Stories of bringing friends/extended family with you?

[Catrinabeach]

I guess we have been super lucky. We bring other people almost every time and haven't had any issues really. We took my niece when she was 13 and she loved everything, we took my BF's DD and she was so stoked but she is like one of my kids and when she started to get mouthy a simple, you are going to far, was enough to get her to step back into line like my own kids do, I took another neice when she was 10 and she was cranky like that the first day because she wasn't getting her way (we had traveled for 14 hrs and just went to DTD for dinner and back to the room til to bed and she wanted to go to the park) but after that she was good to go and had a good time.

My DD keeps asking to bring friends with us next time but we are going for a long time so we won't be doing it. lol

Our trip next month we have my BF and her DD who is now 20 going with us. It's a surprise for my DD 8yrs, and my BF has never been. She is letting her DD and I plan everything because we know and we have promised she will get 3-4 hrs sleep a night lol.

 

[DisneyGayl]

Last Christmas, my family had a reunion at WDW. 13 of us spent Christmas week at WDW and US. It was an experience I don't want to repeat!

I was the main planner and tried to limit my planning to what park would be best on which day and making a few ADRs for the whole group so we could eat some meals together as a family.

Sometimes it felt like I was "herding cats" trying to get the group to do things together since it was a family reunion! We all started the trip feeling like we should be together since it was a reunion and we don't see each other very often, but with the different ages and interests of our group that didn't work out too well! It didn't help that the parks were so packed during Christmas week! By the end of the week, I was exhausted and a little frustrated with my family! I think they were frustrated with me too! Oh well!

The first week in January just my family is going back to WDW to enjoy time together and enjoy touring the parks on our own. I am looking forward to a relaxing family vacation!

Gayl

 

[FreeTime]

I have taken trips with our extended family - we have said never again...
a trip with a scout troop - maybe I would do again...
Earlier today I told my girls that I would consider letting them bring a friend in 2014 (they will be 13 & 14) and they can have their time and dad and I can have our time...now I am starting to thing otherwise after reading this post!!!!

 

[mackenziefaith]

My in-laws have tried twice to butt into our WDW vacations and I'm sorry but I put my foot down both times, and said no. Both times, our trip was completely planned, hotels, ADR's, parties, ect. They only want to pay for 1-2 parks days, can't hardly walk 10 feet without needing to sit down and want to share ALL of their meals. We have explained to them there is A LOT of walking, your not supposed to share meals - which they would balk at the cost, and with them only wanting to spend 1-2 days at the parks, what are we supposed to do with the rest our week, with our families APs. Disney is not cheap. They would tank the whole trip. I have no problem, planning a trip from the get go, knowing they would come.. I would have different expectations of that trip, than the one I've already planned, and they try to butt into, and end up ruining. Harsh words, but it's true. We're too commando for tagalongs!

We did a trip with my in laws and they totally tanked it. I had all of my ADRs, each park day planned out, etc. We aren't open to close park people. We have kids and tend to break up our day with either a sit down lunch, or a trip back to the hotel to swim/relax. They complained the whole time that we were rushing them. They wanted to sleep in every day, until 10 or 11, hated the heat, the crowds, the rides, and pretty much everything about the trip. My MIL even said at one point that she'd like to come back to WDW, but would just skip the parks and lay out by the pool all week. Really? I can do that at home!

 

[disneygal55]

We have never brought extended family along but for the last 6 years we have brought the friends/girlfriends of our two DS's. We must be blessed because their friends or girlfriends have been appreciative and thankful for the trips. We have supplied the DVC rooms and have paid for their meals. Sometimes the kids hung out with us as a group and sometimes they went their own way...especially at night when we just crashed LOL. Our two DS's are now college grad adults and have started good jobs so they won't be going with us as much. I will miss them and their friends but my DH and I will have to just continue on by ourselves..."oh the horror of it all" LOL!

 

[tlh0726]

January trip with 18 family and friends. Must be like Childbirth. I remember it fondly, but know there were stressful moments along the way, but there are even on other trips. Everyone enjoys things differently, key is to make sure everyone gets to do something they enjoy, because, whatever we like, it's their vacation too!

what a special picture!

