A while back we had a thread over here about taking guests along who you are afraid aren't going to get it. I talked about our upcoming trip with my mother in law - someone who is easily overwhelmed, doesn't move fast, likes to sleep in, doesn't like commercialism - and my fears that she would have a horrible time (and take us with her)!
So, we are back. And it went better than expected.
We took along her sister. That meant we could spend time at the MK and not feel guilty leaving her to poke through countries at Epcot at her own pace (which my children - at 4 and 5 - would have found impossible). It was a wonderful idea - and worth the extra money (we treated).
We stayed in a DVC two bedroom unit and gave them the second bedroom while the kids were on the hideabed. They could come and go as they please without disturbing us - but we had plenty of together time.
I ran them ragged from the afternoon we arrived (Saturday) until Monday night. In that time we got a taste of Epcot, MK, AK, and peeked into MGM (just to see Fantasmic). Then - pretty sure they'd spend the rest of their time in Epcot - we let them join us as they pleased. They ended up getting up late (while we were at parks at opening), spending an afternoon in the MK - busy, but the stuff two senior ladies are interested in seeing most - Hall of Presidents, the Steamboat - weren't busy at all - and the rest of their time in Epcot. They joined us again on our last day at the MK.
We met up every day for a nice dinner at 6:00 (Narcoosee's, Le Cellier, Boma, etc) and a character breakfast - which I scheduled as "last seating" so they could take their time getting there. (And while that worked well for them - it didn't work well for us - the morning was a waste and the last seating was rushed - but there have been others for us in the past, will be more in the future, and I don't think the kids noticed. If I were to do it again, I think I'd have booked LTT for dinner on our MK day - or GG on an Epcot day.)
We took a lot of cabs - two seniors and two preschoolers standing on buses was no one's idea of a good time. Cabs worked really well (especially for resort to resort trips and mornings when the buses are crowded).
My mother in law was a little overwhelmed, but appreciated some of the same things we love about Disney - the gardens, the logistics, the food - and did realize that it is a lot more than a bunch of rides. I don't think she's a convert (her sister might be - wouldn't be surprised to find she took her husband back down). Mostly she enjoyed the time with her sister - precious time when they are no longer young and live in different states - and the time with her grandkids.
All in all a good trip - not the trip I would have had traveling with just my husband and kids - but a good trip. I should note that my mother in law is a generally good natured person who would have tried very hard to have a good time - even if I'd dragged her to Six Flags.
So, we are back. And it went better than expected.
We took along her sister. That meant we could spend time at the MK and not feel guilty leaving her to poke through countries at Epcot at her own pace (which my children - at 4 and 5 - would have found impossible). It was a wonderful idea - and worth the extra money (we treated).
We stayed in a DVC two bedroom unit and gave them the second bedroom while the kids were on the hideabed. They could come and go as they please without disturbing us - but we had plenty of together time.
I ran them ragged from the afternoon we arrived (Saturday) until Monday night. In that time we got a taste of Epcot, MK, AK, and peeked into MGM (just to see Fantasmic). Then - pretty sure they'd spend the rest of their time in Epcot - we let them join us as they pleased. They ended up getting up late (while we were at parks at opening), spending an afternoon in the MK - busy, but the stuff two senior ladies are interested in seeing most - Hall of Presidents, the Steamboat - weren't busy at all - and the rest of their time in Epcot. They joined us again on our last day at the MK.
We met up every day for a nice dinner at 6:00 (Narcoosee's, Le Cellier, Boma, etc) and a character breakfast - which I scheduled as "last seating" so they could take their time getting there. (And while that worked well for them - it didn't work well for us - the morning was a waste and the last seating was rushed - but there have been others for us in the past, will be more in the future, and I don't think the kids noticed. If I were to do it again, I think I'd have booked LTT for dinner on our MK day - or GG on an Epcot day.)
We took a lot of cabs - two seniors and two preschoolers standing on buses was no one's idea of a good time. Cabs worked really well (especially for resort to resort trips and mornings when the buses are crowded).
My mother in law was a little overwhelmed, but appreciated some of the same things we love about Disney - the gardens, the logistics, the food - and did realize that it is a lot more than a bunch of rides. I don't think she's a convert (her sister might be - wouldn't be surprised to find she took her husband back down). Mostly she enjoyed the time with her sister - precious time when they are no longer young and live in different states - and the time with her grandkids.
All in all a good trip - not the trip I would have had traveling with just my husband and kids - but a good trip. I should note that my mother in law is a generally good natured person who would have tried very hard to have a good time - even if I'd dragged her to Six Flags.
IVY 
