Bringing your kids' friends on vacation...

[TimeforMe]

what was your experience?

We are going to WDW/Universal for a week in August and then driving from Orlando to HHI for the 2nd week. We are letting DD15 and DS13 each have a friend join us on our last night in Orlando and then drive to HHI with us and spend the week. The friends are getting a flight out together and then we will all fly home together.

We thought we would rent them bikes for the week on HHI and give them a little freedom/time with their friends. I'm a little "worried" about expenses. The friends will pay their own airfare (although I've booked and paid for our return flight and expect to be reimbursed), any "admission" prices, but I expect DH and I will pick up food expenses. We will cook in sometimes (especially breakfast), but will still want to eat dinner out on occasion. I would feel uncomfortable making the kids pay. Anyone else do this before and how did you handle it?

Any other tips/suggestions are welcome!

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Last year we let DS (16 at the time) bring a friend with him to WDW. It was the best decision we ever made. His friend paid for his airfare, park ticket and meals when they were together. When we were together as a group (which wasn't that often) DH & I paid for food for all of us.

We are going back to WDW in June and will be taking the same friend along. They can't wait and neither can DH & I!

Annmarie

 

[RNMOM]

We took another 17 yr old with us this past Christmas with our two 15 and 17 yr olds. It was great. We drove so all he paid was his pass and spending money. We bought one big meal per day at least so we were together at least once per day. The rest of the time they were on their own and we kept in touch with cell phones. It was great.

 

[KimRaye]

Originally posted by TimeforMe
but I expect DH and I will pick up food expenses. We will cook in sometimes (especially breakfast), but will still want to eat dinner out on occasion. I would feel uncomfortable making the kids pay.

I have NO experience in this situation but, as a parent, I would make sure my kid (the one being invited) would have some 'spending' money for things like this and, for extras as well! What a wonderful thing you've ALL done, bringing friends for the kids!

I just wish I was going again!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

When we did this, we paid for the accommodations and food, but they paid their own airfare and tickets.

 

[bumcat]

We have done this 4 times and pay for everything except souvenirs. If you are going to have the kids pay for some of the meals just make sure their parents know how much is needed way ahead of time.

 

[ebaynut31]

And then the flip side.

I took my dd9's friend with us this past December. I paid for everything, airfare, passes, room, including a dinner at LTT and MVMCP tickets and asked her parents to supply at least $200 for spending money. I thought that was reasonable. Don't you? Well, the day we left, I was given $120 and was told that they expected some money to come home with their child so she could get some doll or something.

You have to be prepared to pay for everything and be happy if the other parents are courteous enough to think of what you are spending and sending money along with your guest.

We did have a great time though.

Would I do it again? Not with that child but yes to others.

Actually, they didn't even thank me!!

 

[bliss4us]

We took DS (11) and a friend last November - what a great time!

Of course, a lot of that great time came from the cooperation of the friend's parents ahead of time. They paid for his airfare, park tickets, and a small percentage of the resort room. I estimated costs of meals using menus from www.wdwig.com and gave them a ballpark for what we thought it would cost DS's friend to eat for a week. They rounded up from there to allow a bit for souvenirs.

They gave us a check for the lump sum before we left, and we just paid for everything once we were there. Kept track of how much it actually cost DS's friend, and our estimate was very close at the end of it all!

Ebaynut31, I can see how lucky we were after reading your experience. No thank you after all that? I'd be pretty bummed.

We were thanked over and over again for "allowing" this friend to come with us. In reality, it was the best thing we could have done for DS - and ourselves! They had a fabulous time together, which made our job that much easier!

Daisy

 

[Snoozan]

My 17 yo DS brought a friend along on our trip in February. I had him pay $300 upfront towards airfare & park pass(which actually totalled $340). We paid for meals when we were all together, but the boys did pay for a few things on their own. It worked out pretty well-especially when we were upgraded to a 1 bedroom at the BW instead of the studio we booked, so my DH & I did have some privacy.

Both the boy and his mom sent me a nice thank you note after our trip-that was greatly appreciated!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Wow ebaynut, how awful of them !
You all are much more kind and generous than I am! I guess I am selfish with our family vacations at this point in time. Perhaps when my kids are older and could venture out alone with a friend it might happen. My 2 children are enough for now, they are actually "friends" on trips and want to do the rides together(they are NOT friends at home much of the time !) Good luck, whatever you decide. I do think the parents should chip in some money for their kids though.

 

[FOJMO]

We've taken vacations in the past with a friend of DD's and they didn't work out well when she was younger, say between 7 and 11 YO. It turned out to be too much for DD, 24/7 with her friend and DD tended to get "jealous" when I would pay attention to her friend and they would both cling to me all the time!

HOWEVER,

Now that DD's older (17), we've taken a good friend of hers on the Disney Magic last time and she's coming along again at the end of May on the Western Caribbean Magic cruise. They have a BLAST! We almost never see them on the ship (lol) -- we meet up for dinner at the specified place and time and then we're off again on separate agendas. They always are with us, though, for visiting the ports of call.

