Help! One of our guests just bailed on us! Am I screwed?

[Bullseye]

Okay! Now I'll vent!

I'm about as mellow as they come so I'm a little bothered. My wife on the other hand is LIVID!

Back story: My wife and I decide to go back with our 2 sons. The oldest (just turned 21) asked to bring his girlfriend, so we let the youngest (19) bring a friend as well. Well my 2 boys have 3 friends who practically live with us (or at least did before the covid). And when I mean live they would literally come home from school with our boys on Friday and not leave until Sunday night. And if it was summer, they would stay for weeks at a time, occasionally going home for a change of clothes or something. So this has been going on for years. So the dilemma there was that there were 3 of them. So how does my youngest pick 1 to go? And each had good reason to go (1 has never seen the ocean, one has never been on a plane, etc...) So my wife and I get to talking and figure, we have enough skymiles to take all 8 of us, the house will be about the same cost, the rental car, the same cost. So it was decided, we'll take all 4 of them with us 4! Each 'kid' only had to pay for their tickets to the parks. It was $500 per kid and you got airfare, car rental, rental house, 4 days at Disney, 1 day at Universal (add in 2 travel days, one day at the beach, and one day to chill.) you have and 8 night vacation for $500!

We've been planning this since February, and he has been sketchy for the last few months. The kicker and what's really setting me off is that I'm not sure he would have ever spoke up! We reached out today for his email address (to add him on the MDE), and that's when he replied to say, Oh I can't go! I'm worried about the people and the money.

I told him the money is gone! So don't worry about that (if that's truly your concern). I'd rather you go and I'll eat the $500, than you not go and I still eat the $500. He still said no. And I get it if you're concerned about the covid. I can't judge you for that, but when the F were you going to mention it!? We leave in 2 weeks!

It sounds like you and your DW have hearts of gold. So nice that you thought about bringing the three amigos along and covering costs to boot. Too bad one of them is wigging out . Hopefully you can at least recover park ticket cost. Sorry for your dilemma.

 

[mjkacmom]

Ok did you book this before Covid? Honestly, there is no way I’d let any of my kids get on a plane and go to WDW right now, I’m just letting them go to stores. I’m so glad you got your points back, and hopefully you will be able to use the ticket. As a parent, I’d definitely eat the cost and pay for it if my child had to bail.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

Glad it worked out. We've been there before! A group of 12 (maybe liquor involved) "Let's all go to Vegas!" and 10 weeks later, my wife and I are in Vegas with one other couple!

I have experienced this particular thing more than once.

 

[monkeydawn]

I am going to offer what is sure to be an unpopular opinion. If the kid was wavering for months, its on you that you booked without getting a more confident yes. I wouldnt be saying this if it didnt look like you will be made whole but I think its an important lesson for people to see. Especially in these times, its important to make sure everyone is on the same page. Might even go so far as to tell the person I need half up front if that person had been iffy or I suspected he might become so, just to make sure that he had some skin in the game too.

I am not meaning to dump on you. What you did was very sweet and I could see myself getting in a similar situation. I think if it had been me at least part of my anger would have been directed at myself just because I should have known better. Hoping this helps someone.