Advice on linking a guest - do I have to? - update:and all hell broke loose

[Dizzydizney]

All these years and I never knew you could leave the spaces blank for the names of other guests on your dining reservation.

OP, can you unaccept him? I would never, ever give anyone access. I just recently allowed my husband access. If they start messing around with things they can accidentally cancel something. A cast member once told me about how she was finally able to get her daughter into Bibbity Bobbity for the princess treatment. This cast member had a couple of sisters that she shared access with. Somehow, the reservation was cancelled. And she couldn’t get it back. Not that she was blaming anyone......

When family comes, I make all the park decisions. We talk about where we want to go for a couple of dinners and I take care of the reservations (usually the bill too ) .

Just tell him it’s too much stress inducing to have too many fingers in the pot. And I think his spreadsheets are going to be useless....but I wouldn’t tell him that.

You are very kind to not charge something for a GV. I hope they take you to Victoria and Alberts.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

All these years and I never knew you could leave the spaces blank for the names of other guests on your dining reservation.

OP, can you unaccept him? I would never, ever give anyone access. I just recently allowed my husband access. If they start messing around with things they can accidentally cancel something. A cast member once told me about how she was finally able to get her daughter into Bibbity Bobbity for the princess treatment. This cast member had a couple of sisters that she shared access with. Somehow, the reservation was cancelled. And she couldn’t get it back. Not that she was blaming anyone......

When family comes, I make all the park decisions. We talk about where we want to go for a couple of dinners and I take care of the reservations (usually the bill too ) .

Just tell him it’s too much stress inducing to have too many fingers in the pot. And I think his spreadsheets are going to be useless....but I wouldn’t tell him that.

You are very kind to not charge something for a GV. I hope they take you to Victoria and Alberts.

It's not a very harmonious group for a WDW trip. Usually my groups are more than happy to not have to plan. This group is different with very strong opinions. Two are going to Universal for a day. One of the those two doesn't like parks and has the 3 vs 5 day pass. The same two will not go to a water park but the other guest insists on it. One really wants to hang out at DS at Ragland Road. One is an extreme foodie (at WDW, god help him with mediorce food at best). One wants to read. One wants to spa at GF. Spa girl want V & A. Ragland Rd. girl wants to read all day and go to DS. Foodie boy wants to park 5 days from opening to close.
Like I've said before, I've takenf riends and family dozens of times...this will be a hot mess.

 

[CarolynFH]

It's not a very harmonious group for a WDW trip. Usually my groups are more than happy to not have to plan. This group is different with very strong opinions. Two are going to Universal for a day. One of the those two doesn't like parks and has the 3 vs 5 day pass. The same two will not go to a water park but the other guest insists on it. One really wants to hang out at DS at Ragland Road. One is an extreme foodie (at WDW, god help him with mediorce food at best). One wants to read. One wants to spa at GF. Spa girl want V & A. Ragland Rd. girl wants to read all day and go to DS. Foodie boy wants to park 5 days from opening to close.
Like I've said before, I've takenf riends and family dozens of times...this will be a hot mess.

I'm sorry, this does sound like a mess and not a fun trip at all for you. But with a GV, hopefully there will be enough room for everyone to spread out, and maybe you won't have to interact very much with your never-to-be-invited-again guests.

 

[Sandisw]

It's not a very harmonious group for a WDW trip. Usually my groups are more than happy to not have to plan. This group is different with very strong opinions. Two are going to Universal for a day. One of the those two doesn't like parks and has the 3 vs 5 day pass. The same two will not go to a water park but the other guest insists on it. One really wants to hang out at DS at Ragland Road. One is an extreme foodie (at WDW, god help him with mediorce food at best). One wants to read. One wants to spa at GF. Spa girl want V & A. Ragland Rd. girl wants to read all day and go to DS. Foodie boy wants to park 5 days from opening to close.
Like I've said before, I've takenf riends and family dozens of times...this will be a hot mess.

All I can say is I hope you enjoy adult beverages!,,,

 

[sheilafri]

It seems like your only hope is to redefine your expectations of a group vacation. Can everyone potentially get comfortable with the idea of not keeping the whole group together, but to break up into smaller groups based on a particular activity? In other words, go your own way, and just recruit one or two people to accompany you on occasion.

I’ve done WDW a couple times as a solo traveler and loved it. Maybe you would enjoy some distance from your guests.

 

[suebeelin]

It's not a very harmonious group for a WDW trip. Usually my groups are more than happy to not have to plan. This group is different with very strong opinions. Two are going to Universal for a day. One of the those two doesn't like parks and has the 3 vs 5 day pass. The same two will not go to a water park but the other guest insists on it. One really wants to hang out at DS at Ragland Road. One is an extreme foodie (at WDW, god help him with mediorce food at best). One wants to read. One wants to spa at GF. Spa girl want V & A. Ragland Rd. girl wants to read all day and go to DS. Foodie boy wants to park 5 days from opening to close.
Like I've said before, I've takenf riends and family dozens of times...this will be a hot mess.

