Just a little vent....

[kellyg403]

I am in reservation He doulbe hockey sticks. I have changed, rearranged and STILL am disapointing someone in the crowd! Now that we are 26 days away now everyone has a say in everything...where were they LAST week? Last night I just got up from the table and went to my room. It is getting on my last nerve. I am half tempted to leave without them...URGGGGG! So tonight I am going to inform DH that the 7 members of this party that didn't care where they ate because we were going to Disney and that is good enough better remember that. And since I can't say it to them without feeling bad I need to say it somewhere..but this trip was for them and there were some things I wanted to do and was hoping somewhere along the line I might be able to squeeze a few of them in without them being the wiser. Now I just want to plan what I want to do and heck with them..!!!

OK..now I feel better. Maybe it is just the excitement now that we are under 30 days but geez...give me a break. Now they know why 3 months ago I wanted input. I FINALLY this morning got a reservation for WCC after canceling the first one. They wanted it out, then back in. I sleep and eat disney planning, not to mention all the other stuff and I was so enjoying it until someone named DH decided they wanted to know what we were doing at WDW. I think I am going to find something VERY expensive at WDW that DH is going to have to buy for me to make up for this!

Thanks for listening..I feel better already...ready enough to tackle that 6 foot 2 guy who lives here!

Kelly

 

[puddleduck]

I am always the one that plans vacations. I love to do it, but it always seems that the people who were so thrilled w/ my plans during the whole planning stage, sure get picky when we get to our destination. The summer before last, I was in charge of planning a trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast. I showed them pictures of the beach house, how much it would cost, the price compared to other places. When we got there my sil complained about everything. It is last time I plan for that group. My advice is give them the number to Disney dining and tell them to have fun, that you did what you could do.

 

[momoftriplets]

Hang in there, Kelly! I have only planned a vacation for my immediate family, but I know of others who have been in your shoes. Don't be afraid to tell these people -to their faces - that they had the opportunity to give input & now it's too late. They said they would be happy regardless "because it's Disney" (I think you said). Now they need to accept what you offer them. Remember, YOU are the Disney expert , not them. I give you "permission" to schedule things the way you want. Enjoy yourself, it's your vacation, too. Here's some pixie dust for you! Barb

 

[Chuck S]

I know the feeling. I usually say something like, "If there is a specific restaurant you want to try, let me know by (insert date). otherwise, I will book my personal favorites, and there will be no changes once the ressies are made." Then I stick to it.

 

[VSL]

It hasn't happened to me (yet!), but I can imagine the frustration/rage (yes - rage!) that I would feel over it!

You know, they said they don't mind, so they damn well better not mind!

 

[cobbler]

HUGS!!! This is exactly why I don't plan vacations for family, or invite extended family for me to take care of it.

If they want to go down the same time we do - great. I tell them where we are eating and at what time. If they want to join us - fab - if not then find your own food!

 

[asianmom]

Hey, I've been there too. DH complains A LOT on trips and he never ever bother to contribute to planning. The important thing is to realise that your family might not be 100percent happy with everything you've planned for them but at the end of it, they would always know that you have put in alot of effort for them. I think all's not lost. They do appreciate it U know.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

I *USED* to travel with my *EX BEST FRIEND* and she was like that all the time, always changing her mind, whatever, to make me nuts and to annoy the others, so guess what I've done.....???? I travel alone and it's great! The others don't mind her not being with us and we can eat, plan and do what we want! I've been there and I totally feel your pain!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Two times now I have planned trips for my mom and her BF to come on vacation with my family. No input ever given until we get there, then complain, complain. I have finally had enough!!! We were supposed to cruise the 11 night Southern Carribbean DCL with them next September. I cancelled it and rebooked another DCL with just my immediate family. There were other issues with my mom also, but this was part of it. I learned my lesson and you will too. Have fun on your trip!

 

[Shelby5514]

I'm planning a 6 day trip that will include my DH's parents and my mom. Thankfully they happy with whatever I choose, however there's an Aunt & Uncle that may be joining us for a day or two. I plan on sending them OUR schedule in their Christmas card telling them...'this is where we'll be, come join us if you can!' As much as we all would like to see them, we're all firm on the fact that we WILL NOT be planning OUR vacation around their schedule!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Hey, Kelly! - I know exactly what you are going through, I used to vacation with one of my dearest friends *we're still friends, lol* but I stopped because she was like that, too. She would leave all the planning to me, but then complain that everything was "too planned out."

So, we tried it her way one trip. She didn't want to get to the airport early *we were flying Southwest* so, we were the last passengers on the plane. She griped the whole trip that we didn't get to sit together. While planning the trip, I suggested that we make reservations for our night's stay at Cocoa Beach - nope, she thought we could just "wing it". We nearly had to sleep in the car! And - you guessed it - she complained at the high price we had to pay for our room. She didn't want to follow any touring plans for the parks once we got to WDW, and later complained that she "didn't really get to see much". Grrrrr!

I only plan vacations for my immediate family now, they are happy to let Mom make the plans - no complaints!

