a family member that was interested. It takes a while to get everything if you really want to maximize your ownership.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I have only told 1 friend that I knew would be excited for us. And my parents. But I won't really tell others because people are so judgmental. As it is, people are judgmental about how often we got to the parks.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

The best is not mentioning Disney with acquaintances or coworkers...until they mention a small clue about them being into Disney and then you're like..."you Disney?" and they look at you and say "you Disney too!?" and then you share a special bond.

 

[crisi]

Why does anyone need to know? We only tell people when they need to know..... as in "we are going to Disney, would you like to go with us? We have a timeshare on property and can provide the room." Or if someone brings up what huge Disney fans THEY are. Otherwise, we tend to - and I know this is strange in the era of social media - keep the details of our vacations relatively private.

 

[bakerworld]

When you join though can have a big impact on that. I'm not saying you joined long ago but those who did got in at a way different price point even when adjusting for inflation. Plus Disney has diluted the DVC product over time making fewer and fewer perks.

I don't think you have to be wealthy to join DVC but it's not at the same price point in terms of accessibility as it was before. Resale can net you some good savings but you are also giving up all discounts and many perks due to that.

You are correct. Our largest contract was in '08 so our starting point price was much lower.

 

[MillauFr]

True, I barely knew anything 2 months ago, and we already own Marriott Vacation Club for many many years. DVC is a different animal alltogether. I tried explaining it to a family member that was interested. It takes a while to get everything if you really want to maximize your ownership.

How is Marriott Vacation Club that different from DVC? I was looking to go to Oahu and can't really figure out what Aulani costs way more than Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club?

 

[irlandaise]

Personally, this question sounds like someone needs approval of their peers to justify personal life chooses.

I didn't get that impression at all from @aceshigh73's posting. It sounded to me like a very logical decision of not wanting to get into a frustrating or irritating conversation with certain people. It's just like if you know that certain friends or family members don't approve of your political or religious viewpoints; you'd very possibly decide to steer clear of those topics around them.

As other posters on this thread have noted, there are indeed friends/co-workers/family members who will take any opportunity to opine about your spending choices. Best to avoid such interactions whenever possible.

 

[aceshigh73]

I didn't get that impression at all from @aceshigh73's posting. It sounded to me like a very logical decision of not wanting to get into a frustrating or irritating conversation with certain people. It's just like if you know that certain friends or family members don't approve of your political or religious viewpoints; you'd very possibly decide to steer clear of those topics around them.

As other posters on this thread have noted, there are indeed friends/co-workers/family members who will take any opportunity to opine about your spending choices. Best to avoid such interactions whenever possible.

Just to be transparent, I paid @irlandaise to say this...

 

[emchen]

ok, so different type of question...

Anyone have people they purposely NOT tell that you purchased DVC?

We have some family that are extremely cheap and judgemental on how others spend their money. (Good people otherwise, just not about $$).
We just avoid the conversation that we purchased DVC. Knowing it will end up being somewhat negative.

Others we tell the first few minutes after getting together.
We generally dont discusss amount of $$ involved, unless they were very interested in purchasing as well.

Anyone have similar (family) situations?


P.S. we are very good with $$, we do spend a lot, but we are planning on retiring early and have no real debt other than the house.
We pay our credit cards in full every month, our college funds for our 2 kids are mostly fully funded, we max our retirement savings (and do Roth 401k), 2 of our 3 cars are paid off, one is 11 years old) and have NEVER asked people for $$. Just to give you some perspective here.

Your question spoke to me @aceshigh73! If your birth-year is '73, that makes you just 2-years younger than me. I wonder if you are also of asian decent too based on how closely your experience tracks with mine.

I speed-read through this whole thread.

I am a first generation ABC (American Born Chinese) and can characterize my mom as extremely cheap and judgemental (as someone who struggled as an immigrant can sometimes be). I have told my big sister about DVC and have purposefully NOT told my mom. What's more, I told my sister to be circumspect around the subject of Disney when we are around my mom. She (my mom) invariably says, "Disney again?!" and has a way of bringing in how profligate we are in spoiling our three daughters. This, I believe, is the judgemental-ness of family (in particular Moms) that we don't care to engage in. Also, you and I are probably not brought up (whether asian or not) to tell our Moms (or any elder relative) to mind their own business!

I have since slowly eased her into the idea by first inviting her and dad to stay over when we booked a VGC 2-BR one memorial day weekend for our daughter's dance convention at DLH. She asked about the cost and I told her it was a "club" discount. We told them that the cruise we just went on, the 2023 DVC Member Cruise, was a "special" cruise exclusive to club members. So I get your question and also why you asked it. I'm glad you did because the answers from the community are all great and shows how each of us approach DVC vis a vis our relatives and friends. I'm most glad to find yet another person I am simpatico with here on Disboards!

