Wake Up Jeff!

[mxylplik2]

I have another couple coming with us and we plan to go to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Last year when we went, we couldn't get out of the house until somewhere around 9 - 10 (shower, breakfast, etc.). When we got to MK, we proceeded to wait about an hour for the Dumbo ride. They feel they are on vacation so why get up early if you don't have to. Also, they don't have kids and they are really good with ours so in effect, they are coming purely because they enjoy the company of our kids.

Should I try to convince them to get up early highlighting all the benefits of doing so, at the risk of them getting peeved? Or should I just let it be as they are on vacation for us?

I can always get my kids to yell in their ear "Wake Up Jeff" (for you Wiggles Fans) at around 7am.

 

[kldmom2000]

Could you set a place and time to meet them when "they" are ready so you could go to the parks @ opening and they can catch up w/ you later? This is why DH and I CANNOT vacation with other people! LOL! We have to be there right when they open and have our own routine..... I'd go nuts if we had to accomodate someone else!!! Good luck to you! Hope you can find a way to make it all happy for everyone

 

[sue1013]

I would tell them you are going early and have them call and meet you when they arrive. We have travelled with family and friends quite a few times and this has worked for us. DH and I get up and out of the house by 6am during the week no way do we want to rush on vacation.

 

[NC State]

I agree with kldmon2000, I would leave when I want to, then have the other couple to meet you. Then everyone is happy!

 

[BYC]

It is so easy, now that we all have cell phones. You get up and go, and meet them when they are ready. So somple, and no one gets annoyed. I would be totally annoyed to be held back by another family. That is why I avoid those large group situations (not always easy, as I am one of 10 kids!)

 

[mxylplik2]

We planned on sharing a minivan. Not sure how we would raise the topic. How about:

'Maybe we should rent two cars so that you can sleep in because we want to leave at 8am. Then, you guys can meet us in the park when you are ready.'

They'll think its silly to waste the money when we can all fit in one car. So either they grudgingly go along and wake up early or they'll say we should stick with one car and then not be able to get up on time.

 

[BYC]

I would have a knot in my stomach with this arrangement. It would put such a damper on my vacation. If you aren't staying onsite, or in a hotel that will provide transportation, than I would rent 2 small cars. I would be chomping at the bit waiting for another couple to wake up, and prepare to leave. It would make me nuts! Rather than have to feel this way, or annoy the other couple, get two, and go!

 

[babar41]

You didn't mention where you are staying. If you are on Disney property they can take Disney transportation (bus or monorail or boat) to the parks. If you are staying off property then I would tell your friends:

I know you like to sleep in on vacation and you should be able to! But we want to be at the parks by 8, so we have a choice to make from the following:

1. rent 2 cars
2. they can take a cab
3. you can go back and pick them up at noon
4. divide up the days as to early and late. Monday be at park by 8, Tuesday be at park by 10. If they are late on Monday then Tuesday will be an early day. If they are late on Tuesday too, then go to idea 2 or 3.

Good luck.

 

[simzac]

We planned on sharing a minivan. Not sure how we would raise the topic. How about:

'Maybe we should rent two cars so that you can sleep in because we want to leave at 8am. Then, you guys can meet us in the park when you are ready.'

They'll think its silly to waste the money when we can all fit in one car. So either they grudgingly go along and wake up early or they'll say we should stick with one car and then not be able to get up on time.

If you stayed on property, you wouldn't have this problem. You could start early, they could sleep as late as they wanted. JMO

 

[Mamu]

This sounds like a trip with my older Grandchildren. They would sleep till noon if I let them.

This is Disney, get up and lets get going, you can come back and rest. Oh No! no resting in the afternoon it's got to be in the morning.

Meet you at 11 somewhere. Tough to travel with others.

 

[JillL.]

this is such a hard thing to do BUT you need to make an understanding before your vacation. here on the dis i had heard so many stories about ruined vacations ...that when my dearest friend and daughter wanted to tag along on our annual wdw trip...it made me crazy with worry.

Luckily i am very verbal and shared my fears...we agreed that if at any time we had different ideas of what would be fun we would go our seperate ways and meet back up for dinner!

the very first day we discovered we had completely oppisite ideas of vacation we are up at the crack of dawn back to the hotel around 12 to rest and back to park in evenings...they slept till 10am and stayed till the park closed! and even when we were there...they wanted to gogogogogogogo and run from ride to ride! we saw them at dinners!thank god we discused it before hand!
good luck!




jill

 

[mxylplik2]

Renting a house about 20 minutes from MK.

Maybe we can get up early for MK. A little later for AK. Then a little later for SeaWorld. This is April 1 - 5 so it will be crowded.

