How many of you purchased extra points to treat extended family.

[DavidRoss]

I bought into DVC before I was married. I started with 150 BWV points then added 100 OKW and 125 Vero points. I wanted to be able to take nice vacations and be able to treat my family and friends who wouldn't otherwise be able to go (my wife too before we were even dating in group vacations). I love to travel and my wife does too. We both find great joy in taking others with us. Recently, I took a vacation with my Dad (Jan 04). I never had a strong relationship with my father but have to admit it has improved since I have been married. I wanted to do something with him that was just for the two of us. So off to BWV we went. By the third day there, my father was in tears because he was so happy. I guess the magic and pixie dust got him in more ways than one. I've not seen my father so emotional before. It was GREAT! That was the first trip I had taken with just him and the first time he had stayed on Disney property. We preserved our memory by getting a tile at "Leave A Legacy" at Epcot. Now guess what? We are planning on going back in October of this year so we can see it.

So, how many of you did ad-ons or bought more points to treat others to vacations they may never be able to afford or might never have taken on thier own?

 

[floridafam]

We purchased enough points to be able to take family with us if they wanted to go. We took my MIL with us a while back to WL and VB. We had a great time!! The kids loved spending time with their Grandma and my husband enjoyed being able to sit out on the balconies and talk to his Mom. It was very special.

We don't vacation a lot with family but they are more than welcome to join us if they are able and we would mostly use our points for their rooms. It just feels right. They've done a lot for us and we all like to take care of eachother.

How's the weather in Stevensville? Hopefully, if I feel better, we are headed there tomorrow to see MIL.


That's wonderful that you were able to enjoy that vacation with your father. I'm sure that is a memory you will cherish for a long time.

 

[gracelrm]

We originally bought 200 points. After about 9 months we decided to get 75 more and thought that would do us. Then DH asked about taking his extended family to WDW for a first trip for all of them except one niece. We crunched the numbers (points) and figured on room size and had it all planned. It would take all our points for three years plus a few. So instead of shortening our stay, we added on points! We're happy to have a few more points to play with, but even happier to be able to take 15 family members for a wonderful family trip. I just hope we all still like each other when we get home

 

[rsschneck]

So, far we have ONLY traveled with friends/family. We have taken 3 DVC vacations and 2 more scheduled for this year. The ONLY vacation we haven't had invited guests to stay with us is Christmas 2004 @ SSR.

We actually talked about booking a Vero stay for my parents by themselves. Mom and Dad have a free Southwest Airlines flight that needs to be used by 2/04. They do a lot for our family and I figure it would be a nice gift. They just celebrated their 42nd Anniversary. I am trying to figure out if an Inn room or Studio would be better.

 

[WDWLVR]

We orginally bought 300 points at Boardwalk which is a great number for the two ofus. We gave my in-laws a trip to Vero a couple of years ago and they loved it (they have been going to Cocoa Beach twice a year for many years). We brought them with us to WDW for a 2-bedroom stay and found on that trip that we just don't travel well with them). Love them dearly, but 7 days of 24/7 is too much. So we added on 100 points at Vero and plan on giving them trips every couple of years (when we aren't using the points for something else.

 

[Skip Wiley]

We pretty much purchased DVC so we could bring the extended family down every couple of years. We purchased 200 BWV this year and plan to add 150 OKW next year. My wife's grandfather used to bring her family down every two years, but unfortunately he passed away a couple of years ago and the tradition ended. DVC will be our way of carrying on his tradtion for her family, we couldn't be happier.

 

[WOW]

DavidRoss.......Very touching, glad you and your Dad are getting closer. The rewards of Disney and DVC are priceless.

We have also found that in our travels with family, the bond between us gets closer.

It is great that we are able to be members at DVC and enjoy these great times.

I guess the Disney Magic is more magical that we think!!!!

 

[JimC]

We bought primarily for our own use. Does not mean that we would not use them for family, but that was not the primary intent.

 

[jcm_dis]

We just completed our purchase (220 OKWA) and our first four years worth of trips are with friends and family. I'm lined up to see a three year olds first Disney experience in May, my twin nieces first disney experience the next year, and my 7 year old nieces first disney experience the year after that.

I think it's the sharing that keeps the magic going.

