Things are going as planned! (he he)

[Mickey'sApprentice]

DH and I bought into DVC in January 2006 primarily for the two of us to enjoy, but...a teeny tiny bit of me bought into DVC with an evil plot in mind. [Insert evil laugh here - ala ToT.]

The plan has several parts and I have now advanced to step 3. [Evil laugh!]

Here is the plan...

1. Buy into DVC for me and DH to enjoy.(Check!)
2. Invite sisters to join us for a week with free hotel accommodations for their offspring to enjoy the parks. (Check!)
3. Have 1 or both sisters enjoy the trip enough to return to wdw with their children, with no prodding from me.
(The children are becoming wonderful accomplices in my evil scheme.) [Evil Laugh!) Repeat as necessary. (In Progress)
4. Have 1 or both sister purchase DVC contracts.
5. Have sisters suggest family togetherness vacations in DVC Grand Villas.
6. Have one big happy Disney family.


Our trip was a lot of work, and I can say that it was a success because they enjoyed fleeting moments, and we were all still speaking to each other afterwards, but my dream of converting any of the family to Disney was dashed. (Did I mention they all think we are a bit nuts!)

So now, Sis2 is thinking about it, and she actually called me from work and asked what I thought about her and BIL taking the kids back to WDW? Wow! So...

1. I didn't snuff Disney out for her entire family forever as 1st thought.
2. I may gain an ally or 2 over Disney.
3. DH and I have a clue of who to leave DVC to if we don't have kids. (This was a bigger part of the decision to go in April. - morbid I know.)
4. The evil plan is still remote but not out and out impossible.



The worst part is that they have to go at a busy holiday time.

So anyway, I was really excited, and wanted to know if anyone had any thoughts or circumstances anything like this. Would you really love for your parents, siblings, kids, grandkids, to love Disney and want to share it with you? or at least want to go to HHI? Do you see any secondary problems like borrowing of DVC points, etc.?

PS, we could go, but remember I want them to start liking WDW. I was a nervous wreck during the last trip, needed a scooter, wouldn't do it, got sick, etc. I really, really want them to have a fantastic time!!

 

[Spark]

We are new owners as of last year...We thought that this year was the perfect time to take extended family as we had banked points from last year. We had such a fantastic time! Everyone loved it so much that they are all in process or saving for DVC memberships now! This was a pleasant surprise and will help to ensure future family vacations together... I am one who would love to see this tradition carry on through the generations! We are lucky in that everyone in our group were Disney lovers from the get-go...Good luck with your plans! How can anyone NOT love the World?!?!

 

[JaxDisneyFans]

We bought DVC with the intention of always including at least my mom as long as she is able. Now phase 2 is in the works as my sis and niece will be with mom, me & dd for an all girls weekend for Mother's Day at BWV. Hoping sis will enjoy herself and convince DBIL to join us all for a trip in the future.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Would you really love for your parents, siblings, kids, grandkids, to love Disney and want to share it with you? or at least want to go to HHI?

DW and I have discussed many times how we wish we had extended family (brothers and their families) that could go to WDW with us; but my family really has no interest. I'm sure one brother thinks we're crazy for going to WDW year after year (he would never say it, it is part of the unwritten brother creed that you don't openly criticize another brother at least in front of him); but it doesn't bother him at all to go back to the same beach resort several times a year every year. Plus he is a control freak and wouldn't like me planning the trip even if it is our points. The other brother and his wife are workaholics who don't ever go on vacations. Which is very sad as they have a 2 yo son who would love to go to WDW. We would love to go down to WDW with family and are really envious when we see these large family groups doing things together down there, but I guess it'll never happen for us. That is unless DD28 gets busy, gets a husband and gives us some grandchildren .

 

[4Pluto]

I know this varies from family to family. I make reservations for a 2BR as "my vacation" and invite family to come. If they can't make it, then I invite friends. I've found that to be a lot easier than trying to "jointly" plan vacations. I do try to pick dates that will work for the family and the fact that I use my points helps. So far so good.

And with family or friends I don't try to dictate any park plans. I know that I'll be back again and again (the beauty of DVC) so I go wherever they want to go. And I couldn't possibly keep up with the younger ones, so I get the fast passes while they race to the first rides etc. So that avoids alot of friction.

