Our trip is cancelled :(

[UrsulasShadow]

I just had to add my sentiments to the rest...your family sounds like they are being very ungrateful little pootsnorkels!

Pootsnorkels?

 

[CampbellScot]

Yup...Pootsnorkel...P-O-O-T SNORKEL! You know you are bad when the P word comes out!

 

[puddleduck]

The only thing that keeps striking me here is the 15 yr. olds. My children, at 15, were taking AP courses and really could not have afforded to miss more than a day or two at the most. And if they play a sport, they are expected to be at every practice and every game. If not, it is considered unexcused and they could be kicked off the team. Harsh, yes, but that is the reality of high school sports and the parents are well aware of the rules prior to their child joining the team. I could see perhaps the OP planned this trip, everyone was on board, but when the time rolled around, the kids found it would be much more difficult than they thought to be able to go. My daughter coaches a high school team now and has excused several players this week to go on trips with their families (although technically she is not supposed to) so it is possible if they communicate with their coaches and teachers!

And what I have never understood is that the games and practices would be scheduled during breaks in the school year when kids (yes, even teenagers) need to be able to spend time with their families without being penalized.

 

[summerlandjeff]

Maybe you can try the "puppy dog close", a sales technique that goes something like this; You want to buy a puppy but your unsure, the store says "take it home for a day, if you don't like it bring it back". Of course the family ends up loving the puppy and you keep it.

Tell your children they can go for just two days. If they don't like it they can immediately fly home. Once there and they begin having fun, I doubt they'll want to leave!

 

[Zoemakes5]

Unfortunately, airfare is non-transferable - so the OP can't use the plane tickets to take anyone other than the family members whose names are on the tickets. I would hope your husband and kids change their minds, but if not - I would go solo before cancelling the whole trip. You can use the value of the other 4 plane tickets for future flights, minus the $100/pp change fee, within a year of the original purchase date.

Technically, since the three kids are all under 18 and you're not required to show id for them, she could "swap" three other kids, so like PP said, if OP has neices or nephews, or if DD would be interested in going and take a friend or two, it could be done.

I agree, I would be like "well, I didn't ask you" or, "you made the committment, you gotta go". But, pretty hard to do if DH isn't interested in backing you up. When I was younger, it was like others have said, family vacations were family time, and you just did it. I wouldn't have even thought about complaining! The only time I didn't go was when I was a senior in high school and getting certified to work in a free clinic. My family made the plans after I started the program, and if I missed a day, I wouldn't be able to be certified. I really don't like the attitudes we've (as a society) have let our kids get away with.

Given your situation, I'd go without them if you can't come up with a compromise. Whether that was with someone else or on your own.

 

[CampbellScot]

Maybe you can try the "puppy dog close", a sales technique that goes something like this; You want to buy a puppy but your unsure, the store says "take it home for a day, if you don't like it bring it back". Of course the family ends up loving the puppy and you keep it.

Tell your children they can go for just two days. If they don't like it they can immediately fly home. Once there and they begin having fun, I doubt they'll want to leave!

Can I just say...that to give your children this type of power in regards to a VACATION that their parents have purchased for THEIR enjoyment just seems a bit wrong...They don't "have" to go, they GET to go. I just can't stomach saying "Oh please please have fun... and I promise that if you don't like this expensive vacation then we can go home" WHATEVER. Kids are so spoiled nowadays, they have no clue what it means to be grateful for anything. They think they are entitled to wonderful vacations and a million different choices. (I'm not talking about the OP's kids here...just a general rant!) We are handicapping our future by letting children think that the world revolves around them and what they want at all times.

Whatever happened to "Thanks so much mom and dad for doing this for us". If I handed my kids a vacation to Disney and their response was " I don't wantn to go there..." I'd have to rethink my opposition to rear end smacking!

 

[ksloane]

I agree with UrsulasShadow..I would talk to them and see if you can figure out why...But in the end, I agree with many others...I would take this trip, one way or another...with friends or to a different Florida destination, but I wouldn't just forget about it and throw the money away. Good luck in whatever you do.

I get the feeling there's more to this than meets the eye.....

It reminds me of last year, when I took the family to WDW. We've gone several times before, and I've gotten the planning and touring down to a science now. Seems that was a problem for my family, though...my teens decided that "commando touring" was ......

 

[Bugsmom73]

I agree that kids today have too much entitlement. We will ask our kids opinions on the location as they get older but we WILL take family vacations. I fee there are certain things in like you have to do. Opting out is not one of them until you go to college. It may sound harsh but No one in my family ever asked to not go on a vacation any where. My sister did ask one year to be home on her birthday, which was Aug 4th, but my parents were able to work around her request.

 

[chyam]

I thought by now we would at least hear something more from the OP. I cannot imagine letting a 12 year old and 15 year old dictate where they will go on vacation, I say put them on a plane and hire a babysitter to stay with them at the resort!

 

[chyam]

I thought by now we would at least hear something more from the OP. I cannot imagine letting a 12 year old and 15 year old dictate where they will go on vacation, I say put them on a plane and hire a babysitter to stay with them at the resort! If you have enough money to throw 1200.00 away hiring a babysitter should be a drop in the bucket

 

[Lynne M]

I'm sitting here thinking about the whole 'kids shouldn't be able to dictate where the family goes on vacation' discussion.....well, yeah, but shouldn't they at least be included in the discussion, by the time they're teenagers? If it's a 'family' vacation, shouldn't it be to someplace that everyone would enjoy? I don't know about all of you, but I sure wouldn't want to drag an unhappy husband and kids on a trip they want nothing to do with. Not much fun.

