How to tell someone "No".

[TiggerBouncy]

I guess I talk about DVC a lot. A friend of mine hears me talk about it all the time. Said friend brought his son to WDW a few months ago - his first trip since he was in his teens (his son is 2).

He decided that based on all the good things I said and his one experience at WDW that he wanted in to DVC. However, he was financing it (we purchased outright).

So here we have someone who:
* has a young child with new expenses they do not have under control yet
* has only been to Disney once in many years and is infested with the "glow". However, historically he is not going every year or even every 2 years.
* trips would cost financing for DVC + yearly dues + travel expenses. So they are very expensive.

I really think this is not a good idea for my friend. However, how you get them to see / understand that.... Not easy!

Anyone had to do this before?

 

[BillPA]

As long as he owns a home, has his child's education fully funded and max'd out on their retirement plans, Go for it, if not, they will be selling it for a lost very soon.
Good luck!!

 

[crisi]

You don't. But if you have older kids, you might want to discuss how expensive its been to keep up with them - that might get him thinking. Or it might not.

Or send him here for advice - we'll tell him. Because strangers on the internet will always stick their noses into your business - but friends need to be more circumspect.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Or send him here for advice - we'll tell him. Because strangers on the internet will always stick their noses into your business - but friends need to be more circumspect.

LOL! How true!

 

[Westcoastwild]

If it wasn't that, it would be something else. Timeshare in Hawaii, cabin on the lake, a pool in the backyard...the list goes on.

The ONLY thing I'd point out to a friend in that position is whether he really thinks they would only want to vacation every single year at WDW for the next however many years. Point out the cost of flights (assuming they are not local) and the cost of annual passes. Do this in front of his wife. Seriously- annual passes are almost a Grand each and most people would rather spend that money in anything else.

Honestly- I get that most people here, as fans of Disney, would say absolutely, we want to go to Disney every year. But that's actually what puts me off DVC. Or timeshares or vacation properties in general, really. My ability to travel and where I go varies year to year based on family situation, interests, budget. Like if there's a big family wedding in NYC next year, that would be my vacation. Because I CAN'T take more vacation time, which means even if I own DVC, I wouldn't be using it that year. If the guy is putting it on credit, chances are his family is cutting somewhere else anyway. And chances are his wife would not be good with making more cuts on top of that.

 

[zavandor]

Your friend situation raises almost all the possible red flags. He could do worse only saying he wants to use points for cruising.
Be propositive: explain him what is renting, that he can get more flexibility for notmuch more without the hassle and the maintenance fees. For someone not committed to a vacation to WDW at least every other year it's the best option.

 

[cruisin5]

All you can do is be truthful about the pluses and minuses of DVC. Perhaps throw in some speculation about the "future crackdown of renting points", "increasing difficulty in making reservations at 7 month", "increasing airfare costs", etc. Tell him you can remember the good 'ole days of Southwest Ding $39 flights, non-expiring hoppers and last minute villa availability. (I miss those good 'ole days!)

This is his choice and his potential mistake. If he told you he was looking to buy a $60k car would you tell him "no"?

Good luck!

 

[bumbershoot]

I really think this is not a good idea for my friend. However, how you get them to see / understand that.... Not easy!

Not really your business, though, is it?

People could have told us all sorts of things and we wouldn't have listened. Didn't listen to them when they told us to buy a house (which would have been one of the worst possible things we could have done at the time everyone insisted on it...and one by one all but ONE of those people lost or nearly lost their own homes), wouldn't have listened to them when they told us to not buy (finance!) DVC (before we bought the house...helped us figure out our spending, actually, which led slowly to us being able to buy an affordable house).

We hadn't even been to Orlando as a family before we bought Bay Lake. We had intentions to *start going* regularly; sounds like this guy feels the same. He wants to be able to do this, and this is a way to do so.

Now, he should really think about all that extra interest he'll be pouring into the purchase. But if he feels that that is a convenience fee (albeit a very high one), then so be it. I found the site "whatsthecost" to be terrific to help me get really mad at the interest and start paying things down more quickly.

 

[disneynutz]

Point them to the DVC financial calculator for an eye opening view of what DVC ownership will cost.

Bill

 

[Dean]

I had a friend I gave a stay to with Bluegreen. I didn't warn him sufficiently and he bought retail. I simply told him what he could have gotten resale while he was still in the cancelation phase. He didn't cancel, his business and his choice though clearly a poor one. I felt bad because I don't think I warned him sufficiently going in and I think I could have prevented it. If your friend is still in the cancelation phase just make sure he's aware of resale and the potential savings and drop it unless they ask further.

 

[CarolMN]

The most I would do is put together a list of the things to consider when making a DVC purchase. I would give it to my friend saying that these were the things I consdiered before I purchased and that I hoped it would be helpful. (I would not make any assumptions about my friend's financial situation and make the questions suitable to be given to anyone).

Then unless asked specifically for more help or advice I WOULD STAY OUT OF IT if I valued the relationship.

