Asking the in-laws to go to WDW.

[POOH&PIGLET]

My wife and I are planning to ask her parents to go with us to WDW next fall. Her dad is retired and her mom runs a nursery school. We have a two-year-old and a baby due in January. We are trying to time our trip so that we can go to MNSSHP and the Food & Wine Festival. We have vacationed together in the past, and it's been fun.

I expect they'll be happy we asked but may not want to go. I hope to print out any responses and use them if they need convincing. ;)

Why should they want to go to WDW?

[vernon]

To see WDW through the eyes of a young child is to roll back your own years and become young again. Children grow up SO QUICKLY, this could be a unique opportunity to see their first visit.

Is there a better place to vacation with your grandchildren?

[Wislodgers]

Our in laws our going with us in January. When we asked we were not sure if they would want to go either. They vacation to Florida every winter for a few weeks and have done all the Disney Parks at one time or another. They enjoy Disney, but are not obsessed with it like we are!!! Well, we cannot believe how excited they are to go! They have been saving, planning meals out, and even talking about stuff they want to do in the parks. My mother in law really want to do the Cinderella Breakfast........hopefully we will successful in getting PS!!!!

[shelbyjosh]

Oh my gosh...we took my mom to WDW with us in March and vowed we will never do it again! It was the absolute worst trip we have ever had there. You have to understand how my mom is. She is VERY judgmental, critical, verbal, etc. about everything! There were times we would walk away from her and let her be. We had a lock-off at OKW and by the end of the week-long trip my DH and mother were not speaking. She never offered us a penny for the room, nor did she offer to buy a meal for us. We thought that was pretty ungrateful. On the other hand, we would take down friends and a dear neighbor. The next trip we will not be taking anybody!! Family (DVCers) will be going, but they are very easy going!! I would never even consider taking my in-laws down. Disney is not their cup of tea. Just my 2 cents (and boy do I feel better after writing this!!:) )

[rbuzzotta]

Nothing can compare to seeing Disney through the eyes of your own child. I can't yet say through the eyes of my grandchild(ren) as my DD's are only 10, 5, and 3!!! But, I am sure by the year 2042 I will have that wonderful opportunity!!!!!!

[scootert]

DH and I took his mother with us several years ago - she was mid-80's at the time. It was one of the nicest vacations we ever had. She loved exploring the gardens in the parks and watching all the children in their various states of excitement. She wasn't up for Space Mountain, but for nearly everything else. It was a special time for all of us.

[wdwnut]

hi: we've taken my mom with us twice. it sounds as if your in-laws are still active. it is great to take them when they are able/willing to get around on their own. sure, you may have to slow your pace down a touch; but you won't be moving that quickly with little ones.

[Granny]

Do you realize how many parents would be tickled if their children would do something as simple as pick up the phone and call every once in a while? Much less ask to go on a great vacation?

And this provides the folks a chance to not only keep up with one of your children but also share some life long memories with your grand children (okay...they're too young to remember but you can always regale them with stories from your trip).

Bottom line....your daughter wants you to go with them on a vacation with fabulous accommodations and two of your grand kids.

This could be the mother of all no-brainers. ;)

[pentex]

Hey, Pooh&Piglet, which resort are you staying at so we could all talk about that aspect?

As far as WDW, we have taken both my mom and my MIL down to FL at different times. They both had a blast. WDW is hopping with seniors and your in-laws will feel right at place. What did my mom & MIL like best:

* the beauty of the parks...the flowers, the pretty theming, the immaculate condition
* the countries in Epcot (they are both originally from Europe)
* the restaurants
* the beautiful weather when it was fall at home, being able to take long walks on a beautiful evening
* how nice everyone is to you in WDW
* most of all, watching the joy on their grandchildren's faces. Several years later, they can still retell...word for word...cute things my daughter said and did in 1994.

I hope that when I am older, my children will want to include me in their travel plans. What better way to tell your inlaws that you love them and enjoy their company than inviting them on vacation?

