How did a trip that start out so well end so bad??? Updated 8/17 post 173

:wave2:
Found your trip report from the RCI question thread I started a few days ago!
Few things in common:
I have a 7 yr old daughter named Katie who loves to swim and is sometimes too smart for her own good.
I have a now 5 yr old DD who we took to DW at 20mo. It was a disaster for her. She actually cheered when we walked into our house! It's all good though....She has started growing out of the fits.....
I have a DH who also "puts up" with my obsession. I think he to may be a closet fanatic. I choose to believe so. :goodvibes
Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip. We are thinking of going back next summer, but now that DD 7 is in need of upper & lower expanders...I may have to live vicariously!
popcorn::
 
:wave2:
Found your trip report from the RCI question thread I started a few days ago!
Few things in common:
I have a 7 yr old daughter named Katie who loves to swim and is sometimes too smart for her own good.
I have a now 5 yr old DD who we took to DW at 20mo. It was a disaster for her. She actually cheered when we walked into our house! It's all good though....She has started growing out of the fits.....
I have a DH who also "puts up" with my obsession. I think he to may be a closet fanatic. I choose to believe so. :goodvibes
Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip. We are thinking of going back next summer, but now that DD 7 is in need of upper & lower expanders...I may have to live vicariously!
popcorn::

Thanks! The more I write I am finding I am not alone. I do find some comfort in that. :worship:

I will try to post more tomorrow. This next one is where it starts to go downhill.

I am glad you are enjoying it.
 
Okay folks...so this is where is starts to get juicy.

We told SiL, BiL, MiL, FiL to meet us at 9:30am outside of MGM. We were just going to go early and have them call us when they got there but they would have none of that.

We took the boat from BWV to HS. That was fun.

Get there at 9:30...no family....10:00...no family - call cell phones and no anwer. Finally at 10:30 they show up. Nice waste of my time. Anyway, I tell them we need to go to TSM to see if there are any fastpasses left. They already start complaining about they want to go on RnRC. I say to go ahead but I want to see if they were fastpasses as this was our only HS day. The rest of the family were there for another 5 days so could return if they wanted. They reluctantly followed and amazingly there were fast passes left. I think our return time was around 5pm. This was fine since we had 6:45pm ressies at T-Rex (or so we thought). So, we head over to RnRC. The wait was only 15 minutes so we decide to wait and do Child Swap. My in-laws offered to wait with the 2 littlest ones (DS2 and Dnephew2).

Now people....I had told SiL, BiL before we left to measure Dniece6 before we left so they knew what she could go on and there were no disappointments. Do you think they did???? So, we get there and sure enough she is too short. DNiece starts to cry uncontrollably. DBiL is arguing with the CM that it is okay if she rides because after all he is the parent and can make decisions for his DD. OMG!! :scared1: So, then they want us to get out of line because it wouldn't be fair. No way in he$$ was I going to disappoint my DD. She has been looking forward to this ride for months. My MiL, and FiL reluctantly agree and keep my DS. We went on and it was awesome!!! When my DD got off she told my DNiece it was no big deal though so her feeling weren't hurt. ;) So, then they decide they want ToT. I knew my DD wouldn't like this but she refused to believe me. I went with my BiL, SiL and DNiece as well as my DD. DH does not ride this ride. DD decided to chicken out after the little preshow. With that DNiece didn't want to go either so BiL offers to take them out the chicken exit. I go on with my DSiL. It was her first time and she liked it. She then went on with my DBiL (they gave him a special fast pass since he had to take the girls out the chicken elevator.) WHen they were on the ride my DD goes to the gift store and decides she wants to buy a hotel bell of all things. Anyway, we get it and they come out. I then said I wanted to go on the Great Movie Ride so the little kids coudl ride something. I don't know how I missed it but it was closed.

