Has anyone traveled with kids with college ages boyfriend/girlfriend

[RumpleMom]

We have decided that being able to bring the boyfriend along on the family vacation is a perk of owning DVC.

It has caused us to add on points, but very much worth the extra money for the extra space when needing a studio for him.

Eldest DD brought her boyfriend twice and he loved Disney. They honeymooned at WDW and bought their own DVC membership.

Second DD has brought boyfriends too. They are no longer around. It was a good experience to see that they did not fit into our family.

 

[westjones]

Thanks everyone! And we have thought about Hilton Head too. I am giving them the choice of HHI or WDW (probably at Animal Kingdom). I want WDW but the boyfriend would have to pay for his ticket and at HHI they wouldn't need park tickets. But I am saving up Disney Reward dollars to pay for food on this trip.

I know this is REALLY far in advance. We can't go until 2014. I am going to be dealing with a medical issue that is going to take a year to treat and then confirm treatment worked. So we won't be going next year....giving us a year to bank points and save up.

And this 'trip' is going to give me something to look forward to, and I will probably be planning 'to the max' during the next year so I can focus on something positive.

But thanks for the review of the trip with the BF at HHI because that has been a consideration. AND if things don't go quite the way I am hoping next year for my medical treatment, I am thinking HHI may be a more relaxing choice for me to do if I need to just rest and take it easy.

Anyway....thanks again everyone for all of your comments. And if it weren't for DVC we wouldn't be able to even consider taking the BF and a friend for my other DD (who may have a BF by that time, who knows----which is another plus for Animal Kingdom, since there is a sleeper chair and sleeper couch...if there are two boys they will each have a place to sleep).

 

[jfelcie]

Been there . . . Done that! I agree with CarolAnnC! Enjoy the master bedroom and let the young adults deal with their own sleeping arrangements. Don't over think it. If your "kids" still want to vacation with you to Disney you have done a remarkable job . . . just let them be and enjoy their own space! I think BWV is the best for older kids. We went in July with two 18 and two 16 year olds. They were never in their rooms with access to HS, EPCOT and activies on the boardwalk. In the first 24 hours they hit all 4 parks. We were coming back from MK at midnight and they were leaving for EMH. We made ARDs and all ate together and also spent time together in the parks and water parks. Have a great trip . . . Planning is sooo much fun!

 

[rynosmom]

This christmas we will be going to WDW with our DS21 DS17 and both of their girlfriends. Right now we have a studio and a 1 bedroom at AKL but we are waitlisted for a 2 bedroom. If the Waitlist does not come through we will put the girls in studio and the boys with us in the 1 bedroom. Both girls have paid their own air and will be responsible for their park tickets as well as lunch each day with us paying for dinners and breakfast will be in the room.

 

[westjones]

This christmas we will be going to WDW with our DS21 DS17 and both of their girlfriends. Right now we have a studio and a 1 bedroom at AKL but we are waitlisted for a 2 bedroom. If the Waitlist does not come through we will put the girls in studio and the boys with us in the 1 bedroom. Both girls have paid their own air and will be responsible for their park tickets as well as lunch each day with us paying for dinners and breakfast will be in the room.

If both girls had boyfriends, I think I might put them in the studio side and have the girls sleep in the living room. If we have one boyfriend then he gets the living room.

I am hoping to be able to pay for food with my Disney Reward points. But we won't be doing any TS ones, only CS. And we will have food in the room.

Not sure who I will handle the food. I thought about getting the dining plan, but I don't think it would be our best option. So now I am thinking of just telling them they have a limit each day of what they can spend. Either that, or getting them gift cards (but it is so much easier to just charge to the room...and I will be checking the bill every day).

I love the Boardwalk, and my girls do too. But it seems easier with the extra bathroom at Animal Kingdom. But I know we will all be missing the Boardwalk because that is where we always stay.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We took my sons girlfriend with us in July to Disneyland. She drove with us, while DS flew because of work. I joked that it might be make or break for the relationship, but the driving portion worked out fine. We had two overnight stays on the road, both coming and going.

