I heard my BIL telling my DH that he thought we got to stay "for free" at WDW

[DVCajun]

Yeah, I can kind of relate to that. I get raised eyebrows when I tell people we're going to WDW "yet again." I don't understand why people who go to the beach every single vacation think WDW is monotonous. The thing is, DVC *does* make it more affordable. It's a large investment initially, but when you take it all into account, it's a wise choice if going to WDW is a priority, as it obviously is to all of us.

 

[ZerasPride]

Boy, can I relate! I'm actually trying to keep our DVC purchase from most members of my family because I know the negative comments they will make. I have family members who actually think we are rich (yeah right) because we go to Disney so frequently. But when you look at their lifestyles and what they choose to spend their money on (things I would consider non-essential or frivilous), they could easily afford DVC. I am dreading the day my Dad and I have "the conversation" about our joining this "timeshare thing." That is truly the only negative aspect I can think of about joining DVC, the negative opinons of other people. As my one friend says, "some people like to try to rob you of your joy!"

Lisa

 

[TrudyZ]

We currently use the avoidance technique. We just don't tell the in-laws that we own DVC (or much of anything else we own or do) (they fall into the "freeloader/insinuate you owe it to them since they are family" catagory). We do this only so that we don't have to bluntly tell them "no way--it's supposed to be a vacation, isn't it???" They would also expect us to pick up the tab for everything. Believe me, I have no problem saying those words (and a few choice others) to my BIL--however, it would probably start World War III with my FIL (it's a long story, but FIL always feels sorry for BIL, and spends a lot of time/money repeatedly bailing him out).

We find with most things with the in-laws, the "don't ask, don't tell" operating procedure works. It also helps that my husband has been "on" to my BIL for several years and backs this plan 100 %. (It helps that they are several states away too!).

We also make sure the pictures of our daughter in the Christmas cards to that side of the family are not from any identifyable part of WDW, and contain no "hidden Mickeys".

Trudy

 

[DaveH]

I use to live southern NJ. Everyone went to the Jersey shore for their vacation and I would go to WDW. They tell me it would be cheaper to go to the shore. After I got their info on cost of a place to stay, food, entertainment, the beach tags costs and such. Guess what? It cost the same as WDW! They would get soooo mad at me. LOL!!! We bought into DVC this year and went home for the first time in Nov.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Dean,
You do as we do. In January we will be in a 2 bedroom at OKW for 5 nights and in a 1 bedroom for the other 5 nights. We needed to conserve points because we did a Hawaii exchange. We invited one family down with us for the time we are in the 2 bedroom. We invited another couple who passed on last year's invitation telling them that they were welcome to come and stay on the hide-a-bed in the Living room the last 5 nights. They happily jumped at the chance, even though it was without their own room. They do know the value of DVC since their whole extended family went with us once in a GV. I like easy to please people like that!

If we have the points, we reserve as large a unit as we can and invite guests later. We have never had to change a ressie, because someone will always take us up on our offer. We tell them we provide the room, and breakfasts. They need to provide us with one meal out and can cook their other meals in if they choose to. This year we are getting a break because the first couple is getting the rental car when we are there together and the other couple has a car for the second half, so we save there too.

 

[Richyams]

We never have a problem with changing dates. I make the reservation and then we start to invite people. We rotate it around. I have four brothers and sisters, my wife has five. We even have friends too!!!!

There is always someone that can squeeze it into their schedule.

Two of my sisters and my father have bought their own points. Between us, we have nearly 1000 points now....all OKW. They agreed with me on the value of owning and staying at OKW.

It used to be that you would get quizzical looks from people when you said that you owned a timeshare, even if it was at Disney. Nowadays, most people I mention it to have already heard of it or are already owners.

Now that I have figured out that they can take the mantainence fees out monthly without interest, and I have the payment on the auto-enter thing in Microsoft Money where I keep my checkbook, I don't even notice the maintainence and it really does feel like its free.

 

[Lesley]

Dave, that is funny isn't it? I was explaining to one of my aunts not long ago how a trip to the shore really doesn't cost much less than WDW.....one year we had actually planned to go to the shore and I changed our plans as a surprise for my dh and ds......had the trip not snowballed from 3 nights to 6 it would have cost us less than the beach!