Trip Report I still have a family (just) but what a totally different experience we had. ** completed

Hi my Disney friends

I’m back and to be honest it all feels like a total blur.

As the title suggests I do still have a family but there were some bumps in the road. I’ll share some details and thoughts as we go. Be warned though this won’t be like any of my other TR’s the magic whilst there was not as strong as previous trips and the whole pace was much slower. You might ask yourself where has Tracey gone? I asked myself the same thing - don’t get me wrong it was still fun and my nephews had the best time which was the main aim but some things that happened just took the gloss off.

I always used to look at big groups and imagine what fun it would be, but in truth it restricts a lot of things you do, everything happens much slower and not everything gets done - although I think I was probably the only one who noticed that.

Anyhow let’s start this......

So the background

This holiday as I mentioned in the PTR was the first for my sister in 14 years (a messy divorce left her to bring up my 2 nephews) my younger nephew had never been on a plane and my older nephew had only flown once when he was 2 (he doesn’t remember that)
We had booked it a year and a half beforehand for the whole family. Myself, Chris, sister her partner, 2 nephews, my brother and sister in law and my mum - 9 of us we’re going to Disney (they said Florida) but I knew different.

We were going from 19th Aug to 1st September 13 nights in a villa (you know I love POR) - we were trying to keep the cost down for my sister!

The WhatsApp group was in full use before we went - how much luggage can I take? Can I pack x in my hand luggage? Whose getting on TOT - we involve everyone in the pre holiday excitement.

Next up getting there - and some photos! (Sorry for the text heavy start)

 

[PacNWTigger]

I hope your sister's partner is able to remove his head from his bum or just stay at the hotel if he's going to be a party pooper. I know what it's like to have one person suck the joy from an experience, but I am hopeful you guys are able to overcome his attitude!! If you want...I'll let you borrow Jaeger to re-educate him.

(Not Jaeger, but he looks a little like this wolf...this guy is a little more intimidating than this goofball.)

 

[Longers]

I hope your sister's partner is able to remove his head from his bum or just stay at the hotel if he's going to be a party pooper. I know what it's like to have one person suck the joy from an experience, but I am hopeful you guys are able to overcome his attitude!! If you want...I'll let you borrow Jaeger to re-educate him.
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(Not Jaeger, but he looks a little like this wolf...this guy is a little more intimidating than this goofball.)
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Definitely could have done with him to do some re educating!

 

[Longers]

I just remembered that I forgot to mention that after AK I asked the boys to complete their post it notes

Today’s comments

“Avatar ride” and 2nd time round on yeti.

Also my Nephew mentioned to me on day 1 - “such a great day Trace” to which I replied “and there’s another one coming right at ya tomorrow”

The end of day 2 was no different - he said it to me again so at least today’s little upset hadn’t affected him - however for the rest of us it had!

 

[Trust2deal]

in

 

[Spash007]

You can see the pain your writing, but try to keep your head up about what an awesome thing you helped to do for your nephews. It seems like they had an absolute blast, and those great memories will stay with them for a lifetime, and you should be really proud of everything you and Chris were able to do for them. I know some of the magic was missing for you, but maybe that's because you were giving it all away

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Wow, Tracey! I feel bad for your sister, having to put up with a jerk! I hope things got better. You and Chris worked hard to keep the boys happy and I think you succeeded. But what a pain in the bum to have a downer like him around. I hope he stayed in the condo and you guys went your own way. Some people you just can't make happy no matter what you do.

 

[Longers]

in

Hi there

You can see the pain your writing, but try to keep your head up about what an awesome thing you helped to do for your nephews. It seems like they had an absolute blast, and those great memories will stay with them for a lifetime, and you should be really proud of everything you and Chris were able to do for them. I know some of the magic was missing for you, but maybe that's because you were giving it all away

It was literally breaking my heart - I wish I didn’t care as then it wouldn’t have affected me so much.
I saw my older nephew this week for McDonald’s and he was still talking about it all so that’s what I have to remember they had the best time even if the rest of us didn’t as much.

