Guest cancels at last minute! Ugggggghhh!

[donmil723]

College age DD asked her boyfriend months ago to go with us in May to WDW. She made sure last month right before we booked our airfare that he still wanted to go. Today, 31 days before our trip, he told her he couldn't go because he APPLIED for a summer job and, IF he got the job he would have to go to a workshop the week we'll be gone. He won't even know for at least two weeks if he even has the job. So now, DD, besides being very dissapointed in her boyfriend, is trying to find another friend to go with us. Of course, there is no more room on our flight at the cheapest rate but there is room for all of us on the last flight of the night before, at least for now. Who knows if it will be there once she finds out if her friend can go. Thank God it's SWA and there is no change or cancellation penalty. Of course, I also have to change our car rental and find us a place to stay for Saturday night. I'm just thankful we're not going on a cruise like we have planned for next May. Wouldn't that be a nightmare!!!!

Am I wrong in feeling that he was rude and inconsiderate of DD and us, especially since we were paying for everything and now have the hassle of rescheduling and possibly having our trip cost even more? I realize that he needs a better paying summer job but he doesn't even know if this company has any openings and won't know until around the first of May. Besides that, I can't imagine a company offering someone a job and not being considerate of a person's prior commitments, especially when those commitments would be just 2 weeks away. What if his commitment was to his current job where he needed to give notice and not just "5 days in Florida"?

I'm sorry but I just needed to vent my frustration to someone and I know many of you have been in the same situation with family and friends cancelling at the last minute. I'm upset because my DD is upset and because this isn't the first time her boyfriend has disappointed her and/or wasn't there for her when she needed him. DH and I are hoping either he's just a college romance or he does some serious growing up, including how to treat others especially our DD.

Thanks for listening!

 

[Deb & Bill]

If the summer job has a chance to turn into a full time job, I could understand his reluctance to go on a vacation. And I doubt if a summer job would let you start late and miss out on the orientation so you can go on vacation. If he's looking to this company for a future position, that could be a strike against him. Give him a break. He's trying to be an adult. At least he was considerate enough to give you as much warning as he did.

Did you explain to him at the time he was invited all the details of making this vacation plan? I bet he didn't think much about it, other than it would be a great vacation.

But if he is in a career mode right now, I could understand his actions. He's looking towards his future.

 

[simpilotswife]

To be honest, I would be happy that he seems to be the type of guy who wants to work hard and forego his own pleasure.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't understand why you would have to change your flights and the rental car. If your DD finds someone else to go, couldn't they take another flight? They are college age?

I could see on a summer job that you would not want to take a workshop week off.

 

[nowellsl]

I don't understand about having to change the flight/rental car thing. Couldn't her friend just take the place of her boyfriend?

 

[DeeDeeDis]

Yes i'd be fustrated too, but the kid most likely would love to go on vacation but needs the job and does not want to take the chance of losing the position. I hire a lot of part time summer help, and no i would not hold a job for someones vacation, the idea of a summer job is to be available to work during the summer, theres thousands of kids behind the bf waiting for this job.

I'm sure you just needed to vent, its a pain to go thru all this once your plans are all set, once you calm down your realize that at least he let you know a month in advance when you still had time to make changes instead of waiting to hear if he has the job or not.

why not call sw, explain the situation and see if you can cancel bf flight and book gf.

We have had to cancel, reschedule, change locations etc.. and have always found sw customer service great and to date, we have not had any additional fees (not sure how we've managed that).

Good luck and enjoy to vaca, try not to be too hard on the bf, it probably makes your dd feel even worst.

 

[OneMoreTry]

It sounds like the job was a surprise to all of you. I guess I would be upset if he hadn't let us know about the possibility of getting a job and having to cancel.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Today, 31 days before our trip, he told her he couldn't go because he APPLIED for a summer job and, IF he got the job he would have to go to a workshop the week we'll be gone.

Yeah, I suppose I'd be a bit upset if he just decided to apply now ? He knew this vacation was in the works ? How long has he been planning to apply for a summer job ? If he was thinking of it months ago when you all asked him to come along, he should never have accepted your generous offer in the first place.
I agree, that I don't think you need to change your plans though---good luck and have a nice time

 

[mikesmom]

I know you are disappointed (we had this happen with DS one winter when he got a holiday job with UPS), and I'm sure your daughter is also. If I were you I wouldn't change a thing. Keep your ressies, keep your plane tickets - if he can go, fine. If he can't go, get someone else to come along. Or line someone else up right now - he should understand that you couldn't go on hold for his job. I agree with the posters that said he actually was responsible by telling you as soon as he knew there was a possibility he couldn't go. If no one else can go along SW is easy about cancelling tickets. At worst they will give you a credit for a flight that an be used at another time.

There are thousands of students out there looking for summer jobs. Taking a vacation right at the beginning of the summer could cut him out of work for the whole summer - might be a real financial mess for him. I suspect this is not like some exec that can negotiate starting dates and time off.

 

[donmil723]

To answer some of your questions...

If the summer job has a chance to turn into a full time job, I could understand his reluctance to go on a vacation.

It is just a summer job and he doesn't plan to continue working there in the fall even though he could as it's in the same town as his college.

Yeah, I suppose I'd be a bit upset if he just decided to apply now ? He knew this vacation was in the works ? How long has he been planning to apply for a summer job ?

He just applied there two days ago. It's the only place he's applied and according to DD, he wants to work there because it pays a little more and several of his friends work there. Yes, he knew about the vacation as we've had it planned since December but just booked airfare in mid-March. I don't know how long he's been planning to look for a summer job. He already has a job and we didn't know he was looking for another one.

I don't understand why you would have to change your flights and the rental car. If your DD finds someone else to go, couldn't they take another flight? They are college age?

