Inviting grandparents

[Jill in Chicago]

Ask your mom. She sounds like a better fit. You can always do the parent switch off thing, and you never know, one of your children may not want to go on a certain ride. Then they could sit with your mom while you went on that ride with the other child/children.

I really would not worry at all about your kids not having an adult to ride with. One child with an adult. Two other kids ride together, and one adult rides alone. No problem. Have a rotation going and switch each ride, or have a certain set who sits where for each day at the park.

Listening to your posts I would bet money that your SIL will "end up coming somehow." I also think you'll have a hassle moving your MIL along with "the plan." That will be very stressful. Truly people do not change at Disney. Their personalities become intensified. Please, please remember that.

Consider renting a home off site. You can get a house, with your own pool, for as little as $100 a day. Think how relaxing that would be at the end of the day. Yes you have to rent a car. This can be as low as $100 for a week. Not a huge cost, and you'll save money by eating a few dinners at the house anyways. Look at VRBO.com. (Vacation rentals by owner.)

Whatever you do stay somewhere with two bathrooms and space to get away from each other. You do not want to be on top of each other for a week.

 

[NemoMOm]

My MIL is an aerobics instructor, so she's in pretty good shape. My mom walks 5 miles every morning and bikes 10 at night with her neighbor, so no worries about the activity level. Heck, either one would probably be dragging DH and I back every night.

I'm glad to hear a positive experience. How did you go about asking them? Did you room together, how did you handle the logistics? We'd probably ask whomever to have oldest DD stay in their room, and the twins would be in our room, so we'd have to find a way to split the cost of the room to be fair. We're you on the same package or did you book separately and just meet up when down there?

We booked different rooms and packages. When we book a trip we just tell them they are more than welcome to come.

 

[stavidt]

First let me say I adore my parents and they are cool. My husband and I honestly enjoy their company. Here comes the but..........they are older in their seventies and it was not easy for them. Here is what worked for us. We made it clear that we had a dinner schedule that we wanted to adhere to. Reservations at such and such at 5:45pm Other than that....they can come if they feel up to it. OR they could meet up with us at their leisure. The first day we all went together. The second day....we went and they met up with us later. We made dinner reservations on two occassions seperately. A night out for us and a nice night out for them. Over all it was good. But just remember it is more people that you may have to organize and keep track of. In other words there are some things more geared to grown ups...they may really enjoy and some meet and greets they might not be too into.

Good luck

 

[Melissa]

We've done trips with both grandparents and I think depending on the person it can be great. The first few trips starting when my dd was 2 we took my mom with us she paid for herself, could well afford to, actually I think she shared cost of hotel and car with us. She loved it b/c she was recently widowed and loved to travel. She is a little more work for me when she goes with us now b/c she can see well at all, that's ok but it is my vacation too. Fortunately she has a boyfriend now and they live in Fl. in the winter and usually just meet us for a day or so at the parks. That works well.

Last year we invited Dh's mom to come with us, we don't see her as much and she and dd weren't as close b/c of that, we are in a place now that we could afford to just invite her and pay for everything, she couldn't have come if we didn't. She is really easy going and fun we had a great time. It was great for her and dd's relationship. She had never been and just thought it was all so great. She is pretty young for a Grandma so she would ride anything. I think it can be a great bonding time for your whole family IF the parties involved get along and the grandparents aren't overly bossy and don't try to parent your child when you are right there to do it. I have friends who did the grandparent thing and it was a nightmare b/c of that.

I guess if you feel everyone is compatable and you are very clear on what everyone expects and needs I'd say go for it. I would invite either of our moms (no dads alive) again. Dd is an only so for that reason it is good for her too, more people usually equals more fun.

 

[katyjeka]

I've been planning our December trip for almost a year, which will include my inlaws and brother inlaw. My dh and I decided his parents deserve a vacation. After 9 children, they have never left the state of Pa. Our dd's are excited that Pap, Gram, and Uncle Johnnie are going. "Pap" is 76, Grammy, a little younger. We have been to Disney many times, so we are taking our time this trip, and will be thankful for the stuff we see, and not worry about what we miss. A picture of our girls with their grandparents in front of the castle and the memories we'll make is worth the extra effort it will take traveling in such a large, SLOW, group. My mil is so excited, as this has been a dream of hers for too long.(She's like a little kid)I've made our adr's, as they love to eat, and we want to treat them to some nice meals. I'm the overplanner in our family, so I'm looking forward to slowing down, and enjoying the extras that we sometimes miss, rushing from ride to ride. Whatever you decide, have a great trip. Janice

 

[disney's daughter]