Well...now it was close to lunch time and we were hungry. We had the dining plan and knew we wanted Starring Rolls. In laws wanted to know where they could eat. They packed lunches. I said I had no idea. They then said they weren't ready to eat so we shouldn't eat either. Ummm...no my kids were getting cranky and hungry. So, they follow us to starring rolls. I said we were getting two adult meals and could share with OUR CHILDREN. Again, it is not fair my DNiece wasn't eating there. Could we use credits for her. Ummm...no...that is against the policy. So, we get lunch and dessert. You know once we come out DNiece cries because she doesn't have it so they go in and buy her a lunch. So, we eat. I then go to Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground so the girls and everyone else could ride Star Tours. It was HOT as he$$ and that is hard work following a 2 year old around. I was up top of the net climb thing and wouldn't you know it was my in laws..they wanted to see my DS. So, we come down and they take pictures. THey see how hot I was and tell me I am crazy for following him around that he is a boy and boys will be boys. Ummm...boys can still get hurt or kidnapped so I will follow him around all I want; thank you. Everyone is off the ride. T

hey then decide they want to do Playhouse Disney. I have seen this so many times that I know skip it - just not one of our favorites. My MiL laid in the guilt....but I want to see all of my grandchildren. Fine...we wait in the hot line. The show begins and all I can hear when it starts is a man yelling in a loud tone from the back, "This is Queer!" So, I turn around and guess who it is...that's right...FiL. Who talks like that??? :confused3

So, next they want to watch Beauty and the Beast. I knew my DS2 would not sit thru this. I say you all go and we will meet you. So, MiL begins to cry because she wants us all to go. So, again, I waste time. As I knew, DS2 was impatient and started pitching a fit. DNephew strangles him and pushes him down. So, I yell at him. Everyone then yells at me for yelling at him because, after all, boys will be boys. Nice, huh. I actually have pictures of him strangling my son but I don't want to post them here for obvious reasons.

We then go to TSM for our fast pass time. I don't remember why but MiL and FiL didn't get fastpasses for this so didn't ride.

They all talk about how they are going to see Fantasmic that night. Okay, I tell them, you need to line up 1 hour in advance and keep your party together because they will not allow you to enter if it is full even if your party is in there.

At 5:30pm we say we have to leave to catch our reservation for T-Rex and our friends were meeting us there as they were going home early the next morning. I THOUGHT this was enough time. This is where I went wrong. I really should have researched the transportation better. I thought you could just catch a bus from HS. I walked around and around because the sign said DTD C something or other. I even asked a CM and they said wait by the charter buses. A charter bus finally comes (30 minutes into it) and I ask how we get to DTD. He apologizes and says due to the people parkign at DTD to avoid park parking fees they stopped the direct transportation you have to go to a resort first. Had we known this we would have just walked back to BWV to catch a bus. Anyway, the kids were really hot and tired and were starting to whine and cry so there would be no walking for us. So, we walk to the boat. 10 minutes later te boat comes and another 10 minutes later the boat finally leaves. It goes to the Swan/Dolphin first so I say lets just get off here. Okay... 2 buses pull up, no DTD. Now, it's already 6:30 and there is no way we will make it there on time so we call our friends. No problem....we will check in and wait for you. Another bus comes that says Magic Kingdom so of course we don't get on that. He then switches the sign to DTD and takes off without seeing if anyone wants to go there. There was a family next to us also waiting for a DTD bus. One finally comes at like 7pm. We get on and hear the bus radio how they were down bus drivers. The bus made the most convaluted trip to DTD I have ever been on. It stops at BC/YC and BW (expected that) but then it goes on to OKW, Saratoga Springs and the PO resorts as well. UGH!!!! So, we call our friends and they say no problem they are sat them and they are having drinks. What time did we get there????? WHy 7:45pm a full hour past our reservation time and 2 hours 15 minutes past the time we left HS. Our wonderful friends already had nice cold beverages waiting for us. The waitress came right over. I apologized profusely and she said no problem that people are late a lot when they take Disney transportation. Our wonderful friends were also kind enough to save some of their appetizers for our kids. So, we tell them how awful our day has been and how much we will truly miss then. I have to tell you, this waitress was the best server we had our entire trip. The food was better than I expected as well. The astroid shower scared my DS every time it went off. We were hoping to do some shopping after our meal as this was our only DTD night/day. We grabbed a yummy margarita at the stand and then my DS spotted the train. We gave him two rides and his sister was a great sport and went on with him. After the second ride he wouldn't get off so I had to forcibly remove him kicking and screaming. Sadly, there would be no shopping at DTD this trip. Boy, am I glad I let my DD get that foolish ToT bell so at least she had something for this trip.

