Arrival Time Change...Silly Vent

[soxyes]

I get that this is ridiculous, and I'm not really angry, but I just have to share!

We're headed to AKL for Spring Break and have invited another family (good friends) of ours to join us. It's all good. (We've gone to WDW with them before and are certain we'll have fun.) No personal issues - thank goodness!

Initial flight plans had them arriving at 7:30pm and us at 9:30pm. We didn't like getting there after them, but that's what we had already booked and we didn't want to increase flight costs to arrive earlier. Oh well...

Then in November, SW had a sale and we were able to move our flight up so we were arriving an hour before them. I was so excited! Stupid thing to care about, right? I just would love to see the look on the faces of the girls when they see the room and Savannah view-- it's so awesome! (They generally stay at Pop Century-- not to knock PC, but I think they'll really love Kidani.)

Fast forward two months....All is good until their airline changed their departure time yesterday and now they will arrive 50 minutes before us! I'm not really mad, but I am at the same time. I may even see if they'd be willing to mull around and wait for us to check in. I so want to see their reaction. I swear if my son didn't have final exams that morning, I'd be re-booking (even thought about re-booking me and my dtr and letting him and my husband come later that day... I know that would start WWIII)! Am I just being too selfish or what?!

 

[gdrj]

I get that this is ridiculous

You are correct

Am I just being too selfish or what?!

hmmm...

 

[bobbiwoz]

Well, you know, given how high your expectations are, you could really be disappointed in the reaction. This could be for the best.

DH and I are good friends with a family with 10 children (these friends now have 10+ grandchildren, it's been awhile) and we took 2 girls to WDW when our "adopted niece" graduated from High School. We had no expectations, we love WDW and wanted to share it with these two kids who had never been. It was amazing, we stayed at ASM and every little detail was noticed and commented upon. What the experience taught us was to stand back, let people show us how much we take for granted. Really, relax, let the magic unfold for your friends as it does.

Bobbi

 

[DisneyRegulars]

I get it! But I agree with Bobbi. Since you are working up the reaction so much in your head you might very well be underwhelmed by their reaction in person. You might even get a better reaction by arriving after them, so they can gush to you how nice the room is once they've had a chance to collect their thoughts. You never know the state of someone when they arrive, I know someone in our family is usually tired, hungry or grumpy upon arrival, and in no way ready to praise a room, no matter how awesome it might be.

 

[bethy]

I do understand what you are saying. But as someone who did something similar last year with beloved family friends at VGC, I would say that this could be for the best. Our friends had a fine time at VGC but they weren't blown away by any means by their spectacular view of Disney's California Adventure park and the World of Color. I'll admit I was a tad disappointed

 

[Dean]

I get that this is ridiculous, and I'm not really angry, but I just have to share!

We're headed to AKL for Spring Break and have invited another family (good friends) of ours to join us. It's all good. (We've gone to WDW with them before and are certain we'll have fun.) No personal issues - thank goodness!

Initial flight plans had them arriving at 7:30pm and us at 9:30pm. We didn't like getting there after them, but that's what we had already booked and we didn't want to increase flight costs to arrive earlier. Oh well...

Then in November, SW had a sale and we were able to move our flight up so we were arriving an hour before them. I was so excited! Stupid thing to care about, right? I just would love to see the look on the faces of the girls when they see the room and Savannah view-- it's so awesome! (They generally stay at Pop Century-- not to knock PC, but I think they'll really love Kidani.)

Fast forward two months....All is good until their airline changed their departure time yesterday and now they will arrive 50 minutes before us! I'm not really mad, but I am at the same time. I may even see if they'd be willing to mull around and wait for us to check in. I so want to see their reaction. I swear if my son didn't have final exams that morning, I'd be re-booking (even thought about re-booking me and my dtr and letting him and my husband come later that day... I know that would start WWIII)! Am I just being too selfish or what?!

I always plan to arrive early to avoid issues. If they are allowed to check in there are issues/risks they might not know how to handle. Personally I wouldn't worry about any of the aspects but I'd give them the expectation that you would be the one checking in, not them. I wouldn't make it drama and I wouldn't worry about either aspect. Just enjoy the trip.

 

[soxyes]

All good points. I think I'm settling down now.

I think I'd still be more comfortable checking in first in case something is messed up, but we'll see how it plays out. I'm sure it will be a great time, regardless. (Honestly, just the idea of getting out of IL and to warmer weather is so exciting!! I really hate this season!)
Thanks everyone!

 

[Dean]

All good points. I think I'm settling down now.

