Love hate relationship with bringing guests

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I just finalized my May booking today for a large family trip - its now up to 12 adults and 2 children and 1 infant. So 3 2br units.

We have some family issues that I know can affect the trip last minute and I accept that I could be blowing 2 years or 921 points. But it is one of those situations where you plan for success and deal with issues as they come.

How I manage risk:

I don't promise specific resorts or room types. I don't have enough direct points to do 3 2br at RR so it will be 2 at RR and one at BWV. I book all lockoffs ( and we are all related) so I don't feel bad if I have to mix the 1br and studio occupants but of course I don't mix within the rooms. if parties flake - I can shift room assignments. I let people know that if lets say 3 of the 5 at BWV cant go - I will book a studio somewhere and cancel or rent the 2BR.

I also project manage the vacation.

Today is booking day and I have checked in that all are still on board. They know rooms are booked and points are borrowed and at risk if they don't communicate.

At 7 months plus a week I will check in again - and ask for their flight #s. If they are not booking flights that is a sign they may be waffling and a conversation will happen.

At 3 months I will ask for tickets to be purchased. Again if they are not getting tickets - another red flag.

60 Days out I will make the ADRs and speak to each guest. Final check.

I know that I can rent the BWV Boardwalk view even 60 days out. And I can grab some studios 60 days out for myself even if I have to split stay so I have mitigated most risk.

Sounds like a great trip you have planned there. We did check in along the way, at the booking time (7months) since I needed to combine non home resort points to book, at 60 days when we did dining and they were driving so everything seemed good (tickets were purchased too). No red flags until they said they weren’t coming. What I do like about your plan and can take some tips from us perhaps booking rooms that have flexibility to be cancelled or rented. Being in one room when we were still going didn’t really give much choice.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

A little update: we leave in 2 days (yay! So freakin excited) and my Dad booked plane tickets instead of driving solo so everything is set. I’ve seen my dads wife twice since we found out her and her son weren’t going. She hasn’t said a word to me. (She had my dad tell me they weren’t going). It’s hard to explain my feelings. I’m not mad, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bothered she didn’t apologize or even bring it up when we’ve seen each other.

I’m also learning my dad has zero idea what this trip is. His wife planned the entire trip with me so he didn’t even know what parks we were going to or anything. It will be fun to show him the DVC side of a Disney vacation. He has no idea how relaxing it can be if you want it to.

 

[bumbershoot]

It’s hard to explain my feelings. I’m not mad, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bothered she didn’t apologize or even bring it up when we’ve seen each other.

My stepdad's then-new wife simply...decided not to go to my wedding. I'd bent over backward for her to accommodate every little thing she worried about, even bought her a corsage like I'd done for my stepmom and aunt, and she just stayed at the hotel. I hope that's not the sort of relationship you guys have had because it's not great. And she never apologized. Nor did she recognize me when I saw her last year when I traveled out for his funeral. Recognized my son, whom she had met once when he was 4, 14 years prior, though.

I’m also learning my dad has zero idea what this trip is. His wife planned the entire trip with me so he didn’t even know what parks we were going to or anything.

Well that's fun!

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

My stepdad's then-new wife simply...decided not to go to my wedding. I'd bent over backward for her to accommodate every little thing she worried about, even bought her a corsage like I'd done for my stepmom and aunt, and she just stayed at the hotel. I hope that's not the sort of relationship you guys have had because it's not great. And she never apologized. Nor did she recognize me when I saw her last year when I traveled out for his funeral. Recognized my son, whom she had met once when he was 4, 14 years prior, though.

that’s really unfortunate. I’m sorry you have such a strained relationship.
We’ve had no issues the entire time they have been together and I don’t expect this to create one. I will just likely not plan any vacations with her in the future unless I’m going in knowing she can flake last minute. I’m thinking maybe she has avoided talking to me about it because she is embarrassed and feels guilty but a simple I’m sorry would sure go a long way. Onward to happy vacation vibes though. We leave in 2 days!

 

[Counting Stars]

Good for you! I hope you have a wonderful time. I hope this is a great vacation and an opportunity to spend some quality time with your dad.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I just finalized my May booking today for a large family trip - its now up to 12 adults and 2 children and 1 infant. So 3 2br units.

We have some family issues that I know can affect the trip last minute and I accept that I could be blowing 2 years or 921 points. But it is one of those situations where you plan for success and deal with issues as they come.

How I manage risk:

I don't promise specific resorts or room types. I don't have enough direct points to do 3 2br at RR so it will be 2 at RR and one at BWV. I book all lockoffs ( and we are all related) so I don't feel bad if I have to mix the 1br and studio occupants but of course I don't mix within the rooms. if parties flake - I can shift room assignments. I let people know that if lets say 3 of the 5 at BWV cant go - I will book a studio somewhere and cancel or rent the 2BR.

I also project manage the vacation.

Today is booking day and I have checked in that all are still on board. They know rooms are booked and points are borrowed and at risk if they don't communicate.

At 7 months plus a week I will check in again - and ask for their flight #s. If they are not booking flights that is a sign they may be waffling and a conversation will happen.

At 3 months I will ask for tickets to be purchased. Again if they are not getting tickets - another red flag.

60 Days out I will make the ADRs and speak to each guest. Final check.

I know that I can rent the BWV Boardwalk view even 60 days out. And I can grab some studios 60 days out for myself even if I have to split stay so I have mitigated most risk.

Good strategy!

 

[Bjaiken77]

We’re feeling the stress of inviting guests now. My wife and I would be fine with a studio or a 1BR. We did a week at a 2BR but we have our fingers crossed that our guests don’t flake.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

Just finishing our 2 wk trip where we had guests during week 1. My kids are begging me to never have another trip with another unless it’s cousins. They hate accommodating someone else’s schedule…..

Frankly, we kinda agree. We enjoy our trips when it’s just us.

 

[crisi]

I do all the time and have my whole life. Really not a big deal IMO. I just wait for all the people who plan way in advance then realize they can't make the trip to cancel and then snag their awesome accommodations. lol That is not for DVC but prior to buying would often do Disney the same way.

Not DVC but prior to purchasing would often do Disney the same way.

(Not a millennial either. Just a person. )

I've done both in my life. Its gotten harder to do - both as I've aged and as the travel I like to do has become more popular - things book up! We were in Amsterdam recently and I'm glad I got museum tickets a month in advance or we wouldn't have see either the Reichmuseum or the Van Gogh museum - thirty years ago those were things you could walk into. And there were plenty of people arguing with the ticket staff - "you can't be sold out, can't you just fit us in!" But you can get awesome last minute deals to go sit on a beach in Mexico - and sitting on a beach doesn't require a lot of planning. (I've never been a huge Van Gogh fan, but Sunflowers is amazing in person - it lives in a way it doesn't in a photograph.)

I've done Disney on a relative whim when I've been in Orlando for a conference - but it was back when tickets didn't expire - so I grabbed a ticket with unused days and showed up. For that sort of trip I don't care if I don't get on the attractions I want to or eat in the restaurants I like - its a last minute "hey, I'll wander around Epcot" sort of trip.

As for taking people along - it can be really tough. What sounds like a great idea in abstract can become less of a great idea as the reality sets in.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I have to add this …
My son in law sure thinks timeshares are a waste of money … and nobody should ever purchase one …
I guess 20 years of staying DVC every year at the Villas including the Riviera , most recently , with my points was a huge waste !
Oh well Gotta love family …