DisneyWorld for 2 or 5?

[TrudyNH]

Please bare with me as I ask for opinions. I am sitting on a fence and can't decide which side is better! I have planned our second trip to Orlando for my 12 year old son and I during March Break. My husband will be spending his time in the area golfing with friends (he's not a theme park kinda guy) which is just fine with us! I have saved enough money for us to fly first class (FIRST TIME EVER!), rent a great condo and use airmiles for all the theme park tickets. My son and I have a lot of fun together so I know we'll do fine. We are use to being alone as we do not have a large family so we never have to ask someone else what they want to do---the decision is always ours.

Here is my dilema....a very good friend of mine and her 2 daughters are Disney fanatics. She would give anything to visit Disney again but financially it will probably won't happen. I calculated that if we fly economy, I can afford to take all 5 of us. Of course, this will mean having to ask someone what they want to do each day.....where to eat......etc. I'm not use to that! She and I get along great and our kids are the same age. I think it would be fun to have another parent there for me to talk to and other kids for my son to go on rides with.

Would any of YOU feel odd if a friend offered to do this? Would you feel like you couldn't be yourself and give an honest opinion about what you want to eat or do that day, knowing someone else is paying? My common sense says to invite her as that's what this world is about......enjoying it with others.

Oh I should mention ONE SMALL DETAIL. I invited a teenage relative on a cruise not long ago. Once it was paid for, she backed out of it for various reasons. I tried to explain to her and her mother that this was a very expensive decision and it cost me, not her. My sister in law refused to do anything about it, stating my niece was old enough (at 14) to make her own decisions. So now I'm out money and feel burned.

Please be easy on me with your responses.....I'm feeling vulnerable!!!

 

[marmalade]

We are actually doing something similiar. My DH and I planned on taking our 2 kids for a week staying in the pirate room at CBR. When I plugged in the numbers I realized that I could get 2 rooms at a value and invite my SIL and DN for roughly the same price. So that is what we did. My SIL and DN(7) would never be able to afford to go on thier own.

And now it is myself, DH, DD(5), DS (3), SIL, DN(7), and MIL and another DN(16) have decided to go also. My family of 4 has been numerous times but the other 4 have never been and probably would never go if we couldn't take them.

We leave Monday and seeing how excited they all are makes me even more excited for this trip.

And remember you don't have to spend your entire vacation with them, you guys can split up during the day. Whatever you decide I am sure you will have a great trip.

 

[TrudyNH]

Thank you Marmalade for the advice. I've spent the morning trying to figure out what I have any reservations about inviting a friend along and the answer hit me like a ton of bricks. I remember travelling with my SIL and her youngest child who is a whiny, demanding, spoiled brat. Her attitude managed to spoil every plan we tried to make so I came home frustrated and wishing I had gone on vacation alone.

My friend and her daughters are awesome--so laid back and just happy with life. The condo I'm renting has 3 bedrooms so there is room for all of us. I plan to buy groceries for breakfast/dinner so a few extra mouths won't be that much. I think I'll let her husband know in secret and ask if he can squander away a few dollars for her and the girls.

This could be a great surprise!

 

[amitrat]

Thank you Marmalade for the advice. I've spent the morning trying to figure out what I have any reservations about inviting a friend along and the answer hit me lick a ton of bricks. I remember travelling with my SIL and her youngest child who is a whiny, demanding, spoiled brat. Her attitude managed to spoil every plan we tried to make so I came home frustrated and wishing I had gone on vacation alone.

My friend and her daughters are awesome--so laid back and just happy with life. The condo I'm renting has 3 bedrooms so there is room for all of us. I plan to buy groceries for breakfast/dinner so a few extra mouths won't be that much. I think I'll let her husband know in secret and ask if he can squander away a few dollars for her and the girls.

This could be a great surprise!

What a wonderful person you are to think of others. I think the feeling you will have by giving to someone else and the looks on their faces will totally be worth it, and as the OP said, you do not have to stay together in the parks the whole time.

 

[ilovepete]

Wow you are amazing to think of that! I think it would be great as long as you are OK with it. And make sure you schedule some time just for your DS and you so that you can have some alone time and make some decisions on your own, too.

 

[VAfamily1998]

You sound like a wonderful friend!

Since you plan on eating some meals at the condo, I would definitely schedule some "apart time" for the parks. Even the best of friends can get on each other's nerves with too much "togetherness".

Maybe you could decide together on a few rides/shows that would be fun together, and spend other times apart? Something like, "well, at Hollywood studios, lets spend the morning with our individual families, and then we'll meet up for the 11:30 'Beauty and the Beast' show, then go to lunch" or something like that?

 

[TrudyNH]

Thanks ladies for the advice on time apart. I do think my son will want time with just me. He is not one for large rollercoasters and I know the girls are so seperating for a few hours might be needed. Let them check out the Tower of Terror while we go to something a little more mild. We could do Soarin' USA 10 times in a row but it's not their thing.

Now I'm getting excited about this!!

 

[marcemc]

Thanks ladies for the advice on time apart. I do think my son will want time with just me. He is not one for large rollercoasters and I know the girls are so seperating for a few hours might be needed. Let them check out the Tower of Terror while we go to something a little more mild. We could do Soarin' USA 10 times in a row but it's not their thing.

Now I'm getting excited about this!!

You are a very kind & generous friend!

And you are right, it's ok to have some hours for just you and DS.

Many blessing to your and your family!!!!

 

[TrudyNH]

Well I just figured if 5 can do the same thing that 2 can, why not? When my husband and I decided to only have one child, I warned him that we would have to bring other kids on vacations and outings. Kids need someone to get excited with and adults don't always measure up!

I'm becoming a Disney nut....not easy when you live in eastern Canada which is so far away......

 

[TrudyNH]

I thought I better take a moment to post an update on the vacation. It worked out well as I had enough Airmiles for all the park tickets, flights and car rental. We found a nice little house with enough room for the kids to all spread out. My son was not thrilled to have two girls to deal with for 10 days but he loved their adventurous side. He went on rides that normally would have scared the pants off him.

In one of the parks, the girls wanted to have their hair braided so my son and I skipped off to check out some sharks. The oldest girl loves shopping so we skipped out for an evening of retail therapy. It was great having time apart.

I would do this again in a heart beat

 

[MSSANDRA]

So glad it worked out so well. What a great example you set for your son. Our oldest was an only for 14 years and sometimes its hard to show them it can't always be about them. Good job mom!