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?

 

[rocketriter]

Yep. My wife and I went on a Wisconsin trip with a couple who thought it would be funny to call our room, pretend to be gangsters and threaten us. They didn't fess up until after we got home--and after my wife had gotten so rattled that we changed hotels. They're on our never-again list.

 

[GDUL]

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?

Hmmmmmm, let's see............ There was a trip a number of years ago where my wife, daughter, sister-in-law (wife's sister), her husband, and I were taking an inpromptu trip - staying at one of the trailer homes at Ft. Wilderness. We were going to take the back bedroom to take advantage of the 2 beds with the other couple using the fold-out couch in the living room. Good plan so far .............

When we get to the airport, we don't find SIL and BIL - nope - BIL and his mother. SIL was called to a business meeting the day before and they didn't want to waste the plane ticket, so, viola, BIL's mother. SIL would come down about 2 days later. We also find that BIL has brought golf clubs even though we had told him that they wouldn't fit in the car that we had rented (driving to WDW from Tampa). Oh well, not much we can do - plane is boarding............

Arrive in Tampa and darned if those golf clubs don't fit into the car with all of the other luggage. What to do ............ BIL ends up sitting on them all the way to WDW. Poetic justice there............. BTW, he never golfed during the week - he also got to sit on them going back to the airport in Tampa.

We spent the rest of the week (actually, 5 days - she left early) listening to BIL's mother complain (actually, when I tell people of this story, I'm usually more profane - yep still telling everyone about it 20 some years later - maybe I need to talk to a professional about it!) about having to stay in "the swamp" (Ft. Wilderness), how hot and sticky it was (it's only JULY!!!! - ya think!!!!!!), how we didn't know how to parent our ~ 3 y.o., how expensive things were, about the restaurants that we chose, etc. One day she sprained her ankle in the park and had to go back to the trailer to rest. When we came back from the parks, all of the pillows were missing from the roll-up couch (that's right - we ended staying on the couch since SIL was coming and we didn't want to share the bedroom with BIL's mother). We found them all under her foot - they were being used to prop up her sprained ankle.

What else ......., oh yeah, we had HDD reservations for 7 pm for 5 of us. We arrive at the time we were told to but no SIL or BIL. Hmmmmm ....., we wait .....and wait ....... and wait. The show is about to start and we still can't be seated since all of our party isn't present. I plead my case and in we go - I'm sure that we had the worst seats in the house - LOL! BIL and SIL never show up - after the show, we go back to the trailer and go to bed. Several hours later, in comes BIL and SIL - waking everyone up (remember, we're in the living room due to change in "plans"). They had decided to find some Jai Lai matches so BIL could bet on them.

The last night that we are there, BIL and I decide to go to the main check-in building to finalize our bill. On the way, BIL tells me that he wants to thank us for "inviting" his mother. That did it - car over to the side of the road and I proceed to get things off of my chest (nicely, of course).

I'll have to stop now - I feel my BP rising again - need to get a drink.........LOL! Needless to say, we have never taken another vacation with them (or his mother). That was, by far, the worse trip that we've ever taken to WDW.

Gary

 

[Cruelladeville]

Where to begin?? We have been visiting WDW since the mid 70's so I have a ton of Hellish vacation experiences.

I invited mom, sisters, and families down with us on our points. They decided to arrive the weekend before us, and had insisted on staying at BWV. No problem. Two hours before our flight my sister called, and started by saying "Don't be mad..." Mom had complained to management, and got their rooms transferred to the new VWL, and all the resorts were sold out!!! My room was left over at BWV! Fortuneately, guest services went above and beyond, and found me a room there, but the trip went downhill from there. They complained all the time, and weren't even apologetic that some of my points had to go into holding, and I had to rent a motel room for the end of my stay. They weren't invited again, and the relationship suffered with mom, though both sisters understood why I might be angry.

On another trip DD brought a friend along who was truly Devil's spawn, as guests go. She would walk into a room, and change the TV channel when others were watching TV, spent two hours in the bathroom every morning, refused to eat with adults, and just wandered off whenever she felt like it. Even DD was fed up with her! Once we returned to the room, and found her and a "friend" on the couch, doing "the nasty". It was awful! I can't believe how bad it was! The "friend" was part of the locals who were also down there, and the guy's girlfriend found out, and it was really the topic of conversation once we all got home. I did feel vindicated, though. She got what she deserved.

 

[Chuck S]

Well, back when DVC members had free admission to the parks, we invited two of Mom's cousins to join us on the trip. This was in January. We booked two studios at OKW, one for Mom & me, the other for the two cousins. We told them the park tickets were included, all they need to pay for was meals and airfare.

