I am so upset and don't know what to do....

[sjaakie]

Try convincing her to come. The both of them at disney being around all that magic... they will most likely get back together.

And fore your son into an unpleased situation?

 

[saint71]

And fore your son into an unpleased situation?

I think i would probably sit the both of them down and have a talk, you know a "Relationship" talk.

 

[aribelle]

I think I'd be thanking my lucky stars that she had paid you in advance! I mean, think about it....how many threads do we have about best friends/relatives that said they wanted to go, DISer bought everything on their credit card and now best friend/relative says "oh, we can't go"....and DISer is left holding the bag! Those threads almost always lean towards best friend/relative owes DISer the money.

This is not any different......except she already paid you. Very sorry they broke up, hope they can stay friends, but the fact is that she gave YOU the money only as a convenience and so all the ressies were together. She could have just as easily have bought them herself, and then would she be demanding that you refund? Sounds like mom is just pissed that she put out all this cash and then your "evil boy dumped my precious angel". Sounds like the girl is being more mature than the mom!

I'd give them back the airplane tickets and the gate tickets and let them decide what to do. Depending on the airline, some will refund with a fee, some will give you a credit towards another flight, and some SHE is just outta luck. Disney gate tickets that aren't used will never expire, so hopefully sometime in her life she'll get to Disney...don't know about the other tickets, but that's really and truly HER problem.

I would be very reluctant to take her with you now that they've broken up. I think it's very mature that they decided to part before they lost their friendship, but it sounds like it was a mutual, and very mature for their age decision. It could be rather awkward now to be together as friends for something like this....what if a couple days into they start arguing.....that can really dampen everyone's enjoyment (hey, will her mom then compensate you for a spoiled vacation???, sorry couldn't resist).

You owe her nothing out of your pocket.....give her the tickets that she paid for, and that's it. Check your ADRs to be sure you didn't prepay any meal that you'll want to change.....if an ADR is just a credit card hold though, no need to cancel, so long as SOMEONE shows up for that ADR they won't charge you for a lower number of guests. I know CRT is prepaid, and I think there are others??

 

[CursedCarolers]

Oh man, I wish you could tell them to get back together and go. For two reasons:

1. It solves your problem! haha

2. Me and my girlfriend (I'm 18 and she's 20) were having a little bit of trouble and then we went to Disney together a month or two ago and since then neither of us could be happier. That's Disney magic for ya. I'm sure it could go the complete opposite way though...

 

[stemikger]

Posted by Jacksmom
I would make your son pay her back. He asked if she could come so to me it is his responsibility to make this right.

This is spot on. As much as this situation sucks, it really is your son's responsibility.

Good Luck.

 

[Praying Colonel]

See then I think it's not fair to my son either. They both agreed to break up and she was the one that asked him to ask me if she could come. Grrrrr kids.

Hate to say it, but even though he may be your kid, he's not a kid. He's an adult now.

If my 19 y/o asked me to let a friend come along and it ended up not working out, my 19 y/o would have to deal with it. I would not be refunding anything.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

Hmm...

That's a tough situation. I'm trying to think how Judge Judy would handle this one...

I think it would be something along the lines of this:

The girl gave you the money for the expressed purpose of buying a plane ticket, Disney tickets, etc. When she gave you the money, she informed you that she wanted to go with your family.

In turn, you bought her the tickets that she requested.

You fulfilled your end of the bargain.

Now, if she doesn't want to go...No matter what the circumstances, that's not your problem.

You are not forbidding her to go, the offer still stands, in a legal sort of way.

If she chooses not to, well then, that's too bad. You have already done what was asked of you.

This is a good analysis of the situation! The offer still stands that she can go - it's her choice to not go. Let her deal with it. Give her all the tickets and let her determine whether to go or how to get money from the tickets. Not your problem.

Also - you ARE very lucky that you were paid in advance for all this!

You're sitting pretty here! Hand over the tickets and wash your hands of the whole thing!

 

[Matt'sMom]

she gave me $1000 for her tickets to Disney, Universal, Disney Queat, MVMCP, Sea World and the Pirate Dinner show. Including airfare etc... Well, the airline tells me that I they can't refund they can only give her credit. She's ok with that. But now what the heck do I do with the tickets that are locked up in our safe...

I agree with those who say the girl requested and paid for the tickets, so just give them to her. It is her decision whether or not to keep them for her own future use... or try to return/sell them for whatever $$$ she can get.

Since this girl wanted to go to WDW, and requested that you use her money to go ahead and purchase her tickets for her, it is now her responsibility to deal with the consequences of what (if I'm understanding OP correctly) was a mutual break-up. Should not be your problem. This could be a very good life lesson for this girl--that the choices she makes have very real consequences, and that she is responsible for her own choices. She chose to purchase tickets--her choice. The fact that she may not use them for a while, since it sounds like she no longer is interested in traveling with your family, is also her choice.

 

[parmtoo]

I think this difficult.......I would NOT make your son pay! Breakups are hard on a young couple and he invited her thinking they would be together forever. She paid for her tickets, so give them to her and explain that they are non-refundable, so planning a trip for herself in the future is something to look forward to.
If they get back together before you go to WDW, she has nothing to worry about, as her trip is already paid, right? Good luck.......

