How far in advance do you mention DVC?

[bobbiwoz]

Because we've been sharing DVC with our family, I haven't had the opportunity to invite certain friends as much as I thought I would be. The family first thought that the children would have to be older to come, but things have worked out, and we're "set" for this year, next year, with a May or October family trip penciled in for '09.

Can I casually mention to friends that it looks as if my Spring break, March '09is looking good for a "friends" visit to WDW? Or do you think they will just roll their eyes and figure I'm off a deep end...how would anyone know what they will want to do/do in March '09? I'm not asking for a committment, just wondering.

When do you first mention to friends that you're thinking of a trip with them...a year ahead? or longer, as this would be?

Bobbi

PS. These particular friends came with me in October '05, and at that time, it did look as if it would be done, maybe not annually, but something we could do again. That trip was not wholly satisfying for me, but I'm changing things and DH will be invited, and has said he would come for the tail end, and then he/I will go off to VB to end the break. DH "understands" the planning.

 

[Spine_DR]

I would be interested in knowing this also so far I always take my parents, brother and his GF, with my family of 3 so we havnt had room for friends on vacations.

 

[Pennyguy23]

We planned our Disney cruise with my parents in Jan 2007 for May 2008. It was a cruise that HAD to be planned that early or we wouldn't have been able to be on it. That might have help but they still looked at me a little funny.

 

[murcor]

I think for dvc'ers, talking about a 09 trip does not seem odd at all

For others who dont travel much may think you are out to lunch, but on the other hand it will give them something to plan & save for. I dont see anything wrong mentioning this early

We have been talking Dec 08 with friends since early summer, so March 09 is only 3 months after that...not far off at all

 

[DVC Grammy]

Most of our family and friends don't plan vacations far enough in advance for us to include them at WDW. We've had guests a few times, but for the most part, we've found it less stressful to go by ourselves than to wait on tenterhooks to see if anyone can make it. All know that they're welcome, but they also know that we need notice.

 

[IggyLans]

I think you shouldn't feel odd about "mentioning it" to your friends. You said that you and your friends talked about doing the trip once every few years. I would just tell them what your thoughts are about it, and leave it up to them to decide whether they want to do it or not.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Because we've been sharing DVC with our family, I haven't had the opportunity to invite certain friends as much as I thought I would be. The family first thought that the children would have to be older to come, but things have worked out, and we're "set" for this year, next year, with a May or October family trip penciled in for '09.

Can I casually mention to friends that it looks as if my Spring break, March '09is looking good for a "friends" visit to WDW? Or do you think they will just roll their eyes and figure I'm off a deep end...how would anyone know what they will want to do/do in March '09? I'm not asking for a committment, just wondering.

When do you first mention to friends that you're thinking of a trip with them...a year ahead? or longer, as this would be?

Bobbi

PS. These particular friends came with me in October '05, and at that time, it did look as if it would be done, maybe not annually, but something we could do again. That trip was not wholly satisfying for me, but I'm changing things and DH will be invited, and has said he would come for the tail end, and then he/I will go off to VB to end the break. DH "understands" the planning.

as long as you explain the situaion to them then I would say go for it, they might not understand it or be willing to commit that far in advance, but seeing as how they went before with you maybe they can grasp the whole situation better.

Like you said you dont need an answer now, but I would be sure I gave them some type of deadline. 12 months or whatever so you can go ahead with your own plans

 

[CarolAnnC]

Although I have traveled with family to DVC Resorts without problems, there have been many friends/family stories here on the DIS with negative outcomes.

I would stress to them the fact that these DVC trips are not as easy as cancelling a trip booked through CRO on cash. Folks do not understand that there are penalties involved in cancelling ressies booked on points.

Good luck!

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Although I have traveled with family to DVC Resorts without problems, there have been many friends/family stories here on the DIS with negative outcomes.

I would stress to them the fact that these DVC trips are not as easy as cancelling a trip booked through CRO on cash. Folks do not understand that there are penalties involved in cancelling ressies booked on points.

Good luck!

this is a great point because inevitably someone will disregard this info and we will all hear about the problems that occurred here on the boards

It happens all the time

so be careful, spell it out, and sometimes even that is not enough

 

[Tinkerdreams]

Can I casually mention to friends that it looks as if my Spring break, March '09is looking good for a "friends" visit to WDW? Or do you think they will just roll their eyes and figure I'm off a deep end...how would anyone know what they will want to do/do in March '09? I'm not asking for a committment, just wondering.

If you have a feel for friends and family and their habits, then bringing this up at this point in time is absolutely OK. I have actually asked family for Dec 08 - no definite from them yet and other family members for May 09 .

I know that my family needs the time to prepare financially to take this kind of trip - even though I'm providing the room! LOL! Besides, they know what kind of a Disney nut I am!! I must add that they ARE appreciative of my offer.

 

[wildernessDad]

I've mentioned a December 2008 trip to my friends already, and they rolled their collective eyes, but one friend is very interested, especially when I showed him VWL from the vacation DVD that I have. He's 'in' and so will my other friend and his DW hopefully. I have not contacted them again about it yet, as it is far away, but for planning purposes, you can understand why I did it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, for large groups we have mentioned it nearly 2 years out so everyone could plan for it. It really does depend on the friends. If these are people you are pretty sure will accept and stick to a decision when it's time to make it a firm decision, then I would mention it to them casually now, but not expect a committment for at least another year.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you all, for encouragement and cautions.

