Getting stalked at Disney

[linzbear]

3 pages, and I can't believe no one's suggested a fake itinerary to give to the "friends"

C'mon, if you tell them you're in MK, when it's really an EPCOT day there's no way you'll run into them!

 

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

I did I did! I said to post a fake one on Facebook so they will never be in the same park! :lol:

 

[Thumper_Man]

As for being stalking at WDW....your not alone...happens to me all the time.
There's this little mouse wherever I go, he's there too. I don't know how he knows where I'm be that day but I can't shake him.

You know I have that same problem. He's there at rope drop. Then he's in some parade I'm watching. Plus he's always changing costumes to disguise himself. At the end of the night, I've even see him dressed up as a wizard. He's everywhere. I can't shake him for nothing.

I agree with the other posters. Just ignore them and have fun. It's YOUR vacation after all. DW and I had a similar problem. We were friends with a couple for several years. I to lost my job and had to start all over. They belittled me the same way, but acted like nothing was wrong when we didn't talk to them. We just ignored them and eventually they got the picture. One day we ran into them and they asked why we've been ignoring them. We simply let them know we didn't care much for their so called humor, and we've been busy with other things. We haven't spoken since. I think we got the better end of the deal personally.

Oh, yeah. Rumor has it they're in financial trouble now. Guess who makes more money than they do now? Can we say KARMA?

 

[dizzneebabe]

I would NOT let this go until you get there! Even though you changed your hotel, which is already an inconvenience (even IF it's the GF), they are still on the monorail route--you could easily run into them there! Then you are stuck--with them knowing exactly where you are going. Or worse, costing you time trying to shake them. On our last trip we kept running into the same family who was seated with us at my birthday dinner. It just can happen--even at WDW!!!

Do your kids and their kids get along???? You also don't want to run into them and then have to pry your kids apart--that would make it that much harder to run away!

I would NOT want to spend my trip looking over my shoulder or through the crowd for them--because you know that's what you're going to be doing! Call them up and politely state that your vacation will be family focused and have a packed agenda. You will not have time to "reconnnect" with them.

Sorry, but I believe in being upfront with this. We have a large group of friends in our neighborhood and one couple was saying/doing some obnoxious things that were very hurtful. After confronting her several times and getting nowhere (also playing nice, if for no other reason then everyone else) I decided to throw in the towel. Friends like that are NOT worth your time...ESPECIALLY your WDW time!!!

I think you'll be relieved if you do something about it now, rather than letting it potentially affect your trip.

 

[KikiFan]

2. Don't post personal info on facebook. Not only do these people see it, but 40 million other people see it too and now know when your house is going to be empty because you are travelling

40 million? Only if he has his Facebook page wide open for the whole world to read.

 

[domesticking]

Yeah, I was a little surprised at how well off we were on Unemployment. We had to fire the nanny to save money but my wife does well for herself and we saved a lot.

Joking, right?

 

[dizzneebabe]

It's funny about the beer comment...the only time we can be good friends is over a 12 pack.

Oh, that was the last comment from them that set me off. We told them how much we love some of the drinks in Epcot. They got from sanctimonious about drinking on vacation and not being responsible. THis is coming from a guy who made a racial comment about Dora the Explorere in front of his kids....

I don't understand. Why are you sharing tips/plans with them at all????? I realize you tried to smooth things over for the sake of the trip, but I think this is confusing! It implies you are "planning" to do things with them! Tell them your PRICEY, FAMILY VACATION can not and WILL NOT be spent with them--period! And then stop giving them ANY info. I would also ask your sister not to disclose any of your plans or encourage them in any way. Hell, I would probably ask her not to take their calls either and be done!

 

[kidrericha]

Joking, right?

Why would he be joking? I love the notion that you should be scraping by when you're unemployed.

We all contribute to the unemploymet fund when we are working so we can maintain a reasonably similar quality life when we're unemployed. He made his contribution to the fund, he should be able to pull from it, regardless of income class.

They cut the corners they needed to and I'm sure it impacted the life they are accustomed to. There's no rule that says he needs to move the family into a shack and feed them government cheese.

 

[skram79]

I have friend's that end up at disney the same time we go. I simply tell them that I am here to enjoy my family's company and look forward to swapping stories when we get back.

No need to make a comment, in the end you just fell bad about making it anyhow. Tell the truth, Disney World is thousands of dollars and you want to spend that money with you family not friends. True friends will understand, as mine do.

 

[nerdyone]

Joking, right?

no, we had to fire the nanny because we couldn't afford her while I am out of work. We told her when I get a new job we would rehire her. She understood and we helped her find another family.

 

[kidrericha]

We've been on vacation before together and we know how it goes. Before either of us had kids, we both one the President's Club from our company and were sent to cancun for a week. That was a nightmare too, especially when the ordered a $300 bottle of wine at dinner and then split the tab with us.

Wow. That's some nerve. These two are louses with no sense of ettiquette. I'd say cut bait. Who needs that kind of recurring drama.

 

[nerdyone]

Why would he be joking? I love the notion that you should be scraping by when you're unemployed.

We all contribute to the unemploymet fund when we are working so we can maintain a reasonably similar quality life when we're unemployed. He made his contribution to the fund, he should be able to pull from it, regardless of income class.

They cut the corners they needed to and I'm sure it impacted the life they are accustomed to. There's no rule that says he needs to move the family into a shack and feed them government cheese.

A lot of people I know have this attitude, but when two MAJOR pharma companies in my neighborhood had layoffs you would be surprised how many changed their tune.

Your right, we did have to change a lot of our lifestyle. We don't eat out anymore, we don't get take out on Friday nights the way we used to, and I try and be as frugal as possible.