 

[Cruelladeville]

We originally purchased 170 pts in 1997, thinking that the kids were going to college and wouldn't want to go with us anymore. WRONG!! They have become family points over the years, which is how we got up to 600 pts, and 3 vacations a year, Easter, 4th of July, and Christmas, all big holidays in our family. So now several siblings of mine own DVC points and Marriott weeks for those family events, too. We just can't get away, no matter where we go

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our VB add on will be to be able to invite family and friends. When we made our initial purchase at BWV, it was based on having enough points to have a grand gathering for mom's 85th birthday.

Bobbi

PS DS (26) who's home for Easter, works in Venezuela and can only spend limited time in US each year. He looked over our member's guide and said, "So I'm pretty sure that I can get over for a Disney vacation every December, will that work?" Sure!!!

 

[disney queen]

we did!! and our friends/family sometimes feel guilty. and i always tell--that is why we have the points--to use!!

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I am in the process of buying 370 points as a single person at OKW. Bringing my extended family is exactly why I am purchasing this amount of points (a bit much for a single person IMHO). I wanted this amount so I can bring my extended family annually (folks, sibling, niece/nephew, relatives, friends) along to enjoy the fun.

I was lucky enough to have parents who took us as kids to Disney frequently and we are all still in love with the whole Disney experience. I wanted to be able to share this with my folks in their golden years as they had shared with me in my youth and continue the family tradition which we all love so much. What better gift to them (and my extended family) could there be then pre-paid Disney vacations!!!

 

[garylpn]

started with 150 bcv, added on twice to get 207, just passed rofr at okw for 230 and waiting roft for 240 bwv, all so dw and i who are childless can trea tmany members of our families to vacations they would not otherwise have had, if we get bwv i will bank a years points, borrow a years points and in 2009 get a gv for a week to bring my brother, his wife, 6 daughters, sil, and 2 grandaughters plus myself and dw, all so we can all experiencwe the joy of his 2 grandaughters first trip to wdw, i can't take the money with me to the grave so why not enjoy it all herre with family and friends

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by garylpn
i can't take the money with me to the grave so why not enjoy it all here with family and friends

....................

I agree 100% gary.
We started out with 230 pts 5 years ago,we now have 700. We enjoy taking family and friends half the time. We are fortunate to only have the dues payment now.

We are taking in-laws(79+80),DS and his wife,grandson(2) and DD and staying in a Beach Cottage at VB this June.We have also taken the same group to OKW last year. The most important things in life are your family and friends..............without them you have nothing.

 

[DMDSTPRGIL]

I'm also in the same boat as most of U.We Bought 150 BWV points for my wife and I. We added on another 100 so we could stay longer. Then we took my mother and father with us for the 50th. They wanted to go to Disney for this occation. Put then up in a two bedroom with us. Need less to say they had a blast. We now have 554 points and the reason is to take a few vacations a year. Have been bringing may parents ever since. They would have never been able to afford to stay at a place like the BWVs for a week if we were not putting them up there. U only live once and your family may not always be there.You will kick yourself later when they are gone if you don't take care of them now.

 

[SheriB]

Our first ever DVC trip included my mom and dad, along with our DD's friend. We added on 50 points after we came back. It would appear that our next few trips will include extended family, since our next trip planned includes my sister, BIL, niece, nephew, brother, SIL, nephew, and my mom and dad again. It just seems like the thing to do to share our good fortune with others. Eventually, though, I hope to take a couple of trips per year with just myself and DH.

Sheri

 

[Laurabearz]

We did... That is a huge reason why we have as many points as we do.

With that said... we dont have any family coming with us on trips this year..... After splurging on a big family trip in December of 2002 and a huge May Moms get together this past Feb.... We have opted to 'take a year off' from inviting family and friends.

 

[Disney Doll]

We sort of did. We tend to vacation there a lot in groups, and having the 2 BR villa is a nice way to do it. Unfortunately, we usually ended up using all or most of our points on a group vacation, and had none left over if DH and I wanted to go alone. So we bought more! And I'd buy more right now if I thought I could get DH to go for it!

 

[crusoemom]

We didn't intend to take the extended family every time, but it seems to have worked out that way!

We purchased 150 points initially, then did a 50-point add-on when we realized that we weren't going to be able to get away without having company each time. So far the only stay we've had by ourselves was at HHI two years ago, and again next week. All visits to WDW have been with sister (family of 3) and/or parents. We've borrowed points virtually every year to try to accomodate everyone.

My sister called the other day asking when "we're" going back - and then had the gall to blame me for her WDW addiction!

Ce'st la Vie!