 

[aceshigh73]

How is Marriott Vacation Club that different from DVC? I was looking to go to Oahu and can't really figure out what Aulani costs way more than Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club?

I just meant that with the pts, (granted our MVC week is enrolled in the pts program too) direct vs resale contracts, future restrictions, 2042 resorts, 11 and 7 month booking windows, All different UY's (our marriott has a UY, but its more calendar based). DVC is more involved.

 

[aceshigh73]

Your question spoke to me @aceshigh73! If your birth-year is '73, that makes you just 2-years younger than me. I wonder if you are also of asian decent too based on how closely your experience tracks with mine.

I speed-read through this whole thread.

I am a first generation ABC (American Born Chinese) and can characterize my mom as extremely cheap and judgemental (as someone who struggled as an immigrant can sometimes be). I have told my big sister about DVC and have purposefully NOT told my mom. What's more, I told my sister to be circumspect around the subject of Disney when we are around my mom. She (my mom) invariably says, "Disney again?!" and has a way of bringing in how profligate we are in spoiling our three daughters. This, I believe, is the judgemental-ness of family (in particular Moms) that we don't care to engage in. Also, you and I are probably not brought up (whether asian or not) to tell our Moms (or any elder relative) to mind their own business!

I have since slowly eased her into the idea by first inviting her and dad to stay over when we booked a VGC 2-BR one memorial day weekend for our daughter's dance convention at DLH. She asked about the cost and I told her it was a "club" discount. We told them that the cruise we just went on, the 2023 DVC Member Cruise, was a "special" cruise exclusive to club members. So I get your question and also why you asked it. I'm glad you did because the answers from the community are all great and shows how each of us approach DVC vis a vis our relatives and friends. I'm most glad to find yet another person I am simpatico with here on Disboards!

Yes, I turned 50 this spring! No, Im not Asian. Mostly of Italian descent (although goes back to 1900's), but have some mixing on one side. Italians are known to be Matriarchal, but i have no problems telling my mom to back way the heck up if she's acting to "Mother Hen". My parents know we bought into DVC (in a big way this summer), but dont know the cost. And they never will. The same way nobody will never know how much we spent on resale Taylor Swift tickets for our daughter this summer. People ask, and i just give the same answer "its too embarassing to discuss, next topic".

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

We straddle the line from being DVC geeks/Stans and being excited and wanting to get into the weeds of it all with some folks who we think might enjoy buying or renting points at some future visit and being a little embarrassed when we get the -- "You're going AGAIN? Didn't you just go X months ago?"

Our peer group for our kids are at the prime WDW 7-10 age range, and during Covid and afterwards, it DID seem like every single family we knew went to WDW since 2020. Now that led to them discovering how expensive and complicated all the moving parts are -- as well as "new" Chapek-era add-ons that made it a much less magical and much MORE pricy trip -- when it was already expensive.

So, take the Covid/revenge travel/trip-of-a-lifetime-we-may-all-die tomorrow folks from the past few years (thankfully, the hysteria has totally calmed down, but it was dicey back in spring of 2020 and winter of 2021,) but those families went and spent a LOT, so for them to see us going every six months for a week -- I think they think we're loaded.

Obviously, we're not -- both drive 10 year-old mommy vans here, LOL, but by default we've become the Disney experts for planning and such since we go often. Doing quick math in their heads, this family of four is going to WDW every six months and for us to do a similar trip at Pop or All Stars still cost $5-$7k, they're dropping how much every year to go?

To be fair, no one has been rude or anything, but once they go and get the sticker shock, then find out the cost to buy into DVC, it IS a large chunk of change.

 

[take36]

Disagree, but ok....

Its more about dealing with judgemental family.

Tell me about it. I make the least in my family and the only one to have DVC. We are all big Disney fans (most are bigger fans then me) but it can get awkward.

 

[irlandaise]

Just to be transparent, I paid @irlandaise to say this...

I'll be expecting the redemption details for those DVC points in my email right away...

 

[aceshigh73]

I'll be expecting the redemption details for those DVC points in my email right away...

DVC points? Thought it we agreed on a Dole Whip.... some ppl...

 

[TheDailyMoo]

"You're going AGAIN? Didn't you just go X months ago?"

We get this a lot! And we don't even go more often than just once a year. You either Disney or you don't. And I'm not talking about the "yeah we've been to Disney once it was ok" people. I don't consider those Disney people. So yeah most people don't know why anyone would go as often as us but there's just something comforting and "magical" that we feel that others don't I guess?

 

[tom1944]

Why would people care what I bought. I don’t ask them to pay for it.

Some people go on a cruise every year. Some people buy boats. I have a friend that has about 100 watches.

Good for whatever they enjoy.

 

[Halle]

Yuup!
2 people I avoid telling:
DW and my Financial Planner

We purchased in 93 and I was terrified to tell our accountant. To my surprise he thought it was fantastic based on how DVC works. He bought and sold multiple contracts.