Mini-vent, told Mother about our possible DVC purchase....

[Rozzie]

My DM, who I might add belongs to, oh, I say, 5 travel clubs, (RVer) really gave DH and I a hard time about doing DVC. Saying it is going to cost more money than our regular trips (er...I never admit how much we really pay for our deluxe trips...now my underreporting of cost of our trips have come back to bite me... )
Of course the usual "why would anyone want to go to disney that much?" sprung up. She said it all sounded fishy and I was making poor choices. Never mind it will be paid for in 2 years, we both have great incomes and minimal debt. She still likes to control what we spend our money on and it drives me insane!!! Always reminding me a disney trip would tile our kitchen...

ok, but I am still on clould nine, nothing can get me off of here, made my first ressies with MS today, staying OKW in august and SSR for oct. can't wait till' everything is finalized and can cancel those $$$ other ressies with CRO.
My guide said everything looked great from his end, and they charged my CC. Hopefully smooth sailing from here.

thanks had to vent, Seems that our families will think we finally went over the deep end with our DVC. that's ok, got DH who loves WDW as much as me, and plenty of hanname to keep my spirits up!

 

[SueOKW]

I sympathize with you - - there are family members I've never told about our DVC, because I know they would do nothing but find fault with it.

Forget the fact that I've been nothing but happy with our purchase!!

 

[utahkennedys]

My frugal father also tried to talk us out of it, but then now he is coming to OKW with us in a 2 BR in September and when I sent him the links to some photos and told him the golf course runs through the resort, he was so excited! I am thinking we can now talk him into DVC after he stays there and knows how reasonably priced it is. I guess I don't care what anyone else thinks about DVC, I think it's the greatest thing ever and I love Disney so much that it is perfect for me. DH still isn't sold either, but I think he will be on our first trip when we have a private bedroom and jacuzzi for 2!!!

 

[cheyita]

I, too, haven't told everyone in my family about our membership. First off, it's nobody's business but ours. But, secondly and most honestly, I don't want my frugal family talking our poor financial decision. Number one on that list is my parents.

Just go for it and enjoy it. That's one perk about becoming an adult - we don't need our parent's permission anymore! Hanname!

 

[tamu91]

I've told this story many a times on this board as well as to my co-workers more than I cared to remember but it goes something like this.....

My aunt thought we were nuts buying DVC, a timeshare phobia you see. She was planning a trip to WDW last December for a trip during spring break this year. Well, we stayed on-site together couple of years ago and now, she is an on-site snob . We managed a real good deal at the Swan because I had a friend who worked for Westin.
She couldn't find cheap lodging on-site and started hinting about borrowing our points for her trip. I was like, "NO WAY, you thought we were crazy" but of course, we gave in and reserved a studio unit for her at VWL.

Most people see the $15,000 price tag and the $1,000 yearly maintenace fee and get choked up. They don't see the "value" in it, especially for those that visit WDW on a regular basis. On-site deluxe villas would not be in our travel plans if not for DVC. My kids love having extra space, boat rides to MK, taking a mid-day break and going swimming ......
Words can't describe the joy that brings to my heart seeing my kids enjoying and loving WDW as much, if not more, than I did as a child. Just my two cents

 

[crisi]

I was actually shocked by my parents reaction.

We'd mentioned we bought and my Dad said "I think that is a really good decision for you guys." He's pretty conservative financially, and isn't a huge Disney fan. Plus the whole "timeshare" stigma. But he'd been with us for a few days with the kids, and I think he saw the same Disney draw we did - at least while the kids are little, we'll be back every few years.

 

[CharlesTD]

That is kinda funny my in laws were the same way when we talked about getting it we didn't tell them we had been members for over a year lol. Then after we talked to them so much about it they went in Dec 03 and then tell us all they have a big suprise for us for x mas what do they do they give us all a DVC contract for x mas LOL. So after that we piped up and told them we were allready members they laughed at us for keeping it a secret for so long I guess they didn't think we could hold out that long or something. They finally conceded that after running the numbers and seeing the accomodations etc it was well worth the money and not a waste of money.

 

[murcor]

I, too, haven't told everyone in my family about our membership. First off, it's nobody's business but ours. But, secondly and most honestly, I don't want my frugal family talking our poor financial decision.

Same here, especially DH family....none of them have been out of Canada...let alone WDW!

 

[DisFlan]

My DM, who I might add belongs to, oh, I say, 5 travel clubs, (RVer) really gave DH and I a hard time about doing DVC

This is why we've told very few people that we joined DVC, much less my mother.

1) she'd give us more than a hard time. "I wish I'd known you were just going to waste all that money, Dear. I could have used a newer car this year."
2) she'd blab to everyone else in the family and want us to give them "free" vacations. "Your brother's had a hard year, Dear. Put him up at your place in Disney for a week."
3) she'd want to know why we aren't inviting her to join us. (My DH would slit his wrists first.)

No way. Just NO freakin' way!

