Do You Let Your Children Take A Friend?

[WDWannabe]

Hi all,

We have a 10 and a half, (gotta get that in) year old DD, only child. Would you let her take a friend? Has anyone ever did this? Good idea or not? We are just thinking about this possibility. Comments and suggestions welcome!!

Thanks!!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

I wouldn't -

I believe at Disney age difference doesn't matter and you and your DD can really enjoy the trip! A great chance to bond!!

I would use the money that you would spend to take her friend and just spoil her!!!

 

[skipperkim]

I did in 03. It was myself, my friend, my ds and his friend (both were 17). Could you imagine a 17 yo boy wanting to walk around with 2 40+ women? I didn't take oldest ds, 21 at the time. He hadn't had a job in 2 years. I've been paying his insurance, car and health, and cell phone bills all that time. I couldn't justify rewarding him with a $3000 trip. That said, I am taking myself and both ds's in 24 days to DW. We won't be gone for very long. But, it's something I always wanted to do when they were younger and couldn't afford to. Now that they are grown this may be my last opportunity to go there with them.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

I had a girlfriend almost 20 years ago who was allowed by her parents to take a friend along every time they went, which was every year. The year we were dating, her friend couldn't go for the first time ever, so I was invited. Had it not been for that, I might never have gone to WDW (the rest of my family has STILL never been ) I say take the friend along, it may change his life!

BTW, the girlfriend and I broke up about two weeks after we got back.

 

[hennajo]

I don't have any kids of my own, but my parents brought countless friends along on dozens of vacations. It seems like everytime, something went wrong, someone got upset, etc., and I don't really remember having a family vacation. Now that I'm older, the things that stick out in my mind about those vacations, are the things that went wrong. On a vacation as special as Disney, I wouldn't take anyone else along, IMO. However, I am taking my mom in January, and I am letting her bring a friend!

 

[opal]

We have done this twice. The first time dd was 17 and brought her best friend. They were great fun. They had a wonderful time and so did we.

Most recently just dd now 22 and i were planning a trip. A friend of her wanted to join us. (she paid all her own expenses) She kept commenting on how she didn't understand our fascination with WDW and how we could keep coming back every year. I just sat back and watched. No need for me to say a word , DD was ready to smack her back to the airport. It didn't spoil our fun though, I think we just became even more obnoxious in our love for WDW!!! It is truly sad how some people just don't get it.

 

[Lizzybee]

I have never had my kids bring a friend to WDW but I think you'd have to be really careful about the friend. My son is 10 and he has friend I wouldn't even take to the local amusement park, let alone on a vacation on a plane and a hotel and amusement park. Honestly, also as the mom of a 10 yr old, I wouldn't allow him to go on a vacation with any of his friends. Maybe it would be different if I was close friends or cousins with the friend's parents, but I'm not sure I'd be ok with it then either. I just imagine if something happened to my child or someone else's child and the parent isn't there it just gets so complicated. I mean what if you get on a bus and there are no seats available and the friend falls over and sprains or breaks an ankle, are you sure the parent won't try to sue you. I know it's an extreme example but it would be really horrible if it did happen. If I let my child go and that happened to him, I wouldn't sue, but I'd be on a plane to Florida to get him.

 

[hmgolden]

My parents let us take friends along on our Disney vacations starting when I was 18, and my brother was 13. My brother and I loved it, as did my parents! My brother and I got to go off with out friends and do what we wanted (which was never the same as what my parents wanted to do) and my parents got to enjoy the parks by themselves. The one rule for us was that we always had to eat dinner with my parents. My parents agree it was a great decision, and I married the friend that I brought along on all those vacations!

That said, I personally think that at 10, its a little early to let her bring a friend.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I bought DVC in 1998 and my DD's have always brought at least one friend each and when we have had foreign ex-change students they brought friends too, and when my oldest DD turned 13 we brought her Dad (my-ex) and his wife and their son, and we have brought youngest's DD's best friend and sister and mom down twice (different best friends). I would say YES let her bring a good friend along (someone who has proven not to have separation anxiety from their parents, this is very important). To share WDW with someone you love is a great thing.

