Traveling Companions from Hell

[iankh]

Last night we were talking about our upcoming trip this summer to WDW for my birthday. I have invited a large bunch of friends to come down and help me celebrate.

The conversation soon turned to THE TRIP. This was a vacation we took a few years ago to WDW with another couple. THE TRIP was the first and only bad vacation we have ever had in WDW.

We did not enter into it to have a bad time. When we were planning THE TRIP it had in fact seemed like a very good idea.

The other couple was rather excited about it. They were really looking forward to it.

We had explained to them that WDW was not the cheapest vacation in the world, but if you surrendered to it, you could have a blast. The 6 day trip was on.

The trouble started soon after we arrived. They complained about eveythng. They complain often. It seemed like they complained continuously.

They complained about the parks. They complained about the people. They complained about the prices.

They esspecially complained about the prices.

We could not have a nibble or a meal without listening to the complaints about how expensive everything was.

We wasted half a day driving around Orlando trying to find a place to eat that was cheap enough.

Before you rush to their defense, these are not people who need to worry about money. These are shall we say, rather comfortable people.

THE TRIP was not going as swimmingly as we thought. There was an "atmosphere." We went into overdrive mode. The more they complained, the more cheerful and jolly we became.

I had to hold myself back from saying, "Oh just go ahead and buy the @#$& Mickey ice cream bar and shut up!"

It was a relief when the trip came to an end. The friendship did not end, but we vowed never to travel with this couple again.

I was wondering if any of you have ever been pumped up for a trip that turned into a horror story because of the people you were traveling with?

 

[robvia]

Of coarse. The more people you add to a trip, the more complications arise.

I once went to USF with my dad, who is also well off. But all he did the entire time was complain. Nitpicking about everything. He's a great dad, but just ragged and ragged.

I suggest people going with others tell them you're there to have a good time and you're going to spend some money and not worry about it. Sure, everyone likes to save money, but some go overboard with it.

 

[webray]

We traveled with a couple on my first trip to WDW (hubby had gone a few times before). Well, as much fun as we have with this couple, hanging out, grilling, etc...we were not meant to travel together.

Although we had planned the trip together, restaurants, etc after the week we said never again..from now on we go alone.

 

[seabiscuit]

Sounds like our trip from last year. I mean totally identical.

 

[E&B's Mom]

It seems that whenever we travel with friends (for weddings, conventions etc) there is always one in the crowd who will complain about everything. We are making plans for a bi-annual convention that we go to just to vacation with friends. My husands is adamant that we should plan only for the 4 of us. If others join in our plans when we get there, great. But, he doesn't want to be resposible for having someone complain about what we have planned.

 

[Carlnne]

I see youve met my inlaws!

In all seriousness- Ive never heard a great trip experience when it comes to small groups. If you have one count yourself lucky.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

This is why I'll never take my parents to WDW or US. My parents used to live just north of Orlando and my brother and his wife went to visit my parents 2 weeks before DH and I went in 1996. They went to MK and MGM and we went to US and SeaWorld on our visit. When we visited we had to pack lunches and go back to the car to eat each day. The reason-my parents were so upset about the prices of everything at WDW-food, tickets, souviners, etc. To this day (9 years later) my dad STILL complains about how much his hotdog cost at MK. DH and I know that everything is expensive at either WDW or US, but we're on vacation and it doesn't matter how much it costs, we're there to have fun.

We've taken DMIL on our last 2 vacations to US and WDW and we've had a blast with her. But, the first few days of our 1st trip were a little tense because we weren't sure how she would fit in with our style of vacationing, but she kept up with us and loved all the new dining experiences. We thought about asking DSIL and family to join us, but have decided no. They won't take their kids out of school and their parenting style is different from ours, so we can already see disaster before the vacation is even planned.

 

[gabbygrennell]

And here I thought I was the only one with a trip from He**!!!!
Ours was with my fam of 5, my bro, his wife, my niece, and my mom and dad.
My parents were ok... dad is a bit of a tight wad, but he knew going into it that it was going to be costly! So he bit the bullet and went with the flow

Let me start by saying I am an obsessive planner.
I had all things planned out, made copies of everything for each family etc..
Had talked repeatedly about certain parts of the trip etc... over and over and over my dh says! lol!

When it came to parks, I knew my fam would want to do different things than my bro and his fam, so i suggest we go our seperate ways, and set a meeting time. Sis in law says no, we'll just do whatever you guys do.
Then complains continually because we were not doing what she wanted to... hello!!!! Told you how to fix that!

Big practically knock down drag out fight at end of trip because I had not "told" her all of the different things you can do there....
remember the copies I mentioned, (i even put them into a three ring binder for petes sake, and highlighted important stuff)

I guess my efforts were pretty much wasted, because she didnt even open the notebook apparently!

Lessons learned... we will NEVER NEVER NEVER go on vacation with anyone else ever again!!!!!
Well, maybe my parents cuz they were great... but absolutely NO ONE else!
lol

 

[princesspumpkin]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=746805&highlight=vacation+financial+bracket

 

[Sleepy]

There is nothing wrong with going to WDW or US with other people. Just make sure it is understood that while the vacations are taken at the same time, they should be treated as individual. Everyone has likes and dislikes and the idea of everyone visiting the parks as a group and everyone eating together will never work if you want everyone to be happy. We also learned that a hotel room cannot be shared with anyone other than your spouse and children. We all live in seperate houses for a reason and same idea should be upheld during a vacation if you want everyone to be happy. Saving money will NOT ensure an enjoyable vacation either. Meet up at the parks for a ride everyone enjoys or meet up for a meal when everyone agrees on a restaurant. Otherwise....stay seperate. I think it is just one of those things everyone has to experience before they learn the lesson.

 

[melkimmom]

We traveled with a couple on my first trip to WDW (hubby had gone a few times before). Well, as much fun as we have with this couple, hanging out, grilling, etc...we were not meant to travel together.

Although we had planned the trip together, restaurants, etc after the week we said never again..from now on we go alone.

Call me an antisocial but, I feel the same way. Too much invested to be wated.

 

[pozey]

Not really a trip from hell, but a funny story nonetheless......

We went to WDW with our best friends (a married couple). We all got along great during the trip and had a great time, but one thing STILL stands out even though this trip was at least 15 years ago.

We were having dinner at Alfredo's in Epcot. The husband of the other couple apparently had never eaten in an Italian restaurant or just was not aware of what alfredo sauce was. He ordered the fettuccini alfredo. It wasn't until after the waiter brought the food out that he realized that alfredo was a cheese based sauce. The waiter asked if anyone wanted fresh grated parmesan, and my friend says to him "why would I want cheese on top of my cheese?"

My wife and I didn't know whether to crawl under the table with embarrassment, or to laugh hysterically. To this day, we still remember him saying that.

 

[4greatboys]

Last year I had been planning a really special trip. My bil/sil, niece nephew and mil were coming with us. Mil had been with us before but not bil familiy. Ours was a 2 week tri, the first week was our family, mil niece and nephew then bil/sil coming down the next week. Well my mil had been having some anxiety issues that my fil did not give us the complete picture before we went so basically she was a baske case our whole trip. Freaking that my niece was sleeping in the same room with my 2 oldest boys--which they have always and forever done, freaked if we ate in our room, freaked because she found a french fry on the floor I could go on and on but Im sure you get the ugly picture.
She didnt leave the room to go with us much but when she did and we were eating out she practically had a stroke over the prices--mine you she had been there before and knew it was expensive. It our only trip where I couldnt wait til it was over.