Our 10 day DREAM, turned into an 8 day nightmare - April/May 2012 *pic's added*

[stinksmom]

So sorry to hear about the problems on your trip! We've taken trips with friends or family almost every time we go. After the trip with family, we decided that would never happen again!! As far as friends, we have one family that we travel great with - we enjoy the same things and our children know better than to think about not being nice to each other. They are great friends and love each other like sisters. We are actually taking our third trip to DW with them in October. Other times, we haven't exactly traveled with friends but have know when friends would be there and would make it a point to catch up with them - whether or not it lasted the whole day or more than one just depended on their interests. We are honest and let everyone know ahead of time what's on our agenda. Plus we have been going to DW quite often over the last 8 years so we are more likely to give up some of the smaller things to help our friends have a good time but we certainly don't put all their wants ahead of ours!

Hope your trip next year goes much better!!

 

[loricdietzel]

Following this and eagerly waiting to hear about the rest of the trip!!! This is kinda like a train wreck!!!!

 

[figmentswife]

Reading this I am grateful my daughter has not asked to have a friend along on a trip. She’s almost 7 years older than her brother and I fear at some point she may want someone along. And I have no desire to take a friend or other family anywhere unless it was to the zoo or to the beach for just the day.

It sounds good on paper, but I think the only way I would do it is if I could afford to do everything for the friend I do for my dd or the other mom could do the same things. I would hope none of my daughter’s friends or cousins would behave like that, but I’m sure you didn’t think this girl would either.

My dd certainly isn't perfect. In fact, I can predict if my daughter were in your dd’s friend’s position she’d have issues, but she’d be bugging me not hassling her friend. And it wouldn't last long. I know I would not tolerate it. I keep waiting to read the other mom puts a stop to it. I bust my behind to take us on vacations and I would be livid if I had to deal with something like this. I’m sorry this happened and on top of it you weren’t feeling well.

I’m glad this wasn’t a “once in a lifetime” trip for you.

Welcome and NO - Don't take a friend. I think had it just been the friend it would have been alright, it's the mom causing some of the issues but allowing her to act like that.

Wow! Don't keep us hangin'. I need to know more! I am hoping that this trip is salvaged for you when the "friends" finally leave. What was that little monster saying to your DD?

Welcome - more is coming. Including the whispers to my DD

I have been reading from the start, but wanted to say thanks for reminding me why it's NOT a good idea to travel with friends/family! lol My mom wants to go on our cruise with us next year, hopefully she will forget. lol

Welcome - DON"T TAKE HER!!!!!!

Your plans started out so great!!

Then, you found about your tummy problems!

Decided you were going to do something nice for your daughter and friends.

And ended up with stomach problems and two PITA's.

So sorry for your troubles, but I hope you were able to at least make a few good memories!!

With the next update - no good, an we left never wanting to go back, however we are now making plans to go back next year ALONE!

OMG I'm so angry for you!! I know we can never know how our kids will react at Disney but seriously?!?! This "friend" of yours should have had her DD well warned about the desserts and spending money! Fair is fair! Hope the rest of the trip went smoothly but I have a feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg!!

NEVER take friends to Disney. Welcome

So sorry to hear about the problems on your trip! We've taken trips with friends or family almost every time we go. After the trip with family, we decided that would never happen again!! As far as friends, we have one family that we travel great with - we enjoy the same things and our children know better than to think about not being nice to each other. They are great friends and love each other like sisters. We are actually taking our third trip to DW with them in October. Other times, we haven't exactly traveled with friends but have know when friends would be there and would make it a point to catch up with them - whether or not it lasted the whole day or more than one just depended on their interests. We are honest and let everyone know ahead of time what's on our agenda. Plus we have been going to DW quite often over the last 8 years so we are more likely to give up some of the smaller things to help our friends have a good time but we certainly don't put all their wants ahead of ours!

Hope your trip next year goes much better!!

We have gone with family before - The trip with my family was great, the trip with DH's family not so much, but they are just hateful, to the point that we don't speak now, so I knew it wasn't going to be good and didn't expect it to be. But THIS trip was by far WORSE!

Following this and eagerly waiting to hear about the rest of the trip!!! This is kinda like a train wreck!!!!

