DVC... Good time for families to bond or spoilage?

[nunzia]

The word spoiled implies not appreciative. I don't have a substitute though.

Fortunate? Blessed?

I don't see it as spoiled. My kids knew we struggled and were appreciative for our vacations (which we could barely afford, and sometimes couldn't but did anyway and no regrets) Now with the grandkids, we will pay for one trip for them to DLR, (or so ) after that their parents need to come up with the expenses and we'll come up with the room (why we bought DVC). I don't think they are spoiled, I think they just love the time and the trips and don't really understand what it all means. I think and hope they will look back, as my kids have done, and realize they were lucky and feel glad they had the chances at the experiences. My oldest son, to this day, credits our WDW trip and a special all day class with animators on cementing his carrer choice as an artist and that is indeed what he does for a living. I just think it's important for kids in their daily lives to learn graciousness for what they have, and understand that hard work and savings is how you get to to do special things..

 

[eporter66]

Bonding at this point, the trips have been fantastic and it is why we bought into DVC and want to continue going to WDW. Of course, there is some spoilage just by the fact that I went once as a child at age 12, and I know how hard it was for my parents to save the money to go, and we drove from NY where we have always flown. So I get that having made so many trips is out of the norm for most people, but I do my best to let my daughter know how lucky she is, but at 6 I doubt that sinks in all that much.

Our DD is 6, and has been going to WDW (going on her 6th visit in Oct) with us since 2006, and is quite the traveler now. She has a number of visits under her belt and does not seem spoiled by them in the least. She is still very excited to go and asks often about when the next Disney Trip will be. At the same time, she still gets excited about the basic things we do for vacation. This past week we have been on vacation and I took her fishing, kayaking, and we also went to a local rodeo show, and local amusement park. She enjoyed all of them, so I find our vacations as positive family time and a great bond. She is never demanding (at least at this age) and is still just in that mindset of enjoying everything. I obviously cannot speak to how that will change as she gets older. She does not whine or cry while we are there, never complains so hopefully that will continue and she appreciates that this is a pretty special thing we are able to do.

The only issue that stuck in my head was with the recent economic times. I always wonder if I were to have lost my job, and either remained unemployed for an extended period, or was not able to find as good a job as I have now - how would I feel if I could not provide this type of vacation for my family. I just feel lucky we have been able to be DVC members and have such great memories for our family.

 

[Chuck S]

I think it is a little of both, as well. And really, some friends of mine that have young kids, want to take a mix of both nice vacations, and old fashioned car trips...you know, where you stay in a motel and see the local sights like the biggest ball of string. And no DVC player or electronic games while traveling in the car for them, one where they look for license plates or see the natural beauty of our land.

And I kind of agree with them, it is good to have a mix of experiences.

 

[Crystal_27]

I don't think that children even evaluate how "nice" rooms are or that they are staying in Deluxe accommodations versus Value (my DD's concern is that there is a pool - LOL). My hope is that she appreciates just being on vacation with us and spending time as a family, and we are definitely fortunate that we are able to own DVC and take such great vacations with her.

 

[javamom]

It's both. Yearly trips to Disney is a luxury. They know it's coming. but I make them earn their souvenir money, so that they have something to work for and expect. For instance, my son is saving for to buy one of those build-your-own RC cars at DTD, and my daughter is saving for a My Disney Girl Doll and outfit.

Since she will turn 12 this trip, she picked going to Tea at the GF with Mom as a fun event. I also booked a Wishes Dessert Party for the night of her Birthday. Spoiled? Yes. Appreciative and memorable? Yes.

 

[npshinn1]

I am definitely in the both camp - we spend alot of time away from the park just enjoying life. DVC has been helpful here too - the community rooms, family/home atmosphere (including laundry and cleaning chores!) keeps the spoil scale down.

 

[nickspace]

I guess it all depends on the person. What concerns me is if they start expecting everything instead of appreciating everything and that depends on the heart of the person. Whether they are a giver or a taker is so important. I pray that my kids will always be givers. That is my prayer.

 

[jarestel]

I guess I wouldn't classify the experience as anything more esoteric than simply having fun together. That's why we go and that's what we get out of it. Families that don't choose to do the DVC thing, in all likelihood, find their fun in different ways.

