Is this too... tacky?

[Johnnie Fedora]

When we we stay in 2 BR-lock-off with guests, we often go with the we'll pay 5 nights (using points) guests pay 2 nights on cash (Fri and Sat). That way they get 7 nights for the price of 2, and we save the weekend points. We always have the MB, so no debate there. Maybe you could try that approach.

good luck

 

[Disney Doll]

CK1, you've created a monster!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that the way you have decided to handle it is a good idea. I also think that if they have no idea about the cost of points etc, an explanation is in order, and if their eyes start to "glaze over", a simple "you're not paying attention, we are talking about MONEY here" will be enough to snap them back to reality. It's a relatively simple thing...points cost money, YOUR money, and they are using points, so in effect, spending YOUR money on their vacation.If you invite them and tell them up front it's your treat, great!!! (and, can I be related to you ??) If they invite themselves, which it sounds like they did, and what you can offer them is 5 nights in a studio for free, I think they should be VERY grateful. And, you're right...with a new baby, they will like the privacy.

 

[dianeschlicht]

So have you made a decision? What was the response?

 

[crisi]

I'd really encourage you to sit down and explain - in a limited fashion - how it works and that you have other obligations.....

"We really enjoyed having you guys and want to treat you again sometime, but we have some obligations with the other side of the family, some friends, and get some family vacation time for just us before we will be able to treat you again. Unfortunately, we weren't able to afford enough points to be able to treat everyone all the time. If we ever win the lottery, you guys can come along on every trip."

 

[DSNY FN]

My wife and I have differing opinions on this she agrees with the time away for just her and I and the 3 kids but I personally don't care for trips like that so for me the more the merrier thast is why for the next 4 years in a row we have my mom coming then my dad and brother and sister coming then all her family coming and some friends of ours joining us. I find it takes away from the trip if it is just the 5 of us as we can't ride the rides together etc yes I know it is being selfish but hey it is after all my money sorry our money going into this so I should have a say hehehe. Honestly you are not being tacky with this you need your own space all we do is get a 2 bdrm with a lockout at OKW and that helpes everyone involved then we have one side and lock the door off and they essentially have their own room.

 

[CK1]

Wellll.... an update. Family hasn't mentioned whether they are coming or not. I'm going to have to contact them directly to find out. I doubt they would never go if option of paying for room arose -- I explained once that basically, the vacation was 412 pts and if you calculated $10 per pt rental value, you're looking at $4120 accommodations. Well, only way to know for sure is to approach this whole matter head-on. WIll let you know what happens....
(vacations shouldn't be THIS hard...)

 

[crisi]

Cindy,

The one thing I'm not getting in your approach is that you are asking them what THEIR plans are for YOUR points - and hoping the whole thing blows over and they just elect not to use them with a new baby. Very non-confrontational, but you are setting yourself up for being a doormat in the future.

Then again, what do I know. My sister in law and I barely speak because I invited them to spend Christmas at our house - and when I discovered she was planning on bringing three large dogs (to my new house, where I had cats - including a sick elderly cat, no sod in the yard and two new babies) and I told her she couldn't, she had a fit. The relationship hasn't been the same since - but I do still have clean carpets and had a much more peaceful Christmas.

 

[CK1]

Well, like Rex on TS says, "I don't like confrontation!"

Seriously, it's not so much that I'm afraid of confrontation as it is that I'm not going to exert myself for them in an explanation of "how it works and ergo will be" if they aren't even coming.
On the other hand, if they say yes, or volunteer some other combination of people coming along, we'll have to weigh it out as a family and then inform them of our decision (guests, no guests, a few guests, whatever) pronto.

Really, had I been on my guard, I could have nipped this whole mess in the bud, but I didn't expect it -- at all. It just happened and I thought I was hearing them say "We enjoyed it and would like to join you again" and figured they meant "someday" far into future. So I may have even inadvertently agreed.

I'll let you know how it goes -- still trying to get in touch w/ them.

 

[mikesmom]

JMHO, but given personal experience, the subject of whether you want to gift them or charge them is irrelevant. If you think there is a possibility of them bailing on you, you need to set the ground rules early.

Cancelling and re-organizing points can be a nightmare and a half, particularly at the last moment. You could end up just wasting the points (money) and that is the worst.

 

[reneesam]

Best of luck to you. You've received some great advice, but only you can be in your shoes.

I've run into many of the same problems with family members. Our main problem (I think) is that people think we "own" a "place" at WDW. They don't know or care about the number of points we need to use, that points=money, or that we still have annual dues that we pay to be DVC members. They think it's a paid-up, one time purchase. I'm glad you hit them with the $10/pt analogy. You should also let them know about your dues. "Boy, if we rented these 400 points for $10/pt, we'd pay $4000 for this villa--thank goodness, we only had to pay $1600 in dues THIS YEAR so we could take THIS VACATION at THIS VILLA."

My personal pet peeve is trying to get people to commit when you have to borrow points to accomodate them. I just feel like saying, "Hello...we are now talking about my own family's future vacations (or lack thereof!)" I think, in the future, I will not borrow points for use by anyone else but my own family. That way, I don't have to be on pins and needles hoping they don't change plans.

Best of luck. Let us know how it all turns out.

 

[CK1]

Originally posted by mikesmom
JMHO, but given personal experience, the subject of whether you want to gift them or charge them is irrelevant. If you think there is a possibility of them bailing on you, you need to set the ground rules early.

Cancelling and re-organizing points can be a nightmare and a half, particularly at the last moment. You could end up just wasting the points (money) and that is the worst.

I agree, it can be a nightmare -- which is why I've got about 50 different combinations of pts use worked up on an EXCEL spreadsheet! So far I've narrowed it down to a few that are very close in pts use, but don't deviate too far from what we wanted out of the vacation for ourselves. (That's how I arrived at being able to give 5 nts in a studio, nothing more...) Fortunately, our vac. is in Aug and our use yr is June, so if they do bail, we have from Aug to the next May 31st to use, rent, re-distribute, etc. Maybe there's a lesson in that for others -- when inviting guests, put your vac. at the beginning of your use yr so that any bail-outs can be optimally managed!! With the pts we're using (and I am borrowing a few, which we always do, but it does make things more complicated...) I can convert their studio pts into 2 extra days in a 2 br for us, or use it for another vacation in the spring, prior to June, if necessary. But you're right, it's a hassle, and non-DVC folks just don't "get it". They think I plan this early because I like to (which is true) -- but if I want that SV at BWV, I literally HAVE to reserve early. And if you don't want to lose valuable pts, you also need to always be looking at the bottom line on what pts expire when, how many you are borrowing / banking, etc.

I also agree that the dues issue is something the non-DVC folks know nothing about, and they do indeed think you're all-paid up, whatever you need you can have. I even thought about sending my bil/sil to this board for a lesson in the ins-outs of DVC.... but then they would see this thread....so again skirting confrontation, I shelved the idea. Or at least for now, anyway....

BTW -- to the poster who said he feels "the more the merrier" -- are you my dh in disquise? (lol) DH loves having lots of family to pal around with on vacation, esp. at the parks!