Almost 18yo son does not want to go...

[Toby]

on the 4-day Disney Cruise next April. We're members of the DVC, and his father and I offered to take him and two friends using our points to pay for the cruise. His friends would only have to bring spending $$. We were even going to get them an inside cabin of their own. Well, darling son, who has been on both the 4-day and 7-day cruises, informs us that the 4-day is way too short. We explained that we'd head over to Universal Studios for 3 days after the cruise.."Nope" - 7 Day or nothing!! Well, since we can't afford that using points or even cash, I guess no cruise...can you believe it?? We thought this would be a fun graduation gift...he's such a dope - anyone else would be thrilled...can't wait for him to leave for college, and then I'll be cruising all the time...thanks for letting me vent!!

 

[ivanova]

I feel your pain ... so far our DD (currently 14) has only experienced a 4 night cruise (one last year, another one coming up this Fall) ... but I'm afraid that next year's 14 day repo cruise will "ruin" her in the future for anything shorter!!! If that's the case, she starts paying her own way on cruises after 2005.

 

[bennett]

There would nof no way that I would take him now-what happens to our children between 16-18-some of them seem like such spoiled brats. I feel sorry for you-college is right around the corner!!!

 

[traycie2201]

my sympathies i've got it all to come yet with my teen but i know my answer would be "be grateful that we can give you such a great gift, it's 4 days or nothing and if you don't want to come dad and i will be going alone and you can stay with your gran !" hope you get this sorted and get to go on holiday.

 

[webray]

Well, I would still take the cruise and the vacation..and leave him at home. Why should you miss out on the fun, and why should he dictate to you...7 days or nothing. 18 or not, he is still your child.

 

[CamColt]

I agree with webray, go without him!

 

[eye R.N.]

My daughter (18) would be down on her knees thanking us for that one. My son (15) is complaining about having to go on "yet another 7 day." That changed very quickly when he was told the alternative was a week at yia yia's doing chores for his grandma.

Take the cruise and leave the boy home.

 

[TheWog]

Leave him home, then you guys can take the 7 day with your points.

 

[Toby]

Thanks for the input - I sometimes look at him like he's from another planet...what a brat. His older sister 21, in college, went through a period like this, and she is now so appreciative of what we tried to do for her and our family.....maybe when he's on his own, he'll have the epithany too!! Told my husband - "save the points, we use them ourselves" - Son can cool his jets on April vacation at home on the couch!! Kids!!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I too have an almost 18 year old DS. We leave him at home with Grandma. When he was 15 he said that he was bored with Disney (he'd been every year since he was 2) so rather than take a sometimes sullen (sometimes wonderful) teen, we leave him at home. We've offered to take a friend with him but nope it's dull. I have hope that his brains will return, but in the meantime I'm not giving up my vacations to WDW and the cruise.

I do sympathize though.

 

[PRaffen]

I swear teenagers are from another planet. Around 13 an alien life form enters their body and takes over and stays until around 20.

My son now 21 is once again human while my daughter (14) has entered the alien stage where I am stupider than mud! Oh well, this too shall pass.

Go without him and have a ball.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

We thought we were doing so well taking our kids places. We probably travel 4-5 weeks a year, camping also in the summer. Well my 11 year old wants to know why we can't just stay home!!! Her response blew me away! She said going away is great, maybe once or twice a year, but that is enough!!!

 

[Greysword]

LOL! I wonder what your son would say if you went on the cruise, leving him at home, and took his firend anyway.

I bet once you are ready to go, he will change his mind.

 

[Az Pirates]

Have you seen the show where teens trade lives for a few days? My 16 yr. old dd wants to volunteer to trade with your ds for that week or so.

She says you are the coolest parents ever for offering to let ds bring friends along on a cruise and go to universal too! Of course she is a coaster fanatic and would do anything to get to Universal to check out the new mummy ride.

Hope the kid comes to his senses - or that you just save up those points and have a great vacation without him.