Easter- Family trip-who knows if it is even on? Update page 2

[canwegosoon]

I am so at a loss. First of all I think you know I love WDW..love the planning, love the experience, I book at 11 month LOVE, LOVE , LOVE.

Last year- offered to take my extended family to WDW for 4 birthdays over the Easter break 3/23-3/28-all the others would have to pay for is plane(or they could drive), park tickets and meals.

I got the ressies at BWV and let everyone know.

Sent a 70 day notice to have people start buying tickets and letting me know about the meals, and give me their flight info. I heard from 1 of 5 re the flight information. I heard from 1 of 5 that they got their ME vouchers(and she told me that she thinks my dad threw his, my mom's and another sister's away. But I don't know. No one had brought tickets by day 50 when I called the 1 to get information.

Sent a 30 day notice out asking if people had brought park ticket or not since it would impact dining(I have an idea that my parents and 1 sister might not buy any park tickets), and to please let me know if the dinning in the parks would still be ok. Also asked if everyone had recieved their ME tickets. No one answered.

Last sunday my mom broke her arm- I called 2 times last week to see how she was doing(and she had another dr appointment on Friday)...but no one has even sent me and email update. I don't know if she is even feeling up to going.

I leave on the 20th to check in at BWV...I just wish someone would communicate that things are going along ok. That each person has their tickets or will buy them at WDW, and that they want the DDP or not and that they have their ME vouchers.

Anyone know what I can do to tell them that I would like the information and to know that they want to go on this trip

All I can say is NEVER AGAIN.

 

[Muushka]

I think you need a group hug .
I hope it all works out for you. But you can always say 'I tried' .

 

[thepops]

you could always ask your "family" here on DIS. I'm sure there would be tons of folks that would come spend time with you for that price!

 

[jmcdonnell04]

Sorry to hear that your family is not excited about your Easter vacation. Did you get a GV or 2BR for your family? They do not seem appreciative of the free room or your planning. We will be arriving on Easter Sunday for one week as well. My DW has already packed for our DD and purchased new bathing suits. We have our vouchers for AP and ADR's made for DDP.
It will be just the 4 of us on this trip.

We have booked a 2BR at BWV in June taking my DMIL. I had the idea this weekend that I would fly my DMIL instead of her sitting 16 hours in a car.
She has motion sickness and I thought 2 hours of sickness would be better than 16 hours. We would time our drive to pick her up at the airport. Trying to be nice but she took it that there was no room in the car and that she would not go..

We also invited a friend of my DD(13) back before Christmas and her parents still will not committ that she is going.

I hope things work out with your family and that you have a wonderful vacation.


John

 

[DISNEY FIX]

You are a better person than me I wouldn't of even tried......relatives, you can keep em. We know how much work and planning goes into this, I do hope all works out for you and hope your mom feels better. This is bad enough, but I can't figure what a bride and groom go through to rent out points for the wedding parties and such. That's crazy.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Sorry! I understand what you're going through. I had to cancel my Easter trip at the 31 days out point because my MIL wasn't sure she would have recovered from her health issues well enough by then Watching my countdown clock go from 31 days to over 100 was very depressing We've rescheduled the trip for June, and whether my inlaws make it or not, we're going!

That does mean I'm now free for Easter, and I have AP's so if you need anyone to keep you company

 

[bobbiwoz]

I am so sorry to read this. We've "known" each other through the Christmas tree exchange and you have brought much joy to all of us involved!!! Your enthusiasm is contagious, I can feel it, but apparently, some are immune.

I hope your mom recovers enough to go...I hope someone communicates current news to you....The people you are dealing with are just too inconsiderate, and I'm sorry you've had to go through this.

Bobbi

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hey, Moderators! We need a board consisting of all the "Never Again" posts. So we could just direct others to it when they get the idea of inviting family and using up all their points to get enough places to stay.

 

[canwegosoon]

THANK YOU all...I was smiling reading all your post and had a few minutes of peace. I still am tormented-should I call them(now I feel like I am bugging them) but I guess I shouldn't worry since I do know they have airline tickets. But it kills me because 2 of the B-days are my boys(they are turning 10) and one wants Lego items(that I know I can get at DTD)...but no one had even asked about their birthday on the 26th. The other birthday we are celebrating on the 23rd and have a dinner arranged at 1900 PKFare and a cake ordered. THe final one is my dad's 73rd...at HDDR on the 27th(at least I will know 48 hours in advance if they are not going for this one).