It was a train wreck.....Welcome

 

[figmentswife]

Mon. April 30th
Epcot Day!
Because we stayed for the fireworks and my body is worn out from not feeling well (although better with the meds) we decided to get an extra 30 minutes of sleep and get to Epcot at opening, not 30 minutes before.

We do our normal thing….eat, go back to room then leave. We arrive at Epcot and I can’t find Jenny & Jordan. So I call, no answer so I leave a message that we are here and going in. Then as we start walking, I start feeling kind bad – run the the bathroom, and take medicine – YAY ME!!!

We head right over to the Character spot so that DH can get his picture with Goofy – Yep, that is all he wanted. We get done with picture and finally I get a call from Jenny, that she wanted to let Jordan sleep in b\c she was tired and they would meet us in a little while. I said fine, call me when you get here. DH, DD & I head over to see Figment – MY FAVORITE (ok, not the ride, Figment himself) then over to The Seas with Nemo, then Turtle Talk (you see that we are here for about 2 hours already) Finally Jenny calls and says they are in Epcot so I go over to meet them. We all get together, DD doesn’t even say hello to Jordan (weird ) and we decide it’s now time to eat so we go down to Sunshine Seasons (gluten free HEAVEN) We all get our food and eat, Jordan wants to ride Soarin , DD doesn’t want to and Jenny doesn’t ride rides (maybe I should have said that at the start of all this – Jenny doesn’t ride rides, she sits and waits for us) So DH says he will take her. We wait for them then head out to Figment (yep, I can’t get enough, plus Jordan HAS to see him) After Figment, we talk about going and looking at all the the Flower Festival flowers and taking it slow b\c we are all in pain – you name it, feet, backs and just tired. (we over did it the first 2 days)

As we get started DD will NOT leave my side, Jordan is trying to talk to her, but DD will NOT respond. I finally say we have to talk and I pull her away and ask her what is going on and then she tells me how every chance she gets Jordan is teasing her about being a little scared on some of the rides, and she has been harassing her to buy her stuff in every store, AND she has been telling DD that she needs to share her meals and desserts with her. WHAT!!!!
Then DD tells me that she doesn’t want to be at Disney anymore!
OH HECK NO!!!! (A this point I don’t really want to be here either)
As we are all walking through flowers and such I am able to talk a little to DH about everything and we decided that we are going to leave for a long break and come back later in the day, but not tell them we are coming back (Sad, we have to plot getting away from them)

I go and tell Jenny that we are all tired and in need of a long break today and for them to stay and have a great time, I try to direct her to the worlds and some of the things that they may want to see/do. She then says to me “I think the girls are having a hard time getting along” At this I just say, we are all tired, then she tries to push the issue and wants to talk about it. I tell her about the things Jordan has been doing and saying to my DD and she says “well I will talk to her, but your DD shouldn’t be rude, Jordan has never been to Disney and she wants someone to ride the rides with her and your DD has been 4-5 times, she should ride the rides” - I am pulling everything I have in me not to go CRAZY on her at this point and I am able to just say “ we are leaving, maybe on the last day you should do what you want without us, b\c I am not going to make DD spend time her Jordan”

We left – DH, DD & I go back to resort and rest, swim, then eat dinner then we decided we would just stay at the resort tonight and rest so that we can be ready for a FUN FILLED day ALONE at Magic Kingdom tomorrow.

 

[CatNipRules]

We learned way back when DS was 5 that sometimes it's better to do Disney without friends. My best friend and I brought our DH's and DS's. Well, her DS is the exact opposite from mine.

DS is a daredevil. Loves wild rides and the dark rides. Her DS can't stand anything wild and dark. He freaked out over It's A Bugs Life. Of course, it's a bit scary, but even after preparing him he refused to go on anything else the entire trip. He even freaked out over It's A Small World. LOL!

We learned after that trip that sometimes friends have to do things separate. We are still friends, but just not Disney friends. LOL!!

 

[scottmel]

I havebeen bracing for DD13 to want a friend. We have taken friends on short weekend get aways and day trips, no problems ever. I casually mentioned it to DD13 for this summer trip in 2013 and she said I really think WDW is a family trip...I don't think it would be easy to have a friend and I like doing what I like to do wihout worrying about a friend. WHEW!!!!!

