father in law threw a kink in our plans

[luvthemouse71]

Search for a job? Maybe he registered for some type of class or training that coincides with the OP's departure?

Yes, I thought of that. That would be an extenuating circumstance. But, it's unlikely that a job interview would be that early and it would be mighty coincidental that he'd have one right on that day.

It does amuse me that people are slamming the OP because she is in a bind about a ride to the airport- yet her deadbeat FIL gets a pass. Sorry, but no normal adult should be living rent free even with relatives. It's one thing to need a place to stay for a few days or a week, but long term is not right.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Have to agree with this one..if he doesn't want to drive you as a family member favor, then maybe you can just say the ride is in lieu of rent. If he's unemployed and living rent free I'd think he'd be falling all over himself to feel like he was contributing in some way.

No kidding.. Sounds like they need to sit this guy down and have a talk about maybe him moving out or getting some kind of income, even if that's flipping burgers.

One of my inlaws had a mom that was a gambling addict. I've known other older people that had addictions of some sort. Maybe this is the case with the FIL. If so, some tough love would be in order.

 

[GinnyEmma]

That doesn't justify witching about her husband's dad for letting her know a month and a half before her trip that he can't transport. If you can't raise or save $50 in six weeks your budget is too tight.

You people are so willing to call an old guy you don't know a deadbeat when you have no clue about his life. Nor can he stand up for himself. Then you have the gall to call others names. Unbelievable.

 

[nunzia]

That doesn't justify witching about her husband's dad for letting her know a month and a half before her trip that he can't transport. If you can't raise or save $50 in six weeks your budget is too tight.

You people are so willing to call an old guy you don't know a deadbeat when you have no clue about his life. Nor can he stand up for himself. Then you have the gall to call others names. Unbelievable.

Not calling him a deadbeat and frankly, I agree with those who say that A) if your budget is that scary you maybe shouldn't be taking a trip, B) there HAS to be some way to make enough extra in six weeks to pay for parking, C) I never ask people for anything that would be cosidered 'trouble ( I came in by train to a city 90 miles away...$26.00 cab ride to the airport and $46.00 shuttle ride from airport to home..I just won't ask someone to go out of their way to come and get me) D) we don't know why FIL bailed and of course it could be a very good reason and six weeks is alot of time to give notice, but even when you don't EXPECT someone to titfortat for a favor, when you do something as huge as provide housing for someone, I can see how someone agreeing and then bailing on a favor would be irritating.
I am always surprised when someone comes on the board to post these kinds of things..really...why vent about a personal issue here?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

And we also only know one side to the story...the OP's side.
I'm sure there is more to this story than is being told, there usually always is.

The OP hasn't been back in quite a while also.

 

[deedeetoo]

To a PP: An older person who doesn't work is a deadbeat? I thought it was called being retired. My Grandma lived us rent free for my entire childhood, she was just part of the household. She did give my parents money from her social security check to help with food.

To the OP: I agree if you don't have $100 extra in your budget you should reconsider the trip. What happens when one of your kids get sick at WDW and you have to take a cab to a doctor or a pharmacy? How are you going to pay for that?

 

[usnuzuloose]

What would she do if he did not live there? She would have to figure out something else. I dont know the situation with the FIL but maybe he has a very good reason for not being able to do this. As OP never stated a reason why he gave her enough notice. But the way I see it is you should always try and budget for these issues because you dont know what may happen between the time you make your plans and when they arrive.

 

[mdsoccermom]

Maybe I live in Shangri-La (and I probably do since our airport parking is only $3.50 per day) but I have to ask:

Why do so many people have a problem leaving their car at the airport?

We leave our cars (and nice ones at that) at the airport all the time without a problem. Is there a giant theft ring lurking in the public airports at other major citites? People skulking around and keying cars at random? What's the big deal?

We live in what has to be the worst airport for security these days, yet I know that all cars coming in are photographed (and the plates time/date stamped) and the same car is matched with the toll booth ticket when it leaves. As long as you take your ticket with you no one is leaving with your car. Never had a problem with parking at San Diego, Reagan/National, Dulles, or Sea-Tak either.