 

[jblrn2b]

The "spoiled kids" I know are given things without time spent together.

DVC is just one way we spend time together. We travel in the summer to lacrosse tournaments, we go to Cape Cod with multiple families where we fish and sit on the beach and don't go out to dinner much, we eat dinner together during the year, we help with homework, etc. etc. I am hoping by spending all this time together in many different ways they will understand they importance of family.

 

[sadiespicks]

Great question - I agree "both" is the answer for our family. While DVC promotes such great family bonding and memories they are taken aback when presented with a "regular hotel room" on other trips.

I'll go w/ both. They know they have a nice thing going, but we recently did NYC in a "regular hotel room" and were asked "where is our room" and "where is the other bathroom?"

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I remember lots of family trips and they were never to Disney because it was just too expensive. I think children love their family automatically, now as they get older personality and hormones change...but in a healthy family, children are happy.

Now I will tell you how I learned the value of a dollar from my Daddy (now 72, I am 41). when I was about 11 or 12 he would let me balance the family check book. I knew exactly how much he made and how much the bills were. As I reconciled how much things cost with how much he made I could see why we could not do some of the things I wanted. My Mother had her own system of putting cash in envelopes. I did the check book for about 2 years I imagine. I also loved to go grocery shopping with them and we would have to stick to a list. They both were good at managing money and very little if any of it was wasted.

As soon as by brother was old enough to mow grass my Dad helped him get some yards. He bought a Sunfish sailboat with his own money at the end of that Summer which turned into and life long love of sailing. His next boat a few Summers later was a 14 foot Hobie cat. I on the other hand did not like to get sweaty and as the daughter would babysit for local folks, pretty regularly. In 1985, my Summer before Senior year, my Mom paid for a 30 day tour of Europe for me. SHe wanted me to have the opportunity. I think it was $1400 for the whole trip. We did nine countries and it was my responsibility to earn my spending money....I saved $700 all year, came back with about $15.

Jay, my brother and I knew college was the goal and my father saved every week. At 18 I went to the local Jr. College and then on to a Sr. College. My money was about $14000. Jay had a little more because he was younger. We just knew how much they saved and how important it was for us to have a perfect middle class life. But we had expectations to work and do our part, too. Once in high school, Daddy got me a little car but I would babysit to help with insurance and gas. I can remember putting 2-5$ worth of gas in that car as I went.

Today Jay is a very successful Nurse Practicioner with a Medical Degree (long story) and 5 kids with his wife Michelle (also a nurse). I am a RN also with a wound care specialty certification, married to a cute Fireman. We both still live close to home which I think I knew we always would.

As part of my gift to my parents through my adult years I have enjoyed taking them out to eat or just taking Mom to buy a purse, etc. Now that we have DVC, they will go on a trip with us next year, have a SV studio at AKV, of course as a gift on our points. DH's Mom is going this year. It is just a perk of being my Mom and Dad. They are just great people and I was a very fortunate little girl.

I'm also 41, and my folks were a lot like yours.

If only others were so fortunate!

 

[nickspace]

I am 44 and I wish I could bring my parents but it would be too much for mom to take physically. Time together is so much more important then things so we should really cherish the time we have together on vacations while we can.

 

[edk35]

I don't think that children even evaluate how "nice" rooms are or that they are staying in Deluxe accommodations versus Value (my DD's concern is that there is a pool - LOL). My hope is that she appreciates just being on vacation with us and spending time as a family, and we are definitely fortunate that we are able to own DVC and take such great vacations with her.

Our kids must be spoiled rotten and snobs then. They do know the difference in deluxe/dvc accomodations. When we stayed at SSR for a week and couldn't get our last night at SSR..it was Thanksgiving night 2009...we stayed at the ASMU in a family suite. At that time .our dd had turned 18 in Oct. ds 15 in Oct. and our youngest was turning 10 in Dec. .....THEY DIDN'T LIKE ASMU AT ALL. We have never stayed in a Value...mainly deluxe so it was a shocker to all of us after being at SSR in a 2br. Are they spoiled and snobs in their everyday lives NOT in the least... so if we spoil ourselves with DVC I think it is okay. We bought into DVC to BE SPOILED rotten with all that is Disney.