Just back, Never Again!

[tygerlilli]

Families..we love 'em, but they can sure make us crazy, huh? The thing is, I bet your parents loved the time with you and girls, even if they didn't "get" the Disney magic. So, its good that you made the trip with them.

When your husband is back, safe and sound, the next trip you and your family make to Disney World will be sweet and magical and wonderful. I hope he comes home soon! And please thank him from all of us here.

 

[java]

The only ones we ever had fun with were my Brother and his wife. They understand and relate to my control freak Disney Commando style and rolled with it. They even said they enjoyed it and saw more than they ever thought they would.(I think they were just being nice ) The one time we went with my mother it was just OK, not great but not a disaster. It was enough though for us to say never again. Our big drag is my IL's that live about 5 minutes from Disney. So whenever we go they expect a nice loooong visit from us. Hello I can fit a dinner into my schedule but not every dinner while we are there. We always invite them to come along to the parks but that is not their thing. We brought my FIL to Sea World and he had a great time. I think they would love it but they are just set in their ways. So looks like Disney with just us this year. But that is fine with me.

 

[disnutt]

We're going in May. We invited my in-laws to go with us. They proceeded to invite my ex-SIL and 2 nephews.

There is a reason my BIL divorced the woman. He didn't want her around we surely don't.

We love our nephews but this trip is for my DD 5th Bday and the boys would make snide comments about the princesses and characters so I really didn't want them coming on this trip or I would have invited them.

Friday we heard that the ex-SIL can't take of the time and the nephews won't be coming either!!!!

Now, I'm at the point I don't even want the in-laws to come. They haven't purchased their train tickets yet so maybe I'll luck out.

 

[Bellefan66]

aawwww,so sorry! After all that planning,what a bummer. Good attitude though,ANY Disney trip is better than NO Disney trip. I am so fortunate,my parents are the nuts that got us kids hooked on Disney! Good luck on the next trip!

 

[DisneyMim]

Sorry your trip was less than you hoped. I think it will be wonderful when your husband comes home to plan a trip to Disney. Something wonderful to look forward to!!! It is very hard to go to Disney with non-magical people. The only ones we truly get along with are my brother and his family. They are just like us! It's so funny because we all think the same way, like the same restaurants, rides, etc. But I can relate how it is with people who don't think the same. Been there, done that. I think the key is to sit down BEFORE the trip and talk. Remember you don't have to be together the whole time. We enjoy eating in our favorite Disney restaurants so if someone wants to eat somewhere else we just say that isn't what we planned and we'll meet up again later. It isn't easy and sometimes it just isn't worth trying to plan a trip with certain people. Oh well, just my 2 cents. I hope your next vacation is magical for all of you!!!

 

[eleanor]

Iagree ,going with family members is a trying experience. I only go with my adult son because we both like the same things and go at the same speed. I have reach the point where I dont even try to suggest disney things to people going because they dont want to hear. Some think WDW is the MK and have no need for any help. . And Why do you want to go every year anyway. How often do I hear that.

 

[disneyaggie]

To annabelle . . .

YIKES! I can understand why you are already stressed. Sounds like you need to put your foot down NOW. Of course I don't know your family or others who are experiencing the same thing, but I feel safe to say that you don't deserve to already feel stressed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with letting these stressors know up front that you are going to take a stand. If not, you might as well stay home, dearie, and save your money for the next trip without the "stressors" coming along. I hope it all goes well for you! Gee, I hope you don't accidently lose them in the crowd somewhere . . .

 

[minkydog]

Ahhh...Disney with the parentals....We have done this trip, except not in a motor home. We did it in a pop-up, with my widowed mother. I thought it was such a good idea, get her out of the house, have fun with the kids. NOT.She complained about everything and generally just didn't "get it". She didn't like spending money in restaurants, not when we could just "go back to the camper."

Interestingly, now, two years later, she talks glowingly of "how much fun" Disney World was. I want to know which trip she was on, exactly.