The one sticking point is ADRs. Its hard to convince first timers that if you have kids and expect to eat sit down meals at 6 pm, you just don't have the flexibility to wait until 5 pm to choose a restaurant or make reservations. Fortunately, on repeat trips everyone wants ADRs.

Good luck on your evil plan.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Would you really love for your parents, siblings, kids, grandkids, to love Disney and want to share it with you?

Our kids, yes, and they already have that bond with Disney from great trips we took when they were younger. Going forward, they will benefit from DVC and hopefully the grandkids will inherit the magic.

However, we have no intention of bringing other family or friends into the fold. I'm not sure any perceived benefit would be worth the effort.

 

[Starr W.]

However, we have no intention of bringing other family or friends into the fold. I'm not sure any perceived benefit would be worth the effort.

We tried once and never again. DVC is for our immediate family.

 

[lsutigger2]

hey Wolfpack Fan - save that 2yo of a life w/o disney and take him with you sometimes! Esp since you are waiting for your gkids If you want family to join you, I'm sure you could find some on these boards !

DH and I took family on one trip and friends on another trip. The friends trip was better! And we were members for 5 years or so before we invited anyone to join us

And the next trip we have planned to WDW is a solo trip for me in December

 

[JVL1018]

My brother and his wife went to WDW for their honeymoon in 2002. My SIlLwasn't all gung ho about going, I think she went along with the trip because my brother really wanted to go(he had been once before).
Well much to my shock- they came home DVC members, now have more points than DH and I do, and go twice a year(we only go to WDW once-our other trip is to HHI).
We have taken a few trips together, and we're all going together this October as well.
I love going with them, we get along great, we live near each other and see each other once a week, so we're close.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Hey guys!

I was so nervous posting this thread. My humor sometimes falls flat when it is translated to the internet. Thanks for the comments.

I called DSIS earlier today and they have made the reservations this morning, told the kids, and have made some ADRs already and are considering others. I really wish they had been so much with the program when we visited in April. Yay! They are really going!! (I think its different when its your idea!)

I am so excited!!!!

I so hope that they have a wonderful trip!!

My nephews rode with us through the gates in April, and I will always remember hearing the little one say, "I'm at Disney, pinch me!" It was also really cool that when DSIS let the kids buy souvies on the last day that they wanted Lanyards just like their Uncle, (my DH) had.

My DH got them trading pins as part of their Christmas, and they were up in arms wanting to know WHEN we had been to Disney, and WHY we didn't take them with us. DH told them to calm down and that he had ordered the pins off the internet.

Now, my accomplices will need to continue working on their parents and their 1st cousin, who of course at age 8 determined the Disney was just too expensive! I must also watch out for my #1 adversary, my Dad, who vowed to not go on our April trip even if we gave it to him. (I'm sure all of you grandparents out there see spending a week in Disney with your grandchildren as sure torture.) Converting dear ol' Dad may not be as hard as I think since he does love Ft. Wilderness and thinks the monorails are sheer genius.

 

[disneymom8589]

My parents aren't big Disney fans and they just bought into a Marriott timeshare in California, so they won't be doing DVC. My mom was intrigued about AKV when I told her about it. DSis enjoys Disney very much, but her DH isn't much of a traveler and is more of a homebody, so they also won't be buying DVC. We invited DSis and her family to join us at SSR last July and they came. I think the humidity took its toll on DBiL. He'll probably never go back now!! I would love to do a "girls trip" with DM, DSis and DD. I know we would have a lot of fun and I would be happy to give them a chance to visit WDW with free accomodations.

 

[mello]

We're not really trying to convert anybody. We just hope to have a great time together. We'll have my parents & their best friends, my dsis & her family, and my dbro and his family. Everybody's excited, and we've planned well, so we'll see how it goes... I'm trying not to set my expectations too high, and to just go with the flow once we're there. If this trip is successful we may try dh's family after a couple "our family only" trips in between. One of our main goals with DVC is to share it with our family and friends - whoever wants to enjoy it with us. But if they sometimes want to do other things, that's great too!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We tried once and never again. DVC is for our immediate family.