We still have to live our lives though. Because my wife works, we are still able to save money while I am not working and we are saving more because I am now watching my son. Feel bad for the kid though. At 2.5 he can name every Marvel superhero because dad is now responsible for teaching him.

 

[Maine-iac]

I think it is rather weird that they would "butt into" your vacation ... especially with extended family.

Sometimes people that are rude to you ... are actually jealous of the things you have ... perhaps great family, good kids, nice wife, etc. If their way of "being your friend" is to put you down, they probably are not your friend. They do this in order to make themselves feel better. Just my two cents.

I truly hope it works out for you.

That was my thought exactly. They are jealous of op for some reason. The moving to op's hotel and the magical bracelet are their ways of getting one up on op.

 

[nerdyone]

That was my thought exactly. They are jealous of op for some reason. The moving to op's hotel and the magical bracelet are their ways of getting one up on op.

we've always had this kind of relationship and we don't get it. We don't compete with them, but they compete with us. Everything we do, they do. so frustrating and so weird.

 

[clutter]

Another way is the direct approach. Call them and say, "Hey, I understand we're going to be at Disney at the same time! We should see if we can meet up for a dinner while we're there."
That will let them know that you are NOT planning to spend your days with them, and it shouldn't offend them since you are offering to meet them for a dinner. If they say OK, let them try to make ADR's for all of you. It probably won't happen, but if it does, then what's one dinner? You've solved your problem, kept the possibility of any future friendship open (since you're unwilling to cut these folks off rudely) and it shouldn't ruin your entire vacation. If you do happen to see them, which is unlikely, you can always wave as you walk by and say, "See you at the (restaurant) on Saturday!"
If they say they were hoping to tag along with you at the parks, just tell them that you have a commando touring plan set up and are getting up at the crack of dawn every day, which wouldn't be any fun for them at all. I've also found that the phrase "I'm just not comfortable with......" works wonders. Such as, "I'm just not comfortable asking my folks to change the plans that they've made. Hope you have fun!"

I'd actually do the same, unless I really wanted to cut these friends out of my life. In which case, I'd tell them. (Personally, I'd have told them at the Dora joke, but that's me.) However, rather than saying I had a commando touring plan, I'd tell the truth. This is family time. However, due to our long-time frinedship, I'd love to carve out some time from my family to meet up (at a restaurant withOUT $300 bottles of wine on the menu) with you and enjoy our stories of how we're enjoying our vacations so far!

 

[pycees312]

I'm only in Disney for 5 days. The last thing I want to do is get saddled with their 3 kids. Plus, I plan my vacation and it annoys me that they think they can just leach off of me. I tried explaining to them the importance of getting to the park for the rope drop, leaving at noon to five for naps, and returning but they think they know more.

Got to love this! I forgot to mention that my "friend" said he has a note from his doctor to get a special wrist band that will put them in the front of the line. First, I find this behavior disgusting, second my friend won't listen to me that this magical wrist band doesn't exsist. I told my sister who is the CM and she almost cancelled their trip because she was so appalled by their behavior.

I tried to explain that with proper planning, baby swap, and FP, there really is no reason to stay in line for more than 15 minutes. His magical wrist band isn't even needed! But of course he knows more!

i've only read up to this pointP age 2). but it seems you are still in contact with these folks. The next time you speak to your" friend" you need to make sure they are clear this trip is for Family only and you will not be hooking up in the world no matter how overwhelmed they are. Sounds to me like you will still be stuck unless you stand your ground.

 

[dydrmr81]

My DH and I are friends with a couple like this and it is extremely frustrating. In fact, they decided to butt in on our Disney vacation too. I'm furious about it. What I did was (and I think somebody already mentioned this) was explain to them that this is a family trip and that we won't be able to spend much time with them. Instead we are meeting up for 1 day of the trip and then the rest we are going our separate ways. We are there for 12 days, though, so in your situation I would do as someone else suggested and maybe just meet up for dinner.

Our situations are a little different in that our friends haven't insulted us, but are only obnoxious In your case, I think I would actually nip this in the bud now before you go. I wouldn't want this hanging over my head the whole vacation, and if you are spending your entire trip purposefully avoiding them, worrying about running into them, etc, then really you haven't actually gotten away from them at all! They'll still be there in your mind ruining your trip! I would call them now, or write an email if you're more comfortable, explaining that this is a family trip and you won't be able to meet up at all. You don't even have to be rude if you don't want to - if they can't respect that this is YOUR family vacation, then you can go from there and tell them you can't be friends with them if they have no respect for you.

Good luck and have a wonderful trip with your FAMILY!!!

 

[hookedonears]

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh, could that mean that if you don't want someone stalking you, don't post your life story on facebook, or anywhere else including this board?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I haven't read all of this, so forgive me...It does sound like they are takers...however....it may be that they really are trying to repair the friendship.

Is there a chance you could have an open discussion with them to try and fix thins. Let them know you don't appreciate the comments they made. You once were friends with them. I'm not sure I understand completely why you no longer wish to be friends with them - if they were so horrible - why were you ever friends with them?
I'm also not saying taking a joint vacation with them is the answer to repairing the firendship, but perhaps they just don't understand why you wish to avoid them. I dunno. There are lots of people I've lost contact with over the years, but there are other friends I've found it in my heart to forgive, and their offenses were far greater than a few offensive jokes. Even if you don't want to fix it - I have found being open is best.

I always appreciate it when someone has a frank discussion with me if I've offended them in any way over trying to guess why they are suddenly avoiding me. Given the choice between offensive jokes and sudden avoidance - I'll choose the person who makes offensive jokes any day.

 

[disney_dreaming_mom]

I would agree that you should change the dates of your trip. I can't imagine being able to relax and enjoy your vacation with this going on.