IMHO

 

[lauran cameron]

We've done that many times:

1st when DB was 9 & I 13 we both brought friends and have been doing so ever since.

We've never had a problem and its been great fun for everyone!!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

I think a friend to WDW is a great idea, however, I think 10.5 is too young. She may miss her family and/or her family may desperately miss her.

I would do it when DS/D is 13 or older.

 

[GeorgiaTiggerGirl]

My son is an only child (now 16). He didn't start taking a friend until high school. It's been great!

 

[westjones]

I wouldn't do it, but it takes us a while to save up enough money just for our family....so I can't imagine adding the cost of someone else's child into the budget.

DJ

 

[ShuisFan584]

My sister and I never really needed to bring a friend when we were younger. This is because we are 3 years apart in age and have always been close, so we love hanging out together at WDW. Although this year we are both bringing someone. We have both had the same boyfriends for 2 years now and they are like part of the family, so they will be coming with us this year. They both came on vacation with us last year down the shore, and this will only be my boyfriend's first time in 10 years to WDW, and my sister's boyfriend's first time. So it will be a lot of fun being there with our family and the boyfriends.

 

[Pinnochio]

I think it is a good idea because I always found it is better vacationing with friends. Its not like they're going to be running away to go out to Pleasure Island in the middle of the night either. You still be able to spend the quality time you want with your DD.

 

[DKx3]

It may be just me, but I don't think I would let me 10.5 DD go to Florida with a friend. Of course, I'm in NJ and it's a lot farther than GA from FL. My daughter would get tired of having a friend around that long also. I would want to have the WDW experience be something for our family.

 

[kilee]

I think my DS would love to have a friend go on vacation with us. He's an only child and gets pretty bored w/ just mom and dad all the time.

He's 12, and I know personally I wouldn't let him go away to Florida (or anywhere else not locally) w/ a friends family. Maybe it's that only child thing. You kidding me his father (my ex) is taking him in August for a week and I'm already very stressed about that. He's never done this before.

I'm hoping in a few more years though he'll be able to bring a friend along.

 

[WDWannabe]

WOW! What a responce to this question! Of course we we just entertaining the thought. This would be our first family vacation, so I believe it would just be us three. Being an only child get dull and boring...three on a ride or seat...we are NOT skinny people...I thought that four would be more even... More thinking needed on this topic.

I don't think if we choose either option, from what ya'll have said we could go wrong!

Thanks for the opinions and options!

 

[momsgoofy]

WOW! What a responce to this question! Of course we we just entertaining the thought. This would be our first family vacation, so I believe it would just be us three. Being an only child get dull and boring...three on a ride or seat...we are NOT skinny people...I thought that four would be more even... More thinking needed on this topic.

I don't think if we choose either option, from what ya'll have said we could go wrong!

Thanks for the opinions and options!

I thought you might need a hand paddling this boat...it's a hard one to be in if you ask me. My DS is an only child and will be 13 in just 3 weeks...I contemplate this topic often in my own mind. There are so many factors to think about....
Will the other child get homesick?
How will a week of "togetherness" affect the two friends? My best friend and I growing up actually knew when we'd hit our "best buddy" limit and would avoid each other until we were over it.
Who will pay for the friend? As another poster pointed out, taking our family can be expensive enough. For us, being new DVC members, that can reduce the cost, but it's still not cheap to feed teenage boys.
Which friend? DS, at this point, has one friend that we might consider taking, but the friend happens to be afraid of heights...so not sure how good it would be to take him to WDW.

We understand the "Theme Park 3 is a bad number" syndrome....there is always a single rider in the group, so we think a friend would be great for DS, but....

Maybe in a few years...high school age might be better! Like you I still am uncertain!

 

[Aidensmom]

DS is only 3, so haven't taken a friend yet, but have taken cousins (whom I also took to various theme parks before I had a child). My son really enjoys having another child along, and is starting to ask about taking friends. Next trip I will not because it is a Father's Day gift for my husband, but in the future, I will definately consider it. DS is an only child, and I am sure that having another child along really increases his fun - heck, it increases his fun to have another kid to talk to at McDonald's! We, however, only live an hour away so it is not as much of an investment (financially, emotionally, etc). because it would most likely be for a day trip.