DH wants to take his parents!!! Help

[anabelle]

DH just informed me that he wants to take his parents with us next year on our first DVC trip. I was planning to get a 1 bedroom at BCV and maybe split the stay with BWV. I will now need a two bedroom. How hard is it to get a two bedroom at either BCV or BWV for the first week of June? I am now going to have to rethink my whole plan. I am going to book Saratoga right away to have a fall back plan, but they are not park people so what would they have to do if we can't get in at BCV or BWV?

They just went with us on a trip to Mackinac Island and we had a good time, but they always wanted to know what was next on the agenda. They are used to pre-planned tour packages where their every move is planned for them. Now I am nervous

 

[BeverlyJ]

Not sure what advise I can offer, but I am sure your first trip home will be great regardless.

Maybe get them involved in the planning and getting them to plan certain days with things they would like to do alone, with you & DH etc. If they take some ownership of some part of your itinerary, then it will work a little better. You also then will have a better idea of what they would like to do, and can opt out if it doesn't suit you?

Good luck!

 

[RuthnPaul]

Aaahh, what DH and I wouldn't do to have our parents back among and be faced with such a "dilemma"! We just became members earlier this year so never had the opportunity to invite them to stay at BWV or VWL -- and, until finding this board, never knew about renting points.

 

[wtpclc]

All I can say is I'm sorry. I hate being the travel guide. Gave the job to my SIL, she doesn't want it either (and they're her parents). Good luck. My ILs never want a part in the planning, only the doing. Maybe you could show them what you're doing and tell them to choose what they want to do. Better yet, buy them WDW for Adults for Christmas. Maybe they'll get the hint to figure out what they want.

Even my own parents wouldn't want to do the same things my DH and I do.

SSR does have DD. That should entertain them about as well as BW. Not quite the same, but....

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by anabelle
I am going to book Saratoga right away to have a fall back plan, but they are not park people so what would they have to do if we can't get in at BCV or BWV?

Call me crazy, but I think they would find more to do at SSR given its proximity to Downtown Disney. BWV/BCV have more restaurants very nearby, as well as the theme parks. But since you don't think the theme parks are of interest, that eliminates a big part of what can make the Epcot resorts an attractive option.

Personally, I think they would enjoy Epcot, particularly if the Flower and Garden Festival is still going on. But whether you can get them into the parks remains to be seen.

At SSR, you're just a 10-min walk from Downtown Disney with all of the shops and restaurants it has to offer. And you've also got the Spa and impressive workout facilities if you think that might be of interest.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Order them the planning video. Get them a copy of one of the guide books. The Birnbaum has lots of photos and might get them interested. When we took my husband's parents, I was worried that my FIL would not have a good time. He turned into a commando and was the first one out of the villa each morning. They had a great time. A few times we did things by ourselves and they did things by themselves. Occasionally my husband took his parent to the parks and my son and I did other things (he was only 5 at the time).

 

[lehrsj]

I don't think it will be that hard to get a 2 bedroom at BCV or BWV the first week of June.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by lehrsj
I don't think it will be that hard to get a 2 bedroom at BCV or BWV the first week of June.

I agree. But I also agree with tjkraz - there might actually be more to do at SSR/DD.

Best wishes -

 

[shelbyjosh]

If it was me, I wouldn't take my in-laws. MIL is a hypochonriac and FIL is a chain smoker. I would have no tolerance for either one of them. We took my mom back in 2001 and we'll never do that again either. We are happy just going alone or with my cousin and her family. They are great traveling companions!

 

[wintergreen]

We've taken my in-laws once before at Thanksgiving, and are repeating this year. They do not enjoy going to the parks as much as we do, so they stay back some days while we go. They seem to enjoy relaxing by the pool. One benefit, is that they always offer to watch the kids at least one night, so that DH and I can get out. Great for us, and great for the kids to spend some quality time with tht GPs.

 

[Terry S]

We go two or three times a year and we always take my parents one of the times. It is always a wonderful trip. The first trip was a bit of a learning experince for the first few days where we all figured out that we didn't need or want to be with each other 24 / 7. You don't mention if you have kids or not but is a wondeful time for Grandma and Grandpa to make memories with their Grandkids. And my mom and I have had some real special bonding times that neither one of us will ever forget. I know its your first trip and you had all these plans, but at least you know with DVC you will be back!

By the way, we stay at BCV and my parents are not really "park" people either, what I mean by that is that they don't really go on any rides, but they do really enjoy just walking around the parks and taking in the scenery, especially at Epcot where they can walk around World Showcase! My step-father complained the whole time before the first time we went "what was he going to do at an amusment park" He loved it so much they went back 6 months later.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by anabelle
I am going to book Saratoga right away to have a fall back plan, but they are not park people so what would they have to do if we can't get in at BCV or BWV?

Pardon the question, but why in the world would they want to accompany you to WDW if they're not "park people"?

Not trying to be smart alecky, but if they like a lot of planned activities, and you're at WDW, and they don't like the parks, then it seems like it will be hard to put together a daily schedule that would keep them entertained.

I'm sure you'll work it out. And I think SSR might be a great choice for the trip for the reasons mentioned.

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by Terry S


By the way, we stay at BCV and my parents are not really "park" people either, what I mean by that is that they don't really go on any rides, but they do really enjoy just walking around the parks and taking in the scenery, especially at Epcot where they can walk around World Showcase! My step-father complained the whole time before the first time we went "what was he going to do at an amusment park" He loved it so much they went back 6 months later.

We took my mother in law. Also not big on rides and such (although she enjoyed things like Small World, Hall of Presidents, etc) But she LOVEd poking through the WS. Since we were traveling with preschoolers, we let them meet us for dinner each evening - that was our time together. We did spend the first two days running her ragged to give her the layout of things, and to let her enjoy grandkids in the parks - but then let her sleep in, plan their own days, and meet us later.