In need of opinions - thoughts? Update on 2

[SamIAm21]

My daughter and I are planning to visit my parents who live in Florida over the President's Day week. They live north of Tampa and basically an hour or so due west of Orlando. I thought it would be nice to take one day while we were there to make the trek to the Magic Kingdom. An hour's ride is certainly doable for everyone involved. I asked my Mom and she said it seemed feasible, but she would need to do some things to prepare, namely get the right type of medical equipment for her condition which is emphysema. I told her all about the ECVs at MK and how she would probably be fine just zipping around all day. So, I went ahead made reservations at POFQ for one night, dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern, and I thought we were all set. Well yesterday I talked with her and she has changed her mind. She feels it will be too hard on her to spend the day and stay one night at POFQ. I am disappointed, but what can I do. She knows her condition and abilities better than I do right? So, I said, well I guess I'll just rent a car and we (me and DD) can go for the day, stay overnight and drive home in the morning.

My Mom got quite upset and said, you two don't need to go to Disney again, you were just there in September and if you are coming down here to visit, it wouldn't be very nice of you to leave for the day and then come back. I said it wasn't fair to my daughter (more than me) that she is told we can go to MK and now because my Mom doesn't want to go, we can't go?? I haven't talked to my Dad about this, but the way my Mom said it, sounded like he had some input in it.

Now, I'm stuck, I don't want to upset my folks and I don't want to upset my daugther. We have another trip planned for November, but 11 months is a long way away for a 5 y/o. I am tempted to cancel the whole trip completely. It will be easier than going down there and stewing about it the whole time. I can only watch so much golf, jeopardy and Law & Order in one week...

 

[jbdreamer]

Staying with your parents for an entire week without a break would be hard. I think it would be good to have a break, and especially at WDW. I don't think being gone for ONE day is asking too much. It's not fair for your parents to live so close to WDW and get mad if you want to take your kids there. You invited her, and she chose not to go, that was her choice. I think you and your DD should still go.

 

[kpm76]

I think you should go...maybe wait a few days and call your mom again and explain how it would be tough to tell your 5 year old DD that plans changed and you're not going to MK afterall. Maybe your mom will have had time to let the idea digest and will see now that it's not really a big deal and it would be nice for you and DD to see the MK....hope it all work out for you

 

[BWVDenise]

It sounds like your parents don't live very far from my parents!
I know my kids would go out of their minds from the boredom if we didn't plan things to do while at my parents' house. There is really nothing for them to do there. Maybe you could go for the day and come back in the evening instead of staying overnight in WDW? Maybe a little compromise would make everyone happy... Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Southern4sure]

I think you should go to WDW. Your daughter asked and you already made your plans. It would not seem fair to back out now because your mom decided not to go. As all moms do it is a guilt trip and Im sure your mom doesnt want to "share" her time with you with WDW. Your kids are only young once.

PS I live north of Tampa...you can stay with me IF you take me to WDW with you....

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Would she go if you compromised a little? I know you want to stay the night, but what about going and returning the same day? You could easily visit the park in one day and maybe she would consider going with you?

Just an idea.

 

[SamIAm21]

Thanks everyone. So far, I guess my thinking wasn't too off. I was always raised to defer to your elders, but this is one time I don't think it should be necessary. My parents live in Brooksville, FL at a 55+ golf community and that's all they talk about, watch on TV, etc. There is one park on the Gulf called Bayport and we go there once or twice while we are visiting, but even that gets boring after a while...

I will try calling back in the middle of the week.

 

[Beth76]

Well I certainly can't imagine a grandparent telling her granddaughter not to go to Disney. If I were you, I wouldn't even give it a second thought. GO TO DISNEY!

 

[CathrynRose]

(possible flaming could insue) Lie - tell her youre going to Uni, the mall, whatever....

I agree - a week of Law & Order is too much.

Good luck.

 

[Sandy V.]

I agree about the compromise. Go to the Magic Kingdom for the day with your daughter and enjoy yourselves. Then head back to your parents' house that evening without spending the night at WDW. The break would probably be needed by everyone, and your mother might appreciate it more than she thinks, especially with her medical condition.