Wow, Tracey! I feel bad for your sister, having to put up with a jerk! I hope things got better. You and Chris worked hard to keep the boys happy and I think you succeeded. But what a pain in the bum to have a downer like him around. I hope he stayed in the condo and you guys went your own way. Some people you just can't make happy no matter what you do.

That’s the thing Ruth he is normally not like that - I just don’t think this holiday was for him - too much walking etc. I’m not sure he fully appreciated the impact his actions were having on everyone else.

 

[Longers]

Thursday 22nd Aug

I woke up really upset and sat in my room speaking to Chris about the day before and I cried. I remember saying I don’t know why I was there - why was I there in August when it was more expensive and hot and why wasn’t I in riverside? Right there I was homesick.

Chris just kept telling me it was for the boys and I just blurted out “but I miss the resort TV and Stacy”
I know this was all to keep costs down for my sister but why would someone try to spoil it all and overreact. It was like dealing with a child. I might have been over reacting myself but let’s face it this is my happy place and I had waited years to give them a good holiday and it just all felt wrong.

Thankfully we had arrange to go shopping today which meant a lie in for those who wanted it and there was no rush to get ready. It also hopefully meant some space for everyone.

As we left our room there was some commotion from the boys room - my youngest nephew had fallen out of bed during the night and had woken on the floor!

The funniest thing though was his brothers comment in that he had woken up to find him just lying on the floor and he went back to sleep and left him there!

Over the course of the day my nephew kept trying to work out how that had happened. He was obviously in such a deep sleep he just fell out, hit his head on the side table and lay there till morning.

My oldest nephew had received an email from his dad with his GCSE results on and he had done better than we and he had expected and he had the grades he needed to get into college so all was good.

There was a definite tension in the air as we went downstairs to start the day With breakfast was getting done

We finally left the villa around 9.30am and headed to the Orlando premium outlets - I got in my brothers car with his wife and my mum - we all talked about the day before and it was clear it had affected everyone.

We arrived at the shops and my sisters partner was staying way back from everyone else - we entered a few shops and then decided to split up and meet back.

This resulted in Chris going with my sister and her partner and one nephew.

The rest of us were happy with our time away without the tension but obviously I missed Chris but he was still trying to calm things down.

The trip on the whole wasn’t successful in terms of purchases so we headed to Disney Springs for ghiardelli milkshakes and a look around.

My nephew couldn’t get over the size of this hence the photo

Rather than heading back to the villa we headed straight to HS, it was hard to get enthusiastic with everything going on but the boys were still having fun so we carried on.

I think 4 of them went to star tours with FP whilst the rest of us waiting - that included mum, SIL, myself and my sisters partner. Nothing was said and it was all pretty quiet. I went to get some water to bring back for everyone as it was hot.

The boys loved it and went round again with the other FP.

Next stop was RNRC - I think 5 of us went and the others (mum, my brother, sister and partner stayed outside) by the big guitar. I think they were excited as they watched a limo zoom off. I took the single rider with me (hence no photo below)

As we exited my sister and her partner were off to the side and not with my mum and brother - my brother just rolled his eyes at me- the boys wanted to go round again so myself and Chris agreed to go with them - that did mean we needed my sisters partners FP - I politely asked if i could use it and he point blank said “no” I get why as he may have thought no one had spoken to him but did he really think I cared - I have ridden several times and it didn’t matter to me about riding again as I will definitely be doing it again but the boys had asked and I was just going to go with them. And who had spent all the time booking them anyway!

Chris was ready and said to me let’s go - I told him that I had been told I couldn’t have the pass and he said don’t be silly I told him just to take the boys and go at which point the FP was handed to me.

So yet again tension and something I didn’t need.

But the boys go 2 rides on RNRC anyway. Just look at their faces.....

We had FP for TSMM next so we headed there.

And after that everyone was done - I think we’d had enough

We walked back to the car pretty much all split up and my counting to 9 had completely gone out of the window - my sister took the tram back and the rest of us walked. Maybe she was trying to get away from her partner too?
Who knows - she never said

We were back in the villa by 8pm and finished for the day.