[Terry S]

We are taking my mother at the end of this month. I will let you know. I beleive see WDW through the eyes of her grand childern will be a wonderful thing for her.

I was kind of funny though, she may teach me a few things. ( I have been to WDW many times she has never been). Last time we talked about our trip, which we do often, she mentioned she was really excited about all the gardens she has heard about. I was like... what gardens? So I think this will be a learning experience for all.

[Lisa F]

We took my inlaws this past January to WDW and shared a 2br at BWV. They didn't take much convincing to go, it was their idea! They didn't know that we had bought into DVC but they commented several times that we always have so much fun at WDW that they were a little jealous and wanted "the experts" to show them around.

We finally had to explain about DVC because they would NOT let the room thing drop ("we'll work something out when we get there" was not sufficient). They pretty much paid for all of our meals and still feel like they got a great price for the room they had (and said that they were glad that we told them we bought into DVC because they would've thought that we had REALLY gone over the top if they thought we paid CASH for those rooms!).

They had a wonderful and are already looking forward to going with us again once grandkids come into the picture. How's that for a big fat hint!?! I think they are already dreaming about the great time they'll have with their grandchildren there.

The truly wonderful thing about WDW is that I don't think I've ever been anyplace else where it is sheer joy just for ME to be there, and then when you go with kids, you get to experience your own joy and add their amazement to your own. What better way to build some quality memories with all 3 generations?

Lisa

[KnightsQwn]

I have been considering asking my mom if she would bring my son in June... I will be watching for the responses.

[stlrod]

We took my wife's parents a few years ago between Thanksgiving and Xmas before everyone knew it was a great time to go. I wasn't sure how the trip was going to be. We are early-ring get to the parks type people and my mother in-law has had heart sugery a couple of time and wasn't in the best of health. Well, by the 3rd day, she was dressed and ready to go by the time the rest of us woke up (in fact, she was hurrying us out the door.) They loved going to th ehotels to see the Xmas decorations and believe it or not, Blizzard Beach. It was such a wonderful experience that having just bought DVC, the first reservation I made was for HH over Easter hoping they could come with us. This year at X-mas we're going to WDW with my wife's sister and her family. We are all looking forward to it very much. I must say, however, I would not want to go with both my wife's sister and her family and my parents-in-law at the same time.

[Peggy Sue]

This past May we got had a 2 bedroom at OKW and brought my dad and niece along. My dad is 71, has a heart condition and bad knees...he loved every minute of Disney and had no problem keeping up with any of us. My niece had recently graduated from college and has lots of loans to pay off..so we knew she wouldn't be going anywhere soon either. We had such fun together as a family. We all love looking at the pictures, videos etc.


A 2 bedroom gives you lots of privacy..plenty of space to spread out for some quite, alone time inbetween all the visits to the parks. It provides a great living room/kitchen area to share breakfast, afternoon snacks etc.

I'm sure they will be delighted to go! Have fun

[genealle]

My mom used to dog sit/house sit for us when we made the trip to WDW. After we bought into the DVC in 99, we decided to take her along on the next trip. She loved the pictures and video we shot and always wanted copies. Sadly she passed away suddenly in January of 2000 at the young age of 67. If you're thinking about taking the parents along for a trip, do it soon!

[fkj2]

My mom's failing health (she's nearly 80) will preclude me from ever taking her with me again on WDW vacations. I envy you the chance you still have. Don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers.

[Laurajean1014]

Went to WDW in '96 with my mom! She had a great time playing with my 1.5 yo son. It was our last trip together, so I have the terrific memories.

We now invite my in-laws every fall to come with us. They come for about 3 days out of our 10 day trip. (We pay for the hotel).
They love it, my son loves it and we ask them to take our son out with them alone one night so dh and I can catch up being a loving couple!!!!

Everybody wins...........

[Wislodgers]

genealle, I am so sorry about the loss of your mother. I can't even imagine how difficult it must be.