 

[Cee]

I agree with giving her the tickets that she paid for. She can sell them. I was
left with tickets to MNSSHP one year and sold them to a very nice couple who
was thrilled to get them since the party was sold out. She can recoup the $$
in part if she wants to. But let HER do the "leg work". Then you go and have
a wonderful vacation. Don't let this be your problem for another minute.

 

[MichelleVW]

Try convincing her to come. The both of them at disney being around all that magic... they will most likely get back together.

I think i would probably sit the both of them down and have a talk, you know a "Relationship" talk.

Seriously they are 17 and 18. If they are broken up and have been fighting for 4 months then my guess is that they need to stay broken up.

I would have never agreed to take the girl in the first place but you did and now you're stuck. Give the kid back her tickets and be done with it. Too bad the Mommy wants cash...she'll get over it.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been sitting here, wondering how I would handle this situation if one of my kids put me in your postition. This is what I came up with...
I would let the girl, and her family, deal with the airfare issue themselves. They get a credit, they can use it down the road. If not, that's their issue.
The park tickets are good forever. She can hold onto those or sell them to someone else..her choice.
The special party tickets I would pay her back for and then try to sell them to someone while in Disney, the night of the party. Those are not going to be usable on any other date, so you need to try to sell them yourself.

 

[mnasmom3]

Tough situation, for sure. I think I might see if another friend or family member of you/your son can join you so they can buy the tickets and the ex gets her cash back. If there is no one who you want to join you or no one who can, then I think I'd say I've done my part and give her the tickets and the airline info to get the flight credit.

 

[kimis]

I feel for you! This is a tough situation. However if disney doesn't refund certain items than why should you? I agree with the pp's. Give her the items and let her with her family work out the money loss. Maybe it will be a good incentive for her family to take a vacation. Keep us posted.

 

[jmann]

It is not your responsibility or your son's. Give her the ticket and say good luck. These are the things that happen in life. Her mother wanting the cash is again not your problem. You tired to do a nice thing by setting it all up. If they broke up then that is the consequences. She is choosing not to go. Chances are if she did come then the tension could end up ruining your trip.

 

[mickeynut1]

I don't agree with it being the son's responsibility. In post #6, the OP states that the GIRLFRIEND asked her boyfriend to ask his mother if she could go......so I think the girlfriend should take responsibility and not expect to get any money back. She made the decision to go and paid $1000 for all the tickets and now she's backing out.....for good reason, I guess .... but nonetheless, backing out. I think her mother needs to realize that the tickets are non-refundable and her daughter is stuck with them as the OP should NOT refund her anything. OP.....I say give the girl her tickets and be done with it. The mother will be angry, I'm sure, but you shouldn't be out $1000 for this girl changing her mind. The two of them mutually agreed to break up, so she needs to get the things she paid for and deal with it on her own.

 

[christa112]

I would give her the tickets and tell her to figure out what to do with them. Tell her to sell them in the local paper, on craigs list or on Ebay she can get their money back from there.

I also would not invite her on vacation with you because if things take a turn for the worse and she wants to go home that will be all on you.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Hi, Sorry about this mess you are in. Here's my 2 cents.

You didn't invite her. She invited herself. I agree with others that said to hand over everything to the ex-girlfriend and let her and her mom deal with it. I agree with the person who said that the ex and her mom need to know cancelling trips comes with strings and the consequences usually end up with lost money.

I am 100% against taking this girl on your vacation as a friend. This is a vacation for you, not a battle ground. You are supposed to be having fun, not having to worry about the tension of the break up, or worse, more fighting. The best thing for your son is time away from the situation. Perhaps he never really wanted her to go anyway, since they weren't getting along for quite some time, and she talked him into it. I think it is mature they broke up after all the fighting.

Now with all that said, about the MNSSHP, there is a slight chance that if you call Disney and explain that a member of your party is not able to go to the MNSSHP party and politely ask for a refund on her ticket, they might comply, even though it is non-refundable. You never know. I was able to do that with 2 MVMCP tix when my sister and her husband decided not to go with us (lesson learned for me - let everyone buy their own tix). I should say this was way back in 2003, though. Disney had me mail the tix back with a letter of explanation. They credited my cc. And you don't want to send anything back to them without calling for an ok first. I didn't send them back registered mail or "return receipt requested," like they suggested, I used first class and it was fine, but I trust the mail for the most part, you'd have to decide.

I loved the Judge Judy opinion - right on target!

Don't let the girlfriend's mom ruin your magic. She needs to take some responsibility for her child inviting herself on someone elses vacation. Remember, you didn't ask, the girlfriend did.

Good luck!

 

[starwood]

The only problem I see is that she is 17 and minor. A minor cannot make a contract with you about going on the trip so I think "legally" you would have to give her her money back. Personally I think she should eat the cost.

 

[jj1403]

Sorry I don't agree with the last post. Anyone can purchase Disney Tickets if you have the money. Being a minor has nothing to do with it.

There was no contract..verbal or other wise. Did you pocket the money she gave you?? NO. Give her back her tickets and let her decide what to do with them.

If you want out of good faith keep the tickets that are for the special event on that day sort of thing... but other than that it's not your responsiblitiy and you should not be left with the costs.