They don't want to go! Can you believe it?!!

[gtrist4life]

This thread is so timely!
I just sent the following to our large group as I've heard rumblings that some may be thinking of cancelling. Sorry for the length. Let me know how you think I worded things..

January 20, 2005

Happy New Year and I hope everyone’s keeping as warm as possible this January.

I’ve booked a Two bedroom villa (sleeps 8) and 2 Studios (sleeps 4 each) at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas Resort checking in Sunday July 3 and checking out Friday July 8. These were reserved in hopes that you can join me, DW, and the kids in Disney World, lodging on us*. The Boardwalk resort is one of Disney’s finest and it literally is just a 10-15 minute walk from Epcot’s World Showcase and MGM-Studios. Of course there are regular boats from the Boardwalk to these parks and buses to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and Downtown Disney.

The cash costs for these reservations is listed at the end of this letter, however being members of Disney’s Vacation Club (DVC), we’ve booked these lodgings on our points. We borrowed half of our 2006 points to cover this 2005 trip. The only main differences from DVC lodgings and regular hotel rooms are:
1. M(h)ousekeeping does not clean, replace towels, and make the beds every day. They do come in after the 3rd night to clean, replace towels, and take out trash.
2. The Studio units are 359 sq. ft and include a queen size bed and a sofa pull out-double bed, mini refrig, and microwave.
3. The 2 Bedroom is 1071 sq. ft. and is a 1 BR unit which has a King bed, sofa pull out queen bed, full kitchen, washer and dryer, and whirlpool tub. An attached Studio is the 2nd bedroom
4. All have balconies
The suggested use for these reserved units are:
Two bedroom unit – My family in the main 1 BR area, with 4 others(mom, 2 aunts, and cousin)

Studio 1 – Cousin’s family of 4
Studio 2 - Sister’s family of 4.

I know that this trip is still a little under six months away, but I need to know for sure, by mid April, if you will be going and staying at our “home”. I need that time to make adjustments to the reservations if necessary. Let me know as soon as you can.

When DW and I purchased the DVC, we intended the points to be used for our family of four (we went to Hilton Head last year) every other year, and then to give/share in the alternating years with my side, DWs side, and friends. This is the year for my side, so this opportunity of sharing/giving points won’t come up again for several years. I hope you all can make it.

Love, Me
*PS the only requirement/payment is that you have a good time, not very hard to do in WDW!

2005 Boardwalk Cash Nightly Rates
Apr 17-Jul 4 Jul 5 – Sep 28 Total x 5 nights
Studio w/tax $328 $372 $1,728 x 2 = $3,456
2BR villa w/tax $624 $808 $3,490

 

[Frozenfingers]

Senecabch: Hope you have plan B ready..

Might as well share my tale of woe too: my daughter has turned me down 3 times for a free vaca to WDW. in 02, I took her 14 yr old sister to MNSSHP and a week of fun.. in the invite, all she needed to provide was her own spending money.. figured 150 to 200 bucks, but she would be in control of that.. Nope, didn't want to go and see everything and not be able to shop and have fun! In 03 she was invited again.. but would have been 6 or 7 mos preggy so she didn't want to go again. Probably wouldn't have been much fun to be around anyway.. In Dec 05, I think I'll be going solo so I asked her.. Nope.. she won't hear of it.. "wants to experience Disney the first time with her family".. I couln't convince her that it should be considered as a "scouting trip"..

Hmmm, I think she means that in order for me to take my granddaughter (princess crazy and wants to see Cinnerella with grandpa) I'm gonna have to fork out for everyone.. including loser son in law. Talk about feeling entitled.. and she isn't even a DVCer !!

 

[Granny]

This thread scares me .....

I am anticipating the same last minute answers from my extended family.

I think this thread illuminates the hazards of inviting people who don't understand DVC, but please keep in mind that there are thousands of trips with friends and family that go off without a hitch and everyone has the time of their life.

All you can do is set a cut-off date for firming up their attendance. If they can't do that, then you can just tell them that maybe some other time.

 

[Cinderpals]

We've experienced the same with our Vacation Home in a ski/lake community. You just want to share the experience with those that you like. It's not about showing off, as some would interpret. I keep telling my DH that I wish I had family and friends like us, inviting us to free vacations!! Hello!!! Are you out there!!!!

