Do I grin and bear it, or should I say something?

[Cinderelli]

I'm beginning to think I'm the biggest pushover around. Very good friends/neighbors of ours moved away 18 mos ago. My youngest daughter was devastated as her "best friend" since she was a baby moved away (she is only 6 now, ha!). It was tough for all of us. Almost a year ago, we invited them to Old Key West with us for our Spring Break. We couldn't believe they said they could come and we've been so excited for so long.

They will not be renting a car, rather they are flying in to Tampa (where we are from) and her parents are driving them to Orlando the next day. They also did not plan in any extra days at the beginning or end of the trip to visit with "old friends".

I had such wonderful ideas of what our first night all together again would be like. Well, about two weeks ago I got a call from another neighbor who just happened to talk to my friend (they hadn't talked in over a year). My current neighbor asked if it would be OK for her & her family to join all of us for our first afternoon/evening together. What was I going to say? No? I guess I should have. Since we are only an hour away, it was hard to say no since I know my friend who's coming would love to see all of her "other friends" while here, too. Well, the neighbor who lives beside the first neighbor heard the news and now she wants to come over, too (we're possibly up to 6 guests now & I'm assuming that my friends parents ((who are driving them over)) may want to stay for dinner, too, making 8 guests (on top of all of us who are supposed to be there).

I called my friend (on two different occasions during the past 10 days) and told her that it was OK with us if they wanted to delay coming to OKW by a day and spend an afternoon in the "old hood" visiting friends, but she insisted that her girls would be broken-hearted if they didn't come on Sunday like originally planned.

I have made it a point to tell our friends that are coming to stay that they don't need to feel tied to the hip to us and that they are free to do whatever they want while on vacation, but now I'm feeling a little gipped (I guess) that I have to share them with others on that all so special "first night". I am sure that when it's all said and done, everything will be fine and we will have a wonderful time. It's just getting used to the idea that the first night will go differently that I'd thought all alone. And, the original neighbor who called and started all this has suggested she will get her own room and spend the nite with her 2 boys and join us at the Magic Kingdom the next day, too.

Which brings me to this question: How many of you always have something like this come up? Nothing ever goes as planned. Do you think the other neighbor is being rude? Should I say something? And, how many guests can we have at OKW? Is there a limit? We were planning on hanging out at the pool and cooking on the grills, but what if it rains and I have an extra 8 people around? And what happens if the rest of the neighborhood wants to come? HELP!!! I'm probably making way too much of this but am feeling a little stressed right now and need someone elses perspective of things.

Thanks in advance for all your input.

 

[zurgswife]

I think I'd pick another night to do something special with your friends that are staying with you and enjoy everybody...since you can't convince your friend to visit back at the old homestead....Cause if you don't get over it now and proceed to have fun you will most likely be the only person that doesn't enjoy the trip to WDW....Take a deep breath and enjoy...make it in to a party and have fun...be the hostess to all ....

you didn't say how big a place you were getting but I assume it is a 2 bedroom...that's enough room to entertain quite a few guests...we have done it before...

Others will have differing opinons about use of the pool but I don't have problem having friends join me at the pool ( has happened once) .....

 

[new_yawka]

Some people are the types who desparately need each moment of a Disney vacation to go exactly as planned. I find the most magic occurs in the spontaneous moments. As all friends will be there to smile, laugh and have fun, that is definitely a good thing. What I would likely do is let the friend coming forom out of town know that you are looking forward to some time where your families can just enjoy each other and set aside some time for that, while giving everyone plenty of time to enhoy each other.

Have a great time and do not let this get you down

 

[WOW]

Just a little bit of advice----Just let things happen and PLEASE don't stress yourself out---don't try to be the PERFECT hostess because as someone else said you will be the only one who isn't having any fun. Enjoy your vacation and don't let anyone or anything prevent that from happening.

 

[Cinderelli]

Thanks for your replies. It was actually quite good therapy just to type all of that out (sorry it was so long and then I hit enter before I could edit or rethink if I even wanted to post it). You are all so right. I should look at this positively and realize how special it will be for the family we invited to be able to see other friends as well. And I will make sure that we do get to spend one "special evening" for just our families - just not the first night, although it will be special on its own.

Now I'm excited again! One more week to go......I don't think I can stand it

 

[PamOKW]

Nothing ever goes as planned.

Keep that in mind and roll with the punches. I once planned all kinds of special events and dinners for a Christmas trip and my brother's family got sick in shifts, causing us to lose all but one event.

The one thing I wonder about is that this group does sound like it's getting pretty big. It's up to you whether you want to entertain/feed them all. Have you thought about everyone going out to eat somewhere or at least bringing pot luck? It should be fun for you, too.

 

[eva]

I'm with Pam. I think that I would eat out, even if it is at Olivia's. And then enjoy the pool and such. Save the steaks for another night. If you don't you will probably spend most of the night playing cook and hostess. And just to let you know, I used to plan our trips like a maniac. But rarely did anything happen just the way I wanted it to. When I stopped planning so much I really enjoyed myself a lot more. I don't even have one PS for our trip in 8 weeks.

 

[okwmember92]

This past summer, my DS turned 16, while at WDW. We live an hour away, had bestfriends from AL come and stay the week. My DH invites DS girlfriend and her mom to come over for a day or two they got a room at DL. We invited other family to come and planned on Pizza by the pool, wanted to cookout but DH said no he was on vacation. It rained, summer storms so we spent a lot of time indoors in our 2 bedroom. I was a nervous wreck and very unsual for me, I usually roll with the punches. My DH invites my DF to go golfing with him and DS, so my parents and grandmother stay offsite for extra day and they want to hang out with me and my bestfriend while the guys play golf. I was furious because I wanted time with my friend, we went to MGM and ended up having a good time and glad mom & g-mom went with us to keep friend's DS (2) while we rode rides. Looking back I wish I could have just let things happen instead of trying to make everything perfect.

So, like everyone else said just enjoy your friends and take it easy don't try to make everyone else enjoy. Afterall, "if momma ain't happy, nobody's happy"

Kim

 

[dznymom1]

It sounds like you will all have a blast, but I would take the pressure off myself and go with the "P"s. Pizza, pop, paper plates, paper cups, and PARTY! Everybody likes pizza, and you can eat it out by the pool if it's nice, or in your villa if it's rainy.

We've had a few trips where I went crazy because we had so many different groups of friends or family coming and going throughout our vacation. I agonized over everything being perfect, and everyone having the the time of their lives. Now I just keep it simple and remember that I'm on vacation and I'm not in charge of everyone's good time!

Chris in NH
August 9-16 - Alaska on Radiance of the Seas
Nov 5-9 - BWV Food & Wine Fest
Nov 22- 29 - HH Thanksgiving!

 

[Cinderelli]

Thanks to everyone. You all have such good advice. Part of my problem was thinking I would have to entertain everyone, but once I've let go of that I'm much calmer about it. I even called my friend and told her that originally I was hesitant to have so many people visiting and she said she was feeling the same way. We laughed and have decided to "roll with the punches" as you suggest, but we are nixing the idea of anyone spending the next day with us. We'll share ourselves the first day, but after that the vacation is in full swing.

Thanks again for all your suggestions. We'll be putting them to good use.