Purchased Tickets, now MIL is not coming.

[RayRing]

We have Annual Passes, but I bought a 7-Day Park Hopper for my MIL, for our upcoming vacation.

She let us know that she is not physically up for the trip.

I called the Disney Store where I purchased the ticket. They said that they can only sell them, they can't take them back.

I called "ticket services" at 407-566-4985, and they said that there is no way the tickets can be returned.

I understand that the tickets are good for 14 days from the day they are first used, and that they are good for ever, until we first use them. However, I would rather not tie up around $250. in a ticket, especially when we may just get another set of annual passes.

Since I don't know what the future holds, I was wondering if I could upgrade them to a 10 day just in case we ever took a long trip in the future.

Has any ever came across this situation before. Other than holding on to them, on the chance we may use them in the future, are there any other good options.

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RE: MIL I told my MIL that she can come and hang out in the room or at the pool, join us for dinners, and for an hour or two at the parks, but she didn't want to do that. I thought it would be nicer sitting in the sun at the pool, then in the North East right now, but she said she doesn't want to do that.
Anyway, it is a bit sad. I am not sure if her health is that bad, or if she feels she would slow us down too much. I do know that the kids love being with Grandma, and that for the kids it will be just a little bit less magical without her.

 

[MareQ]

Cannot answer the ticket question but... have you discussed a scooter rental with her?? There's SOOO many people that just couldn't POSSIBLEY enjoy Disney without one so she will hardly "stand out" plus it would be a great place to store all your "stuff" - lol

I would definitely "work" on her some more. As a 36 year old woman I STILL enjoy traveling with my grandparents - some of my BEST vacations were when they were with us! So many people have so many great memories of their chidlhood and more often than not - especilally for me - a grandparent was involved.

 

[Pugrpooh]

When do your AP's expire? When I bought my tickets at the Disney Store, they said I could upgrade them at WDW. I think you could upgrade it to an AP when you need to get another one.

 

[jaysmom4285]

I agree with MQuara about the scooter or wheelchair option . We took my mother twice, and the second time, even though her health was fairly good, she would have been simply unable to walk around in the parks all day without becoming totally exhausted. We got her a wheelchair, which my kids took turns pushing, so it didn't slow us down a bit. She was able to go on any ride she wanted to, since she was perfectly able to transfer, and if she didn't want to go on the ride, she just waited outside and people-watched. Often we would come out to find a CM chatting with her and keeping her company. At the end of the day, she was the only one among us that wasn't totally wiped out! You might want to see if this option may make the trip more appealing to your mother in law.

 

[ALostBoy]

Hi,
I would hold on to it until you go to buy your next set
of tickets and then upgrade to what you want.
Good Luck

 

[RayRing]

Thanks for the suggestion. We have talked about us getting an ECV or wheelchair, but she didn't want to come even with those options.

It is always hard to tell what the real issue is. There is sometimes a big difference between what someone says and what they are thinking. I think there is more to the story they she has said.

Anyways we leave early Sunday morning. We have not changed her airline ticket, or our ADR's. We are staying at the BCV's, so that whouldn't change. She is coming over tomorrow to visit with the kids before we go. That will give us one last time to ask her. If she still doesn't want to go, we will then deal with her plane ticket and our ADR for Cindy's Breakfast (pre-paid event).

 

[deedeetoo]

I also think you should try to find a way to make the trip work for your MIL. My Mom planned to go with us on our last trip three years ago and then backed out. I think she was afraid it would be too hard. We hadn't spent any money yet so we weren't in your shoes, but we were sorry she didn't come. I think she really regretted the decision.

Now we are going again, and Mom said she wanted to come this time too. Well, I didn't let her think about it too long. I bought the airplane tickets two days later. We have made it clear to her that we will do whatever it takes to make her OK. Dh has offered to push her in a wheelchair if she gets tired. I think the ECV is a great idea but my Mom is afraid of them (she never got a driver's license because she is too afraid to drive). We also expect her to spend time back at the hotel when we go to the waterparks and we will try to find some shady resting spots for her as we do park touring. Just make sure she knows that you really want her there and don't consider her to be burden.

 

[Hannathy]

Was she paying her own way or were you ? and does she know all these things are paid for and non-returnable ? People of that generation usually hate to "waste " money and that might be an incentive. Keep telling her how great it will be even if she stays at the resort. I bet if you get her down there she will participate, it just is getting them to go. My MIL is the same way and I either play the money card or have the grandkids BEG! not you Them that softens her up too, a few tears from the youngest always helps!! It is a shame you have to stoop to some of these tricks but you do. Good Luck keep at her.

 

[disnut8]

I have got to second the wheelchair option. Seriously. I just came back from a quick weekend trip with my stubborn father. He has some limited functions due to knee replacement surgery (both knees). I begged him to rent a wheelchair. He refused. For the two days they were there without me, he hobbled around and was exhausted. The third day, I threatened him a lot and he finally got a chair. It was THE best day! The chairs are not that difficult to push around. I did it with my husband three years ago and I'm five foot nothing and weight 100 pounds on a good day.

After just one day, my father has vowed never to be at Disney World without some kind of mechanical assistance. He quickly realized that no one looks at you like you have a green face, you don't get that much special treatment, and everyone in the party is so much happier.

But that being said, your mother-in-law will have to make up her own mind. The two times I've been with someone in a wheelchair, we've had so much fun with it. I did wheelies with my husband. My dad challenged a guy in a scooter to a race. And you don't have to use it all the time.

Good luck with whatever your mother-in-law decides.