Do your friends/family assume you got to be a DVC member for FREE?!?

[southtown]

When we bought into DVC we planned a vacation with some Disney friends of ours. I mentioned to them the difference in a 1br and a 2br was 8 pts/night. I told them the going rate for if they rented points from someone was $10/pt. making there share $80/night. They were more then happy to pay because I dont think they thought they were going for free when they knew we just spend $12,000 for DVC. Once they walked into the room they said how much they loved it and they are planning on buying into DVC (which I cant wait for because we made a deal that we wont charge each other so we will get two vacations for the points of one) and the money they gave us was well worth it to stay in the 2br with us. I mean think about it,even the studio side they stayed in is WAY better then any value and thats basically what they paid,value price for a deluxe room. Plus the use of a kitchen,and SAB,and the wonderful location of the BCV.
We all thought it was a good and fair deal for everyone involved.

 

[DisneyMim]

WOW!! We must be very lucky because we've been members since DVC started and never had this problem. All our relatives and friends have timeshares/and/or second (third!) houses of their own. They all understand the concept and would never think to ask us to come for free. On the other hand we would never either. IMHO if someone is rude enough to ask then you might have to be rude right back and explain the situation to them. Maybe some people don't understand the timeshare thing. I've always told people it's like a hotel. I like Ms. Dis's answer. Sometimes the less you say the better.

 

[jazznms]

Originally posted by Mic
...can't pick 'em, can't kill 'em!

Darn plan A and Plan B down the tubes anyone got a plan C?

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by snoopyandpooh
Even if DVC is free

That's the thing - it's not!!! We all paid a lot of money for our DVC memberships & continue to pay maintenance dues each year to enjoy it.

Free is a total misconception. To even say our accommodations are free every time we go is wrong - like I said, we are all paying maintenance dues every year.

Obviously, we've all run into others that assume it's free!

 

[Pig Pen]

I provided my family with 9 nights in a 2 bedroom...and they LOVED it. So now it's always "when are WE going back to Disney?"

I say "uh, I'M going in January, I don't know when YOU are going!"

That seems to work.

 

[fkj2]

Originally posted by Mic ...can't pick 'em, can't kill 'em!

But it's a thought, isn't it?

Years ago, my mom and I (pretty much) treated the sibling and then SIL and their two kids to vacations at WDW. I bought into DVC and then two subsequent family trips followed with the sibling (then a single dad with the two kids). Ultimately, sibling didn't really like WDW (not enough coasters back in '93) so then it was down to the two kids.

Since they've grown up (17 and 20 now) and my mom's infirmed, they don't seem to have time for us either.

I am not anticipating any future family vacations. So, although Mic is right about can't pick 'em, can't kill 'em! . . . I figure I don't have to keep 'em either. If/when they want to return to WDW, let them find their own way

 

[InstImpres]

We are passed the FREE concept with immediate family as I have explained my "mortgage". But I got a new one today. We have a family trip next year...me, DD, my sister, husband, 2 year old, 3 month old, mom and dad; possible brother and son

I have 2 2bedrooms reserved if everyone comes. Brother is noncomittal. If my brother backs out we are going to a studio and 2 bedroom. My Sister told me today, I should take the studio as it is too small for her, she'll share with my parents (instead of me) so they can enjoy the added space of the living room after the kids go to bed.

Good to know my accommodations are inferior. I think she knew my blood was boiling over the phone. I explained that a studio is larger than a hotel room and she should be find.

I guess I should have her vacation with Richayms instead of me

 

[stc1223]

I bought into the DVC in 2000 just after my husband passed away. My sons then were 11 & 15. On our first trip, as members, we decided to bring the in-laws, we were a group of 10 in a 2 br. My sons and I slept in the living room on a blow up mattress and the sofa. It was fine but we'll leave mother-in-law and aunt home next time. As a thank you, they all chipped in on a snow globe, no one offered to buy a dinner or soda for us throughout the entire week and yes, they were all shocked when I told them how much the room would have cost if we didn't have the DVC membership.

