Need some advice...

[ChisJo]

In August, I am heading off to WDW, and cannot be more excited. Saving has been really tough since I lost my job and depended on my savings to pay for the trip. I will be there for 4 days solo and my BF and her husband will be joining me for the following 8 days. Here's the problem...
While I was unemployed for a month, I looked for deals and found a great rate on a DD hotel and a very impressive rate on a rental car. I booked them, with their okay. I cannot afford to be spending an excessive amount on a hotel or a rental car, unlike them. They are now telling me that the hotel is not suitable (it's the Comfort Inn LBV) because it looks run down and old, and the car is not okay because he will not be able to drive it (it's under my name since I will be driving it for the first 4 days and will be picking them up from the airport in it, and I cannot afford to spend more to add an additional driver. Plus, cannot get the same rate by changing reservation information to him driving for the 8 days, plus, why does he have to be so possessive about driving???).
They are making me really frustrated. They know my financial situation and it seems that they don't care. I am willing to go ahead and move everything around, as long as it doesn't cost me too much more, but the problem is that they are wanting to go to hotels that are really expensive and way out of the question for my financial situation. I don't want to be the party pooper because of my finances, but I was unemployed for a month and I'm a full time univesity student. They both have excellent jobs and it is annoying me that they cannot understand this.
Anyways, how should I handle this. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, Jo

 

[FayeW]

ChrisJo,

Can you afford the full cost of the rental car on your own? If so, I would explain to them that you would love to all stay at the same location, but Comfort Inn is really all that your budget allows for. Let them stay where they want, and get their own rental car. That way, you won't have to listen to them gripe about the arrangements/accomodations the whole holiday, and you would still have the rental car to meet them for any group activities. Who knows, 8 days of togetherness with a couple might be a few days to much, and you might be grateful for your own space and car!

If they can live with the accomodations, but the rental car is an issue, again, let them get their own, or have them pay the cost of putting the extra driver on.

 

[maryliz]

Tell them politely that you have to do what you can afford. I want to say that there are lots of Cdn Dis'ers who always stay at Comfort Inn LBV for their first night before checking into Disney -- Tim'n'Dan'sMom -- isn't this where you always stay???

The other thing to consider is ... can you get a good on-site room with a code rate? Depending on when you're going in Aug, you may be back to value season where it is much, much cheaper. And being on-site gives you the transportation, so take the Mears shuttle from the airport and skip the rental car totally. If they decide they really want a car, let them pay for it, and he can drive it all he wants

I've stayed at the Value resorts during value season for as little as $49/night. Check out www.mousesavers.com to see if there are any codes yet for your travel dates.

It's too bad the Courtyard by Marriott in DD was bought out by Holiday Inn (I think). The past 2 summers in August they've offered their rooms for $20/night Sun-Thurs and about $59-$89/night on the weekends. You had to prepay the weekday nights and were non-refundable, but this hotel was easily within walking distance to DD where you could catch a bus to anywhere on site ... again getting rid of the rental car idea

Good luck ... remember, this is your vacation too!


Mary-Liz

 

[PhotobearSam]

I would take one of your friends aside and say that you are really having difficulty and can only afford waht you had previously agreed upon.

Tell them that if they want to upgrade that they need to pay the difference between the 2 of them and you might be able to give a little bit more but not much.

Tell them that if they want him to drive that they must pay for it...

That is only fair.

If these people are true friends they will understand and if they don't...They are not true friends.

I would never expect that my friends could pay more at the last minute...If I want more (bigger, better) I expect to have to pay for it.

Try rentalcodes.com for codes for discount on car rentals and maybe visit the transportation board and ask for the help of Gail Hayden...She knows everything about rental deals...She's a rental car guru in my book...

Look at hotelkingdom.com for deals on better places to stay and give them options...

I personally think they are being oblivious about your situation because they are not living it...Let them know and it might save your trip.

 

[PhotobearSam]

What deal did you get on the room....?

If it's for more than $40 a night maybe look at skyauction.com and rent a villa for a lot less...

We have used them 4 times and have gotten 2 bedroom condo's for a week with 2 bathrooms full kitchen and have paid less than $300 US for the week taxes included...

Let me know if I can help...

 

[PhotobearSam]

What did you end up doing

 

[ChisJo]

okay, so I ended up talking with her explaining that I know they wanted to have the most lavish holidays of holidays, and that I understood, but if she wanted to stay in the same room with me and share the car, then they would have to understand that we would have to negotiate on the price. I told her there was no way that I could afford a room that was over $75/night (am considering cost after exchange) and that I could not find a car that was comparable in price and that if her husband wanted to add himself as an extra driver that was fine, but they would have to pay for the difference.
Otherwise, I told her that mayby we should stay in different rooms and each get our own car. I am happy with the price I got everything for and would be more than happy to pay for it myself if that was the case.
They are getting back to me.
understand that I said this in a very nice manner (I hate confrontation), but I was also very honest. I am hoping that all things work out - I will keep you posted!
thanks everyone for the advice - it helped a lot.
Jo