Cathy--just returned from a Disney trip-for-two with the man of my dreams, who definitely "gets it"

 

[missypie]

If I tried to do Disney with either my parents or the inlaws (or any relatives for that matter) my head would absolutely EXPLODE!

 

[annabelle]

To annabelle . . .

YIKES! I can understand why you are already stressed. Sounds like you need to put your foot down NOW. Of course I don't know your family or others who are experiencing the same thing, but I feel safe to say that you don't deserve to already feel stressed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with letting these stressors know up front that you are going to take a stand. If not, you might as well stay home, dearie, and save your money for the next trip without the "stressors" coming along. I hope it all goes well for you! Gee, I hope you don't accidently lose them in the crowd somewhere . . .

Thanks for feeling my pain! But really, I AM looking forward to the trip and I do get along with my in-laws really well (they're really great people and mean very well)... it's just that I think we're all going into this trip with different expectations. The way I see it, the kids are going to have a blast with the cousins no matter what sort of petty issues come up with adults. I'm so thrilled we're getting to the beach afterwards... my 9 year old said he's more excited about the beach than Disney!

I think next time we're going to center our trip around the beach (on the gulf side) then drive in for a weekend at the parks.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Yikes, I'm sorry your trip wasn't what you hoped it would be. I know how it is to plan, plan, plan and then have those plans fall through. We've always gone to Disney just the 4 of us but this past trip we took my godfather, his wife, and my best friend and had a great time. It probably made a difference that they aren't family, lol. I have always wished that my grandparents would come with us on a Disney trip but they both hate to travel and refuse to leave the city. Plus, my grandmother walks so slow, we'd never make it anywhere! We took her to Washington, D.C. once and it took us forever to get from one place to the next. And she gets offended if we ask her to use a motorized wheelchair. Oh well. C'est la vie, eh? haha I wish your DH a safe return home from Iraq and that you all have an even more magical Disney vacation with him

 

[disneyaggie]

Well annabelle . . . I hope you ALL have a magical and wonderful time! Pixie dust and smiles to you all! Be sure to give us all a report when you get back.

 

[calena]

I was watching the Magical Gatherings video last week and just could not imagine who I would want to take with me on a trip to Disney. It would just be a nightmare to be hauling around 10, 15, 20 people. I want to go on a vacation to have fun, relax and indulge, not try to please 20 people or be a peacemaker. Years ago we went with our best friends to Maine and our friendship barely survived the trip! They look back on the trip very fondly though!
We went with my parents (then 77) last year to Orlando and they did "Disney" with us for one day. It was our hardest day because we had to keep track of everyone, but my parents really enjoyed it. The kids did too. They enjoyed having abuelito and abuelita to wave at and talk to. It was hardest for DH and myself. DH was running around getting fastpasses for us, but there was always the major discussion about which rides etc. We were all at MK for first time ever! It is just hard to move with 7 people who range in age from 3 to 77! We all went to the Kennedy Space Centre together ( not my choice but the rest enjoyed it) and they really enjoyed that.
So, this year my parents are joining us for a few days in Orlando. We will be there 11 days and they will come down for about 3. I am planning on doing one park day and two relaxed days while they are there. The kids are so excited they are joining us, so that will be good.

 

[jjarman]

DS14 and I are counting down the days until our much awaited trip next month. I have already started planning my next trip in 2 years and maybe even another in 4 years. The 4 year trip will be with DB and SIL and DN7 (then) and DN5 (then). DSIL insists I go with her to help plan and carry out everything. Also DB doesn’t do thrill rides so she needs someone to ride with her and, as she says, DB can watch the kids while we have fun. Now, we have a vacation together every year at the beach, both DB, their wives, all our kids and our mother. 12 of us this year. We generally get along just fine in one house but of course we have a big beach to escape to when someone gets on your nerves. Actually, this DSIL is a lot of fun but can be a little on the cheap side. She has talked in the past about bringing in “fixins” for lunch at the parks. Sorry. No way. I will not bring in bread and sandwich meat and eat on a hot park bench in the park. She will just have to save a little more and eat the park food. I think this will be our only problem. I have already planned though that if things get testy (and I can imagine with 2 boys it just might) we will plan to meet for lunch or supper and go our own ways.