I think I'd still be more comfortable checking in first in case something is messed up, but we'll see how it plays out. I'm sure it will be a great time, regardless. (Honestly, just the idea of getting out of IL and to warmer weather is so exciting!! I really hate this season!)
Thanks everyone!

I personally would not let them check in for an hour difference. We plan a large family trip about 2 of every 3 yrs and usually have between 6 & 10 villas. I always plan to be there MUCH earlier than everyone else to make sure there are no issues. We usually travel the night before so we can arrive early, check in with the resort then get lunch. Did this in HH with seven 2BR villas this past summer with 2 view types, some with different LOS and some units with owners preference and some not affecting location and views. We were also trying to match up family groups as close together as possible. Fortunately the resort and FD manage were great both leading up to the trip and at checkin. Everything went smoothly, not like a previous trip where some of the people checked in on their own causing some minor issues but nothing to write home about.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

Can they wait for you at the airport so you can all travel together on ME and you can be the one to check in?

 

[bumbershoot]

"Well, you know, given how high your expectations are, you could really be disappointed in the reaction. This could be for the best."

I agree. I've stayed at Pop, I've stayed in villas at AKL twice; gimme Pop. Pop is fun and bright and cheery. AKL is dark and gloomy and dark thick wood everywhere. And...cows and birds in the savannah. Sure, cows (ankole cattle? same as you can see at AK on the safari) with big huge horns (is the one with the wonky horn still there? that one was upsetting for DS), but still. Cows. If you were with me you would definitely be disappointed.

That said, just tell them you need to do the checkin. Our biggest checkin and room problems have been at AK, both Kidani and Jambo, so I wouldn't send a newbie there to do the checkin. Too risky. Just ask them to wait; at the airport if they are cool with that, or in the lobby (best part of AKL in my opinion!) just exploring, until you get there.

But try to get the expectations lower. You just never know what someone will actually love. We certainly expected to love AKL (it was close to being our home resort), but when we actually saw it and experienced it, nope.

 

[crisi]

Can they wait for you at the airport so you can all travel together on ME and you can be the one to check in?

This is what I'd ask them to do. Its 50 minutes. And chances are good it will be somewhat different than that. Ask your friends to check your anticipated arrival time when you land and mull around the airport a bit - the Orlando airport is a good place to hang out. Let them know how excited you are to share their reaction to the room. They'll likely be happy to have a bite to eat in the airport while they wait for you to land, you can grab ME together (if that is how you are getting there)

Tell them as well that if your flight is late they should text you and go without you. But less than an hour when someone is sharing DVC points with you - it seems like the least they could do is wait at the airport.

 

[cwdefouw]

It is a 50 minute difference. They should be willing to wait in the airport for you. We do this all the time with four families flying in from all around the country. We attempt to coordinate arrival times as much as possible and usually all arrive within an hour or two. We never mind waiting around in the airport. We have done it so many times that we have a special gathering area where there are more comfortable places to sit and a nice restaurant very close if a flight is delayed or something like that.

If it was me, I would simply tell your guests that since it is your DVC Reservation, you as the member, must do the check in. They really should not be upset about waiting less than an hour for you to arrive. After all you are providing them with accomodations at Disney World.

 

[disneynutz]

Don't expect others to react or have the same feelings about WDW/Disney that you have or you may be disappointed.

Bill

 

[Julylady]

We stayed at Kidani in June 2012 with my four nieces - ages 8 to 20. Although we had reserved a standard view, our unit was mostly a savannah view. I thought the view was amazing, but the girls were underwhelmed. They also didn't like the decor of the room compared with OKW. It was too dark and dreary. We were there for five days and I think I was the only one who spent any time on the deck, and I only spent a few minutes each day due to the heat.

So...my advice is to not get too caught up about their reaction to the villa. I think there is a good chance they may actually miss POP!

 

[soxyes]

Thanks for the feedback.

Honestly, we know them pretty well and I'm reasonably confident that they will love Kidani (we've shared lots of pictures/info on it and they love all things Disney. They are super thankful to be joining us.). That being said, I am re-setting my expectations so that I won't be disappointed with their reaction. Good advice.

We're having our next "Disney Planning Party" in a few weeks. I'll see if they're comfortable checking in at the same time as us - especially if flights are on time. I'm most worried about getting the magic bands set correctly... (1)that we all can get into the room, and (2)that charging rights are set appropriately. (Although, I've heard that charging can get messed up regardless of the check-in instructions and to check it a day or so into the trip. What fun!)
Thanks all!