Please I need a Good Advice..

[Teacher Princess]

New DVC Owners here,in the West..And in need of advice...Finally and after more than 5 visits to the must happiest place on Earth..our family got our DVC in SSR,we did the whole process throught resale with the TMS,and they were great..Myself I never got the opportunity to go to WDW,With my parents.they were not able to afford it..And know I make reservations to take them with me by the next Spring break ( In March).I have a two bedroom villa,and it will be My dh,my dd,Myself,my mom dad,And my two nephews (9 and 10 years old)..The problem that I have its that all the party in my ressies has to be in tha same DDP,CORRECT??,And my Dad does not make to much money to paid this DDP,for them..Those that live in P.R.,knows how little money they make down there)..I know that he can always use his credit card (A VISA or Mastercard),but ,they dont get this disney thing,and they benn telling me that they dont think theyll make it:,When,I was little my dream was to one day take them to WDW,and know tha I am an adult,my heart its just broken with my mom negativity,I dont know what else to do,Ive been sending them a lots of pictures od WDW,info in spanish and english,I mean EVERYTHING,and still they dont get How important this will be for me...I am also a Bilingual Teacher,and I planning to paid for they plane ticktes,to "relieve' some of the burden,one more thing they want to paid for my nephews tickets as well as everything else,I know,my brother its their father,and its very irresponsable,and they feel an obligation with them..Sorrry for this MS,to be soo long But I need it to vent..I mean ,I can not my vacation just because my mom can not paid her DDP??!!:,My daughter still 7 years old I would like to take her to dine with characters,now tha she is still little..I fell that I can not stop my life for them,I love them and I would love to them to come with us,but I can not sacrifice my dreams..suggestions please! Me,DH,dd..

 

[bobbiwoz]

If the Disney Dining Plan costs too much, and for all of you it will be a lot of money, you can always get groceries, and just do the Character Meals with the youngsters and pay out of pocket. You will have the full kitchen.

You can't make someone love Disney.

Another thought I have is maybe your first DVC trip could just be with your family and when your DMom hears your DD talk about it with excitement, your DMom will want to go with you the next time.

I hope it works out.

Bobbi

 

[allshookup]

That is correct everyone on the reservation must be on the DDP. If you're parents are worried about paying for the DDP, is it possible you can do without as Bobbi suggested? Most people on the DVC boards find that the DDP is not that great a deal & a lot of people find they do better without it. I think it's a great idea to have groceries delivered. You could buy some breakfast foods, sandwich fixings, maybe some pasta etc. and let your parents eat in the villa for most meals & then maybe they wouldn't mind splitting the cost of a couple of dinners.

Not sure how many nights you are staying but it might be worth it to get an annual pass for at least one person in your party & then you could purchase the TIW card for $75 which saves you 20% on food & beverages at many table service restaurants & some counter service.

 

[5forDiz]

Yes every person on your reservation must purchase DDP.

Many here will tell you that it isn't worth $ to purchase DDP.

If you have a 2 bedroom villa my best suggestion would be not to purchase
DDP as posters bobbiwoz & allshookup have said. You will have a full kitchen so having breakfast and lunch at your villa will be easy and very convenient. Also, many members here have posted how they make fun quick & easy dinners in their villa too. DVC Resorts have barbeque grills too so you can grill up some meals too. Maybe your parents will be more comfortable and feel more
"at home" doing meals like this instead of eating all meals out at restaurants or counter-serve locations. Pick a few "must do" character meals for your daughter and pay for those out of pocket; if your parents and nephews want to join you & your DH & DD for the character meals they can decide which they'd like to go along for or maybe they'd just prefer dining at the villa.

Best wishes on your planning

 

[toniosmom]

I agree that the DDP is not worth it. It's much better to have groceries in the room and just take your dd to a couple of character meals out of pocket.

I know it's hard to imagine someone not wanting to go to Disney -- I find that an unbelievable thought myself -- but to each his own.

Frankly, it's a downer to be at Disney with someone who doesn't really want to be there. This happened to me last year and I vowed never to do it again. I realize that you want to gift your parents with an enjoyable vacation, but if they are really not that into it, is it really worth it?

Regardless, welcome home and I sincerely hope that you have a wonderful vacation.

 

[The Red Head]

I agree with others. If having your parents along is that important to you, then don't get the dining plan. Getting groceries and eating some meals in your room will not only save your parents money but you as well. Then just pay for the character dining you want to do. The whole family doesn't even have to join you for the character meal, it can be something special just you and your dd do, or maybe you her and her grandmother do together. And the boys can find something else to do while the ladies are dining with the princesses or something like that.