Would tomorrow be any better?

 

[Swissmiss]

I’m so sorry the trip was filled such tension for you but I think it’s awesome that your nephews doing it to be a great trip. And congrats to your nephew for his school results!

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Yes, job well done to your older nephew on his college test. Where will he be going? The boys are adorable (don't tell them I said that and they seem to be having the time of their lives. Job well done to you too, Tracey! BTW, you sister looks a lot like you, but shy???LOL I know you aren't shy!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Everyone chilled out while we searched the internet for places to have dinner.
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My sister ended up cooking pasta for the boys and we ended up deciding to go to Denny’s and then going straight to MK as I’d cancelled 2 FP earlier I was able to get another Buzz and a pirates FP so we could do that and then watch the fireworks.

Now this picture will forever remind me of what was to come next rather than a happy time it should have been

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And this is where it might get a bit text heavy - you have been warned!

My sisters partners food came out slightly after ours but everyone agreed to eat rather than things going cold (the boys had some awesome desserts)

I guess in Denny’s when they think you might be finished they bring the bill over so without thinking we all looked and started to sort out money.

Now as you can see I was at the other end of the table but there was some commotion and my sisters partner finished his food and then just got up and walked out clearly fed up and with a total strop on. Not before my sister had made a comment about moving money which clearly he was not happy about.

Well I think things had been building as he had been behind us most of the day and to be honest I don’t really think Disney was for him. He had made the comments to me in MK on day 1 and ad mentioned rooms when we got to the villa so I was already getting fed up with him anyway.

Now I am such a happy person normally, life is too short and you just have to get on with people or stay away from anyone you can’t get on with - but this had my blood boiling.

I went to the restroom and when I came back he was still outside and my sister was still sitting at the table

I made a comment to her like are you really going to let this happen again with another man and was then calmed down a bit by Chris -thankfully my nephews hadn’t really realised what was going on.

I couldn’t believe that she had waited so long for a holiday as my nephews had and he in that moment was trying to spoil everything.

She finally headed outside to talk to him and fingers were being waved - I just got in the car I knew he wouldn’t go in with the boys and we waited.

Bless Chris he literally tried his hardest. The last thing he wanted was my sisters holiday to be ruined but it had all blown up over something so trivial.
There was a discussion in the other car and he finally came to shake my brothers hand as apparently it turned out to be something he had said that had sparked the exit.

We thought that would be it but oh no........

We travelled to MK and headed to pirates I can’t remember who rode but my sisters partner wasn’t one of them - I don’t know where he was and as we exited I think someone said he had left - to which I replied good. There had been tension building and his whole attitude had been spotted by everyone except my sister and the boys.

We headed to buzz where everyone joined the queue minus him and then someone looked out and he was there - Chris left the queue to speak to him and I could see finger pointing again - wasn’t this all finished? Clearly not!

I left the queue to join Chris to see if he was going on the ride but he said he would stay. The others went without me as I just waved them on. I needed time to not show how much this had upset me.

They got taken through to the disabled loading bay.

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As the others got off the rides tempers were clearly high and my blood was still boiling. I was doing my best to hide it for the sake of my nephews.

Now whilst writing this you might wonder why I was so upset and obviously there were other things that happened but I just can’t believe someone would overreact so much when my sister had waited so long for a perfect holiday with both her children.

Anyhow we decided to jump on the peoplemover and my nephew and I attempted a moving purple wall picture

I think we failed!

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We all made our way to find a spot for the fireworks.

I don’t think anyone wanted to be at the front in the hub so we headed to the back end of Main Street so we could make a relatively quick exit.

There was clearly some more arguing going on as my sister stayed to one side with her partner which really upset me as she certainly couldn’t see everything and my nephews stood with myself and Chris staring right down the middle of main street

While the fireworks were on I could see words being had and I cried - my nephews were laughing at me crying as Chris told them I cry at the fireworks (which I do). But tonight I was crying because of everything that had happened.

We finished watching the fireworks and headed out clearly without much enthusiasm and with a lot of tension

Hopefully tomorrow would be better - but was it?

