A question for those of you who take your children's friends to WDW with you?

[Candace]

I know that many of you probably take your children's friends with you since you have joined DVC. Having all that space is great! What I want to know is do you pay for the other child's park pass? My 15 year old son is taking 3, maybe 4 friends with us in July. We are all flying from different cities, and of course they are paying for that, but I am unsure about park passes? What's the norm? I have paid for passes when he took just one friend, and back when we had LOS passes at OKW included, it was not an issue. Anyone?

 

[bjcgl]

They pay for their own when we have taken friends for our children. That would be an awful lot to ask of you! We do pay for their dinners if we go out to eat ...

 

[PixieDusting]

We took a friend of my son's to WDW several years ago, and are getting ready to take another one to DL with us in 3 weeks. Both times, the other parents paid for their child's airfare, passes and also gave us some money for meals.

HTH

<center>Lauren

All it takes is faith & trust....and a little bit of Pixie Dust!

 

[rbuzzotta]

I'd been interested in all sorts of replies on this one as my DD has already inquired about bringing a friend. At this point her friends don't even last the night for a sleepover so I have some time on my side.

Rosemary
Off-site every year since 1985
PO '96, '97, '99
Coronado '00
WL '94, '00
CB '98, '00
VB '97, '98, '00, '01?
DVC member '00 OKW
DxL '97, '01
OKW '01

 

[RONfromRI]

Our college aged daughters are taking 4 friends with us to OKW in June. They (the friends) are responsible for park passes, airfare and meals. Obviously, I don't accept anything for accomodations. I usually treat the whole gang to 2 WDW Buffets during our stay. This time it will be the Garden Grill and Hollywood & Vine. Those meals can add up real quick.

 

[Disnydad]

One of my Bil's is meeting us there next January. He knows up front he pays for his and his sons airfare and pass's.

Don, DVC Member/VWL
<img width="200" src="http://houseofdisney.homestead.com/files/vacclub01.gif">

No frogs were riveted during the construction of this post.

 

[Candace]

Thanks for all your replies. I was hoping you'd say they pay for their own!! I expect to pay for our meals out and have food at the villa, but not buying passes will relieve me a lot.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: here's another perspective. we've been taking the kids' friends since 93, although usually only 1 per trip. we've always paid for the everything for the friend except for souvenirs. sometimes, the parents will give us some money toward a "nice" meal. i wouldn't ask them if i didn't expect to pay for all of it. by the same token, our kids have gone with their friends' families and we haven't reimbursed them. although both sides usually do ask if the other wants to be reimbursed.

 

[mikesmom]

We took a friend of my son's along last June, both were 17 and they had a great time. We had the room, of course, and we took care of the airfare because we had more than enough frequent flyer points to cover us all (and it's use 'em or lose 'em). We told Mike his friend needed to cover his own park pass and spending money. I covered the meals - we did one ressie at Rose & Crown and one buffet. The rest of the time I cooked. Frankly, it seems there's always an extra teenager around at mealtime at home so it wasn't that big a deal.The friend's mom did call the day before we left and insisted on kicking in $200 for extras.

It worked out fine, we're doing it again this May.

 

[realpatt]

We are taking my 9 year old and 3 of his firends for his birthday and the parents were all morethan willing to cover the cost of the passes. We will cover everything else except souveniers. The parents are thrilled that their kids get to go on such a trip and couldn't get a camp fot that amount of money.

 

[HeatherPage]

When I was 13,15 and 17 my parents let me take a friend on the trip with us-this was back before DVC. We stayed at the Poly the Wilderness Homes and CBR in that order. My parents charged nothing for the room and she rode with us from N.C. Her parents paid for her passes and her meal and spending money. If we had ever eaten with my mom and dad, I'm sure they would have picked up a meal or two, but we went off and did our own thing and they did theirs (they gave me spending money for food) It worked out great to have done it three times. Picking up the friend's passes would be a very generous offer, but I doubt many parents would expect that much less ask.

-Heather

If you wish hard enough your dreams can come true!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We always expect them to pay their own passes and transportation. We always handle food. Now that our "kids" are grown, they still take along friends, and they handle many of their own meals too, but "Dad" always pays for at least a couple of big dinners out as a treat, since the young folks can't afford those yet.

Disneydiane

 

[bres@westernMA]

My kids are grown and expect to bring their significant others. We pay for the flight, buy lots of groceries including breakfast, and offer one meal a day where everyone is invited. They can attend or not, depending on their plans.
The kids and their guests are responsible for their tickets, lunches at the parks and treasures.
Basically, I'd play each situation out depending on the kid's age, families resources and your relationship with the parents.

 

[Candace]

Thanks, once again, to everyone who responded. Our feelings seem to be the same. I will tell the parents to supply trans. and park passes, and I will feed them when we are together. I have made several PS for special meals, and they will always eat breakfast in the villa. If they have spending money for an occasional lunch when I am not with them, and money for souvenirs, they should be fine. I guess I had better go stock up in a big way at the grocery store when we get there! I know 5 boys ages 15 and 16 will consume a lot of food during the week!

 

[BillPA]

We almost always had our kids bring friends along. It was up to the friends to cover their passes. We did the food and room.

Just another thought, we also required the friends to bring a copy of their medical insurance cards and a letter from their parents allowing us to obtain treatment if needed. Also a list of meds they could or could not take. Both over the counter and script.

Bill
DVC Member OKW '93

 

[cewait]

We have taken friends for the last 5 years. What we find works best is that the friend is responsible for their air fare, pass, breakfast, lunch and incedentals. We pick up the room and dinner. We usually get some arguement about picking up dinner, but our 16 year olds rarely eat a full meal and we try to avoid buffets for dinner.

Charles ºoº

 

[tarzanman]

We are bringing 3 teens (not even our kids or their friends, just cousins) with us this December and they are responsible for paying for their tickets only. The rest is on us, Cirque, included.

DxL 4/00
DVC 4/00-BWV
VB,VWL (add ons)
BWV 9/00, 12/01
VB 9/00, 5/01
OKW 1/01
DCL 1/01, 12/01-1/02 New Years Cruise


http://gennaroworld.topcities.com

 

[MinnieMe2]

This post is very timely for us as our first trip as DVC members is in July, and DD is bringing a friend (DH isn't thrilled about this, but I think once we get there he'll be happy. Fourteen is proving to be a tough age ). We've asked her parents to pay air fare (we got a reasonably good deal) and for her passes. We'll probably have breakfast in the room, and lunch and dinner are usually seat-of-the-pants affairs, so we'll pick that up. We're all very excited about our upcoming trip to OKW and VWL!!

Counting the Hours Til We're Back in the World

Mother-of-Four (Five, If You Count My Husband)

 

[normr]

If my child was coming with you, I would pay for their tickets both air and park and also their meals, I wouldn't expect you to pick up their tab since you are providing a great vacation and accomodations.

 

[rbuzzotta]

realpatt,

You say the kids are 9??? My DD will be 10 and I think that is too young to bring a friend this year. Her best friend even has trouble spending the night and she only lives 2 houses down!!!!!!!!Aren't you afraid to be so far from home in case one of the kids gets homesick???????

I am looking forward to her bringing a friend eventually because my 2 other DD's are much younger than her and we always have to split up in the parks. What would be an appropriate age? I know it all depends on the child and their parents!!!!

Rosemary
Off-site every year since 1985
PO '96, '97, '99
Coronado '00
WL '94, '00
CB '98, '00
VB '97, '98, '00, '01?
DVC member '00 OKW
DxL '97, '01
OKW '01