Invited DSis and family..and now DBIL lost his job!

[Psychodisney]

My DSis called me today and let me know her hubby lost his job today. I fell so bad for them. The bummer(for me) is they are supposed to join us in August for a trip. We've got a 2BR set up for them(on borrowed points). I feel selfish for being worried if they are going to back out...but I'm worried they are going to back out. He is a computer guy-hopefully he'll latch on to something. They live beyond their means(IMO) so this will be a tough reality check for them. I'm not sure what to say or do to support her.

 

[Inkmahm]

Start by telling her it is okay to back out of the trip if they need to. It may not be a question of whether they want to or not. The economy sucks and SO many people are out of work that finding a new job by August is not guaranteed. I wouldn't count on it.

 

[Psychodisney]

You're right-I should tell her that. I remember pointing out to her that I this was a final transaction so that had to make a firm commitment. I know I can't hold this against her.

 

[Chuck S]

While borrowing is final, since you were traveling together were you
a)sharing the 2 bedroom unit or
b)was it a separate 2 bedroom unit just for their family?

There are options here, either way, especially since there are several months before travel time.

If you were sharing the unit, you could downsize, use the borrowed points for a smaller unit, and bank any remaining current use year points you may have.

If it was s separate 2 bedroom reservation just for them, you could use it for your family (using the borrowed points) and cancel the room you reserved for yourselves, and bank those points, assuming they are current use year points.

I would give her a firm date to decide if they are able to go, allowing yourself time to make those changes within your banking window.

 

[Psychodisney]

Yes-it is a seperate unit for them(we're 5 and they're 5). That is a great idea to perhaps get rid of the room that is points from this year. I'll log onto the DVC website and see what points are where.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm sorry and I understand. Nothing booked for us YET but we were trying to plan a trip for August for my parents 50th anniv. I have been laid off for almost a year (TGFDVC) and my parents jobs / income / retirement has tanked over the past year too. Even tho their accomodations would be covered I know my parents were worrying about paying for park tickets and getting down to FL. So last week I offered them the alternate idea of maybe we could get them a studio for HHI in Sept. or something. Just for them. Not the beeg anniversary celebration I'd orig. hoped for but it would still be a get-a-way for them and something a little special for their anniv. Closer to home...cheaper since no park tickets... But Mom called me on Tues. to say she still doesn't think they can even do that. I'm disappointed, but the last thing I want to do is stress them out even more. It's supposed to be a fun trip. I told her she can still change her mind...but we'll probably just be planning for our usual family trip in Aug. w/o them.

It is a sad thing indeed to want to help / share with family and they can't participate. Don't panic & don't rush into anything just YET...give your BIL time to "regroup" and digest what has happened while you check into your options and let them know they just need to decide by X date if they still want to go. I wouldn't bring it up to them just yet. Give them some time to figure out how they're going to make it and see if BIL can find a job soon. Best of luck to all of you.

 

[bonrea]

My DSis called me today and let me know her hubby lost his job today. I fell so bad for them. The bummer(for me) is they are supposed to join us in August for a trip. We've got a 2BR set up for them(on borrowed points). I feel selfish for being worried if they are going to back out...but I'm worried they are going to back out. He is a computer guy-hopefully he'll latch on to something. They live beyond their means(IMO) so this will be a tough reality check for them. I'm not sure what to say or do to support her.

Tell your DSis to have her DH sign up for the www.linkedin.com website. It is a networking site for tech people and there is a HUGH number of people that can pass on his resume and a high possiblility of someone leading him to new employment.

BTW... What company did he work for? I am a tech worker also and am in transition from Wachovia to Wells Fargo and am white nuckeled over waiting to see If I'll keep my position. Email me directly and I'll give my name for him to link to on that site.

 

[Psychodisney]

He worked for RRDonnely(the phone book company). I'll mention that website to them.


I tried to make sense of the DVC member website without much luck. I think it will be easier to call MS tomorrow and figure out which points are which. I'm not going to push the issue right now but I'm 90% sure they will need to back out-which I totally understand. Just need to get my ducks in a row. I know they haven't bought airplane tickets yet-or park tickets so they wouldn't be out anything.

 

[ahalla]

We too borrowed points to put up my sister and her family to join us in October. My dh kept telling me they would back out, but I honestly didn't think so. My sister even had me scanning the rent/trade boards so they could up grade to a 1br from a studio. All I can say is Thank God, that I didn't go thru with that, as less than a week later, she called and cancelled. They decided that instead of a family trip, they would go to Cuba. Really disappointing, since even if we cancelled their reservation and banked '09 points, they would expire before we could use them. Oh well live and learn. But on a bright side, we asked friends who are more than happy to come with us! They also won't cancel. I totally understand the OP's disappointment.

 

[AUTigerFan]

I know what you are going through. My BIL lost his job a few weeks before our September trip. They canceled on us two days before we were to leave. We canceled their studio and the points were put into holding. The good ending is that we took a "bonus" trip down right before christmas and had a great time. As others have said, you have time to cancel the points and have more flexibility to use them then I did. Have a great time on your trip!

 

[BroganMc]

That is a bummer for the OP and DSis' family. Everyone's going to feel the hurt this year, but I think next will get better.

In general it's never a good to borrow points for others. You can get left holding the bag too easily. We have just been inviting folks to share our accommodations and been disappointed only when they didn't come. But I've also felt the burn of booking rooms for others. It's unavoidable in a bigger family trip. Just try to keep yourself from borrowing for their room (only yours) and make sure you cancel in time to save yourself a Holding or Banking penalty.

MS should be able to help you switch the ressies in the morning.

As for your DSis, well I too hope they can land on their feet. When they get discouraged remind them of all they still have. Offer what ever shoulder you can or what you can afford to give. We'll all get through this and be the better for it.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Especially in this economy, inviting friends/family to be my "guest" at WDW can be a mixed blessing for them. Yes, the room is "free", but it still requires them to invest quite a bit of $$ in transportation to WDW, park tickets, food, etc..
It can be a sizable burden to put on anyone whose economic situation seems at all shaky, so I think twice (or 3 times) before I ask.

 

[Inkmahm]

You're right-I should tell her that. I remember pointing out to her that I this was a final transaction so that had to make a firm commitment. I know I can't hold this against her.

It's really hard to see friends and family suffer with job losses, savings losses, etc. My own dreams of early retirement are out the window with the stock market, but I thank God every day that I still have a job. Telling her that you understand and it's okay may just relieve one burden from her shoulders when it seems like the world is crashing in. I've been unemployed before and remember that feeling all too well.

 

[Psychodisney]

I talked to MS and the good news is 170 points are form this use year-so I'd be able to bank them no problem. Only 105 were borrowed. In the future I'll have to remember not to use borrowed points for guests.

Thanks for everyone's kind words and support!