How am I gonna handle this now???

[rgf207]

I dont want to seem like I'm being selfish or anything but I have planned a week long vacation at WDW. I am taking my Fiancee and her parents to WDW and I'm paying for everything. I have spent months planning and yesterday I find out that they would like to take a day and go visit some people in the area. Now we dont have a car so this is not going to be easy and to top it all off these people live 3 hours away. I have planned dinners and have the dining plan and have planned everything to make it a great vacation. My Fiancee tells me that she is going with them but I dont have to go. Sure, I dont have to go. How is that going to look. I dont know what to do now. Best of all, they dont know which day they are going to go so I have no idea what to change.

Ugh...what to do

 

[bleeps]

Hmmm, if it were me, I'd try something along the lines of:
"I'm sorry but with the expense of the rest of the trip, I really can't offer a rental car as well so I'm afraid that's something you'll have to handle.... In order to make sure I can make the rest of the plans for our trip, I'd really need to know by XX date when you will be doing this side trip."

These people sound like my in-laws; you try to do something nice for them and they just want more, on their terms ("oh, you're giving us plane tickets to England for our anniversary just like we asked? oh, that's nice, but how do we go about getting these upgraded to first class?")

My well-intentioned advice: be friendly but firm about what you're offering (and not offering) to pay for and plan around, and if it gets too complicated then say maybe this isn't the best time for the WDW trip that you had planned. I'd also say to pay some serious attention to what it's like to deal with these folks and your fiance, since you are getting a taste of what lies ahead....

 

[mtdevine615]

Well we have the same problem when we go down since a lot of my family lives in Florida. What I do now since we also don't rent a car is to let them know when were going to be there and tell them we flew 1500 miles or 1000 miles in your case and I'm sure you can drive a few hours. But we're not taking a day out of our plans. We're more than happy to adjust ADR's for supper or something. I know it's not the greatest advice but it works for us. Sometimes family comes over to WDW and sometimes they don't it's ther choice. I think it's a little crazy to drive 3 hours there and 3 hours back just to spend a few hours with them. Why don't they come up to WDW and spend the weekend or something? It would probably be cheaper then renting a car for the day.

 

[plutolovr]

Perhaps a suggestion that these people come to Disney and join your party for lunch or dinner. They probably have a car. I would also mention to your family that if it's 3 hours each way, that's a 6 hour car trip plus time for a visit. It will be an entire day. For what it's worth, I would stay at the resort and enjoy some "alone" time. Go fishing, go to ESPN club, take a boat out, etc.

 

[brentalex]

Well, first off, there are places where you can rent a car for a day, so that should not be a real issue. However, I would try to get the family to help you out by picking a day to have this get together. Explain that you need to be able to make plans for meals, and that waiting until the last minute does not work. Then I would also ask them if there is some place half way between where these friends live and disney and that maybe you could meet there. Driving 3 hours each way is a huge deal, lots of time in a car. If the friends can meet you half way it saves a lot of time, and gives more time for visiting. In-laws are tricky things, but they should be willing to work with you to have everyone enjoy themselves. Good Luck.

 

[rgf207]

Thanks for the advice. I should also mention that maybe I came off wrong about my Future In Laws. They are great. Absolutely wonderful and I couldn't not ask for better in-laws. They dont ask for anything and they are so happy about this vacation. They haven't been on one in 10 years (long story). My Fiancee is great also. I am just a little tense about having to replan everything at the last minute and worry about how we are going to take this side trip without a car. They do not expect me to pay for any other expenses including a car. They would pay for all of that. I just dont want to take an entire day out of the schedule for this. Especially if I dont know when it will be

 

[kidd_freeper]

I dont want to seem like I'm being selfish or anything but I have planned a week long vacation at WDW. I am taking my Fiancee and her parents to WDW and I'm paying for everything. I have spent months planning and yesterday I find out that they would like to take a day and go visit some people in the area. Now we dont have a car so this is not going to be easy and to top it all off these people live 3 hours away. I have planned dinners and have the dining plan and have planned everything to make it a great vacation. My Fiancee tells me that she is going with them but I dont have to go. Sure, I dont have to go. How is that going to look. I dont know what to do now. Best of all, they dont know which day they are going to go so I have no idea what to change.

Ugh...what to do

My advice? Give in for the one day.

And here's the hard part...be happy to do it.

Mild sacrafices are going to be a part of your marriage.
And in the big scheme of things, one day out of seven is not going hurt the vacation...in fact a break from Disney might actually help it.

Your fiancee is willing to compromise. So should you.

Mild disappointment on your part is to be expected. A measure of you as a future husband is how quickly you are able to get over the disappointment.

===
As for the details...rent a car from the Car Care center. Any of the on-site hotels will make arrangements for you to be transported there. Look on the budget board of this website on how to find car rental deals.

Cancel one day of dinner reservations. If you get your choice, pick the least desirable ones.
===

Good luck...remeber, its still going to be a great vacation.

