I am here to gripe

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I hope for the same thing NOT to happen to us, but its already in the makings. We are going to Disney with both sets of grandparents in December. Everything is set, and there it is - my parents throw in the wrench and screw everything up! We had everything planned, meet at our house in the morning (4.30am to be specific!), they were going to drive down my inlaws to the airport because they don't like to drive there, and go to Disney as a family.... NOT ANY MORE!! My parents are now DRIVING down to Florida a week before, and really ruining all our plans. I know its not a big deal, but its always like them to just throw in a wrench to all set plans, KWIM? I know DH is upset about this, because his parents now have to figure out another way to the airport (I don't know what the big deal is about driving an hour south, but to them it is) - the only good thing is now, since they have a car, we can have them pick up the extra food we will need rather than ordering it from the garden grocer - saves us money.
Anyway, just know for next time to go on your own - theres nothing else you can do but chalk it up to a learning experience.

 

[ISP2MCO]

I hope for the same thing NOT to happen to us, but its already in the makings. We are going to Disney with both sets of grandparents in December. Everything is set, and there it is - my parents throw in the wrench and screw everything up! We had everything planned, meet at our house in the morning (4.30am to be specific!), they were going to drive down my inlaws to the airport because they don't like to drive there, and go to Disney as a family.... NOT ANY MORE!! My parents are now DRIVING down to Florida a week before, and really ruining all our plans. I know its not a big deal, but its always like them to just throw in a wrench to all set plans, KWIM? I know DH is upset about this, because his parents now have to figure out another way to the airport (I don't know what the big deal is about driving an hour south, but to them it is) - the only good thing is now, since they have a car, we can have them pick up the extra food we will need rather than ordering it from the garden grocer - saves us money.
Anyway, just know for next time to go on your own - theres nothing else you can do but chalk it up to a learning experience.

Maybe your inlaws can drive to you the day before so they aren't traveling while it's dark out.

 

[connie1042]

I am the grandma in our plans. My kids asked me to go and also to plan the trip. I did do some babysitting, and I went to the parks with them, but I also did my own thing. They only wanted to do MK, (we were only there for 3 days), I did all 4 parks. This year I went with my daughters family and grandpa came along. We only did one day at disney together. We spent 3 days at the beach with them. It was all great. We tell them before hand what our plans are. No one is ever surprised. I think planning ahead is the key and also be honest about your style of vacation.

 

[livie1205]

thats why we only go with my parents...they do whatever,they are not picky they are there just to spend time with the kids and do whatever we are doing.We like to do the same things so its not a problem...

 

[RumpleMom]

We travel to WDW with 3 generations. I make a written itinerary with one ADR for each day, so everyone knows the game plan. Each person is asked for their top 3 things they want to be sure to do. I make sure these are written down and planned for. The written itinerary makes it easy for us to split up and get back together again.

If the kids show up for meals, Mom and Dad pay, if they choose to eat on their own, they pay for their own food. We see them a lot at meal time.

We have been doing this since they were teenagers. They are in their twentys and still vacationing with the family.

 

[VeroBeachGirl]

This is why I will never travel to Disney in groups or with the in-laws. Its my "happy place" and I don't want to deal with petty drama while I am there. OP, hopefully your next trip will be better!

 

[tinkerlisa]

That is the one reason why I am nervous about my mom going with us next year! Not only that but she smokes and she won't like waiting to go to the smoking area!
Also on another note, my stepdaughter does not live with us. She suffers from the teenage "woe is me" complex.
So we take her and our boys to florida last spring. we didnt go to disney but universal studios. all she did the whole time was literally cry about how bad her life is and how we don't include her on anything. HELLO!!! you are in Florida sweetheart! How can she say that we do nothing for her?! Every time she even visits us, she pulls major guilt trips and brings up past things that happened. like the time we wouldn't go to her chorus concert because it was january and a blizzard out. we had like 7 inches of snow on the ground. the school cancelled the event! she doesn't get over anything and she brings us down.
She acts like we embarrass her or something too! She doesnt want to do anything. she just wanted to stay at the hotel. she threw a fit when we said we were going to visit my cousin an hour away. we thought she would have fun because my cousin has a daughter the same age and they always got along. but no...she was snotty and rude the whole time!
so now we are going down next september and my hubby and i are finally getting married. so she has to come. even though he and i both have said never again will she come with us on vacation...she is just a debbie downer...