 

[seashoreCM]

You have every right to hog as opposed to share, or alternate, or divide up, being the boss. Give themn an idea of your schedule before you leave home so they can decide whether to go along with you.

Lead, and let them follow or not follow as they choose.

However (according to the late Ann Landers) the Battle for the Bathroom is a great American sport. You must wait for them to have their turn in the bathroom, or you could get up even earlier so they will have a chance to use it before the single car departs.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Skylarr29]

I just think that if you do not make your feelings known and you "settle" for just going along with what they want to do you will RESENT it bigtime!!!! You are right ... it will be spring break and very crowded. I would not ruin my family's vacation for this. Your best bet would be like others have said... make a sched and tell them this is what you are doing. Tell them it will be busy and you feel this is the best way to avoid lines for the KIDS!! Then they can pick from the list that babar41 said. They have to get up, rent two small cars, take a cab, or wait until you come back for your break and join you for evenings. IT IS YOUR VACATION and you will not "if" you will resent them during and after if it does not go the way you are comfortable with.

 

[traciedee]

Ya know I bet if you checked the car rental rates you would find that you can rent 2 small cars for about the same price as 1 mini van. I agree with others-work this out before you go and don't let it put a damper on your vacation. Check the rates and then present them with the idea-they might like having a little freedom as well.

 

[minijeanie]

I feel for you... You are kinda in a pickle here....
I would take a deep breath and tell them that you really want to get to the parks earlier and you would not be offended at all if they chose to sleep in.

It will be difficult because as you said, they are wonderful with your children.
Hopefully it will all work out with no ones feelings hurt

good luck

 

[WaltD4Me]

Hello....allow me to introduce myself...I am "Jeff" in this scenario.

I HATE getting up early...7am? Yuck! I am a night owl and getting up that early just makes me tired the whole day...I SWEAR I try to go to bed earlier, but I'm rarely able to do it. When I go to Disney, I don't sleep REALLY late, but I usually don't make it to the parks until 10am or so. When I go to Disney with early birds, I tell them to go ahead without me and I'll meet up with them.

I've never been in your position though, we always stay on property so transportation to the parks isn't a problem. If I were doing a trip like this, I'd try the two car thing or find out what other kind of transportation I could get to the parks. Is there a bus or shuttle service nearby? I'd never except everyone to wait for me in the mornings, I'm sure they would resent that as much as I would resent being dragged out of bed at an ungodly hour.

Definitley make a plan before your trip! I'm sure everyone will have a better time!

 

[Tinkim]

This can be a tough situation. I just recently went to WDW with my DH and our 3 kids plus my son's friend and another family of my friend and her 2 DDs. We did rent two cars but that didn't really solve the problem because my friend never learned to drive until she was almost 30 and she refuses to drive in Florida. She also has a different idea of park touring than I do and that was solved by splitting up at times. She is not comfortable navigating the parks and doesn't like to split up but at times I didn't give her a choice. They don't really like the rides that we do like TOT, RNR, etc. and she wanted to come with us and wait for us and I thought that was foolish so I sent them to do something they would enjoy. We all had cell phones so it wasn't like we wouldn't be able to find each other.

If you check out rental car prices you might be surprised to find that renting 2 vehicles is often cheaper than renting one van. The first time we all went we rented a 15-passenger van for close to $500. Last time we rented 2 SUVs for $300 total. If you can talk them into getting their own car it might save everyone's sanity. Your familiy can get up early and go to the park and they can sleep in and drive themselves a little later and you can still meet up and spend some time together. That would be my ideal situation if only my friend would drive. She is always the last one out the door and was never ready to go when we were and we felt like we were being impatient with them to get ready in the morning. I think this could save all of you a lot of aggravation with the added bonus that you don't spend all week being annoyed with each other. Good luck.

 

[RescueRanger]

Renting a house about 20 minutes from MK.

Do yourself a favor and stay onsite next time. If you were onsite, your problem would be solved. We have rented houses for our Universal trips, but I will ALWAYS stay onsite at WDW. I would do like others have suggested and rent two cars. Go early and meet with them later.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

This is something you really, really need to work out before you go! I agree with the 2 car idea. That way each of you can come and go as you please.

It is MUCH easier transporation wise if you stay onsite. My family shared a 2 bedroom villa at BWV's a couple of years ago with my good friend's family. For the most part, we share the same touring and dining ideas. However, my friend's family likes to have a leisurely sit down breakfast, while my family prefers to grab a bagel somewhere and get to the parks for opening. So we just met up later via cell phones. But the important thing to note is that we all discussed this while in the planning stages of our trip and everything was out in the open. The worst thing (and I would have been so sick and nervous about it!) would have been to get there and have to address it.

Good luck!