Why don't we ever learn?! A fine mess...

[mikesmom]

I swore we would never do this again, but here we are! A couple was traveling with us to the Food & Wine Fest in October. I though we were safe on this one. They went with us once before and understood the 30 day stuff (I thought!). Ressies were made right at 11 months for a Boardwalk view. We've spoken of the trip several times throughout the year. We gave them the reservation documents months ago. So they call right on Day 30 (Labor Day) to tell me they didn't realize that there was a family wedding the very day before the reservation started and there was no way they could make the connections to take this trip. I am so frustrated.

I guess I can understand that a family function takes precedence. I can't understand that someone would wait until Day 29 to bail out! Two days earlier and I could have banked all the points! It's not like they didn't know about BOTH trips - they just "didn't make the date connection until just now".

The guy is a friend of DH's and a business associate so DH doesn't want to hold his feet to the fire on this one. To add insult to injury after the call DH tells me how the friend has called some other business associates and "next year" we will all go on one big trip to F&W and they are really excited about it.

Naturally I threw a rather ungracious hissy fit and am barely speaking to DH. I didn't exactly love the idea of next year's vacation co-opted into a big business trip. Never mind that the idea of taking anyone else along ever again and holding the bag on even more points is not high on my list of fun.

Thanks for letting me vent. I guess I'm off to the Rent/Trade Board (sigh).

 

[Stitch1404]

I've never personally had this happen to me, but I can imagine just how frustrated you are feeling. People just don't understand that us DVC members treat our points like gold.

 

[Sammie]

So sorry for you, we learned our lesson the hard way. We don't treat anyone, if they go they book and pay their own way. No hard feelings then if they bail out, same goes for family or friends.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I would very graciously give DH the number to CRO so his business associates can make cash ressies for next year!!!

Really, I have 4 kids and am "out there" 90% of the time. Even I could have figured out that I had a wedding the same time and could not make the trip.

We are sticking to our previous plan. We will get a 2 BR for our trips. Depending on how many of our kids are going, we can bring along anywhere from 1-4 people. That way, if someone bails, we would have gotten the 2BR anyway, so no loss for us.

Anyone who doesn't want to share the 2BR.......CRO can be reached at 1-800-828-0228.

I have it easy though. My DH is not a people person anyway, so I never have to worry about offending his friends.....he would never invite any of them.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Maybe it's time for you to tell the hubby that you had already made plans with some friends of yours for next year F&W. So he'll have to tell the so-called-friends that they'll have to do without him next year. And hope that they enjoy their trip.

Disney and business doesn't mix.

 

[JimMIA]

Well, as they say, "No good deed goes unpunished!"

I'm sure you'll have no problem renting a confirmed ressie during F & W for a premium price.

And, to be honest -- if you can't rent the ressie, having the points stuck in holding account may not be the end of the world. It might just wake hubby up a little. Let him try to make plans 60 days out!

Next year, however, I'd go ahead and make your own plans at 11 months and refer everybody else to CRO. If you've had this problem with the friend, I'm sure he'll understand that you can't chance multiple problems with all his buddies he's invited to vacation on YOUR DVC!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We've talked about bringing along "friends", but have never done it. Sorry about you're situation (baad). I would "calmly" nip this future business trip in the bud now though. I mix business with vacation only in the sense that I connect and communicate once or twice a day for peace of mind, but I would never bring business associates along or coordinate a stay with them. We only have 220 points and they are too precious to give away. Good Luck.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I've brought family along on a vacation--never again--it taught me to ignore all their questions, such as "when are WE going?" I pretend to be deaf, because those pts belong to ME. I refuse to have someone else take over my trip, and friends can be just as bad. Continue that hissy fit--rent those pts out, if necessary, and use that to pay cash for your own room, to avoid a highjacking of next year's vacation by "friends".

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I feel your pain...This is what happened to me yesterday.

Last August we visited family out-of-state and we invited family to join us at Disney for a week so the boys could attend MNSSHP and the adults could enjoy the Food & Wine Festival. At 11 months I book standard view accommodation a 2-Bedroom and a studio over at BWV we have a small add-on at BWV just for Food & Wine so I borrowed a few points. Then the original dates weren't good for a few, so I changed the dates in January (you all know where this is going) No Standard Views available but still managed to get the pool/garden view...borrowed more points from 2007.

The dates for MNSSHP came out so I called, and we all agreed on the date.
This was always going to be our treat so I called and purchased the tickets. $$$.$$ (9 total)

Then it just seemed we started getting maybe instead of straight answers. Monday I told my DH (his family) that you need to talk to the girls and find out if everyone is still coming. His first calls were unsuccessful in reaching anyone so he tried a few E-mails no response. Tuesday he managed to speak to one of the girls and to make a long story short...No one can come.

Called MS to see if I could cancel the studio and half the 2-bedroom so my DH and myself could have a 1-Bedroom. Nope couldn't do it so while I'm sure I made someone on the waitlist happy yesterday I end up with a stuido when I wanted a 1-Bedroom and borrowed points from a stripped account for next year.

I am lucky that I can use most of the borrowed point on the reservation for myself & DH's trip. Then I can bank my this years points so I will have points to use next year.

So now I have 20 borrowed points (not a big deal) for October.

