Sister-in-law comment!!!!

[NYMomof4]

No chance that mine will take it for granted,lol. I work very hard to be able to take them on vacations and they see that everyday. They do not get $100 sneakers or excessive "wants" during the year so we all look forward to our vacations with much appreciation.

My parents were not rich but they always managed nice vacations (not expensive-just nice times) Now as an adult I am even more grateful that I did not have parents that thought driving to the next town was a getaway. If they grow up and like to stay at nice places like DVC-then they will soon learn that they will need $ to do so. At this point, however, they like our camping trips too, which are about a $200 weekend!LOL

 

[2giddy4wdw]

I too never went to disney as a child, but I decided when I had children that I would give them more then I got. And I got alot when I was a kid. So we took them on the disney vacations but other ones too. We just bought into DVC and DS got one vacation on it, now he is in college. But he will use it again. I believe it's all in the way you raise your children as to how they act when they are older and not take things for granted.

I also have to agree with the others that posted that it sounds like she is jealous!! We maybe wrong. Just make a lot of magical memories!!!! That's what Disney is all about!!!

 

[minniemoms]

I am sorry for your SIL, how jealous she must be.
I didn't get to go to WDW until 6 years ago. But I went to DL every 3 years as a child, and our 6 children have been to DL too many times to count. They still love it. They only wish we lived closer. 4 DD have now gone to WDW with me, and DH.One DD worked at WDW on the CP. She wants to go back and work there again. Will they tire of it?? Some children may, I think it depends on how you raise them. We raised our children to respect everyone, regardless of where they have come from.And to appreciate and be grateful of everything they are given, no matter how big or small it might be. They are very giving and kind, and now DD firstborn, took her 2 young ones to DL, it has come full circle now.
I say live it up, but be careful she will ask to go with you guys...

 

[rogerram]

My kids love going to WDW. My oldest dd went for a week duing her freshman year at Spring Break with friends and they loved it. Some of them never went before and she showed them everything there. A few years back, she brought a friend who's family could not afford to go and her friend reminded her how lucky this was . They had a great time then. This year my son is bringing his gf with us and she has never been because of her home life. He knows how special it is and I am happy we can bring the magic to people who often can't do it on their own. I don't ask for anything, but to see them enjoy this for the first time is something all of us as a family will cherish. They truly appreciate ths.

and you SIL is jealous.. don't let her bring you down. You deserve everything you can give to your family and you do whatever you love to do..DVC being one of them... and if she wants you to let her go to WDW, rent her the points for $20 a point and tell her that is the price of magic.

 

[Tinkaroo]

I didn't grow up with DVC, but my grandparents (whom we spent 2 weeks with every summer) lived about 2 hours from Orlando, and as you can see from my siggie, we averaged carving out 2-4 days at WDW every other year (never staying on site, mind you!).

To me, WDW is my happy place, mainly for the wonderful family memories I have tied up there. I am well aware that my experience was not the "norm", and WDW was the one place we all enjoyed so much together.

I also agree with whomever said travel - ANY travel - is good for children. My parents saw the importance of that, and I've been a lot of neat places. Although DH turned out just fine , his family didn't travel as much, and we both agree that is something very important to us, and hopefully to our own family someday. Buying DVC seemed like a logical step for us to ensure travel and down-time at one of our favorite spots at least every other year (and hopefully, more!).

 

[FarmerJohn]

I was a Disney kid my first trip 4/72 13 yrs. old staying at the Poly with my parents. I went back with them every Easter till I was 21, staying 3 more times at poly then at the campgrounds. Lots of wonderful memories.
I took a brief disney hiatus and got married. First trip for my wife & I was to the Poly, her reaction; "everyone should be able to go here(disney world)at least once in their life".We've been back 16 times both on & off site the last 5yrs. as DVC owners. We've heard the same things "how can you go to Disney World every year - Your son is going to hate the place".
Well our son is now 19 & in college his reaction; "what do You mean Your going to Disney at Easter I don't have off"!
I think staying on property has alot to do with how you appreciate the place.
See You there at Easter!!

