My MIL is joining us...

[leebee]

...and I couldn't be more thrilled! DH has been kinda negative about this trip (ANOTHER trip to WDW...he doesn't get it), but this is improving his outlook. I know we will have to gear down with Grandma along, but she's pretty active, even though she's 71. We arrive 12/8-12/15, Grandma will be with us 12/9-12/13, so we'll have a few days of heavy-duty Disney all to ourselves. Thinking CP on Friday night if it's not sold out. Any suggestions on how to approach my planning? DD and I have AP, DH and MIL do not. Maybe a 3day Alamo PH for MIL?

Any help, suggestions, etc. will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My ILs are coming with us also. They can't decide on how many days they need on a hopper. I may just have to tell them what to buy. It is very difficult to gauge what they will need. I am considering having them buy more days than they need and I will buy the left over tickets from them.

They are the same age as your MIL and I know we will have to SLOW down a bit.

Lori

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I just found out that my daughter and family are planning a 2005 trip with some other couples. My grandkids grew up watching the Disney park videos with me and I have been to the parks with them twice before when they were very little. I would dearly love to go again but am hesitant as my daughter and I do not have much of a relationship. (wish it were different)

I can pay my own way, drive down myself and do not even want to stay near them as I would not want to have the grandsons everyday as I am old and slow and tire easily BUT would be in heaven to have them for a day, or part of one, so that I could give them an individual tour of what I believe would be their favorite things.

I am close to several of the other couples (I was a 4-H leader and had many of them and I currently tutor many of their children -for free) so I do not think it would be a problem to anyone but my daughter,who would probably think (might be right??) that I am butting in.

It warms the cockles of my heart to see families who include the older generation in things and you are wise as it will give you parents a bit of a rest too. Such wonderful memories you will be storing up for your children too. Is a win win for everyone. Sometimes slowing down in the parks is the best thing you can do. You miss so much when you rush.

Have fun and maybe we will see you there!

We are leaving Sunday for 16 nites.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I agree with SlightlyGoofy that it's so nice to see extended families enjoying WDW together. My in-laws have no desire to go and if they did, they wouldn't enjoy it anyway. My FIL wouldn't want to be on any kind of schedule and my MIL would complain if she wasn't doing just what she wanted to do (IE, older versions of my children, who I just went to WDW without ). I do know this for a fact since they used to live a couple miles from Dissneyland and we went there several times with them.

I am bringing my 4yo in December and meeting my sister (who's been many times) and my mother, for her first visit at 81yo. I am so excited for this trip. It's wonderful going with a first timer and my mother is the type to try anything her health will allow her to try. She has a wonderful attitude when it comes to going places and doing things and the trip will be a lot of fun. We will really have to slow our pace down, though, which will be a different experience.

Have fun with your MIL and make sure you get her involved with the planning. Maybe have one of the planning videos/CD's sent to her.

T&B

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

My FIL passed away suddenly March 2003. He was 59 and had a massive heart attack at work and died instantly. He never had any health problems so this was a shock to our family. We asked my MIL to go to WDW with us in April 2003, but she said no since it was only 6 weeks after his death. She did decide to go with us to US/MVMCP in Dec 2003 and she had a blast! Our twins were 5 at the time and loved showing Grandma all the rides they love to ride. MIL loved MIB and Spiderman at US and thought the parade at MVMCP was fantastic. We asked her to go again with us for our November 2004 trip and she said "YES" without even hesitating. I loved having her along and it was nice to have an extra pair of eyes and hands to watch the kids and when a meltdown was coming Grandma could always smooth over the situation. My FIL didn't like rides, they made him sick. We had asked them in the past to go, but they always said no. I know my MIL wouldn't go to WDW if we didn't ask her, so I'm glad she gets a chance to travel and enjoy life. Now if I could just convince her to go on DCL, she says she's afraid of deep water!

 

[QJ411]

Me too! I agree w/ SlightlyGoofy, it is nice to see FAMILIES who includes older generations. (Although, I wish my grandma was still here to go w/ us ) but it is nice to see.

DH and I will be leaving soon w/ my MIL/FIL/SIL for MNSSHP for 3 days, then in Dec. DH and I will be going on the DCL w/ my parents and my sister...I can't wait for either.

I think it's important for us to go on vacations with our families (wish we could ALL go together at once, but couldn't work the schedules) and take advantage of all the "Magical Memories" we share together.

Have fun everyone, hope to meet some of you while we're down there!

 

[m&m's mom]

We have only seen WDW once without at least one set of parents.
In Nov. we are trying something new by taking my parents and my DH's DM as well. Everyone gets along so well that I am really looking forward to the trip. Also it helps that it is only 5 days. Not near enough time for anyone to get anyones nerves.
I believe in making memories and not buying my kids more "stuff". I have 5 and 8 YO DD's and I want them to have as many memories of all of their grandparents as possible, and what better place than at WDW?

 

[DVCTiff]

I just got my 67 year old mom to sign on for our trip next May. I've taken her to DL/CA once when I was grown and she took me there when I was 6 or 7. It was so amazing to see her act like a kid again at DL, and I hope our trip to WDW will reveal more of the same. I'm just so excited to show her the World.

Maybe I'll start a new thread re: best schedules with the ...what do we call them? The "wiser generation?" Generation Geritol? Anyway, I'm excited to plan a totally different kind of trip with her in mind. I've already booked Discovery Cove and I think La Nouba is a great idea.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

My dh and I have found that Disney w/o kids was a different experience and going with grands is something else also. Is much to be said for all the different trips and different combinations of friends and family. One thing that I have found is that it is good to have time to yourselves as well as it is near impossible to please every single person every single time. Is sort of like living together, only works if everyone respects each others differences and privacy.

We are meeting friends this trip and we will do some things together and not others. Looking forward to the Beach Boy concert with my friend though, she is a bit older than I am but is a hoot to be with and very much young at heart.

I wish we could have taken my mil to DW, I think she would have enjoyed it. My mom hated to travel and would never have gone. Most I could do for her was to bring her here for a vacation and not allow her to do anything. I would rather have regrets over the things that I do rather than regrets over things I did NOT do.

Such a loving bunch of people here. Looking forward to seeing you all in the parks. I always have special smiles for those who are helping the older generation enjoy themselves while out and about. I volunteer at nursing homes and am sad to see so many who are warehoused and abandoned. I work with children also. Since I am an overly obsessive person it is good that I have so many people in my life who need attention. Saves my poor family from having to put up with it all. LOL

Slightly Goofy/Linda