Convincing Parents to come to Disney?

[Sparrow624]

Alright,

Has anyone attempted to put together a large family gathering at Disney World? For 5 years now, I have been attempting to get my parents and sister to join my wife and I and our little girl down at Disney World.

My parents seem resistant and always want to go on their same beach vacation that they take every single year.

My mother in-law and sister in-law seem receptive to the idea, but my own family is a struggle.

Has anyone had any luck in attempting to convince family?

I even attempted letting them pick the resort, but still no luck.

Thoughts?

 

[KonaKaiTom]

If you want your parents to go, your little girl has to crawl into whichever grandparent is the bigger pushover's lap and say "If we could all go to Disney World together, it would be the happiest place on earth." What grandparent could say no to a grandchild?

Tom

 

[dansdad]

Has anyone had any luck in attempting to convince family?

Thoughts?

Yes, I had luck. However, it did not end well. The family we had to convince hated every minute of it and complained constantly. It tainted the trip for the other 3 families.

Little things like waiting 10 minutes for a bus would illicit moans and groans. Constant complaints about the cose of everything, etc.

Just be careful. Just remember the World is not for everyone.

Have they ever been before?

 

[ErinsMommy]

From experience I will honestly say that if your parents are reluctant to go, don't push it otherwise it opens the door to a unpleasant trip filled with complaints, arguments, etc.

 

[Masonmj84]

Here's how I convinced my parents to go to WDW with us (some background first):

In February, we stayed at a mod (CSR) with free dining, upgraded to DxDP, and had dinners every night at signature restaurants at different deluxe resorts.

We took my MIL (who had never been to WDW) and we all absolutely loved the experience.

In the meantime, my parents, who have only stayed value or off-site (and had never been inside a deluxe resort), had sort of decided that they were done with Disney.

After our trip, I called them and explained that they just had to try going to WDW the way we'd just done it. After giving it some thought, they responded that they'd do it, but only with free dining (FWIW, I didn't tell them that there's a DxDP upgrade charge).

So, before free dining came out, I booked a trip at CSR for us and them (hoping to get free dining). When free dining came out, it didn't cover our first two nights, which required me to book room only reservations for those nights. But I didn't tell my father that. Instead, I just told him, "we got free dining." This was enough to get him to buy plane tickets.

In the meantime, since this is to be a very special trip (and quite possibly my parents last trip to WDW), I was toying around with the idea of staying deluxe. But I couldn't justify the cost without a better discount than free dining. When AP discounts finally came out late last month, I jumped on those, and moved our reservations to a Poly/BC split stay with deluxe dining at both resorts (my parents are light packers, so I don't think they'll mind switching resorts).

I'm only going to qoute my father the cost of rack rate at CSR + tickets and pay for their resort upgrades + dining (without telling my parents the price difference, which would make my father ). And I'm keeping the resort upgrade a secret, at least until their ME package arrives (he's currently under the impression we have free dining at CSR).

FWIW, I don't think it's necessary to drop the kind of coin I'll end up dropping for this trip to convince parents to come to WDW. But for this once in a lifetime trip, it's sort of how things shook out.

 

[minnie mum]

I have to agree with a couple of the other PPs. Don't push it if they are not eager to go. You'll end up setting yourself up for disappointment if (when) they aren't thrilled to bits by their Disney experience. A WDW vacation is way too expensive to ruin by inviting folks who don't really want to be there.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Alright,

Has anyone attempted to put together a large family gathering at Disney World? For 5 years now, I have been attempting to get my parents and sister to join my wife and I and our little girl down at Disney World.

My parents seem resistant and always want to go on their same beach vacation that they take every single year.

My mother in-law and sister in-law seem receptive to the idea, but my own family is a struggle.

Has anyone had any luck in attempting to convince family?

I even attempted letting them pick the resort, but still no luck.

Thoughts?

You didn't mention who is paying for their trip. If I was inviting my parents, I would definitely pay for their own room. I would want to think that they want their own privacy. I would also pay for any ADRs and the park tickets. They may not come at every each park days with you, so I would wait until I get there to buy their tickets.

Sometimes it's all about the cost that puts someone to step back. But if the fund is there or if someone is paying for the majority of the trip, then the person would probably go... unless Disney is totally not their thing. Now there are some folks who would feel shame if someone else pays for their trip or their food.. etc. I know some folks like that.

