Just back, Never Again!

[mrsswat]

I guess we're pretty lucky - we've taken our families, both sides, all ages, on numerous occasions, and have rarely had a problem. It's always understood, this is what we're doing, coming along? Fine. No? That's fine too, what are you doing, maybe it's better than what we're doing. If not, everyone goes there own way and somehow, we always end up having a drink at the end of the night together and laughing over someone's antics. The only problem we have is my SIL, if she wants a LARGE fry, she wants a LARGE fry - not 2 medium. One trip on a lunch drive through McDonald's on the way down, she wouldn't eat the 2 medium my DB ordered her because they weren't a LARGE. That was at least 5 years ago, and she hasn't lived it down yet!! Of course we are all practical jokers, so that helps I think. Once we took my husbands bathing suit off the chair from the patio where he had it drying, and he carried on for hours about how someone stole it right off the chair! I mean carried on for hours!! Finally my mom couldn't contain herself anymore and her laughing let the cat out of the bag. It's a shame it doesn't work for some people, because some of our fondest family memories are of those "family" trips!!

 

[ncbyrne]

I have family trips that were delightful and I've also had family trips that are NIGHTMARES! DH and I have 5 kids and 6 DGks. One DD and her two girls are true WDW troupers...they love it as much as DH and I do. The other kids? Well, lets just say that a relaxing day on a tropical beach, or a cruise is their thing. DH and I are commandos - hit the parks running at rope drop and GO the entire week - we cram things to do into every minute. We go to WDW for Disney excitement, not room service or reading by the pool! And as another poster said, we go there for FOOD - esp. DH - he loves going out to eat and all those restaurants in close proximity are paradise! On one trip with 2 DDs and 3 DGDs, we ate french fries, burgers or pizza, every lunch and dinner all week. Ugh oh ugh, oh double UGH!!! All our kids KNOW how we travel, and yet one DS keeps asking us to plan a Magical Gathering for ALL of us. Ummm......NOT going to happen!
Oh, and we also went with my B-I-L and his wife one time. They have a time share in the Orlando area and insisted we stay with them. We went...but that's another NEVER AGAIN story.

 

[kilee]

I've taken both my family and my MIL. With my family there was 9 of them and they were all "newbies". Interesting to say the least. It had a few stressful moments. By day 2, everyone realized we had to split up or it was never going to work. So we got together for parades, fireworks and meals. Then again at night at our pool home we rented. It ended up working out great.

Then last spring we took my MIL--whom I don't have a relationship with to start. It was a disaster. DH and I only ever came close to getting a divorce once and it was then!!! It was the worst trip ever.

Anyhow, we are planning on going for 10 days this April and my parents are coming again--but only for 4 days smack in the middle. I'm actually excited to have them again. This time since it's just them, I know they'll stick w/ us the whole time. I am grateful we'll have a few days before and after to ourselves though too.

 

[Leota]

Wow. I knew I was lucky with my family! We have taken my parents 3x & will take them again. We have also taken a trip with the extended family & it was so Magical.
I'm sorry your trip didn't go as well.

Sending your DH good vibes to come home soon so you can all celebrate his return with a trip to WDW for just you guys!

 

[PolyAddict]

I have never ever ever ever ever!!!!!! Had the desire to bring my extended family on a Disney trip!!!!! And never will!!!

My dh and I went when I graduated high school with another group from my school.

We went again when we got married 2 years later.

Since then it has ALWAYS been just us and our kids

Nothing better than that

Michele

 

[seashoreCM]

Can't you change plans in the middle of your trip?

If BIL wants you to stay at their condo and doens't want to drive you to the parks when you are ready, move out.

If Mother insists on sitting on a bench for half an hour, how about telling her you spent good money to come here to ride on rides. Reminisce on how she lecttured you in years past about spending good money on spinach or brussells sprouts and you had jolly well eat them and clean your plate. You then leave and rendezvous later. (Or did she buy the tickets?)

About riding in their minivan with no a/c versus the Disney bus, now you can complain and whine and wheedle about the heat! And refuse to sit on someone else's lap or let someone sit on your lap because there aren't enough seats, because it is too hot!

But sometimes extended family comes in handy to hold places on the ground for parades, hold tables at restaurants, etc.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[my3princes]

I have been with my family (5 of us) and my parents for 3 different trips. We have had a wonderful time all 3 times. My parents are not disney crazed like us, but they either do what we want and not complain or they can go on their own. DM usually stays with us and is wonderful with our kids. She has now done every ride in the MK (she was always afraid of rides, but if the kids can do it than so can she). DF will either hang with us, talk a walkie talkie and go on his own, or hang back at the camper or resort and enjoy a break. We just make sure before we leave home that everyone knows what to expect and we all have a great time. My family is very close and we always vacation together, Disney or elsewhere. I think that it is important for my kids to spend quality time with their grandparents.

 

[rcraw45425]

We just got back today and I remember commenting to my DH that I couldn't imagine making that trip with the four of us ( DD's 7&9) and either set of grandparents. Not that I don't love them it's just we move too fast for them! We are also very spontaneous, three parks in one day! One set of GP's are very frugal about meals, would have a series of eye pops if they saw our dinner tabs, the other DGP (grandpa) wants to do nothing but sit in front of the TV watching whatever sport is on and DGM only wants to shop We'd wind up in big fights, and never speak to each other again.

 

[IvyandLace]

*Hugs* to all of us who have "been there, done that...NEVER again!" I have had a few WDW trips with DH's side of the family that, if I may quote treehugger, "I only allow myself to remember...in small painful increments." Couldn't have said it better myself!

