What would you do????

Ohh that's a tough decision....but you did have your trip planned first and they should of remembered it....it's not like Disney is a new thing for you guys...LOL...I guess it will be a matter of if you want to see the Christening in person or not or if you will be fine with just pictures. I'm sure your grand daughter won't remember if you were there or not. On a side note....Let me just say at first I thought you were going to say you were going to have to cancel your November trip and I was about to get very sad...LOL

First, I would be really mad at the Parents and give them a good dressing down on the type or proactive and involved Grands you intend to be. Then *sigh* I would see if I could change my Disney Dates.

If it is going to be a MAJOR mess to change the dates... I would ask the kids to push the Christening back a week, because they knew you were going out of town and how could they schedule that when you couldn't come?

Canceling would be my very last option.

I can't imagine that I would miss the Christening. I would probably be a bit snarky about the whole thing though.

honestly its easier to move the christening...

That's incredibly rude of them to plan the christening on a date that you'll be on vacation. It's not like the vacation was a last-minute thing, and I don't know about you but for me changing my dates off of work to move my vacation would be nearly impossible, not to mention trying to re-book your vacation. UGH.

I'm with you! The baby won't remember whether the christening was a week later, and you've had this trip planned forever. I know new parents get tunnel vision (been there! ) but I think I would remind them about your trip, and see if they will consider rescheduling. I'd hate for this to cause a rift between you though - if they are stubborn, I think I would see if I could reschedule the trip. I would be like Kristen K. though - I'd make my displeasure known!

I don't think you are bad grandparents for missing it. My husband's oldest daughter is having a co-ed baby shower / cookout the weekend we will be gone. She threw a fit when she found out we weren't going to be there. But we have had our vacation planned since September and she has only been pregnant since November. So the vacation is coming first. Of course she and her sister see it as their Dad picking his new family over his old family but we that's a whole other story. Its not our first grandchild. His other daughter has 3. We will give her a gift later. One day isn't going to make or break the relationship with the child. Its the years of memories that matter.

Yeah our church only does baptisim's like once every month or two as well.....But hopefully they will be willing to change it...because it's not something that has to be done by then

Like everyone has said... its much easier to move that. Me and my mentality... if I had something big like a Disney trip planned and a family member did that to me... id tell them, if you want me there, then please move it. If you dont... then im sorry. I have had this planned for a year now. DVC points are tough to use after a cancellation. But its up to you....

Thats what I would tell them. This isnt me being a Disney freak or anything. I am turning down my nephews birthday party because they are making it at 5pm on a Monday. I work till 5pm, and have band practice at 7pm. I could probably swing it... but just dont know yet. So I know what you mean. If I have previous commitments... I keep them. UNLESS its life or death.

I'd remind them about your dates and see what happens. The sleep deprived parents may of just spaced on your vacation plans.

With my kids, we waited a month or two before we had the Christening. Is there a reason why they have scheduled it for May?

My 2 cents - a Disney vacation is generally not the type of vacation that you can just change - there's alot of pre-planning that was involved. I think I would first just ask them: We"ve had this vacation planned for a while and can't easily change it on such short notice. How would you feel if we ended up missing the Christening?

Then you at least know how they would feel, which may or may not make a difference in your decision.

I think the reality that your son might have to accept is that while you will try your best to do everything equally with the grandkids so noone feels slighted, there may be times that it just won't happen. And that doesn't mean you love anyone less. And I am sure the grandchild will not care (though you might hear about it jokingly in the later years!). But it's also your life and sometimes you can make sacrafices and somtimes you can't.

Well said JeffC!

I am sure this is a really tough decision for you and a difficult position to be placed in. Does your son realize all of the planning that goes into a WDW vacation? I am not being smug in saying that as everyone here in this forum knows. Of course they were probably pregnant before you made your plans but you did adjust for the birth once already. I would tell my kids that I really want to be there for the christening and the plans we have are already very solid and difficult to change as well as carrying a penalty. I would ask them to please consider moving their date out one month so everyone can be part of it.