 

[tigger24601]

I have to admit that I think I have been one of the "issue people" (that's what we'll call them). Lol

Our family of 4 is a 1, very small, income family. Everyone else on dh's side is a 2 income family. (I felt so relieved when dh pointed that out this christmas.) So when a small reunion was planned a few summers ago we were treated like we had 3 eyes or something when we said no to some things.

1. The reunion started sunday, in orlando. Most of us live in s. Florida and jamaica. A few in new york.
A. We'll see you Monday. (Dh works Sunday and there was no getting away that weekend) besides others were coming in at different times during the week. Why are we getting guff about it.
2. Inlaws put us in their suite which was fine. It was a 2 bedroom off site time share. Several aunts own there.
A. If we had to pay we would have said no or if we're putting out that kind of $$ we'll be staying at the mouse.
3. One outing was planned mainly because some could get in free and their kids ages meant they would be free also.
A. This time it was cheaper for our family of 4 to go spend a 1/2 day at typhoon lagoon with the option to return later in the year. (Fl pass)
4. And the part we really got a lot of guff about, we left Friday morning to continue vacationing with my side of our family.When some found out we wouldn't be there for friday's dinner they were all over us. " what do you mean you're not gonna be there? You have to be there! We're doing the family picture!" And on and on and on.
A. Our response: "I'm sorry. we've been here since monday, dinner everynight with family, most of the scheduled outings, hanging out with everybody in the morning. Where has your brother been?" Nothing else was ever said to us after that.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We went with my husband's aunt (was in her early 70's) and his cousin (early 50's) back in 2009. NEVER AGAIN!

We had done WDW with them a few years earlier, Disneyland two years earlir and a Disney Cruise (with a resort non park stay before the cruise) a few years earlier. All of those were fantastic trips.

But this trip was different. For one thing, it was June. I had warned them about the heat but they live in DC and are used to heat and said they'd be fine. Also, my husband's aunt had developed some problems with her legs/circulation and I had no idea how serious that was. We stayed at All Star Music vs. Saratoga Springs and Coronado Springs (where we had stayed earlier trips) and although we had shown them photos and video they seemed suprised by the theming of the resort and clearly did not like it.

The whole trip was awful. They hated ASMU, cousin got a cold/flu type thing, aunt twisted her knee and was in a wheelchair, heat was hard for them to deal with, and they were grouchy and ungrateful for all the time dh, ds, dd and myself spent trying to make it better. We would stake out spots for the parades, paid to take cabs to ADRS, and it was never enough to make them say "you know what thanks so much, its been a rough trip but we appreicate that you made it a lot easier than it could have been".

It really broke my heart to see my kids miserable and wanting to have fun, sad their family was unhappy and still hounded about everything they did. I remember dh's cousin snarking at ds (who was 14 at the time) for his table manners at 1900 Park Fare one eveningand just wanting to slap her. In the end, our feelings, money and time were sacrificed and I won't be repeating that mistake again. Love them dearly but will never pay to vacation with them again.

The biggest lesson that I learned from that trip is that while extended family/large group trips can be fun, they can be very stressful. I know from their standpoint it was all about their physical problems but really it was their attitude that sucked the life out of everyone else.

I will add that the whole reason we stayed at ASMU was because that was what they wanted to pay! We had stayed at SSR before on our points, but this trip I didn't have enough points for a two bedroom and they didn't want to stay at SSR because A) to pay for a studio was expensive and B) they didn't want one of them sleeping on a sofa bed. They wanted to pay about what they had paid years ealier when I charged them $5 a point for their portion of a SSR dedicated two bedroom and that meant staying value. We had stayed at ASSP a few years earlier with my mom and she had loved it but I should have known better given aunt and cousin's tastes and personalities.

WDW is too special and too expensive for us to gamble a trip again with anyone we aren't sure we can vacation with sucessfully.

 

[patclairesmom]

We recently took our DS's friend to the parks. All he did was compare every ride to Universal and Great Adventures. Finally my DS got feb up and said, "it's not suppose to be like Great Adventures, it's Disney." I told my DH who couldn't go and really isn't a Dinsey fan that at least he get's Disney and is happy when he get's off the rides(except IASW).