 

[Glorydaz]

I feel your pain Kelly - I used to share a house with someone like that - no input at all until we arrived and then it was "why this" and "why that" ...

now I'm fortunate enough to share my life with someone who is thrilled with whatever I plan for us. to be honest, I plan for us but I keep "me" in mind...since he likes to do what I do and eat same kinds of food, we mesh very well...

maybe it's just nerves...just remember to take a deep breath and ENJOY - after all, it's your vacation and you've been waiting a long time for this! and on the bright side, being in Disney might be enough for the "magic" to sink in for them!

have a great trip........

 

[laura001]

Oh boy! Heads up Kelly. It seems that people never understand what goes into planning a vacation like this until they have done it, and unfortunately trying to please everyone is a BIG job. I hope this all works out for you and you can settle down and enjoy it yourself.

Planning for me is always the best part of the vacation, ok...being there is great oo But like you I tend to get a little stressed out if everyone doesn't seem happy with my efforts, they always start with....oh, I don't care what we do or where we eat....and then...well...I am sure you have heard it.

My plan this year was this:

I gave everyone calendars with our dates of vacation, filled in EE mornings and nights, which days I figured we should do what park etc. With this I gave everyone copies of menu's from the restaurants that I thought we should pick from to eat. In return I asked for each person to tell me ONE thing, whether it be restaurant, activity, attraction etc. that they did not want to miss. Also they had to let me know one restaurant to eat from in each park, and if they weren't happy with the choices I gave them they could look up their own. As always, Majority rules!

We were there for more number of nights vs. how many of us there were so it worked out well in the restuarant dept. (plus some of them we did lunch in). We made sure that we all went to each of the things that was our #1 thing not to miss and everyone enjoyed sharing these experiences with each other. Of course there were things we would like to have done that we couldn't fit in, but we will save them for the next trip.

Once we finalized everything I did up final calendars for each of us. We did vary from our plan a little, but it was never a problem and it was much easier on me because I felt like they all had a little input even if they said ahead of time that they didn't care.

Good Luck!

 

[lagunaseca]

Oh my! Can I relate to this thread! I'm always the vacation planner and feel responsible if someone doesn't like where/what I've chosen. More often than not they are happy but when they aren't it can be a bummer. We went to WDW last summer with my best friend's family. They had never been, we've been 6 times in 8 years. I BEGGED them to look at the menu section that I sent them the link to but the best answer I could get was, "You know the best places - we aren't picky. You decide." We had dinner adr's at 1900 Park Faire. I wanted them to see the GF and knew her dh would balk at the prices at Narcoosee's or Citricos and figured a buffet would suit everyone. We all enjoyed it but friend's dh who still balked at the price since he thought the food wasn't worth it and he didn't get his drink refilled. Then we had ADR's at Le Cellier one evening and had some time to kill and waited on a bench while our teens did Test Track again. We decided that since we had 25 minutes until our ADR we would grab a cold beer. My friend told her dh to get her a pretzel with cheese sauce. Only a DIS'er would understand this but I almost lost my breath. I said, "No, wait on that. They have the most wonderful pretzel bread sticks that are complimentary and cheddar cheese soup. Just wait 10 minutes, and we'll walk over there for our p.s." Argh, here he comes back with huge pretzels and nacho cheese sauce to eat. Of course, they picked at their meals at Le Cellier, never tried the soup or the breadsticks. I ended up cancelling 3 ADR's since I realized that they were happier grabbing cs and deciding as they went along. We are going back this summer with them and I have sent the link once again to my friend. I am going to emphasize the need for her to pick out a couple of places for ADR's and this time if they want to wing it and the teens want to eat at c.s. while we eat t.s so be it. I am no longer going to feel responsible and guilty. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself

 

[mmcguire]

Yikes -- you guys are making me nervous! I've been planning our Dec trip for 7 of us since May. You guessed it -- very little input on meals from the others. As some of you mentioned, I sent them links to the menus, even printed and took them to their house for feedback.

From May-Oct, it was, "Oh, you know the best places, we trust your judgement. We're glad not to be bothered with it." I got all the ADRs made, printed little agendas for everyone, and THEN at about 60 days out, they decided to really look at everything. Thankfully, all that came of it was they nixed Marrakesh because they'd been before and weren't impressed (whew!) , but now I'm worried what's going to happen when we get there!

One thing I am very glad of is that if they decide they don't want to do something, our immediate family can go without them, and they can do whatever they want.

 

[Lizzybee]

It sounds horribly frustrating. I've never been exactly in your shoes, but you do feel the pressure when you are the one "in charge" of the arrangements. Maybe if you can manage to say it without being angry just let them know you've tried very hard to accomodate everyone's wishes and make this trip magical but your feelings are hurt and it isn't feeling so magical to you. If that doesn't work for you, I guess I would just quit worrying about the ADRs and just say, "I have these ADRs, if you don't care to join us for a certain meal, that's fine. I'll give you the WDW dining number and maybe you'll have better luck making the ADR you want for fewer people, sometimes larger groups are harder to accomodate." Sometimes it's tough to be a DIS'er