Now I will put on my pastoral hat, well, er, collar... There is nothing that says a child needs to be baptized so early and as you mentioned your other grandchild was christened at 3 months. You are not asking them to wait until the baby can walk and talk (although that will save on stroller rentals and hassles at WDW, sorry, couldn't hold it back). I think in their excitement and in a state of needing to maintain order in their household they probably just jumped the gun on setting this up at their church. While they are adults, you and mrhub are too and deserve the same respect to honor the dates you have set for yourselves. An honest conversation and a please cooperate so we can all share this should do the trick.

Ok, the collar is off again. I would just hate to lose my ADRs!!!

Best of luck and blessings upon your family.

DVC booking dates open at 11 months, she could have totally had an entire pregnancy within that time. DVC plans are also really hard to change once you're within 31 days of your trip.

Keep us updated Scrappy, we're pullin' for you!

I would ask them why they booked the Chirstening when they knew you were going to be away? Did they want you to not come?

xxx

Yeah, sorry, I'm a miserable old fart now!

LOL

So, for whatever it's worth, here's my thought (as a non-parent & and Disney die-hard)

If they have told people about the Christening date and "failed to mention" it to you, that just seems plain rude. You clearly do not have to answer this, but is there tension and for some reason they were almost hoping you could not make it? "OH! Did we forget to mention...?" I mean, it's the Christening of your grandchild! How do they "forget" to tell you about that?!!?

Okay, that said, forget who did what and why. Ask them if they can move the date. If not, here's what you are left with: Five years from now, are you going to regret missing the Christening of your granddauughter? That's what it really boils down to. If not, go on your trip, send your well wishes, and it's done. If yes, then as much as it will be a bummer, move your trip. Not for them, but for you.

Let's face it: Your third granddaughter is not going to grow up and feel hurt that you missed her christening. Will your son be upset (or is it not a big deal to him)? And that bring us back to: Will YOU be upset if you miss it? Answer those two questions and I think you'll have your answer. Congrats on your addition to the family!

Hope this helps,
Dreams

Adding after the fact: OHOHOH! I just had a thought! (oh no, not a thought! ) It's 2012. Could you be at the Christening via technology? Webcam from a laptop. FaceTime on iphones. So many different options. Then you could do BOTH! That's my solution! Will it be the same as being there? No. BUT - you will not miss it, you will be able to share the experience with them, you will still be showing them you care (as you will be taking time from your trip to "attend"), you won't have to cancel the trip and they won't have to move the date. I say tele-commute to the Christening! Okay, I'm done now.

AT first I was a little offended by that idea, than I took a second and thought "How Disney!" It's like a scene right out of Horizons where the parents live far away from the kids and they talk over hologram for the birthday party.

I certainly meant no offense by it.

But it does solve a lot of problems:
- No need to reschedule Christening
- No possible loss of DVC points
- No rebooking of all WDW plans
- No one can say, "They didn't care enough to come"
- No regret from missing it
- "Sort of" in two places a once

It was just a suggestion for a tough situation.

- Dreams

It's all good

Oh wait... you so don't want to get close enough for a hug! **cough cough**

Good luck tonight, scrappy! I am hoping for level heads and open hearts! Please let us know how it turns out.

I was the first one to reply to the post and I was going to suggest the whole face time thing as well...but didn't know how people would feel about doing that in church so I didn't say anything....but then again in this day in age not so uncommon....I mean we use our ipad in church every week as our bible. And scrappy I hope everything goes well tonight. Like others have said be sure to update us.....And I know you will raise those grandkids up to love Disney so when they get older and find out you missed it for Disney i'm sure they will totally understand cause they will be disney addicts to.

Okay , I guess I'm over it!

AND WE ARE STILL GOING TO WDW!

But they wouldn't change the date of the christening?

Im sorry to hear that.......

That's great to hear Scrappy, I'm glad that everything is good between all. Sometimes the choice with the least drama just has to be made.

Whoo hoo! So, how many days do you have until you leave?

Woo Hoo! I am glad that everyone was able to come to an understanding. Family dynamics can be so nail biting. Have a great time on vacation! Enjoy your new granddaughter when you return!!