Just got back and it was a DISASTER!!!

GRRRRR!!!!! I never thought those words would come out of my mouth, but our 4 day trip earlier this week was a complete disaster...not because of anything Disney did, but because of our guests...

We had a friend of mine, her husband, her 2.5 yr old son and her 6 mos old son come to visit us. I have a 2.5 yr old daughter so I was excited for her little buddy to come play with her. Plus that, my friend has been one of my closest friends for some time now. We took them with us to WDW last Oct and that was a mess, but we thought this might be better (we were delusional)...this trip was 100 times worse...

They came to town Sat night and stayed at our place that night. We left for Disney Sunday morning and stayed til Wed evening, driving back to our place that night. They left town Thurs morn and it COULD NOT HAVE COME SOON ENOUGH...here's a brief list of the "highlights" of the trip...

* Her 2.5 yr old son BIT me on the first night on my forearm. I was reaching across from him to get something from his mom (he was sitting between us on a bench) and I felt a pain on my arm. I looked down and he was clamped onto me. I had a red teeth marks in a full mouth shape on my arm for 24 hours. She didn't even do anything about it, I actually heard her laughing with the mom who was next to her about how both thier sons bite. If my daughter bit my friend or anyone, I would be MORTIFIED...

* Her 2.5 yr old is a terror. He pushes and pulls on my daughter and makes her cry and be scared of him constantly. They roll their eyes and no doubt think my DD is a big baby cause she can't handle the "rough housing", or so they call it.

* We went to the MNSSHP Monday night...what a disaster. 3 hours into it, my friend and her husband got into a HUGE fight, were screaming in each others faces, calling names and she was bawling that she wanted to leave. How awkward for me and my DH to stand there while this was going on! I didn't want to leave, I paid $50+ for our tickets to be there! Eventually, they made up and we stayed, but we lost about 45 minutes.

* We went to HS Tuesday. My friend didn't want to go on any big rides even though she had been saying for months leading up to the trip that she was so excited to ride all the rides she couldn't go on last year due to being pregnant then. Add that to not being able to go to shows because her kids are ridiculous and can't sit through anything that long, and we ended up not having much to do. We ended up having to just sit around for about an hour waiting for our dinner ressie at 50's cafe. They couldn't sit, they had to keep walking because the kids would have flipped out, even though her husband complained the whole time about walking too much.

* Dinner at the 50's was absolutely ridiculous. I'm surprised we weren't asked to leave. Her 2.5 yr old would not sit in a high chair, but thats no surprise cause he didn't last yr either and never does, so they have to sit on a bench seat and trap him betweem them. She was holding the baby, the 2.5 yr old was between them. Standing up, the whole time. My DD was sitting peacefully in her high chair coloring. Occasionally she'd look up at their son and kinda ________ her head a little and look at him like she couldn't figure out what the heck he was! He had to rattle silverware around in empty glasses, pour liquids from one glass to another and back again, and they let him play with knives....yes, I said KNIVES...he had 3 butter knives (sharp enough that I used one to cut my steak) and he was standing there on the seat jumping up and down with them. I was so afraid he was going to throw them and me and my DD were right across the table. He was trying to stand them up and them he'd yell when they fell over. The waitress actually came over and in a panic said "Oh my goodness, he's got a knife!"...they relplied with, "Yeah, we know" and continued letting him play with them. When dinner came, he threw a fit and didn't want to eat his mac and cheese. His father grabbed him, put him on his lap, grabbed his forehead, pulling his head backwards and as the kid screamed and cried, the father shoved a forkfull of mac n cheese into his mouth. I'm surprised he didn't choke on it. He screamed and let the noodles fall out of his mouth. The father got mad and threw the fallen noodles across the table, to which they landed in front of me, almost into my lap.

* My friend was actually visably irritated because my DD was getting more attention from the photopass photographers at meet n greets then her son and was taking better pics. I can't help it if my DD likes the characters and interacts with them and her son is afraid of them. Sorry.

