Can I vent? So disappointed...

[tiger4me2]

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

I was thinking the same thing !!!

 

[Mousemom234]

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

Yep.

It doesn't sound like you'd have much fun doing the World if Mr NeverWrong gets to override anything previously planned.
I can see it now: "...well, I'm sure we can get on that ride later, lets go back to that other park..." (said in front of Soarin' at 3pm, 'cause he didn't want to bother getting a FP earlier)

 

[mom2rtk]

Now is the PERFECT time to set up some boundaries in the family. Your cost is just as important a factor as anything they have in mind.

Keep in mind you can pick up the tickets on your free dining package up to 3 days early. So you could add a couple room only days at the beginning of your trip for a tad bit more overlap and use those park tickets.

But trust me.......... set the boundaries now. Or you'll be sucked into a lifetime of this.

 

[jamelynn24]

Ugh, I feel your pain! My husband's family also has a golden child who is in charge of everything, only because everyone else is too scared to cross her. All 20 of them have wanted us to do Disney together for years, but we wanted to be the ones to plan it since we've been 7 times....and they've all been NO times...so it made sense. Thankfully, once we told them how much it would cost (they all wanted a summer vaca), they all backed out. I was never happier...I knew Golden Child would have planned every minute of every day for us to all be together and it would not have been planned my way ( which is the right way, of course!! Ha ha).
Good luck with your trip! I say, save yourself the stress and go during the times you want. Use the $$ savings as an excuse. Keep us posted on what you choose!

 

[THERESA522]

Sounds like he's one of these "Disney experts," without knowing anything! I, too, know a few of these people.

I would take some of the other advice on here and see if you could arrive a few days earlier (room only) and go with their schedule. You will have the satisfaction of knowing you'll only have put up with the "golden child" for a couple of days and then be on your own once they all leave.

This is probably a blessing in disguise!

 

[dskib]

No way would I change to that week. That vaca sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen! If at all possible, maybe I'd try and add a day or 2 at a value resort to the beginning of my vacation. The extra ticket cost would be minimal, and then you'd have 2 solid days to tour with the family, and then they leave and the real vacation begins!!

Good luck!

 

[Mariep26]

I can sympathize. There are so many things wrong with this --the pecking order, the golden child.. I bet everyone walks on eggshells around this individual. With this in mind, it might be better that you end up going during your originally planned time and save yourself the aggravation. It can only get worse if you try to organize the rest of the trip.. ADRs could be a huge pain if you are going to have to clear everything with this individual. Good luck -- I hope it all works out for you!

 

[lurkernj]

I agree with the posters who suggested picking up your tickets a few days early, spend a couple of days with them, then let the real vacation begin when they leave.

This has all the makings of a disaster and I can't imagine spending a whole week with them. I'd be really peeved if I spent a small fortune on a vacation that I didn't get to enjoy due to "golden child".

 

[MinnieGolf]

Now is the PERFECT time to set up some boundaries in the family. Your cost is just as important a factor as anything they have in mind.

Keep in mind you can pick up the tickets on your free dining package up to 3 days early. So you could add a couple room only days at the beginning of your trip for a tad bit more overlap and use those park tickets.

But trust me.......... set the boundaries now. Or you'll be sucked into a lifetime of this.

Trust me: Listen to the voice of experience.

 

[Karabee]

Totally agree with some of the other PPs that you need to do what is best for you. I would casually point out that the free dining would get them more than $150 and leave it at that. I would be livid in your situation.
I've been to DW with friends who had a completely different idea of the vacation experience and it ruined my trip. From then on I stick to what I want my vacation to be about.
If you feel yourself about to buckle because of family pressure, remember that it's YOUR money for YOUR trip. That should be enough to make you stick to the experience you want to have.

 

[purplebelle]

I agree with the posters who suggested picking up your tickets a few days early, spend a couple of days with them, then let the real vacation begin when they leave.

This has all the makings of a disaster and I can't imagine spending a whole week with them. I'd be really peeved if I spent a small fortune on a vacation that I didn't get to enjoy due to "golden child".

Can someone explain better how this works, please? I am open to adding a few days, like the 23rd-24th at no free dining and then the 25th of August through 29th at free dining. I believe the free dining (open to the public) plan starts August 25th, right? Or is it the 26th?

Would I need to book a room at Pop Century for those first few non-free dining days, then check out and check in again at Pop for the free dining portion? Just not sure how that works.

Also not sure what people mean when they say to pick up tickets early. What tickets?

 

[purplebelle]

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

Oops! I've been married 1.5 YEARS

 

[purplebelle]

Now is the PERFECT time to set up some boundaries in the family. QUOTE]

I think you are so right about that.