 

[jennymouse]

I just returned from a trip with my 80yo father and aunt/uncle in their late 70's and had a great time, but it was just us adults. Yes, it's a different kind of trip than when I take my grandkids, but still very enjoyable and much more relaxed. Of course they were all into trying all the restaurants and I'd rented them scooters for the week so they never got tired and wanted a break. We stayed at the parks from opening to closing. I don't think I could handle going anywhere in a camper.

 

[tomerin]

this summer for the first time my brother and his family, wife and 2 teen daughters who are disney fans are joining us for 5 days in WDW. actually i am a bit apprehensive about this due to the fact of never have done this with anyone before but i have a wonderful relationship with my nieces and SIL so it shouldnt be a problem. in fact my brother and myself are actuall very excited about spending time in a place like WDW together as a family. i have 2 sons and he has 2 daughters so we are both looking foward to enjoying rides with each others children. TOT, SM and the like has to be a different experience with girls then with boys. my nieces are probably more fearless then my sons!! the only problem that could arise is that my SIL is a bit on the hype-nervous type so hopefully WDW will help her calm down and enjoy the experience.


most important thing here is that your DH arrives home soon. where else to recover from a horrid experience ilike Iraq then WDW.

prayers and pixie dust to you jkmmah and your family for DH's return

 

[highland3]

On the bright side, an irritating, frustrating, un-magical trip to Disney is still better than no trip, right?

I understand your frustration... but all I have to say is that if an 'un-magical trip to disney is still better than no trip'... GRANDPARENTS... no matter how frustrating they may be... are still better than No grandparents. I would LOVE to be able to share a Disney experience with my parents or my Il's but they aren't with us anymore. Enjoy them while you've gottem!

 

[mickey12810]

when we went in Jan 2000 we were touring with my parents and my younger sister and her family (we did the land/sea) The first day was sooooo wasted. They just did not move in "disney mode". I told them the next day that we were venturing out on our own and my dad said it was about time. The next trip we took included my older sister and her 4 kids and we only met up with my younger sister and mom and dad at dinner time. It was the best vacation and I'm hoping that Dad wants to spend more of the inheritance real soon on the 15 of us.

 

[henrylovespooh]

We took my parents along for a trip four years ago. My DS was 7 months old. We got adjoining rooms at CSR and I have to say, we had a good time. My parents took me and my brother to WDW when we were kids and they were real troopers. We took short breaks for my DS and it was nice to have him nap in our room while we watched tv in theirs. When they didn't want to do something, they didn't do it. I pick on my parents alot, but they are great on trips. Now I see that that is rare!

To the future honeymooners - read all these posts carefully and enjoy your honeymoon! It sounds like you might have a challenge on your hands with all those people wanting to go to parks with you. I would give everyone your schedule and give them the option of coming or not. Since it's your special trip, doing that might help to make sure it's a trip of a lifetime for you without anyone raining on your parade. Enjoy!

And Godspeed to the DH returning from Iraq!

 

[jkmmah]

You all have no idea how very touched i am at all the goodwill, wishes, and prayers you've sent out on my dh's behalf. I'm moved beyond words. Thank you.

As for the comment about enjoying my parents while I've got them because frustrating grandparents are better than no grandparents...wow, you put this whole trip into perspective for me. I've been stewing about how it wasn't all I wanted it to be when in reality, it may just have been everything they imagined it to be with their grandchildren. My gratitude for such a positive spin on my rant.

It's no surprise why I'm addicted to these boards! I just love you guys!