OKW Gift to our Senior son for trip w/friends

[NUHuskies#1]

Hi there,

My husband and I are considering allowing our son (18 yo @time of visit) to allow him and three of his friends to use our points for a studio at OKW next spring- maybe during Grad Nights but not certain. They would not have a car and would rely on Disney Transportation. Maybe a trip over to Universal through MEARS. He has been 100 times and knows the area well- his three firends have never been.

Any experiences or tips with this you would like to share?

TIA

 

[Deb & Bill]

We thought of the same thing - only we were going with the kids and getting a two bedroom villa at OKW. Now, they are not sure they want to go to FL after graduation since some of the kids are going to Italy for the Senior trip a few months before graduation and might not have the cash for tickets, food, etc. We'll spring for the accomodations and a few meals together, but not for all their tickets.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

We did this for our son and daughter when they graduated high school in 2005 and 2008...we provided the studio at BWV for 5 nights..and their friends paid for their own airfare, park tickets and food...like your son both of our kids had been to disney countless times and knew their way around. They used the magical express and disney transportation to get around.....they didn't go to universal. They each took one good friend...and we were also friends with the parents so that made the planning easier....the kids decided which parks and water parks they wanted to go to...for my son it also included 2 rounds of golf.....both trips went well and everyone had a lot of fun before heading off to college

 

[BEASLYBOO]

DS(13) who absolutely loves being a "DVC owner" asked if I, one day when he's older would allow him to come with his friends, and I said whole heartidly, yes. We love family trips but I think it would be fun for him and his friends to come by themselves. He also has been to Disney/Resorts so many times and is familiar with the whole process of checking in, tickets, DVC perks etc., that he probably could give his own DVC tour. I think being comfortable and well accustomed to the environment can only make the trip that much more fun and easy for your son and his friends!

My, they grow up fast, DVC is one of the best choices I made for our family.

Let us know how it turns out!

 

[htw]

Palhockeymomof 2, just curious, did your children go alone or were you there as well? How old were they at the time?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Palhockeymomof 2, just curious, did your children go alone or were you there as well? How old were they at the time?

they had just graduated high school & turned 18...we didn't go along..they each were allowed to take up to 3 friends to stay with them in the studio...but each decided to take just 1 friend with them.....any other questions just let me know

 

[htw]

I would love to do that for my son. The problem is that I would love to go, too.

 

[Psychodisney]

I don't think they's be able to get inot grad nights(or would they)?

 

[NUHuskies#1]

Hi all- thanks for the responses. I went to Disney with 7 of my girlfriends (we had 2 rooms) and stayed on I-Drive for our high school graduation. One of the Dads arranged it for us. This was way before they had the on-site properties like they do now. In fact, only MK and Epcot were open! We had a ball- my friends and I still talk and laugh about it on FB! We got in more trouble too (Sorry.. but the 80's were wild!)-
Thank goodness my son is not like me! Truthfully, I am thrilled to be able to offer this to him and his friends!

I have a couple of questions:
Will it be ok for him to check in if he's not on the deed? He will 18 at the time.

Do I just put other boys names on the reservation when I make the reservation?

Do they have to be part of an organization to get into Grad Nights? Or can they just by tickets like a special event like MVMCP?

My son's first question was: What are we going to do about food?
(Gotta love it!...)I said you can go on the dining plan, buy as you go or take a cab and go do some shopping at Winn-Dixie near Downtown Disney. (We hit WD every time we're there- he's been there numerous times)

It is true that I can put them on the DP, right? If they choose to go that route?
TIA

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Hi all- thanks for the responses. I went to Disney with 7 of my girlfriends (we had 2 rooms) and stayed on I-Drive for our high school graduation. One of the Dads arranged it for us. This was way before they had the on-site properties like they do now. In fact, only MK and Epcot were open! We had a ball- my friends and I still talk and laugh about it on FB! We got in more trouble too (Sorry.. but the 80's were wild!)-
Thank goodness my son is not like me! Truthfully, I am thrilled to be able to offer this to him and his friends!

I have a couple of questions:
Will it be ok for him to check in if he's not on the deed? He will 18 at the time.


Do I just put other boys names on the reservation when I make the reservation?

Do they have to be part of an organization to get into Grad Nights? Or can they just by tickets like a special event like MVMCP?

My son's first question was: What are we going to do about food?
(Gotta love it!...)I said you can go on the dining plan, buy as you go or take a cab and go do some shopping at Winn-Dixie near Downtown Disney. (We hit WD every time we're there- he's been there numerous times)

It is true that I can put them on the DP, right? If they choose to go that route?
TIA

I'll try to answer based on my experiences

-yes he will be able to check in without being on the deed....I booked the reservation in my childs name and also had the name of their guest on the reservation so they each had a room key with their name on it

-sorry they didn't go during grad nights....so I can't help with this one

-we did the dining plan...and at check in they split the cost of the dining plan and charged each childs cc for one plan.....park tickets, extra food each kid paid for on their own.....

 

[momof2minnies]

I am thinking about doing this as well.We are not DVC but just OKW fans for years-should have been DVC by now.

My DD will be 18 and we want to give this to her for graduation.Does she need to have a credit card to check in? Oh this is not a good idea with this kid- money burns a hole in her pocket- it could be trouble.Going to college a credit card could be a disaster at this point.

TIA,
Linda

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am thinking about doing this as well.We are not DVC but just OKW fans for years-should have been DVC by now.

My DD will be 18 and we want to give this to her for graduation.Does she need to have a credit card to check in? Oh this is not a good idea with this kid- money burns a hole in her pocket- it could be trouble.Going to college a credit card could be a disaster at this point.

TIA,
Linda

No, no need to have a credit card on file. That's just to allow charging to the room. You could give her a gift card with a set amount and when it's empty, no more buying.

 

[rigsby25]

This was the greatest vacation. My daughter got married at the Swan/Dolphin. On the same trip, we let my son take 3 friends for his graduation present. We paid for their air fare and tickets. We stayed in 2 2-brs which happened to be together on the first and second floor. My daughter put up her wedding party on the first floor, and my husband and I and his sister stayed on the second floor with the high school grads. It was really a truly magical marvelous vacation.

 

[DVC-Don]

We thought of the same thing for our son when he graduated high school in June. But then I thought of several 18 years olds in one room and booked them at Pop Century for the daily room service and fresh towels. They went on their own via air and DME. Worked fine.

We are doing the same thing for our daughter this June also.