Here's to all of us who will, forever, keep Disney within our *immediate* families...where the magic lives! (There should definitely be some sort of Disney counseling for those who have less than magical trips due to family members along!)

IVY

 

[kimmar067]

...we took my MIL 2 years ago. Thank goodness she had her own room! (we were staying at WL at the time) I cannot even BEGIN to imagine being in the same sleeping quarters as her!

Ironically, we are leaving (?) in 2 weeks, and we MAY have to cancel. My MIL suffered a heart attack while recovering from knee-replacement surgery. She is now in ICU and the drs are trying to stabilize her to get her ready for a triple-bypass surgery on Tues morning! Please send PD!

PS ~ Prayers and PD for your DH's SAFE return home!

 

[eeyore0062]

You POOR thing! My sister in law has been here and we went with her to Epcot, and that was bad enough! She is a spendthrift, doesn't get the magic and wants everything HER way! DH and I are already planning a trip with DD to do it OUR way, again.

You have to start planning that trip for when your hubbie returns safely from Iraq. That way you can do it your way, eat where you want and really enjoy the magic and having him home. I hope he gets home safe and sound soon!

 

[annabelle]

Oh no... I'm really starting to get nervous about our upcoming trip this summer after reading all your horror stories!

We're going with our immediate family (3 kids)... then hubby's parents and my sister-in-law and her family (3 kids). They live 4 hours away... and we already got a bit a of grief because we aren't going to drive in to fly out of their airport so the cousins can all sit together! (It's something we talked about but it was never set in stone.) I ended up finding a great deal on airfare right out of our airport here... so I really don't want to add any more drive time on already exhausting trip.

This vacation is something we commited to years in advance and between having babies, and moving 2 times... we haven't had our own family vacation since Dh and I got married 5 years ago! So, we're going to be doing Disney this summer with the in-laws but have decided to end the week at the beach for the weekend (with just our family) 3 hours away. I'm already feeling the guilt from that. We're staying in my MIL's Orlando timeshare, so I feel like we're on "their" clock and obligated to do what they want to do. At the same time, we desperately want to get away and have our OWN family time - even just for a few days.

I love my in-laws dearly, but this trip is already stressing me out!

Someone please tell me I shouldn't feel guilty about leaving our big "Family Vacation" to spend time with just our family at the beach?

 

[treehugger]

: Here's to all of us who will, forever, keep Disney within our *immediate* families...where the magic lives! (There should definitely be some sort of Disney counseling for those who have less than magical trips due to family members along!)

IVY

Yeah Ivy they do it's called: "I'm Planning My Next Trip Without You Turkeys" intervention!

 

[newholidayx2]

thats why this summer its just DS & me - less people to try to please

 

[eeyore0062]

I now realize why I LOVE living 13 hours from our relatives!

We are very lucky in the respect that when my parents come, they want their own personal time as much, if not more than we do. It is some of those on the other side of the family that cause stress.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sorry it didn't work out... But I do agree with your sentiment at the end...

 

[pennyplanner]

Vacations always have a modicum of stress. For that reason we do not vacation with anyone but our own kids. I can't imagine trying WDW with disagreeable and/or difficult relatives (of which I have many!!!).

Annabelle, sweetie, of course it's not wrong to want a few days just with your own DH and child. Enjoy the beach and try really hard NOT to apologize for wanting that precious time alone.

Thanks everyone for mostly confirming my instincts of not ever bringing anyone along. I can vouch for a solo WDW trip! It was worth years of therapy to spend 5 days at the WL during the Epcot Flower and Garden Show last April.

--penny

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

You know...the people who seem to handle these extended situations the best are the ones who know how to disappear quietly or smile sweetly and say 'our little group is going to x but we'll get together with you at y' and make it stick.

People who invite themselves along...being one of those I have to say one makes a guess as to whether or not you were wanted along the last time. If you don't invite yourself its possible you could be wanted but whoever it is didn't have a clue you wanted to go.

All comments above aside... I know what you all mean...it took a while before I was able to whip my relatives in line to do things the way I wanted them done. And every time a newbie goes along scheduling goes out the window (because they are all alike!!!).

 

[Cookie Princess]

Ohhhh, I have lived that nightmare as well! We went with my parents for 9 long days. My mother had to use the ladie's room every 20 minutes, and always just as we were about to enter an attraction. They complained about food prices, and never wanted to separate so we could each do our own thing. When we would reprimand my son for something, they would yell at my husband and I. My dad made us miss the bus to the parks on several occassions as he is so S-L-O-W. He stirs his coffee 32 times...not kidding, we counted. My mother refused to go to the water park. When the MK parade was coming to an end my son (then 1 1/2) started to cry so my father holds him high in the air and starts chasing alongside the parade. Dumb idea in a crowd that big. Not only were we trying to keep up so as not to lose them, but there were a lot of angry people sitting along the parade route. We all laugh about it now, but we all agree...NEVER AGAIN!

 

[lovethattink]

We've had the same sentiments with Dh's side of the family. They don't enjoy what we do. They don't "get" the Disney magic. And even if we walk at a snail's pace, they still can't keep up with us. So we tell DS when that side of grandparent's are with us, that we will do what they want, since they wouldn't want to leave our side to do their own thing for a few hours. My parent's on the other hand, are great communicators. Mom's 1st words to us as we enter the park are usually, "ok, we're doing "this" at this time. If you don't want to do "this", then meet us at this place when it's over. Since I was pregnant, we got into the habit of taking 2 cars to the parks. That way, if some want to leave early, they can and the rest can stay without ruining the other's day. As far as accomodations go, we live 45 min from the parks, so everyone crashes at our house. So at home, we can't escape our company.