I am sorry about how your sisters partner was behaving on what was your sister and nephews' first vacation in a decade and a half. There probably as you said is a lot of backstory to this, but maybe he shouldn't have gone on the trip. It sure seems like he didn't want to be there.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Congratulations on your nephew’s exam score. That's fantastic for him!

 

[Disstevefan1]

Excellent report so far! With larger groups it’s every hard to keep everyone happy, this is normal, and the perfect WDW vacation is luck of the draw! Cherish the moments of magic, I see you had many!

 

[Weather_Lady]

I am sorry about how your sisters partner was behaving on what was your sister and nephews' first vacation in a decade and a half. There probably as you said is a lot of backstory to this, but maybe he shouldn't have gone on the trip. It sure seems like he didn't want to be there.

Agreed! From the sounds of it, he's the type of narcissistic person who wants everything to be about him, and pouts when it isn't in hopes of ruining everyone else's time and refocusing the attention on him. Unfortunately, there's one in my family, too. (Run away, OP's sister, run while you can!) I'm so sorry that the OP had to put up with it, but glad that her nephews seem to have enjoyed themselves in spite of it! OP, you set everything in motion for a perfect trip, and even if it didn't go perfectly, you should be proud of your efforts.

 

[Longers]

I’m so sorry the trip was filled such tension for you but I think it’s awesome that your nephews doing it to be a great trip. And congrats to your nephew for his school results!

Thank you

Yes, job well done to your older nephew on his college test. Where will he be going? The boys are adorable (don't tell them I said that and they seem to be having the time of their lives. Job well done to you too, Tracey! BTW, you sister looks a lot like you, but shy???LOL I know you aren't shy!

He is just going to college to do a course before he hopefully gets an apprenticeship.
And I think my sister has just had all her confidence knocked with her x - she certainly need some lessons from me about what to accept in a man! - thankfully with Chris I’ve never had to worry.

 

[Longers]

I am sorry about how your sisters partner was behaving on what was your sister and nephews' first vacation in a decade and a half. There probably as you said is a lot of backstory to this, but maybe he shouldn't have gone on the trip. It sure seems like he didn't want to be there.

My thoughts exactly!

Congratulations on your nephew’s exam score. That's fantastic for him!

Thank you

Agreed! From the sounds of it, he's the type of narcissistic person who wants everything to be about him, and pouts when it isn't in hopes of ruining everyone else's time and refocusing the attention on him. Unfortunately, there's one in my family, too. (Run away, OP's sister, run while you can!) I'm so sorry that the OP had to put up with it, but glad that her nephews seem to have enjoyed themselves in spite of it! OP, you set everything in motion for a perfect trip, and even if it didn't go perfectly, you should be proud of your efforts.

He is normally ok - I just wonder if he can’t do holidays or spend time with a lot of people - he came to Las Vegas with us and my brother and SIL in 2014 and had 1 day where he had a strop - maybe we should have known better.

 

[Longers]

Friday 23rd Aug - day 4

Both myself and my brother had a chat in his bedroom before going down for breakfast mainly trying to calm each other down before the day started. There was tension as everyone had breakfast but we tried to ignore it and carry on.

At 8.05 am we all headed out of the villa to the cars we were on our way to Universal. We had been given early entry passes by Virgin holidays as parks of our holiday package which covers the Harry Potter areas.

Over the years I’d seen so many children take pictures here so I asked the boys if we could get a photo.

We stopped for the “must have” photo.

We headed towards kings cross station and towards diagon alley. I still remember the first time I walked through the bricked entrance it was just a wow moment - in fact I actually forgot it was there - it was only because people were coming out I remembered it was there. I think they all had that wow moment too.

We headed straight to gringotts which was showing a 20 min wait. My mum has decided to give this one a go as she didn’t want to regret not going.

This ride is so clever. We sat behind everyone and when when things started flying from the screen my oldest nephew ducked. It was so funny to watch. When we got off the ride we asked him what it was all about and he said he wasn’t sure of things would actually fly out as everything is so real. The was clearly still having a fab time and was enjoying everything.

