Family Member Flop :-(

[Mert]

I'm sorry your trip didnt work out, but like you found out traveling with your family or friends can be real hard. My only advice from my own personal experiences in family vacation disasters, just chalk it up to experience and dont say you'll never go away with them again just go into the next trip doing your thing and them doing theirs and if some of it connects great. Either way it was a great gift !

 

[crisi]

Sometimes things come out of left field but in most cases where there are problems, it seems there were reasons to know ahead of time. I think many people con themselves into thinking that because Disney is a Magical Place, that people will simply lose their usual difficult nature. I'd venture that MOST problems could have been avoided if the members were realistic and took into account past issues/personalities.

Yes. When we vacationed with my brother in law, we knew he'd drive us nuts - so we chose NOT to share a room with him, and gave us lots and lots of separation time. With my Mother In Law, we knew she'd find Disney overwhelming and confusing, so we gave her the highlights tour, and then she and her sister poked through Epcot at the rate of two countries a day for the rest of the vacation (they headed into MK to see the Hall of Presidents, too).

You can adapt the trip to someone else's personality and keep a vacation magical, it isn't going to work to expect someone to adapt their personality to your trip.

The worst guest experience we had was with an old friend of my husband's - along with wife and kids. We know him well - but I don't know her or her kids well. And therefore, didn't adapt the trip to them. AND she didn't know herself or her kids well - so during our planning and discussing, she didn't have enough input, and the input she had was wrong. Turns out, her kids don't LIKE thrill rides - she does.

 

[LVSWL]

Sometimes things come out of left field but in most cases where there are problems, it seems there were reasons to know ahead of time. I think many people con themselves into thinking that because Disney is a Magical Place, that people will simply lose their usual difficult nature. I'd venture that MOST problems could have been avoided if the members were realistic and took into account past issues/personalities.

Dean, I think this is true also. I will have to remember this in the future.

 

[twinboysmom]

I haven't read all the responses but sometimes I think a little bit of gratitude goes a long way. We just got back as well and brought 2 families. One we had travelled with before and one who had never been. The family who had never been did not enjoy their trip. They had done zero research (not even 5 minutes of looking at Disney on the Internet) and had no idea what to expect. Prior to the trip their was whining about the dates we picked (over a year prior) were costing them bonus money from the spouses job and that they would just leave a day or two early. They wandered aimlessly around the parks complaining there was nothing for their two year old to do. We never heard a thank you or this hotel is really nice (we stayed at VWL) and needless to say, we won't ever vacation with them again, anywhere. Sorry OP, I understand how you feel. We did not, however, buy their tickets. Thank goodness!

 

[Dean]

I haven't read all the responses but sometimes I think a little bit of gratitude goes a long way.

In our case that's absolutely true. We try not to put ourselves in a position where there's a lot of opportunity for issues or misunderstandings. We normally average almost one larger family trip per year over the past 13 years or so. We've had as many as 35 people. We get the accommodations and plan the trip then invite until our space is full. We do not expect reimbursement nor would we accept it. We are most happy to share our timeshare world with our family but esp those that seem to get it and understand the costs and efforts involved in such offerings. Recently we were planning our latest installment and my SIL graciously acknowledged and thanked me for those efforts and costs including the realization that we are purposefully giving back to the family. That meant more than any amount of compensation could ever have.

 

[Teyedoubleguhrrrr]

First, I think that the lack of understanding on your SIL's part about the expense of a pass with park hopping may contribute. If things in my life made me want to go lay by the pool - then I would have been offering to at least partially pay for my own ticket.

I actually was reflecting on conversations that my DH and I have been having lately. Now that we have been a couple of times with the kids (after living in Orlando, being a CM and going all the time before the kids were born) - we both are trying to tone down the WE HAVE TO DO/SEE EVERYTHING urge we both seem to get. We are going for a weekend this fall (arrive Thurs, leave Sun) and may only get a one day pass. We are doing MNSSHP one night, but we really want to check out some of the things we tend to miss because we have been racing from one attraction to another so much. That does include enjoying the pool. However, we are not investing in a 3 day park hopper for the trip.

I know it was an expensive lesson to learn, but at least you know now either what to expect with them and to make them buy their own tickets. It might be an eye opener for them!