Same here. I have a SIL that really likes to make plans and wants everyone to do the same thing according to plans.

Nope... DVC is for DW and me. Though this June we'll be bringing our grown DD, DS, & DIL to VB. This could work really well to because Mary Beth and I will be staying in an OVIR and the kids will be in a 2dbrm so we'll have the OVIR view and then we can go over and make dinner at the kids place and leave the dishes for them to clean up

 

[Starr W.]

Same here. I have a SIL that really likes to make plans and wants everyone to do the same thing according to plans.

Nope... DVC is for DW and me. Though this June we'll be bringing our grown DD, DS, & DIL to VB. This could work really well to because Mary Beth and I will be staying in an OVIR and the kids will be in a 2dbrm so we'll have the OVIR view and then we can go over and make dinner at the kids place and leave the dishes for them to clean up

I think that's a great plan!

 

[La2kw]

We traveled to WDW with family once and it was a disaster. We couldn't wait to get home and go our separate ways. From then on, it's only DW, DD, DS and I. If they want to go back, they can go on their own. They just don't "get" why we love going so much.

 

[Starr W.]

We traveled to WDW with family once and it was a disaster. We couldn't wait to get home and go our separate ways. From then on, it's only DW, DD, DS and I. If they want to go back, they can go on their own. They just don't "get" why we love going so much.

We took my sister and she couldn't handle 24 full hours of WDW. DH go up early to go workout and she was banging on my bedroom door to call NWA and yelling to "GET HER A FLIGHT HOME, NOW!" To be honest after I made the airline arrangements it felt like a ton of bricks were off my shoulders. She's quite OCD over food and what she wants to eat when and DH just laughs about it making her mad. I think the final straw was DH at Peco's Bill's because she wanted Veggie soup, she had to have Veggie soup for dinner and they don't serve it. I had her help plan the ADR's and where we were going to eat plan. She had okayed all the menus, but she had some Veggie soup fixation that night.

 

[kikiq]

Now, my accomplices will need to continue working on their parents and their 1st cousin, who of course at age 8 determined the Disney was just too expensive! I must also watch out for my #1 adversary, my Dad, who vowed to not go on our April trip even if we gave it to him. (I'm sure all of you grandparents out there see spending a week in Disney with your grandchildren as sure torture.) Converting dear ol' Dad may not be as hard as I think since he does love Ft. Wilderness and thinks the monorails are sheer genius.

There you go...get the wee ones in on your evil plans<G> As for your Dad, let him spend some time with my dad on the monorails<G> Fortunately for us, we don't have to have an evil plan to convert my family. My Dad and my brothers are all Disney fiends. Before my mom passed away, she had booked a Disney Cruise for all of us, which was the last trip time we had been to WDW before last summer. One sil LOVES Disney and the new sil is warming up to the notion if only because she loves the family antics.
We're headed for a big family trip this summer to formally introduce them to DVC. I don't have to convince them to go to disney, we just have to convince them that going the dvc way is THE WAY<G>

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We're not really trying to convert anybody. We just hope to have a great time together. We'll have my parents & their best friends, my dsis & her family, and my dbro and his family. Everybody's excited, and we've planned well, so we'll see how it goes... I'm trying not to set my expectations too high, and to just go with the flow once we're there. If this trip is successful we may try dh's family after a couple "our family only" trips in between. One of our main goals with DVC is to share it with our family and friends - whoever wants to enjoy it with us. But if they sometimes want to do other things, that's great too!

Yes, yes, I know I go on about my evil plot but in the end, we bought in for me and DH to have a good time. The trip in April was primarily an attempt at family time together, and to expose the kiddies to Disney.

We will go with the flow from now on. I've learned that if it don't come easy, you better let it go. As for dear ol' Dad, maybe we'll get him down there sometime and get him to do a whole loop with the monorail driver.

In other news, I went to youtube last night and looked at July 4th fireworks for MK, EP, & DHS. Wow! I really want to keep my mouth shut about it. I really think Disney is at its best when its a big surprise. DHS was normal 7/4 fireworks, Epcot was spectacular, and MK made me cry. I have to wonder if I cry looking at fireworks on a computer screen, what in the world is it like in person? It looks like WDW mgmt. may also be in on my plot.