Change resorts????

[grannyminnie]

I'm sorry you can very easily cancel a room and not take HER kids, when SHE hasnt come up with the $3400 SHE owes for HER kids to go. Why ruin YOUR vacation by cutting corners when it's not YOUR fault. You're already out some cash it sounds like for airfare.

Or I guess if you are financially able and willing, you can let her kids have a magical trip with you. If you decide to do this, and she says she'll pay you back, DO NOT do it unless you are willing to be out that cash anyway, as I fear you may see some of the cash, but I doubt if you'd ever see it all. I dont know, but it appears this isnt the first time something like this has happened to her or she's just not financially savvy?

So I guess I had a 'mean' idea and a 'kind' idea

So, my harsh idea is the same as this poster's first paragraph. It's too bad that your sister's kids have to suffer for her lack of responsibility, but it's a cruel world, and unless you and/or your mom feel like "springing" for her kids' vacation, I say cancel out their room, go and enjoy with your own son and your mom! Maybe it'll wake your sister up. (I speak from experience...we have a moocher in our family too)

 

[schwaa]

I think you should look into a moderate, maybe Port Orleans Riverside. It's as beautiful as a deluxe resort. And the Aligator Bayou will have that woodsy feel of the WL.

Also, you should call back and ask to speak to Guest Relations to see if you can keep your free dining promo while switching resorts. I have read on here that people were able to do that after speaking to Guest Relations at CRO.

You really seem like you want the kids to go, so I think if you have the money, you should pay (THIS ONE LAST TIME) for them to go. I know I don't know you and shouldn't tell you what to do with your money, but it just seems like you can and want to pay for them, so do it.

Good luck.

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi:

This is really a tough call... a SHARP Two-edge sword... BUT

I agree with DisneyFunTrips... look into the Ft. Wildnerness Cabins... If you lose the free dining maybe you can save additional cost by making most of your meals at the cabin...

You also, might want to consider... tough... just your sisters kids and leave sis at home.

At some point she will have to learn to be responsible... hopefully.

Good Luck with your tough decision.

Mark

 

[TeresaMc]

Hmmm math is hard I thought her share was about 3400? Which seems to be about 1/2 of it since you have 3 and she has 3 (granted hers are younger but I wouldnt think the price difference was too much or not THAT much) It just seems like it should be a bigger difference then $1000. Also, do you really need / will you use the DDP or would it be cheaper to just pay for the meals? I dont know for sure when you're going, but how about any of the room only discounts that I saw pop up recently? I dunno, I just figured it would be a heck of a lot more difference then $1000 for 6 of you

We have 2 rooms booked at the WL with free dining, if I rebook at a value I am assuming that we will have to pay for the dining. I am pricing it for all 6 of us. So it will cost about $1000 more for the dining plan, and $2000 less for the room, coming out to a savings of about $1000.

It probably would be a bit cheaper to pay for meals, but since we go to WDW quite often, dining is become a favorite part of our trip. We have several characher meals planned that we don't have to do, but my 17 yr old is young at heart and most of them are his requests (except for the Storybook Breakfast, so he is doing the Segway tour during that).

I also looked at a FW cabin...again a savings of about $1000, we then have only 1 bathroom.

I guess all of this discussion has made me realize.....unfortunately......"I'm a resort snob" The biggest part of my mind/heart says I'm not compromising my vacation because of her. The little part says you'll be ok at a different resort. My son is 17 and will be a senior so this could possibly be his last WDW vacation with us, although he has informed DH that he is going at least once a year with us for the rest of his life

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi:

One additional thought...

Consider renting a Three Bedroom condo / home close to WDW... we did this back in 2002 for $600.00 for the week... three miles from the entrance. It was an extremely nice condo... yes, you will have to rent some type of rental transportation. I also know it's not the same as staying on-site but the savings should be substantial.

Mark

 

[dburg30]

Well, it sounds to me like you a) can afford it b) want to have your neice and nephew have a grand ole time. If those 2 are true, then I think we all know what you're going to do..

 

[WishinOnaStar]

Just priced two value rooms, paying for dining and it's a savings of about $1000. Is it worth it to leave a deluxe?

Also looked at 1 deluxe room at resorts that accomodate 5 (leave Dsis at home) not much savings there.

Guess I'll just suck it up.....pay for it and then both kids will have been at least once....and I'll never invite them again.....if they want to go they can book their own stuff.

Thanks all of you for at least letting me vent......pixie dust to you.

Teresa, I think that is a good decision. Since it has already been planned and it is not a major financial hardship for you......just do it. I would have too. This is a good place to vent, and you have so now just go on and enjoy your vacation. Just remember that old saying. "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me".

 

[disprincessatheart]

We have 2 rooms booked at the WL with free dining, if I rebook at a value I am assuming that we will have to pay for the dining. I am pricing it for all 6 of us. So it will cost about $1000 more for the dining plan, and $2000 less for the room, coming out to a savings of about $1000.