The day prior to our flight we had a freak ice storm and plummeting temperatures in San Antonio. I left work early, called Mom and the cousins and said "Let's head to the airport NOW, the roads may be closed in the morning, some are closing now. If we have to, we can spend the night in the airport. I'll pick everyone up in my car."

Mom says "Great, sounds like a plan!" First cousin says "Well, let me call my kids and see if they think I should go in this weather." She calls her kids, and they say, "Sure, if Chuck is driving, he's driven in ice and snow before, it should be fine." Second cousin says "Oh no, what if I fall, I just don't think I'd be comfy sleeping at an airport, my son and daughter don't want me to go...blah blah blah." So she cancels, the room is reserved in HER NAME.

Anyway, the three of us get to the airport and check with the airlines, they had one last flight going out through Dallas (which was open, but expected to close due to weather later that night), and they could get us to Orlando about midnight.

We get to MCO, pick up our rental car (which we need to pay an extra day for since we arrived early) and stay off site that first night...all in one room that I paid for.

The next morning we check in at OKW, and of course, with the name being wrong on the ressie, have trouble. Fortunately they were my points, and DVC members always have control of a ressie. So I am allowed to check in to the room. Mom & her cousin share a studio, I take the other all for myself. Now this cousin decided it was "too much walking". so I got a wheelchair from the resort and I push her (and she is NOT a lightweight) all around WDW for a week. This woman does NOTHING but complain, "The food is too expensive, I've never paid so much for a meal...blah blah." Mind you food and air was her ONLY expense for a week at Disney.

She pays nothing on the car, does not offer to pay for a single meal for Mom & me...nothing.

Then these two cousins don't have a clue as to why we never invited them again.

 

[CarolA]

Traveling solo is looking better and better all the time.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

- That's quite a trip you had, iankh.

CarolA, I'd have to agree!!!

 

[AFMom]

You are all making me very nervous! My two DSs' and I (DH can't go this time), are meeting MIL, FIL, SIL, BIL, and 2 nephew and a niece at DL in April. I'm really looking forward to it - but am already sensing there may be some issues! We all usually get along really well, so I'm just hoping we'll stay focused on the 5 kids and not the 5 adults trying to negotiate the parks! I'm the DL expert of the family, and my kids have been a few times in their short lives, but the family of 5 have never been. My plan of attack is to just go with the flow. We've been there, done that - they haven't. I just hope my 7 and 8 year old can be convinced to see it the same way! Wish us luck!

 

[wilderness01]

Wow, I agree. Solo looks better and better and better!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Well, we've not had that horrible a trip, but we purposely avoid travelling with others - anywhere, not just WDW - unless we're pretty sure how it will work out. We did do a DVC trip with another couple last December, and it worked out well - probably because we went our separate ways except on planned "together times": water park, dinner/Jellyrolls, SeaWorld, etc. Also, they lurve Disney, too!

We have travelled with a group before - usually 3-5 couples meeting up in Las Vegas - and I've learned that it's an entirely different situation. My coping mechanism is just to relax the control and "go with the flow"; these are people we've been friends with for decades, and simply spending time with them is worth doing / seeing things that we've either done before or aren't necessarily on the top of our to-do list.

I love my sisters and brother (and their families) and I love a good part () of DW's family, but I think that I'd rather spend a week in a dentist's chair than spend an extended vacation with them.

 

[WDWLVR]

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.

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?

Wow I didn't know you traveled with my in-laws! What you described perfectly depicts our October '02 trip to WDW with my in-laws. We invited them to stay with us in a 2 bedroom. The only day that wasn't bad was the day they took off to Cocoa Beach to go to the casino boat and we went to Magic Kingdom by ourselves. At the end of the trip I almost thought I never wanted to go back to WDW.

Luckily my DH (who had just as bad a time and it was his parents) suggested a guick December '02 trip for just the two of us. The magic was back. Now we go alone and if we want to be nice to them we give them 5 nights at Vero Beach. They are happy, we are happy!

I love them very much - just can't travel with them.

 

[disney junky]

When I first saw this thread, I thought I could complain about how my neices would actually stop in the gift shops while exiting the rides instead of moving quickly and purposefully to the next ride. I now realize how grateful I should be for the wonderful families we have traveled with. Some of you deserve sainthood for not resorting to felonious responses......







when

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

We learned that for a special place like Disney....one needs to really know the habits of others before inviting them to share.