If I were invited, free of charge, to stay in a GV at a deluxe resort…..

I would be so grateful, and do whatever the host wanted to do.

I would likewise expect that of my guests if I were the host (do unto??).

!!!!!!! I don’t understand your guests!!!!!

 

[mort1331]

Let me give you another take if I may.....You and your life seem very very busy right now. So as you have been to WDW many times, and I assume will be many times after this trip. Let it go.....Let them plan out your week. Let them plan meals....and just be a passenger for this trip. Sometimes it is hard to let go,,but you could have the most relaxing time not worrying about anything except why your drink is empty.
You never know,,,you might find something new to enjoy that you did not see before due to your own planning and your expectations. My 2cents.

 

[keishashadow]

Like I've said before, I've takenf riends and family dozens of times...this will be a hot mess.

Not if you all split up and enjoy whatever level of ‘me time’ as Detailed above. since all adults & can easily navigate their day, Solo. I get it’s not how the OP originally envisioned. My nose would be out of joint too, it’s quite inconsiderate of them IMO.

although, it could also be a chance for the OP to also get out of the comfort zone & explore something new with the guests. U is amazing

Regardless, it was gracious of OP to provide the accommodations & work up an itinerary for this & previous group trips. This lot sounds to not be of the same touring type of mind & didn’t get the message they were expected to tour together.

despite the ground work, if the troops decide to decamp, then so be it…OP carry on & enjoy ‘the world’ as planned. Make a mental note to not invite the ingrates the next ‘round.

FYI make sure to Check in a bit early at any dining ADR & explain you’ve ‘lost’ a diner or two or three if unable to adjust, have found modifying online is nearly impossible this far out with the current demand.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

This OP will gladly go to Heavenly Foot Massage in downtown Orlando, get her hair cut by her favorite stylist at Salon Dulay, hang out on her GV balcony sipping store purchased Prosecco for half the price and perhaps do a day or two of meetings via Zoom to save on the vacation time. She will even provide the tissues, as a good hostess should, for the inevitable tears, when the guests realize that, no, there will be no Rise of the Resistance because you only went to HS for 3 hours and, No, you can't get on FOP like your friends at home told you about. But, she will, not be sympathetic. SHe will pour herself another glass of Prosecco and gaze out over OKW from her balcony.

 

[bumbershoot]

Update: So after a Zoom call yesterday where I was put on the spot, I added Guest 2 & 3. Not less than 24 hours later, Guest 2 starts making changes and reservations for dining. UGH!!!!!!!! Guest 3 can't enter a different park before 2:00... and she has less ticket days...AND CHEFS DE FRANCE IS A WASTE OF MONEY. Heck, you've been to France and eaten real French food. OMG, save me now.

He is actually changing your reservations? I'd unlink him.

He can make his OWN ADRs on his OWN MDE. He didn't need access to yours. It's maddening that he's doing this.

OP, I would definitely only assign yourself to any ADRs for now, leaving the other guest names blank.

Yep.

Two are going to Universal for a day. One of the those two doesn't like parks and has the 3 vs 5 day pass. The same two will not go to a water park but the other guest insists on it. One really wants to hang out at DS at Ragland Road. One is an extreme foodie (at WDW, god help him with mediorce food at best). One wants to read. One wants to spa at GF. Spa girl want V & A. Ragland Rd. girl wants to read all day and go to DS. Foodie boy wants to park 5 days from opening to close.

I wonder why he needed to get access to the main MDE, since his wants are so different from the group? Sounds like it's not going to be a cohesive trip at all. I'd just use the room as the meeting-up point and let people do what they wish.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

He is actually changing your reservations? I'd unlink him.

He can make his OWN ADRs on his OWN MDE. He didn't need access to yours. It's maddening that he's doing this.



Yep.



I wonder why he needed to get access to the main MDE, since his wants are so different from the group? Sounds like it's not going to be a cohesive trip at all. I'd just use the room as the meeting-up point and let people do what they wish.

He likes to keep emphasizing that he is a 'planner' because he is Project Manager" which is hysterical to me becauseI am also a PM and I totally get planning. But, I have also learned that like large projects, one must be fluid enough to adapt to changing circumstances.

 

[js]

OP, if your guests are planners, can't they download their own MDE and work from there?
Can't you all just decide to all be on your own vacations and meet up for drinks or dinners each night?
Sorry, I'm sure they are close friends since you have invited them on your vacation at GV, but they seem very ungrateful.

 

[bumbershoot]

He likes to keep emphasizing that he is a 'planner' because he is Project Manager" which is hysterical to me becauseI am also a PM and I totally get planning. But, I have also learned that like large projects, one must be fluid enough to adapt to changing circumstances.

Oh sure, he's a planner. But why did he need to link MDEs for him to plan? If he was really knowledgeable regarding disney planning, he should know that he can do it with his own account without impacting everyone else.