Was I unreasonable to be dismayed...

[aidtrismommy]

None of the Walmarts near me were open on Thanksgiving. They have no swimsuits anywhere around here either. They do, however, have swim suits in the gift shops at the hotels (minimal selection) at Downtown Disney and at the waterparks (like PP stated) I would even say they have them at the airport in the many stores they have there (Orlando) I know exactly how the OP feels and I would have been annoyed too. I don't think the OP was angry or annoyed at her neice, just at her sister.

 

[jacksmomma]

People can attack me if they like, but that would make me mad too! How long have you been planning this trip?! The kid could not find her suit is what I am assuming is months? I am like you, when I get to Disney I want to be there the whole time, so I would be irritated.

 

[duffy]

Well, we're back and had a great time! Yes, I'd go again with my sister and her kids, we loved it.

The Walmarts around here are all open on Thanksgiving, but they are madhouses, and I know that they won't have swimming suits. My neice used my daughter's old suit, so that worked out.

This was what we ended up doing most days: I would be the first to awaken, I'd get ready to go to the parks, and leave to get coffee for myself. Return to our room, waken my 14-year old daughter and the two of us would leave around 8:15. We'd be at our chosen park around 8:30. Rope drop at about 8:45, for a 9 o'clock opening, (we never used the EMH park) and we'd ride the headliner rides.

My sister would be awake when we left the room, and usually her kids too. It would take her THREE HOURS from the time they were all awake, to get herself and the 2 kids into the park!! They usually arrived at 11:00 at least. As a result, they only got to ride about half the rides we did.

She just made me realize how important it is to be organized on a Disney trip. She kept doing things like stopping to admire a little girl's hair. Meanwhile, I'm scoping the scene, seeing a HUGE group of teenagers coming in our direction, all heading for the same ride we are, and trying to tell her, "let's get in front of these kids," but because she stopped to admire the little girl's hair, we were then behind the group. But I'd just shrug, exchange a smile with my daughter, who realized what I'd been trying to do, and we'd ride. My daughter and I kept giggling at how they were like Dug from "Up!": they'd see "something shiny" and totally forget what they were doing. LOL!!

She kept telling her kids things like, "We will do whatever you want to do," and then "Well, it looks like we can't ride Toy Story Mania," when the line was 90 min. with all Fastpasses gone. (I literally gasped in horror when I heard her tell her 5-year old he could do whatever he wanted--who tells a kid that??? EVER????)

Ultimately, we had a great time, her kids had a great time, and yes, I'd go back with them, because we had so much fun. A condensed trip report will follow.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I'm glad it went well. It sounds like you all made the best of it.

 

[CityGranola]

I'm in the process of planning our next summer trip. My sister and her 5 year old as well as my niece, her DH, and their 3 year old will be joining myself, DH and our 5 and 1 year olds.

If it were up to them, we wouldn't even have reservations at a hotel - they're very fly by the seat of your pants types. ODS has severe food allergies and asthma, so I NEED to plan stuff - where is the hospital? What restaurants will we eat at on the drive down? I plan too much, and realize that's a flaw of mine, but it helps everyone else out too.

There will be times we will be together and times we won't - everyone needs a break from each other at some point. I'm lucky that I'm ok with stopping to see the shiny things, even though in my head I'd like to do lots of things, sometimes my soon to be 5 year old would really rather see the shiny.