Guests in a studio

[FreeTime]

Has anyone ever invited guests and gotten them a studio while you were set up comfortably in your 2br? I am wanting to invite my bil and family. We will allow them to join un in our room to gather, eat, play cards, laundry etc. But knowing my bil he will be mad that we are in a 2br even though his is free. Should I just suffer myself in a studio for the week, tell them that we are in the same type room and not invite them by, or shell out the extra points?

 

[JudithM]

They are YOUR points & you can do whatever you want ! If you like the "luxuries" (extra space, laundry, jacuzzi, kitchen, etc.) of a 2 bedroom unit for you & your immediate family/guests, then do it. How you spend your points is up to you not your BIL .

 

[Halle]

I would not compromise my family's comfort to appease your BIL. I think that I would tell them that you are going and staying in a 2bdrm and that since you have enough points leftover for a studio you'd love to book one for his family so you can all enjoy WDW together. Good luck.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I would stay in the 2br and get them the studio. If he wants to stay in a larger room, why not tell him he can rent the difference in points? You could have someone transfer the points to you and have your brother pay for those - he will still be getting a big discount. If he doesn't want to pay, then I would think he would be happy with what you are offering. Good luck

 

[natt]

I would have a hard time with a family member who had an attitude about free accomodations, and you are a generous person!

I've seen a few posts on here of people taking guests and having them stay for "free". I am planning on asking my sister and bil for next year, and was planning on asking them to rent the studio portion of the 2 br. This will be the first time we invite guests since we've joined, and I want it clear from the start (so others will know) what I expect. They are still getting an awesome deal at a deluxe resort, and otherwise we'd use the points elsewhere!
I really don't think they will give it a second thought of me asking for some compensation!

Who else asks guests for some rent $ and have they ever been insulted by your asking?

 

[Chuck S]

Get whatever you want for yourselves, then get a studio for your invited guests. If your BIL doesn't like it, tell him to buy his own DVC membership! And, when we take guests, we don't charge for the room - If our guests can afford it (some really can't after they buy their park passes on a tight budget) we agree to them treating us to a nice dinner/ dinner show/ or La Nouba.

 

[sgtdisney]

If your BIL doesn't like the room that you are able to give to him, tell them there are 10,000 other rooms on the property that is he is welcome to pay cash for. Just let him know up front the differences between the rooms and why it is that way so there are no surprises when you get there. We have done this a number of times we had additional guests and couldn't get into a Grand Villa. Actually they seemed to like it because it offers them more privacy having their own room and everything, but still sharing the 'common space' in the 2 bedroom.

 

[Chadm]

Originally posted by Chuck S
Get whatever you want for yourselves, then get a studio for your invited guests. If your BIL doesn't like it, tell him to buy his own DVC membership! And, when we take guests, we don't charge for the room - If our guests can afford it (some really can't after they buy their park passes on a tight budget) we agree to them treating us to a nice dinner/ dinner show/ or La Nouba.

That's exactly what we did last trip. We invited my old college buddy and his wife and let them stay with my wife and I in a 2 BR at BWV. In return they took us to diiner at Fulton's and bought our tickets to La Nouba that night. I must say it was a nice tradeoff. Honestly, they still got the better end of that deal, but we didn't mind.

On a different note, if any of you haven't seen La Nouba, do yourself a favor and treat yourself. It was awesome and we've already seen 2 different Cirque Du Soleil shows (Alegria and Dralion). La Nouba was better than both the others.

 

[tiberius]

If I were your BIL in this case, I would be so appreciative your head would spin. I think by allowing them to share use of your cooking and living areas you are being very gracious. IMHO, if he is anything other than thankful, then he is a jerk. Unfortunately, there are too many ungrateful types in the world who cannot be happy with what they have, but must always complain when someone has something better by comparison.

My BIL+family may join us next year, and if, so will be offered the studio portion of a 2BR or a separate studio. As a trade, I will let him pay cash for what he paid for hotel room or to pay us back in park passes. If we tried to tell him not to give us anything, we would start finding money "hidden" in our belongings at some point.

 

[Disney Doll]

If you are willing to get your BIL and family a studio and not charge him anything for it, and he complains, then your BIL is a jerk.

I'd tell him the deal, tell him what the difference in accomaodations are, tell him the cost of getting a deluxe hotel room for the same time period, and let him make a decision!

 

[Caskbill]

If he complains, give him two telephone numbers:

1. CRO and let him book his own 2-B/R at probably $400/night

2. DVC's sales staff and let him buy his own points.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: i got studios for my brothers and their families and my family stayed in a larger unit. they absolutely loved it, but our villa was definitely the gathering/party place. i agree wholeheartedly with caskbill with your bil's options if he dares to open his mouth!

 

[FreeTime]

Thanks all! And to add to the discussion that some are having about charging and not charging: we don't charge our guests (except the FIL as he tends to tag along on every trip and he decided to pick up the annual dues to compensate us-I wasn't going to argue with that one ). The only reason that I am even inviting the BIL is so that he can havea vacation with his kids as they usually come with us as he can't afford to take them any where. Regardless though, he will still complain. I guess I will just have to take your advice, tell him now what type of villa we will be getting and tell him he had better start saving, saving, saving!

 

[JudithM]

We have had friends with us on various trips to OKW. The first time we eahc had a studio on our points. They bought us a nice meal at EPCOT.

Another time some DVC members/friends stayed in a one-bedroom with us. They didn't have points available & we enjoy their company while at WDW, so what the heck - stay with us!

On an upcoming trip I will have some FL friends with me & I wouldn't dream of asking them to pay as they are putting me up at their home before we arrive at OKW.

I guess it depends on the circumstances. If you will be taking guests/family members frequently, then you probably don't want to feel like they are free loading or taking advantage of you & your DVC membership.

 

[Granny]

When I read the original post, I thought..."Who would actually think that FreeTime should get a studio to make his BIL feel better?"

And I'm happy to see that the answer is.....nobody!

FreeTime....sounds like you have a family of four (otherwise, you couldn't go down to a studio anyway). And you are going to enjoy the luxury and space of a 2BR. So enjoy the trip and put up with your BIL's grousing about his studio.

Because guess what? No matter what you do, it sounds like he'll be grousing anyway!

Have a great trip....and remember that despite the BIL, it's really all for his children and the chance you're giving them for a wonderful vacation!