I dedcided to do 3 studios so that everyone could have their own room and if a few cancelled we wouldn't be stuck.


Deb & Bill - Yes we need a "Never Again" Club. I am a lifetime member now.

Chelle-I was half expecting to be in your shoes...I am so sorry that happened to you

Bobbi- Thanks for all your kind words


Disney fix, John, thepops, and Muushka- thank you for all the support...I appericate it.

 

[RLRDA]

There are Disney people who "get it" and non-Disney people who "don't get it". I think everyone here feels your pain, shares your disappointment whether we've had this happen to us or not. My DH and I tried to plan a trip with my family last summer. It didn't progress that far into the planning stages but we had borrowed points to book two 2BRs at BWV and once everyone backed out we had to use those points or lose them (we ended up taking an extra long trip so that wasn't such a bad thing). My DH was the one who suggested we take my DBrothers. DSILs, Dnephew, Dnieces, my DMother (13 people total). I felt horrible b/c I got so excited when everyone was agreeable to the trip, I booked the rooms, the others going were all my family. We wanted them to look at the trip as we look at our WDW trips......they don't "get it" (and all I mean by that is the love of all things Disney). Needless to say, we won't extend another invitation...."never again" hits the nail on the head. I can't imagine all the care and planning you've put into your trip. It can really be disheartening. I hope it all works out for the best when all is said and done.

 

[medalla74]

I am so at a loss. First of all I think you know I love WDW..love the planning, love the experience, I book at 11 month LOVE, LOVE , LOVE.

Last year- offered to take my extended family to WDW for 4 birthdays over the Easter break 3/23-3/28-all the others would have to pay for is plane(or they could drive), park tickets and meals.

I got the ressies at BWV and let everyone know.

Sent a 70 day notice to have people start buying tickets and letting me know about the meals, and give me their flight info. I heard from 1 of 5 re the flight information. I heard from 1 of 5 that they got their ME vouchers(and she told me that she thinks my dad threw his, my mom's and another sister's away. But I don't know. No one had brought tickets by day 50 when I called the 1 to get information.

Sent a 30 day notice out asking if people had brought park ticket or not since it would impact dining(I have an idea that my parents and 1 sister might not buy any park tickets), and to please let me know if the dinning in the parks would still be ok. Also asked if everyone had recieved their ME tickets. No one answered.

Last sunday my mom broke her arm- I called 2 times last week to see how she was doing(and she had another dr appointment on Friday)...but no one has even sent me and email update. I don't know if she is even feeling up to going.

I leave on the 20th to check in at BWV...I just wish someone would communicate that things are going along ok. That each person has their tickets or will buy them at WDW, and that they want the DDP or not and that they have their ME vouchers.

Anyone know what I can do to tell them that I would like the information and to know that they want to go on this trip

All I can say is NEVER AGAIN.

I remember when we were both on the waitlist for BWV and we will be there at the same time!!!!!!!!!!! I feel so bad about your trip and it makes me nervous about mine coming up in december with my family. Its supposed to be me and my family(DH, DD & DS's) plus my mom, sister, brother in law , neice nephew and my little brother. My brother in law has been laid off since December and I keep asking my sister if she is sure she still wants to go and she keeps insisting that he will have a job soon and they will be okay by then......

I hope it all works out for you...

 

[ldo]

I would call and ask if they are renting a car or taking ME bus--and do they know that they have to call ME to register flights AT LEAST 5 days in advance (add little extra time to the "real" deadline). Let them know that you also have to add/delete dining plan 5 days in advance--again add some extra time to it.
OTherwise, just go with the flow--realize some won't think about b-days until that day---just like some people Christmas shop at the MAll on Dec. 24!!
good luck! Elaine

 

[jdg345]

We just came back from a trip that was *just* like this ... except, after making all the preparations and giving reminders and warnings, we had *extra* people want to come at the last minute with no where for them to stay! Everything was booked, so we couldn't get them an extra room ... some even said they'd sleep in the bathtub or closet!