As I posted earlier, we are going with my in laws in January and looking forward to it. We have gone with my parents, an uncle, a brother w/wife and kids and my DH, me and 3 kids of our own all together as a group 4 times now! We have the most wonderful memories and and cannot wait until our next trip together in 2003! We have gotten many comments from people that say they would not want to spend their vacation with their family but we consider it a blessing that we are able to!(and actually enjoy it!)

[Jeanne]

When we joined we didn't tell my parents right away, didn't want to hear any negative thoughts. The second trip down, we took them with, and they became members. Why? So they always had points to join us on trips, so they could spend that time with their grandchildren. As well as the trips with us almost every year, they have taken trips on their own for May in the gardens, and Food and Wine festival. By having the GV or 2 seperate villas, we always have enough space to have down time, and plenty of together time. We have had our inlaws, all of them, down for a family reunion, that was not a good idea. To many differences in the way we all vacation, without flexability being allowed by all. Know your family.

[adamak]

We joined DVC with the thought that we'll be inviting our in-laws and the whole gang. We went to BWI 2 years ago, with our teenage nieces/nephews, my DH, his brothers, inlaws and all that....

They all say it's the best vacation, ever, in their life. Reunion is not the same when you're in Disney. Of course, we'll still have the same arguement (kids screaming at 5am, laundry, fighting for bathroom...etc), but it's really WORTH it.

Tell your inlaws to try it once, and then ask them if they enjoy that. I bet you can't get them off your back!

[baileybrad]

To watch your 2 year old child enjoy WDW. My in-laws don't even care for Disney but still talk about the pleasure they got from watching our 15 month old and their 1st grandchild enjoy the magic of Disney.

[Deb & Bill]

We brought my husband's parents with us on our first DVC trip (2 bedroom at OKW). I was surprised that my FIL had such a great time. I knew my MIL would, but I never expected he would enjoy it so much. We had a great time. They got to play golf with their son at Buena Vista as well.

[Dean]

If things aren't going well, you can always take them over to Westgate and drop them off for the timeshare tour, you might not see them for days. LOL.

We've taken family on similar trips several times. I just spellout the rules up front and tell everyone if the rules aren't ok, DON'T GO.

[MikeJ]

My parents live halfway across the country and as such we only see them a couple of times a year. They alternate between our place and my sister's every other Christmas, so for this year we thought we'd do Christmas at WDW. My parents are still relatively young (in their mid-60s) but my dad has had a number of heart-related problems recently and you never truly know how long you have left. Our kids are 12 & 10 and it won't be much longer until it'll be harder to get them to want to participate in family activities as well, so we have a very narrow window of opportunity here. We don't want to be looking back later on saying "I wish we'd done that."

We have the same problem as Lisa F. - we bought last year but have told very few family members. We're staying in a 2BR at BWV. My mother keeps wanting to know when she should send a cheque to cover their portion of the room costs and I keep telling her "we haven't had to spend anything, yet" which is sorta true. :p I just hope she doesn't look up the rack rates for a 2BR at BW over Christmas - they'll both have heart attacks! At some point we're going to have to break down and tell them that we bought a timeshare ("You did what? You still have a mortgage on the house!!") but I'm holding off on that as long as possible. :)

- Mike

[KangaT]

DH and I have been to WDW 4 times - only once without our DS's and his folks. It was a wonderful vacation each time.

I think the most important thing is to remember to discuss with all the adults what your expectations for the trip are. I worked out a full schedule for our last trip this May - which parks, what parts of the day, where to eat. Even made a bunch of PS's as early as I could.

I later found out that both DH and MIL were very concerned that I was going to be rigid about that schedule. I'd made it to keep us from standing around trying to figure out what to do next and to avoid the worst crowds. And the PS's kept us from having to wait for hours to get a seat at a decent (read that "non-fast food") restaurant. They both relaxed after our first day - when we made an unscheduled trip to Epcot and ended up having dinner at our 2nd choice restaurant there.

