Allowing kids to take friends?

[KCSunshine60]

Hi - My two DS are 12 and 16. We just returned from a week at Disneyland with them. All of us but my husband got APs with hopes that we'll sneak a couple shorter trips in before next August. Both boys have asked if they could take a friend along on one of the trips.

I'm curious if any non-locals who require hotel rooms ever allow their kids to take friends. It seems like an expensive venture. So, I'd love any tips on how you've done it.

I was thinking it would be fun to have my sister from the midwest come out and join us. She has never been to Disneyland and she was only to DW once when she was 6. So, it would be fun but then there would be 6 of us so we'd definately need a couple rooms or larger suite.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks
KC

 

[Husker Mickey]

I have teen also and for our next trip in Oct. we thought DS wouldn't be able to go with us. We told our DD that she could ask one of her friends if they wanted to go with us. We would pick up the room cost and some of the meals. She would have to pay for her airfare and parkhopper. It turns out that none of her close friends could go. Good thing, because our son's Fall Break at college turns out to be the week we go so he is now going with us and just flying back into his college town!!!

I hope this helps!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i took a teenage friend with me in 97? i think and it was fun My mom trusted her so we got to go off and do our own thing and my slow parents and sister were off doing there own thing.
I think my dad paid for it i never knew..but i know her parents were poorer then my dad was so i bet he sprang for it.
(i dont remeber now or not if her sister tagged along and my sister had her to play with..i dont remeber anything about the trip except my friend and i rideing splash HM and pirates over and over

 

[SANDIEGOFAN]

I'm in San Diego, almost a local. We let our daughters take one friend every year and pay for the parkhoppers, room and food. Without the tickets, it's really not that expensive.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

In 2005 we took my daughter and her cousin (both were 6 and they are very good friends) and it was a blast!! Well, kind of. My daughter was sick so she was kind of a pain, haha, but the together of it was fun. We paid for all meals, DL ticket and the hotel. Her parents gave her spending money and it all worked out great. Well, except on last full day in park cousin got some sticky fingers. So her mom handled it over the phone and the next day we returned said item.

If a trip included airfare, we wouldn't have been able to swing that.

 

[SANDIEGOFAN]

Crazy, same happened with us four years ago but....we caught the friend in the act so no problem. My sis was with a family about 30 years ago and got caught shoplifting at DL - I still tease her about it.

 

[avalon451]

Unofficial Guide has a section just about taking a kid's friend to DL with you. They make some very good observations about it. Like, choose the kid carefully-- they need to be able to get along well with your child, and the kid needs to be somebody who gets along with the rest of the family, the cost needs to be covered, etc. But they make the point that with teenagers especially, it can be a real blessing. The kid feels like they have somebody to goof around with and sometimes you can give them a little freedom, which is a thrill.

 

[drgalyen]

We are going in Oct. with 5 kids plus. After our last trip to DL, my DH told the older girls they could bring a friend next time. Since this is the oldest DD Senior year she was allow to bring 2 friends. Her friends are paying for their passes to any parks we attend. They are also to pay for food and spending money. We will be paying to hotel and car ride there- from Oregon. We figured about $500 per kid- that includes spending money.
The 2 friends have been friends for a long time. One since 2nd grade and we've know the other for almost as long. These kids are like one of the family and their parents trust us to treat them like our own kids.
I wouldn't take just any of my kids friends though. I had to tell my 13 year old that she could not take one friend- I don't think DH and myself could have handled her for 8 days.

 

[stacielee]

Also make sure the friend is not a non-rider! My DD friend (they were both about 11) wouldn't ride ANYTHING! She waited after Space, waited after Indy, waited after Screamin', pretty much waited after all the FUN rides. We talked about it beforehand and she said she would go on the rides, she wasn't scared, but it didn't happen. Not much fun if you ask me!

 

[jencav5]

My kids ds12 (at time) & dd10 (at time), took a friend each, last Dec. The kids were the the same age as them, and we know them very well-been on lots of family vacations with their whole family, even. Their parents paid for their park hoppers and gave them some spending money, and we covered everything else (hotel, food, etc...). The only thing is, these particular kids were not into Disney as much as we are and they liked to call the rides in FL "baby" rides, etc.... I guess you could say that kind of grates on my nerves a bit! lol Yes, we knew them pretty well, but we really got to know them after this trip! It was fun for the kids to get to be with their friends, but I felt like they were a bad "non-Disney" influence on them! They basically only wanted to do thrill rides, and kept talking about how great Magic Mountain was! Anyway, if I do it again, I'm taking friends that love Disney! lol

 

[Hester]

Some of my best memories at DL is going with, or taking a friend. In fact recently I was reflecting on this, as one of my good childhood friends died unexpectedly several weeks ago. We rode Star Tours together before it opened... they were still dialing it in and it was a REAL ROUGH ride!

I remember my sister taking friends as well. I think overall that it's an important part of the Disney experience (or even life experience) for a child who is growing into independence.

 

[tink2dw]

For a hotel for 6 people try Desert Inn and Suites they have several different kinds!
Take a look!
http://www.anaheimdesertinn.com/room_suites.htm

 

[DesertBell]

My first Disney trip, I WAS the friend! I grew up very poor so going to Disney was always this huge unattainable fantasy, but when I was 16 my best friend's parents invited me along. I've never found a way to thank them.

 

[mariezp]

In 2006 my son, who is now 17, took a friend with us. We already had an extra bed in our suite at DI so there was no additional charge for lodging. We bought her airfare, DL ticket and paid for her meals. She just brought extra spending money. I know having her go with us was the highlight of our trip for my son so it was well worth it. I overheard her later tell someone that our DL trip was the best vacation she had ever had.

This year she will be going with us again.... and also her father and younger sister. Again, lodging will not cost any extra and we will probably pick up most of the other expenses. They are such a wonderful family. The mother died a little over a year ago so we thought they could really use a break from the real world. The youngest has never been to DL so we are all really especially excited for her. She is a very exuberant young lady and it is going to be such a pleasure watching her experience DL for the first time.