I'm with you. When I travel for work, I leave my car at the airport. Never do I ask my husband to drive 45 miles each way to take me. I pay the $9 a day and be done with it. When we fly as a family, we drive ourselves and budget for the parking.

The $80 the OP needs is $13 a week. If she cannot come up with an extra $13 a week, then she has no business going.

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

What was your Plan B if your FIL would have woken that day and had explosive diarrhea? A sudden migraine? A fever with chills and flu symptoms? Excessive vomiting?

What would you have done?

 

[disneybound31]

Maybe I live in Shangri-La (and I probably do since our airport parking is only $3.50 per day) but I have to ask:

Why do so many people have a problem leaving their car at the airport?

We leave our cars (and nice ones at that) at the airport all the time without a problem. Is there a giant theft ring lurking in the public airports at other major citites? People skulking around and keying cars at random? What's the big deal?

We live in what has to be the worst airport for security these days, yet I know that all cars coming in are photographed (and the plates time/date stamped) and the same car is matched with the toll booth ticket when it leaves. As long as you take your ticket with you no one is leaving with your car. Never had a problem with parking at San Diego, Reagan/National, Dulles, or Sea-Tak either.

Funniest. Ever.

 

[disneybound31]

OP- I have to say I think I can understand where you are coming from. When you plan a vacation within a budget and DID NOT EXPECT to lay out another $100 or so for airport transportation then it IS a bummer. I'm sure OP could find $100 if she HAS to, but it is still annoying when she thought she had arrangements made.

Also, unless FIL is disabled, mentally unable to handle negotiating the drive/airport (and I am not being sarcastic here) or otherwise incapacitated then he REALLY needs to take them to the airport. If he was able-bodied/of sound mental health I bet he would be working or at least be working 8 hours per day to FIND a job.

If he just doesn't FEEL LIKE IT then tough crap---she probably doesn't FEEL LIKE giving him free rent anymore, but she didn't tell him 6 weeks ago to get out. Actually, OP, maybe 6 weeks notice to find a job/pay rent or find other housing is the way to go. I mean, if you have children with severe health issues I assume you have many bills and could really benefit from increased income from a paying renter.

I would also add that even with recently sick kids, a tight budget, or what have you the OP still is entitled to enjoy a budget WDW vacation just like the rest of us who have less complicated means to the airport.

Not trying to flame on the FIL, but I think OP is due some support. OP- can you tell us HIS reason for not taking you guys to the airport? I think it would help you out...now if he's ill or invalid that might not garner much sympathy...just sayin'...and GOOD LUCK.

I hope you get to have a very wonderful vacation!

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

.

I would also add that even with recently sick kids, a tight budget, or what have you the OP still is entitled to enjoy a budget WDW vacation just like the rest of us who have less complicated means to the airport.

Nobody (NOBODY!) is entitled to a WDW vacation.

 

[disneybound31]

Nobody (NOBODY!) is entitled to a WDW vacation.

Okay, maybe not ENTITLED, possibly a poor wording choice...I just mean why can't she take her trip without an airport transportation kink when it SEEMS she has many other 'kinks' to worry with.

Maybe I'm giving her too much slack and should jump all down her throat...I just felt like being supportive towards her instead of clobbering her with hatefulness...

 

[spacemountainmom]

Okay, maybe not ENTITLED, possibly a poor wording choice...I just mean why can't she take her trip without an airport transportation kink when it SEEMS she has many other 'kinks' to worry with.

Maybe I'm giving her too much slack and should jump all down her throat...I just felt like being supportive towards her instead of clobbering her with hatefulness...

No kidding. I am absolutely certain that most the of the "Budget Police" have never made a "poor" financial decision in their entire lives.

Like I said before, if the OP was being paid any rent on her property, her budget would not be quite so sqeezed.

 

[Octoberbabiesrus]

I suspect the OP is just looking to vent.