 

[Edgehopper]

Ok now I'm worried. We are bringing younger dd's BFF this Christmas. I've known the girl for many years, she was in dd's Girl Scout troop where I was the leader so I've taken lots of day trips and overnights with her, plus she has spent countless hours at our house. BUT she is a super picky eater and when she was little she was scared of everything, and I mean everything. I think she is over the fear thing because they love to watch scary movies but she is still a super picky eater. When she comes over I let her go thru the cabinets and pick out what she wants to eat, usually works for us both. Thankfully I know WDW had PB&J sandwiches and mac and cheese, her two favorites./QUOTE]

"Scared of anything" might solve itself through peer pressure! It did for me, although not at Disney World; I was terrified of roller coasters, even kiddie ones, until I was about 10. What happened at 10? A friend invited me to his birthday party at Geauga Lake (near Cleveland, OH--it was next to our Sea World), and the combination of not wanting to sit by myself while the other 3 kids went on roller coasters and my friend's much more reassuring dad got me to enjoy them. Now the only thing that keeps me off of coasters is my weight, along with the apparent tendency for parks to keep making smaller restraint systems.

Anyways, haven't done a friends/family trip to Disney World; I went to Disneyland with a friend (the same one who had the birthday party) about 15 years ago as a kid, but that's about it. I'm hoping I can assemble a trip of my adult friends later this year, but one expected newborn is already interfering with that plan.

 

[nansmama]

Yikes, I had forgotten about this thread. After a couple months to reflect, my dd and I have decided that some people are just not Disney people, and her friend is one of them. We have been there with lots of other friends before and this was our only disaster. As my dd says, "she just doesn't get it." Lesson learned!

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

My mom has gone with us on just about every trip. This upcoming trip in April will include her significant other and one of my nephews who is just about the same age as our oldest son. We booked a huge 3 bedroom condo so there will be plenty of room--not that we spend much time in the room anyway. My mom and her sig. other are pretty go with the flow. I can be a bit commando in my Disney touring style, but we've been many times so perhaps we will ease up a bit this trip. See some things we haven't taken time to see before.

 

[WillAustin]

Yikes, I had forgotten about this thread. After a couple months to reflect, my dd and I have decided that some people are just not Disney people, and her friend is one of them. We have been there with lots of other friends before and this was our only disaster. As my dd says, "she just doesn't get it." Lesson learned!

And some people are Tiggers and some people are Eeyores.

 

[Gina9201]

Sorry everyone I didn't realize " showing his behind" was just used here in the south! Lol

I always thought I wasn't southern! Guess I'm more southern than I'd like to admit!

I am totally shocked at the number of people who hadn't heard this expression. I didn't realize it was a southern "thang" either. Lol!

 

[acebatonfan]

OP, I know how you feel about obnoxious teenagers, as I have to put up with them every day in order to graduate from school. During Spring Break of 2012, I did go down to Disney with a few teenage friends for orchestral competitions (and, to be honest, had a miserable time), so I do have a few pros and cons of going with tons of us.

The Good

• Some of us are pretty laid-back. I, personally, am someone who would love to go back down to Disney, while other peers only just want to see the screens of their cell phones.
• Some are full of energy... once they wake up at 2 PM.

The Bad

• Well, this is the first thing that really annoyed me while down there. I had a group of "Best Friends", and they thought it would be fun to abandon me and play a game where they say one location when I text them about their location and then be somewhere else once I get to the previous location. Some friends they are... and then they abandoned me on the plane coming home for a "swimmer" sitting alone (leaving me watching the couple next to me make out for two hours)
• Some are addicted to their phones. Personally, not all people are like this, but I feel like some may only be glued to them to keep in contact with others. I'm usually not someone who uses their phone, but while I was down there, I was texting my parents quite a bit and updating them on what is happening and where I am at the moment (calling when something really bad happens). It helped alleviate my parents' fears of me being gone somewhere when they needed to contact me, and I felt that I didn't need to tattle to the chaperone when I was abandoned in Epcot for over three hours.
• We like to complain... a lot. On the other hand, some of us are appreciative of the opportunity, and even though I had a horrible time doing Disney with my "friends", I still have a few fun memories (like hanging out Standby for Soarin' with a young family going to Disney for the first time).

