Why do we even try to take other people??

[appleorchard]

Our son, wife and 2 kids just canceled our Dec. trip to BLT, MK view, booked the second the lines opened, for Dec. 13-18. We borrowed points to achieve this, and we have a Feb. UY. I'm sure you can see where this is going already!

So we figured, ok, we're very sad, but we'll take my mom, sister, and niece with us instead.Sis can't change her early Dec. ressie b/c she has MVMCP tickets and says she called, and they won't change the dates on her ticket.

So we'll just take mom. Waste of a MK view, since she really loves Epcot, so we cx the last 2 days and booked BWV for the 11th and 12th instead in a 1 BR, 1 night on points and one for cash.

Then my sister calls and wonder why we don't just do Sun-Wed. since we already had that and wouldn't have to move. My sister never suggests anything without an agenda, and here it is: the weekend we're going with mom might be the weekend her daughter and family are coming out to celebrate Christmas, and they'll feel terrible if mom isn't there.

We can't cancel the 2 BR part of our reservations without having the points go into holding.

I'm so tired of working around everyone else's convoluted plans--I have enough convolution of my own! We had to scramble to get the w/e of the 11th and 12th, since on our original trip, that weekend was being spent with the "other grandparents and we were to be nowhere on the Disney property, or the trip was off. I'm amazed I was able to get a 1 BR at BWV today--it was the only one available!

So now we have a 1 BR BWV for the 11 and 12, then a MK 2 BR for the 13-16. Poor mom is in the middle; I told her not to sweat it; if she can go, she can go. If she can't, she cant. But I am so DONE trying to arrange trips around everyone else's demands and preferences. We took my sis, mom and sis's family in May on points and gave them military tickets. Now I need something--for niece to change her Christmas weekend to the 19th. Think I'll get it? Not holding my breath.

Anyone want to stay in the studio half of our 2 BR lol?

 

[deebits]

Sorry to hear of all of your frustrations. We have been there also with family and friends.

Have a great trip and hopefully everything will work out!!!

 

[vicki_c]

I'm really nice and so is the rest of my family --we'd be glad to go with you, on whatever schedule and accomodations you dictate!

Seriously - isn't family fun?

 

[spiceycat]

hey would love it!

don't try to get family to go with me. just make reservations for them when THEY can go. It works better for everyone.

besides when I do go with them - they think I should pay for everything - no longer have the money to do that.

so in the future you might try that and see if it works.

 

[RevBob]

We are feeling the same way. One of the reasons we bought additional points resale was so that we could have friends and family stay with us. We invited friends from Brazil to come up in January, and made all the reservations for a 2bd at AKV over Marathon Weekend for 10 days. The only time they could come. Last month they informed us that because of a job tranferr, they couldn't make it.
So we invited another couple and initially they said yes, he would come down initially and attend a conference with me and she would come down for a long weekend. So we made changes with our reservations and almost lost one night in the process, but was able to get it back. And then last week they informed us that they couldn't come because their daughter and grandkids had decided to come and stay for several weeks after Christmas.
So it looks like we might end up with a 2bd for just the two of us, unless we are able to change reservations to a 1bd, but availability is getting slim and none for that time period at this time.
I won't even go into our next September's trip and the trouble we've had with that.
We may just have to rethink the whole issue of inviting friends and family, especially since it doesn't seem to be working out at all. At least we know that we have a very magical place to go to on vacation, and we will really enjoy that.

 

[appleorchard]

We are feeling the same way. One of the reasons we bought additional points resale was so that we could have friends and family stay with us. We invited friends from Brazil to come up in January, and made all the reservations for a 2bd at AKV over Marathon Weekend for 10 days. The only time they could come. Last month they informed us that because of a job tranferr, they couldn't make it.
So we invited another couple and initially they said yes, he would come down initially and attend a conference with me and she would come down for a long weekend. So we made changes with our reservations and almost lost one night in the process, but was able to get it back. And then last week they informed us that they couldn't come

because their daughter and grandkids had decided to come and stay for several weeks after Christmas.
So it looks like we might end up with a 2bd for just the two of us, unless we are able to change reservations to a 1bd, but availability is getting slim and none for that time period at this time.
I won't even go into our next September's trip and the trouble we've had with that.
We may just have to rethink the whole issue of inviting friends and family, especially since it doesn't seem to be working out at all. At least we know that we have a very magical place to go to on vacation, and we will really enjoy that.
[/QUOTE]
Totally with you! We love to share, but my son and family put so many restrictions on us for this trip, and now they can't go anyway. I guess we'll both be enjoying the space of a 2 BR--maybe we'll sleep in different bedrooms lol

 

[disneynutz]

Been there, done that, lesson learned!