 

[Frozenfingers]

gtrist: I don't think there is really a wrong way to send an invite. The most important thing is to come to a mutual unerstanding of expectations. I wouldn't expect/ want to spend 24/7 with my guest.. but would expect to start the day together for breakfast, do what each other wants or even start the day together in a park, and meet up later in the evening for meal and discussion.. and I have expressed that in my invites.. course, maybe that is why I keep getting turned down..

We tend to focus on what they can realisticaly expect for expenses. For example: when we invited my bil and family. I researched airfare ranges from his city for his family of 6 would possibley be; I gave him current park prices; a rough idea of how much he should budget for the kids spending money per day; etc.. everything except how much lodging costs were, I just mention it was on us. We are firm on our deadlines for accepting though.. In his case, he got over two years to scrape the cash together.. and his deadline for accepting is July 05. Last Nov we met up at mom in laws.. he said he would be unable to raise the money in time.. There were no surprises for either party, he didn't get tothe parks and become discouraged of how much it REALLY costs, and we didn't plan and commit points to have them back out at the last minute when reality smakes 'em in the forehead. AND, we have time to extend the 06 invite to someone else..

 

[gopherit]

Some rejections may be due to the sudden realization of what the "other" costs of a WDW trip are. Accommodations are one thing, but then there's the tickets, travel to/from, meals, etc. that comes with it. Some folks may not be willing to admit they can't afford that -- or may have suddenly seen their xmas bills and had to use up the Disney dollars! And so they might make up a myriad of reasons, or simply state it's not for them -- whatever -- just to keep from disclosing the fact they can't afford it.

And also too -- some folks just don't "get" Disney. I have a former college roomie who was raised "anti-Disney". Her poor kids will never go to Disney -- oh sure they will hit every posh beach resort imaginable, but no Disney. It's not a $$ issue, it's an image thing (Disney? Like, with all those dorks in costume roaming around an amusement park? I think not! How tacky!) These same kids aren't allowed to wear screen-printed tshirts in public either -- like I said, it's an image thing. Her loss (and sadly, her kids, as well. Maybe they will marry Disneyphiles and be "saved" before it's too late.)

And lastly, as we ALL know, DVC is not well understood by the "outsiders". Talk points to them and their eyes just glaze over like deer in headlights. My SIL has been on 2 trips with us, she lives next to the dd of a DVC'er who takes frequent DVC trips, and I even had a DVC rep give the whole "schpeel" to SIL on our last trip, thinking from him, it might be better understood. And then she tried to argue with me that you could own DVC at the Grand Floridian. Um, no, I explained politely, you can use pts there, but not "own" through there. The more we talked, the more I realized -- she ain't got it. NOt yet, anyway. But then I look at my DH -- and I'm pretty sure HE ain't "got it" either!

We do enjoy sharing our pts with family, but it can be stressful getting commitments, making plans, etc. They all think I'm a raving control freak, but as I pointed out to DH last trip, it's not like I'm throwing anybody out of the driver's seat of this crazy taxi! No one else will pony up to the job, and that leaves me!

I am not telling anyone in our family about our HHI trip this summer. It's mine and DH's 15th anniversary, and I just want to have a "fam of 5" trip for once. Sure it can be fun to share the joy of DVC, but sometimes, it's nice to keep it to yourself, too.

 

[gtrist4life]

I’m glad this board is around. Gopherit you summed up how I sometimes feel very nicely.
“They all think I'm a raving control freak, but as I pointed out to DH last trip, it's not like I'm throwing anybody out of the driver's seat of this crazy taxi! No one else will pony up to the job, and that leaves me!” :jumping4:

Seriously, I’m glad that DVC allows us to extend the invite, but fully understand that some people are unfortunately immune to pixie dust or do not have the finances to afford the trip.

 

[FayeW]

Good Ol Gal, I think the two weeks you spent trying to get them to commit scared the crap out of them! Because they don't understand the time lines and benefits (and necessity!) of booking at the 11th month window, nor the restrictions on banking points, etc, they probably think you are some sort of control freak that would try to run their holiday. We know better, but clearly they don't.

What I don't understand is why everybody feels the need to give free holidays to all their friends and family! If you got a good cash rate somewhere, would you still pay for everyone or let them look after themselves?? I might offer to help make arrangements, but I wouldn't pay for anyone else!