We walked around exploring

We then headed to Men in black. I’ve obviously been on this ride a few times but I have never had such a great experience in the pre show bit as we did on this day. Rick the cast member played his role exceptionally. It was so funny. As we left the pre show my older nephew turned around to me and said “wow that was funny he loves his job”. I have been trying to get him to think about career opportunities and something he might actually want to do so this was a great example so I replied “and yes he gets paid to do that”

 

[Longers]

We then went to try to ride fast and furious (a first for myself and Chris as it wasn’t open last time we visited) - again there were some great cast members in the pre show which again made everyone chuckle however, we waited in the queue and waited - the ride had broken down and they soon announce it was broken and handed us all a Universal of a FP

We had to walk to islands of adventure at this point as the Hogwarts express had broken down too.

 

[Longers]

Oops my pictures have gone a bit out of order

Butterbeer

And now back to Islands of adventure.

Chris, my older nephew and my SIL headed to the hulk queue while the rest of us walked the shops. The skies were darkening and very soon the rain came down. This was however the first rain we’d seen since we’d arrived so I wasn’t complaining and it only lasted around 45 mins anyway.
We walked in the lighter rain round to Hogwarts and jumped on Harry Potter and the forbidden journey - another ride I love.

We did a few other rides and then headed to Spider-Man - everyone was riding except for my sisters partner, brother and SIL - whilst in the queue my sister was talking and I can’t remember the full comments but she said something about how her partner was much better - which infuriated me so I just said “you’re living in a dreamworld if you think this is sorted” and I left the queue and the rest of them to do the ride and I went outside.

I eventually found my brother in SIL (my sisters partner wasn’t with them - obviously ) and I just said I had left to calm down because of something she had said. There was still so much tension everywhere it was not a comfortable experience.

I decided on a lemon ice as a treat as I can only get these in Universal now and everyone had agreed to leave.

We stopped in wallmart again for more supplies - none of them for me I might add! And we headed back to the villa.

Clearly no one wanted to go out again so to avoid just sitting in we agreed to take my older nephew to a sports shop for a look around. My brother and SIL joined myself and Chris and my nephew and off we went.

To be honest it was so nice to get away from the tension and be free - I almost danced out of the villa that night it was actually a breathe of fresh air.

We returned after at least an hour and everyone just chilled before bed.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Oops my pictures have gone a bit out of order

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Butterbeer

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And now back to Islands of adventure.

Chris, my older nephew and my SIL headed to the hulk queue while the rest of us walked the shops. The skies were darkening and very soon the rain came down. This was however the first rain we’d seen since we’d arrived so I wasn’t complaining and it only lasted around 45 mins anyway.
We walked in the lighter rain round to Hogwarts and jumped on Harry Potter and the forbidden journey - another ride I love.

We did a few other rides and then headed to Spider-Man - everyone was riding except for my sisters partner, brother and SIL - whilst in the queue my sister was talking and I can’t remember the full comments but she said something about how her partner was much better - which infuriated me so I just said “you’re living in a dreamworld if you think this is sorted” and I left the queue and the rest of them to do the ride and I went outside.

I eventually found my brother in SIL (my sisters partner wasn’t with them - obviously ) and I just said I had left to calm down because of something she had said. There was still so much tension everywhere it was not a comfortable experience.

I decided on a lemon ice as a treat as I can only get these in Universal now and everyone had agreed to leave.

We stopped in wallmart again for more supplies - none of them for me I might add! And we headed back to the villa.

Clearly no one wanted to go out again so to avoid just sitting in we agreed to take my older nephew to a sports shop for a look around. My brother and SIL joined myself and Chris and my nephew and off we went.

To be honest it was so nice to get away from the tension and be free - I almost danced out of the villa that night it was actually a breathe of fresh air.

We returned after at least an hour and everyone just chilled before bed.

We got to Uni 2 days after this! We love the Harry Potter areas as well. I prefer Gringott’s over Forbidden Journey although I love walking through the castle.