DisFlan

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

My parents threw a fit when I started the process too. They own many weeks of timeshare, I think 7 or 9. Anyway, they own most of the weeks with Marriott and Dad knew how high our maintance fees are and tried his best to get me to buy another timeshare and trade. Then said "I will get you a week at Disney with my Marriott week" and then could not get it!
We went against thier advice and invited them on our first trip because they had given us many weeks of timeshare with them. So, about an hour after arriving in our two bedroom villa at the Boardwalk, with Boardwalk view (right over the brewery) he said to me "I am sorry, this was a great decision"

We are taking them on a 7 day cruise this year and I am taking them back to the BWV in Jan 2005, so they are now VERY happy that we are owners of multiple contracts of DVC!

 

[Tigger7570]

My older brother, by 7 years, also an rver, and also thinks he's my father, thought we didn't know what we were doing when we bought at OKW in 93, all we heard about was the cost of the maintenance, and blah, blah, how it won't pay for itself and it would be cheaper to pay each trip we took, and on and on. Anyway, we hooked up on one of our trips to OKW with him and he was so impressed with OKW, it was quite funny. I can tell you that it has more than paid for itself in memories with family, friends and now grandchildren. By the way, I love my brother, but he too is a control freak. If we had chosen to buy an RV, that would have been fine, of course, he would have had to tell which one, etc. I have never had one regret about buying and our DVC membership has been a source of much happiness to us. You've made the right choice and I wish you much happiness with your choice.

 

[Rozzie]

This is why we've told very few people that we joined DVC, much less my mother.

1) she'd give us more than a hard time. "I wish I'd known you were just going to waste all that money, Dear. I could have used a newer car this year."
2) she'd blab to everyone else in the family and want us to give them "free" vacations. "You're brother's had a hard year, Dear. Put him up at your place in Disney for a week."
3) she'd want to know why we aren't inviting her to join us. (My DH would slit his wrists first.)

No way. Just NO freakin' way!

DisFlan

I think I made a mistake by telling her. She allready thinks we "are made out of money" because we both work, own our home, and have no children. She hinted at the 2Br. and I told her she would have to contribute the extra cash it would take. She didn't say another word. I knew better, but I was so excited about the whole DVC thing, and thought she would be excited too. Her last words as she walked out the door "I hope you don't get sued."
We might have enough points one day to take all of our relatives, but with only 200 points, studios are where we will be for a few years.

It is comforting to see that other members went through this with their families trying to "save them from financial disaster...."

 

[mamaprincess]

I will dance a dance of defiance, determination and solidarity.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

We still have not told my MIL. She would freak out and then start lamenting about how she wishes she could buy something like that.

My parents think it's nice we are able to afford such a luxury...

 

[disney junky]

We must be lucky. Everyone must be talking behind our backs. I priced RV's and started adding up the cost and depreciation and fuel and campsite rental and then storage when you aren't using it. Unless you live in a tent, camping is expensive. I look at what we paid for DVC and what it's worth now and though I never expected to get a dime back out of the cost, I could sell and not lose a whole lot of money. My SIL has stated that she doesn't like the parks. No big deal. I do believe if my family ever saw the type of accomodations this school teacher and wife stay at, they'd be lime green with envy.

 

[DisFlan]

It is comforting to see that other members went through this with their families trying to "save them from financial disaster...."

Rozzie - Isn't it interesting how they feel they have to do that? (cough cough)

The only family we've told is my sister. She and her family were with us on our last trip at OKW. Great trip, btw. They LOVED the resort and are interested in looking into DVC. But my BIL looked at my sister and me and said (loudly), "DON'T tell your mother!" We all know her pretty well.

DisFlan

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Boy, Rozzie, do I know where you are coming from. My mom thinks you should save every penny and never go anywhere or anything because some huge calamity might come along and you will need that money to meet that need. Well, it might... But, I am not going to live my life based on the slight possibility that something horrible might happen (like getting sued!) I will cross that road when I get there.

Enjoy DVC!!

 

[lllovell]

My experience has been that the only big calamity that comes along like that is the big one - and all that money wont save you from that either. Life is for living. I dont want to run out of money before I reach the end, but I am going to live.

 

[goofy4tink]

Back in '99, my mom and I took my dd, then 6, to WDW for the first time. My mom had been there before, but it was a first for my dd and myself. Well, dd and I fell in love with the place. We went back in '01 with dh and another family. Dh suggested we go again but by ourselves, so in '03 we head back. We looked into buying DVC on our departure day. That was late August. We decided to buy a week later. Now, my mother would always say.."Oh George and katie only put up with your trips to WDW to make you happy. They aren't nearly as crazy about it as you think." Or.."You have them brainwashed." You get the picture. So, needless to say, we didn't say anything to her about our looking into this. So, we got all our paperwork, signed it and sent it back. We had talked about it and decided that in the summer of '05 I was going to take my mother and my dd on a 'ladies only' trip to WDW for a week. However, my mother never got to harrass me about our purchase. We buried her the same day our approval letter came!!! But, I can still hear her...telling me how foolish we are or how dh only puts up with it to shut me up!!!

We haven't told dh's mother either. She doesn't even get why we go as often as we do. Says that once you've done it, why go back? She actually asked how many times you can ride the same rides!!! No, our families just don't get it. But, that's okay with us. We just smile to ourselves and know the wonderful memories we are making. And my dd and I have a special bench that we sit on and remember the trip with my mom. We had originally sat there resting up a bit since mom had had breast cancer surgery just before we had left. Many, many memories for us!!

 

[SoCalKDG]

You mean we have to tell our parents?