Jan 2016: Everyone and Their Mother Goes to Disney About This Page:

[KimandMark]

Originally Posted by Hugmonster

Signing in. Which Wine goes well with Buttered, Salted Popcorn?

Originally Posted by Iris

Oh count me in! I also am planning a multifamily trip. I like your coping mechanisms. And will be paying attention how you work out your "group therapy"!

Originally Posted by cattailmarsh

OMG - so excited by your PTR already. I've done what you are doing & it will never occur again. We had 17 people (started with 21) that ended up going. And we apparently have some things in common - got pregnant with my son at 40 - HUGE SURPRISE (was told at 19 absolutely no chance of getting pregnant - shows what they know).

I just know your PTR will bring some laughter into my days. TIA

See, you already know how I cope--My good friend Vino helps a ton. I suggest a tannic red, maybe a Cabernet, to work with that fatty butter and salt combo (think of it as a steak...except crunchy and made of corn...).

Cattail-how did you do it? 17 people? I'm looking at 6 adults and 3 kids, 2 DVC accounts, and one swollen liver that will likely need it's own room.

[KimandMark]

Originally Posted by Cam22

Signing on for humor and sarcasm and whatever else comes.

I'm going to do my best to emulate you, Cam, with high quality photos, accurate descriptions, and cute tops.

Eh, who am I kidding. Cute tops is all I've got!

[KimandMark]

Let's start at the very beginning...

Last summer my neighbors became a legally joined and blended family. We've lived next to each other since 2011, and not all of us like to fess up to how much we've screwed up our lives prior to meeting new neighbors, so it took awhile before our story of surpise-baby-before-marriage met their story of single-mom-meets-divorced-dad-and-moves-in. Turns out we have a lot in common!! Anyway, as a gift for their big familymoon we gave them some DVC points toward a stay at AKV (they rented the remainder with my help). Well, as you can suspect, they were sold on DVC, big rooms, kitchens, animals, and annual Disney blowouts.

And then the shopping for a DVC resale began. I'm not sure, despite our assistance, how much they understood that this was a real estate purchase, not an ebay bid. At one point Ms. Neighbor had three online bids in without realizing that meant she'd be on the hook for all three. The Timeshare Store noted this, and was excellent (I'm sure people make this mistake? yes?). In the end, the got a nice price and purchased.

My regular advice to a DVC purchaser is as follows:
1. Don't borrow to buy it. Debt for vacation is bad debt.*
2. Consider carrying costs beyond the dues--I mean that you need to buy plane tickets, passes, etc.
3. Only buy DVC if under other circumstances you would go to Disney annually or semi-annually, pay for a deluxe hotel, and stay for a week. If you are content with values, intend to go every few years, and stay for just 3-4 days, this is not for you.

I'll summarize by saying I think people don't always listen to me.

Onward and upward, right? They get points and want to take a trip in January and want us to go at the same time. Honestly, I like May, mostly because we take a grown up trip to Key West in January and I don't want to miss that, partly because it's warm enough that my chicken of the sea kid will actually swim. And Flower and Garden Festival. But what the heck right? We've got APs that expire on May 3, we planned to go April 2016, then take a year off for Europe, and the points are significantly less in January. We're in.

First problem: points. I don't have enough to go for a week. I've got 37 in the FEB 2015 UY, and another 147 in the FEB 2016 UY (the whole changed trip thing with my mother involved borrowed points and when we cancelled her part I had to use the borrowed ones for the trip so as not to lose them and ended up with 37 left over in this year) but that is 36 points shy of one week in a two bedroom. Ms. Neighbor to the rescue. She's got points coming out of her ying yang right now. We haggle about repayment--I want to use money so that it's done and done, she wants to use my points at some future date. We settle on money.

Everything is looking good right?




(*if you already happend to have an open home equity loan because you built a big ass garage that is only at aobut 2% interest, perhaps you could use that borrowed money instead of getting a new loan at 9%!!! Or not. You could just tell me that you're trying to pay off that home equity line fast....and thereby prove that your grasp of compound interest is seriously loose.)

[cattailmarsh]

Originally Posted by KimandMark

Cattail-how did you do it? 17 people? I'm looking at 6 adults and 3 kids, 2 DVC accounts, and one swollen liver.[/B]

Most had never been to Disney before so they had no clue & despite buying them books, giving dates, etc it all ended up on me. It did help that I booked everyone & my stepfather had picked up the tab for most of it so I wasn't juggling money. The indecisiveness & then telling me to plan it all then them not all showing to all activities is what really got to me. If I had to do it over - I wouldn't. Ok, I would but with some changes. 1 meal or activity together a day. Options to choose from and more downtime at the resorts was definitely needed. And lots more alcohol for me and a couple extra alone days at Disney. We had 1 planned but added another. Hindsight should have added 2 more.

