Purchasing as a Wedding Gift?

[HollyH]

We are members (since '99) and our kids have been on wonderful vacations spoiling both them and us! Now our kids are older and we're going to AKVs with their significant others in 2 weeks! On the 4th of July our son is planning on proposing (carriage ride at Ft.W...the whole deal). We want to give them a membership for their wedding present from us.

Has anyone done this before? How soon should we start the ball rolling? Can we buy it in their names without them being there to sign on the dotted line? Do we buy it and then transfer ownership? Our son said they'd probably go for a wedding date next summer, early fall. The deal for 100 pts at AKV sounds very tempting and since we'll be there, it'll be hard to pass up.

Advice?

 

[mrdiscranky]

You are buying real estate that comes with a committement to pay maintences fees for the next 30-50 years. No way to get their name on the deed without their knowledge.

The best way would probably be to arrange the whole thing with Disney - then give them the paperwork and a check as the gift. But that doesn't allow you to buy now and give the gift later. You could buy it in your name now, but it's a full blown real estate transaction, so you would have to go through the time and expense of getting the deed retitled.

Althought the 100-point deals are temping, there will be deals down the road near the time of their wedding. Dinsey might not still be stelling 100-point contracts, but you can always pick one up via resale.

PS - Awesome gift.

 

[Deb & Bill]

What if the wedding doesn't take place as planned for some reason?

 

[moredisneyplease]

What if the wedding doesn't take place as planned for some reason?

Good question indeed. Things these days are so quick to turn in relationships. I would do it in your name and then go through the whole process of tranferring it over when all is nearly said and done.

And if things dont turn out the way you're dreaming, my husband and I would love to be your pretend children We just celebrated 10 years so those 100 points would be a great anniversary present

 

[Disney_Villain]

What nice parents you are!

As it is real estate you cannot make the purchase for them. They have to sign for it. As there are also dues involved, they must be informed of them to know what they're committing to. Unless their pennyless, I can't see them declining your generous offer!

I recommend a "gift presentation" (make it a special affair, and use your imagination) with maybe a card or printed "coupon" in their name saying that you wish to give them a DVC membership - and all they have to do is come to the sales center with you. Find some promo materials that you can toss into your presentation as well. Everyone loves glossy handouts, esp. when you're about to own what it represents!

My mother-in-law and father-in-law have done this many times (ie: for a DCL cruise as our wedding present, etc.). It has worked very well. Her favourite way of doing this is to print a colour "gift coupon" that she drafted up in Word, then wrapping it up with great flare as if it were a wrapped present.

 

[CarolMN]

I don't think I would give my child this type of gift.

As already posted, it entails payment of annual fees for the next 50 years or so. It's also a commitment for regular expensive vacations. DVC takes care of the lodging, but does nothing for transportation, food or tickets.

Many young people just starting out have significant financial pressures - paying off school loans, buying a home, starting a family, building an emergency fund, saving for retirement, etc. (Can you tell I work in the Financial Services industry? ) Expensive vacations aren't usually high on the priority list (but high on the wish list, I'm sure).

Anyway, perhaps the OP's son is in a much better financial situation than my child, LOL.

I do agree with the others, though - there is no way to buy a membership for someone without his/her signature.

 

[HollyH]

Thanks for all the responses so far. A little background....

As far as the wedding: It was more a matter of when... not if. Never say never but I can't imagine them not going through with it. They've been together over 3 yrs and she tells her roommate she hopes he'll one day ask her at WDW. She's already like a daughter to us and has been on numerous trips. She usually helps in the planning so she's well aware how this all works.

As far as their finances: He's a Chef and she's finishing up her last year towards becoming a psychologist. In the end... they'll probably be better off then we are!

As far as the fees: My husband & I intend to help them with the fees until they've whittled down the school loans, etc, etc.

The Rest: Good years or struggling years, our family has always counted on our DVC to give us vacation time together be it a weekend or longer. It's not always an expensive vacation. We don't always go to the parks. We're Vero members and spend a lot of time just at the beach, cooking our own meals, etc. We are and always have been a Disney family. We gave them a choice of going to Ireland this summer or going to WDW and they chose WDW. Our son and daughter have both said that when they start their own families they want to become members too. That way they'll be able to enjoy trips with their own children. I know something like this would not work for all families but for our family, this works. We can look at it as an investment for our future grandchildren's future vacations!

Thanks again for all the input! Lots to think about.

 

[rigsby25]

I had been toying with the idea of buying a small resale contract for my daughter so that she could get the annual passes and other DVC perks. As it is, she got married at the Swan and Dolphin in April and we used my DVC 20% off at the Garden Grove restaurant for the after dinner for 25. And then at any time they could add on to that.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Wow! I think it's a wonderful idea. I'm 38 and DH is 40 and our issue (from the get-go) woudln't have been the MFs, but the initial purchase to buy into the program. I would have been THRILLED if someone would have given us vacations for the rest of our lives!!!

With that said, when you're down there, look at OKW, AKV and possibly KTV. Given their ages, I would want the longest contract possible.

Bottom line, if down the road they decide DVC is not for them, they can always sell it or give it back to you.

If you want to be very sneaky, I wonder if you could get your guide to go along with telling DS that YOU are adding on and want DS's name on the contracts? Have him sign everything (kids never pay any attention to something like this) and then it will be in his name and his name only. He can add DW as an associate member, but the contract will always be in his name.

 

[toesmom]

It sounds very nice, but you should discuss with them first.

 

[castleri]

You might consider an add on to your contract in whatever amount of points you think you want to gift them with - Then you would be able to do a quit claim deed at a later date around the time of the wedding. You would be able to do a 100 point contract that way at any of the resorts if Disney has the points available. With the extension OKW might be a consideration also. You may also get some incentives with an add on that you will not get buying the 100 point contracts that are being offered for the AKV offer.