Don't forget to take into account any limitations their age/health may impose. When my FIL was still alive, he and MIL often split from us in the evenings. They'd return to the hotel, or just take the same park at a much more leisurely pace. Without him, MIL stayed with us all day each day of our last trip.

Despite the fact that our oldest is only 10, DH and I are already planning trips to WDW with the grandkids. We know from our own experiences, those multi-generational trips can be some of the most precious memories you'll have.

[POOH&PIGLET]

Thanks for all the great responses. :)

pentex - I will stay at my home resort, VWL, and if we go long enough, possibly a few nights at BWV.

Lisa F and MikeJ - I plan to tell my in-laws about DVC when we ask them to go with us.

Now I have to figure out when to ask. I probably won't be for a few weeks.

[spruce]

I always wanted to share the magic I feel at Disney with my parents. They had day tripped it but that really didn't give them the flavor we all know about.
I got to take my Mom and she really liked things she and Dad had never seen before but were always right there to see. Dad couldn't go because he passed away before we could make the trip happen....spruce

[KCritter]

Dean - I noticed you talked about rules for your trips
I just spellout the rules up front and tell everyone if
the rules aren't ok, DON'T GO.
I'm curious, what are your rules? We're taking my husband's family (all adults, no kids) with us for the first time this year and I'd like to avoid possible pitfalls.

I'm thinking the number 1 rule is: We don't have to do everything together. It's OK if we want to get away from each other for a little bit, or if we just want to do different things.

[rserp]

Ask your in-laws to go with you!!! Last year my parents came with us on the land & sea vacation and to this day they are still talking about the cruise and disney. In fact they were upset this year that I didn't ask them to come home this year.

Go for it, they will have a ball!!!!:bounce:

[Dean]

Rules[list=1]
We don't wait on you and you don't wait on us.
There will be alcoholic beverages
We get the master BR.
[/list=1] That was essentially it. The BR was obviously a little levity. The other 2 were important. You'd have to know my mom to understand plus my brother is a minister. My BIL was ecstatic about the rules as he knows what could happen under certain situations.

[imgoingtodisney]

In 1996 when my son was 4 we were suppose to go to Disney with my in-laws but my FIL got very sick with cancer. She has made it to Disney with her 2 other sons families and her daughters family. She enjoys seeing her grandchildren experience Disney. This Oct (now that my son is 9) is our first time with my MIL. I think she will keep up with me better than my husband. I did go camping with her in Aug as a pretrial. This Oct will be my MILs first time staying onsite and our first time in a deluxe. And just today my MIL booked me in her room with her for a Norwegian cruise in Dec for 4 nights. My mother on the other hand doesnt know about any of this. She would be very jealous that I get along better with my MIL.

[valeriekc]

Last year we asked my MIL to join us on our annual trip. She chose to visit the last 4 days of our trip. We were all a little worried about how it would work out, but with a 2 bedroom at the Boardwalk we had plenty of space. Her only complaint was that she wasn't there for the entire trip. We all had a fabulous time! What could be better than experiencing Disney through the eyes of a child!

[WorknFires]

I don't have kids so I can't really help you with the grandparents/grandkids thing. However, DH and I bought into DVC for the express purpose of being able to afford 2 bedroom villas to take our inlaws. This year is my mom's turn. Only 40 more days to go. She's so excited (it's her 1st trip to WDW and we're going on the Disney Wonder cruise to the Bahamas so it's also her 1st cruise and 1st trip out of the country) I can't tell you how happy it makes me to be able to do this for her. Next year we're taking my MIL & FIL and also my mom. MIL & FIL will spend the week doing WDW with us and then they will take the 7 day Disney Magic cruise by themselves to get away from it all.

I think who ever said that you should be glad and honored that your family WANTS to include you in their vacations... you must be really special to be included and it's obvious that you're not "what they are trying to get away from".