 

[Talking Hands]

Understand completely. Inlaws came to Disney with us and wouldn't even go in the parks so my husband stayed with them in the cabin at Ft Wilderness and I took the girls to the parks. What burned me the most was when we got back on evening and I told my hubby I needed to eat (diabetic) and my father in law said they weren't ready to eat and I could wait until they were. Don't think so.

 

[bwatlas]

I did that with my entire family of 13!!! Big Mistake.....Long story short....I do not speak to my mother, father, or older sister anymore......And they blame ME for all the drama......grrrrrr.

As I've always been the, um.. black sheep I guess, of the family, and I have a feeling that something is going to happen on our 11 memeber family event in June. DD isn't even all that excited about trip, as she too fears something is going to go wrong. Shall see!

We're also going in June tchrrx! Little later than you, though.

 

[mom2aredhead]

This is why I will never travel to Disney in groups or with the in-laws. Its my "happy place" and I don't want to deal with petty drama while I am there. OP, hopefully your next trip will be better!

Yup. I'm with you 100%. And not just WDW either - I don't want the drama on ANY vacation, so we always go alone.

I guess we're lucky that my parents and MIL live close enough that we see them a lot (about once/week), and talk to all of them just about daily - so when we're on vacation, we'd prefer it be just us.

And honestly, I just can't picture them in WDW - my father hates rides, crowds, heat, and thinks he has the God given right to light up a cigarette wherever he sees fit. My MIL is the same with the smoking, and would prefer to be at the beach rather than just about anywhere else, including my son's birthday parties, soccer games or our hosue for dinner - ever. I think my Mom would be OK, but she'd never come without my father, so there goes that.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

Had a similar experience with in-laws.... needless to say, we only go with our little family now! I spend so many hours making ADRs and planning days, trying to please everyone. BIL and his GF couldn't be bothered to come with us to meals, so I always had to explain why our ressie was short 2 people. Then, MIL and FIL were never satisfied, kept trying to get my hubbie and me to "go out" alone so they could spend time with the kids. Normally that would be fine, but they were really rude about it. Like they couldn't wait for us to be gone. I love my kids and this one of few times a year that I have uninterupted time with them. Ugh! Just thinking about this makes me upset. Whew... I'm ok now.I feel your pain. Never again will I let other people ruin my Disney "high"

 

[ElizaHawthorne]

We're going to have the same experience in a few weeks. We live in Maine and my in-laws live 3 miles away. We see them all the time. My father lives 2 hours North of us and my mother lives 2 hours South of WDW. I can understand my mother wanting to visit with us and the grandkids. For some reason, when I planned this trip out (starting a year ago) they all decided they would see us there. My in-laws are flying down a few days after we get there, my mother is coming up for a few days and my father will arrive for the last couple of days...with his new girlfriend. My in-laws and my mother are cool. They know that this is my kids' vacation and not theirs. If they can't keep up, they're getting left behind and if they want to whine and complain about something they can leave. I'm not going to take anyone's crap. We had to save up for a year to be able to take our 2 kids. I'm not going to let anyone ruin it.

My father has been warned, but his new girlfriend questioned me a couple of times. I told her we had some ADRs and Park Hoppers and that we would be going to certain parks on certain days. She asks about naps for the kids and stuff like that. Like I don't realize that my 2 & 3 year olds might get sleepy during the day. I told her I had everything planned out. Everything (which includes going back to the hotel for a nap if needed...who am I kidding, WHEN needed). She continues to ask questions.

She's in for a rude awakening when we get to the parks.

Sorry for the rant. My wife is sick of listening to me complain about this.

 

[Carrie772]

Sorry for the rant. My wife is sick of listening to me complain about this.

