Have you or would you take your child's friend along on a Disneyland or World vacation

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I took my son's best friend to Universal with a day at Disney when they were 11. I paid for everything except for spending money. I will say that this is a kid who we had known since he was in DS's preschool class, and whose parents are my friends. We'd done plenty of day trips with him already, and plenty of sleep overs so I had confidence that it would go well, and it did. The next year we went back to Universal with another friend and her parents. Again, it was a great trip. I love doing Disney with just my DS, but I also loved being able to sit at the poolside restaurant at the hotel, drink something fruity and make adult conversation, while the kids played with each other in the pool. As someone who gets motion sick very easily, it was also very nice to sit on a bench and enjoy the scenery or talk to a friend while the kids rode Shrek 5 times in a row.

 

[disneydude365]

my brother is 12 years older so one the few trips we stayed on site more than a day, at wdw we did bring a friend with us, and possibly for one same case scenario where it was probably only time she got to go, then we took my other friend a few times, and now that I'm an adult i actually paid my friends way all he had to do was get his food lol

i think if they are sincerely good friends its worth it

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We did it several times. We paid for everything most of the time. We took one of my DDs best friends twice - and paid for everything each time. She could never had afforded it. We drive which makes it easier. We always ask the parents first. One time the friend's mom sent snacks for the car several years ago when she was younger. She came again this January and the friend bought all of our favorite snacks. It was so sweet of her. The kids always paid for whatever they wanted to buy. We actually enjoy it a lot - it is so much fun to get that close to their friends. I have to say that it helps their friends really get to know us and we really get to know them. Now that they are almost 20 - they respect us and we trust them like they were one of our own kids. They actually all call us mom and dad. It is a win-win situation for all. Although we never took a 9 year old. The youngest we took was 13 years old. We did take younger nephews but not friends. I would say ask - it can't hurt.

 

[NewRVLady]

I have taken friends on vacations- but older 12-16
I did not and would not for Disney- that is too expensive and our quality family time

I think she is a tad young , at that age I had sleep over kids get homesick and want to go home- don't want to deal with that on vacation!

 

[leebee]

We took DD's best friend when DD was 12 and the friend was 10. We are very close with the friend's family, the friend had been to France on a student exchange for a week earlier in the year, etc., so we thought it'd be OK. It wasn't. Poor kid was homesick and I ended up sleeping in the same bed with her for the first two nights. She also didn't hold up well in the Florida heat so we had to tour much more slowly than usual, and she wore out quickly (not much of a trooper, needed to sleep in, go to bed early,etc). I loved having her with us and we all had a great time, but it wasn't the vacation we are accustomed to. We never took a friend with us again.

 

[TB'sWidow]

I'm going to Disneyland this June with my DH and two DD's. My older DD (almost 9) has a bestfriend with a really rough home life. Her parents are mean to her and don't let her do much. DH and I are thinking of asking her parents if we can take her to Disneyland with us. This would probably be the only chance she'd ever get to go, as a kid anyway. Her parents I'm thinking will most likely say no, or they may surprise me and say yes. What are your thoughts on this?

Yes I have on my Dh's last trip to Disneyworld we took my 14 yr old son's best friend with us and we paid for everything and it really helped my son to have him along since Dh was in his final stages of cancer and I had a toddler to deal with too on that trip. Now that toddler is 14 an continues to ask about taking a friend but I am reluctant to do it again, maybe for a weekend trip but not for a whole week. Good luck in your decision an I hope it works out

 

[NMAmy]

Yep, we took a friend along every year from the time dd was about 13 on. We didn't have any issues and got to spend some time with some wonderful girls. DD is an only child so it just made a family vacation more enticing to her to have a friend along. We paid for everything--it just made things easier that way.

Now she's married and she and her husband still go to WDW with us.

 

[tcherjen]

My oldest are teens, so yes both have taken friends in the teen years. I understand you want to take the friend, but at this age I would hesitate. My youngest 8 gets very moody at times. I would not want two of them that age..

 

[ronandannette]

I might consider it if I had an only child. I wouldn't consider it with multiple children, as I'd want my children to spend time with each other on vacation.

Our DS is an only. We took his bestie to DLR with us a couple of years ago when they were both 16. We paid for the whole thing, including airfare and we made the offer clear upfront as the costs would have been prohibitive for BFF's family. It was his first trip to Disney and they had a great time and made lifelong "buddy-memories". We considered it more a privilege for our DS's to have him there than a gift to the friend.

We went the whole formal route with notarized letters of permission (necessary to cross the boarder with a minor) and authority to make medical decisions. We also made sure to add him to our travel insurance policy and gave the parents a detailed itinerary and contact information for how to reach us at all times. We also checked with the parents about what kind of "boundaries" they needed us to respect and briefed the boy very thoroughy on our rules and expectations.

