Help fitting in relatives from Orlando into itinerary?

[NOLA]

Hey. Can't make up my mind and about to buy flights and make ADRs any day now so really need advice. What would you do???

Facts: Booked at Bay lake tower Monday, Jan. 21 (MLk day) to Sat. Jan. 26th
Me, DH, DD 3.5, DS 5 yrs old
First real Disney trip - been for 2 days but only for a few hrs and never on property
Husband's family lives in Orlando; some 30 minutes away but MIL 60 minutes north

Plan 1
Saturday (MLK weekend) fly in and head to relatives house. Spend Sat and Sunday at their house. no disney. Need rental car.
Monday- drive to BLT and check in
Tuesday - Sat: Stay at BLT
Sat - check out and fly home
Cons- rental car needed and anti climatic that not going straight to Disney
Pros - 2 full days with family

Plan 2
Monday MLK day- fly in at 11 am/ME to BLT
Tuesday to Sat - BLT
Sat - check out and get family to pick us up/spend night with MIL
Sunday - fly home
Pros - ME, no rental car, straight to Disney.
Cons - less family time and would need to fit family into our Disney week

So what would you do? Or any other alternatives that I am missing?? Can't wait to hear!

[stevenmilz]

Plan 3 - duck and stay low. "Did I say we were going to Disney World? I meant Disney LAND"... :RpS_wink:

If they can pick you up as part of Plan 2, why can't they pick you up as part of plan 1, avoiding the rental car? If pickup isn't an option for plan 1, can you just take a taxi? Cost of taxi versus rental car?
Keep in mind that if you're already in town, you'll probably be able to check into BLT pretty early and have most of Monday at WDW.

If I "had" to include the family, I'd go with Plan 1 -- you don't want to be messing up your Disney plans trying to fit family into the plan, especially when there is a significant chance of that messing up said plan...

[BlountFam5]

I like Plan 2 b/c then the kids will get to Disney first and be able to give their family the full attention they deserve.

Can you extend your trip on either end? Fly in on Sat or Sun, fly out on Sun rather than Sat?

[Pampered Mom]

I think we need to know more about your husband and his relationship with his family. Close or not so close? Do they come to see you and if so, how often? Does he feel you need to spend time with his family? Does he think 1 day is good or a weekend isn't enough? Is it possible to stay with the relatives that are 30 min. away and have MIL come there?

[NOLA]

Yes, I can extend. Options - I can leave as early as first thing Sat. Jan 19th and I can fly out as late as Sunday 27th.
The problem is I only have BLT booked Monday to Sat and may not be able to extend BLT since I already booked with pts from friend. Was trying not to move "houses" too many times though.

Any other thoughts?

[NOLA]

Yes, we can stay with relatives who are 30 min away

[stevenmilz]

I would re-interate my "Plan 3"... :RpS_wink:

Maybe it's just me being selfish, but if this was my first "real Disney trip" I would avoid any posibility of family trying to tag along while I was at WDW. As my DW puts it - any visit to family isn't a "vacation". I would want my time at WDW to be special for me and my immediate family, not my extended family who's priority isn't making the most of an efficient WDW park plan. Just my two cents...

[BlountFam5]

The problem is I only have BLT booked Monday to Sat and may not be able to extend BLT since I already booked with pts from friend. Was trying not to move "houses" too many times though.

I'm now for Plan #1 based on knowing you will satisfy family first and then they will not have to come to WDW with you causing you to rearrange ADRs or anything like that.
If the relatives in Orlando can provide transport,that would be the BEST. But it would probably be BEST for you to have the transport in your own control.

I'm from the school of "Family's important and you need to do the "right" thing in visiting them since your there".

[blyday]

Crazy idea.....but I think that I'd ask the kids. "Do you want to see "so and so" and then go to Disney or would you like to go to Disney first and then see "so and so"?

As for integrating them into your trip........I have to ask, "Why?" If you are staying an extra day to spend time with them....why do you have to give them your vacation time? If they do have to come to see you while you are on vacation.....simply send them an agenda with where you will be when. Let them know that you will be following a touring schedule, make sure they understand that you will not stop because they show up, let them know that they will either need to schedule time with you now or you will not be able to include them with any of your ADRs. This is your vacation......don't let them dictate how you will enjoy it......instead make sure you tell them how you will enjoy it. And......make sure that your husband understands that he needs to be on board with you 100% or you are not going to make any special efforts to see them at all.

It is tough when you have family close by that expect you to visit them. Good luck!!!!

[NOLA]

Thanks everyone. I feel better. I think this is where I am:
Stay with family first weekend but see if we can use their car to avoid rental.
As soon as EMH for Jan gets released I'm going to email all family members with the itinerary.
I'm emailing dvc friend tonight to see if I can add on one night at the end. That would add a sat night and we could depart Sunday. Will depend if he has points still and if BLT is available that night but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks for your help. Now just need EMH!!!

[bandzmom]

A couple of thoughts - If DH feels like he needs more time, could you take a Friday evening flight? Also, you could see what the rates are for picking up a car at the airport and returning it to either DTD at the Hilton (Avis) or the Transportation Center in WDW (can't remember what the car rental places are there) after you check in. (We are doing that in order to get a grocery stop, and it's not costing that much even with the different return location.) I've arranged for ME to take us back to the airport. Mousesavers has a list of rental car locations and codes if you think this might be an option. Another possibility is to arrange for a family member to take you to and from the airport and take ME from there. (You will need to find a flight that fits the timing.)

[cboyer]

If they are anything like my family, seeing them first would encourage them to join you at disney. I could picture my family saying something like "we were able to get tues off, why don't we meet you at magic kingdom." Just make sure that you have a plan of what to say to them before hand. Last year my parents wanted to join us for a day, and the only day they could make it was tues. My father and I got into an argument because he wanted to take my DD to magic kingdom, but tues was the day we had set aside for animal kingdom. After much arguing I stood firm on my point, if they were going to join us fine, this is where we would be when, and they were welcome to tag along, but we were not changing anything about our family vacation to accommadate them. You and your DH need to be on the same page with that if it comes up that they want to join you.

[deadhedmom]

Just something that worked really well with us when we met up with family from Orlando...

When the inevitable "Hey, why don't we meet up at WDW?" question comes up, I just say sure and suggest we meet up for lunch. We're done with the rigid touring plans by lunch so it doesn't mess up much.

Then we do an anytime filler-type ride with them afterwards and head back for break.

I remember being worried family would cramp my touring style but it really didn't.

One thing I did notice that I would totally rearrange though if you're going with plan 1...
I would leave the relative's house Sunday late afternoon-ish and check into a value at WDW for that night.
That way you don't waste any part of your first full day at WDW Monday. :RpS_thumbup: