Bringing a friend or 2 - HELP!!!!

[Andy Lou & Meg]

My DD has asked if we can take her friend (and her sister) with us when we go next month.

I am having issues about it. Her friend is 7 and her sister is 13 and we are going away for 16 nights.

I have spoken to their mum about it (abeit briefly) and the only thing that is stopping her is the money (obviously they would need flights, park tickets and spending money - we would take care of everything else)

I spoke to DH about it last night and he said a flat out NO. He said thats its a big responsibility (which is true) and that we would not enjoy our holiday as we would be looking after the girls all the time.

Personally I dont mind if they come I know my DD would have much more fun with them there.

I guess my question is what would you do in this situation. I am not sure if these girls will ever get the chance to go to Disney (as children anyway).

They are well behaved and well brough up children and I know they would not misbehave or anything like that.

Its very much pie in the sky at the moment and if truth be told I dont think it will happen but I wanted peoples opinion just in case.

HELP!!!!

 

[wicket2005]

A definite no, I wouldn't do it. I think the 7 year old is way too young. The only time I would consider it was if the kids were 16 plus.

It sounds like money is an issue with the other family as well and you don't want to be forking out more cash yourselves than you need to. Even going into a restaurant the money would need sorting out all the time and keeping track off.

A family holiday is a special time for you all bringing friends in to the equation could spoil all that and obviously your hubbie doesn't fancy it and on that basis alone you cannot do it.

Your daughter will enjoy it just as much with yourselves. The other thing is you may create a situation where your daughter wants to bring her friends on all her holidays too.

 

[wayneg]

I would say only you know the children and how much responsibilty you are willing to take on and how your family really feels.
We are doing it next Easter with DS's best friend(he will have his 14th Birthday while there), same situation, he probably would never go if we dont take him. He has never flown before or been on a ship so we are taking him on a 9 hour flight and a Disney cruise, I must be mad
Also depends on your own financial situation, we are in a position to just say to his parents £150 will cover his meals, drinks and snacks for 2 weeks, I know it will cost more but I will pay the extra.
Another thing is it a major holiday for you and your family, we go 3 or 4 times a year to Florida so I believe he will add to our holiday enjoyment.

 

[irongirlof12]

if this kid gets homesick or kids fall out - it could ruin you trip, I would only consider it for 14+ age group

 

[Pegasus928]

A definate no from me.

And if I was in the position of the other family I would feel a bit uncomfortable sending my kids away with someone else - especially to Disney where I would want to be there to see my daughters faces when they see the sites for the first time.

Too much responsibility, too much like hard work and too expensive.

Pegasus

www.nicholl2010.co.uk/florida

 

[wayneg]

And if I was in the position of the other family I would feel a bit uncomfortable sending my kids away with someone else - especially to Disney where I would want to be there to see my daughters faces when they see the sites for the first time.
www.nicholl2010.co.uk/florida

I can see your point but you are in a fortunate postion to be able to afford to take all your family and love Disney.
Some will never ever be able to afford to go as a family or have absolutely no interest in going to Florida and Disney, you think the children should miss out and not be allowed to go?
I actually had a customer in yesterday, husband is a well known person working away a lot, daughter was just breaking up from private school for 9 weeks, she was complaining she would rather be at school because she gets bored in the summer holiday, they have the money but will never take their daughter to Disney because its not their sort of holiday.
I think only OP knows the personal details of everyone in both familes involved, glad its not my decision

 

[wicket2005]

A definate no from me.

And if I was in the position of the other family I would feel a bit uncomfortable sending my kids away with someone else - especially to Disney where I would want to be there to see my daughters faces when they see the sites for the first time.


www.nicholl2010.co.uk/florida

Yeah, I would have to agree with you there. I wouldn't have let my sons go away with a different family at 7 at all and America feels so far away. Okay it is giving the kiddie an opportunity to go to America but I know from my own experience that the kids at this age will not remember a great deal about the holiday as they get older. The first time we took our sons at 7 and 5, has left them with not a lot of memories of the holiday, they do remember bits but that is about it. Whereas when they are older they do remember a lot more.

