Help! Should I invite the in-laws?

[crisi]

Two years ago we brought my 65 year old mother in law and her 69 (ish) sister.

She would have never done Disney had it not been to spend time with us and her grandchildren. But I am very blunt. Making her happy, going at the speed they needed, doing the things that most interested them, was going to my my kids miserable. And keeping them happy, moving at their speed and doing the the things that interested them would have put them in the hospital! So we needed to compromise so that everyone could be happy. Although I think she'd have liked to have us with her, she saw the logic in this argument - and when convinced to follow her own interests, her and her sister (who lives in another state - so it was time they treasured being together) had a wonderful time poking through World Showcase while my kids rode Goofy's Barnstormer.

Something you might want to consider is scrapping WDW and doing a Disney cruise. The pace is a lot slower, and there is plenty of time for you to spend as a family - but the ship is small enough so breaking away doesn't seem anti-social.

 

[Loriannf]

We took my Dad and his wife (mid 60's) along for part of our trip in July. I warned my father when we invited them that this was a trip planned for our 3.5 year old DD's benefit. There would be lines, a lot of standing, it would be hot, and we planned to get there early, follow a touring plan, move at a good pace and leave the parks by 2 at the latest.

They kept up pretty well, but my father complained the ENTIRE time about the lines, and they weren't even that bad!!! We stood in line at most 45 minutes for BT, but that was because it kept breaking down; most lines were less than 10 minutes. By their last day at the parks (EPCOT), I was drinking margaritas for lunch, and I might only drink a couple times a year, normally, and never before 6!!!

Make sure every one is clear on what you're going to do, state your plans repeatedly, and tell them to stay at home, or sit on a bench, or meet you in two hours at ____ if it gets too much.

Never again.

Lori

 

[tlbwriter]

For instance...we all went to a water park this past weekend. DH, DD, and I were all in the water...BIL and MIL never even GOT in the water...just sat in the chairs. DH was going crazy because we weren't together (even though they were just 20 feet away!) and was worried because he thought they weren't having a good time, getting too hot, etc. I can't take that at Disney!

Remind your husband about this trip, and then remind him of what a 4-year-old will want to do at WDW. It's not going to be what a 76-year-old wants to do, or is capable of. Ask him who is going to have to sacrifice their happy vacation just to make sure everybody does the same thing at the same time.

I think if I were you, I would plan a mini-vacation with the ILs.