Good luck!

 

[Marionnette]

Another vote for MYOB. Even if asked, I wouldn't go beyond enumerating the positives and negatives of ownership, encourage my friend to rent reservations a few times at different resorts before purchasing and then point them toward the resale market. Telling someone that they cannot afford something that you have purchased never comes across well.

 

[kniquy]

Honestly not your place to tell them no, but you could be a good friend and tell them that a lot of educating themselves on DVC is advised. You could tell them you spent months/years thinking, reading and learning the system. Direct them to this site and let them know the wealth of information which is here. rec renting to see if the accommodations are worth the investment. It is a big investment with a fairly big commitment and some limitations. Unfortunately they need to live and learn on their own. You might not know their entire financial situation to know whether or not they can afford it.

He decided that based on all the good things I said and his one experience at WDW that he wanted in to DVC

We bought with 3 kids, at the time a 2yo and older twins. I made the decision just after my first trip to WDW (my husband went many times), but i researched, planned we would commit to going every other year - mainly due to the expense of flights and park tickets, bought resale with cash. The part I don't like is the financing of it, but everyone needs to be responsible for themselves and their own bills.

Just support the education part and hope they make a wise decision. Thankfully with DVC the resale market is pretty good so even if they needed to get out in a few years it wouldn't be a huge loss and hopefully they would have had a few good trips. I guess there are worse decisions one could make.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Appreciate all the advice. I am staying out of it, but it sounds like he may have come to his senses anyway and decided to hold off for now after he looked at what the monthly bill would be for a loan of that amount.

 

[com_op_2000]

People have asked me and I have told them to answer these questions:

1. Are you willing to go and stay at a Disney deluxe resort at least every other year? If not then no need to look any further cause the costs are not worth it.
2. Are you satisfied with staying offsite and going to the different locations around the Disney area and want to continue to do so?
3. Are you satisfied with staying at value or moderate resorts at Disney locations, looking for deals, and other ways to save monies?
4. Can you pay cash for your purchase?
5. What are your travel plans for the next 10 years?
Then after getting the answers, you need to start your research:

 

[keishashadow]

I suggest people start small at a popular resort (such as AKV for longer expiry or BWV for lower points): buy resale, pay in cash, then add on direct if they find it works out for them. If not, small contracts are easy enough to sell.

Other than that, they are on their own lol. Too easy to come off as spoiled grapes.

 

[bakerworld]

People have asked us why we didn't join DVC when the kids were young. And the answer is we didn't go enough for DVC to help us vacation economically. The savings is only a savings when you are spending the $$ already and that's when we bought. When we were young we wanted to take the kids to a variety of places - not the same one every year. When we were older we found we enjoyed going to the same destination every year.

 

[biogirl5579]

I guess I talk about DVC a lot. A friend of mine hears me talk about it all the time. Said friend brought his son to WDW a few months ago - his first trip since he was in his teens (his son is 2).

He decided that based on all the good things I said and his one experience at WDW that he wanted in to DVC. However, he was financing it (we purchased outright).

So here we have someone who:
* has a young child with new expenses they do not have under control yet
* has only been to Disney once in many years and is infested with the "glow". However, historically he is not going every year or even every 2 years.
* trips would cost financing for DVC + yearly dues + travel expenses. So they are very expensive.

I really think this is not a good idea for my friend. However, how you get them to see / understand that.... Not easy!

Anyone had to do this before?

Maybe direct him to resale..that way if he doesn't use it (or only uses it once) he can sell and recoup a majority of the investment costs.

 

[glencoe]

another myob vote. No matter how you sway him it will turn out badly....if you give him all of your points on not buying, and push it and he does not buy...fast forward. Possible regret of lost family time and vacations. I was swayed away from a NON DVC person and regret not buying when I wanted.
The other option is supporting and then they might get in over their heads and blame you for putting them in debt. Best to tell some facts so he goes in wide open. Let him do the research.
Everybody is different. My kids are getting older and under many peoples recommendations of not financing....I financed!! Twice. Awesome contracts came up and I did not want to lose that chance. I Paid each off quickly but, as I mentioned I weighed the fact that time while my kids were young was running out-it was worth extra interest to have those memories of those trips we were able to take due to DVC then.

My point is-Everybody has different need, wants, experiences. You might be better letting your friend decide and either regret it or be happy with it. If it turns out bad for him you can help him find a resale company. After all, it is not for ever if you don't want it to be! Thanks to that I have two resale contracts (along w/ my one direct).

FYI kids older and still love going away with us

 

[CaliAdventurer]

A good reminder that humble bragging can sometimes bite back. At this point you would seem mean to dispel the picture you painted by casting a shadow upon his lifestyle/situation. Unless it's your child, at this point you should smile, tell him that you hope you haven't swayed his decision overmuch and to get on the boards and get educated like we all do (or regret not doing) and enjoy! Half the fun is in the learning and planning. Lets hope he doesnt come across your post or maybe he will and then message received!