Any tips for when you are bringing a child's friend along?

[shoney]

I think either way is acceptable if you honest and upfront from the onset. If you were to pose the invite "We are going to Disney and my child would love your child to join us. He/She is more than welcome, but due to the cost, she/he would need to pay for XYZ. Please take time to think about it and let me know your decision.

Not everyone is in a financial position to pay for others. Some families aren't in the financial position to take the entire family and would welcome the invitation to pay for just 1 to go.

We have only taken friends to the movies, bowling, etc. If one of my kids calls and invites them, we pay.

When I was about 15, my husbands parents (then boyfriend) to a Pocono resort. They told me exactly how much to pay. My parents paid it and we went. It wasn't a big deal.

The following year my parents took him to Hershey with us. They paid for everything. That is just how they are.

I am not sure I would invite a friend unless I was prepared to pay for them but you never know!

 

[Kriii]

It isn't much of an invitation if you expect the guest to pay everything. I took dd and a friend at that age. We paid for everything, though guest brought along souvenier money and was gracious about offering to pay for snacks and bought us a dinner one night.

 

[okeydokey]

If I offered the invite, I would pay. The friend would need souvenir money. If the parents were well enough off to offer to buy their child's park pass, then you can feel free to accept. Have you extended the invitation yet?

 

[wdwmom0f3]

If they are your guest, they are your guest. You pay. I don't invite people to come to my home and then expect them to fork over for food, drinks, the cost of the cleaning lady, etc.

Presumably, the parents, if they can afford it, will offer to pay a portion of the trip. You can either take them up on it or not.

However, if the child is your guest, you pay.

I normally feel this way too, and that's the way it is with everything except going to Disney. It's all I can do to take my three children so I don't see a thing wrong with them buying their child a ticket, food and any souvenirs their child may want. I always took care of anything else. Besides, they get free babysitting for a week.

I guess that I should add that I talked to the parent first and told them how much it would be and all of that. I left the decision to them way before the child even knew about it. Both parents had the money, well off, so that was a factor too. If the child came from a family who couldn't afford it, I would not have asked them unless I could pay for the trip myself.

 

[luvsJack]

I think the difference is in the invite. Inviting someone to go with you on vacation does not necessarily indicate you are paying for everything. If it did I would have went on many a free vacation with my sister and bil!

 

[seashoreCM]

While we are on the subject of unrelated children traveling with you, you should have documents showing that they are supposed to be traveling with you. I am not sure what these documents should consist of. Various random roblems have cropped up about suspected kidnapping where children were not permitted to board the plane and depart with unrelated adults.

(Regarding booking of tickets at different times or by different persons.)

Please make sure that you buy the original ticket and they reimburse you. There will be nothing worse than having two different records. If flights get delayed or cancelled you will not be a single traveling party as far as the airlines are concerned and could be separated, put on different flights, etc..

I kind'a doubt it. This would create a UM (unaccompanied minor) situation and the airline would still have some responsibility in the matter. Or has anyone experienced something like this?

Now you can try to have the different records (PNR's) notated as being for a group travelling together.

 

[bopper]

Aside from finances, I would also make sure the friend is aware of how you will operate at WDW.

Do you expect to get up early?
What time would you expect them to go to sleep?
Will you expect them to share a bed?
When do they normally shower? Do you want the kids to shower at night?
What do you do for breakfast and is that good with them?
Will they want to ride what you want to ride? What if they do/don't like thrill rides?
What to you expect of cell phone use? (no texting all day)

Make sure that they are easy going enough to

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

I would recommend having the parents at least give you a note with their medical/health care information, list any allergies, and also have it notarized (costs about $5 usually but some places will do it for free).

If they really want to make sure you're covered they could fill out a limited power of attorney like this one That allows you to assume the parental role for a set time frame and gives you the legal ability to make medical decisions. Chances are you won't even need it of course. hth

I strongly advocate having the friend's family actually buy her airplane ticket.

This way if she changes her mind, it is her family who deals with cancelling the ticket.

Also it is the host family's obligation not to let an adversarial (such as "me versus them") atmosphere to develop.

Family hints: http://www.cockam.com/family.htm

I'm in the pay for everything camp. If I were to invite one of my kids friends, I would be prepared to pay for the whole thing. If the parents insisted on paying for airfare or a park ticket, I would probably accept but would not invite someone if I couldn't pay for them. I realize that everyone has different opinions on this and that's cool-just be clear with the parents about what is expected before you ask the little girl.

Aside from finances, I would also make sure the friend is aware of how you will operate at WDW.

Do you expect to get up early?
What time would you expect them to go to sleep?
Will you expect them to share a bed?
When do they normally shower? Do you want the kids to shower at night?
What do you do for breakfast and is that good with them?
Will they want to ride what you want to ride? What if they do/don't like thrill rides?
What to you expect of cell phone use? (no texting all day)

Make sure that they are easy going enough to

All were really great suggestions. My son will be 13 on Saturday and has started to ask for his friends to come along on trips. Im not a big fan of it but will consider small over nighters to start with since he does have homesick issues. Nothing worse then being 1200 mikes away from home with a kid crying for mommy.