 

[RachaelRol]

My husband and I are not DVC owners, however we've been to disney 5 times in the 8 years we are married and our 4 eyar old has been twice. We're also planning a July 06 trip which will be DS 3rd. While he is only four he appreciates and remembers everything about his two trips, but what he always sats is how much he likes hanging out with mommy and daddy because there's no work... I think that's why we go. Its to really get away and spend time together without any of the daily life things getting in the way....

 

[Daitcher]

My only comment is that you seem to be having an extraordinary amount of trouble with everything DVC. First the amazing angst over the rental, now this. Hmmm.

Couldn't agree more, seems someone likes a little drama. Why exactly do you care what SIL has to say? Don't let her opinions or anyone elses influence your life direction. You and your family steer the ship. What if this group of strangers tells you, yes in fact it will spoil your child? What are you going to do, sell your DVC ? Didn't think so, so why post? Thanks JimMia for seeing through this one.


DAVE

 

[Lisa F]

I don't think it's an unreasonable thing to think about, actually. DH and I don't have kids yet but this is one of our concerns. When I was a kid I went to WDW once. My parents took out a loan to do it. It was hands down the most magical memory of my childhood. It was absolutely incredible and it's probably what made me such a disney nut now. I also remember how, before vcrs and dvds, it was a BIG EVENT when we got to see a Disney movie. They seemed like a special and rare thing and now kids pretty much take them for granted because they can pop the DVD in any time they choose.

I guess it's a fine line to ride. We're obviously not going to sell our DVC because of it but I do think this is a question that parents should be struggling with. Right now there is a pretty large percentage of an entire generation of young adults who were used to getting everything they wanted as a kid and want that same lifestyle as an adult but can't support it, and who are running up record amounts of debt or still being supported by mommy and daddy to do it. I do wonder about how to balance the notion of wanting to give your kids more than you had (which I think EVERY generation of parents has as a goal) with giving them SO much that they take it for granted and might consider it suffering to ever have to stay in a regular hotel room or go a year without a vacation or anything like that. I think it could be an interesting discussion. No one wants to raise spoiled children yet somehow it seems like a lot of them are being raised anyway.

 

[Carneymom]

I have had a similar conversation with a neighbor and my response is "that is rediculous." I grew up spending summer vacations at the Jersey Shore and I cherish it more now because it holds special memories for me. I hope and expect that my children will grow up with that same feeling about WDW, but if they don't, well to each his own. That doesn't mean that they won't have enjoyed the trips at the time.
Children enjoy and benefit from spending quality time with their families. Each family has their own way of doing that. People need to SHUT UP and mind their own business.
BTW, my neighbor had a similar childhood to mine with regards to the beach and she loves the beach now and goes to great lengths to instill that same feeling to her children. She just doesn't realize that what I am doing is the same but with a different location.

 

[paults]

browniemtb

first, act dumb and say to your SIL, WHAT for the kids!!! heck no , this is for DW and I and we expect you to take care of our kids when WE are down at WDW

second , if the kids want to come along I guess it's OK but not all the time because I know you will miss them.

 

[THEDISFANS]

I think if you can give your kids the magic Disney go for it. If your sister in law tries to invite herself to WDW. Tell her you would not want to spoil her.

 

[Hef4545]

The time there is not just about Disney.
You have found a place to spend quality time with your family that is clean and fun for kids ages 1 to 100. It is a place with something new every year so it never gets old.
Not appreciate the magic of disney? Cross that bridge when you come to it.
For now, send the evil sister-in-law a postcard when you are there and say "Having a magical time."

 

[shantay1008]

Couldn't agree more, seems someone likes a little drama. Why exactly do you care what SIL has to say? Don't let her opinions or anyone elses influence your life direction. You and your family steer the ship. What if this group of strangers tells you, yes in fact it will spoil your child? What are you going to do, sell your DVC ? Didn't think so, so why post? Thanks JimMia for seeing through this one.

You are fortunate to know yourself so well, but many of us are still trying to figure it all out. I think it is completely valid to ask for other peoples' opinions. I've read some very interesting responses here, and I'm glad the OP brought this issue up.

My parents saved for us to take a big three-week, Griswald-style family vacation out west when I was 14. We only spent a day at Disneyland, but have lots of great memories from that trip. We made it to Disney World when I was in college...half of us slept in my grandparents' RV in Fort Wilderness and the other half camped right next to us. Wonderful trip!

