family and availability frustrations

[Lora]

I absolutely love having family along on our trips, but I have yet to convince my sister to join us. Just recently she started thinking about it and gathering info. When I booked our room at the 11 mo. window, I would have certainly booked an additional studio if I had any idea she would even THINK of coming. Now that she's considering it, I want to get a room at BWV. There is just nothing available for our time in Oct.

I know many people love the F&W Festival, but I liked it better when it started later and we had Epcot to ourselves at the beginning of Oct. Oh well, I'm on the waitlist now (I know, "Join the club, right?") Just venting frustration. She probably will decide not to come right after the room becomes available!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'd tell her it's too late for you to get her a room on points. But she can surely pay cash for her own room. Tell her to call 1-407-WDISNEY.

If she wants to join you on your vacation, she needs to learn the drill. You snooze, you lose.

 

[greenban]

I'd tell her it's too late for you to get her a room on points. But she can surely pay cash for her own room. Tell her to call 1-407-WDISNEY.

If she wants to join you on your vacation, she needs to learn the drill. You snooze, you lose.

I second Deb & Bill's EXCELLENT advice.

Good Luck,

-Tony

 

[MinMouse]

I'd tell her it's too late for you to get her a room on points. But she can surely pay cash for her own room. Tell her to call 1-407-WDISNEY.

If she wants to join you on your vacation, she needs to learn the drill. You snooze, you lose.

Yes, yes, yes! We travel with family all the time and they know I need to know a year before we go.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I must have stressed that pretty firmly the first time, because most foks I ask say "no" if they can't commit that far ahead. We have NEVER had anyone back out after saying yes.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Yeah, seriously, save yourself the headache and resentment of doing all that work only to have your sister flake out on you.

She'll appreciate it more, anyway, if she has to go through all the booking work herself.

Then next time, when she asks you to do it, she'll appreciate what you're doing for her!

 

[spiceycat]

Folks you are missing the big issue - she wants her sister to go...

the sister is not sure she wants too.

you make the sister paid and she is not going...

I hope you get your sister to come. go make a reservation somewhere else so you at least have one. sometimes it works better for family to be in separate places....

I have been trying to get my older brother to come to WDW. He lives in St Augustine - yea about 90min to 2 hours away and he still won't come near the place....

so good luck - I hope you get your sister to join you.

 

[Lora]

Folks you are missing the big issue - she wants her sister to go...

the sister is not sure she wants too.

you make the sister paid and she is not going...

I hope you get your sister to come. go make a reservation somewhere else so you at least have one. sometimes it works better for family to be in separate places....

I have been trying to get my older brother to come to WDW. He lives in St Augustine - yea about 90min to 2 hours away and he still won't come near the place....

so good luck - I hope you get your sister to join you.

Thank you, Pat. Yes - that's where I'm coming from. The only thing I didn't mention that people are assuming is that I'm paying for their accomodations. I am planning to share my 2BR with 2 of her kids (we're a family of 4) and get a studio for the rest of them on my points. But, she was basically going to rent the points from me. I wish I could offer to pay her way, but that just isn't possible.

I REALLY want them to come, but she just doesn't have that planning gene that I got, so that's part of the frustration. The other part is that the rooms are just not available. I almost always book at 11 mos. and make few changes, so maybe it's just that I'm not used to dealing with the unavailability.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I was planning to do as you were suggesting, but I just came for a good vent first.

 

[Dean]

Just a general word of advice for group trips. Make YOUR plans and invite who you want, don't put much if any effort in working around theirs unless it doesn't matter to you AND they are reliable in this regard. Give them a firm date if you must and be clear. Then make reservations that will work with or without the additional groups. Remember to cancel anything you won't end up needing. And if you have anyone in your family who is flaky in the travel department (cancels last minute, can't decide if they can go, decides they CAN go last minute or similar) try to get accommodations that will work with or without them or just don't invite them. And if they even put you in a compromising situation, handle it directly, firmly and at the moment; then it's likely best to never invite them again anyway.