I can't find any pictures of this day. I think I was just too disgusted to take any. Whenever I wanted to take a picture of my DD my DNiece jumped in anyway because, after all, it's not fair to take a picture of my DD but not my DNiece; right? :scared1::eek:

Next up...Magic Kingdom with the in-laws. Oh how I'm looking forward to that - NOT! Put it this way...it only gets worse! :rolleyes1

We have an 8:15am ressie at Chef Mickey's so we say we will call them when we get to the park. I researched the transportation and we decide the best way to go is to take a bus to MK and walk to Contemporary. We also have 4:45pm ressie at 1900 Park Fare for all of us. Yes...I told everyone how much it was beforehand and even said it was my DBiL birthday when I made the ressie.

I might have to take a couple of days off before I write my next installment because I can already feel my blood boiling again and don't know if my body can handle two days in a row of this.
 

I can relate on so many levels!
This past Feb we did a trip with DMiL, DBiL, DSiL, DN (2+), DN (11mo). Let's just say everytime I brought up any kind of pre trip planning I got the "she is being crazy, DW obsessed" look & they tuned me out...I had to fight to get them to make ANY ADRs!

The story about your IL not listening to your warnings about things to do before & advice not taken while there reminds me of the people who go to DW without doing any research and end up having a miserable time. I am convinced many of the people who go once and don't like DW did not research or plan! Unreal!

What was your DH doing about all the interaction? If he is like mine he was oblivious (pretending to be) to everything going on with his family!
 
Sorry for the rough day at DHS. And then to make it worse trying to get to DTD.:eek: But on a better note you have your Christmas trip coming up.
 
This started out so good... not it has turned into a family based train wreck... and I can't stop reading ;)

Sorry - but it does make for a fun late night read (when you weren't the ones who had to live it).

We did have a Disneyland trip that was very similar. We had friends from out of state we were meeting at DL. Then with two weeks until our trip we found out it was USC parent's weekend and our BIL, SIL, and niece from TN were meeting up with our nephew who was at USC and going to be at DL the same day. Ours was more trying to be in two places at once and worrying about upsetting somebody. Very stressful. It was right after Buzz opened and the picture of our sleeping toddler on my husband's shoulder while riding the ride summed up that day.

I didn't get to ride that - I was rushing to IASM with the other husband.

Oh and we spend the first 1 1/2 of park hours shopping at DCA - any DISer knows that is horrible touring.
 
I can relate on so many levels!
This past Feb we did a trip with DMiL, DBiL, DSiL, DN (2+), DN (11mo). Let's just say everytime I brought up any kind of pre trip planning I got the "she is being crazy, DW obsessed" look & they tuned me out...I had to fight to get them to make ANY ADRs!

The story about your IL not listening to your warnings about things to do before & advice not taken while there reminds me of the people who go to DW without doing any research and end up having a miserable time. I am convinced many of the people who go once and don't like DW did not research or plan! Unreal!

What was your DH doing about all the interaction? If he is like mine he was oblivious (pretending to be) to everything going on with his family!

Sometimes he was oblivious. Didn't want to cause any more "tension" so he said. But...once in a while he did put his foot down and tell them it was our vacation too.
 
Sorry for the rough day at DHS. And then to make it worse trying to get to DTD.:eek: But on a better note you have your Christmas trip coming up.

Exactly why I had to plan another trip. This one just ended so bad and left such a bad taste in my mouth. Now I have something to look forward to. Sadly, my in laws have no more points left this year to get a timeshare so they won't be joining us. :lmao: We are looking forward to it being just me, DH, DD, and DS. The MK morning we had with just us was wonderful and we got so much done.
 
This started out so good... not it has turned into a family based train wreck... and I can't stop reading ;)

Sorry - but it does make for a fun late night read (when you weren't the ones who had to live it).