I am the Mother/Grandmother/Mother In Law...and I have been taking everybody (husband, sons, daughter in laws, grandchildren, sister and brother in law to Disney World once a year. (for several years) I also go a few times a year with just my sister. I make one dinner (or Character Breakfast) for each day we are there...Most mornings, we just eat in our rooms..(after stopping real quick for some groceires) We usually start our mornings out together...then, split up a few times during the day...(if we want)...then come together again for dinner...It all depends on how everybody feels...My adult sons "run in Commando type style"....I used to try to keep up with them...but, now...I just "wave them on"....My sister and our husbands and I will then...either take our time walking around the park...or stop and get a snack or something. I've been on all the rides with my grandchildren before...So...it feels ok to be by ourselves...So...maybe there are reasons...for separating for just a while...We need a break...and they probably do, too...So far, it has worked out great. Back a couple of years ago...when my youngest granddaughter...(let's just say she had some temper tantrums) would get mad and throw her fits...I'd encourage my one son and daughter in law to just take the other two kids off on some rides...while my husband, sister, and I took the youngest one some place else for a few hours..She'd calm down after I threatened to take her back to the hotel rooms...turn on the TV and watch the news if she didn't behave! (It worked) .......Whew!...But, it did help the situation for a while....

What also helped is that I had other people to wander off with...I wouldn't have wanted to go off by myself...I'm just not as comfortable doing that. Everybody is different...

 

[twinspluscade]

I do think that she would enjoy it, but I feel bad that she would be sitting at the end of every ride waiting for us. There's not too much that she would go on. More at WDW than say, Six Flags, but still, there's a lot she won't do. I know it's completely selfish but part of why we want to invite one of them to travel with us is so that on the rides where you pair up, the kids all have an adult to ride with. But I can't see her going on Soarin or Test Track or Star Tours, so things like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (which my thrill seeking kids would LOVE) would be a no-go. This isn't recent or due to an injury- she's had these preferences ever since I could remember. She'd also have a harder time having the cash flow or time off work to go (they're very particular about time off). It's ironic because otherwise she'd be the one we'd prefer to travel with- she'd have more respect for our wishes about not completely overindulging the kids with material stuff, and she'd be more willing to get up every morning and stick to some kind of schedule. The IL's are notoriously late for everything. I think we'll have to find some way to ask both of them- watch, they'll both come

Hi! I don't have any input on bringing relatives with, but wanted to add that BOTH your twins will fit with one adult on all rides. We have 5 year old twins, plus a 3 year old. On all the rides (including Splash, BTMR, etc) Dh rode in one seat with our 5 year old twins, and fit fine. There are only a few where 3 in a row won't work: EE, Space Mountain, Rock N Roller Coaster--but I'm guessing your twins wouldn't be big enough for those rides anyway. Just wanted to point out about the seating, in case you did want to bring your Mom.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I have been talking about taking a family trip for the past 4 years. My parents have been such a big part of my children's lives that I could not imagine them not going. They have never been on a long vacation before. My parents are in their 60's and are still working; my dad still works over 50 hours a week as a mechanic. This is a huge vacation for all of us. 9 nights at the Poly (w/code to save us 1000.00).

My parents haven't been there since 1976. It is my kids 10, 7, and 5 first time. I know they want to share this experience with them. Most of our ressies are together, with a few exceptions. They are going to go at their own pace and relax. We will spend time with them, but have plenty of family time. They are going to keep the kids one evening so that we can have our couple time and then we will use the Neverland Club for another.

I have been really building this up for them because I want it to be so relaxing and magical for them. They deserve it. We as a family, kids included, even chipped in for a gift card for them so they will have a little extra for the Food and Wine Festival.

Sorry so long, just wanted to express my thoughts.

 

[tlbwriter]

I think the fundamental question is whether you would ask MIL to come along because you think she'd enjoy it, or are you asking her to do a favor for you? As the previous poster pointed out, if your sole purpose of asking her is to make sure each of your children has an adult, it's going to be difficult or impossible for her to do her own thing. And if you're asking her to follow your vacation style (up and at 'em) instead of her own (sleep in and relax), then again, this sounds like a favor for you and not a gift to her. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But if you're asking her to do this for you, it changes things. You should pay her way, and when you bring it up, you should make it clear that there is a certain way you like to vacation, and ask if she would be willing to help, instead of just asking if she'd like to vacation with you.

Instead of saying "MIL, would you like to join us on our vacation?" I'd say "MIL, we're planning a WDW vacation, and we would really like another adult to come so each child will have an adult 'buddy.' Would you be interested? It would mean getting up early and riding lots of rides. We'd really appreciate it if you could go, and we'd pay for your transportation, room, and ticket (meals too, if you can), but we understand if you can't."

 

[solferino]

Oh man, this thread gave me a nightmare last night. It was on a trip, but with my parents. Love them, but WDW is so not their kind of place, which was very clear in the dream. What a crappy trip it was turning out to be. Thank goodness for a cat walking on my chest and waking me up.