what would you do?

[BuzzAndWoodyBoy]

My MIL was supposed to go with us to Disney but we had a huge falling out over the weekend and she is not going. By the way this is the same woman that could not make up her mind for 2 months about which days she was coming with us so I finally just booked 2 rooms at AllStars Movies for the entire weeks stay figuring we would just use the extra room on the nights she wasn't there. My 2 children are excited to stay there since they have seen the pictures but I am sure I can get them excited about somewhere else .

We are inside our 45 day window so a change to a lesser amount of money would incur a fee. I am trying to decide whether to keep the 2 rooms, downgrade to one room and suck up the fee or upgrade to a moderate resort. I guess I'm not even sure what I can do since the free dining period is over. I definately don't want to lose that. If we keep the second room what do I do about her being in it? Would I still have to buy the park ticket for her? The rooms are both in my name. There will be 4 of us going my DH, me and 2 boys almost 4 and turning 5 during the trip. Thank you for any input - I am really, really confused

 

[experiment626mom]

I would call Disney and see if you can upgrade. I don't think it will effect the free dining since you did book on time for that.

Good Luck!!

 

[eclectics]

You can change your resort and still keep the free dining. A change from 2 value rooms to 1 moderate should be around the same money, or not much more. Enjoy the upgrade and have a good trip!

 

[swilshire]

You might want to wait a few days to see if things cool down and she decides to go after all. It would be a shame to rearrange everything, then "kiss and make up".

I don't know any of the details, but I know my own parents became very difficult as they aged and got in poor health. You still gotta love them and do the best you can to get along with them, no matter how unreasonable they may be. I hope MY kids remember that in a few years.

MIL won't be around forever. One of my kids doesn't remember either of my parents. I think it's wonderful when grandparents can vacation with the families. None of mine nor my children's were ever well enough to do so.

JMHO.

Sheila

 

[BuzzAndWoodyBoy]

There will be no kiss and make up for me, she said some really nasty things to me but worst of all she called my 3 year a name to his face. That is something I just can't forgive. I do hope that she and her son can mend fences soon and honestly if the boys want to see her, that would be great, loving grandparents are so important (I never had any) but I could go for the rest of my life and be perfectly content not to see her.

Are the moderates that much better then 2 rooms at a value (basically the same price)? Thank you everyone for the advice so far, anyone else?

 

[babby]

I would go moderate, you get sit down meals and a SLIDE at the pool!!! Very impt. to my family. Anyway you go, have a great trip!

 

[minnie61650]

Hugs to you and your family.
It is so sad when things like that happen and feelings are hurt so bad.
I feel so sad for you.
I see you have a 3 year old. He would really have a great time at All Star Movies. It is like a Disney Movie Fantayland.
I am 55 years and I love watching the kids having so much fun at Movies.
Is your other son older?
Just wondering if they are old enough for the slides at the mods.
I actually like the pools at the ALL stars without slides. The kids have so much fun and the older children aren't pushing the younger ones rushing for the slide.
I stayed at CBR they had 7 bus stops before they went to the parks and I hated it.JMHO

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---CSR buses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----15 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----15 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------10 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------35 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.
am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
Have a great time at Disney!
Linda

 

[jcat2312]

When we had orignally started pricing our trip, we were going to go with 2 rooms and the ASMo resort. There are 3 adults and 1 kid in our party. It would have been more money for 2 rooms at a value resort than 1 room at POR. I think the difference was $500. To us, it wasn't worth it.....


Good luck to you.

 

[minnie61650]

. If we keep the second room what do I do about her being in it? Would I still have to buy the park ticket for her? The rooms are both in my name. There will be 4 of us going my DH, me and 2 boys almost 4 and turning 5 during the trip. Thank you for any input - I am really, really confused

If you keep the 2ed room you will get to keep her dining passes and her ticket.
I would treat you and dh to dinner at California Grille and Hoop de do review
and some other fine dining choices. Also you can upgrade the ticket to non expiring for a future visit.
Linda

 

[ALDISNEYFAN]

Please wait and think about the advantage of two romms!!!!! Even with younger kids, you could have 2 bathrooms, 2 TVs, a seperate playroom for the kids when you and your husband might like to just have a moment of quiet time. This is all under the idea that the rooms could be adjoining. You can request this ahead of time. I think that would be a real treat. I know some say you "only sleep" in these rooms but, we all know with two younger kids that isn't always the case. if some wants a nap, you could have a space right next door to enjoy reading or the TV.

Goodluck!

 

[NCombs]

Also, be aware that if you would decide to change resorts, the resort you want may not be available as the rooms allocated for free dining were limited and may all be booked.

Good luck.