* We went to Tusker House for breakfast Wed at AK and as we waited outside for our table, they let their son run wild around and climb on walls and because I chose to let my DD sit in her stroller til our table was ready, the husband told the son that she couldn't come out and play cause she was "trapped like a rat"...

* Once inside the restaurant, their son grabbed empty glasses off the table and the silverware and started clanging them around again. My DD saw this and, monkey see-monkey do, tried doing it as well. My DH put a stop to that immediately and took it away from her. My friend rolled her eyes and shook her head, though did not see that I noticed her doing this. Sorry if I'm raising my DD to not be disruptive and destructive in public places.

* The whole day at AK was a disaster. We didn't get any photopass pics taken and my friend complained cause we split the disk pre-pay so we wanted as many pics as we could get and she felt that her family didn't get thier moneys worth. Whah.

* They went on EE. She came off of it CRYING and trying to catch her breath. She said she thought she was going to die. Her husband said it gave him a bigger headache then he already had. It was time to go.

* Come to find out, her hubby did not want to be there. He's happier at home and doesn't like vacations. He hated following me around, both driving there from our home and walking around the parks cause he had no clue where we were going. He felt like if he "spoke up" that he would appear to be a jerk. They are both EXTREMELY OCD with so many issues that they need therapy. Them going away together for 5 days was too much "together time" for them, she said. We talked about how my family loves vacations and we can't wait to go on a 2 week cruise someday and that a 7 day isn't long enough. She actually said if she went on a 7 day vacation, she would hang herself. If I went on a 7 day vacation with her and her fam ever again, I'd hang myself too.

* The next morning, while they were packing to head to the airport, all my friend kept saying was that she couldn't wait to get home. Now, if I were a houseguest in someones home, I would think it would be rude of me to constantly remind my host of how badly I want to go home. In addition to that, they actually made fun of my DD...She was scared of their son cause he kept pushing her around so she would come running to me, crying "pick me up! pick me up!". I actually heard her husband across the room, in a mocking voice say "pick me up! pick me up!"...then, my friend said to my DD this, and I quote, "Brooklyn, is your mommy going to home school you? Cause when you go to school, you're going to come everyday in panic attacks cause kids are not nice."! I couldn't believe she said that. She then asked me if my DD does the "pick me up!" thing all day long cause that would drive her nuts. I told her no, only around her son because she's scared of him ever since we visited them in Aug and he sat on her back, hurting her. She then said that my DD would never last in her family because her family is like WWE...nice, huh? I saw her husband pinching and smacking their son in the side of the head many times, so I guess we know where he gets it from. The 2.5 yr old even hurts the 6 mos old baby. I saw him pinch the babies nose 3 times at the hotel so hard the baby screamed and his little nose turned red. Did the kid get punished? No.

I could go on and on and write an entire book, and I apologize for the length of this already. To anyone who takes the time to read my pain, thank you :cry: :animwink:
 

Mukta

Well-Known Member
I am so sorry for your pain. Not all friendships are for life. This one may have run its course. She may be a great friend in other aspects of your life, but I don't see how.
If you EVER think about inviting her on another trip, print out your post and read it ten times.
I hope your family goes on a solo WDW trip again soon to help erase the bad memories of this trip.
 

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
Look on the bright side. You have successfully completed a right of passage that many if not all of us frequent WDW visitors have faced. You survived the family from hell and will be better for it.
 

NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
I read. I laughed (sorry!!). What a disaster. Last time we were in WDW we happened to be there the same time as a friend and I specifically skirted the meeting up issue for fear it would end up as your trip did. It's unfortunate when a friendship goes south due to differences in child rearing techniques (or in your friend's case...the absence of any technique!!)
 

WDWmazprty

Well-Known Member
WOW!:eek: So sorry about that. Sounds like the parents need some schooling in parenting first of all. To let your kid bite someone?! No no no; he would've gotten a nice spanking and scolding. He knows better.