That may have been nothing compared to DS shipping off to basic training and starting a career in the Army while she continues school, with the intention of going to law school. They have been talking about getting married, but not until she is done with her education.

As to sleeping accommodations, I know every family is different. For us, they are adults and were on their own at college making adult decisions. In a committed relationship, it doesn't bother us to have them sharing a room. If DS had a rotating door, with different girls all the time, we would feel differently.

Anyways, they shared a one bedroom with my BILs and were in the living room on the pull out.
Myself, DH and DD were in a one bedroom down the hall. It worked out fine, and I think they appreciated not having to constantly be in our same space. And we appreciated not having to deal with their messiness. Can't say my BILs felt the same about the messiness, but they were largely down in our villa visiting with us.

On the subject of dining, we took our family plus three friends last summer as a graduation trip and got each of the kids the CS meal plan. It worked out well, and we treated them to a couple of nice sit down meals as well. Not sure if it saved any money, but they were able to come and go as they pleased and not worry about the cost of the food.

 

[winniedapooh]

I'm a college professor. Don't count on it.

LOL...me too and a Mom...I so AGREE with you!!

 

[westjones]

I thought about getting them the CS dining plan, but my girls would probably do better just buying as they go. They don't like to eat a lot at once, but they like to eat often. Like they may get a popcorn and share it, then go get a sandwich, but never desert....and then maybe a piece of pizza. But they are just not good at eating on a schedule. So that is why I think that giving them a 'budget' of how much they can each spend per day might work.

I am now debating about getting Disney Gift cards that I hand them each day with a set amount on it....but then that seemed messy....so I will probably just go with the set limit and I will be checking the charges to make sure they stay in the limits.

Really....no easy way for the dining. The cruise would be so much easier...but so much more expensive. haha

 

[DisneyBill]

...then I did remember someone saying that at Old Key West they were able to put a twin air mattress in the laundry room.

Can anyone confirm that this would work? I could put the boyfriend in there then.

Have you given consideration to utilization of the balcony for subject BF?

 

[westjones]

Have you given consideration to utilization of the balcony for subject BF?

 

[jfelcie]

I would rather have easy access to HS, EPCOT and the boardwalk than an extra bathroom. The kids were always out and about and had no trouble sharing the 2 bathrooms. No complaints.

 

[westjones]

I would rather have easy access to HS, EPCOT and the boardwalk than an extra bathroom. The kids were always out and about and had no trouble sharing the 2 bathrooms. No complaints.

Very good point. The only other thing in favor of the Animal Kingdom one is that we have not stayed at it, so it would be a new adventure. We always stay at the Boardwalk or Beach Club (our home resort).

But you are right...it is so nice being over at the Boardwalk and the kids love it too. Maybe if there is a second trip we will go there. I have always wanted to stay at ever DVC resort at least once and right now the only one we haven't stayed at is the Animal Kingdom one (oh and the Hawaii one, but that one won't happen for many years).

But I will probably be wishing I was at the Boardwalk the whole time

 

[dgaston]

Just wanted to add that at Kidani they have dedicated two bedrooms which gives you two queens in the second bedroom, and still the advantage of the sleeper chair and pullout couch with the 3 bathrooms.

Hope your medical treatment goes well westjones.

 

[westjones]

Just wanted to add that at Kidani they have dedicated two bedrooms which gives you two queens in the second bedroom, and still the advantage of the sleeper chair and pullout couch with the 3 bathrooms.

Hope your medical treatment goes well westjones.

Thanks! And the rooms at AK do sound like the best set up for us. I will really miss Boardwalk, but if we were to end up with two boyfriends especially this set up sounds best.

 

[momof2disprincesses]

We did this in 2009.

At the time, my dd's were 17 and 13.

DD17 was leaving right after our Disney trip to spend the summer on a mission trip in Africa. So we allowed her to bring her boyfriend so they'd have some quality time together before she was gone all summer. At the time of that trip, they'd been dating almost 2 years.

