How much do you charge?

[Sheribo]

We're going to SSR in November for a no kids vacation - and have asked another couple to join us. We have reserved a 2 bedroom to give us all enough space and privacy. Has anyone done something similar and how much did you charge them for accommodations?

Our friends are wonderful and they have made it clear that they want to pay their fare share. I'm not sure what's fare.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We do this about once a year (we've been members for 12 years, so it's frequent). We never charge our guests anything for the room. We figure if they pay for their transportation, park tickets and food, we can give them accommodations for the fun of having them join us on vacation. Even those costs can add up too. All but one of our guests have paid for a nice dinner out at one of the signatures in return.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

IMO, cash transactions among friends can cause problems. When we've gone with family. We offered to share the villa for free to them (we reserved a grand villa for our three families.) One couple (my MIL & FIL) ended up buying our 7 day park hoppers (unsolicited), the other family (SIL) ended up paying for a limo from our home to airport and back for us (unsolicited.)

We all ended up happy, even if expenses for some of us were more than others.

I don't know what I would do if it were friends who insisted on paying something.

 

[maburke]

Well, people are different, but I am also one who has accepted payment from friends (but not family) when they joined us last May. I charged $10 per point (I figure it's the lowest going rate for non-distressed points) and I helped them get into accommodations that met their budget (studio for one family, 2-BR for another). I actually started down this road when I asked my brother-in-law to rent the one family points, and I wanted to be fair to him, and then the other family decided to join us later, and I used my points for them.

If you are in a two-bedroom together, I think it would be fair to charge them the difference between a 1BR (that you might get on your own) and a 2BR. That's about 7-9 points or $70-90 per weeknight, which is a pretty good deal.

I think I'll be doing this more now that addonitis has hit me so hard!

 

[DVCajun]

This is an interesting topic. I'm thinking ahead to a future visit when another couple may be joining us for a trip. If we plan the trip together, is it really so unpalatable to share the cost? I think sometimes we think our accommodations don't "cost" us anything because we're using points, but in fact, we paid for those points, and pay for the maintenance of said points on a monthly basis, too.

I'd love to have the financial resources to treat my friends to a trip, but I really am not in that position. Should we plan a joint trip with our friends with them in separate accommodations?

I understand the mentality behind the reluctance to ask for financial contribution. My mom raised me to pay if I invite.

 

[Sheribo]

I'd love to have the financial resources to treat my friends to a trip, but I really am not in that position. Should we plan a joint trip with our friends with them in separate accommodations?

This is a good point. When we started to plan this trip, our friends have every intention of making a cash reservation at SSR in their own name. We started to investigate that option and it became clear that the cost and hassle would be ridiculous. Aside from the money, they would not assure us that we'd be next door to each other. So I went ahead and made the ressie for a 2 bdrm.

 

[DVC Mike]

We have neighbors who haven't been able to vacation much. So we uised our developer points to book a 6-night stay at SSR gratis.

 

[LVSWL]

We have taken friends several times and have never asked for payment. We are thrilled to be able to share our DVC with our friends. We have had friends pick up the check at one of our nice TS meals and another left us some $$ as they were leaving, but we certainly didn't expect it. In April we are taking one of my best friends and her husband. They have never been to WDW and we are so excited about this trip! We have a 2bdrm villa and would'nt think of asking for any reimbursement. We will also use our DDE card for all of the meals for all of us so they can save 20% which we did with our other friends.. This summer we are going again to WDW and then for 10 days to HHI and our kids have been told they can invite friends. The friends will need to cover tickets and 2 meals per day, but we will cover the room, breakfast, groceries and transportation, and a few fun things like bike rental at HHI and such.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

Let me be clear - I don't see anything wrong with people charging their friends to stay. But, personally, one of the main reasons I bought into DVC was to share with my friends and family. No way would I charge (I do let them bring groceries and/or pick up dinner checks).

If a friend did insist on paying, at a minimum I would think it reasonable to let them pay the maintenance fees for half the 2BR's points. Or maintenance fees plus about $2 to cover buy-in cost (cost divided by number of contract years). I'd have a hard time charging anything more.

