DVC with kids About This Page:

[MinnieJen]

So my husband and I keep looking at DVC and keep running into the same questions so I am coming to the best of the best for some answers/ideas.

Right now my little boys 3.5 and 1.5 love Disney and will for some time I would guess. What about the teen years later. Do they tend to hang onto that enjoyment of the Mouse when they are older and hanging with mom and dad is not as cool? I do not want to plan on a yearly Disney trip that turns into a battle to get the kids onboard.

While my boys are little having the extra space etc that we could gain with DVC would be great but I worry about the lack of maid service as they often make messes that require extra towels and/or daily vacuuming. Is there a vacuum available to use? What about laundry facilities?

I know you can use points toward cruises. Can you "pay" for part of the cruise with points and the rest with the usual kind of funds? So if I wanted to upgrade to a bigger room and not have to pay as much for it?

Have anyone seen the villas in Grand California yet?

Did I read somewhere that they are building a resort in Hawaii?

Is it truly easy to visit other resorts aside from your home? I love the idea of visiting many of the resorts in WDW.

I am sure I will come up with a few more but this is already too many I am sure. Sorry!

[chezp]

Let me see what I can do to help - I certainly can't help with the teen years, as we don't have kids, but I see so many people here on the boards whose teenagers love going to Disney that I can't see it being an issue!

If it is, don't forget, you have other options, like the cruise, Adventures by Disney or some of the Concierge Collection hotels or the World Passport Collection.

Laundry facilities come with any accommodation, apart from the studios, with a washer/dryer in all one-, two- and three-bedroom villas. If you're staying in a studio, you can get free laundry facilities at each DVC resort. You just need to locate where the laundry rooms are.

I must admit I wasn't sure how we'd get on with the mousekeeping, but we love it - it really is like having a home from home.

As far as cruises go, as I understand it, you can either pay cash or points for each person, so you could pay for one person in points and the rest in cash. I'm not sure you can upgrade in cash - anyone else know?

There is a DVC resort being built in Hawaii at the Ko Olina Resort in Honolul and it's due to open in 2011.

We've not found any problems with staying at the other DVC resorts, outside of our home resort. Obviously, some times of the year are busier than others - early December is very popular with members and it can be hard to get into the Beach Club and BoardWalk Villas during the Food and Wine Festival. Those are the ones to keep in mind.

with your decision - and if you have any further questions, please feel free to ask away and we'll do what we can to help.

[DVCBird941]

Just to add to all the good info Cheryl gave you...each suite does have a vacume in it and you can, for an extra fee, get more towels delivered to your room if needed.

GL in your decision

[tjkraz]

Every child is different so I don't think you're going to get any help on the teen issue. My advice is always to look at the big picture when it comes to considering DVC. It's entirely possible that the kids will outgrow Disney at some point. And even if they don't, they will not be living under your roof forever. And there is no guarantee that grandchildren will be in the future, or that a situation will materialize where you could be taking the grandchildren.

Our kids were about the same age as yours when we bought into DVC. But we didn't do it for them so much as for ourselves. If they reach a point where they no longer want to go, that's their prerogative. My wife and I will still enjoy the Disney resorts, restaurants and activities even if we don't spend a week hopping from Space Mountain to Tower of Terror.

As for maid service, like many we don't miss having daily service. Vacuums and minor cleaning implements are available if needed. And remember that the kids aren't going to be making messes forever. Again...think big picture!!!

You can purchase additional cleaning services if you wish. It isn't cheap (something like $30 per day for a Studio villa), but even if you factor in occasional extra cleanings you'll still be much better off as a frequent guest buying into DVC rather than paying Disney's cash rates.

I've toured the model rooms at the Grand Californian and they are very nice. You could make a case for calling them the best DVC villas available. And there are only 50 villas so unless DVC builds more at the GC, it will be the smallest DVC destination by a wide margin (the Vero Beach resort has over 100 units and the Wilderness Lodge is around 140.)

Booking outside of one's Home resort is fairly easy most of the year. I'm not saying that you will have your choice of any DVC resort at 7 months, nor will you be able to book every "view" or room category.

But the vast majority of the time you will have multiple options available to you when calling right at 7 months. For instance, the BoardWalk has 3 different room categories--Standard View, BoardWalk View and Pool/Garden View. Most of the time the Standard and BoardWalk rooms are booked by owners before the 7 month window. Getting those at 7 months can be tough. But if your goal is simply to stay at the BW, the Garden/Pool view will often be available at 7mos.

Good luck!

[nurse_mom]

We looked again at the bigger picture. Our kids love disney now, but later who knows. Who said you have to go with them?? I'm thinking in the future a mom only week, or "girls only weekend" things like this. We have friends that are getting married, we are considering giving them a night or two as a gift. Good Luck!! We have been a happy owner for over a year!

[Kynna]

We plan on using our DVC points as a Graduation gift the year our girls graduate. That way I know they are going somewhere relativly safe when they take their first trip without parental supervision. Then we get to take the Grandkids!