The next trip I took a cousin from Washington State and her two pre-teen sons and my sons brought friends. My sons and their friends stayed in the studio and my cousin and her kids took the master bedroom, I slept on the couch. That was a good trip but the cousin isn't the same sort of mom as I am and they got on our nerves after a while. She, however, was very generous when I told her how much they owed me for their meals, she doubled the check.

The next trip was just us in a studio and then a fellow widow came along. She was a great companion for all of us and her "thank you" was the best. 5th row seats for a Nets (my favorite team) vs. Magic (my son's favorite team) game. We had such a great time and we even sat right behind Kerry Kittles' parents.

As soon as we got the DVC, most family members asked for an invite. We've invited some but after making reservations they backed out. We're going in a few weeks, we've got a 2 br at the Boardwalk for just the three of us. Luckily my friend is free and she's going to join us again. It'll be nice to have the extra space but we're not going next year at all because we're using up so many points for rhis trip. Also this will be the first time I get to sleep in the king size bed. I can't wait.

Some guests are going to be great, some will be annoying but who cares, you're in Disney World....
Susan

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Malden.... very funny!! former Revere St, Malden person here!

 

[DVC-Don]

We had a trip a couple of years ago where my sister was invited to join us after a day or so. Well she showed up with a cousin and his wife w/o any notice. I was boiling and handed them the phone to book their own room which cousin and wife did. They wound up with a studio for cash on the other side of OKW which suited me fine. None of these folks will be invited again.

 

[crisi]

Can't pick em, can't kill em, but some of you guys sound like you need to disown them!

On the plus side, we took my MIL down. I think she was somewhat reluctant - Disney had no appeal to her other than a chance to spend time with her son and grandkids (and me, I suppose, I think she does like me). To keep her company we took her sister (my MIL wasn't going to keep up with my preschoolers for a week - and my preschoolers weren't going to slow down - her sister made it possible for us to seperate without guilt and still have a great time.)

They were great guests! Settled comfortably into their studio in our two bedroom without a word of complaint and lots of compliments. Enjoyed the parks and were enthusastic - even when we dragged them around too long and too fast in the heat. Bought us some small gifts (which is all we wanted). My aunt in law wrote us such a nice thank you note, it made me want to invite her again just to get another one.

We did play the strange balancing act you do when you give someone something sort of extravagent. We had to both acknoweldge it was expensive and not something they should expect from others (we are so fortunate to be able to do this. We know how lucky we are that this is affordable to us. But we couldn't possibly afford to do this often). And simultanously play down how much it really costs (yes, the room rents for $500 a night if you just call, but it is nothing near that after you've made the initial investment. Yes, the initial cost was kind of steep, we had some unexpected income the year we bought). It almost becomes easy, remembering these conversations, to understand why someone with selective hearing would come away with "crisi gets rooms at Disney really cheap and can afford to give them away." Fortunately, I think our guests didn't practice selective hearing.

 

[cman]

I haven't read all the posts to this thread so this may be a repeat but.....

We (family of 4) took our first trip with DVC to OKW in 2001. I took the opportunity since this was our first trip to lay the law down. I got two 2-bedroom units and invited 10 other people (4 diferent families) to go with us for 10 nights.

They were all related to us in some way (this can be good or bad). My parents, my in-laws, my sister-in-law and her family and her in-laws. We asked each familty to give us $1000 for the 10 nights since we figured they would spend more than that for a motel room somewhere else. With the $4000 we covered our airline tickets, park tickets and food.

It was the BEST vacation we ever had. A feeling that was share by the other 4 families. Not once did I get any negative vibes from anyone who came. In fact my Mom and Dad were overcome with emotion when we walked into the OWK unit that first night. The told us that the whole experience was something they would never have had if it weren't for us being DVC members.

This was just 3 weeks after 9/11 and even though everyone was a bit nervous to travel being there together was really a special time.