I usually mention a trip about 13 months in advance, and mention that I will be booking in 2 months, if things looked like a "go." March is my UY and most will be current year points. So, 17 months ahead is a bit much for me, but I am curious...I would like to give the Gals trip another chance, and wonder how my friends feel about it. I want an AKV value 2 bedroom, March is higher points than I'm used to spending, there will be 3 of us, maybe 4, plus DH for the last night...4 nights, Sunday to Thursday. Actually maybe I'll learn that neither wants to sleep on a sofa bed, and obviously someone will have to, there are only 2 real beds. One friend is on a tight budget, so the kitchen will be used. We were in 2 studios the last time...I hope to have some "together down time" so this time a value 2 bedroom seems perfect.

I'll sleep on my decision a few more nights, there is plenty of time. I can go back and recheck the points, where I stand, where that leaves us...I have lots and lots of possible plans...I suppose we all have.

Thank you again! DVC friends!

Bobbi

PS. Wilderness Dad...we also have friends who fell in love with VWL, not enough to buy into DVC, these friends went all of 60+ years without ever visiting WDW! They'll be back, another December...probably in '08 like you and yours.

 

[claire_ont]

I planned a March 2009 vacation (on my DVC points) with my sister and her family in August. In our case she has has budget constraints, so saving up for travel, theme park tickets and meals is a longer term commitment. I guess it depends on who you are inviting, how long in advance you wish to let them know.

 

[DeeCee735]

I mention it as far in advance as possible, to give them time to "mull it over". I'm inviting them to join me on a Disney vacation, with free accommodations. If they think I'm nuts - I think they're nuts for not seriously looking at this opportunity! My closest friends know I'm a Disney freak and each and every one of them has jumped on the chance to join me on a trip - a couple of them more than once.

Advance notice also gives them a chance to save some $$$ for their tickets and spending. My DH, myself and my twins (now in college) have taken one of their friends every year since our 3rd trip. We also took my parents to HH as part of their 50th anniversary gift this past April. I just got back from a long weekend with my best friend, and I've already mentioned next fall to my sister and her kids. If you see bringing friends as a real possibility, just mention it and see what kind of reaction you get. The best part, to me, about bringing my friends is their realization of the fact that a Disney trip is SO MUCH MORE than parks, characters and rides (although they love the rides!). And I always try to get them to see a little bit of magic and when they do - it just proves I'm not the one whose nuts!!

Have fun planning!

 

[crisi]

I think that now is a fine time to say "would you like to go to WDW with us sometime" - just to gage interest. Believe it or not, it isn't an appealing proposition to everyone. Figure out what time of year would POTENTIALLY work for them (AND FOR YOU!) - talk about the trip as something that MIGHT happen - if they press you, tell them the earliest would be '09 - your vacations are booked out until then. You may want to encourage a trip earlier in your use year making any cancellation more flexible.

Once you have their interest, I think about fourteen months out or so is when you start bringing it up with seriousness so you can book at eleven months and get what you want. That's when you need to seriously explain what their costs will be (assuming you aren't treating airfare and park tickets and dining) and let them know they can think it over a few months, but you need to know a year out because you do need to book. This is also where you make it clear about cancellation policies.

I like having a backup plan as well. Booking a whole family in a Grand Villa, having everyone cancel, and rattling around by yourself is a way to have a lot of resentment. If these are people who might cancel, let them use the second bedroom and have your kids sleep on the couch - if they cancel, your kids get the bedroom! Or book them their own studio. If they cancel with enough notice you can rent the studio out or cancel and get your points back.

We are taking a trip NEXT WEEK (oh my, got to start thinking about that) with friends and we just stuck them in the second bedroom the kids were going to use. We didn't even bring it up really until we had booked. Now our kids are back on the hideabed in the living room.

But I have a trip planned next year with my family that has been in the works for YEARS - postponed due to one sisters job and then the second one's recovery from cancer.

 

[flexsmom]

I'm working our family vacations backwards from summer 2012 - where I'm planning a trip to England/Scotland for some part of the Olympics and then get-out-of-dodge to take the kids to see some of their roots. So no, I think there's a big part of the population who would NOT roll their eyes at the prospect of that much advance planning! That said, I get a lot of shocked looks when I run through our annual plan starting with 2012 and working back to our Christmas DCL coming up in 3 months! I must be in the minority......

 

[robinb]

Do you have enough points to book a 2BR and a studio in case your friends don't make it? That's what we do every year at BWV for NYE. Our friends never know for sure if they're coming until about 6 weeks away. We book a 2BR or GV together and I book a studio on my own and then I make ADRs for all of us anyway. At 6 weeks I make them commit to me and I usually cancel my studio and we will stay in the 2BR/GV. If it turns out that their youngest daughter has basketball over the Christmas holidays this year they will stay home and we will stay in the studio. Having the back-up plan keeps me sane. I don't worry too much about the ADRs, there are always walk-ups who could use the extra table.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Do you have enough points to book a 2BR and a studio in case your friends don't make it? That's what we do every year at BWV for NYE. Our friends never know for sure if they're coming until about 6 weeks away. We book a 2BR or GV together and I book a studio on my own and then I make ADRs for all of us anyway. At 6 weeks I make them commit to me and I usually cancel my studio and we will stay in the 2BR/GV. If it turns out that their youngest daughter has basketball over the Christmas holidays this year they will stay home and we will stay in the studio. Having the back-up plan keeps me sane. I don't worry too much about the ADRs, there are always walk-ups who could use the extra table.

Good idea. The studio would be in a different resort, but yes, I could do that. Well, I didn't "sleep" on it, as I wrote an e-mail to one friend last night, I did mention it. Today the reply came "Count me in!"

Bobbi

PS. flexmom...wow! So the 2012 Olympics will be in England/Scotland. How wonderful...I didn't know that.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

I'm working our family vacations backwards from summer 2012 - where I'm planning a trip to England/Scotland for some part of the Olympics ...

OK, spill the beans about the Olympics trip. That sounds great.