To be stressed to the hills over a surprise holiday

[Alfiemoon1]

My sister has paid for us to go to Florida in August as a Christmas present the flights Vila and car hire are all paid for. I am stressed as I am really struggling to save up for park tickets etc which is almost as much as the holiday on top of that I have my son moving to high school his uniform is over £300 bus pass £100 dd is doing duke of ed which is £250 ds trip £155 so this year we probably wouldn't have gone abroad. I am stressed I keep bursting into tears rowing with the hubby who refuses to make any cut backs so we can save money. To top it off my mum and sister are calling me ungrateful as I have mentioned I am worried about the money. Iam not but I am resentful of being put under this stress if she insisted on being elaborate and paying for a holiday why not a cheaper all inclusive instead of something that is going to cost me a fortune or ask me first instead of surprising me in front of the kids so I couldn't say no. Anyway any get rich quick schemes or free things to do in Florida so she hasn't wasted thousands on the flights and villa lol

I get it. Dh surprised me with a 4 day couple trip away, organised childcare ect. I was at th end of maternity leave, totally skint and had to find £500 odd spending money and to eat ect - I was more than little annoyed a really took shine off the holiday.

My sister has paid for me dh and my 2 kids to go. I don't pay for the horse as such but things like riding lessons as she is new to us and dd was struggling at bit with her

I've done a little digging on your posting history, sorry, but my feeling is that the best for you would be to start divorce proceedings now and use that as an excuse to forfeit the whole holiday.

The children might enjoy the last holiday as a family, but all the stress that is going along with it is not healthy either.

Well it's hardly a "surprise" holiday now is it, OP? Seven and a half months since Christmas! Any normal person wanting to visit the theme parks would have looked into the cost of tickets very soon after being given the surprise. And then taken steps to save for them. That's why PPs are expressing incredulity at your post. HTH

Jeez-don't go!

Hire a horsebox & drop horse off at your sister's!

No it's not a fake thread at all yes I am having marital problems and have posted about that before on relationship board

Yes I have had 7 months to save but with cars failing mot and general life stuff I havent managed to save as much as I would have liked

Not sure why people are saying this is a fake thread to be honest ?

What Lewji said with regard to the horse. It's absolutely bloody ridiculous that you're paying for its upkeep with money you don't have when you're struggling to afford school uniform.

PPs who are suggesting still going but avoiding the parks probably are not considering the OP is travelling with kids You can't just tell kids ok, so we're off to Florida but won't be going to Disneyland.

I wish I had your problems.

Turn it over to your husband to deal with if you are so stressed then.

As others have said, you can have a nice time without going to the parks. The villa will probably have a pool. My kids would have been quite happy playing around the pool most days, broken up with some drives to play parks etc. Geez - mine loved the indoor playground at Shoney's when they were small! If everything major is paid for, and it sounds as if it is, you can go and a have a nice time. If you really want to go the parks, pick one and go on a one day ticket. Or pay for your kids to go with your sister for one day. The water parks are relatively inexpensive. (relatively!)

Go out for breakfast- very cheap and sets you up for the day. Stock up on food at Publix. You can sign up for online coupons which give you great deals for eating out.

My sister is like this. With the best of intentions she is overwhelmingly generous but just doesn't see that it is not always appropriate.

Nope I knew nothing about the horse my sister has her delivered to the stable Wednesday before Christmas looked after her til Christmas Day in secret and we all found out on Christmas Day why is that impossible. ???

The same person who books holiday as a surprise jelly cat

The letter my daughter got on Christmas Day about her horse does that prove I am not a fake

My sister had previously taken my dd on hacking days and she had ridden the horse but I had no idea she bought her until Christmas Day none of us did

I wish I had your problems

Did you read the OP? She's got a lot of stuff to pay for and those stuff aren't cheap! Now she's got this holiday that she didn't ask for on top of that. I'd be stressed too and wouldn't be looking forward to it.

Ignore the troll hunters.
They should report if they think it's fake.

Also, ask for the letter to be deleted. It's got your names on it.

My friend went to Florida a few months ago and she said that entrance to the Disney parks is very expensive, but the universal studios are much cheaper and are absolutely brilliant. So maybe stick to those.
Actually the same friend had a similar situation, her dad paid for the holiday, flights, cars and accommodation but she had to pay for food and park tickets and it was pricey.
Anyway. I hope you're able to enjoy yourself. Just rack up the CC and get your DH to worry about paying it off

You aren't really stressing about the holiday though are you. You are stressing about life and there's lots going on but you're making the holiday the outlet for it all.

No one apart from the crazy people go to parks every day . It's too hot and too exhausting. Most people go early leave at lunchtime when it's hot and crowded and go eat at their villa or hotel or just away from Disneys prices ( prices drop startlingly as soon as you are off Disney property) and go nap, swim and return to the parks same day for more rides evening fireworks etc so think about how many pass days you will actually need. If you haven't explored the Dibb for ideas for non park activities as well as cheapest place to buy passes you should.

I realise you couldn't say no as your sister announced her gift in front of your kids and obviously would be gutted if you cancelled it at this notice but it is what it is and remember most people over estimate how many days they need in the parks and there's a fair bit to do at Disney without entering the parks too like the activities at Fort Wilderness (hayride, movie outside after dark with campfire and singing) for example. Make the most of the days you are in the parks by planning the route so you don't add miles crisscrossing the parks in the heat to get back to a must do ride that you walked past earlier in the day (the Dibb can help here too) and have some fun with the kids ahead of the holiday deciding on each of your must dos (and it'll save you pass days and needless walking having a plan too)

Someone with no boundaries Jellycat. Look if you and all the others who are saying it's fake don't believe it report it, stop troll hunting.