Inspried by gopherit... Do go to WDW with family and/or friends?

[mamaprincess]

Why or why not?

The first time we used our points we had friends stay over night at OKW ( they live in jacksonville and had just returned from atrip at WDW). We went out to dinner, had sundaes at Giardelli's, had breakfast at GF and our older children ( their twins and my twins) swam at High Rock Springs pool. It was very enjoyable however, we had 3 babies between us so it got tricky at times. Since then, it has just been the 5 of us.

I would love to be able to take my dd's best friends because they have not gone but I'm not so sure about the moms. I've been begging my mom who is affraid to fly but has been to senegal among other exotic locales :headscrat , to come with us because I enjoy her laid back style.

I guess DH and I have mixed emotions about going with Family and friends. We like to have our own vacations our way with no one to accomodate but our little family but I know there is a great deal to be said for sharing the magic.

[PoohsPal]

My parents were going to come down for marathon, but they were not going to stay with us, their choice. (just a studio, as we're saving points for the AK cruise. Yes, I know that's not the most effective use of points) I was still a little worried about not being free to do what we want.

Part of me wants to share with most of the world, but it's our happy place. If someone were to ruin that for us, we'd be devasted. Even for 1 trip. Maybe with more trips under our belts that would change.

I do know that when teh ILs talked about a whole family trip, his first thught was GV. His thoughts very quickly turned to how the ruined a trip we were'n looking forward to all that much, no way would we let them ruin a WDW trip!

Only time wil tell....

[cobbler]

Yes and no.

Mostly no. Ok we always just travel with my family (my meaing me, hubby, and the kids). This year in October (before DVC purchase) we asked my dad if he would like to vacation with us. One is I haven't had a vacation with him since I was 13 and two because it would be fun for him since he hadn't been on a vacation in about 8 years and be able to have fun with the grandkids.

He knew that he was paying his way and blah blah, free dining helped out a lot!! Even though I still put about 400 toward his trip in HDDR meals, MNSSHP tickets and deposit on package. Would I do it again being hindsight is 20/20? Yes we had a nice time and I was able to enjoy a vacation with my dad andhe with me and the grandkids.

It did however throw us of course because they are a bit slower than we are and just dink around. Not bad. Stepmom had never been to Disney and he hadn't been since you could get a room at the Cont for 100/night! Towards the end of the vacation we split off, they did Sea World, we did F/W festival and it was very nice to have it be just my family again.

Now if you are asking with the purchase of DVC if we will invite family and friends. Not on our points no. Not that we are greedy, selfish and stingy or anything its just that we aren't telling any of our families at all we bought it. Hubby's family is more the type that they would get this elitest entitlement mentality. The kind that say "well you aren't using them" "you have enough to have us come" "why can't we have a bigger room" "where are we going to stay this year" crap and I just won't have it. Neither will hubby. As for my family, they are the lecturing kind "why are you wasting your money" "you should have done this instead" "you will regreat buying that and going every year 15 years from now" blah blah blah.

So for the time being we aren't telling anyone about our purchase. Sure they are more than welcome to join us but they are paying for their own accomodations. Or if generous enough we might have them pay for the points they use.

[mamaprincess]

Pooh's pal I feel the same way you do about possibly having our vacation ruined so I would be very picky in terms of who I would consider having along. Our WDW vacations are so special to us I would probably completely fall out with anyone who'd be less than magical on our vacation :mad: . My sister who lives in Orlando had the nerve to try to dictate our vacation to us. She wanted us to be cramped up in her 2 br apt with her son and her,
do local yokel things ,have our kids swim in the pool at her apt complex instead of a WDW pool :faint: and severely limit our time at WDW. We were willing to give her a vacation with us so that we could spend time with her and not miss our vacation but she refused. As a result we spent one night with her and hightailed it out of there the next day then came to her house for dinner on our last night. She was not to happy about our decision and we did have some words and tears. Now when we come for vacation, we do not tell her. We will visit her seperate from our vacations (more money less problems)

I also am in the same boat as you Cobbler in terms of being able to accomidate someone for a full vacation with our points. If they can't fit in the room we reserve for ourselves then it can't be done. We don't have a bazillion points yet and even if we did, We'd go more often before we'd just give them away.

[DSNY FN]

All but 3 of our Disney trips have been with family and friends and it seems odd when we go without anyone else like in May it felt really quiet only being the 5 of us there together. We normally have a group of about 12 when we go.

[WDWSTAR]

I love to bring family but after everything is set in stone i think reality sets in and i wish i didnt invite them.. LOL

the last few trips we usually wing it as far as driving to a place to eat and once we got there we changed our minds and drove to another wdw resort to eat at, LOL

Ddad would have never put up with my last minute changing our minds.

Dsis would rather eat at cheap off site restaurants if you can call wendys or mc donalds restaurants for dinner.


Dm she just complains about the restaurants during the meal

DB family are running to walgreens every five mins to get their pics develop,
i swear they know where every walgreens that is from wdw to the airport, LOL

can I say any more, lol


we do have great memories of all of us in the parks, they cant excape once you get them in the parks, LOL Ok Ddad did once, LOL

[withdisneyspirit]

We thoroughly loved our shared trip with my parents last October. We will do it again in December. Both of us, dizhoni and myself, have points so it actually means our points can go much further :beaniepro Luckily, we are all Disney lovers!!!!

Next July, Mom and Dad are taking the whole family on a trip :rockband: for their fiftieth anniversary!!! In 2008, DH and I plan to do it too, so we are conserving points with that in mind :goodvibes