I don't think it's right....even for a parent to be upset or lay guilt....I mean if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. Mind you this is coming from someone who would never go on a family vacation to disney with my parents.....I would be like if you want us all to stay at a deluxe then you paid the difference. How has it been handled in the past?
The best way to describe how it's been handled in the past is that for the past two years we've stayed at Pop!

Which, obviously, everyone can afford. And it's not that I don't like it there, I just sort of feel, been there, done that. You know? Honestly, it will all come down to the budget, I've priced it out online, and I know what's reasonable for us and for FIL. DH and I also discussed just going over to CBR and taking a look around, seeing if we like the feel of it even on this trip before we make a decision, which I think is a great idea.
And I should add that Mom (and Nana) have very, very generously taken myself and or DH and or DH, myself, and DS on trips and footed almost the whole bill. So I really can't fault them as people who don't do anything, you know what I mean?
And in December, which I realize I haven't even started a ptr for, they'll be covering the room cost and airfare as a gift to me for my birthday this year, and we have old passes for me. The only thing I need to cover is a pass for DS. Then my father offered to pay for that, I think I may use what he gives me towards an annual for DS, it would most likely make the most sense given our plans to go in Sept/Oct of '09. I think I remember that from the numbers you ran for me.
But I guess the thing is (boy you opened a can of worms here) that even though the December trip is "for me" and I am NOT knocking the amount of effort and expense that is being laid out here, it is not going to be a TK style trip, it is a mom/nana style trip, and I knew that when I said yes. It means LONG meals, shopping, very few rides, very relaxed attitude. It's more like you're going for food, some nice wine, and some good shopping (and Christmas decorations at one of your favorite places), you know? Hard to explain, but since you've read my ptr thus far, I think you'll get that I may be laidback, but I'm not that laidback. I like to be able to do stuff. The December trip will not be a doing stuff trip, it will be a soaking it in trip.
So I feel like even though that's a gift for me, when it comes to the trip that I'm paying for, i.e. Sept/Oct '09, even though I feel like a horrible daughter/granddaughter, shouldn't I stay where I want?
I don't know. Family issues confuzzle me.