I did buy extra pockets from PP and made everyone a binder of info - ADR info, emergency #s, etc. Also a list of everyone's cell was there so it was easy to reach people. I highly recommend this to you. My PP organizer saved my sanity. I always had it with me.

Definitely get memory maker (was photo pass then). That was awesome for us & we had so many pics then to share/print.

Favorite activities was an early ADR at CP that gave us great family pics on a relatively empty Main Street, Pirate and Pals cruise from the Contemporary resort, and the HDDR (we did these all together and everyone young to old enjoyed them). Breakfast with Donald in AK was another favorite for the youngsters. However Tusker House (no warning) was temporarily closed so it was held elsewhere and the walk was much much further than planned. Barely got there for our ADR.

Have everyone make a list of must do's for attractions including parad3s, resort activities & favorite top 3 restaurants for B,L, & D. Try to accomodate these requests. This really helped me determine what people wanted to see/do bc we ranged in age from 3 - 94. We had T-shirts designed for our magical trip & that was nice in pics and I put together treat bags for the kids for certain activities - bubbles, lanyard & pins, autograph book & fat sharpies, glow sticks. This helped while waiting for parades & Fantasmic especially. I also encouraged getting our shirts signed on other days (characters won't sign it if it is being worn) as a remembrance. I still wear mine all the time.

If I can help you in any way or if ypu have any other questions just PM me.

[KimandMark]

Originally Posted by cattailmarsh

Most had never been to Disney before so they had no clue & despite buying them books, giving dates, etc it all ended up on me. It did help that I booked everyone & my stepfather had picked up the tab for most of it so I wasn't juggling money. The indecisiveness & then telling me to plan it all then them not all showing to all activities is what really got to me. If I had to do it over - I wouldn't. Ok, I would but with some changes. 1 meal or activity together a day. Options to choose from and more downtime at the resorts was definitely needed. And lots more alcohol for me and a couple extra alone days at Disney. We had 1 planned but added another. Hindsight should have added 2 more.

I did buy extra pockets from PP and made everyone a binder of info - ADR info, emergency #s, etc. Also a list of everyone's cell was there so it was easy to reach people. I highly recommend this to you. My PP organizer saved my sanity. I always had it with me.

Definitely get memory maker (was photo pass then). That was awesome for us & we had so many pics then to share/print.

Favorite activities was an early ADR at CP that gave us great family pics on a relatively empty Main Street, Pirate and Pals cruise from the Contemporary resort, and the HDDR (we did these all together and everyone young to old enjoyed them). Breakfast with Donald in AK was another favorite for the youngsters. However Tusker House (no warning) was temporarily closed so it was held elsewhere and the walk was much much further than planned. Barely got there for our ADR.

Have everyone make a list of must do's for attractions including parad3s, resort activities & favorite top 3 restaurants for B,L, & D. Try to accomodate these requests. This really helped me determine what people wanted to see/do bc we ranged in age from 3 - 94. We had T-shirts designed for our magical trip & that was nice in pics and I put together treat bags for the kids for certain activities - bubbles, lanyard & pins, autograph book & fat sharpies, glow sticks. This helped while waiting for parades & Fantasmic especially. I also encouraged getting our shirts signed on other days (characters won't sign it if it is being worn) as a remembrance. I still wear mine all the time.

If I can help you in any way or if ypu have any other questions just PM me.

You did so much more than I ever would!! I tried it two years ago for my parents 50th with SIL/Bro and some Cousins, but SIL is a wack-a-doo and told us all they couldn't afford the trip. Of course, they took a 9 day trip themselves, using all the info I'd sent them, 6 months after we cancelled the big family thing.

For this, the neighbors have their own booking on their own DVC, buy their own plane tix too. My parents are another story and I'll get into that later. As for the plans for meals and activities, I'm not sure how to manage it at all. I'm thinking we need to have lots of small family time, and less groups activity time...

[PhilsEagles08]

I really hope this trip doesn't hurt your neighbor friendship! If it doesn't go well, you still got to come home & live next to them

[KimandMark]

Originally Posted by PhilsEagles08

I really hope this trip doesn't hurt your neighbor friendship! If it doesn't go well, you still got to come home & live next to them

Me too!! I really must stress again how much I love them, their kids, and having them as neighbors. We are not people who would have been friends had we not lived next door, but that's sometimes the beauty of random accidents. To ask what we have in common is a short but powerful list about how we view our families/child rearing, past experiences in religion and relationships, and strong dedication to large barbecues for huge groups of people! We differ on beverage choice, regular use of the F word (I thought I was bad...she's got it all over me!), and how appropriate it is to wear yoga pants as regular pants. Oh, and debt. We have different views on debt!

[PhilsEagles08]

Originally Posted by KimandMark

Me too!! I really must stress again how much I love them, their kids, and having them as neighbors. We are not people who would have been friends had we not lived next door, but that's sometimes the beauty of random accidents. To ask what we have in common is a short but powerful list about how we view our families/child rearing, past experiences in religion and relationships, and strong dedication to large barbecues for huge groups of people! We differ on beverage choice, regular use of the F word (I thought I was bad...she's got it all over me!), and how appropriate it is to wear yoga pants as regular pants. Oh, and debt. We have different views on debt!