 

[jann1033]

i think the "inviting them to come to you" is the greatest idea. it makes you look good ( willing to adapt) but doesn't make you change everything....if they aren't willing to drive the 3 hrs( unless they are ancient or something, then maybe they could fly for pretty cheap) that's their decision and must not want to see your"in laws to be" very much so they end up being the bad guys..plus who wouldn't want an excuse to go to wdw for a day or 2

3 hrs is a long way to go for a few hrs too imo. the only other thing i might do would be rent a car , drive down there after your last wdw day and fly home from there?( but only if there is a reason they can't come to you)

have they discussed any of it with the friends? maybe they won't be home when you are there and it'll solve your problem

 

[pooch]

as suggested earlier, there are places right on or close to site, to rent a car. Budget at the Doubletree on Hotel Row is bringing one to us at WL for a couple of days. Help your In-laws to make the rental reservation, once again showing your superhuman powers of organization (brownie points never hurt!) Explain to your Fiance about needed them to pick a day so you can make the necessary adjustments to your schedule (ok maybe you should call it "plans" - schedule sounds so rigid!) & let her get that from the In-laws. Then, go with them. Smile - be happy - adjust - be flexible! WDW will still be there & you will make your In-laws happy.

Have a great time!

Pooch

 

[Slapster]

My advice? Give in for the one day.

And here's the hard part...be happy to do it.

Mild sacrafices are going to be a part of your marriage.
And in the big scheme of things, one day out of seven is not going hurt the vacation...in fact a break from Disney might actually help it.

Your fiancee is willing to compromise. So should you.

Mild disappointment on your part is to be expected. A measure of you as a future husband is how quickly you are able to get over the disappointment.

===
As for the details...rent a car from the Car Care center. Any of the on-site hotels will make arrangements for you to be transported there. Look on the budget board of this website on how to find car rental deals.

Cancel one day of dinner reservations. If you get your choice, pick the least desirable ones.
===

Good luck...remeber, its still going to be a great vacation.

Great advice!

 

[bleeps]

Wow -- lots of great advice here and you can just feel the happy compromise on it's way. I'm glad to hear that your future family is indeed thankful and reasonable.... Guess I'm a little jaded after 16 years of marriage to a wonderful DH with very demanding and impossible to please parents, but in the spirit of Walt and Mickey I'll try to do a better job coping!

 

[jann1033]

Wow -- lots of great advice here and you can just feel the happy compromise on it's way. I'm glad to hear that your future family is indeed thankful and reasonable.... Guess I'm a little jaded after 16 years of marriage to a wonderful DH with very demanding and impossible to please parents, but in the spirit of Walt and Mickey I'll try to do a better job coping!

got to admit i edited my post after i heard the inlaws in question were reasonable...I have a child with similar problems as yours and it seems it just gets worse over time...i feel for you! guess every situation is different

 

[bopper]

So you have dinner planned every night. That is actually good! Unless you have had to pre-pay a dinner (like Hoop de Doo), then it costs nothing to cancel reservations. So it does not really matter which day you miss. If they want to go to see a friend, let them! Let them plan it and pay for it. They may not bother once they seen the hassle it is, or if they want to do it that bad more power to them. You just be agreeable. "Sure, in-laws, we can work that in. Just let me know what day it will be. How do you get there? I don't know, maybe you could ask the front desk what rental cars they recommend? They could always come join us for the day if you don't want to go out there."

Remember...know your boundaries, but be willing to compromise. Your dream vacation may not be theirs. Let them do what they want to a point, but they can pay for the extras they want.

 

[YourMajesty]

I like the idea of the people coming up for a lunch or early dinner; however, that may be out of your control. Tell them you could help arrange for a car if they could pin down the day they want to visit. Other than that try to figure out a way you might be able to flip things around if they aren't going to decide until they get there. Try not to stress out too much it's really out of your control...plan your days and if you have to miss one it will be ok...use your make up plans. Gook luck!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

1. Ask their Fl people to join you as others have suggested.

2. Lay out itinerary and ask which day to give up.

Most people overschedule what they can do on a vacation. While they would like to see old friends while they are in the area, when it actually comes time for 6 hours in the car they probably won't want to do it. And if they still do then it is important enough to accomodate.

I would guess that they think there won't be enough to do at WDW.
DH always wonders what we are going to do all week before vacation but we haven't ever even had enough time yet.

 

[MareSINY]

One thing to keep in mind, the day that they are going to take this side trip you wont be using the dining plan. So you may want to plan a day with a double table service. Have an early breakfast and a late dinner, this way you wont loose out on those credits.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Perhaps a suggestion that these people come to Disney and join your party for lunch or dinner. They probably have a car. I would also mention to your family that if it's 3 hours each way, that's a 6 hour car trip plus time for a visit. It will be an entire day. For what it's worth, I would stay at the resort and enjoy some "alone" time. Go fishing, go to ESPN club, take a boat out, etc.

 

[mickey12810]

Everytime we take my MIL with us to Disney she wants to visit everyone she knows (mind you when they come up north they can't find the time to visit her!) It is very aggravating when you plan a DISNEY vacation and she expects us to rent a car and cart her everywhere she wants to visit. We have suggested that they come pick her up at the hotel but she feels that is not right. Don't get me wrong, I love my MIL dearly but some times she can really get on my nerves. I would strongly suggest to your future inlaws that they have their friends come visit them at Disney, seeing that you are paying for their trip. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

[rgf207]

Update
Whew.....Well I found out yesterday that the visitors will be coming up to WDW to join us for lunch. We will have lunch in DTD. This is a nice load off my shoulders and it looks like we will get to try a new restaurant too

 

[jann1033]

great it's working out