Do you regret telling friends/relatives you own a timeshare cuz they want in ?

[aclov]

I was reading the thread "Embarrassed to tell friends/relatives that you own a timeshare....." and I was thinking - gosh I wish none of mine knew I had DVC. Not because of embarrassment but because everyone wants to use it! I'm not talking about inviting friends and family which we have done in the past but suddenly I've been hit with requests for FREE accomodations. My SIL recently asked if we were planning to use it this year because she and her friend want to visit WDW again. DH's nephew asked if we were planning on going they would come with us, if not can him and his girlfriend use it To both I said "Nope, we're either using it or renting it out." Than my best friend asked if she can RENT it to stay at BWV with her nieces and mom in the summer. Well, when I gave her the price (using $10 pp and a small discount), she replied that she didn't think it would be that much because I own it and I should charge her less! What?! Umm, I still have dues to pay - hello?? So I send her to the WDW website to price out a room there and she comes back and says "Ok, I guess it would be cheaper to get it from you." Than another friend mentioned about us going with her three kids and taking her mom. Gosh, why would I want to go on vacation with her mom, when I barely go with my relatives. Now, my parents have commented about going down.....ugh! I told my mom that if they pay for my flight than I'll take care of the room.

Does anyone else deal with this??? My response like I said earlier is "I'm using it or renting it out". These are MY points and MY DVC -

 

[TammyAlphabet]

LOl! That is why NONE of my relatives know that we own DVC.

 

[Juliet25]

Yes, one of my friends recently asked to use them. I felt bad to say no, but we use all our points every year. Not only that, but our purchase was financed, so we'd basically be paying them to take our vacation for us!

 

[Granny]

I have to say that several people know that I own DVC, and no one has ever come up and asked me if they could just use it!

I also know a lot of people with timeshares and I would never dream of asking them if I could use their timeshare. It never would occur to me.

Good luck to those with this issue. I think if someone just invited themselves, or just asked if they could use our "timeshare", I'd be too flabbergasted to respond!

On the other hand, we look forward to inviting people to come join us, and have no intention of asking for reimbursement.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I think a lot of how people react is how a DVC owner has presented information to them. Most people who know I am going to WDW (and that's not too many, most just know Florida is my destination) think I'm staying at a hotel someplace. Of the people who know I am at WDW, even fewer know I am staying in a timeshare. Not because I'm embarrassed to tell them but because I'm a private person.

So the moral of my story is to tell people as little as necessary. I guess that's why I have never responded to the many posts over the years titled how many points do you own?

And when in doubt, listen to Granny.

HBC

 

[lisaviolet]

No, I haven't experienced that at all. I can totally see how that would be frustrating though.

I haven't had it at all. Everyone close to me (f and f) know I own as well.

And quite frankly, sharing my points for free, and we don't own a huge contract, has been one of the best part of the DVC for me. Brought tremendous joy to us.

But if I did have what you have experienced I could easily see how it might make me feel different than the above comments.

 

[Lenc324]

I know there are a few people that would like to use my points but I want to use them and not give them away. I did invite my brother and his wife to join us at VB in a 2bdrm for a family trip, but I'm not giving my points to friends.

 

[Slakk]

Somehow my parents have become permanent guests during our yearly January pilgramage...

We have thwarted then this year by adding a June trip...the Florida humidity scares them off

 

[Boardwalker]

I bet you all wish you had my relatives. Most of them want to compensate me when I take care of the accomodations. My DS always gets my park ticket if needed, and every day I end up with some little present like a teeshirt or a pen, just as a thank you. It is really nice.
And when I go with my cousins, they always say that we don't have to use my points. Sometimes I have a hard time getting them to agree to it. I usually just tell them, look, I'm staying at the Boardwalk, you go stay where you want if you don't want to stay with me. Then they give up.
On the other hand I do have one relative that sort of expects me to provide accomodations every time she goes. I am weining her off gradually. I wasn't going to use too many points on her this year, so I told her there was no more one bedrooms available for that time and they would have to make do in a studio. She was so upset to loose the jacuzzi. Next year, surprisingly, the studios will be all booked up too! She will be devastated, no doubt.

 

[eliza61]

I have to say that several people know that I own DVC, and no one has ever come up and asked me if they could just use it!

I also know a lot of people with timeshares and I would never dream of asking them if I could use their timeshare. It never would occur to me.

Good luck to those with this issue. I think if someone just invited themselves, or just asked if they could use our "timeshare", I'd be too flabbergasted to respond!

On the other hand, we look forward to inviting people to come join us, and have no intention of asking for reimbursement.

God bless you Granny, I'm sending you some of my relatives, feel free to keep them...

Case in point...

Next year is my parents 50th wedding anniversary. My siblings and I (4 all together) decided to send them to Europe for 2 weeks and split the cost. EVERYONE AGREED. My mom requested that we split the trip, she would like to go to Europe with just her and dad for a week and then go to WDW for a week so she can spend time with her grandchildren (Did I mention I have the greatest mom in the world)

My darling sister now feels she should not have to pay for the WDW trip since I have a time share that as she puts it " I can get for free" . How is it that my sister+WDW can reduce a normal (some what), intelligent, rational 48 year old women into a 5 year old Mk meltdown queen.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Wow...the nerve of your friends and family! I know lots of folks with timeshares all over and would never ever think of asking to use it! (And this was long before I owned DVC!)

 

[dis-happy]

It's the same when you have a beach house--requests all the time.

The one that takes the cake: one person that I never even see or hear from a year at a time, but every spring I get an e-mail asking if she (and her family of 6 and a few friends) can visit. But at least she brings groceries. Don't get me started.

 

[DVC Jen]

We have only had this happen to us once. My DHs sister asked to use it (because how often can we really want to go to WDW?). We simply told her no - we were NOT going to just give it to her but if she wanted to rent points from us then we would let her know how much we wanted for them (with the thought that we would pay cash for another deluxe we wanted to try with that $).

It might sound nasty to some of you - but they make over 200K a year and go to Europe at least once a year - and they wanted us to just GIVE them our points?

I don't think so.

 

[Inkmahm]

When we told my brother and his family about buying the points last year, all we heard was "when are we going to get to go with you to Disney?" I said when my brother wanted to rent the points from me. (Before owning DVC I have taken all of them to Disney at least once on my dime.)

When we told my sister, she and my niece said nothing of the sort. So, last December we took my sister and niece with us to Boardwalk.

My DH's family never asked about using the points, either. We're taking all of them to Disney with us in December this year. We'll even likely pay for a lot of the food and special events for the Grand Gathering options because we want them all to have a good time and I know they all can't afford some of the nicer things available at Disney.

I like taking people that appreciate that they are being offered a free trip, not the ones who expect it from me.