It probably would be a bit cheaper to pay for meals, but since we go to WDW quite often, dining is become a favorite part of our trip. We have several characher meals planned that we don't have to do, but my 17 yr old is young at heart and most of them are his requests (except for the Storybook Breakfast, so he is doing the Segway tour during that).

I also looked at a FW cabin...again a savings of about $1000, we then have only 1 bathroom.

I guess all of this discussion has made me realize.....unfortunately......"I'm a resort snob" The biggest part of my mind/heart says I'm not compromising my vacation because of her. The little part says you'll be ok at a different resort. My son is 17 and will be a senior so this could possibly be his last WDW vacation with us, although he has informed DH that he is going at least once a year with us for the rest of his life

Seems like you don't want to change resorts, but I know from experience that you can change resorts or dates and still keep the dining plan, as long as there are rooms at the resort you want to change to that are elidgible for the promo. You just have to do it before the 45 day mark. I can tell you right now DF and I are booked at CBR for 6 nights in a king room for $1225 for free dining. (with 1 day myw tix) and my parents are paying the same price for 4 nights at WL that week wtih free dining and the 1 day tix.

 

[grannyminnie]

There sure are a lot of good thoughts on this thread, and I too believe I know what the OP will decide. I still believe however that she's not doing her sister any favors in the long run.

 

[dburg30]

There sure are a lot of good thoughts on this thread, and I too believe I know what the OP will decide. I still believe however that she's not doing her sister any favors in the long run.

NO, but I'm an uncle, and I couldnt do it to my nieces and nephews either..

 

[disneyfanUSA]

If you could get a room for five at POR and keep your free dining I would do that. Take the kids and leave sis at home. It sounds like she probably had this planned from the start. We stayed at Alligator Bayou and it can sleep five with a pullout bed. It is very nice there. I hope it all works out for you.

 

[Julylady]

Dear TeresaMC:

You are doing a good thing! I would (and have) done the same thing with both my brother and sister. Due to life circumstances I have more disposible income than they do. Maybe I am a better money manager, maybe not. I don't care. I have decided to take my nieces and nephews to Florida multiple times over the years. Sometimes their parents come along, sometimes not. Sometimes they pay for themselves, but I always pay for the kids.

We all have a great time and I (once again) get to re-live the Disney experience through young eyes and spend time with my family. That is more than worth the money to me!

I learned long ago that it is not my job to teach my sibling's life lessons. I just do what I can to create quality experiences for my extended family. I am very greatful to be in a circumstance where I can do that for them.

Donna

 

[TeresaMc]

There sure are a lot of good thoughts on this thread, and I too believe I know what the OP will decide. I still believe however that she's not doing her sister any favors in the long run.

You are 100% correct. I am pretty sure I am just going to pay for it and have a nice vacation, but I agree it is definately not the smartest decision on my part.

 

[Nursejilly]

Teresa,
if you have the income to take those kids, i would do it. Would their mom still go too?? I have a sister-in-law who has borrowed a lot of money from us that i know i will never get back. Its a sore spot but i don't regret doing good things for my niece one bit. Those kids will love you all the more for it! Sometimes things have to be about more than the money. We finally had to have a long talk with my SIL and we no longer give any financial assistance. Whatever you decide i am sure you will still have a blast at Disney and all the fun will make up for the heartache! Have a magical trip!
Jill

 

[tennvalgirl]

Take the children ditch the sister.
They will forget their mother isn't around as soon as they see the WDW entrance sign.

 

[TeresaMc]

Take the children ditch the sister.
They will forget their mother isn't around as soon as they see the WDW entrance sign.

I told my mom that I was going to kill my sister, get custody of her kids, problem solved.

Obviously I wasn't serious, although the though crossed my mind.

 

[tennvalgirl]

If you are going to take your sister get your anger out now here on the DIS, because we can take it, and it will go in one of your sister's ears and out the other.

Bottom line-do not let her ruin YOUR vacation which was methodically planned out with care.

 

[HayGan]

Honestly, if you are set on taking your neice/nephew then I would call CRO and see if you could switch to a room at POR. Leave your sister at home and just take the kids. Or if you want to take your sister, see if you can downgrade to any mod or value. Either of those options would save you a considerable amount of $$$. If there is availability at other resorts, you should be able to charge resorts. CanadianGuy has some great links in his signature as to how to handle changes to reservations booked under special codes.

Unless you are really comfortable with paying such a huge sum of $$$ for your sisters irresponsibility, I would continue to look for other options to save you some money!

 

[grannyminnie]

Yeah..if you're gonna take the (innocent) kids, do it and leave your sister home!

 

[rbl291]

Ok everyone so far has been pretty nice about it all! If it were my sis I would take the trip as planned, only if she signs a notarized loan document detailing how she is going to pay for her share of the trip once you get back home. I think both of you did poor financial planning for the trip! There is no way I would front all the money and let it get this close without her paying for her share. She is really taking advantage of your kind heart and overly large pocketbook savings and loan!

ok,...enough of that. I agree with most of the posters that you are so close, that you should take the trip as planned and make her know for certain that she needs to pay you back !

Maybe Disney magic will rub off on her and she will see the errors of her ways!