 

[Nparrotte]

IMO, cash transactions among friends can cause problems. When we've gone with family. We offered to share the villa for free to them (we reserved a grand villa for our three families.) One couple (my MIL & FIL) ended up buying our 7 day park hoppers (unsolicited), the other family (SIL) ended up paying for a limo from our home to airport and back for us (unsolicited.)

We all ended up happy, even if expenses for some of us were more than others.

We took my wife's parents and did not ask for any money and they ended up contributing in other ways e.g. wine at dinner, etc.

I like being able to share the DVC with others, IMHO I think that it is more fun to bring along friends and family.

 

[JasonDVC]

charging people makes it seem like a business transaction. I personally did not buy DVC for business. We bought DVC because we love to travel and there aren't many places better than Disney for a vacation. Having friends and/or family join us just makes it better. If we invite people to join us then I will never charge them. They are welcome to pick up the tab at dinner one night but that's about it. Of course they will have to pay their own way as far as airfare, tickets and most food are concerned.

I would, however, charge a friend who wanted to use my points for their own vacation at a discount over most any other hotel, of course.

 

[jamstew]

If you are in a two-bedroom together, I think it would be fair to charge them the difference between a 1BR (that you might get on your own) and a 2BR. That's about 7-9 points or $70-90 per weeknight, which is a pretty good deal.

That's exactly what I had planned to do for a cousins' trip in October. I would have been staying in a studio but needed a 2BR for the group (5 nights)--60 vs. 160 points, so it was going to be $1000 for my three cousins, or $333 each, a little over $60 a night. It all fell, but I was fortunately able to cancel the 2BR and rebook a studio yesterday.

 

[mtmbyck]

I'll chime in from the "friends" perspective. As a DVC owner, you have accessibility to accommodations that most families just cannot afford without shelling out that initial amount to become a DVC member themselves.

If I was invited to stay at BWV or BCV, 2 resorts that have NEVER been in my budget to stay at, I would be more than pleased to pay a fee per night to stay. What a treat!

Hopefully your friends appreciate that you have annual dues and perhaps fees associated with the purchase of the timeshare and given they will be staying in deluxe accommodation at a fraction of the price - they'd be delighted!

I would never expect or allow my friends to pay for my vacation ......unless they won 10 million dollars....then maybe!

 

[WolfpackFan]

I wouldn't charge family or friends. Now if they wanted to pay for some meals, that is another thing all together.

 

[JasonDVC]

I would never expect or allow my friends to pay for my vacation ......unless they won 10 million dollars....then maybe!

Only 10?

 

[DiznyDi]

We took friends with us and shared a 2 bedroom. They had the master. They provided their own air fare and park tickets. We picked up the room, they picked up all meals. Everyone was happy. Given the opportunity, I'd vacation again with them. We all had a great time!

 

[mtmbyck]

Clearly I need to hang out with DVCers more.......

 

[drakethib]

A little different for us but we have brought my parents and inlaws and never asked them to pay anything, but both always insisted to buy the groceries that we keep in the room (bread, soda, water, beer, sandwich stuff, etc).

Just a thought

 

[gmboy95]

We took friends with us and shared a 2 bedroom. They had the master. They provided their own air fare and park tickets. We picked up the room, they picked up all meals. Everyone was happy. Given the opportunity, I'd vacation again with them. We all had a great time!

yup.....we where similar....we told the people we where with to pick up the three dinners we had ressies for...no clearly it is not an even split, but thats why we have DVC

 

[kimberh]

Well, people are different, but I am also one who has accepted payment from friends.

If you are in a two-bedroom together, I think it would be fair to charge them the difference between a 1BR (that you might get on your own) and a 2BR. That's about 7-9 points or $70-90 per weeknight, which is a pretty good deal.

This is how I would work it also. I would go to the Rent/Trade Board and just see what the going rate is. I noticed a few months ago that the price had gone up some. I would for sure charge the going rate. You could take another vacation with the difference or rent the additional points yourself. You will still save them considerable money over CRO. I do pay for the room for my married children, that is it. I would not give my points away. In my view everyone should pay for their own food.
We do have a Traditional Fixed week Timeshare in Tn. If I ask someone to come up to stay a few days of our week, I do not charge them for the room. This Timeshare did not cost me what DVC did. My maintenance fees are 1/4 of DVC. I feel I can do it with this one.
If I was traveling to Disney, I would sure expect some expenses.