And a special note to Granny: you're right! My grandmother tells me constantly (because I call or see her every day) how much she wishes my other cousins would call her or come to see her and how lonely she is... but by the same token, when I try to include her, even if it's just riding with me while I run errands, she doesn't want to go.

So Grandparents... unless you are REALLY physically impaired (and they make electric carts remember) you should make the effort to spend as much time with your children and grandchildren as you can... or don't complain when they are going and doing and YOU'RE not...

Cheryl :bounce:

[SamanthaL]

;) I don't know if this suggestion was mentioned already, but maybe you could talk them into going by telling them they would be doing you a favor. You have one little and one on the way and the more adults that are around to help out the better. Let them know that not all the rides are good for little ones and with four adults two could take turns with the little one while two ride. No one would have to ride alone. You could also suggest that this arrangement would give them some alone time with their grandchild, while giving you some alone time with each other. Sometimes the best route to go with parents is to let them know you need them. Keep us posted on their response

[WorknFires]

Samantha, I think you've hit on the best reason of all! That's absolutely perfect and you're right... everyone wants to be needed (because of course they are we just forget to say it often enough), especially as we get older and people are less dependant on them.

Cheryl :bounce:

[SamanthaL]

:) POOH and PIGLET
How did it go? Did you ask? What did they say?

[wdwnutze]

I always go to WDW with my mother. She loves going and spending time with her grandchildren. Everytime my kids have gone, she has gone with us. (my dh is not big on wdw and only goes occassionally). She goes to be with the grandchildren and for the beauty and atmosphere of the parks. When my dh goes, she gets her own room and lets the grandkids have sleepovers. My kids will have lifelong memories of spending time with their Nanny at WDW. If you were to ask my mother, she would say, "Go for it!"

[lmmmdtmlem]

My parents are going along with us and I think they are about as excited as the kids are! They haven't been there since they took my sisters and I when we were quite young - a very long time ago, when there was only one park! An added benefit has turned out to be that we can get the senior discount on our room at Hifs. You can get up to two(maybe three, I'm not sure right now) rooms at their senior rate. Our rate would have been $129 per night in November and now it is $89 per night because my parents are in their sixties. As the age increases, so does the discount. So, they are really helping us out by going along. We're also splitting the cost of the rental car which really helps too.

[truescorp]

We are going on a kind of spur of the moment trip Oct 7-14. We just confirmed today, but have thrown out a couple of weeks ago to the inlaws-my husband's parents, that we would love for them to go. They never said anything else about it, which usually indicates that they wont do something. My husband is going to do the hard sell now, because we have a 3br condo at Cypress Point that looks amazing on the web, and we really want to share that with them.
The problem is my mother in law is taking care of her 91yr old mother right now daily, and although she has brothers and sisters who could help, she feels as though someone has to be there everyminute. She rarely has time to herself, loves spending time with the grandkids, is a retired teacher and full of enthusiasm for all things "kid related", so she would be a perfect Disney guest, dont you think? Our trouble would be to convince her that she would love the trip.
We would need for her and my father in law to pay for their own tickets to the park, but we would take care of lodging, transportation. On a retired budget, even the $150 or so for the tickets each would be a stretch I imagine. But I just really think she would love it, and would help tremendously with my 2.5 yr old. Any suggestions from my esteemed posters?

[Ladygator]

We went to Disney and stayed in the Contemporary the first year it opened. My Grandmother would get up early with my brother and I and we would ride the monorail round and round. We had so much fun with her and it gave my parents some time to themselves. Last year my Mom went with our family and the kids loved having her there. We got connecting rooms at the Dolphin. My Mom enjoyed reading in the room in the afternoons and stayed with the baby while she took a nap. She also loved seeing the kids enjoy the rides at the parks and interact with the characters.

[scrapper]

My dad came with us in April. He is 70. I was surprised at how much he enjoyed it. Gotta tell you.. his favorite was AK- he loved the shows.