We also let DD13 bring her best friend.

We got a 2 bedroom at Kidani.

All 3 girls shared the 2nd bedroom and the bathroom in there.

DD17's boyfriend slept on the pull-out sofa in the living room and had his own bathroom.

DH and I shared the master of course.

We all went to bed at the same time and we set rules about PDA, etc. They were both very respectful and we all had a great time.

My DD did wind up breaking up with him shortly after returning home from Africa, but now 3 years later, they are still close friends and he was actually one of my favorite people to take to WDW because it was his first time and he had SO much fun!

 

[westjones]

My DD did wind up breaking up with him shortly after returning home from Africa, but now 3 years later, they are still close friends and he was actually one of my favorite people to take to WDW because it was his first time and he had SO much fun!

Oh how sad they broke up. Glad is was a nice trip though. And it sounds like Animal Kingdom's rooms have the best set up for bringing guests.

Did they enjoy the resort as well? Not just the room, but the pool and the animals and just walking around?

 

[jfelcie]

Last September we stayed in a 2 bedroom at AKV with 7 people. We invited my daughter's inlaws and sister in law, along with my DD, DGS and SIL. The 3 bathrooms were great. AKV is the nicest villa that I have ever stayed in. The giraffes slept right outside our balcony. If you have never been . . . You shoud experience it! Ask for a room near the lobby. We were at the far end. Loooong walk, but the animal viewing was excellent! DGS age 4 loved the splash pool. The pools and restraunts are awesome. We stayed there for 3 nights and then BWV for 5 nights. At BWV I got a 2 bedroom and a studio. The points go a long way in Sept.

Does any one know how to remove my old ticker? That trip is over!

 

[westjones]

Last September we stayed in a 2 bedroom at AKV with 7 people. We invited my daughter's inlaws and sister in law, along with my DD, DGS and SIL. The 3 bathrooms were great. AKV is the nicest villa that I have ever stayed in. The giraffes slept right outside our balcony. If you have never been . . . You shoud experience it! Ask for a room near the lobby. We were at the far end. Loooong walk, but the animal viewing was excellent! DGS age 4 loved the splash pool. The pools and restraunts are awesome. We stayed there for 3 nights and then BWV for 5 nights. At BWV I got a 2 bedroom and a studio. The points go a long way in Sept.

Does any one know how to remove my old ticker? That trip is over!

To remove the old ticker, I believe you go the the bar menu above to USER CP and then edit your signature.

And that sounds wonderful at AKV! I hadn't really thought about switching resorts. We could do 3 nights at AKV and 2 at BWV. Then we could get some time at my beloved BWV. The only problem I have with switching is having to pack up and have that period of time where you have no room at all. But something to think about.

Thanks!

 

[jfelcie]

It is sooo easy to switch resorts. For example . . . We checked out of AKV and left our bags with the bell hop and took the bus to HS. Around 3 pm we took the boat to BWV. Our rooms were ready and our luggage was already there. By 5 o'clock we were settled in and eating at ESPN Club. We always eat there the first night. There were 8 not 7 of us and no problems.

 

[westjones]

It is sooo easy to switch resorts. For example . . . We checked out of AKV and left our bags with the bell hop and took the bus to HS. Around 3 pm we took the boat to BWV. Our rooms were ready and our luggage was already there. By 5 o'clock we were settled in and eating at ESPN Club. We always eat there the first night. There were 8 not 7 of us and no problems.

I might just do this......

I really think the rooms at AKV sound like the best set up for us. But oh how I will miss my Boardwalk.

So 3 night AKV and 2 nights BWV might be nice.

Of course, I will just with the rest of the gang to see what they think. But thanks! The whole "boyfriend' thing just really changes everything. haha Oh well. When I bought DVC I bought it with the idea that one day I would be taking my girls and their husbands and kids too. So I guess this is the start of a new 'season' in life.