Since the OP hasn't come back to enlighten us any further, I'm guessing that it's one of the following, as others have speculated:

1. Mom's the only WDW fan in the family, and the trip got planned because she assumed everyone felt the same way. Not everyone's into WDW or theme parks, it's not a character flaw. Do we know how many WDW trips they've had recently? Is this the fourth trip in a year, or something like that? Disney burnout happens to the best of us.

2. Dad and the kids do like WDW, but Mom likes to do commando touring and everyone else is exhausted and miserable. To me, doing WDW commando-style would be about as much fun as the Bataan Death March. I'd honestly rather stay home.

2. The kids are in the 'too cool' stage, and are afraid they're going to get 'Disney is for babies' from their friends. Spending part of the trip at more teen-friendly places like Universal or the space center, or even a day at the beach, might help out here.

3. School/activities are going to be disrupted by the trip. Not much you can do about that. OK, sure, family should come first, but what's the point of making the kid completely miserable by making them fall behind in school, or get kicked off the team, because Mom and/or Dad are trying to prove the point that family should come first?

If it were my family, I'd sit everyone down and ask Dad and each child exactly why they don't want to go. Suggest alternatives (Universal, etc.) Let each child (and Dad) pick a meal, and a non-theme park activity. Getting them involved in the planning could make a big difference....make it 'their' trip, so they don't feel like they're being dragged along on 'Mom's trip'.

 

[bytheblood]

I'm sitting here thinking about the whole 'kids shouldn't be able to dictate where the family goes on vacation' discussion.....well, yeah, but shouldn't they at least be included in the discussion, by the time they're teenagers? If it's a 'family' vacation, shouldn't it be to someplace that everyone would enjoy? I don't know about all of you, but I sure wouldn't want to drag an unhappy husband and kids on a trip they want nothing to do with. Not much fun.

Since the OP hasn't come back to enlighten us any further, I'm guessing that it's one of the following, as others have speculated:

1. Mom's the only WDW fan in the family, and the trip got planned because she assumed everyone felt the same way. Not everyone's into WDW or theme parks, it's not a character flaw. Do we know how many WDW trips they've had recently? Is this the fourth trip in a year, or something like that? Disney burnout happens to the best of us.

2. Dad and the kids do like WDW, but Mom likes to do commando touring and everyone else is exhausted and miserable. To me, doing WDW commando-style would be about as much fun as the Bataan Death March. I'd honestly rather stay home.

2. The kids are in the 'too cool' stage, and are afraid they're going to get 'Disney is for babies' from their friends. Spending part of the trip at more teen-friendly places like Universal or the space center, or even a day at the beach, might help out here.

3. School/activities are going to be disrupted by the trip. Not much you can do about that. OK, sure, family should come first, but what's the point of making the kid completely miserable by making them fall behind in school, or get kicked off the team, because Mom and/or Dad are trying to prove the point that family should come first?

If it were my family, I'd sit everyone down and ask Dad and each child exactly why they don't want to go. Suggest alternatives (Universal, etc.) Let each child (and Dad) pick a meal, and a non-theme park activity. Getting them involved in the planning could make a big difference....make it 'their' trip, so they don't feel like they're being dragged along on 'Mom's trip'.

Awesome post!!

 

[MOREMICKEY4ME]

I have kids about the same age, and If I booked the vacation and then dad and kids decided NOT to go...Get outta my way. There would be tons of issues.
I look at it this way, I am a planner. If I planned the whole trip (with input from family members) and then they changed their mind at the last minute, they would ALL (including dad) need to repay me for my services! Yes, I said it...They would be paying me back for my time spent organizing, researching, etc.
They are all old enough to earn some money. Start paying up. Maybe this way they will appreciate that people work to EARN things like vacations.
On a side note: when I am given a gift, no matter who it is from, I say "Thank You" and take the GIFT!!!!

 

[Harrop]

I dont think you really have a choice here.... as a parent of your household you do not give your kids rights over a holiday you have already planned AND PAID FOR. Tell them bad luck, there coming, and if they do not want to come, they must pay for there share of the money u will loose.

Secondly something is extremley wrong if your kids do not want to visit WDW. I'm guessing there on crack!

 

[plutospup]

Could the $100 pp change fee work for changing the name on the ticket?

I seriously do not know.

Unfortunately, not for US Airways. I'm not sure about other airlines. Last year I bought DMIL a plane ticket to join us for an all expense paid trip to WDW. She declined. I ask US Airways if I could use the ticket for someone who was participating in Hurricane Katrina relief. They still said the ticket was not transferrable.

 

[Terry's Angels]

I agree with Lynne, I think that there must be more going on here and her suggestions really hit the mark. I hope the OP has been able to come back and read the suggestions.

 

[Mr. Snail]

:O

I'll go. I'll hide in the luggage.

 

[bytheblood]

I find it curious that the OP has not come back to post again.

 

[Lynne M]

I find it curious that the OP has not come back to post again.

Me too. I'm especially curious as to why her DH was so unwilling to go that he was OK with throwing away $1200 worth of airline tickets.

I guess I have to amend my comments above...I'd rather stay home than go with a commando, unless it meant I'd lose $1200.

 

[unbroken chain]

Unfortunately with a spouse willing to throw away that kind of money, it's possible there could be more going on that led to this, unrelated to Disney. I wish the best to the OP.