But yea.. that would be nice if your parents can come to WDW with your family. I wanted to take my parents to WDW, but because they are so frail because they are old, they opt to decline my invite. It's just difficult for them to maneuver. Good luck.. I hope that they will come. If not, maybe you can join your parents at their favorite beach or go somewhere else where you know they will enjoy their time.

 

[Redbudlover]

I have talked family into going and it was a pain. They didn't appreciate what I had paid for and complained and wanted to go back to the resort after just a couple of hours in the parks. I would not do it again. I think there is this illusion that if they would just try it the whole family would have a glorious time but in fact every person you add multiplies the problem of different people liking different things. You have a larger group to maneuver through crowds and get on buses. The whole crowd has to wait every time someone wants to do something or the person doesn't get to (shop in a store, try on a shirt, buy a dole whip, take some pictures, rest on a bench, etc) My suggestion is to not push it.

 

[lightmoonstone]

My mom was like this last year-she didn't want to go and even suggested cancelling some dates, if not the whole trip(i was sad about this, but as I had already paid for everything, I thought: NO! You're going to DW!). I ended up telling her/lying to her that I would lose all my money if we didn't go for the entire duration and that changed her mind right away about dropping the trip.
Thankfully I had a good outcome-midway towards the trip, she kept thanking me for taking her and even asking about booking another trip for next year(we are going in November of this year). She is hooked now! Just this week she surprised me with MNSSHP tickets!

My dad's side, however...

I wanted to do a family vacation with my dad's side, but my granddad doesn't want to go...my uncle and cousin say that they'd rather go camping...and my aunt won't go if so-and-so is coming...blah! So I gave up.

If they don't want to go, their loss...I'll go by myself any day

 

[michelleiada]

Alright,

Has anyone attempted to put together a large family gathering at Disney World? For 5 years now, I have been attempting to get my parents and sister to join my wife and I and our little girl down at Disney World.

My parents seem resistant and always want to go on their same beach vacation that they take every single year.

My mother in-law and sister in-law seem receptive to the idea, but my own family is a struggle.

Has anyone had any luck in attempting to convince family?

I even attempted letting them pick the resort, but still no luck.

Thoughts?

We have done it several times. Many years ago I got my sister, her hubby and kids to go and they are completely hooked now and have gone several times since. We have taken my parents three times and they enjoy themselves but my Mom hates all of the walking so we solved that problem by renting a wheelchair and pushing her...otherwise we stop every 20 feet for a rest. The parks are not their favorite but they love the resorts and the dining.. For several years I worked on my two brothers and their families to put together a Disney vacation for the entire family. I was persistent and they finally agreed. We all went last year, May 2011 for 11 days and stayed at the Beach Club Villas. Dining plan, ADRs, Hoop Dee Doo, lots of pre trip planning. There were 18 of us. We had a lot of fun but my brothers and their wives and kids were not as thrilled as we are about "the happiest place on earth". I think they enjoyed it but thought it was expensive and wouldn't necessarily go back again. It is hard for we Disney lovers to believe or understand how or why anyone wouldn't love Disney. It's crazy I know. Not everyone gets bit by the magic. I would say that you should keep trying but don't be disappointed too much if they don't love it the way you do.

 

[TandLMommy28]

We are trying to put something together. Most of my family members are unwilling to pay Disney prices so we are looking into house rentals that sleep 16 or so. We will see if it happens!

 

[hokie98]

I wouldn't push them if they aren't interested. As the PPs have said, it'll be a nightmare for you, and frankly, it's their loss, not yours. My inlaws are coming with us on our trip in 5 weeks. They insist they want to come, and have been dropping hints for years about going. But after I booked 2 rooms for all of us for a week (they are paying their own way; not to be selfish, but they'd never pay for us to go, and they can more than afford it), they started back peddling. We're staying 7 nights, but they've shortened their stay to 4 nights. I don't think MIL is happy with our resort (POR/Royal Rooms) selection - she wanted us to share a 2 bdrm suite so we can "all be together", however, I explained we couldn't justify paying more for a 2 bdrm when we won't be sitting around the suite much at all (and with their history of backing out of things, I wasn't about to rent points and commit to a DVC suite). Plus they are notoriously cheap, so I know they wouldn't want to drop $$$ on a suite. MIL is currently fighting with WDW b/c she swears ME should take them to Tampa to catch their return flight. Why did she book a flight going out of Tampa?? Who knows....it was probably cheaper (and she's from FL, so she certainly is familiar with the state geography).