Lol those are always the best kind of friends - the ones that happen by accident! This is REALLY going to be an interesting trip. I don't think Ms. Neighbor thinks through her purchases though. I can't wait to see how they budget food/souvenirs!

[cattailmarsh]

Originally Posted by KimandMark

You did so much more than I ever would!!

When given the choice bw nothing & me doing it all - I did it all. We were celebrating my Gram's 94th bday so I was striving to make it extremely memorable. For us it was. She had a marvelous time, did it all even the rollercoasters and cried when it was time to leave. She ended up passing away 6 months after our trip and we cherish all those Disney memories even more now.

Originally Posted by KimandMark

I'm thinking we need to have lots of small family time, and less groups activity time...

I say ask them & make a chart and see what overlaps. And yes I definitely suggest more smaller group activities and group activities to catch-up & share info. Maybe even meeting up to ride a ride together or the kids hanging with one group of adults then switching to give everyone some needed adult only time. Again, if I can help at all PM me. I'm always around.

[Cam22]

Love your DVC purchase advice! And your writing style is guaranteed to keep me smiling, if not laughing.

[KimandMark]

Originally Posted by Cam22

Love your DVC purchase advice! And your writing style is guaranteed to keep me smiling, if not laughing.

You are my trip report spirit animal. I'd love to post so many pics, but first I'd have to remember to even take pictures!! (I'm the worst documenter of events...my only child's babybook is a legal pad, and a set of totally random photos on my computer).

[KimandMark]

There is a part 2 to the points/reservations story but in the meantime I'd though you'd all enjoy this tidbit from my mother.

For reference, my mother's lexicon includes the following phrases:
1. Oh, you know what I like. (variations include: you know what I don't like; you know who I'm talking about; you know my favorite XYZ) This is usually said about something that you don't actually know at all.
2. I don't want you to worry, but... This is usually followed by something terrible like: your father had a heart attack and is in the ICU. Sometimes she uses it in times that would not actually worry you at all like: we let Adam fall asleep today while we were driving home from the playground.

This can make planning something challenging as your full knowledge is usually not at all what she thinks it is. In fact, just prior to this conversation she was telling me about a going away for a day or two and added 'you know who can't plan anything though' and I named four people before I got to who she was actually talking about. Note, her health is not the reason for her behavior, she did this sort of thing when she was a perfectly healthy middle aged lady driving a suburban and wrangling two dogs and two kids.

Yesterday afternoon I asked if she would like to do a character meal on the January trip. Here is the transcript of that conversation:

ME: Would you like to book a character meal again this time?
MOTHER: Oh, yes, you know which one I like.
ME: Okay, which one do you like?
MOTHER: You know.
ME: I don't know, should we book O'hana like last time?
MOTHER: (at the same time I'm speaking) Well, I hate that Hawaiian one.
ME: You do? Which one do you like?
MOTHER: It doesn't matter.
ME: If you just tell me it will make it easier.
MOTHER: Do what you want.
ME: I don't really care that much, just tell me which one you like.
MOTHER: That other one. But don't worry.
FATHER: (from other room) Jesus, just tell her!!!
MOTHER: The one in the hotel.
ME: Which hotel? And what don't you like about O'hana?
MOTHER: I don't like the food.
ME: It's fruit and eggs and biscuits and sausage.
MOTHER: I want biscuits with gravy and maybe pancakes.
ME: (silent staring because she's not supposed to be eating any of that what with her mini stroke, kidney failure and blood pressure).
ADAM: (has been playing with Transformers, assumed to be not really listening) I want to go to breakfast with Stitch and tell him not to throw my shaker like he did last time. Mimi, I'll tell him not to throw yours too.
MOTHER: O'hana is fine. Adam needs closure with Stitch.*



*Two years ago, Stitch was playing with Adam, took his shaker/maraka and threw it over his shoulder. Adam cried and cried about how mean Stitch was to steal his toy and has NEVER LET IT GO.

[PhilsEagles08]

LMAO! I haven't laughed in weeks, seriously, thank you! Just a brief smile helped so much!

The Stitch story is so cute & it's adorable that your son still holds a grudge. Your mother seems infuriating at times but you got to love her! Lol

[cattailmarsh]

Ok. That story about Adam & Stitch and b of course your mother & you actually has me laughing out loud. My son stopped watching Super Why to see why I was laugjing. Thanks, my stressful week needed that release.

[lfredsbo]

When we assume the kiddos are not listening!!!! That is funny!!!

And yes.....lots of vino will get you through this trip!!! We have friends that we generally travel well with ~ have for many many trips ~ but there is something about traveling with just your own little family that it much more pleasant