staying with friends at their DVC

[kekee]

Hi,

Our friends are DVC owners and they invited us to join them for their week stay. I think they may have used extra points they had to get a larger place for us. What should we get them as a thank you? Any suggestions would be great.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Let me tell you how I feel about this being a new owner that has a trip like this booked for our dearest freinds, a family of 3, next summer.

I don't expect anything. Really. Short of "Thank you." and MAYBE even picking up the tab for dinner a night or two and I don't even expect that.

I think, from my reading here, and I concur, that most of us see this as a benefit to US from being DVC members in that it makes us able to do this for those close to us. I don't think we expect anything other than to enjoy and share a special vacation with those we hold dear.

 

[jekjones1558]

I agree with WilsonFlyer. We almost always take friends or family because we enjoy spending time with them. DVC gives us the chance to put our "real" lives on hold for a while and be with people we love in a place we love. When some have insisted, we have appreciated being treated to dinner. One couple sent us a Disney gift card with a thank you note, and I admit that I surely had fun with that on our next trip. We expect guests to buy their own airline tickets (with a few exceptions), park tickets (with a few exceptions), and we split all meal and car rental expenses. WDW with family/friends !

 

[Psychodisney]

While I have never expected anything in return, I do like to be thanked! We have taken family(inlaws and were hardly thanked )and friends(treated us to dinner and wrote a nice thank you).

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Take them out to dinner.

 

[Anal Annie]

We don't have it booked yet, but we're tying to plan a trip with extended family for next summer to celebrate my parents 50th anniv. - we also don't expect anything in return except that personally, I don't want to hear a bunch of complaining all week over crowds or money! We've offered to cover the accomodations, but they're on their own to GET to FL and for their park tickets etc. I have provided them with ticket prices and estimates on the price of meals if they eat out and I have given them until our 7 month booking window to decide if they can afford it or not. If they say they're "in" then I want them to go prepared for a little sticker shock.

I think if I see eyes popping out of their heads over the little things all week I will strangle someone! Knowing my brother etc. my fear is that they will be ungrateful and we will end up walking on eggshells all week. Nothing at Disney is cheap, so my suggestion is that you go prepared for the little things to add up and don't let your hosts know if you're in sticker shock over something! If you want to do something for them, as WilsonFlyer said, you could pick up the tab for dinner one night or offer to cook dinner in one night or something.

 

[Muushka]

I just treated my cousin to a week at WDW last Sept. He is not one to be able to accept a free vacation and wanted to know up front how much he owed us.

I told him if he really wanted to pay money for his vacation, find an animal shelter of his choosing and make a donation. That worked out great. He made a donation to 2 cats in my name. Very sweet.

 

[janni518]

If it was me I'd pay for a few meals if possible or at least one nice dinner. A gift basket waiting when you all arrived might be a nice touch too. Maybe a bottle of wine if you indulge.

When I am treated in this fashion I try to just be a good guest. I get up early and start the coffee. Run out to the bakery a morning or two. I make sure not to make an extra work for my hosts. I get invited back so it must be working.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I would pay for the grocery purchase for the week (if you are making one) and for a dinner or two.

As an owner I don't expect anything from our invited guests, but most usually do the above and it is always appreciated.

 

[dvcbnd]

We have never expected anything in return from our guests, but when we have been treated to a dinner or two, it has always been very much appreciated.

 

[jodifla]

We take guests all the time. Normally, they prepare a meal for us or buy a meal for us while they are there.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

We have done this a few times as DVC owners and the most appreciative thing is to thank them (obviously).

As others have suggested paying for a nice dinner is always appreciated. If you should do this, try to plan the dinner at a location where a DVC discount could be applied (if your hosts do not have annual passes or DDE card).

Another suggestion would be to schedule and pay for a specialty cruise for "Wishes" or "Illuminations". This can be done by calling 407.WDW.PLAY at exactly 90 days prior the date of preference. These specialty cruises are very limited and would require an 8:58am call (phone lines open at 9am), 90 days to the date to be able to get such a reservation. This is a great way to see the fireworks shows from a unique perspective and would be a cherished memory for years to come.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our friends brought all the fixings for a pasta dinner when we brought them with us for the marathon. They did all the cooking for that meal and cleaned up afterward. A nice relaxing dinner on an evening when the guys were going to be taking it easy anyway.

We've taken lots of family and friends on our trips. They have all either made a dinner, bought a dinner or just had a great time with us. My BIL watched our son on one evening and insisted that the two of us go out and have a nice dinner alone. No whining, no complaining that they didn't want to do..., no complaining about the cost of the tickets/food/souveniers.

Our son is an only child, so bringing along the others gives him some playmates for the trip.

 

[crisi]

Some ideas:

"We'd like to buy you dinner while we are out" - depending on what your budget is like, there are some nice places to go at all budget levels - plenty of people here will give you suggestions if you tell us your budget.

"Let us pick up (shared expense)" When friends invited us to use a friend of a friends place in Mexico, we picked up the rental car. Groceries.

A gift. Disney florist will put a thank you bouquet in the room. There are enough gift shops in Disney for you to be able to find something - my guests often purchase a Christmas ornament for my tree (if asked, I will direct them to that particular purchase).

A thank you note on returning is ALWAYS appropriate. Make it meaningful. Let them know how delighted you were that they shared Disney with you. Give them specifics about what charmed you. There is nothing a Disney fan likes better than to be told "I'll always remember the look on Bob's face when he saw Mickey." And "Illuminations was really something - I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like that."

 

[kekee]

Thank you for all of the great responses! I am definately planning on taking them out to dinner and will see if I can get a reservations for the illuminations boat. Thanks again I love these boards!