If you like the friend and know they are well behaved and will listen to you then I think it is a very nice gesture for your daughter and her friend. My only concern would be that 9 is young Ty and many kids get homesick at that age. If you do decide to do it I would look into a medical consent form in case there were any accident or illness where she needed medical treatment.

We took a cousin with us on a cruise as a companion for DS when they were both 13. Even though he knew us well there were a few tense moments because he had a difficult time coping with being so far away from home for a whole week, which surprised us. There were also activities we normally would have done that were scuttled due to some fears he had. His picky eating habits curtailed a few of our dining plans too. It really depends on the kid, but it's definitely worth thinking about.

 

[scottmel]

My Dd15 last summer brought a friend for the first time. I struggled with it initially b/c we always did a family only vacation to WDW and it was our thing. I but I realize DD needed a friend this time! We invited a girl and showed her the time of her life. Grand Floridian, Yacht Club Club Level and universal studios. It was a 12 day trip and a year later she still talks about it and shares her photopass album I made her. I am glad we took her....I think it was an opportunity she wouldn't have otherwise had and it was fun for DD. This spring break we are back with friends - but they pay their own way (mom and daughter) but this summer we are doing Adventures By Disney and NOT taking a friend. Hope she meets someone in the tour group!!! I hope the girls' friend lets you take her. It will be a memory she will have forever.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I haven't and probably won't.

DS brings friends on day trips all the time. We enjoy having them along, and very often bring someone who wouldn't get to go otherwise, which I really like being able to do.

But a far-away vacation feels different to me. We have an established dynamic that I would hesitate to mess with. Plus, I have an irrational fear that the friend would get sick, and I'd be stuck in the room with him missing out on Disney.

 

[bsblady01]

we have never done it and will never do it we have three kids. I would never take someone's child that I did not know very well out of state and I would never let my kids go out of state with a family we don't know

 

[Disneyland1084]

DH and I decided we definitely won't be bringing the friend along on this trip. He talked to his sister and she thought it was a bad idea. And truthfully, I really just want this to be a family only trip. Maybe I'll feel differently when I take another trip there with just DH and DD's, but for now I think we'll just take her camping or to Six Flags Marine World, which would just be a one day trip.

 

[minkydog]

Thank you everyone for your responses. If we did take this friend, we would be paying for everything. We would be gone
A week. I doubt the friend would get homesick. She can't stand her parents.I don't think my younger DD would feel left out. We're actually going on this trip with DH's sister and her three boys. DH is going to ask his sister what she thinks about us possibly bringing this friend. But I think for the most part, we're just thinking out loud. I told DH I'd rather just take her on a camping trip, which we've done before.

You might be surprised. Even kids who are abused and neglected often miss their parents when they are elsewhere. If she were a teen, I'd say sure, take her with you and have a great time. But this child is only 8. I think you have to consider what you might need to do with her, should she become homesick on day 3 and cry to go home. Please understand that traveling with an unrelated child (or adult) changes the dynamic of the group. She's not your child and shes not going to act like your child, no matter how good friends she and your daughter are.

I like your idea better. Take her on a camping trip and see how things go.

 

[aprilgail]

We have and would again. My daughter is going to Florida for a week with a friend in May, she is going to PA in June with another friend and next year I am taking my daughter and a friend to England and France. We took a friend on the Disney cruise with us too.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Yes - several times - different friends for different children; different arrangements for costs. I would bring some again; no to others. We did have the medical permission letter. Cost is the only uncomfortable part - if you can pay for all of it and you know the child well then go for it.

Otherwise, be prepared to discuss the costs in detail.

In my mind, it's the only benefit of the dining plan.

 

[Bluestars]

I might consider it if I had an only child. I wouldn't consider it with multiple children, as I'd want my children to spend time with each other on vacation.

This.

I started letting my youngest son bring a friend or friends with us on vacation once his older siblings moved out. He was in middle school by then and we've taken his friends to Orlando, on a cruise, to the beach, and other places. It made the vacations a lot more fun for my son. We paid all expenses except for their spending money. The parents always offered to pay something though.

I would only offer to let a friend come if I thought the friend would behave well.

 

[kimmar067]

....we've done this during Christmas week. Of course, my DS and his friend were a bit older and we do know the parents quite well...

 

[ShayBells]

I think it's agreat decision. I was asked twice through out elementary school to go with my friends family. My mom said no both times lol.

But it's a very nice gesture. And hopefully you get lucky. Get a yes and have a great time.

 

[Beezle2]

We have taken our DDs best friend twice and have had wonderful experiences. We had a girls trip when they were 10 and then again when they were 12. When we invite we pay except for spending money and we were happy to provide the experiences for her. I really like this kid a lot and she is like family. DD does have friends I would never consider taking