So, yeah, I worry about my kids staying in their deluxe villas every year or two. It doesn't mean we're not going to do it, but I'd be a fool not to be concerned about teaching some life lessons about responsibility, accountability, fiscal wisdom, gratitude, etc. I think Lisa P. hit the nail on the head when she said there's a lot of kids out there who feel entitled to having the stuff but don't have a clue how to get it. And Dave, you should totally get that...I read your posts about fiscal responsibility on another thread. Did you know that you seem to like a little drama, too, in the form of shaking up these threads a bit?

The OP is just trying to put together her plan for how to deal with these issues, and I think we should be glad that she trusts our opinions enough to ask. Not to mention that we understand the whole Disney thing.

 

[mark&sue]

We live in the UK and have been DVC members for just over a year.

However my 12 year old DD Kirsty,has been to WDW five times, Disneyland Paris three times and Las Vegas and Disneyland California once.

We go on other vactions but all during the year Kirsty keeps asking me how long until we go to WDW as she cannot wait.

As someone else has posted we became DVC members for ourselves it just so happens our DD loves Disney too and I am positive she never takes it for granted.

Hope you enjoy your DVC as much as we do.


Susan

 

[wilderness01]

"To whom much is given, much is expected." I think that's a pretty good philosophy.

I agree with this.

I also think it sounds like your SIL is jealous. I would blow her opinion off. Why does it matter to you anyway? I really don't care what anyone else thinks. If we all agreed about everything, what a boring place this would be.

 

[DVCLiz]

Personally, I'm much less concerned with how my children react to a vacation or a new purchase, than I am about how they perceive their place in the world and their responsibility to give back to the best of their ability. I wouldn't expect the same thrilled reaction to a Disney trip that I might have gotten in the past from children
who've been every year, and sometimes twice, for several years in a row. I WOULD expect an appreciation and some thanks. At some point, your kids will figure out where they fall in the grand scheme of thinngs - how much money your family makes, what your personal philosophies about spending for and by them are, whether they work or not, etc. I think it's unrealistic to not expect them to take some things for granted - after all, they're kids, and how many times do you hear, "Oh, Mom, thanks so much for the great planning you and Dad did to be able to afford this great house for us?" Not often, I'd bet - but it doesn't mean kids are spoiled, just that they don't always see the effort that goes into providing some things.

What I am very much hoping will happen with my children is that they will see and appreciate what they have, and what they have been given, and that they will also have a "much is expected" policy. If their actions let me know that they understand that volunteering for Habitat or running a food drive for AIDs patients is just as much a part of their lives as a nice vacation or a new pair of shoes, then I'll feel like I got through to them!!!!

If, on the other hand, they begin to act spoiled, the DVC contract is in my name and I'd begin to see a lot more solo trips by me!!!!

 

[barkley]

we bought in when ds was 3 and dd was 6 and we've used it for wdw, alaska cruise, disney cruises, a local hotel...but they are aware that we don't go to these places "for free" (a common misconception i've seen with kids whose parents own timesshares) and that we go without other things in order to have this for our enjoyment (they know the reason we don't go to every fair or carnival that rolls into the area, don't rent alot of videos/games, don't go on lots of quickie weekend trips is because we choose to spend the same monies for what we consider a better vacation investment). we also talk in planning vacations about what other expenses are associated (airfare, transportation, tickets, meals) so they have a genuine respect for the work that goes into having "fun".

 

[MoniqueU]

Well we have annual passes to Disneyland. DVC hasn't quite caught on here on the west coast. I can definetly say my kids take it for granted. We took a couple of year break hoping it would help but their still spoiled a bit by it. I am still glad I have done it most of their lives though. Can't take away the memories.

 

[VSL]

Well, regardless, your SIL is probably jealous.

Will your kids grow out of it or get sick of it? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe they'll start taking it for granted. Maybe they'll just grow to be non-WDW type people. Maybe they'll fall in love with it forever.

The point is, it doesn't matter. By the time that happens for your kids, they'll be old enough for you to carry on enjoying WDW regardless, and they'll probably be old enough to take some of their own holidays