But to laugh about it? Not very smart.
and just reading about how they acted the whole trip, I couldn't have survived them. They wouldve annoyed me so bad! And one thing I hate to see is when parents let their children misbehave and do what they want, instead of teaching them how to act and play nice.:fork:

Well, next time, you definiitely go with just your family and enjoy yourselves!!!:D
 

ThinkTink721

Well-Known Member
I feel your pain...I have been to WDW w/ my mother-in-law twice...she didn't bite me, but it was close! :lol:
We are going to meet some friends on our next WDW trip...they have a 4 year old daughter who is an only child...she is usually pretty calm when she is around our kids (they are older & I guess they entertain her)...hopefully, we won't have the same experience that you had. We booked their trip after ours, so a lot of our ADRs are at different times & places, so that will give us a little break from eachother, which I have found is always good during a long trip. :wave:
 

WDW_Emily

Well-Known Member
I feel you pain..
Last trip I went on I went with my family and a very close friend of mine for our graduation. She complained non-stop, "I wont go to the parks in the rain" "It's too hot", "It's to cold". "This is such a baby ride"."Do we really need to see this firework show(about wishes!)"

We now have a rule that Disney is for Families only or you and your friends you can't do both because people have different upbringings and it shows when you are with them for a long time. Even if you have known them forever
 

njDizFan

Well-Known Member
Wow, what a nightmare. I don't think I could have taken that for more than a day. I would have strategically lost them in the parks. I was getting angry just reading your post.
 

sanaj2000

Member
Totally understandable.
I went with my sister and her sister in law and we still aren't on speaking terms. sometimes its best to just go with your immediate family.

i am going with a group of 17 in april. i hope everyone is normal.
 

wm49rs

A naughty bit o' crumpet
Premium Member
So....I'm guessing a 2-week Caribbean cruise with them is pretty much out of the question then.....:rolleyes:
 

Korfar

Active Member
Thats terrible. I don't know your history with this family but I personally would not want to be friends with them anymore. It's unfortunate that you had to deal with that.
 

tizzo

Member
At least it in confessing how much she and her husband hate vacations she gave you the perfect excuse (as if you need one) for not inviting them to vacation with you again.
 

mickeysshoes

Well-Known Member
I am so sorry you had to deal with all of that...but all i can say BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!! We only go to Disney by ourselves now....DH and I with the 2 DD...thats it! We have learned our lesson!! Hope you get to go back soon just YOUR family!!
 

WishIWasAtWDW

Well-Known Member
o m g. that sounds terrible. i think its time to end the friendship. i don't understand how some people think its okay to let their children run around like little demons and that's acceptable behavior. moral of the story, people are crazy so don't go on vacation with them :lol: its already difficult traveling with normal people on vacation but crazies make it that much more difficult. thank god your family survived the trip, bury the memories deep down inside, and never bring them up again :lol:
 

Rinx

Well-Known Member
Um, I'm sure if you brought this up to your friend they'd go ballistic but is there any chance that their 2.5 year old has ADD?
 

smk

Well-Known Member
I would NEVER go anywhere with them again, not even around the block for a walk. I would also go a step further and tell them exactly why. Friends don't let their children fling stuff at the dinner table and bite others without stepping in, so this couple...are not your friends. They must have their own issues too, fighting in public is not normal married couple behavior.

My vacation time is too precious to waste on people who want to fight and fuss and ignore the elephant in the room that is their 2 year old terror. He propbably doesn't have ADD as someone suggested, he has no boundries, no rules. He runs their show.

WHEW! Stories like that make me glad we only go by ourselves! Sorry you had to deal with all of that.
 

need2go2wdw

Active Member
Original Poster
Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention that when they came to town, three of the four of them were sick. They left a nice souvenir behind in the form of a nasty cold for all three of us. We even had to miss a halloween party today that I helped plan with a mommy group for my DD today because we are sick.
I am so sorry for your pain. Not all friendships are for life. This one may have run its course. She may be a great friend in other aspects of your life, but I don't see how.
If you EVER think about inviting her on another trip, print out your post and read it ten times.
I hope your family goes on a solo WDW trip again soon to help erase the bad memories of this trip.

