ARG!!! Not ready to book! Need to Vent...

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Originally posted by Tigger&Belle

As to the WDW trip, my DH and I talked and we're going to basically go with their dates, but try to talk them into staying one more day so we have a buffer--a day between the time we would get back from Orlando and they would go to Boston. Not that Orlando is going to have another hurricane, but you never know what could happen to delay a flight. This is all assuming that they can use their frequent flyer miles on those dates.


T&B

Sounds like a great plan....have a wonderful trip!

 

[SamanthaL]

So what dates did you choose? Could we be there at the same time?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If it works out we'll be there the end of September/beg Oct. I can't wait to get a counter going, but don't want to jinx myself for fear of it not working out. Then back with my 4yo, sister and mom in December (for my birthday), and with my 10yo in January. I just told my 10yo this morning since he's been begging to go. Then my AP expires.

BTW, my DH is only going on this trip without children, which is why I'm trying to make it a very good trip for him so he'll want to return.

T&B

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We still don't have this totally figured out, but at least have all agreed to dates and my MIL is going to call United tomorrow and see if they can redeem milage points on the dates that they want to travel. We do not have any wiggle room in the schedule, though, and most certainly hope that big storms stay away from the east coast on the day we'd want to fly home (my in-laws would be flying to Boston the day after we'd be returning from WDW)

My DH got so frustrated with the whole situation that he made me deal with his mom, which was actually good because it was obvious to her how upset my DH was. I just hope they can get the tickets with their flyer miles or the whole thing is off.

I'll keep my fingers crossed!

T&B

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

WOW, I would skip the relatives and go to Disney with the kids. Sounds a lot more enjoyable than all that family nonsense. JMO

 

[behappy]

T&B,

If the trip and the timing are important, why not offer to pay their airfare? Seems like that would help 'lock it in'?

Just a thought?

 

[disneyfreakk]

i feel for ya tink! i went through something simular.

we were planning on vacationing with our friends. they couldnt get their dates straight ( sound familar? ) we finally booked everything and told them we would love for them to come and here are our dates. we all planned on 4 nights at the HRH in universal, a 4 night Disney cruise, and then disney ( we are stayiing a week, but they were going to do 3 nights ) everything was set to go until a few days ago ( the 60 day mark ) they decided to only do the HRH. this is no biggie, but we have been planning this trip since January!!

and on top of this, DH asked his parents to watch our 3 kids ( the furry kind ). they said yes. so we asked them 4 times because we would have to drive 9 hours (one way, 18 hrs roundtrip ) to drop the kids off. yes, would be no problem. we then bought plain tix from where they live to MCO. well a few weeks after we paid almost 500 bucks, his parents backed out! so now we just might as well flushed the $500 because it was cheaper ( and shorter )just to buy new tix from another airline than to change flights with AA.

i hope things go better for you than they have for us!! next time we arent counting on anyone but ourselves.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Long-winded reply...sorry.

Boardwalk Tigger, you think my in-laws are pains--you haven't met my kids! We had originally planned on bringing all our kids to WDW the end of January when they had (operative word--had) a 4 day weekend. The school district then decided to have school one of those in-service days, so it would have meant loosing a day off.

The real kicker, though, was last spring vacation. We went to Universal to use the tail-end of our APs (we'd gone the year before with our kids at the beginning of the AP). While we were at Universal, our 16yo daughter informed us that nobody had asked her what SHE wanted to do for vacation and that she'd rather be at home with her friends. Hmmm, didn't make me want to vacation with her in the future. lol Not to mention the fact that half of her senior year will be college classes--not just AP, but a program where a commumity college holds actual classes with professors at her high school.

Then our soon to be 14yo just started high school and has some minor health problems that make keeping up in school a challenge, so now that unexcused absences can affect his high school GPA we need to think long and hard about him missing.

I will be bringing my 10yo in January, though, which sent the older siblings into fits of jealousy. And then I'll be taking my 4yo down in December to meet my mom and sister.

And the most important reason??? My DH and I need to get away!!! The two of us haven't been away for over 6 years, and that was only for one night. The time before that was 15 years ago. Need to get away...

T&B

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Behappy, we would consider doing that, but my DH isn't too crazy about that because a couple of times we've given them tickets and/or airline points for them to use on tickets when they were having a hard time affording the trip. What they did those times is to then come up with the money to pay for the Boston portion of the trip. Then to top it off they always manage to get to every family Bar/Bat Mitzvah that is happening all over the country. The last one was in Texas (they live in CA) and they commented to my DH (who went with one of our kids) that they spend so much time and $ going to these family events and hardly even see their grandchildren. Then on the phone last night my MIL told me they were planning on going to a Bar Mitzvah in Chicago this February. So bottom line is that if we give them the tickets, they will then spend the miles on another trip. BTW, I know it's their right to go wherever they want and I'm most certainly not saying that family events are not important.


Disneyfreakk, That's the problem with relying on other people to either go on a trip with you or watch your kids, furry or otherwise. Very frustrating, isn't it? I hope you get your situation all worked out. Can't believe your in-laws cancelled after you buying plane tickets!

If my in-laws do make it here, they also get to deal with our furry kids (2 cats, 2 dogs). I will put the kids in charge of them as much as possible, but my MIL will still need to make sure the kids have done what they are supposed to do. Of course I haven't reminded my MIL of this.

Today is the day they are supposed to get this worked out, so hopefully the will and I can report back good news.

T&B

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

T&B,

Wow I get it now!!!!!!! I also have children who are at that stage where it is impossible to pull them out of school. That is why we are doing the Christmas vacation instead of our usual Feb/ March. Our kids even have different school vacation schedules now. What a pain. So I am trying to adjust too! I also have a very "charming" teenager who occasionally makes me want to rip my hair out

Hang in there. There is always someone in every family who seems to be more spoiled. I always thought that it was the Baby of the family Can you tell I am a first born( the responsible one if I do say so myself) . Next time I'm coming back as the Baby in the family and I am going to get my way on everything

I am sorry but I had to laugh at your discription of the inlaws going to all the Bar/Bat Mitvahs. It is so funny (when it is not happening to you) to think about that. Send in this story to a TV writer .....This would have been a great episode on Seinfeld but could also be used on the Romanos with editing ( I 'm not sure if they are suppose to be Italian.... the parents don't look it but you get my drift)

I really hope it works out for you. Let us know

 

[momtoPrincessA]

Tigger&Belle,

Boy do I empathize! Sounds JUST LIKE my in-laws, including the self-centered one (although mine is a sister in law).

Here's my suggestion..........forget the inlaws and all the craziness and take the kids with you. I know it's not what you were thinking of but it might reduce your stress level and you'll be glad the kids are with you when you get there!

Sending the pixie dust your way!!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My in-laws made there flight ressies today and we just made ours! We're going!!!

Next step--my trip counter...

Thanks for all your good wishes and I can't believe we're going to get away.



T&B