Never Again
Until Next Time

 

[spiceycat]

oh let not talk about this - makes us all mad.

although I have pretty good luck using my points that go into holding. I still hate it when they do....

sorry for both of you - friends can be a big problem - not to mention family... the times my brother has done that to me - but I am the fool because I still let him use my points.

 

[mikesmom]

Never Again
Until Next Time

Maybe we need a 12 step program? "DVC sharers anonymous"?

 

[lizanne]

People just don't get it. They don't understand that cancelling at the last minute has an effect on your account. It's just points, not money.

Two years ago my husband gave his secretary (actually he agreed to take a small amount as payment because he didn't want it to look like a gift) a week at OKW. The arrangements were made well in advance for a one bedroom for her, her husband and their son. She was to pay sometime prior to the trip. Well, she quit her job but said not to worry, the trip was definitely on.

About 6 weeks prior to the trip my DH hadn't heard from her and was unable to contact her. He started asking around the office and finally found out she moved. By the time he found her, it was 3 weeks before the trip and of course she cancelled. She said her husband no longer wanted to go (we later found out they separated).

We weren't able to go at that time and neither were any other family members. We were willing to give the week away but couldn't find any takers. Finally, a business associate's brother said he would go. 10 day prior the brother had to cancel - what to do. Well, the business associate's brother had a friend who would love to go.

Soooo, that's who got this free week at WDW. Actually, these people (whom we didn't know and live across the country from us) were very appreciative and sent us post cards every day and a gift box filled with some very thoughtful disney items.

They truly enjoyed their first trip to WDW and we were happy the points got used.

But...........never again.

 

[DVC Grammy]

When we first bought into DVC, we thought we would "treat" some of our friends, not just our kids and their families. We did it once, and luckily, it worked out . (We did make it very clear that by date "X" they had to be definite, and after that, any cancellation would also "cancel" the friendship )
After hearing what others have gone through, we're not jumping to extend an invite to anyone who's not totally "gung-ho" about both the trip and our friendship. (Of course, we DO allow for medical emergency.............but they better have a doctor's note !)

 

[Muushka]

Cancelling and requiring a doctor's note??

I would want to see the coroner's report!!

 

[T.E. Yeary]

Muushka-

 

[twotoohappy]

Sorry this happened to you.

I feel your pain. I had 2 friends cancel on me a week before we were to go.
One said she had a family party and the other didn't want to go but didn't get around to telling me.
Never again!!!!

 

[thelobstershanty]

We just had something along the same lines happen to us, but at least it did not have any effect on our pts.
We had taken friends with us last year to BWV with a boardwalk view. They fell in love and wanted to come back this year for the F&W. We booked the villa 11 months in advance, and everyone was thrilled. Fast forward to a couple months ago and they started to stall about booking their flight. This dragged on for a few months and then last week, they said they could not come, because of financial reasons. Hello! They had almost a year to save for this trip and their accomondations were being provided for free!
We were lucky and were able to fill their spots by inviting other friends, but it will be awhile/if ever, before we plan another WDW trip based on bringing friends.

 

[crisi]

People just don't get it. They don't understand that cancelling at the last minute has an effect on your account. It's just points, not money.

Two years ago my husband gave his secretary (actually he agreed to take a small amount as payment because he didn't want it to look like a gift) a week at OKW. The arrangements were made well in advance for a one bedroom for her, her husband and their son. She was to pay sometime prior to the trip. Well, she quit her job but said not to worry, the trip was definitely on.

About 6 weeks prior to the trip my DH hadn't heard from her and was unable to contact her. He started asking around the office and finally found out she moved. By the time he found her, it was 3 weeks before the trip and of course she cancelled. She said her husband no longer wanted to go (we later found out they separated).

We weren't able to go at that time and neither were any other family members. We were willing to give the week away but couldn't find any takers. Finally, a business associate's brother said he would go. 10 day prior the brother had to cancel - what to do. Well, the business associate's brother had a friend who would love to go.

Soooo, that's who got this free week at WDW. Actually, these people (whom we didn't know and live across the country from us) were very appreciative and sent us post cards every day and a gift box filled with some very thoughtful disney items.

They truly enjoyed their first trip to WDW and we were happy the points got used.

But...........never again.

Isn't it funny how complete strangers were so much more grateful than some of our friends and family members. It sounds like in the end you bestowed your points on great people.

 

[mark&sue]

Hopefully we shall be ok. We are treating two sets of friends this year to come with us, one set for two weeks at SSR and BCV and the other for our first week at SSR. We have given them the accommodation but they obviously have to pay the flights (10 weeks before and is now paid). However as our flights from the UK during school vacation is so expensive ($4,290 for one family of four!) I can't see them backing out. Still we have just over a month to go......... I have also booked and paid for two grand gathering trips so am really hoping there is no backing out by anyone.

So sorry that your friends have backed out. They really should explain and miss the wedding. I didn't care who missed my wedding so long as DH was there!!! DH father and one of his sister's didn't bother coming to our wedding and we never felt angry with them, and understood they could not make it.



Susan

 

[Boston5602]

Soooo, that's who got this free week at WDW. Actually, these people (whom we didn't know and live across the country from us) were very appreciative and sent us post cards every day and a gift box filled with some very thoughtful disney items.

They truly enjoyed their first trip to WDW and we were happy the points got used.

But...........never again.

OK So I would NOT be happy at all about not knowing the people who used my points BUT Its nice to know they did appreciate it and didn't come back complaining about YOUR DVC room.