ETA: I am (hopefully, since my kids are teens ) YEARS away from grandchildren, but if I were a grandparent, you'd have to tie me down to keep me from taking my grandkids to WDW, especially if I lived that close.

 

[diznygirl]

I can sympathize - if I visit my mom and I go see someone else in town, she gets all pouty. I can see it from the other side, too. I once had my dad visit me and he was so busy with making new friends in town that I hardly saw him!

Call her back in a few days - maybe she'll cool off by then.

 

[raammartin]

I think you should take your daughter to WDW! Like others have said, you'll need a break from your parents and you've already told your DD that you were going. It'll break her heart if you have to change your plans.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Hey, I know where Brookville is. Your parents don't live far from my grandparents. It is possible to go and come back in one day, my family has done it a couple times while visiting my grandparents. It's not a fun drive back but it is possible.

I say you should go. I can't even imagine telling a young child that you couldn't go to Disney even though you promised. I like visiting my grandparents but they always have things planned for us to do once we get there. It's not always Disney but at least we can go visit the little zoo-like place or Weeki Wachee or even visiting my great aunt who is a crazy lady. When I was your dd's age my grandparents would definitely go to Disney with us. My grandma had a lot of trouble walking then but she used an ECV and was fine. Hey I even have a picture of my grandpa on Splash Mountain with us for proof!

 

[Rajah]

I agree, I'd take your daughter and go for the day. And if the park isn't open that late anyway, then compromise and return to your parents at the end of the day.

 

[SamIAm21]

Well, the reason we were going to stay overnight was because my Mom wanted to. That way, my DD and I could stay at the park for Spectro and Wishes and my Mom and Dad could go back to POFQ for the evening. The hotel thing was her idea... Now the reservation is made and paid.

It was also a fail safe in case she got to feeling poorly at any time during the day. She and Dad could back to the room or just leisurely wander the resort area. I even told them about the boat ride they could take to DTD. I said just take the ride to DTD and come right back. It would be nice and relaxing. They were all for it and now they ain't.

 

[noseybuddy]

Well I guess I am the odd one out here. If you can get your money back from the ressie I say you shouldn't go to WDW. I don't know how often you visit your parents but you are only going to be there one week. You also said you are going in November. Yes, your DD might be disappointed when you tell her the plans have changed, but she'll get over it, especially since you are going later in the year. Just think you should put your parents first on this one. JMO

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I think it would be a much more plesant visit for everyone if you took a 1 day break in the middle. Your daughter is going to be bored out of her mind and she will know that she was supposed to go to Disney but now she can't and [depending on her personality] may not let you forget that fact. While it's good to let children experience disappoitment I don't think this the right time for that.

My vote is go for the day, sleep over (so you can safely drive back) and leave early the next day.

 

[SamIAm21]

Yep, I'm pretty torn about it. Half of me thinks maybe I should bag the whole visit all together because if we go and then don't go to Disney, my DD, who is usually very good natured and has already suffered a fair share of minor disappointments in her life, will be really "on me" all week to go and why can't we? If we were way down in Miami and it was a distance thing, I'd have that excuse, but we are literally a hour & 1/2 away at the most.

We've been to Weeki Wachi, we've been to Silver Springs, Homosassa State Park, and last year, we were told we were going to spend the day at Sea World and when I got there, my Mom backed out and we were stuck all week with nothing but one playlot type park to go to???

I love my parents, but sitting around the house all day watching golf is not good for me or my daughter.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I love my parents, but sitting around the house all day watching golf is not good for me or my daughter.

Go visit your parents and tell them how much you love them but you and your dd need to get out of the house and emphasize that they are welcome to join you if they want but you have to make sure you do what is in the best interest of your DD (spending quality happy time with grandparents vs. spending mad grumpy time with them).

 

[cats7494]

I would go as planned.
Please... go to WDW- don't feel guilty - enjoy the mommy/daughter time! Spend the night - go to your parent's house early the following day. As others said - remind them that they are more than welcome to join you at the park!

Go and enjoy the visit with your parents and the day at MK!