Disney with DD's best friend?

[disney_me]

We are going to Disney in March. We have asked our DD's best friend to join us. We are covering the airfare, food and of course a place to sleep. I have asked her mother to pay for the park passes (3 day) and any spending money she may need. Do you think this is a good idea? Has anyone else taken a child friend with them to Disney?

We asked DD's friend because she is so well behaved and the two of them get along great!! The girls ages are 11 and 10.

 

[hollyb]

Honestly asking the mom to pay for the park passes is very tacky. JMHO yes spending money is fine (even that we would'nt let her). If you invite her you should pay.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We also have talked about taking another child with DD13 . I think the park Tickets are OK with spending money .

You are still covering the major cost it all depends on how affordable it would be to the other family as well.

 

[Honeymooner04]

I would probably pay for everything except for her own personal spending money.

We haven't taken anyone else to WDW with us (our daughter is only 9 months) but we plan to when she gets older, like 10 or 11.

 

[GEM]

If that's what you've worked out, then I'm sure it's fine. I, personally, wouldn't invite a child with the expectation that her parents would provide anything other than spending money.

 

[daisyduck123]

I think what you have planned is fine...you paying for airfare, food, & a place for her to sleep. Not tacky at all IMO. They don't have to send their DD if they don't want to.

We're going to WDW for a week in August & we may have DD bring a friend (we've got one particular girl in mind) next summer for her 13th b-day. I'm planning to make the same arrangement you have planned. Her mom is one of my best friends & this girl goes to a school that costs $20,000 a year, so I know paying for her park ticket won't hurt them financially! Even if it was a different friend, I'd still make the same arrangement.

 

[maddi]

I think what you did was perfectly fine. IMO-most people know how expensive WDW can be and you are providing the mojority of the vacation. If I was the other parent, I would be happy that my DD was going and Offer to pay for the tickets. I think you made the right decision.

 

[sskem96]

I would love to bring dd9's best friend with us because they get along so great and are totally inseparable. If dd9 was an only child, I'd do it in a second. Since we have 2 kids, it would never work though. dd7 feels left out enough at home, so we decided the vacation will be strictly family, hopefully it will give the girls some bonding time. They don't play with each other at home much anymore, so it will be nice to have just the 2 of them together with no friends. Maybe it will change when dd7 finds her own best friend.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I think that whatever you decide it is important that you make plans with the mom or dad before you invite the child even mention it to the girls. Our for any trip rule is if we invite ,we pay, and that was the plan if we took our DN with us this year. WE however dedcied to keep WDW family only, even with our teen- only child and he is ok with that. I however no not think it is wrong to ask if the family would be willing pay if you invite her but decide what you will say if they choose not to spend money for her to do this trip. I would hate for the girls to get caught in middle of an adult situation.

 

[disney_me]

Her mom and dad agreed to pay for the parks passes since we were paying for everthing else. Tacky, I don't think so one bit. If my child was invited, I would insist on paying for at lease airfare, park passes and money for food.

This is our 4th trip to Disney. Thats why we are only spending 3 days in the parks. Going to hang aroung and swim and maybe go to Tampa. We thought DD would like to take a friend so she would not be so bored .

If I could go to Disney for, what are park passes for 3 day like $160.00? you bet your dupa I'd go.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Sounds like it is working out perfect for all!! Have a blast!!!!!

 

[GSDRescuer]

I think that it is very nice of you to cover the airfare, food and room. I think that having her pay for her own park tickets is fine.
In the past, my daughter had accompanied her friend a few times to WDW and my daughter had to pay for everything...airfare, tickets, food, etc. I think they didn't charge her for the room. They all stayed in one room.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Hi DisneyMe,

I think what you are doing is wonderfully generous and I don't think it's unreasonable to request that your guests family contribute by paying for the child's tickets. I can't imagine thinking that, if I were in the friends parents position, I would feel anything other than grateful that my child would have a fun & supervised trip to WDW for only $300 or so

Please post how this all turns out. I plan on bringing my kids' friends along in a few years and could use some pointers.

Have an awsome time

 

[disney_me]

Hi DisneyMe,

I think what you are doing is wonderfully generous and I don't think it's unreasonable to request that your guests family contribute by paying for the child's tickets. I can't imagine thinking that, if I were in the friends parents position, I would feel anything other than grateful that my child would have a fun & supervised trip to WDW for only $300 or so

Please post how this all turns out. I plan on bringing my kids' friends along in a few years and could use some pointers.

Have an awsome time

Thanks LuvOrlando

We asked her to go because out of all my DD's friends, you can accualy have a conversation with her and she is so easy to please!! And so well behaved!! Not all 11 yr olds are like that. DD and friend are together ever weekend all weekend long.

This will be a big trip for the friend. She has never been on a plane nor to Disney. Thats why her family say yes to the trip.

I hope she will be ok on the plane. DD has been on a plane 6x and has no problem. Me, I hate to fly. I would like to thank my friend Xanax for keeping me cool on the plane. I better double up for the flight with DD's friend so she would see me nervese.

I'd like to here if anyone else has taken a childs friend. The good, bad, anything.

 

[mydisneykids]

I will post how we make out. We let my DD 13 invite a friend to go with us next month. We have two younger children, but decided that this is a nice tradition when they turn 13. We have the same feelings though, we were set to pay for all expences with the exception of tickets, but the family has had some hard times lately and as a suprise we covered the tickets as well.
The nice thing is she it the oldest in her family and is very good to our younger ones as well. So I can see all four of the kids getting along well together.
It is a great thing you are doing and again, I will let you know how we make out when we get home.

 

[Sixformeandyou]

I have never taken anyone's child since I have six of my own. However, my daughter was invited to go to Disney with her best friend when she was nine. They insisted on covering flight, food, lodging and I paid for her park pass and spending money. This was a lot for us since we had just been as a family seven months before. She had a great time with this family. The father died a year later, very sad, but I am glad they had happy memories of Disney. My daughter is very well behaved and low maintainance so I think they invited her. They were good friends at the time as well.
Tracy

 

[disney_me]

Thanks for all the posting!!! Keep them coming.