We did MEET friends in the past for a day there and it is tough.Fun but tough at the same time.

So sorry for the lousy behavior of your friend....UGH. TAlk about needing to hit the reset button...

 

[JKMJ441724]

Waiting for more.

 

[luvmy2babies]

So she had no problem with her daughter harassing yours to buy her stuff. Yeah, we won’t be taking a friend unless it is on a day trip to the zoo or something. Actually since my husband died, no one really asks for their child to come with us anywhere. I guess they don't want to put more on me. We get lots of offers for dd to go places with other families though.

We are perfectly happy with just our crew. Dd did ask to take a friend to Great Wolf once but said it was mainly because her friend asked. I'm hoping this won't change. We took my mom on a trip to Great Wolf Lodge and (at her parents’ request) we had my sitter on a spring break trip. Both of those trips went fine and I wouldn’t mind taking our sitter to Disney but she’s 18. I wouldn’t feel pressured to make everything equal and she can go off on her own if she wants. It just hasn’t worked out to take her.

Glad your family got a break from them. When are they leaving? I'm so sorry reading this. Disney and most vacations for that matter are too much of an expense to be going through something like this, not to mention the time you can't get back. It would really hurt my feelings to hear my daughter say she didn't want to be there anymore. Not even getting pounded on through Tropical Storm Debbie made her want to leave.

 

[figmentswife]

Tuesday, May 1 – Magic Kingdom

Great Day with DH, DD & I ONLY we rode Splash Mountain tons of times and walked slow and did a bunch. In the afternoon as we are walking out of mickey’s Philharmagic DD goes DOWN saying her stomach hurts and she can’t move. I am thinking GREAT, she is going to get sick. We sit for a little bit, then she says she can try to make it to the Disney First Aid, we get beside the castle and she drops again saying it hurts so bad she can’t move. We try to wait it out for about 15 minutes, then I decided to see if we could get her a wheel chair to get out. I go find a CM and they call a manager. The Manager then came over to check on her and DD can’t move, she is crying and upset and embarrassed (as there are tons of people around for the parade) He says we need to call the medics, and starts getting our information and her information, she is asthmatic but her lungs are not at all in distress. The medics come (I couldn’t tell you from where, it’s like they dropped out of the sky) along with about 5 managers. The medics check her over good, her blood pressure is a little low and they are sure she is just dehydrated. The Medics don’t think she needs to go to the hospital but want us to take her to the First Aid area for a couple of hours to rehydrate in the air conditioning. POOR BABY!!!!! They wheel chair her over to First Aid and everyone was wonderful. They offered to have a private van take us back to the resort if we didn’t want to ride the bus – AMAZING.
DD gets hydrated and starts feeling better. After a while the nurse tells us we can leave but to get her food and keep the Powerade going and take it easy for the rest of the night. She also tells that we should be drinking 1 bottle of water every hour in Florida. We will remember this.

So back to POP for us. We get back, and go have a relaxing dinner and take our time. I go down to the smoking area at the end of the night and as I am sitting there with about 6-8 others, a little kid walks by and says “SNAKE” O.K. – you should know that I am TERRIFIED of snakes, I mean TERRIFIED of them. So ,I look down and see the baby snake (size does NOT matter) and I start screaming, and jump on the bench. I looked like this I looked like a FOOL!!!! I am sure some of those people laugh to this day thinking about it. I have to call DH and have him come walk me back to the room – yep, I am a baby All is good, we go to bed.

Tomorrow – Magic Kingdom again – just us.

 

[figmentswife]

We learned way back when DS was 5 that sometimes it's better to do Disney without friends. My best friend and I brought our DH's and DS's. Well, her DS is the exact opposite from mine.

DS is a daredevil. Loves wild rides and the dark rides. Her DS can't stand anything wild and dark. He freaked out over It's A Bugs Life. Of course, it's a bit scary, but even after preparing him he refused to go on anything else the entire trip. He even freaked out over It's A Small World. LOL!

We learned after that trip that sometimes friends have to do things separate. We are still friends, but just not Disney friends. LOL!!

