I'm so sick of that deer in the headlights look

[Johnnie Fedora]

Had family and friends over for DS B-day today (he's 4) and have come to the conclusion that I'm just going to have to save my DVC conversations for you folks here on the DIS. Sorry....you'll just have to put up with me...LOL. I can't take that trapped...deer-in-the-headlights-look from people when you talk about DVC and points.

 

[FreeTime]

I know how you feel! My husband and I just can't seem to stop talking about it and we get the strangest looks...

 

[DIGGER68]

Some just don't understand and others don't want to. They are all to tied up in their little corners of the world and refuse to look outside it.

Of couse those are the same folks that keep wondering, under thier breath, how we can afford to go on so many vacations.. ...they are sure we are rich or something.

Personally I got over it quickly you know you can only throw a ball against a wall some many times before you realize it just isn't going to stick.

 

[tn4mickey]

I think most of our family and friends think we're nuts. They just shake their heads and smile. I tried to convince my sister to take a vacation with me in the fall (taking advantage of the fairytale pkg.) and she decided it was too expensive. I'm convinced if I'd been able to work out a cruise or something for the same money she would have agreed. Oh well, at least my DH is as Disney crazy as I am!

 

[Snowgod]

Maybe we need a support group, or are we one?

 

[Granny]

Johnnie....the points system is a little confusing if you're used to traditional time shares. I know I've heard things like...."So you don't own a specific condo?" and things like that. And you start talking points, diffeent size accommodations, seasons, etc and that glazed look comes into their eyes.

Maybe you should print out the DVC FAQ's from this site and just hand them to people as the topic comes up!

 

[keenercam]

I have come up with a standard explanation -- We belong to the Disney Vacation Club, which is similar to a timeshare in that we paid up front for 40 years' worth of acoomodations. The difference is that instead of buying a certain week of the year at a particular location, we bought a number of points. The points are our vacation budget, and depending on when and where we want to go and the size of our unit (the smallest being like a small NY studio to the largest being a 2 story townhouse that sleeps 12), we can use the budget for as many cheap trips or as few extravagant trips as we want each year.
I know that oversimplifies it, but it definitely has opened up much more lengthy conversations with people than some of the explanations we tried in the beginning. Now, if someone is still interested, we can tell them about home resorts, II, concierge, 11 month and 7 month windows, banking and borrowing, etc. etc. Otherwise, the simple explanation gives them food for thought

 

[gmboy95]

We are all just far more sophisticated ....I love talking DVC...if my friends and family dont like it, they can excercise there constitutional right of freedom of assembly and assemble somewhere else....it's funny how they all hate talking disney until they have a trip planned, and then they are your best friends. All of a sudden you become the Frommers disney book. We also get people who think we spend way too much money....I tell them i dont care. My goal in life is to Die leaving my children absolutely NOTHING ....after 22 years of great FREE disney trips, the little rugrats can go out and get real jobs

 

[Doug Wolfe]

I totally understand the deer in the headlights look.

Our friends own Hilton Grand Vacation Club, which is a wonderful program. But they could not resist digging at us for awhile about DVC.

Guess what? I could care less what they think. I am happy, the kids are happy and the Mrs. is happy.

One final point. With DVC I am not locked into to a particular set of weeks like the Hilton folks are!

 

[reneesam]

Even my family is clueless-

I just found out from my S-I-L that she and my brother are planning to go to WDW next May with some members of her family and have already rented offsite. I told her (like a hundred times)that I would always be happy to let her use our points if she just gave us some notice. Her reply was, "that's ok, we wanted to stay in a condo, anyway." (bang head against wall)

I think when we talk about DVC, we just get ignored (for many reasons...) and maybe that's why they just don't "get it."

Renee

 

[sgtpet]

I cannot tell you folks how many times I have promoted DVC to friends and family that travel to Disney once a year or every other year. They look at me like I am crazy. My last push is I got my brother in law a one bedroom for a few days in October. Let's see if I can get him interested.

Oh well.

Better news: My wife and I had a baby girl on May 7th to add to our family which includes a two and a half year old boy. These are good times.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

I can't take that trapped...deer-in-the-headlights-look

I hear ya!
I can't take the "You're going again" look!

 

[tiberius]

Originally posted by sgtpet

Better news: My wife and I had a baby girl on May 7th to add to our family which includes a two and a half year old boy. These are good times.

CONGRATULATIONS on the new family "add-on"!!!!

 

[newarknut]

I know what you all mean. My family (Mom, Dad, Brother and Sisters family) don't "GET IT". I told them that it's more than just the Magic Kingdom. There's four parks now. There's water parks, and more. It's not about all the "stuff". It's about family and spending time being a family without all the distractions of this fallen world.

It's their loss if they never figure it out. We are thrilled to death with our DVC purchase (11/01) and our subsequent add-ons (BCV & HH).

We're taking my F-I-L and my son's best friend down for a week at the Boardwalk in a couple weeks. I'm looking forward to sharing the experience with others.

 

[KarenB]

yup....I know just what you mean!!!!