You can rant all you want here. As you can see, we all have some yucky story to tell...and some that will have one soon!

And I started the whole thing complaining!

 

[sk!mom]

We're going to have the same experience in a few weeks. We live in Maine and my in-laws live 3 miles away. We see them all the time. My father lives 2 hours North of us and my mother lives 2 hours South of WDW. I can understand my mother wanting to visit with us and the grandkids. For some reason, when I planned this trip out (starting a year ago) they all decided they would see us there. My in-laws are flying down a few days after we get there, my mother is coming up for a few days and my father will arrive for the last couple of days...with his new girlfriend. My in-laws and my mother are cool. They know that this is my kids' vacation and not theirs. If they can't keep up, they're getting left behind and if they want to whine and complain about something they can leave. I'm not going to take anyone's crap. We had to save up for a year to be able to take our 2 kids. I'm not going to let anyone ruin it.

My father has been warned, but his new girlfriend questioned me a couple of times. I told her we had some ADRs and Park Hoppers and that we would be going to certain parks on certain days. She asks about naps for the kids and stuff like that. Like I don't realize that my 2 & 3 year olds might get sleepy during the day. I told her I had everything planned out. Everything (which includes going back to the hotel for a nap if needed...who am I kidding, WHEN needed). She continues to ask questions.

She's in for a rude awakening when we get to the parks.

Sorry for the rant. My wife is sick of listening to me complain about this.

Actually, since you have a plan and a clear idea that this trip is about the kids- no whiners allowed, I think that you may be pleasantly surprised.

I think that the OP's mistake was "letting" the gp's ruin the trip and not having clear expectations from the get go. We've gone twice with others. Most recently, June with 21 people for 10 days. We all had a great time and hope that we can all make it happen again sometime in the future. We had really clear plans and expectations. Everyone had the master itinerary but was free to make there own plans, opt out, declare a rest day or whatever and others would carry on. Sometimes we all stayed together and other times we were split into smaller groups. Our number one rule was that there would be no waiting on anyone- If you couldn't or didn't want to do something then feel free to catch up with us later but don't expect anyone to wait.

HAve fun!

 

[Carrie772]

I think that the OP's mistake was "letting" the gp's ruin the trip and not having clear expectations from the get go.

You would think that was the case, but we have been gobs wtih my folks and had a great time. I think it was that we simply vacation differently and the 2 styles just didn't mesh well. They truly prefer mountains and touring trips. I prefer all in one and resorts with lots of thrills and expensive food. I had hopes that by compromising we would all come out on top. I think my inflexability and our differences just collided.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Maybe your inlaws can drive to you the day before so they aren't traveling while it's dark out.

I think I misstyped a bit! My inlaws don't have a problem coming to our house, its going from our house to the air port. I think DH and I are going to just have to drive seperatly - I will drive the kids, he will drive his parents. Its either that or they are going to waiste $$$$ on a car service.

 

[Mrs D]

Actually, since you have a plan and a clear idea that this trip is about the kids- no whiners allowed, I think that you may be pleasantly surprised.

I think that the OP's mistake was "letting" the gp's ruin the trip and not having clear expectations from the get go. We've gone twice with others. Most recently, June with 21 people for 10 days. We all had a great time and hope that we can all make it happen again sometime in the future. We had really clear plans and expectations. Everyone had the master itinerary but was free to make there own plans, opt out, declare a rest day or whatever and others would carry on. Sometimes we all stayed together and other times we were split into smaller groups. Our number one rule was that there would be no waiting on anyone- If you couldn't or didn't want to do something then feel free to catch up with us later but don't expect anyone to wait.

HAve fun!

Right there with ya. We did a family vacation last month for 6 days; my family (DH, DS3, DD1 and Me), My Mom, My In Laws, My Bro and SIL and My Aunt & Uncle. When I started planning the trip was for my little family and my Mom (really, to stay in the room when the kids went to sleep at 8pm). Everyone else joined in after. I did ask everyone for their Must Do List. All responses were pretty short lists.

