Family or Groups when using DVC

[FreeTime]

I was just curious to whether most DVCers prefer to take guests with them on their DVC stays or like to go with immediate family only. What is your preference?

 

[Merilyn]

We always take as many as we can to stay in a GV. Our family is 8 adults and just added my brand new grandson. MY FIRST GRANDCHILD!!!!
We like to take friends, also. As the poll said "the more the merrier".

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

I voted immediate family only. However, we don't really have an extended family to travel with. I did read LORIBELL's wonderfull report last year about her trip with 24 family members and it did make me very hopefull for big trips especially when my children are grown and have families of their own.

 

[sajetto]

I also voted for immediate family only. There is no way I'm paying for the accomodations of a whole bunch of people who probably wouldn't appreciate it anyway meaning (cousins, aunts, uncles, etc).

 

[Lora]

I like a mix actually. I like my immediate family alone time and guests. I don't always use my points for their accomodations, but I wish I could get more of my extended family to join us.

 

[bridgemanva]

I voted more the merrier b/c we generally have at least one trip with extended family along and thoroughly enjoy sharing the magic. We've gotten so many wonderful memories with the cousins, siblings family and friends. But we also take one just us vacation too--for some nuclear family time -- balance in all things is good.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

With my kids in college and working now, it's sometimes hard to get away with just "us". So far I've recruited my best friend, my cousin and a couple of friends. I'll take anyone along as long as they can walk all day long and don't mind stopping off for a few LOL.

 

[JVL1018]

We usually go just our immediate family..but my brother and SIL own DVC as well and the last 2 years(plus this upcoming trip) they go to WDW same time as we do, so we get fun family time without being together 24/7.
We took 2 of my girlfriends another time which was a lot of fun as well.

 

[sz9144]

we only travel with the 4 of us (dh, me an 2 ds's). our extended family cannot even agree on what movie to go see, let alone where to go on vacation and when!

 

[NMW]

We only plan to do our immediate family. I have to admit though, our family is not all that interested in going to WDW in the first place.

 

[christianweecare]

This past Nov./Dec. trip was our (DH & I) first trip at our new home, Saratoga Springs! We already had an extended family trip planned and stayed in 5 rooms at Pop Century this past Feb. DH & I will be staying DVC again this coming Dec. We are already planning another Feb. trip and have booked 2 studios for us and DD, DSIL, & DGD. The rest of our clan will probably stay over at Pop Century. That bunch doesn't get up and go like we do anyway so we'll probably just meet them somewhere later on in the day. That keeps everybody happy!

 

[MagikMom]

I like bringing people and have done it in the past, but I don't like to spend my whole vacation with them. For example, if we bring someone (parents, SIL, BIL, neice) we have them come for a week but we stay longer. While we have fun with others, my husband and I agree that we do like it better when its just the 4 of us, me DH, DD 13 and DS 10. It's just more relaxing.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

we took MIL once and that pretty much put a damper on our trip. It wasn't so much that she was bad to be around, but the relaxation factor just wasn't there with another person outside the immediate family. We were mostly stressed out the entire week, which is NOT how vacation is supposed to be, right??

 

[castleri]

All of the above-
We have done trips with just DH and myself - only 2 # 3 in 2 weeks
Trips with just the children and grandchildren
trips with children, and their friends/significant others
a trip with DD, DSIL, DGC, and DSIL aunt

The Sept trip is going to be the more the merrier one-
Me, DH, DD, DS, DSIL, DGS 4 and DGS 15mo for 10 nights and in a separate unit for 5 nights DH's ex and DD's half sister. Who says we can't all get along?
This one I may need some PD. DD (husband's daughter by his first marriage) is a planner and has been working on the itinerary for almost a year now. I am more of the get up and go where the spirit or 4 yo moves me that day so it could get interesting when we add her mother and older half sister(from her mother's second marriage- she was married 3 times). We get along quite well for things like grandsons birthdays, holidays etc. so hope it will all work out. I did draw the line at getting a GV - separate units just seems more logical and I wanted points left for the Chirstmas trip with my DD, DGD, and whoever else decided to come along. I have already made it clear I do not expect to be joined at the hip every day and fully expect there will be days when the group is spread all over the place.
All in all we have never really had a bad trip since my DH finally decided that with big groups he does not have to be personally responsible for everyone having a good time. Before that we had a few tense moments and I was almost ready to say - immediate family only in very small groups.
However you travel I hope all your trips are as wonderful as ours have been.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have done "the more the merrier", and if I ever try it again I'll end up committing suicide in response--last year I got a GV at OKW, and two family members cancelled, because they were accustomed to the "luxury" of Marriott and didn't want to "step down" to DVC So, I will be happier if I stick to my kids and their families, who actually "get it"

 

[cobbler]

I voted travel alone although my alone is defined as me, hubby and the 2 kids.

We tried 3x already to get hubby's family to come down with us (not in a DVC room, but in general) and it was excuse after excuse. Basically they are cheap. Well if we offered them free accomodations, well you know what would happen then, they would expect it all the time.

In fact dh and I are the only ones that know we own DVC and for that very reason!

So just us!

 

[simzac]

We would gladly take more, but none of either DW or my side of our families give a hoot about Disney Oh well, that's their loss