Can I vent? So disappointed...

[purplebelle]

I need to vent for a moment... (deep breath!) I've been to WDW a good 11+ times since I was a kid, so I feel like I know a thing or two. Family from the UK are coming over for a Disney trip and had said end of August. I recommended August 26th-Sept 1st b/c it's value season (lower crowds!) and free dining plan. Had booked Pop Century for our group of 9 and wrote to the family about the awesome deal we've got. All family agrees the free dining plan is awesome (not offered in the UK right now). As I married into this family, I've just learned of the unspoken pecking order and find out that we all need to wait for the golden child's blessings to book any vacation. This lovely person said he could do the trip cheaper. Fine ... so do it. Weeks go by and I've still got our reservations for free dining on hold at Pop and, of course, airfare from the UK to Orlando starts soaring. All UK family says they are trying to pressure golden boy to make a decision but he hems and haws.

Now the family tells me last night, "Okay, we've booked August 15th-27th and saved $150 each on flights by using these dates!" They never consulted with my husband and me (the only 2 located in the US) before booking. So now the trip is during peak season and no free dining. (I believe free dining starts 8/26)

What the...?

I am so bummed by this and cannot afford to go to Disney without this free dining plan. Even with staying off site, the hotels aren't going to be that much cheaper and each meal will need to be paid for. The family has already stated most of us don't wanna stay in a villa together so hotels it will be. What kills me is that they all would save more than $150 on the free dining plan, and who can put a price on the benefit of lower crowds?!

I know WDW is all about being together with family etc., but I feel very slighted that the vacation was hi-jacked b/c of one procrastinator. Am I that selfish that I only want to do Disney during lower crowds? It's just not in me to spend lots of dough on a vacation of crowds, and when we passed up free dining!! Maybe I've been too spoiled with the off-peak time issue. I went to WDW over New Year's Day and will never do that again.

 

[dbennett3899]

Ugh! Doing Disney wrong... I see it all the time, and then they'll come back and say something like "I don't know what the big deal is" or "it was too expensive, so we couldnt eat"... Something like that lol.

 

[tami82]

I know i would be very very mad so i understand. I hate how the free dining starts last week of August this year. We are trying to plan for aug 2013 but last week not the greatest for us, we need the free dining plan in order to stay in the Deluxe hotel (my husband refuses anything less due to convenience of monorail). Other 2 years it started mid august so i dont know what to do. Im really wondering if maybe if Disney comes out with FD for August 15th hopefully for your sake it could possibly still happen in the near future. I too like less crowds in mid August so know where you are coming from with that. not very nice they never even consulted you so they should bend a bit or else i say go at the end of August as originally planned.

 

[nd9979]

Not that it solves all of your problems, but I think you will still get free dining. If any part of your stay overlaps the covered dates, then its given for the entire trip.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Not that it solves all of your problems, but I think you will still get free dining. If any part of your stay overlaps the covered dates, then its given for the entire trip.

Not to nit-pick, but your check in date has to be during the promotion. And theirs is not, so I don't think that would work.

 

[nd9979]

Not to nit-pick, but your check in date has to be during the promotion. And theirs is not, so I don't think that would work.

Just caught that. I forgot it was based on arrival date.

 

[Lemurone]

I would be mad!! I'd probably say see ya next time.

 

[KELLY]

I would continue with my dates with FD.

 

[gayles]

*** the benefits of staying on site are priceless **** Extra Magic Hour's
Off site you'd have to pay for all meal's & It's so fun to go to Nicer places ... leave them all behind and go on your own ... *** It's your vacation too .... No matter what have fun ..

 

[Kate0716]

Purplebelle,

I think I would contact the family and say, "Wow, it's awesome that you were able to save $150 on flights, but I could have saved you $XXX with the free dining promotion which is a better savings." Maybe that will get them to re-consider your plan. If not, I agree with the posters that said to keep your free dining and go when you originally wanted, especially if that is where you are comfortable financially.

 

[stitch34]

Yeah, I would be pretty upset too.


Any way to switch your dates a bit? Switch them so they overlap a bit with your dates. I say that, because first off, not sure this sounds like a bunch I'd want to be touring the parks with. If the head of peckin' order is there - does that mean any park plans/schedule you have will be worth nothing and won't matter - you will do what THEY want to do and when they want to do it? Just wonder if you'll run into that aspect of it as well. Hey, today we're doing MK - and then you get from them oh no, we want to go to Epcot today - and there go your fine plans... not to mention dining and ADRs - are they going to agree to dine where you want to?

So.... if they are doing 15-27... and you want 26-1.... any way to have you arrive oh, let's say 23rd and book room only and do your dining out of pocket those days - and then start your free dining package on the 26th till I guess 29th (and you can pick up your tickets from your package reservation up to 3 days early so could get them on the 23rd) That way you get some of your trip with free dining..... and then have X amount of days with other family - and then when they leave, you still have X amount of days without them, which may be a good thing! Maybe not those exact dates, but just saying if maybe a possibility to arrive later than they do and have your trips overlap each other a bit if that would help save you money?