I informed everyone that it would be enough to keep up with 2 toddlers that I would not be keeping track of anyone else. I told them this was my vacation and I wanted a special experience with my kids; but it's also their vacation and they may come & go as they choose.
I updated everyone on my plans in 2 intervals (gave them a chance to say "Hey I have a different plan" - which my in laws did. They met up with some other friends for part of a day). I handed out written itineraries prior to leaving.
Overall, everyone behaved and had a good time. People set their own schedules and saw what they wanted. I did have extra help with the kids, and had a good vacation too!

 

[tinkerlisa]

You can rant all you want here. As you can see, we all have some yucky story to tell...and some that will have one soon!

And I started the whole thing complaining!

LOLOL! I just hope mine goes smooth! We have the following coming me, my hubby to be, our two kids, his daughter from a previous, my mom, my sister, my aunt, my future SIL and her two adult kids(these three aren't into Disney) and hopefully my brother. DH to be's other sister and hubby will not be going(which we knew already). I am a huge planner and i think my family will be thankfull for that since they have never been to disney, But like i said, my hubby's sis and 2 kids aren't into Disney and are only going cuz we are getting married. That and she is a BIG spender and only eats at really fine restaurants. Well, sorry but I am not eating at Victoria's and Alberts' all week! They are just hard to please people. I hope everyone's else who is doing a big get together goes well...

 

[WantToGoNow]

We are planning a trip next year with my cousin's family - there will be 12 of us including 6 kids ranging from 2-9. Our family has made multiple trips but this will be their first time.

We ended up booking POR because of their family size - no problem, I've always wanted to try it. I actually prefer POP though because the kids love it - they love the theming. And it costs less - but they .

We did talk them into the dining plan. They do agree that they like a sit-down dinner each day - but they want to eat by 5-6 each day and then they want to go back to the resort early so their kids (9,5,4,2) can get to bed at normal time. So no Wishes, Spectromagic, Illuminations or Fantasmic.

We usually do 2-3 characters breakfasts. They said they can't get up and going early in the morning and are not planning to get to the parks until after 10:00 each day. What!!! So no rope drops or EMH for us either.

And it will be too cold to swim in late November/early December.

I suggested we could go on, do our thing and meet up with them later after they're up and at the parks. Then we could stay and do the evening activities after they've retired for the evening. But dd24 said it's a family trip - we should do things as a family. We had a hard time convincing the father that Disney was worth the money - and I'm afraid he's going to come home feeling that he didn't get his money's worth because he's going to miss alot.

 

[tinkerlisa]

We are planning a trip next year with my cousin's family - there will be 12 of us including 6 kids ranging from 2-9. Our family has made multiple trips but this will be their first time.

We ended up booking POR because of their family size - no problem, I've always wanted to try it. I actually prefer POP though because the kids love it - they love the theming. And it costs less - but they .

We did talk them into the dining plan. They do agree that they like a sit-down dinner each day - but they want to eat by 5-6 each day and then they want to go back to the resort early so their kids (9,5,4,2) can get to bed at normal time. So no Wishes, Spectromagic, Illuminations or Fantasmic.

We usually do 2-3 characters breakfasts. They said they can't get up and going early in the morning and are not planning to get to the parks until after 10:00 each day. What!!! So no rope drops or EMH for us either.

And it will be too cold to swim in late November/early December.

I suggested we could go on, do our thing and meet up with them later after they're up and at the parks. Then we could stay and do the evening activities after they've retired for the evening. But dd24 said it's a family trip - we should do things as a family. We had a hard time convincing the father that Disney was worth the money - and I'm afraid he's going to come home feeling that he didn't get his money's worth because he's going to miss alot.

Man they gotta at least let their kids stay up late one night to see Spectro Magic and WISHES!! That's just not right!!! Go to Disney and not see those?!!!
And if they don't see those, I wouldn't let that hold you guys back! It might be good for everyone if you did things separatly. I hope that when I go I can be with hubby and kids alone for a while. It will be nice to have the extra hands with my kids though!