Yes, they could but I can only find one seat at the cheaper fare on the day we leave. Also, we live about 2-2 1/2 hours from the airport so it would be pretty inconvenient.

I don't understand about having to change the flight/rental car thing. Couldn't her friend just take the place of her boyfriend?

I wish! According to SWA, you can't just switch names. You must cancel and then rebook. You can, however, use the cost of the flight you cancelled toward purchasing the new flight.

I hire a lot of part time summer help, and no i would not hold a job for someones vacation,

I'm sure you're probably right. As DH and I are both self-employed, I guess we don't always realize how tough things are in the job market.

Thanks for giving me some different perspectives. I'll try to be more understanding. Things will work out and we'll have a great vacation.

 

[JimMIA]

Sorry you've been disappointed, but I think that is just the problem with bringing guests generally. Unless they know the ins and outs of DVC vs. staying in a hotel room, they don't know it's a big deal to cancel. All they know is they can cancel up to 6 PM the day of arrival at a hotel and not pay a penny. Even if you explain the drill to them, they are not really going to understand.

And, although none of us would do it, I can understand the young man's thought process - "Hey...more money, working with my boys! It'll be great!" You have to remember that we guys don't really grow up until our mid-30's (if then), so we make some bad decisions. Just hope that is his worst.

I'll tell you what we do, especially with co-workers and relatives. We direct them to the DIS Rent/Trade board and let them make their own arrangements. Obviously that strategy would not work for all people in all situations, but it works better for us than getting stuck in awkward situations with people we care about.

 

[Mickmse2002]

Maybe he got nervous about the trip and is using the potential job as a convenient "out" from having to go? I wouldn't change the family plans at all.

 

[donmil723]

UPDATE: We got lucky and were able to get DD's girlfriend on the same flight as ours for only $110 extra. So I didn't have to make any changes to our car rental, DVC, or anything. This GF has been with us on trips before and is a lot of fun. DD will have a good time and so will we!

Thanks everyone!

Donna

 

[JimMIA]

UPDATE: We got lucky and were able to get DD's girlfriend on the same flight as ours for only $110 extra. So I didn't have to make any changes to our car rental, DVC, or anything. This GF has been with us on trips before and is a lot of fun. DD will have a good time and so will we!

Thanks everyone!

Donna

And in a perfect world...he will not get the job and decide he now wants to go! Ooops, sorry, c'ya!

Also, DD and her girlfriend are going to have SO much fun, I doubt if either of their cell phones will work the whole time!

Have a great trip!

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Donna,

Glad to see things worked out for you. We had purchased points from another DVCer and booked 2 studios for DS and college friends for spring break only to find out that they couldn't go. Luckily, we were able to cancel the rooms and use the points to add onto our trip in June but I will think twice before making another reservation like that.

Hope you enjoy your trip.
Annmarie

 

[Dean]

You know he'll likely not get the job or something else will happen and he'll suddenly want to go again.

 

[Pa@okw95]

College age DD asked her boyfriend months ago to go with us in May to WDW. She made sure last month right before we booked our airfare that he still wanted to go. Today, 31 days before our trip, he told her he couldn't go because he APPLIED for a summer job and, IF he got the job he would have to go to a workshop the week we'll be gone. He won't even know for at least two weeks if he even has the job. So now, DD, besides being very dissapointed in her boyfriend, is trying to find another friend to go with us. Of course, there is no more room on our flight at the cheapest rate but there is room for all of us on the last flight of the night before, at least for now. Who knows if it will be there once she finds out if her friend can go. Thank God it's SWA and there is no change or cancellation penalty. Of course, I also have to change our car rental and find us a place to stay for Saturday night. I'm just thankful we're not going on a cruise like we have planned for next May. Wouldn't that be a nightmare!!!!

Am I wrong in feeling that he was rude and inconsiderate of DD and us, especially since we were paying for everything and now have the hassle of rescheduling and possibly having our trip cost even more? I realize that he needs a better paying summer job but he doesn't even know if this company has any openings and won't know until around the first of May. Besides that, I can't imagine a company offering someone a job and not being considerate of a person's prior commitments, especially when those commitments would be just 2 weeks away. What if his commitment was to his current job where he needed to give notice and not just "5 days in Florida"?

I'm sorry but I just needed to vent my frustration to someone and I know many of you have been in the same situation with family and friends cancelling at the last minute. I'm upset because my DD is upset and because this isn't the first time her boyfriend has disappointed her and/or wasn't there for her when she needed him. DH and I are hoping either he's just a college romance or he does some serious growing up, including how to treat others especially our DD.

Thanks for listening!

You are not a full member of DVC until guests cancel. Welcome!!

 

[lllovell]

lol Pat...good point.

Donna, I see the side of people saying how he is being responsible and without knowing his situation, its not fair of me to really judge, but hey - when has that stopped me in the past. I think he is being a flaky kid. I think he decided that a few days with his g/f is nothing compared to a whole summer working with his buds when his g/f will be around too. I am sorry he did this to you all and it sounds like he was VERY aware of what had gone into the planning. The proper thing for him to have done would be to have come to you and talked to you in advance of making his plans and if you are close enough to this young man, I think you should politely point out that how he handled this was not good.

But, all is well that ends well. Sounds like you will have a great trip! Also, I agree that he will be back wanting to go again. Tough!!!!

 

[tiffany123]

I hope your DD isn't too hung up on this guy. Our daughter's "boyfriend" did the same several years ago, shortly before all of us were going to Hilton Head. They had been together for over 3 years and he suddenly backed out of a vacation that had been planned for over 8 months. Not only that but the vacation was going to cost him nothing! As you might suspect, he backed out of the relationship about the same time. All's well that ends well though---DD is happily married to a wonderful guy and they have 3 wonderful little boys.