 

[North of Mouse]

LOL! I think it is a Southern expression, although it may be used in other parts of the country as well.

Yep - it's something I would hear in the south growing up also. There are lots of expressions we use - my poor dh is always looking at me like - "oh, no, another one, just when I thought I had heard all the sayings you grew up with" LOL

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

Back in 2006 we took my cousin with us (me, my mom, and my sister) and she spent the entire time texting on her cell phone, talk about annoying.

 

[pigletto]

We've been with my inlaws and stayed in separate resorts. We didn't do everything together but always met for dinner and spent the evening together. I can only think of two minor (very minor) annoyances during the entire trip. They were of the "everyone is hot and tired" variety. So it worked out really well.
This summer we brought dd's friend for 10 days. It also went very well. She's a great kid and was very appreciative. The only weirdness is that you constantly feel on your best behaviour. Let's face it, families bicker. However with someone else's teen with you, I think everyone stays on their best behaviour. It wasn't bad, just odd and a little uncomfortable at times. However after reading this thread I can see how it could be so much worse and you'll get no complaints from me!!
Those were our last two trips. I am looking forward to it being just our family again in February but I would definitely go with my inlaws or dd's friend again.
Just that friend though. I can already tell you there are girls that dd hangs out with that are very nice but would drive me nuts on vacation.

 

[Melodious]

Every time we invite friends, we worry that they won't like WDW as much and it will ruin the magic. So far it hasn't happened, but we also like to plan it so the friend isn't there the whole trip, just in case.

But next year mom wants to bring my Dad (I mean force him somehow to go with us). I love my Dad but if my mom thinks he's suddenly going to discover the magic of Disney after all these years, it's probably not going to happen.

 

[mhnewcomb]

Wow...reading through this thread makes me feel very appreciative of my Bestie!

One day in 2008, we were standing around in my house, when he said, "Hey, I'm taking the kids to Disney again...why don't you all come with us?" At the time, I was 40 and had never been, and the hubs was 43 and hadn't been since high school; talk about an easy decision!

During the planning, Bestie met GF and fell in love , so it was me, hubs, DD13 and DD7 plus bestie, his GF, DS6, DSD9, and GF's DS2. (Bestie was the Disney pro, so he was REALLY taking a chance on all of us, bless him!)

Bestie is commando-tour-guy, and the rest of us are lead-on-let's-do-this! kind of people, and it was the most fantastic vacation I've ever even dreamed of. (Though I do sorely regret making them ride in a van from Nashville...I was too chicken to fly, not having yet discovered the miracle of XANAX for a plane trip! Never again...) Stayed at ASMo that year, kids loved the resort/food court/pool...could not have asked for a better time!

Went again in the fall of 2010, same group minus the DSD , though by then GF had become DW. SSR this time on point rental (all coordinated again by Bestie) for the same price as the first trip...my DD LOVED the horse theme, and it was SO beautiful! Got smart this time by trading off babysitting duty, so both couples got their own "date night".

Next year, we are FINALLY going again! This time, it will be the same group, plus Bestie and DW's new DD2, two other friends and their DD2, plus DW's parents! OKW on points rental this time, and I just can't wait to see the resort...Bestie proposed on their "alone trip" there in fall 2009, and they love it there. I hate that we won't be touring every day with everyone, but we realize that 14 people simply cannot stay together the entire time. We will do as much dining and World Showcasing and resort lounging together as we possibly can, and it will be awesome once again...we are already having fun trying to map out what to do and where to eat and how to coordinate with each other.

There really is a point to this in here somewhere...and I suppose it's that friends and family trips CAN be fabulous! Everyone involved just has to be willing to go with the flow! I will forever be grateful to Bestie for inviting us along way back when...I may have gone forever without becoming a Disney addict!

PS: I can think of 20 people off the top of my head that I would NEVER EVER Disney with, however!

PSS: "Showed his behind" is indeed a go-to phrase here in the South, immediately following the R-rated version of the same phrase.