Friends/Relatives first reactions to DVC villas?

[donald@home]

We are heading to OKW in a few weeks for our first stay in a GV with 4 friends of ours (2 couples who are/will be recently married. The GV is our wedding gift to them). This trip has been in the making for over two years now. The thing I am looking forward to most of all is their reaction on seeing the GV for the first time.

To help me pass the time between now and the trip, and to help get me more excited for the trip (if that is possible), I would love to hear what your guests said on seeing a DVC villa (especially the GV) for the first time.

Thanks in advance.

 

[DebbieW]

We've never stayed in a Grand Villa, nor have we ever taken friends on vacation with us, so I can't answer your specific question. But, I can share this story -- it's one of my favorites.

The first time we stayed in a one bedroom unit at Old Key West, my youngest daughter was probably about six years old. We checked in, gathered up our keys, paperwork, etc., hopped back in our car, and headed to our room. I think we stayed in 1111. We got out of the car, opened the door to the unit, walked in and my daughter's eyes opened wide. She looked up at her dad and said "we must be rich."

A story only a mother could love. But it was priceless.

Debbie

 

[MdmMim]

I invited a friend to stay with me in a 1-bedroom at the BWV. She walked in, didn't even look around and said--nothing! Not even "thank you" upon her departure. Might as well have been staying at Roach Motel. (I think all the DVC resorts are gorgeous, so I don't care if my guests like them or not!)

 

[Jimbo]

The first reaction to our OKW GV was from my son-in-law. He said "All right, grampa!" and gave me the thumbs-up.

This was after we had stayed at a Beach Cottage at VB on the same trip. These are even nicerthan the GV, IMHO. As each person went up to the second floor, they all said the exact same thing: "Wow!!!"

We're a family of few words, I guess.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

My parents couldn't believe we bought a "time share". We took them with us to BWV in a 2BR for 5 days in July. They were pretty impressed with it, although strangely enough they rarely crossed the threshold from "their" room to ours (we had our 3 kids in the 1BR part, they were in the studio.) They later raved about it to my sister and had a great time at WDW--my dad even bought my mom a $250 Hummel in Germany at Epcot!
My only regret is that I asked for a room close to the elevators, as my dad had back problems (he had surgery one month later) and rented a scooter just in case. We had the room closest to the elevators, standard view--great for the end of a long day, but the view was yukky. But they liked it anyhow. I don't get any crap about my "time share" anymore!
Robin M.

 

[SnowWitch]

My brother who is very hard to impress thought we were nuts for buying into DVC joined us this summer in a 2 bedroom at VB. The first night sitting on the balcony he asked about the points. I explained we bought in for $67 per point , he looks at me and says but this room cost us 140 points, "How the hek is that a deal?" I looked at him and grinned, explained you pay once for your points and you get that amount every year for 41 years. Then he says" Oh my god, that is a great deal, this is a great room." He's a Grove Park Inn kind of guy but he enjoyed VB so much we are already planning a trip in May.

 

[Hilary]

We're staying in a GV at OKW in 23 day's time !

We've invited along DH's sister and her DH and two DSs, plus his brother with his DW, DS and DD. From the distinct lack of interest or excitement from them so far (we've been planning this trip for the past two years) I don't hold out much hope of a great reaction from them when we check in . I know we aren't doing this just for them to be grateful, but a little encouragement would be nice!

I think our family will probably be excited enough for all of them anyway!

 

[Beth]

We've stayed in the GV at OKW 4 or 5 times, now - each time with friends/family.

One couple just kept saying, "..this is bigger than my <i>house</i>!" He was really interested in the floor plan!!

We took our immediate families over for my birthday a few years ago - and my mother/mother-in-law kept raving about the kitchen - and insisted on using it for breakfast the next morning - wouldn't <i>consider</i> going out for breakfast!!

We took my nephew and 6 of his friends over when he graduated from high school. You know teenage boys - they didn't say much, but they were definitely impressed!!

Your guests will be SO pleased - I guarantee it!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We stayed in a GV with friends who had never been to WDW and who usually stay at Days Inns or Motel 6 wherever they go. They were blown away by it! We are taking them back in a couple of years. I hope they still enjoy it after already seeing it once! All the DVC resorts are impressive, but the size of the GVs at both OKW and BWV are just very bold!

 

[mikesmom]

We paid cash for a 1 bdrm at BWV when DS was 16. I thought that would probably be the last "family" trip - assumed teens wouldn't want to travel with parents much longer. We had never been in a 1 BDRM or even seen pictures. We had never stayed onsite in any resort. Well you know the drill. We walked in and of course all our jaws dropped! The "blase" 16 year old turned around 5 steps into the room and "Wow". Raved about the room for the rest of the trip. Of course we ended up taking the tour and buying in. DS still says he's ruined for any other hotel rooms!

By the way, DS is now nearly 20 and still happily taking vacation with parents! I think we owe some of that magic to DVC. Family trips would be a lot harder all crammed into one room with no privacy. Plus now he can bring a friend.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Our "kids" still vacation with us too! Kind of nice when they are 33 and 27 and still seem to want our company! Or is that the DVC accommodations they still want?!?

