Part VI - Dad gets Mad over GF self parking

[stink]

Cast of Characters

Mom & Dad: Celebrating 50 years of Marriage
Me: Planner & Financier of trip
__________________________________________________

Tuesday December 7th: Today we check in at the GF. We arrived around 8:30 AM to activiate our passes and store our luggage.

I love my Dad, BUT, he can be so CHEAP at times. I pre briefed him at breakfast that we were going to use valet parking and I was paying. So when we get there the attendant unloads our luggage and then my Dad asks were self parking is. I didn't want to get into an agrument so I go with the flow.

I tip the attendant who gives me the baggage tags. Mom & I head into the GF to check in and Dad drives to self parking. We preregister and obtain our park passes etc. Room will be ready at 3PM. The clerk at the registration desk was really friendly but was a new trainee and seemed flustered. She had her trainer with her during her time with us.

Dear old Dad hasn't shown up yet, so we take a seat in the lobby and gaze at the Christmas Tree. We begin to worry, has he gotton lost going to self parking ? He finally arrives and is steamed. He states he is never staying here again (his tune would change by the end of the trip) as the self parking lot was accross the street and the only place he could find was at the back of the lot by the garbage. I told him if he wasn't so cheap and allowed me to pay for valet parking the car we wouldn't be having this "nice discussion". I was getting angry at him because he was so angry and I didn't want to be angry at our first official day at WDW and our check in day at the GF.

My Dad's really not cheap just very frugal. He has put three children through college and two through grad school. My Mom never had to work by choice. Although raising three children is work. We never lacked for anything. Dance lessons, piano lessons, summer camp in the Adirondaks. My parents adopted my sister and I about 16 years after they had my older brother by natural birth, so I am very grateful to them. I just become very frustrated with my Dad when I want to treat them to something special and he complains about the cost.

 

[Cinderelli]

Oh, Stink,

You are so brave to take your parents with you. What a wonderful thing to do. I hope everything turns out great. I'm anxiously awaiting your next reports. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

Lissa

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I love valet parking

 

[dzneelvr]

I think all parents have a hard time accepting gifts, especially "high dollar" ones from their kids....my mom always makes such a fuss at Christmas about the clothes I buy her--you'd think we were hard up or something!
Anyway, I've learned to just ignore the tantrums. Your dad was probably way out of his comfort zone and unsure what to do. Temper is a good defense mechanism--takes the focus off of him and put it on "this place!" (can you tell I did behavior training in a past life)

Sure hope your trip gets better! (wait until he sees some of the menu prices!@#?)

WDW in 6 months !

 

[Simba's Mom]

I understand about your Dad's "thriftiness" and his feelings about GF's self-park. DH also insists on self-parking, and we walked from GF's self-park to the GF afternoon tea once-in the pouring rain. Boy, did he gripe all during our tea!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanx for sharing.

 

[stink]

dzneelvr & all,

Thanks for all your understanding and its good to see I am not alone in my parental "problems". I kinda tricked my parents with the restuarants. I went on the silver plan and said pick out what ever you want on the menu because it is all in the package and it was "such a deal". This way they ordered what they really wanted. I even had them convinced that Victoria & Alberts was in the "silver plan". LOL

 

[erikthewise]

Thanks for the report!

But I'm in nearly complete sympathy with your father.

It's not a matter of being a cheapskate, it's a matter of being manipulated into contributing to the Valet Staff Support Fund. I don't know of any other resort where the self-parking situation is so bad, and I don't know of anyplace else in WDW where guests are forced to take a crosswalk across a busy road (unless they cough up the $6 for a valet). First-time visitors have no idea that when selecting self-parking they will end up across the street in the warehouse district.

I hate valet parking. Why should I have to ask someone else to use my own car (even if it is a rental), and surrender the keys just to park?! I realize it can be a blessing for people with mobility issues, but for those fully capable of walking to their car, it doesn't save much time if any (except at GF!), and is as much an annoyance as a service. Even staying at DVC resorts where it is free for members (except for tip), I don't use it.

Nevertheless if you offered to pay for a "luxury" I didn't want, I would have gone along with it, just to make you happy!

 

[Grumpy92]

I understand completely when I was a cm we had to park across the street in the same lot. It was a long walk in and a long walk out everyday, especially when it rains.

 

[nutz4dzny]

stink - Thanks for sharing your trip report. My Dad and your dad could be twins! My dad did the same thing when we took him to WDW. He ordered the cheapest item on the menu, even if he did not like it! The next trip we put him on the meal plan and told him if he doesn't order the most expensive item, steak etc. that he would be losing money! It worked and he ate like a king! The next time we take him on vacation, we are doing the same thing. Thanks again for Posting.