 

[mom2rtk]

Can someone explain better how this works, please? I am open to adding a few days, like the 23rd-24th at no free dining and then the 25th of August through 29th at free dining. I believe the free dining (open to the public) plan starts August 25th, right? Or is it the 26th?

Would I need to book a room at Pop Century for those first few non-free dining days, then check out and check in again at Pop for the free dining portion? Just not sure how that works.

Also not sure what people mean when they say to pick up tickets early. What tickets?

If you're staying at the same resort, chances are it will be pretty seamless. They won't promise you can stay in the same room for both parts of your reservation but they try very hard to make that happen. We've done this 2 or 3 times and never had to move. Just ask them to link it in their system and request they do everything possible to keep you in the same room.

You can pick up your park tickets for your FD package up to 3 days early. Last year we were able to get them at the Concierge desk right there at the POP. You can buy as many days on your package tickets as you like. It doesn't have to match up with that reservation at all.

Just know that you won't get access to your dining credits until the day that package starts and you get your new keys at the front desk.

 

[smitch425]

Can someone explain better how this works, please? I am open to adding a few days, like the 23rd-24th at no free dining and then the 25th of August through 29th at free dining. I believe the free dining (open to the public) plan starts August 25th, right? Or is it the 26th?

Would I need to book a room at Pop Century for those first few non-free dining days, then check out and check in again at Pop for the free dining portion? Just not sure how that works.

Also not sure what people mean when they say to pick up tickets early. What tickets?

You can pick up you tickets that you have on your FD package up to 3 days early. So if you call and make a room only reservation, also add days to the tickets on your package. Pick them up early at any park's guest relations office. If you go to Cheshire Figment's ticket sticky at the top of the Theme Parks and Strategies board, you can read about it. I think it is post #15 section I.

You will have to check out and check in, but if you let them know about your situation at your original check in, there is a great chance that you can stay in the same room. You should also check the current room offers because they came out with one not that long ago for mid August.

 

[StacyMarie]

Yep, I would take this opportunity to make your presence known in the family. I would stick to your original dates. Chances are if you switch, you're going to be bitter. I know I would be fuming the entire time we were there, lol. Does your family from over seas not realize that if they let you book their trip for FD, they will be eating for free (for the most part). I'm guessing the savings will be greater for them with FD than with 150 for airline tickets and having to pay out of pocket for food. I would definitely stick to your dates, explain why, break down the costs in an e-mail to all involved. Let EVERYBODY know who is involved.

I went through this nonsense in March when trying to plan a family trip with 10 of us to Mexico. Because of one hold-out looking for a "better deal" it ended up costing each couple approximately 450.00 more per couple because the one person was dragging their feet for that deal that never happened. Next year for Mexico, we are all going to book when we know (from experience) when we are getting the best deal and then let them know the dates and resort and tell them if they want to join us, they are more than welcome to and if they want to wait for a better deal, they are more than welcome to do that too.

 

[CanadianPaco]

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

I agree totally!

 

[elaine amj]

((hugs)) That's frustrating.

How does your DH feel about this? it's his family and he needs to decide how he wants to proceed with this.

it is VERY likely your in laws will be upset with you for choosing not to vacation with them, even though you did your best to do so. They might think that since you guys are the only ones in the US, you should bend over backwards to fit their schedule rather than the other way around.

I like what the PP said about sending them ALL (not just golden boy) a cost breakdown of the difference in travelling between the 2 dates including projected costs pp for airfare, hotel, and food. A big family vacation like this is tough because everyone has different ideas of vacationing and what's important to them.

I would be clear about what you want and also clearly lay out how much you can afford. I would also be clear if you rearrange things to do the overlap like others have suggested - show them the price YOU will spend on Scenario 1 with your regular dates, Scenario 2 with the overlap, and Scenario 3 with Golden Boy's dates. Then Say clearly, "our budget is "xxx" and while we would love to spend the entire trip with you, it is beyond our budget. Scenario 2 will allow us to spend the most possible time together with you. We hope you all will reconsider Scenario 1 as from my calculations, it's the cheapest option for all of us. We completely understand if you choose to stick with Scenario 3 and we will see you for those days our trips overlap. We're really looking forward to spending time with you!"

 

[davedmaine]

Wait - won't you get the room discount with that August check in date? At Pop, it should be 20%. That would defintely work out better than a free dining plan. If you're going with a big group and plan on eating meals together, you might want to spring for a TiW card - then you'll even recoup any dining plan discounts and more..

 

[mom2rtk]

Wait - won't you get the room discount with that August check in date? At Pop, it should be 20%. That would defintely work out better than a free dining plan. If you're going with a big group and plan on eating meals together, you might want to spring for a TiW card - then you'll even recoup any dining plan discounts and more..

How can 20% off rooms that are around $100 or a little higher be better than free dining?

And my understanding was that you had to have an AP to bet a TiW card.