How often does your FIL drive your min-van? He might not be comfortable (or even feel safe) driving it for 2 hours at a time he'd normally be sleeping.


Volunteering to drive you probably sounded like a good offer until he thought about driving your minivan for 2 hours, before the crack of dawn.
=

He used to drive a minivan and misses it. He loves ours. And as for sleep, he's up by 4am every day. He's a EARLY riser. He's given no reason. if I wasnt footing the ENTIRE bill for taxes and ins. on the house, I wouldnt be hurting. I have the money for parking, but there goes my kids getting something in WDW, and who wants to be that parent that says SORRY, no. Not to mention the SIL owes me 300. So a ride to the airport, is NOT that big a deal.

 

[Octoberbabiesrus]

We're FAMILY. That's what we do.
If he cancelled on us as in this posters case I may be disappointed, but I would understand.

OP.. make sure to check the parksleepfly.com website. I have seen it mentioned here often and when I looked I saw that there are really good deals to be had.

thanks...looking into it.

 

[ilovefh]

Yikes! I don't know why I was surprised reading this thread...but I was.

I feel bad for those of you who "would" or "could" never rely on family or friends for these types of things.

I didn't realize some people were so selfish and I truly feel bad for them.

When we lived near my parents they used to take us the hour to the airport all the time. Heck, my bridesmaids got us a van to take us to the hotel at the airport for our honeymoon (right after our wedding) and my parents drove down the day our flight came in and dropped my car off for when we got home.

And you know what...we did the same for them all the time. My parents don't like my mom to keep her car at work so typically my dad brings her and picks her up....but so did my sister and I. He could even count on us to pick her up at the last minute if he needed usually.

Geesh, when my dad got really sick and my mom and sister were out of town and DH and I had just left for FL he called sister's boyfriend to take him to the hospital....and gasp...he did.

Or when my dad wanted to buy a curio cabinet that a business was using as a display DH drove our truck the 1/2 hour to the store, helped him load it and transported it....going 20 mph the whole time...to my parents house. And we never once thought about compensation or the fact that we have something better to do.

While I don't know that I'd like to be out of state with so little money that $100 would break me, I don't think it's weird for family to do things like this for each other. And while I would be able to change my plans last minute if my family cancelled, I would think it stunk that they said they could take me and then changed plans, especially if they knew how tight my budget was.

 

[spacemountainmom]

Gotta say, thanks to those who offered support. To those who were negative ninnies.. take a midol or chill pill, seriously, wth?!

I was frustrated. Had he backed out WHEN I booked it, I would of put the money aside THEN.

As for those telling me to stay home over $100. Seriously?! Were not talking the cost of a dis-cation.

Its FRUSTRATING to say the least when you plan one way, and it goes the opposite.

FIL "cant" do it cause the BIL wants him to come babysit that morning cause he plans to go to a cubs game and wants to go to his buddies around 10. So were getting shifted when we were offered the help first.

WOW - That is pretty crummy of your FIL and your BIL. I guess you now know that your dh's family can't be counted on and that is sad.

Maybe you should tell FIL to start packing........

I am sorry you have to deal with this. I hope some pixie dust comes your way quickly!

 

[disneyfreakk]

He used to drive a minivan and misses it. He loves ours. And as for sleep, he's up by 4am every day. He's a EARLY riser. He's given no reason. if I wasnt footing the ENTIRE bill for taxes and ins. on the house, I wouldnt be hurting. I have the money for parking, but there goes my kids getting something in WDW, and who wants to be that parent that says SORRY, no. Not to mention the SIL owes me 300. So a ride to the airport, is NOT that big a deal.

 

[FredinFL]

Whoa...passionate group here, aren't ya? lol Definitely makes it interesting reading around here.

October (please, just call me Fred), I completely understand how you feel. It's annoying as heck and worthy of a rant to me. Of course you won't cancel the whole vacation, that would be insane. But is IS a pain and he IS being a jerk. Hope you find a great deal.

Maybe you'll luck out and find a nice, little voodoo doll that looks JUST like BIL.