 

[rowbear]

We are trying the DDP this time but I already have a feeling I am not going to like it. It seems like too much food. Last time I tried to stay at Disney at the Poly and just eat at restaurants every meal I was beyond uncomfortable.

I am not sure why I am going off our normal plan but here is the absolute perfect Disney day IMO.

Breakfast, 2 eggs, toast, and coffee -or- bagel and cream cheese, fruit, and coffee - In the room

Lunch, back to the room for a rest. sammich and chips

Dinner, one of the nice disney restaurants

Mix in the occasional disney snack item and it is a good day.

The meal plan has appetizers, entree, and a desert. Who eats that much? If you don't get it are you getting good value?

I need to talk to the wife again. The more I think about this the worse this idea it seems.

The problem is some people feel like they are supposed to be on vacation and not cook. In my experience it requires very little cooking but it makes the vacation much nicer.

 

[5forDiz]

The meal plan has appetizers, entree, and a desert. Who eats that much? If you don't get it are you getting good value?

There are more than one DDP to chose from; the plan that it seems most purchase does not include appetizer any longer for TS dining nor does it include tip ( this is plan that includes 1 CS, 1 TS & 1 snack per day ). I can't comment on other plans because we've never purchased those.

 

[rowbear]

I agree that the DDP is not worth it. It's much better to have groceries in the room and just take your dd to a couple of character meals out of pocket.

I know it's hard to imagine someone not wanting to go to Disney -- I find that an unbelievable thought myself -- but to each his own.

Frankly, it's a downer to be at Disney with someone who doesn't really want to be there. This happened to me last year and I vowed never to do it again. I realize that you want to gift your parents with an enjoyable vacation, but if they are really not that into it, is it really worth it?

Regardless, welcome home and I sincerely hope that you have a wonderful vacation.

My FiL was a complete debbie downer the ENTIRE time we were there. As a result he will never be invited to go again. How could someone be that <insert some colorful words here> when I am paying for almost everything at the greatest vacation spot on the planet? We stayed at the boardwalk and he spent most his time driving back and forth to the walmart and his main "fun" activity was feeding the birds.

I wish I were lying.

 

[starbox]

I'd suggest waiting to take your parents. We took my parents the third year that we had DVC - once we'd gotten enough vacations under our belts to be able to focus on a trip that was more for my parents than for ourselves.

At the time, I did pay for their dining, in the grand scheme of the cost of the vacation, it did not add that much to the overall budget - I think around 300$ (for 5 days) - and made the trip their Christmas, birthday, and mother's and father's day gift for that year! I know my parents well enough to know that they don't do expensive dining EVER and that paying for Disney-priced food (with or without the DDP) would ruin any potential enjoyment they might have.

 

[JimMIA]

The meal plan has appetizers, entree, and a desert.

The regular DDP does NOT include the appetizer. The appetizer actually hasn't been included for a couple of years. The tax is included, the gratuity is NOT.

 

[Sandisw]

What about changing to a 1 bedroom and a studio then? It will be more points, but it would allow your parents to go, pay for what they can afford, and all of you be at WDW.

Now, there is no guarantee that the rooms will be next to each other, but you can request it. And, if you have the 1 bedroom, you will have a kitchen so they can use that if they want. But this way, those in the 1 bedroom can get the DDP and your parents won't have to.

Just a thought. Good luck with whatever happens.

 

[wulfekamp]

We love DDP but we eat really high end. If your not going to eat a lot of table service then forget it. It sounds to me you have taken on a lot this trip. Family can be great on a trip or a real nightmare. Sometimes family just doesn't get it and can ruin it for you. Be careful.

 

[La2kw]

Skip the DDP. You can eat much cheaper without it. We have been doing so for more than 20 years.

 

[Teacher Princess]

I just wanted to thank you all for your advice,and ideas..I am still have time to decide,what to do..But I cant help feeling dissapointed..And yes its true,that I can not make anyone go to WDW,I ve been planning this family reunion for more than a year...This last March,We went to WDW,and we stayed at the POP Resort...I offered my mom to come with us (I was willing to paid her everything)...she gave me a bunches of excuses,she its not working at this time,she is retired..back in the lates seventies,I remember WDW park tickets were no more than $20 dollars per park correct??.,And brought that to my mother attention,and she thinks that I am blaming her for not take us the the world...,I just would like to be able to take them before they get more older...She is always telling me that I having more than my brothers,and I dont agree with that,I ve been working hardto have what I have..I still have hope,that one day I ll be able to take them with me....I just asking them to sacrifice a little be,so we can have the vacations of our dreams..I am very realistic person,and I know that I can not make them go..will see if they'll change their minds..I just need some prayers..And perhaps, a loan:laughing...thanks for reading..