Am I Nuts??? (long)

[DISLOVE]

My DH and I are taking our DD (2) to WDW 12/10 thru 12/17. We have been planning to stay at the Wilderness Lodge which is hands down our most favorite resort and helps to create pure family magic for us.

We have decided to invite my in-laws to join us although they have a very tight financial situation. We figured out that we could have them come down and we would get 2 rooms at the All Stars for the three nights they would be down. We would cover all their expenses except food and souvenirs.

I'm excited about this even though my inlaws can sometimes really grate on my nerves. I am excited about sharing Disney with two people who have never experienced and it truly have no idea what it's like (hoakey, I know). I'm also excited about having my daughter spend time with people who care so much about her on a majical vacation. And to be honest, I know that they will watch her one of the nights so that Eric and I can get out and do MVMCP or another late night activity.

I'm giving up alot... the Lodge for the first 3 nights (we will switch back when they leave)... and our housecleaning service for two months (to pay for their portion)...

Any ideas on why I am so hoping that they come with us? Is this really a great thing or am I blinded by some disney magical feeling?

What Do you think?? What have been your experiences traveling with slightly difficult in laws?

 

[disneymom3]

My big concern with travelling to WDW with other people is will they do Disney "right"? By "right" I of course mean my way! LOL

Seriously though--you need to make sure ahead of time if for instance you are very committed to arriving by park opening--will they be joining you and on time, or will you hook up later? Thngs like that. And how difficult is difficult?

I think your best bet is to focus on what you want to get out of it and not have too high of expectations at the same time. You want DD to experience WDW with GM and GP. Great, they can do that sitting on Main st eating some popcorn. One of the things my kids remember most about visiting with their grandparents is that the boys got to wait with Gma while mom and dad went on Splash Mtn. Who'd have thought???

Just take it as it comes and appreciate the little stuff!

 

[Mortlives]

2 words - walkie talkies.

Make sure you're not physically tied to the in-laws so they can meet up with you later if everyone's internal clocks are not in sync. When we went with my SIL and her girls it was very frustrating having to wait 2 hours for them to get dressed, and another 2 hours waiting for them to change when we park hopped!?! So, having radios would have saved us a lot of aggro.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[mikesluss]

please remember that you don't have to do everything together all of the time too many times we have taken inlaws and outlaws on vac and have hated it until we realized this is my vac and i don't have to spend every min with you if I don't want to and once everyone understood and was adult about it it was wonderfull

 

[asktriplets]

...except we're bringing my parents AND the in-laws!

i feel the EXACT same way you do about everything (excited, sappy about giving everyone a chance to share the magic, worried about being too starry-eyed and optimistic about how we're all going to get along, looking forward to the "free" babysitting for a night....)

---i'm so excited to share disney with my mil (and fil, too). she's never been there, and she cried (so did i actually) when we told her we were "treating" her to this trip. it's a once in a lifetime chance for her to go, AND she gets to go with grandkids.

---dh and i met my parents at wdw a few years back and, knowing how my parents can be pretty cranky at times (meaning negative and bickering with each other), i laid it all out to them before we left back then.....i told them that i was really looking forward to the trip and i thought this was a great practice trip for when we have kids, blahblahblah. i ALSO told them that i know it may be tough to travel together at times, so i will expect that everyone will be pleasant and enjoyable at ALL times, and if not, they needed to take a break (i included myself and dh in this, too). i said that if this wasn't enjoyable WITHOUT kids, it might seriously make me consider whether i would want to travel with them when we DID have kids (and, again, i was very kind and gentle when i said all of this, but it was completely true and i thought it was import,ant to say). as a result of that talk, my parents were exceedingly pleasant the whole trip, so i think this trip will go just fine!

don't know if that story helps you at all, but perhaps if there are particular things that bug you about the in-laws you could mention it now (or better yet, have dh talk to them)
, so that you don't have to worry about whether or not it'll be a problem once you get there.

---to save money, we initially talked about sharing rooms/cabins at ft. wilderness together, but i quickly changed my mind....this is still MY vacation, so we booked separate rooms so that dh, the kids, and i have "alone" time every night.

---our situation is a little different in that with 3 toddlers, each set of adults can be responsible for 1 child(which means each couple can sit with a child on the rides, etc). i have already told both sets of grandparents, however, that we want to BE with our kids the whole time (other than dinner 1 night, we're not looking for babysitters so we can do our own thing). ... i don't want to get into the g'parents telling me "oh, just go on, we'll watch the kids. don't worry. go. go. go.", because THAT gets on my nerves. that being said, dh and i agree that it'll be fun for all of the adults (and each child, too), if the g'parents get to spend some alone time with the kids briefly each day.


---other than that, i've already told the g'parents that we're on the kids' schedule (using my rough daily itinerary, which i will give a copy of to each set of g.p.s), so they can meet up with us wherever and whenever they want, but i've got 3 toddlers to keep track of, so i can't worry about them!!!

i did, by the way, say all of this in a very nice way.....i am REALLY excited to share all of the joy with everyone. i think the best times will be the times we're NOT doing the rides....exploring paths and playing in fountains, watching parades and people, seeing pooh and mickey, riding the monorail, eating the mouse ear ice cream (my kids are going to LOVE that!!!!)....

anyway,
have a GREAT time. what an incredible gift for all of you to be able to share this trip!!!!

 

[cinjam]

I understand why you are doing it.

If I had a different type of in-laws I would do the same. I know my inlaws wouldn't appreciate it or enjoy it, so it's not doable for us.

I had always dreamed of treating my mom & stepdad and having them join us - just to see Dinsey through their grandchildren's eyes. My stepdad passed away this summer and I am sorry I didn't try to make it happen sooner.

As a side note: don't assume because you love Disney that they will too (although I don't know why they wouldn't! LOL). We had an experience a few years ago w/my ILs. DH & I loved Les Miserables (SP?) on broadway. We had seen it several times. We decided to treat MIL&FIL - bought seats front & center. We were so excited - the show is SO AWESOME.

It was a matinee and I guess we interfered with their naps because they both fell alseep.... I am not kidding. DH did not find it funny. So, what we loved and thought was wonderful, bored them to sleep!!

 

[jkovick]

We just returned from taking my MIL to WDW last week. I too was so giddy to show her "the magic". We had an okay time but she just didn't "get it" like I had hoped she would. Just set your expectations low and be thrilled if it all works out how you hope. Have a great time and don't undersetimate the value of separate time!

 

[MinnieMe67]

We are also taking both my parents and in-laws to share in the Disney Magic with their grandchildren. I am nervous and anxious and excited, too! I guess I have to just try to lower my expectations and hope for the best! We leave on Monday, YIKES! Wish me luck!

 

[DISLOVE]

Thank you for all your posts.... But my inlaws declined our offer and won't be joining us on our trip. I am disappointed but trying to focus on how foolish they are! I mean, who turns down a paid trip ANYWHERE??? A paid trip to Disney World... I have entered many a contest for that chance!

Ah well... At least now I can keep my WL for the whole trip! The worst part? Not being able to tell them what fools they are! I have to keep my thoughts to myself to save the peace.

Thanks again!
Kristy

 

[MNTerri]

I think you just got lucky. If it didn't work out you would have had your feelings hurt for sacrificing so much. And I've never heard of a vacation with IL working out no matter how well you get along.

Have a great time! That was very generous of you to offer to them.