I've had friends that I tell if you go X week you have free dining or a great deal and airfare better - and nope, they go the week prior or so and don't listen. Friends just paid $400 per person round trip to fly from Philly to MCO - really? if you listened to me you'd have gotten free dining AND paid around $250 round trip per person. I totally don't get it!?

But in your case, oh, I'd be livid - it's one thing for friends and family to be dumb and not listen and book it different and spend a ton more money - hey, it's their fault, let them pay more, they deserve to. But when it's affecting YOU - oh, no. Not cool.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I'd tell them we'd see them the two days our trip overlapped during...

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

Its always a challenge traveling with others...for cases like this. We have a trip in the planning stages for next June...and one of the families flies (the other two including us drive) so they like to lock in dates so they can get the lowest fare...last time traveling with them we missed free dining by only a few days due to this other couple locking in air...they saved a few dollare on the air and we all lost out on free dining...this time I plan to take the above posters advice that if a good special is announced and we need to adjust our arrival dates here and there, we will do so, and our paths may not cross for every day at Disney!

 

[tiger4me2]

If it was me I would say sorry our dates are set and we can't do the dates you want because of the cost. Just my two cents.

It is too bad they can't agree to meet half way to include your dates so you can see family.

I have a friend that was coming over last year & we were to meet & I change our dates to suit theirs but at the last minute they had to cancel due to air fares plus the tax they had to pay coming to the U.S. It was really no big deal but we like going the first of Sept not toward the end but since they wanted to meet up... We almost missed the birth of our first grandson who came early. So never again. But I understand your pain. But go when you want & enjoy, if they really want to see you they would make the dates work

I also understand the pecking order as it happen on my side & DH's side of family. So we do what we want and when we want to. That include our DS & his family.
Good luck !!

 

[Eliza32]

I'd just tell them that you can't afford their dates, so are sticking with your own, see you for the 1 day overlap.

As a PP said, golden child will probably want you to follow his touring plan too, so best not to go there.

I once planned a vacation for some friends to Disney, staying off site though. When they came home, they told me they decided not to do Disney, just universal, Gatorland and a few other 'attractions'. I still can't believe it 5 years later!!!!

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

I'd just tell them that you can't afford their dates, so are sticking with your own, see you for the 1 day overlap.

As a PP said, golden child will probably want you to follow his touring plan too, so best not to go there.

I once planned a vacation for some friends to Disney, staying off site though. When they came home, they told me they decided not to do Disney, just universal, Gatorland and a few other 'attractions'. I still can't believe it 5 years later!!!!

Oh I would give them a pecking order or two. I agree with the above. Do your own thing and let the Golden Child peck his way around WDW all by himself and let his followers follow him. I would not change my dates. Be strong and stick to your guns and let them see that they don't rule you. Best of luck.

 

[purplebelle]

Thanks, everyone. I was thinking that maybe I was being too selfish about it all. I don't know -- on the one hand it is selfish of me to assume they will want the exact dates I want b/c of my reasoning but on the other hand, I find it rude they assume my husband and I are going to morph to their plans.

I think 2 of the posters here were correct: each day could be a battle (maybe just within myself) as we'd probably end up doing what golden boy wants to each day. Maybe is a control issue of mine, but I just don't want to do Disney crowded.

I'm going to have to think about this one for some days b/c I don't want to make a wrong move. I've been married 1.5 hrs and haven't had problems with my hubby's fam. I'd like to keep it that way. For now I think I'll cancel the two rooms I booked for the UK family for free dining as it's evident those dates won't work and keep my FD dates until I decide later what to do.

More opinions welcome!!! I like reading what people have to say on this.

 

[purplebelle]

Ugh! Doing Disney wrong...

Haha, let's peg that term. Love it!

 

[smitch425]

Thanks, everyone. I was thinking that maybe I was being too selfish about it all. I don't know -- on the one hand it is selfish of me to assume they will want the exact dates I want b/c of my reasoning but on the other hand, I find it rude they assume my husband and I are going to morph to their plans.

I think 2 of the posters here were correct: each day could be a battle (maybe just within myself) as we'd probably end up doing what golden boy wants to each day. Maybe is a control issue of mine, but I just don't want to do Disney crowded.

I'm going to have to think about this one for some days b/c I don't want to make a wrong move. I've been married 1.5 hrs and haven't had problems with my hubby's fam. I'd like to keep it that way. For now I think I'll cancel the two rooms I booked for the UK family for free dining as it's evident those dates won't work and keep my FD dates until I decide later what to do.

More opinions welcome!!! I like reading what people have to say on this.

You've been married 1.5 hours??? I hope you meant years.

 

[AJA]

As others have said, I wouldn't want to go with that kind of group mentality anyway. Sure it's a little easier when it's not your "only" vacation and stretching your budget to suit someone that isn't appreciative of your sacrifice is HARD when you know it's your only vacation/time at Disney for the year.

I would much rather go alone.