[kphil89]

Ok I confess I am a disney fan and I understand that everyone will not share my feelings about Disney. That said....I am planning this wonderful vacation to orlando with my family. We began talking about the trip when we were all home visiting over the Christmas holidays. Since I am the only one who has been to Disney in recent memory I volunteered to organize the event. I get home and instantly get a rate quote for the travel time-Thanksgiving 04- and none of my family wants to pay that much to stay onsite. Ok no problem we can use my timeshare offsite. Ok I have a 2 br unit offsite that I can echange to use anytime but because it's a holiday week I can only get a 1 br and then 60 days out call to request an upgrade to a 3 br for $200. Ok everyone is onboard for that. I start planning the days we'll go to the parks. Well 1/2 the group would rather not go to Disney since it for kids...their words not mine...So I say fine then can we please all just go one day together in a Disney park? The park of choice Epcot. Well now I am hearing all kinds of moans about the 1 day tickets prices...geez people work with me. We are going in Nov can you start saving NOW! I want to share the magic with them but I am not feeling very magical right now! My mother is the main one...but her trip is totally free for her so why is she complaining..... I am sorry but I had to vent!!! Thanks for reading I feel somewhat better. I am going to make the best of my vacation to Disney and those who want to come along are welcomed!

Thanks again for letting me vent

[SusanC]

I took my parents last April and I had some of the same thing! I was paying everything for them but they still kept talking about the room prices, ticket prices and did not want to go to any of the nice places to eat because they cost too much.

I think their thing was they had never been and they felt bad that I was paying for everything so they was trying to make it cheaper for me. They had a great time and now want to go back. I got a good bonus at work and was took them on this trip in appreciation for all they did in sending me to college, paying my raising, etc.

[mickaholic4077]

Do you think you could do a tough love kind of thing and tell your family to quit their bellyaching and start saving now?

[joseph3947]

You might want to look into getting a Disney Visa card for some discounts on rooms. Also there are discounts from AAA if you belong. Also you might consider purchasing at least 1 AP for discounts on rooms and some meals. With 1 AP you can get 3 rooms at AP prices when they are available. If you are going in early to mid Nov. there should be rooms available. Hope this helps! I'am sure there are many DC'ers out there with other money saving suggestions. Have a Magical Vacation!!! :D :) Joe

[Willbegone]

Bless your heart! Can't planning for everyone be a real pain! Our first trip on site last year, my dad kept complaining about the price but as soon as we got there I didn't hear another word. We went back again this year on site and next year he is wanting to stay at either Poly or WL!!! Go figure! If you can just get them there maybe they will fall in love with it and be sorry for you causing you the trouble. Good luck and keep plugging away!

[BuzzLightyear]

I feel your frustrations. I think your final line sums it up. Make the best of it and have fun!!

[eeeee]

You know what they say . . . "You can't please all the people all the time . . ."

I took my parents in Jan. All they did was complain about the ASmusic room. The air was too cold, the room was too small. Their explaination? We usually stay in condos at the beach and are used to larger accomodations. Well, they also want cheap rates!!! We could have stayed at the Coronado but it was a price thing. So I guess you hope for the best and tell them to plan it themselves for next year. Good luck.

[SnazzyCMB]

Hey KPhil,
If your whole family is complaining, you can just tell them to stay home, and you can take me instead!:) ;) :p
I promise I won't complain about anything:laugh

[disneyjenny]

I too feel your pain!! Vent anytime!! I'm sure I will be venting as soon as I am back from my trip. 14 people!!! I hope someone is watching over me that week!!

Jennifer :)

[Dana]

That has to be frustratin. It's hard trying to explain the magic of WDW to people who are just not willing to *try* and feel it. Just get the time share and have everyone there and let everyone go their own route. Maybe when they see the fun you are having they wil be enticed to try it...hopefully for you. Don't stress yourself out about this. Not everybody is into WDW the way we are...it's true..lol My One Aunt and I are the only members in my entire extended family who enjoy WDW. Every time I tell them I am going, I am confronted with "Again?" lol I just pay them no mind and continue planning. They can be happy or not, no matter. I go and love it regardless.:)

[kphil89]

Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement. I am going to have a great trip with or without them...it's just so hard to plan anything (ex: meals) when everyone has issues! BTW if I make a PS for 8 I can always lower the number or cancel before the day right? I am not planning CRT so I am not concerned about deposits hmm...are there any restaurants in EPCOT that require deposits?

[disneyjenny]

I think that any PS of 8 or more is considered a group. With group PS they ask you for a credit card to "hold" (if you will) your PS. If you do not show for your PS,then your credit card is charged $10 per person that does not show. The reason.... they told me was that they are holding a "large" table or area for you. If you don't show they could have used table or area for other guests.

The way I handled this with our group is I told everyone that I needed $10 per person for every PS we made together. Then they or you will have that $10 to put towards the meal or you can give it back to them when the show up at the PS time. If they don't show up you have you credit card bill covered. I explained this to the adults of the family and they seemed to think it was fair. I guess they had too, otherwise they wouldn't have been included in the PS!!

You have 48-24 hours to cancel or change the PS. When you make your PS ask the CM what the cancelation or change policy is to be sure. I wrote it down but now I can't remember without looking.

Also, when you call to make your PS tell them how many people are in your group right away. There is a different "place" you need to go for these PS's. Go to the normal PS extention and the CM will transfer you to where you need to be!!


I hope this helps you out!! I am pretty sure this is all accurate but when you make your PS's, make sure you ask and understand what they are saying to avoid any confusion.

Let me know if I can help you out anymore!!

Jennifer :)

[BDavis932]

I just made PS's for my bosses family last month and the cut off between regular PS's and "group" PS's is 13 or more....So any PS for a group size over 12 people requires it to be held with a credit card and 48 hour cancellation notice.

[Disnatic]

Originally posted by SnazzyCMB
Hey KPhil,
If your whole family is complaining, you can just tell them to stay home, and you can take me instead!:) ;) :p
I promise I won't complain about anything:laugh

I'm with SnazzyCMB!!!!! Take us instead!!!!!!

I'm only 15 so I really couldn't give any good advice.

[Dana]

Originally posted by kphil89
Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement. I am going to have a great trip with or without them...it's just so hard to plan anything (ex: meals) when everyone has issues! BTW if I make a PS for 8 I can always lower the number or cancel before the day right? I am not planning CRT so I am not concerned about deposits hmm...are there any restaurants in EPCOT that require deposits?

Instead of making a bunch of PSes for a *potential* group that you don't know will want to even go, why not just plan two big meals as a group? You will be able to have a better idea of who wants to do what when you get there and can make a few PS's once there. It's not that hard to get decent PSes on the day of or before you go to eat...except for the cherished CRT. Just try and make them pin down two places they may want to try and go from there. You need a family meeting and a vote.:) The only place that I know of that you need to give a CC # to hold a PS in Epcot is The Princess Breakfast in Norway. I'm not certain if there are others or not..sorry.