Yes, trust me, it will NEVER happen again...my DH threatened me with divorce papers if I ever even suggest it, lol! And we are going again next weekend for 3 days with my mother in law (I know, I know, another trip with someone tagging along) but I'm sure that one will be FANTASTIC compared to what I just went through. We've been to WDW with my mother in law before and we never had any issues. I am looking forward to washing the bad taste of this trip out of my mouth.
Wow, what a nightmare. I don't think I could have taken that for more than a day. I would have strategically lost them in the parks. I was getting angry just reading your post.

So....I'm guessing a 2-week Caribbean cruise with them is pretty much out of the question then.....:rolleyes:

Eh...just slightly!

Thats terrible. I don't know your history with this family but I personally would not want to be friends with them anymore. It's unfortunate that you had to deal with that.

That's what everyone that I've been talking to is saying, number one being my DH who was front and center in the mess! And bless his heart for putting up with it and not flying off the handle like he wanted to hundreds of times! My friend was even getting upset that my DH had to keep telling her son to stop messing with our DD, stop clanging glasses, and to go get his nose wiped by one of his parents (because they never did and both kids had snot running out of their nose and into their mouth constantly). I even heard her mumble to her husband that she was tired of him "yelling" at her son. He NEVER yelled at her son, though maybe he should have.

At least it in confessing how much she and her husband hate vacations she gave you the perfect excuse (as if you need one) for not inviting them to vacation with you again.

Yeah, the funny thing is SHE brought up the vacation. She wanted to come visit us since we moved to FL this year and during their visit SHE asked if we could go over to WDW for a few days...on my DVC dime...yes, that means I am REALLY stupid and wasted points on them on this trip. Did I get any compensation you ask? No. Did I get a thank you for letting them use our DVC accomodations? No. Did I do the same thing last year? Yes. Did I FINALLY learn my lesson? YES

I would NEVER go anywhere with them again, not even around the block for a walk. I would also go a step further and tell them exactly why. Friends don't let their children fling stuff at the dinner table and bite others without stepping in, so this couple...are not your friends. They must have their own issues too, fighting in public is not normal married couple behavior.

My vacation time is too precious to waste on people who want to fight and fuss and ignore the elephant in the room that is their 2 year old terror. He propbably doesn't have ADD as someone suggested, he has no boundries, no rules. He runs their show.

WHEW! Stories like that make me glad we only go by ourselves! Sorry you had to deal with all of that.

My DH says that after they left, he wanted to forget they even exist, to not even ASK him to ever go over their house again or out to dinner with them again or ANYTHING with them. You are correct about vacation time being precious. I will not be wasting anymore of that time with them. And I wish I could say something to her, but I'm just not sure I could. I'm a very laid back, easy to get among with person and to say the kind things to her that I want to would be completely out of character for me. But don't worry, I've had lots of volunteers to do it for me! :rolleyes:

Thanks everyone, for all your sympathies! It's nice to hear from others that they wouldn't have been able to stand what we went through either. The funny thing is that at one point during the trip, my friend actually made a comment incinuating a "tradition" starting since we did it last year and this year during the same week (because it falls on THEIR birthdays) and she made a remark having something to do with it again next year. My DH turned to her and said "We'll be out of town that week." !!!!!! :lol:
 

mousefan1972

Well-Known Member
Holy crap! I don't know where to start. I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. WDW is our "happy place" and I can't even imagine being held hostage by the family from hell like you were. That is why I refuse to take anyone with us. Our family time together is too precious, and I don't want a bunch of jerks ruining it for us.

The only family we'll hang out with in WDW are our good friends from Jacksonville. :animwink:
 

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