But LOL....I got engaged at the Poly and was determined to get a ressie for the first part of our honeymoon. Tried every day for 15 months back in l979...NO LUCK. I am a tenacious sort, so we decide to spend two nights en route to the Caribbean anyway...in Treehouse maybe because another couple is joining us. We arrive at WDW...I call and ask if maybe there is a last minute cancellation at Poly...no luck. We play at MK. Decide to stop at Poly for a drink. I sneak away to front desk. Its about 6PM. I hear the front desk CM tell the little boy in front of me...son, this is the LAST room but I can't hold it for you because you don't have a credit card. YES I DID!!!! I bent down and whispered to the little boy: honey, you will have a much better time at Ft. Wilderness...they have smores! And I stepped to the front and snached that room. Front desk CM thought it was charming (re the engagement the year before part...not the little boy part) UNTIL I responded to her knowing question: 2 in the room then, with a NO, it will be 4.

A few years later, we have one child and they have 2 and we decide to meet them at WDW. OH MY GOD. We were used to commando through the parks...and they were SOOOOO SLOW. We couldn't go 10 feet without someone having to go potty, to eat, to drink, to shop. Definitely different from our old days as 'couples'.

Then, we decided to meet another couple with 4 kids at the park, only after we agreed to meet did we remember our earlier experience. But the good news is...they were just as commando as we were and we all had a total blast!!!!!

I love sharing Disney with everyone, but I want everyone to love it as much as me...so I tend to be somewhat of a control freak. This December, we had two people who arrived late and let me talk them into Fantasmic and the Osbourne lights...but who wouldn't go to Wishes (MK was open til midnight)...I couldn't STAND that they were missing it, but decided I wasn't the 'boss of them'.

Now that I am hopefully becoming a DVC owner, there will be more time to just relax and not HAVE to go to the parks every day...much like it was while my d was just a baby and we'd stay at the Poly and take afternoon siestas at the pool.

When I hear the horror stories of taking 'loved ones' who are rude and inconsiderate in return...it makes me thankful that our friends and family were so fun to be with (well, most of the time!)

Recently divorced with a grown up daughter living in Calif...I might be going solo to celebrate my welcome home at BWV...it will be a new experience, tho I still love taking a little one for the first time at the bestest place in the whole wide world!
CB

 

[DVCconvert]

Traveling Companions From Hell

I'm very, very sorry.

I did not know my In-Laws had joinned you on your trip too.

 

[DrBond007]

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

Actually, if they were true friends, sitting down with them and telling them that it was bothering you might have been the best approach. Families get much more complicated, but friends are friends for a reason. Just a thought.

 

[DrBond007]

I'm very, very sorry.

I did not know my In-Laws had joinned you on your trip too.

Very good, nicely done.....

 

[Sherri]

When my husband and I were in our early 20's we went to Atlantic City to see a concert with another couple that we grew up with. We were all staying at our beach house (which was on the third floor). The other couple got into a huge fight and asked for the keys and left early. By the time my husband and I got back the door was locked and the other couple did not come to the door, probably since it was 2 in the morning.
My husband and I had to stay at a hotel for $109.00 for the night (which mind you we arrived a little after two and check out was 11). We were so mad! It was our house and we had to pay for a hotel.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

It was so bad i have to go again.

Second worst trip:

First adult trip my SIL shopped at EVERY single gift shop because of slight differences in stock. She bought presents for many people including the child her Mother babysat.I am not so generous so didn't need to do any shopping.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I just want to say that it isn't always bad.

A few years back, my wife and I were staying at Boardwalk Inn (before we purchased DVC).

One afternoon there is a knock at the door, and a voice says 'flowers'. We open the door and it is our friend from New York with a bouquet.

We live in London and had known our friend for well over twenty years but only met up every two years or so when visiting NYC. We had phoned her when we first arrived at WDW, but she had said nothing about her plan to join us for the weekend. They even managed to get booked into a room right across the corridor.

It turned out (though we had never discussed this before) that they were WDW fans too. We had a great weekend together, touring the parks both together and separately. We met up for dinner each night. We sat in the whirlpool near the quiet pool at night.

It was one of the best weekends we have ever had, and since then they have booked somewhere nearby at WDW for a weekend during each of our visits.

Andrew

 

[Pa@okw95]

Oh yes. Most of us have experienced this at least once. We went with a couple that had an out of control kid. This was the worse child I have ever seen. At the time the parents and I did not realize that the child may be autistic. WDW was hell for him and he made it hell for us. It was one of those things that the parents are in denial over even today and we had no idea. So he ran wild doing just about everything one could think of to make everyone's life miserable. In hind sight I would be more understanding now that I know or suspect he is autistic. But I would not take them as guests again to WDW. Denial of ones conditions or your child's condition can result in treatment not being taken and also hell for everyone especially the poor child.