Family Trip- Please share your experiences

[disneyjunkie]

I just talked to my sister. She said DO NOT plan around us. She just wants me to give her a copy of our schedule and they are going to follow it. When the kids need a nap, they'll hop on the bus back to PC then meet up with us later.

The only thing she wants me to do is to book 2 character meals for her kids. One with Donald Duck and one with Minnie Mouse. I had booked both of these for my son and I months ago, so all I have to do is increase the number of people.

I booked Ohana's for her birthday dinner and will call the Poly in the morning to order a cake.

I was really stressing about adjusting my plans to please them, and this is the one thing she doesn't want me to do. I love my sister.


My problem is solved, but please keep sharing your stories.

 

[lindsey]

We are going with SIL, BIL, 4yr old niece who have never been.
They don't understand my family's excitement about Disney. My son, his wife, and my 2yr old grandson will also be there. To help get them ready, I made little books on each park, using the internet info. Since we have been over 10 trips (I know that's not alot to some around here), I scanned lots of my pictures to go with the different rides and attractions. I printed the pages and laminated them. I'm still working on my EPCOT book, but they are already enjoying the other books. I'm the planner and am working on a schedule that can be fun, but flexible. Phones and walkie talkies will definitely be used.

 

[MelessaG]

Your sister sounds very nice and I think you all will have a great trip. I have avoided posting here because it brings back traumatic memories of the "whole family" trip we took in Jan. 2001. One of my sisters was not accomodating at all, my nieces whined, my 7 m.o. son got sick, my parents argued, you get the picture...We did go with my parents again on our most recent trip, but not both sisters and all the kids. My childless (and most uncooperative) sister threw a fit when she wasn't included in our plans and booked her own flight to "meet" us there. She stayed at a different hotel and apparently slept all the time because we never saw her except the day we went to Universal Studios. Mom would call her room on the cell phone each morning and at lunch to tell her where we were and beg her to join us, but she never "felt like it." (yes-she is much younger than me and very spoiled by mom). Anyway, we just kept her informed of where we were and left it up to her from there. That worked much better than trying to coordinate 6 adults and 4 children on the previous trip. I think you all will have a lot of fun!

 

[hockey mom]

I feel your stress at planning for a large group. We are going down in April with my sister, her DH, and her 3 kids, my aunt and her 4 yr old. The last trip my family and my sisters family took together was a disaster. .
First negative- picking a date-
ME- when's a good time?
Sis-anytime
Me- are you sure?
Sis-yes just tell us when
Me- end of April
Sis a month later- when are we going?
Me- end of april
DBIL a month later- when are we going
Me- end of April
DBIL- oh not a good time for me-could we change it.
Me(while trying not to scream) "someone better be joking me"
Accomodations are being paid for by me so they have no say-one less hassle.

 

[Mduff]

And here I thought I had the only relative who wasn't into Disney! I'm so glad I'm normal

I had the same problem with my sis about the time we're going. When my parents offered the trip to her, the response was "I have no problems pulling the kids out of school" But when the time came, it was "I can't pull the kids out - we have to go during school break".

So they get to experience Disney for the first time with tons o' people!!

Marla