[goofysdtr]

We started going when our kids were 5 & 9. They are now 11 & 15. I can say that our kids haven't lost their love for all things Disney! Our 15 year old is really looking forward to the trip we take between his junior & senior year in high school--we've told him he can bring a friend on that one. I wouldn't worry about them being hard to get on board. In fact, last year when my husband & I went on a trip with just the two of us, the boys weren't upset by the fact that we were going on a trip without them, they were just upset that we were going to Disney without them!

We haven't had any trouble getting reservations outside of our home resort. Our home resort is SS & we've also been able to stay at BWV, BCV (2X), & AKL. I think it's wise to not get your hopes too pinned on any one place, though. I've always just checked at 7 months & seen what was available. We've really enjoyed the variety! I just figure I'll use the variety while I can. If I'm ever "stuck" at my home resort (which we love, by the way), I'm perfectly happy with that!

[disneymom9092]

We bought also when our boys were your childrens ages now. They are now 17 and 19. Andrew our oldest still loves it and went to the Beach Club with 3 friends for graduation. He has asked about going there for Spring Break with college friends as well. Matthew is a senior in high school and will also be going in June for graduation with friends-probably at the Beach Club as well as they love the pool

To be honest, I am totally amazed at how many of their friends really love Disney!! Things change as they get older.......now they are with us some of the time (especially dinner) but most of the time they are off together on their own. No safer place than Disney :

We saw the Villas at Grand Californian 2 months ago and they are wonderful! Love the extra bed in the living room (1 BR) and the shower is awesome! We hope to stay there in 2011. I have pics...I will try to post them soon.

The boys are already talking of a Hawaii trip for college graduation with friends.but I don't know. That may be for me and DH

[spiceypj]

if your boys get tired of WDW - then tell them they don't have to go.... or visit WDW but go to US/IOA instead

harry potter will open next year or 2011 - not sure which at US/IOA

if your kids make a bigger mess than you think you can handle - call mousekeeping.

first they would rather clean up the mess when it is fresh and easier to clean - than you leaving it.

secondly, in an emergency they do NOT charge.

third - if you leave a mess - they take longer to clean it up and because of this mess the carpet might be wet for the next guest.

so definitely call mousekeeping if you have an accident. that said there is most of the stuff you will need in the closet.

you need to go to WDW for you and your spouse. the kids will grow up and leave - of course they may be like my niece and nephew and still expect you to still pay for it.....

that say everyone needs a vacation - would rather stay at WDW than any place that I know.

[chezp]

Originally Posted by DVCBird941

Just to add to all the good info Cheryl gave you...each suite does have a vacume in it and you can, for an extra fee, get more towels delivered to your room if needed.

GL in your decision

You can tell we love our cleaning on vacation!

[chezp]

Originally Posted by spiceypj

if your boys get tired of WDW - then tell them they don't have to go.... or visit WDW but go to US/IOA instead

harry potter will open next year or 2011 - not sure which at US/IOA.

That's a really good point.

[saremca]

We became DVC members when our oldest was 3 and I was pregnant with #2. They're 18, 15, and 11 now and they all still look forward to Disney every year.

The lack of maid service has never been a problem for us. We're not terribly messy, and everyone makes their own bed in the morning and my oldest DD (clean freak) vacuums every morning. We all put our own dishes in the dishwasher, etc. Plus, you don't spend as much time sitting around the villa making a mess as you would at home. There's too much fun stuff to do!

Once our kids are grown on their own, we will still use our DVC every year. DH and I love it and plan to take our children and future grandchildren for as long as we can.

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Originally Posted by Kynna

We plan on using our DVC points as a Graduation gift the year our girls graduate. That way I know they are going somewhere relativly safe when they take their first trip without parental supervision. Then we get to take the Grandkids!

What a great idea!

[MBUS]

We joined when our boys were 5, 3 and an infant. They are now 14, 12 and 9 and still love going to WDW. They have come to expect their annual WDW vacation. I expect they will want to come with us as long as we are willing to bring them! My DMum and DSis also like to go. I don't think we will have any problem using our DVC points with or without the kids. But they certainly have not gotten too old for WDW. We have been DVC members since 2000 and don't regret our decision at all.

Beth

[MinnieJen]

Thank you to everyone that spoke of their kiddos growing up and still loving Disney. I know all kids are different but it helps to know how other parents and kids experience that transition.

It is wonderful to know there is a vacuum and possible extra towels available. We do not make a huge mess, really only crumbs and occasional spilled water or juice. I am fine with keeping our room clean myself I just wanted to be sure I would have tools. I hate a crumby floor. I keep our rooms very neat so I can find everything we need quickly. I do look forward to the day the boys can help though! Just making their own beds would be great!

I am trying to think of big picture but we will have children living with us for at least 16 more years and that is pretty big picture to me. I love the idea of being able to alternate a small trip to DLR and a big trip to WDW about every 9 months. I love the idea of it costing us less over time. I love the idea of the holidays at Disney every few years. I love disney. I just want to make sure it works for us and our needs not only now (which are still important) but also in 25 years too.

Thank you very much for all of your input and ideas. I appreciate it all. It is very possible we will do this next year sometime. I know I will have more questions and I know you will all have answers for me!