 

[westjones]

In all fairness to the clueless, I too, was one of them a couple years ago. A friend from church told me about DVC two years ago. When I asked her what it costed I must of looked at her like she was crazy! And I thought, "They must be richer than I realized." Then the next year I volunteered at a Girl Scout camp, and one of the other moms there mentioned they were members of DVC. I had spent the week with her and I knew she wasn't wealthy. I just didn't 'get it'. What were these crazy people spending their money on!!!!!

Then I went on the cruise and saw that DVC video over and over and over and over on the TV. I went and asked for more information at the DVC desk on the cruise. A couple of weeks later they called me.....ALARM BELLS!!!!! TIME SHARE!!!!! I didn't return the calls! Was I crazy! Buying into a 'time share'!

Then 6 months later we went to WDW and took our tent. Yes we were tent camping at Fort Wilderness. We had never stayed onsite before and wanted to see what it was like. WOW! What a different experience. Yes, even in a tent it was great to be onsite (loved the campfire). On our way to store at Fort Wilderness we passed a little booth for DVC. This was after 2 nights in a tent. I stopped and started looking at the pictures. DH wasn't sure what to think of me doing this. We started talking to the CM and he asked if we wanted to learn more about it and said they would pick us up and then take us to whatever park we wanted to go to afterwards.

WELL........I looked at DH and said, it wouldn't hurt to go learn more. After all, so and so, and so and so, are members and the love it. So he agreed (remember he had just slept in a tent for 2 nights when temps were in the 90s each day-- BUT we were having a great time being 'on site' even in our tent).

So the DVC van came to our tent site (have always wondered if we are the only ones they have ever picked up at a tent ). We went to the presentation, took the tour of the room, and I looked at DH and said, "Sounds good to me!" Well to my surprise he said, "Me Too!"

WOW! I was in shock! So we bought 150 points that day. So may advice to all the ladies who are trying to convince their DHs to buy into DVC, have them sleep in a tent at FW for a few days and THEN talk to them about it .

It took me 2 years to figure out it was a good deal, so I understand the 'clueless' people, I was one of them once.
DJ

 

[Tigger7570]

I too have friends and family who are our best friends when they are going to Disney and need advice. Otherwise, I get the same reaction as everyone else "the deer in the headlights". Then there are those who I really believe are just plain jealous, who ask how can we go there year after year. Try to explain to them that although we love the Parks, there's much, much more. My DH tells them they have no idea what they are missing and with a big smile goes on to say how much he loves it and his favorite line which I love is "Why would I want to go anywhere else when they have everything I want right there". This usually shuts them up. On the up side, we have many friends and family that we have taken who have fallen in love with DVC. I have one family member who is kicking himself because I told him back in 95 that he should buy, and of course, he didn't and I know he regrets it, just won't admit it. His DW is a huge Disney fan and would love to own. Bottom line, all of us DVC lovers know that we made a wonderful choice by buying and couldn't care less what the rest of the world thinks. For DH and I it has become our haven where we go to escape the real world and thank God we made the decision to buy and haven't regretted one moment of that decision. So when they get that "deer in the headlights look", just do what we do and smile because unless they join they'll never know what the secret smile is about.

 

[MAC3]

Originally posted by newarknut
We're taking my F-I-L and my son's best friend down for a week at the Boardwalk in a couple weeks. I'm looking forward to sharing the experience with others.

It's amazing isn't it that they just don't get it. newarkhut: we shared our first DVC experience with friends, their reaction is priceless! It's a great feeling to share it as well. I Love seeing DVC & WDW through the eyes of people who don't usually experience it.

Enjoy,
Lisa

 

[spiceycat]

Yes I now that look well..... very well -

people who have never been to WDW - don't understand the attraction - those that do....

One of my brother is probably a bigger fan that I am - he can't afford DVC - and another brother who won't go back to WDW no matter what I offer. This is the brother who lives in St Augustine - and could get the Fla resident pass. oh well some people understand others don't.

My brother has successful brain-washed his children - so I know they will happily take my DVC membership if something happens to me.

most of the time I don't talk about WDW at work unless it is with someone who is going. I don't have DVC all over my office - just my cats....

 

[SheriB]

I just had a conversation yesterday with a co-worker who's daughter and son-in-law just bought DVC a couple of weeks ago. She was asking me about how it works. I tried to explain it and she understood most of it. She also said she thinks her son-in-law is nuts because he is "Disney Obsessed". He and his family visit at least 2 or 3 times per year. I told her that in that situation, he would be a fool not to buy DVC. Especially since he intends to continue visiting frequently.
Then she and another coworker who was also in the conversation said to me, "Why would anyone want to go to Disney EVERY year, let alone 2 or 3 times a year?"
I said to them, "Why does everyone always bash people that choose to vacation at Disney every year? (add sarcasm) Why do we all spend our vacation at the shore every year? There's nothing new there, yet we all go back every summer!" (That would be the Jersey Shore, where we all vacation every year, sometimes several times per summer since our families all own homes there.)
Well, they both paused, and my first coworker said, "Well, I guess I never thought about it that way before. I guess you're right."

Sheesh! Some people will never get it. But at least I got them thinking!

Sheri