Quick Vent

[ThanksForNoticingMe]

Does anyone else find it REALLY annoying trying to plan activities with other couples/family members?

My BF and I are going down to Florida to visit some friends. We asked if they would like to do Disney and they said they DID. Realizing that our friends are somewhat strapped for cash we booked a suite for us all to stay in for 3 nights.

We talked to our friends this morning...and they said that they only want to stay one day...because 3 days would just be too much walking I guess they think the only way to do Disney is commando style!

There is more to the story but I won't get into it... The most frustrating part is that they are not even sure which "one " day they want to stay...

Which means I can't make the needed changes to the reservations. Am I looking at the situation wrong, or would this annoy you?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Make reservations for yourselves, your friends need to get their own. If they are really cash strapped there are plenty of cheap places outside of the park. The Motel 8 should be fine for them, and they can book whatever 1 night works best for them.

 

[golfgal]

If we vacation with other people we make it clear that our plans are _________ and lets meet for dinner. If you want to join us, we would be thrilled to have you along but we will be doing _____, ______, and ______. We mainly have problems with my sister if we ever go anywhere with her. We had planned a golf trip with my Dad and step-mom one summer, she invited her and her family along and then got upset when we went golfing (she doesn't golf) .

 

[okeydokey]

Give them a firm deadline for their decision. Tell them you are making your reservation by Wednesday so you need to know. If they can't decide then plan without them.

 

[ThanksForNoticingMe]

Make reservations for yourselves, your friends need to get their own. If they are really cash strapped there are plenty of cheap places outside of the park. The Motel 8 should be fine for them, and they can book whatever 1 night works best for them.

Yeah I wish things were that easy. People and the relationships you have with them are just so complicated... that the simple thing to do (i.e. let them make their own reservations) doesn't always work out.

 

[ThanksForNoticingMe]

If someone offered to pay for my stay I would be THRILLED... I certainly wouldn't respond by saying I "don't want to walk for three days"...

I understand when you make a decision to travel with other people you can't have everything your way...but they are truly being so difficult.

For example: This couple lives in ST. Pete...which is like 2 hours away from Orlando. We have to drive right through Orlando in order to get to their home. So if we stay the "one" day they want...wouldn't it make the most sense for them to meet us in Orlando on our way in...rather then driving to St. Pete and turning right around to head back to Orlando the next day?

Sorry for going on and on...I just needed a chance to voice my frustrations to fellow Disney lovers, who I am sure understand

 

[veraletta]

If you need new friends let us know there are a lot of disers that would love to have you as friends.

 

[amez]

We're facing the same thing right now. We invited a friend of our and his two sons. We told them we would rent a house for two weeks and they just had get themselves down there. they had to buy their own park tickets, but not to feel like they had to go to the parks with us-just get what they could afford. Our deadline passed and I went ahead and rented a house-obviously with extra room for them and we still haven't found out if they are coming and our "deadline" was two weeks ago.

We are okay paying the extra on the house, but really wish he would let us know one way or another instead of being vague. If he isn't able to go we would probably invite someone else.

 

[agnes!]

If some of those generous folks up-thread want a new friend who would jump at the opportunity to have any or all of their vacation paid-for, I'm available .

agnes!

 

[AKL_Megs]

Give them a firm deadline for their decision. Tell them you are making your reservation by Wednesday so you need to know. If they can't decide then plan without them.

Yes. And I would make it QUICK, like, I need to know by THIS Wednesday quick. You are being WAaaay too kind. They are taking you for a ride. Who balks at a free vacation? Greedy people.

 

[minkydog]

If someone offered to pay for my stay I would be THRILLED... I certainly wouldn't respond by saying I "don't want to walk for three days"...

I understand when you make a decision to travel with other people you can't have everything your way...but they are truly being so difficult.

Uh-oh. I hate to tell you this but if they're being difficult now it's not gonna change when they're in the suite with you. If you've already had the I-need-to-make-reservations talk with them, then you need to give them a firm date by which they need to get back to you. Could be they're stringing you along because they really don't want to go, but they don't know how to tell you that. I have a friend who does that--she'll get right up to the day and then change her mind(there is a reason we don't get together much anymore.) If at a later time they come around you can graciously allow them to stay with you, but make it clear that you all have made plans that cannot easily be changed. YOu can always try to change those ressie to include them but by no means are you obligated.

I hate going on vacation with ANYBODY other than my immediate family.

 

[golfgal]

I miss DH's old work trips. We got the benefit of having friends along but we were really on our own. We had a few things we had to do, mostly at meal time. We could sign up for excursions of various types but we would have done that anyway. If we wanted to just hang out on the beach we could, if we wanted to do something with a big group we could. We were never responsible for "entertaining" anyone. No one expected to do anything with anyone, you just did if it worked. It was great.