I should have known it was not the best idea, b\c of this that have happened here at home (we live in the same neighborhood) but I thought, they are staying at a different resort so it would be fine - WRONG

I havebeen bracing for DD13 to want a friend. We have taken friends on short weekend get aways and day trips, no problems ever. I casually mentioned it to DD13 for this summer trip in 2013 and she said I really think WDW is a family trip...I don't think it would be easy to have a friend and I like doing what I like to do wihout worrying about a friend. WHEW!!!!!

We did MEET friends in the past for a day there and it is tough.Fun but tough at the same time.

So sorry for the lousy behavior of your friend....UGH. TAlk about needing to hit the reset button...

I am sorry too. Welcome

Waiting for more.

So she had no problem with her daughter harassing yours to buy her stuff. RIGHT!!!! Yeah, we won’t be taking a friend unless it is on a day trip to the zoo or something. Actually since my husband died, no one really asks for their child to come with us anywhere. I guess they don't want to put more on me. How sad for your loss. We get lots of offers for dd to go places with other families though.

We are perfectly happy with just our crew. Dd did ask to take a friend to Great Wolf once but said it was mainly because her friend asked. I'm hoping this won't change. We took my mom on a trip to Great Wolf Lodge and (at her parents’ request) we had my sitter on a spring break trip. Both of those trips went fine and I wouldn’t mind taking our sitter to Disney but she’s 18. I wouldn’t feel pressured to make everything equal and she can go off on her own if she wants. It just hasn’t worked out to take her.

Glad your family got a break from them. When are they leaving? I'm so sorry reading this. Disney and most vacations for that matter are too much of an expense to be going through something like this, not to mention the time you can't get back. It would really hurt my feelings to hear my daughter say she didn't want to be there anymore. Not even getting pounded on through Tropical Storm Debbie made her want to leave.

we were also there last October during a 3 day storm and would take that storm over going with "friends" again

 

[figmentswife]

So about the money - When this all first came up with Jenny she "couldn't afford" to go to Disney. Then we find out she had her fathers timeshare condo FREE - so we paid for their tickets to the parks. THEN all she would need was about $100 for grocery's (to eat 2 meals a day at condo) and gas money and spending money. So she tells me (not that I needed to know nor did I ask) that she will have $500 for all of this - we budget it all out and Yep it will be enough to go - with US buying their tickets - Then right before we leave I find out she has $1200 and buys ALL her meals in the parks. Now I was not upset about all of this at first, she worked hard to save that money and she is a single mom, but she was able to come up with an extra $700.....WHY did I pay for her tickets???? AND, AND.....She came home with $400 in her pocket. Never once did she even offer to pay for any portion of their tickets.

(I was a little insulted that she didn't even offer, not that I would have taken it, ok maybe AFTER the trip I would have, just for putting up with her brat)

 

[ShortStuff]

I'm so happy you got some family alone time, but you can't catch a break this trip! That must have been so very, very frustrating!!

I am so happy that despite the problems you had, you are planning a return trip, sans friends!!! I have faith it will be a much happier trip!!

 

[HeadintheClouds]

This is why I refuse to go on long vacations with certain family members/friends. I fear for the day when DBF's family wants to go to DW together. They are soooooo slow and like to sleep in. I'm the total opposite. Anyway, it's sad that you had to tell a lie in order to get away from them, but I've had to do that plenty of times so I completely understand. It's funny how she's quick to say I will talk to my daughter BUT your daughter is rude too. Of course her daughter couldn't take all the blame yours had to take some too. If she doesn't wanna ride, she doesn't wanna ride. I wouldn't wanna ride with someone who's been antagonizing me the whole time anyway. I hope your stomach eventually feels better!

 

[Missyrose]

Reading along and it sounds like a truly miserable trip. I just can't figure out why OP was friends with this person (and her out-of-control daughter) to begin with.

I know the doctors ruled out IBS, but what about IBD? (I have Crohn's Disease so I know how tough an uncooperative tummy can be)

 

[figmentswife]

I'm so happy you got some family alone time, but you can't catch a break this trip! That must have been so very, very frustrating!!

I am so happy that despite the problems you had, you are planning a return trip, sans friends!!! I have faith it will be a much happier trip!!

We couldn't catch a break it seemed. There was more bad then good this trip. When we were there in October last year, just the 3 of us we had a BLAST!!!