 

[milmore104]

I wouldn't switch if your kids are looking forward to staying here. I was going to upgrade from POP but DD picked it and is really looking forward to staying there. I would find out what the fee would be and the differnce to keep or cancel the room. That beeing said I send you lots of Pixie Dust and Hugs from one DIL to another. I also have a MIL from HELL!!! She actually bought her grandson a motorcycle for a gift and he didn't want it. I offered her $5000 for it becuase DH ( her son) REALLY wanted it. She knew he really wanted it. He was the only one that drove it. What does she do right in front of me and DH she gives it to her brother -in- law. Just gives it too him. Well we were going to take her on this trip but I refuse to bring her let alone pay for it. Don't you just LOVE MIL's!!!!

 

[zumbergc]

With 2 kids, you might want to keep the 2 rooms.

The extra bathroom alone can speed getting up and out in the moring and getting prepped for bed.

Bedtime might be easier too. This way the boys can have a seperate space, even seperate beds, so maybe bedtime would be easier.
Plus, you could catch a little tv, relax time before you go to sleep to.

If you go for a nap in the afternoon, or your kids want to nap. At least you can designate a quiet room, and an active room. Not everyones napping schedules are all at the same time. So one thats more restless might keep the one that needs a nap up, then the waking each other up game might happen. Or bumping, and rolling on to one another?

Just some ideas.

Connie

 

[minnie61650]

If you decide to stay with the two rooms make sure you request that the rooms are connected (inside door between the 2 rooms) instead of adjoining.
Adjoining means next to each other and you have to go outside to get the other room. Connecting rooms can be guaranteed for families --just let CRO know.
Have a great vacation where ever you decide to stay.
Linda

 

[BuzzAndWoodyBoy]

I think I figured out that to would be about $400 ($800 real dollars but subtracting the ticket/meals) more to keep the 2nd room. Her park pass becomes a present for my mother Then, as Linda suggested, we could use her meal tickets. I think it might be worth the extra money for a little peace and quiet at night. We'll think about it for another few days and make the decision soon.

Linda, you are right, although the kids think they know how to swim, they really don't so a slide at the pool might actually be a bad thing.

Just wanted to let you know I really appreciate the advice.

 

[Drizzo67]

Stay at the All Star, enjoy your trip, keep the two rooms. Like other suggestions, having a quiet room can really help you enjoy the trip.

Sorry to hear you have MIL problems. I guess I should count my blessing as my MIL is one of my best friends and she's finally joining us on our next trip.

Let us know how your trip turns out. Is this the first trip for the boys? Nothing like a child's first trip to WDW. It's funny, I sort of envy First Timers (the wonder of it all)

 

[tlbwriter]

worst of all she called my 3 year a name to his face. That is something I just can't forgive. I do hope that she and her son can mend fences soon and honestly if the boys want to see her, that would be great, loving grandparents are so important

Loving grandparents don't call 3-year-olds names.

Anyway, I'm going to agree with everyone else that the extra bathroom would be *really* convenient.

 

[kath1210]

I also agree that two rooms would be great - in fact we are doing that at ASMu for our October trip. Can't wait!!

However, another choice might be to invite another relative or family to go along with you. They can pay for the extra room and will get free dining.

You can do this even though the free dining reservation period is over. My friend added a room for her mother after the free dining reservation period was over, and since she added it to her existing reservation, she was able to get free dining for her mom.

 

[BuzzAndWoodyBoy]

Loving grandparents don't call 3-year-olds names.

Anyway, I'm going to agree with everyone else that the extra bathroom would be *really* convenient.

I am hoping that my MIL's attitude was brought on by the beginnings of a nasty cold and a couple of nights of poor sleep. In the past she has been very good with the kids, she just doesn't respect or like me. If she can mend fences with her son, she can then see the boys with him there to make sure it doesn't happen again. I just want the whole argument to go away for everyone else's sake.

Regarding the second room, I don't think I would want anyone joining us. We need a "family" vacation. The second room would be nice so my husband and I could have some quality time

And yes this our very first trip to Disney as a family. My sons have never been, my husband hasn't been since 1998 and I haven't been since 2000. We are celebrating my older son's fifth birthday while there so it should be extra special.

 

[tlbwriter]

I am hoping that my MIL's attitude was brought on by the beginnings of a nasty cold and a couple of nights of poor sleep.

I hope so too. But then again, a woman who snaps at a young child when she's under a little stress, well, you never know. Perhaps I'm paranoid because I've been reading Mother In Law Stories a lot lately! I think your decision to have the children visit (if they do visit) with dad is a wise one.

Sounds like it's going to be a very special trip for everyone... especially with a private room for mom and dad!