So..... I just book 8 nights at BWV for this coming February. All the same people were invited. When I called to invite them they didn't even let me get the words out of my mouth before they said yes. And even better, they all offered to give us more than last time to make sure that our trip was "free".

I am really sorry for many of the people who haven't experienced what we have with the DVC membership.

Not trying to rub it in......just wanted to share a nice story.

 

[wtpclc]

cman - I think we'd all agree that's the way it should be. Glad to hear it's worked so well for you!

 

[RuthnPaul]

Your approach seems to have been a win-win situation for everyone involved! When you talk about covering food, are you referring to groceries used to cook or did you pay for certain meals in the parks, restaurants, etc.?

Thanks!

 

[SimbaCub]

cman, I like your idea!! IF I decide to invite anybody else on future trips or if I am "forced" to bring along people, I will do something along your lines. What a great idea!! And I am so glad to hear your trip worked out well too.

SimbaCub
VWL/SSR Nov/Dec 2004

 

[fkj2]

I am really sorry for many of the people who haven't experienced what we have with the DVC membership.

You need not feel/worry that "you're rubbing it in."

I'm glad for your experience with your family and believe that that's what DVC had in mind with the Family and Friends concept. Certainly that's what I had in mind (at least one of the considerations) when I bought into DVC.

At least I can share it with all of you.

 

[cman]

Thanks.

What I menat by "covering our food" was that it paid for all the meals that my family ate in the parks.

Everyone split the food that was stocked in the condos.

We did, however, treat everyone to two nice dinners during our stay. One of them was the Cape May Clam Bake. Seeing that we are all from New England we thought that would be a good one. We did this to thank everyone for understanding the situation and making it such an enjoyable vacation.

 

[RuthnPaul]

Thanks, cman -- you've certainly give us some "food for thought" (no pun intended)!

 

[spiceycat]

relatives, friends and co-workers will take advantage - so will strangers.....

If I have any points that I don't use I now rent them (I know this will make some people mad) - but I got try of co-workers (who I had send in the past for free) ask when they got to go again - family even worst.

I send my cousin and his wife (both of each have good jobs) to DVC twice - once in a studio - the other time I offered them a 1-bedroom but she invited so many guests that I ended up getting them a 2-bedroom.

they did not offer anything in return to me.

then not long ago - they gave my brother some furniture than send him a bill for $6,000.

they want to know why they haven't been back......not with that attitude -

I will still send my brother and his family (okay I am crazy) they take advantage all the time - but without my DVC he couldn't afford to take vacations and I think everyone feels a vacation....

Last year he wanted me to pay for his wife and children to go PCB and then he wanted a WDW trip too - NO

this year I have already paid for a Penscola trip and a Kissimee trip (not WDW - this is baseball) - and they are still going with me to WDW for thanksgiving - they are staying in the Sheraton Vistana, I am staying at BWV - at least I have learned not to stay with them.....

Okay I am a sucker......

I am taking my niece next month.

 

[colleen costello]

We have NOT let mother-in-law know about DVC. We live far from her but she would definitely assume we could take her plus hubby's brother and his creepy family, every visit. Hubby and I have discussed the fact that WE could make it possible for them to "do Disney" and have unfortunately realized the risk is too great. Our kindness would be repaid with us being terrorized for years to come... So we have kept mum. We actually don't even let her know we are traveling, because she has said "Oh, I would have come with you..." Yes, that's WHY we don't let you know we are traveling!

With my parents it is different. We do our main DVC visit together in the Spring and splurge on a 2-bedroom and have a ball. It is special time for the kids to be with Grammy and Lala. Special memories are made. My daughter never quits talking about "Grammy getting knocked over in the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon!" I have BEGGED my sister to join us but she won't. She says it is too far (she lives in Alaska) and too hot and "too much kids stuff." Fine. But my Mom has hinted a few times about giving my sister points to exchange "for something else" and I have gone ballistic! We get a 2 bedroom which sleeps 8 and we are only 6. Every time we go we ask her to join us. If she turns us down that is HER decision -- but I will not give away even ONE of those precious points so she can go elsewhere without us!