Like others have stated, some people just don't get it.

And, like you, I'll never do it again. Ressies for me, and everyone else can fend for themselves. Otherwise I'll end up permanently like this:

Good Luck!

 

[Susan C]

I am the planner in my family. I love and crave the big family parties but I do get nuts, with the trying to make everyone else happy... and then I'm miserable.

You are in charge of your immediate family only.. Try to "let go" ..you are going and will have a great time..

I'm going too on Easter Sunday.. I'll wave at ya

Susan

 

[jodifla]

When I go on a trip with friends and family, I do all I can to lay out the rules of how it works.

Then I make a deal with myself to not care if they come or not. If the second bedroom is empty, I move DS into it, and enjoy all the private time with DH.

 

[Mic]

Canwegosoon-I have been in your shoes several times! Both my sister and my husband's sister have backed out at the last minute. They both insisted that they wanted to join us for a trip to the BWV 2 months ago, and both backed out last-minute. I bluntly asked SIL if she was still planning on going to Disney a month before we left. Her children insisted they were going, but she admitted they could not afford the tickets(even after I had offered to pay for one 4-day hopper plus). I was able to cancel her room. However, my sister did not decide until 2 weeks before we left, so I rented out the reservation here on the DIS boards because I did not want to deal with holding points. Both had done this to me before, so I should have known better. SIL was rude enough to ask me to use the points from her cancelled reservation to book her family a room in June, and my sister now wants to know if we can take her the week of July 4th. Hmmm, let me think...NO! I agree with other posters that you should call, but I know how that feels. It's really sad that you are more concerned with their vacation than they are!

 

[LVSWL]

I am so sorry that you are having these problems. This time should be filled with anticipation and excitement! We invited the same friends to WDW two times. We explained everything about how DVC worked the first time, and how we needed a firm commitment before we booked. They were all for it and so off we went. It was all downhill from there. What started out as a 7 day trip ended up as a 4. We were there for all 7, but they only showed for 4 days, and those were right in the middle, so there really wasn't a way to split the stay into smaller villas, plus we didn't "know" until too late. A couple of years later, we decided to go again with our friends and they said they DEFINITELY wanted to stay the WHOLE time this time. Yeah right! So, here we go again, well, it was 5 of the 6 days, but touch and go. We did have a good time while we were there, but the stress leading up to it was unbelievable. We couldn't get a firm answer about when they would come, or leave,and it made it very hard to enjoy the months leading up to our trip. To me, that is half of the fun.
We are in the process of planning a trip now with friends. We have a 1bdrm, and will have to waitlist for a two-bdrm. We have been going over and over with them the fact that IF we try for this they must be really sure they can go.
We also are thinking of planning a graduation trip for our DS. He wants to invites some of his friends and we will take them. I think this will be cool, but can also see the dark side
Best of luck. I hope things will work out for you and your family.

 

[kikiq]

I feel your pain. And the folks on Dis will "talk you through this". I'm planning a family trip this summer and thanks to this group, I have resisted reserving a GV...reserved a studio and 2 bedrm instead. And thanks to this group, I am resisting making big dining plans rather only making ressies that my dad wants, ohanas and cape may. AND I'm spending Easter with one brother and family to walk them through what they need to do.

 

[canwegosoon]

Thank you everyone who posed since my past post ...I really appericate all the well wishes and understanding.

UPDATE:
I decided to send out an email that basically said
1) How did mom make out with the DR?
2) What did my niece want for her b-day (that we are celebrating at 1900pk fare)
3) updating family on my boy's chess club wins.
(no mention of trip...tickets...etc)

Guess what...it worked I heard from everyone. Can not believe that..then today came the flood of email questions-what type of tickets were we to get(although now I guess my SIL is involved it trying to get them tickets through the "Union"-in Fl-I guess she means Credit Union)...what do your boys want for their birthday?....doyou think we can get the tickets in time...I am not sure since the website(UT) says 12 business days...My sister emailed saying my Mom seemed ok getting around with the cast and it wasn't hindering her-but she is on disability from work for 2 months.

SO it looks like it is a go.
Thanks again everyone! But I am still in the Never Again Club.

 

[LVSWL]

So glad to hear it! Hope everything is magical! Great news about your mom!