This is why I refuse to go on long vacations with certain family members/friends. I fear for the day when DBF's family wants to go to DW together. They are soooooo slow and like to sleep in. I'm the total opposite. Anyway, it's sad that you had to tell a lie in order to get away from them, but I've had to do that plenty of times so I completely understand. It's funny how she's quick to say I will talk to my daughter BUT your daughter is rude too. Of course her daughter couldn't take all the blame yours had to take some too. If she doesn't wanna ride, she doesn't wanna ride. I wouldn't wanna ride with someone who's been antagonizing me the whole time anyway. I hope your stomach eventually feels better!

Tummy does get better while at Disney, but not great. I didn't feel great until a few weeks after returning home and getting on a new medicine.

Reading along and it sounds like a truly miserable trip. I just can't figure out why OP was friends with this person (and her out-of-control daughter) to begin with.

I know the doctors ruled out IBS, but what about IBD? (I have Crohn's Disease so I know how tough an uncooperative tummy can be)

Funny how people act in different situations. At home Jenny is awesome and an amazing friend. Example: My grandmother passed a month ago, and she and another friend came over after clearing out Grandma's house and cleaned my house!!!! However at Disney she was a total ......You know what!
Also, we have finally figured out all the belly stuff. It is neither IBS or IBD. It's a gluten allergy, milk allergy and lack of gallbladder. About 1-2% of people continue to have issues after gallbladder removal - YAY ME!!! Oh, and DH has UC and Colingitis so he also understands tummy issues - thank God for Remicade. He started it 1 1/2 years ago and has done great since. It was truly life saving for him. If it ever fails, he will have to have his colon removed.

 

[Missyrose]

Funny how people act in different situations. At home Jenny is awesome and an amazing friend. Example: My grandmother passed a month ago, and she and another friend came over after clearing out Grandma's house and cleaned my house!!!! However at Disney she was a total ......You know what!
Also, we have finally figured out all the belly stuff. It is neither IBS or IBD. It's a gluten allergy, milk allergy and lack of gallbladder. About 1-2% of people continue to have issues after gallbladder removal - YAY ME!!! Oh, and DH has UC and Colingitis so he also understands tummy issues - thank God for Remicade. He started it 1 1/2 years ago and has done great since. It was truly life saving for him. If it ever fails, he will have to have his colon removed.

I've been on Remicade for five years now, it's a miracle drug! I'm glad the doctors figured out what was ailing you.

People can be very different on vacation than in real life. DBF's mother is usually a go-with-the-flow kind of person, always happy. A couple of days into our Disney trip she was cranky and complained about everything. Live and learn!

 

[figmentswife]

I've been on Remicade for five years now, it's a miracle drug! I'm glad the doctors figured out what was ailing you.

People can be very different on vacation than in real life. DBF's mother is usually a go-with-the-flow kind of person, always happy. A couple of days into our Disney trip she was cranky and complained about everything. Live and learn!

So glad it is working for you also. DH was so scared to go on it, but it has been the best thing ever. And I think a Disney vacation is very different then most. It's hot, tons of walking, and busy. I am sure that is a big part of attitude issues for most. There was a family staying at our resort in 3 rooms, and they had a HUGE falling out about 4 days into their trip at Magic Kingdom and one of the sisters was leaving 5 days early to get away from the rest of them. This made me sad for them.

 

[CatNipRules]

I felt so bad for your DD. The poor thing must have really been in pain. I'm glad that she started feeling better.

Yeah, the Florida heat will do strange things to the body. That's why we always make sure to drink plenty of water.

Reading your trip report makes me glad that my sister decided not to join our family for our upcoming trip....

 

[figmentswife]

I felt so bad for your DD. The poor thing must have really been in pain. I'm glad that she started feeling better.

Yeah, the Florida heat will do strange things to the body. That's why we always make sure to drink plenty of water.

Reading your trip report makes me glad that my sister decided not to join our family for our upcoming trip....

It was kinda scary, but she was fine after getting some powerade in her and resting in the AC for a little but.
DON'T let you sister join you, even if she changes her mind before it's time to go.

 

[3timesmom]

I'm starting to feel a little nervous...I'm taking my son ( who just turned 15) and his best friend to Disney in october , to celebrate his birthday...I really hope this trip won't turn into a nightmare . Looking forward to reading more!