We did have a Disneyland trip that was very similar. We had friends from out of state we were meeting at DL. Then with two weeks until our trip we found out it was USC parent's weekend and our BIL, SIL, and niece from TN were meeting up with our nephew who was at USC and going to be at DL the same day. Ours was more trying to be in two places at once and worrying about upsetting somebody. Very stressful. It was right after Buzz opened and the picture of our sleeping toddler on my husband's shoulder while riding the ride summed up that day.

I didn't get to ride that - I was rushing to IASM with the other husband.

Oh and we spend the first 1 1/2 of park hours shopping at DCA - any DISer knows that is horrible touring.

I'm sure it does make for good late night reading. And...I actually left a bunch out. Just couldn't relive it all. My friends love hearing my in law stories and say I should really write a book. Our friends that we spent the first few days with were awesome. When we suggested somethign they went right along with it and vice versa. There was a lot of give and take. Even when we decided we would just meet up in the park we seemed to arrive at the entrance at the same time. SiL and BiL didn't decide to join us until about 2 months before our trip. We already had the plans in place with our friends before the in laws decided to come so we were very up front and told them we already had plans with them it would be rude to blow them off now. Plus, we already had ADR's that we couldn't change.

Needless to say, I am SOOO looking forward to our December trip more than any other trip before. It's like I'm looking for redemption or something. ;)
 
Oh, boy! I feel ya on this one! I've been on day trips with the in-laws, but I know w/out a doubt that I could never do a vacay with them! Bless your heart - you must have the patience of a saint.
 
I'm sure it does make for good late night reading. And...I actually left a bunch out. Just couldn't relive it all. My friends love hearing my in law stories and say I should really write a book.

Makes for great early morning reading, too! popcorn:: I'll be the first in line to buy your book when you get it written! I'm so sorry your trip turned sour on you. I'm incredibly greedy when it comes to our WDW vacations. We can only go every 2 years because it takes that long to save enough $$$ to pay for it, and I would probably have to kill anyone who got in our way of enjoying every minute. I'm so glad you have another trip planned! In the meantime, thanks for sharing!
 
I might have to take a couple of days off before I write my next installment because I can already feel my blood boiling again and don't know if my body can handle two days in a row of this.

Treat it like a band-aid and just rip off a few more installments!! We're all loving your trip report :worship:
 
This is why I refuse to go to Disney with anyone but my immediate family. No one understands how Disney "works." I think that if I ever did go with family members I would make them sign a form saying they would follow my plans or an indemnity clause would state I would be allowed follow my plans and everyone else was on their own.
 
Sorry it's now taking an even bigger turn for the worse. I was lucky, travelling to WDW with my inlaws was always the absolute best. Now with my parents...maybe not so much. I'm hoping your TR is not foreshadowing our upcoming trip with my parents :rotfl:
 
Oh, boy! I feel ya on this one! I've been on day trips with the in-laws, but I know w/out a doubt that I could never do a vacay with them! Bless your heart - you must have the patience of a saint.

Actually....I'm going to hell according to my in laws because I Baptized my children. You can imagine their "delight" (note sarcasm) when I sent my DD to Catholic school. We just really don't see eye to eye.
 
This is why I refuse to go to Disney with anyone but my immediate family. No one understands how Disney "works." I think that if I ever did go with family members I would make them sign a form saying they would follow my plans or an indemnity clause would state I would be allowed follow my plans and everyone else was on their own.

LOL! I might have to look into one of those forms :)

Sorry it's now taking an even bigger turn for the worse. I was lucky, travelling to WDW with my inlaws was always the absolute best. Now with my parents...maybe not so much. I'm hoping your TR is not foreshadowing our upcoming trip with my parents :rotfl:

That is exactly what I was thinking when I read ccgirls's last post about her in-laws. I just spent a weekend with my mom and between some of her actions and reading the trip report I am getting a little nervous.

Hugs to you ccgirl! I am so sorry to hear how tough your trip was. It was so nice to read your friends were still there and you were able to escape and see them. That must have really helped so much.
 












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