So the point of the story is that if they are resisting going, I would just leave them be - trying to coordinate with family that isn't entirely on board is a pain in the you-know-what!

 

[ladyfoundhertramp]

We came home from our January
Trip and told all of the family (gparents--aunts--uncles) that we are going back in 2014. And
Our thinking was whoever wants to go will go and we aren't pushing the issue. My MIL and FIL are not coming, oh well there loss. I am booking my package next summer and will let All the people interested to start booking/planning as well. DH and I decided we are not begging anyone.

 

[kddisney502]

My family pushed us to go on a family trip (not Disney). It's not that we don't love my family or the location we are going. But we have a different idea of what makes a fun vacation than the rest of my family. I know it will become a source of friction and it will not allow us to have a good time. Not to mention the money and time off work for this trip.

So while it may sound like a good idea. There may be something else there that is a good reason not to push the trip.

 

[Sparrow624]

Good points everyone. Thanks for the advice. My mother is very picky, so it may be a bad idea.

 

[cwt580]

We tried to get my parents to go this next(prob last time) trip with us. they said it was not on their bucketlist even though they have never been. even tried to get the cost down by telling them to take their rv to the campground. Still no go.

Think my mother would like it alot but stepdad thinks too expensive and amusement parks are not his thing. Took my mother to Cedar Point couple yrs back at 62 yrs old and she rode most all the coasters(no joke at 62yrs old), so i know she likes amusement parks. She started me at 5 at kennywood Park in pittsburgh. So she is too blame for my love of amusement parks. watching Wonderful World of Disney on sunday nights when i was a kid made me love disney and what it stood for. Family values and fun......


They cant understand how i can justify the cost of a trip to WDW. i just say "different strokes for different folks". didnt push them if they didnt want to.

 

[*Fantasia*]

We tried to get my parents to go this next(prob last time) trip with us. they said it was not on their bucketlist even though they have never been. even tried to get the cost down by telling them to take their rv to the campground. Still no go.

Think my mother would like it alot but stepdad thinks too expensive and amusement parks are not his thing. Took my mother to Cedar Point couple yrs back at 62 yrs old and she rode most all the coasters(no joke at 62yrs old), so i know she likes amusement parks. She started me at 5 at kennywood Park in pittsburgh. So she is too blame for my love of amusement parks. watching Wonderful World of Disney on sunday nights when i was a kid made me love disney and what it stood for. Family values and fun......


They cant understand how i can justify the cost of a trip to WDW. i just say "different strokes for different folks". didnt push them if they didnt want to.

Can you just take your mom with you without your step dad? I think she will love WDW!! There's so much to see and ride! She will have the best time of her life!

 

[cwt580]

not really feasible with 4 adult aged already goin and im footing the bill.....and definitely dont want her in our room...

 

[disnut8]

Alright,

Has anyone attempted to put together a large family gathering at Disney World? For 5 years now, I have been attempting to get my parents and sister to join my wife and I and our little girl down at Disney World.

My parents seem resistant and always want to go on their same beach vacation that they take every single year.

My mother in-law and sister in-law seem receptive to the idea, but my own family is a struggle.

Has anyone had any luck in attempting to convince family?

I even attempted letting them pick the resort, but still no luck.

Thoughts?

I wouldn't push it either. But then again, I am blessed with in-laws and my dad and stepmother who don't mind going.

However, my father-in-law just passed away and while my mother-in-law is probably going to outlive everyone, including her great-grandkids, my father is in poor shape. My memories of my father-in-law and my father with us and our son and then our grandkids at Disney World will always live in my mind. If Disney World is a special place for your daughter, you could bring that up. We just went for a big family trip in January and had four generations together. Nothing can beat that.

And then again, why not inquire as to joining your parents on their annual beach trip in the future? Disney World will be there for a long time. Your parents won't.