 

[FoodLover]

To me this sounds like a very well-intentioned but bad idea.

Your gift will force your son and future DIL to commit to hundreds (and over time, eventually thousands) of dollars in DVC maintenance fees, every year for their adult lifetime. A lot of things can happen, particularly when you're young and just getting established in a career. They could end up really unhappy to be stuck with those fees.

It also commits them to visiting WDW at least every 3 years, or they will lose the value of those fees. Are you completely sure this is where they will want to vacation all the time?

Are you envisioning that because of this gift, they will vacation with you every year at WDW? While I'm sure they love you dearly, it's normal for a young couple to want some "alone time" away from family members, so they can establish their own family traditions. This may be a way of forcing "togetherness" that will backfire.

I'm a DVC owner, but I made that choice as a mature adult with an established career, plenty of savings socked away, a definite knowledge that I wanted to visit WDW regularly, and enough time and money to vacation elsewhere, too.

Just my .02...

Mary

 

[CustardTart]

I think it's a wonderful idea and definitely something I would consider for my own DD - if she hadn't already bought DVC at AKV last year! I know what you mean about being a Disney family - that's how it is with us too. Our DD bought points with her first bonus and is delighted with the purchase...

You know your DS and future DIL so if you feel it's something they'd love, why not go for it!? Maybe chat with your guide about how best to make it happen...

Good luck!!!

 

[ilovefh]

I see both sides. If it is something they have talked about and you think they would like it then explore it. I would have loved that gift from my parents, if I hadn't bought in three years before they did! We will continue to vacation every year with my family, and also take trips alone. If they are anything like my Dfiance and myself, it would be a fantastic gift! In the end only you know your son and his future wife.

 

[moredisneyplease]

After posting the details of your son and DIL I still stick with my initial thought of "that is so cool!" I think they will be very, very appreciative since they're Disney folks I could only dream of my parents doing that for us!

 

[HollyH]

Wow! Lot's of unintended debating here! I do appreciate all your thoughts on this but truly, we were not wondering IF we should do but HOW we should do it, how to proceed and how others had done this in the past.

The facts are:
They have expressed the desire to become members. Helping plan our trips all these years has given them the knowledge of how it works. They will be financially capable of the commitment. Giving them their own points does not mean we're envisioning every vacation together. On the contrary... it means DH & I can enjoy our OWN points without them! We are only giving them 100 pts (that's a manageable maintenance fee) and as they grow financially and their family grows they can add on points as they desire. And as far as commiting to WDW every 3 yrs, we can't get them to go anywhere else! A reminder, WDW is not the only place to utilize your pts. As Buckeye Fan said... "our issue (from the get-go) woudln't have been the MFs, but the initial purchase to buy into the program".

Bottom line:
As I said before. We are a Disney family. Something like this would not work for everyone but for our family, this works. Thanks so much to some of you for the nice words of encouragement and sorry to others if I'm seeming defensive but I wasn't thinking I'd have to defend the purchase. I just wanted your experiences creating this magical gift. I guess the best thing to do is to call our guide like CustardTart said.

 

[ilovefh]

The facts are:
They have expressed the desire to become members. Helping plan our trips all these years has given them the knowledge of how it works. They will be financially capable of the commitment. Giving them their own points does not mean we're envisioning every vacation together. On the contrary... it means DH & I can enjoy our OWN points without them! We are only giving them 100 pts (that's a manageable maintenance fee) and as they grow financially and their family grows they can add on points as they desire. And as far as commiting to WDW every 3 yrs, we can't get them to go anywhere else! A reminder, WDW is not the only place to utilize your pts. As Buckeye Fan said... "our issue (from the get-go) woudln't have been the MFs, but the initial purchase to buy into the program".

Your family sounds like mine! I would love to have been given a DVC membership as a gift!! They sound like they'd love it and get a lot of use out of it!! I assume they'd have to be in on it to fill out paperwork and such, but don't let people on her discourage you! Only you know if they'll love it! And if they don't want it, I'm getting married in October and I could always use 100 more points!

 

[FoodLover]

Wow! Lot's of unintended debating here! I do appreciate all your thoughts on this but truly, we were not wondering IF we should do but HOW we should do it, how to proceed and how others had done this in the past.

Sorry, I misunderstood your initial post, which ended with the single word, "Advice?" That seemed to invite general feedback on your plan.

Since you've obviously already thought this through and made up your mind about the purchase, please disregard my comments, and enjoy your gift-giving.

Mary

 

[Lynne M]

Given the circumstances you've described, I think it's a lovely, generous idea for a wedding gift.

But....I wouldn't make the purchase for them. If it were me, I wouldn't want to deprive the kids of the fun of choosing their home resort. And I wouldn't want to choose a use year for them, unless I really knew their vacation habits and work schedules. I think they should also choose the number of points that best suits their needs.

They're going to have to live with the contract for the next several decades, so I'd recommend letting them figure out the right resort, etc., themselves.

Check with your guide. They may have a 'gift certificate', or you could make one up yourself. I'm sure your guide would be happy to send you the promotional materials, so you can make up a nice gift package.

 

[Off-The-Deep-End]

How Nice.

Since I don't see an easy way around the real estate laws. (Unless making them associate Owners and later removing yourselves from the contract), perhaps this would work.

Using your computer, or an artistic friend's talents, make a nice gift-certificate, announcement type certificate, and have it framed. Then you could wrap this and present it to them. AT the wedding, or rehersal dinner or whenever most exciting/appropriate.

It is nice to see how well you know your son and fDIL, and what a wonderful, personal and life-long gift you have chosen for them!

All the best!