The Horrors of the Extended Family Vacation (or, Why Non-DIS People Make Me Tired)

[AllyGirl_79]

Beware ... I'm long-winded.

My best friend is an active duty marine -- she flies helicopters. And she is deploying overseas in September. I'm incredibly proud of her bravery and service, but I've already figured out that I'm going to be a nervous-wreck and very sad/pitiful when she leaves. We talk once a day, and I basically miss her already. So, I decided I'd take some days off of work right after she leaves. No point bringing down the whole office, right?

Well, here's where Disney comes in. My aunt, my cousin, his wife, and their three kids (including my 2-yr old goddaughter, Lauren) are going to Disney in September. They're staying at my aunt's house, which she had built a few years ago in Clermont as a second home. They invited me to join, and I was delighted to accept the invitation. I prefer to stay on-site, but this is a cheap extra vacation (I have an annual pass), and I'm going back in December. And I get to ride Peter Pan with my godchild. That's just about perfect.

I assumed, apparently stupidly, that seeing as how they've visited Disney so many times in the last few years, they would know about the need for things like dining reservations. Especially for a party of seven! Alas, no. They thought we'd just call about the Princess Storybook breakfast and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique when we arrived.

Suffice it to say, I spent a good part of the day on the phone and online looking for reservations. I found a BBB opening for the 5-yr old princess, thank goodness, but wasn't very successful with the dining. I know to keep trying, and I'm sure it will all work out, but I'm just baffled that I'm the only one in the group who is thinking about this. Even after I reported my limited success, my cousin's wife explained that she would call tomorrow and see for herself. (As if, perhaps, after 15+ trips I was confused about the process.) She also explained that they really only spend a few hours at the parks at a time because they get "bored." So, it wasn't really a big deal. How is that possible?! Seems to me they must be doing something wrong if they can't keep a 5-yr old princess fanatic from getting bored in the Magic Kingdom.

The point of this whole thing is as follows: if anyone hears screaming during the week of Sept 29, it's probably me. Don't be alarmed. I'm starting to think I might have to risk life and limb in one of the horrible taxis Pete mentioned just to escape to whichever resort has room for me at that point. Why doesn't everyone read the DIS? The whole thing makes my head hurt.

If anyone has any tips about last minute reservations, I'll take them.

Thanks for reading and letting me vent.

 

[WaltD4Me]

My advice? ... Go with the flow. I feel your pain and have found it is just MUCH easier to decide that on this trip you are just going to go along with the crowd. Believe me, I know it's hard and I'd still keep trying for the dining reservations, but other than that, I wouldn't stress. Like you said, it's a cheap extra trip, just enjoy!

 

[corky441]

My advice? ... Go with the flow. I feel your pain and have found it is just MUCH easier to decide that on this trip you are just going to go along with the crowd. Believe me, I know it's hard and I'd still keep trying for the dining reservations, but other than that, I wouldn't stress. Like you said, it's a cheap extra trip, just enjoy!

Ditto

Just remember that you'll have the opportunity to see the parks thru the eyes of a child, a blessing...
This might be the turn around trip for your family, since they've never had the benefit of your expertise they might really have a different experience now.

 

[Yvet]

OMG you are on PCC2.0!!!! Yeah!!!!!!
Now you can meet Emiel.
Who is joining you on this trip?? (i can bring Delft Blue Pottery...)

 

[Targsmom]

As someone who spent an hour in the rain in front of the Mc.Donalds in World Showcase waiting for my BIL to show up with DMIL (who, granted, is in a wheelchair) I feel your pain. They live in Orlando. We don't. They finally arrive and they want to just walk into Rose and Crown to eat. DMIL has to eat because she's diabetic. Duh.. it's 5:30PM.. If we had been told we would have happily waited for a table there so after an hour they could just join us.. but nooooo....

It was also the Food and Wine festival and they couldn't find "anything they liked".. we had (I swear on all that is holy) McDonalds French Fries for dinner.

We told them we had fast passes for Soarin' and had to run. (which was true)

We also told them that we had a flight out that night.. (not true)

I guess what I'm saying that if I had realized ahead of time that we were going to have this type of frustration it would have been MUCH easier. I would have been prepared.

So, be prepared to wait for things, allow your frustration to roll off.. take this as an opportunity to show them all the "little fun things" that they missed...

Be a Super DIS'er!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I'd be thinking about trying to get a rental car so you can come and go as you like.

Then you could spend extra time with the kids in the parks when everyone else goes back to the house. Just think of the fun you could have together showing them the Magic of Disney.

As far as Akershus, have you tried splitting up the group? Maybe asking for tables for 4 and 3 or 5 and 2? Sometimes that works.

 

[6mouskateers]

Someone I work with recently went to WDW and said she'd never go back lines too long, blah blah blah. Before she went I gave her websites *The DIS in particular! told her to call me at home (since we don't have too much time to yack at work) and I'd give her some tips, etc. Well, it's sad, but they didn't use FastPass, and the list goes on. She should have called me!

Now on the other hand, we have gone a few times with family, both mine and DH's, and we have always had a blast. My folks "get it" and are Disney lovers. SIL is a Disney lover too and luckily MIL let me do all the planning ( and I did ask for input) so we were able to do everything EVERYONE wanted. WHEW!

At least you got your BBB ressie, and maybe you'll get some Pixie Dust for dining. Most importantly, enjoy your precious Godchild, don't let their non-Dis-ness bring you down.

 

[reeveha]

My DW, DD, SIL, DGS and I drove (5 trip veterns) to WDW with my Bro & his family (1st timers) from Kansas. NEVER AGAIN. It made the trip soooooo long. They decided to stop in Mobile to see the Alabama w/o asking us. Once we got to Disney they took off w/o us and we spent most of the time looking for them. Finally we said enough, told them to go their way and we'd do it our way. Once we ditched them we had best time. We did setup some ADRs (Primetime) but they didn't think it was worth it. My DW & our family decided to stay an extra two days and had the best time after they left. Family is Family but sometimes you just gotta ditch them.