 

[jane of the jungle]

This is the best thread I have read in a while! THANKS!
DH and I have taken his Mom, Dad, Sister and her 2 boys they are not the vacationing type and I think they really were impressed. Although they have a weird way of showing it. They had never been to DISNEY and I don't think they realized how spoiled they were. But the Joy I got out of seeing them experience the magic for the first time was well worth it.
My whole extended family will be going next June and staying in a GV- I have never been in one and am very excited to seem the grandness of it!

Let's hear some more stories. I love the one about the little Rich girl.

 

[ZerasPride]

but hope to report back good things about my family's first official DVC trip. We're taking my little brother (cute 12 year old) and my sister and her husband. Out of the 6 of us my brother and I are the only ones who are bouncing off the walls excited but that's okay, I know we'll have a great time whether sis and her husband are impressed or not. DS may be a bit jaded because we stayed in a 2 bedroom villa at Hilton Head on cash already and he had the entire studio portion to himself - which he loved by the way. I remember when we entered the unit and each of our mouths dropped open. DS asked where he was going to sleep and almost fell over when we opened the door off the mud room and told him the studio was all his for 6 days (lol).

These stories are making me more and more excited for our upcoming trip, so lets hear some more!!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

In two weeks I am headed to HH and a GV with my two best Online buddies and their kids....

I showed them the floor plans and they went NUTS.... I cant wait to see their faces when they see the real thing!

Woooooooo hoooooooooooo!!!!!!

 

[JillU-DVC]

This is so funny, I just posted a couple days ago about my parents reaction when I put them up.

HEre's a link to the thread - look for the reply from me (JillU-DVC):

My parents reaction to OKW

 

[MikeScott8]

unfortunately I won't get to see my mom and brothers reactions when they check into OKW in March. I booked my mom a studio for two nights checking out on her B'day the 18th. I know she is not too keen on timeshares, so I never really flat out told her yet we bought into DVC. anyhoo..!

But also for Xmas this year we will be presenting my fiance's sisters (two of them) and thier sig others/hubbies a week stay at OKW sometime in Jan 2004 (when we can all make it) so I will get to see their expressions then, but that's a long way away

SO I will have to be happy feeling my reaction when I get there. If it is as good as when we rented points I will be disappointed. I expect the feelings to be even MORE as we are members THIS TIME.

Mike

 

[GrammieMame]

Our first trip (daughter & grandsons) was at a Ft. Wilderness cabin, which everyone enjoyed so much I decided to buy in at WLV. My daughter loved our 1 BR, but didn't get all that excited about it. But when I overheard my grandson telling some friends about "our house in Disneyworld", I really felt like it was worth it. We are taking another couple in October, and am interested in seeing what their reaction will be.

 

[Tigger7570]

We have taken many friends and family over the years and I have always had positive reactions. They can't believe how big OKW is, the location, the peacefulness, etc. We had one family member say to us "No wonder you love to come here, I never want to go home". We took friends a couple of years ago who own a timeshare in Arruba and were real skeptics about Disney. This was their first trip and they're in their 50s. They couldn't believe it. They were awed by Disney and said our condo was huge conpared to theirs in Arruba. They were amazed at how well planned and beautiful the condos were. Now they understand why DH has declined their many offers for us to join them in Arruba, although we will some day. Hope you all have a great trip. We go home in a few weeks as well. Can't wait.

 

[dvc guy]

My brother in law sent me,wife, daughter( then 4) and my father in law to OKW 2 bedroom. I had never seen or heard about DVC. My reaction was like jaw dropping, I could not believe how good it was.

I guess you know how the story turns out. We are DVC members
and my kids 10 & 6 complain when they don't have a 2 bedroom unit.

 

[NancyDVC]

My best friend and I bought DVC early in 1992. We did not tell our parents for 6 months! (You know the old-"you shouldn't buy anything that costs more than $100 without consulting your folks." -We are both well over the age of consent) We banked all our first year's points into the beginning of our second year and took my parents, my sister and her 3 kids-at that time ages 7-13. 8 of us in a 2 bedroom at OKW! The y were impressed with the check in, pool (we got in about 11:00AM & our room wasn't ready). We lunched at Olivia's and they loved that too. When we got to our unit they were bowled over! My mother kept saying"You own this?? Wow wait until - - - sees this, take some pictures!" She showed pictures of the resort to everyone she met for months! My Dad was also impressed. He remarked that it was a very good deal. MY sister loved it and her kids couldn't get over it. My friend's Dad used to spend the winter in Clermont so the next year we spent 5 days with him and then 5 days at OKW. We brought him over for dinner one night and he was also very impressed. "Nice place." But as a golfer he was most impressed by being on the LBV golf course and wanted to know if we got a cut rate on greeens fees!.
We repeated our family trip for Thanksgiving in 2000. By then they were all DVC 'veterans'. Playing it cool, "yes of course "my aunt/daughter/sister is a member here" But that first trip really wowed them. My mother still keeps the pictrues from that first trip to impress her friends.
Anyone who isn't impressed by DVC dosen't deserve a reinvite! Let them saty at the 'no-tell motel' next time!