It is also not to say that when the kids do get older they may be in a position to go to Disney themselves so just because their parents cannot afford it now, doesn't mean this is their only opportunity to go. I never went to Disney when I was a kid, I wanted to go but was 34 before the opportunity arose and it was just as magical at that age.

I also think you need the full commitment of your husband. It is no good just you thinking it is a good idea.

The other thing to think about is you are going to be an odd number for a lot of the rides.

 

[jen_uk]

i think no as well. Its a lot of responsibility and it could end up being very tiring, the children may be well behaved but you don't know what they will be like once the good behaviour has worn off after a couple of days. Plus 16 days is a long time for a 7 year old to be away from her parents, after the first week she may end up really homesick and you could end up stuck with a whiney upset child!!

 

[Andy Lou & Meg]

Thanks for all of you advice.

I have just spoken to Disney and it turns out that we cannot fit 5 people in our room at SSR anyway. Looks like the decision just become easier as I dont think my friend could let us take one daughter and not the other (but then again stranger things could happen, but I doubt it).

Oh well in hindsight maybe its for the best.

 

[wayneg]

If anyone is taking someone elses children a reminder I have added a parental consent form on my website as I searched for hours and couldn't find one.
Something I did myself and open to suggestions to improve it.
Click on my name and then my homepage to find it.

 

[Cinderella2006]

Thanks for all of you advice.

I have just spoken to Disney and it turns out that we cannot fit 5 people in our room at SSR anyway. Looks like the decision just become easier as I dont think my friend could let us take one daughter and not the other (but then again stranger things could happen, but I doubt it).

Oh well in hindsight maybe its for the best.

I think it was really kind of you to consider this. I was bought up by my Aunty from the age of 12 and they were really good to me, they let me take a friend with me on each holiday we went on, including Europe and Florida.

Obviously we were a bit older but looking back it was a huge commitment to make and I don’t think I could run the risk of anything happening and I certainly won’t be following trend.

We have let our eldest son who has just turned 9 to take a friend when we holiday in the UK but not aboard, it is a lot of responsibility. I for one would never let anyone take my child out of the country unless I felt that they were mature enough.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

This is purely my personal observation. We have holidayed for the last three years with very good friends of ours. This year, on our ski trip to Vermont and Boston, their son (14, same as our DD), took his best friend. Their daughter (12) is like a member of the family to us, our daughter is like her big sister .

Because of the room configuration, it was decided the boys stay in our friend's room, Kate in with us.

As much as she is like a member of the family, it still put us on our slightly 'best behaviour'! It was absolutely fine, but it was a little strange having someone else in the room when there's normally only the three of us. However, our friends, particularly she, found it very intrusive in their room and didn't sleep particularly well, perhaps too much testosterone in the room, hey - two fourteen year old boys and her DH

I would only suggest that everyone has to be comfortable with the decision.

We'd not have a problem doing it again - in fact we are next summer when we have our first Florida trip together for three weeks; 2 wks will be in a villa so everyone will have their own rooms, then the last week down the beach will mean Kate's in with 'adopted parents' again - poor Kate

 

[Andy Lou & Meg]

Just to let you know that after weighing everything up DH and I decided against the idea. Our friend also said that financially is was not a good time so it all worked out in the end.

I still feel quite sad as I dont think she will be able to go as a child. I really offered my friend quite a good deal (with her paying for just the flight and tickets) and us covering everything else (which is not a problem for us - we go to WDW every year so we know what we are letting ourselves in for)

After reading everyones comments I think we have made the right choice. Had we been going to a destination in Europe it may have been a different story but as most of you said its a long way from home and alot of responsibility for DH and I.

I am sure that the situation will be different in a few years when both children will be that bit older.

Thanks for all of you help and opinions on this. Its amazing on peoples different perspective on this.