Bill

 

[Anjelica]

Ahhh Family.....I think they are a big reason why some already have a foot in the ground...

 

[5forDiz]

Been there, done that, lesson learned!

Bill

So very true ! how does that saying go ....? something about no good deed going unpunished

 

[Deb & Bill]

No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[FindTheMickeys]

First and only time this happened to me was with my spoiled sis-in-law. I am trying to get them to the World. My brother, niece and nephew have never been. My niece can't miss school because she is in danger of failing 2 classes and I ABSOLUTELY refuse to go in the summer any more!!! Okay, so they suggest over Labor Day weekend, that only takes her out of class for 2 days, Friday and Tuesday and it's the first week back to school anyway so she won't miss much.. So I book a 2br... August rolls around and they cancel. Thank goodness I have another friend who is DYING to go to Disney with me!! (I think she may have paid off the family so that she could go) So my trip worked out in the end, although I wouldn't have borrowed the points needed for that weekend had I known it was only going to be the 2 of us...
The rest of my family is grateful to have a great vacation where the lodging is FREE so they go when I suggest...

 

[photobob]

We bought DVC knowing that we can plan well in advance and stick to those dates. When you bring others into the equation it isn't quite as simple. I'm not sure the nonDVC folks understand how changing plans can make a big DVC mess!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have only ever taken people who truly understand the ramifications, so while we have had guests with us a lot of trips, we have never "gotten stuck" with something we couldn't use. We did have one couple stiff us, but they wont be invited back again...even though they keep hinting that they want to go. NOT going to happen...once burned but twice would be stupid.

 

[crisi]

We've always made acceptable backup plans - book a two bedroom and put the other family in the studio - my kids on the pullout. If they can't come (which happened once with my sister), my kids get the second bedroom. Or with the "big" trip, we had it booked in such a way that if anyone couldn't come, one of the two bedrooms could be rented out.

Currently we have an open invitation out to friends on the "if they come, they are on the pullout and all four kids are in the second bedroom - if they don't come - sweet! We put the kids in the second bedroom" plan.

We started doing this after trip #1 - my mother in law and stepfather in law had been invited - he backed out. We subbed in my mother in laws sister and it went VERY well, but we try and configure the arrangements to make it easy on US if someone drops.

 

[whitfamily]

While I don't know your circumstances I can tell you I'd never have the guts to cancel a vacation on my parents or in-laws that was already made unless the world was falling down around me. Respect thing in my book!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I guess we'll both be enjoying the space of a 2 BR--maybe we'll sleep in different bedrooms lol

I do realize your situation isn't funny, but that made me laugh!

One time my husband booked a two bedroom unit for our family of five at a ski resort. All kinds of things happened that left me to go alone with one son & the resort was fully booked so we had to keep the 2 bedroom. I was so worried about how it would work out. We had the BEST time and still talk about the time we had the HUGE room! I hope your plans work out the way you want, but if they don't, I bet you will still have a great time.

 

[LocustPoint]

I've been pretty fortunate with inviting family along, but they also "get" Disney. I'm bring my aunt and uncle down for the first time over Marathon weekend, and since my uncle is going the "Goofy" there is no chance that they are backing out.

 

[Cee]

Do what's best for you and your family and let everyone else adapt for a change.

 

[SusieBea]

I feel your frustration. We've had similar experiences ....

For our grandson's first Disney trip, I booked a Grand Villa (first time) at OKW next fall. I sent my DD & DD& SIL an email saying this is what I had done and for those specific dates. There would be more than enough room for everyone. If they can come, come; if they can't, we'll cancel. Hoping for the best; so far, so good. We'll see.

 

[aDVCguy]

<---- My expression the 1st time I got "burned" by family.

<---- My expression the "almost" 2nd time!

FYI: The last trip we we're on, brought my SIL, her DH & 2 kids
on us...we saved them almost 2K! The last day we're there
said SIL has the nerve to ask me, through my DW no less, for
more points after we leave so they could extend their stay! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
"I just saved you 2K...spend some of your own $$$!"

Whew! Thanks for letting me vent!