We always paid for everything for the friend, except spending money. We even paid for DD and the friend in cash for this upcoming cruise and used DVC points for DH and me. It's worth it!

Make sure, though, that the friend is someone your DD or DS will be able to get along with 24/7, because there's nothing worse than having a fight in the middle of the vacation. They HAVE to get along famously!

Have fun!

 

[grinningghost]

I'm so happy this thread was posted. We're going through the "bring a friend" thing right now. Originally, we were supposed to bring one of our DD's friends to WDW in August. Just a couple weeks ago, she bowed out, her mom said she gets too homesick - completely understandable. So, we asked another friend. We explained to her parents that we are paying for everything except spending money for souveniers or extra snacks, etc. They are still "thinking" about it. They feel too bad making us pay for everything. Truth be told, everything is already paid for. We're driving and the hotel and tickets are paid for. So, I'm hoping for an answer from them one way or the other soon. We want her to come very much. It will make DD's vacation so much better. She'll be 14 and is old enough to navigate the parks solo.

 

[TimeforMe]

I'm happy to hear of such positive experiences with bringing friends. Both of the kids that are coming are very nice kids who are always at my house anyway. I wouldn't even attempt it when they were younger, but I think they will really appreciate it now. They do get along remarkably well on vacation, but they just have different interests and I think having a friend will only bring a positive note to their vacation. (I hope I'm right). Both sets of parents have been very appreciative and supportive and I'm sure will send enough $. I guess I will mention that we will pay for "most" of the meals, but if they want to send money for extras. One parent has already stated that he will be sending $ to treat us for dinner.

I think it'll be a blast for them.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I've taken the kids' friends with us over the past few years. Granted - it's been on camping trips, but their parents were very supportive about paying for the extras (horsebackriding, etc.). Since I was cooking anyways, I wouldn't take $ for food. One boy spent too much of his $ buying his family souvenirs, and we ended up giving him $ so he could buy something for one more brother. I never received a thank you from his parents, copies of pics, nothing. But, I know the boy had a great time with us, and we reminisce every now and then w/our camping stories.

The other two times, the parents were very appreciative. One friend's mom was concerned because her dd had never been away from home, & is an only child - the dd never got homesick, and had a great time. Another mom treated the kids to a 2nd horeseback ride, and I thought that was really nice.

If I were to invite the friends to WDW, I would expect them to pay their own airfare and some meals, plus souvenirs. I know I would more often than not pay for their meals when we ate together. I think I would ask for help w/accommodations if I had to get something more than what my family would fit in.

 

[lisajl]

Boy, am I glad this was posted!

We will be taking our DD's friend next year with us.
Of course, the girls will be 18 by then and hopefully have their own money!!!

We are trying to decide best place to stay, etc. We will pay for room and have her pay for tickets and some food, etc.


She is going with us to see Cirque in August. I had to order tickets now to get the best seats, and her mom will pay me back for them.
I already told the girls we would make it a "girls night out" and go to dinner later. I don't mind paying for things like that.
We always have a great time with her.

Thanks for posting this! I was wondering if anyone else had taken someone else's children to WDW.


Lisajl

 

[TimeforMe]

One thing I forgot to mention is that we had already booked a 2br at HHI, so we already had plenty of room for the kids. There was no added expense there. They will be joining us the night before at PBH in Universal. I booked a deluxe room and asked about the extra person and they said "no problem". Everything just kind of fell into place. I was a little ambivalent at first, but so far so good....

 

[yoopermom]

DS8 is an "only" and has a BF who is over almost every weekend. Over the Xmas break he actually stayed with us for 6 days, and was no trouble. This is the *only* friend of Ds's that I'd *ever* consider taking somewhere. I'm more worried about him getting homesick than $$, since we'd be so far from home...
Terri

 

[BCVOwner2002]

I was also concerned about the 24/7 and actually DS and friend were getting iritated with me because DH & I would return from a park and I would play mom, "Did you guys eat breakfast? Do you need more money? Are you have a good time? Are you guys getting along okay? Have you checked in with your parents? Etc." My DS and his best friend were ready to kill me! What can I say, once a mom always a mom. I wanted to make sure they were having as much fun as DH and I. Next year, when they graduate HS we are planning on taking a 3 or 4 day Disney Cruise and a 3 or 4 day stay at BCV. I asked Mark (DS friend) if he thought his parents would want to go too and he said they may want to come but I don't want them there! Annmarie

 

[Kallison]

I would consider bringing a friend on a local trip, but not to Disney. Actually DH asked me if we should bring some friends for the kids on our WDW vacation (kids are 12-10-9). I said WHAT, with my luck they would get sick or hurt and I would spend my week in a hotel room with somebody elses kid. We took my nephew to Maine 2 summers ago, he was 13 at the time. It got to be a bit much, even with my parents along. He started bugging the 9 year old DD and teasing her like her brothers. They started all acting like siblings, it got on my nerves. Maybe if we ever have empty nest syndrome and just youngest DD goes along with us, I would consider a friend for her. I remember my last vacation at 16 with my parents, I was bored to tears. I would have had a blast if a friend was along.