How much do you have a child's friend pay...

[epcotwanderer]

When we would bring a friend, we would cover everything except miscellaneous spending money. Since we invited them, we would pay.

 

[starbox]

I agree - with adults, I'd only cover the lodging - but children (or teens) would be our guests if invited.

 

[DeeCee735]

We ask that they pay for the park ticket, and bring any souvenier money they want, everything else has been on us.

 

[disney junky]

We didn't officially ask the child or her parents. My daughter was discussing the vacation with her friend and the little girl asked us how much it would approximately cost if her "family" went on the cruise. Remember, we are talking about 9 and 10 year olds. She must have tried to convince her parents t go and I suspect the parents told her they weren't planning on a DW trip so she decided to ask if she could just go alone with us. ( Remember, we are talking about 9 and 10 year olds.) The mother called today to ask us what our daughters were apparently dreaming up. So, we started thinking about how much it would actually cost and how difficult or easy, depending on how you looked at it, it would be, financially and otherwise. She is a very well-behaved child so we didn't automatically dismiss the idea. The cruise portion, I agree, seems to be the most difficult and expensive part. We have the extra room at DW since we have a 2 bedroom and we have had 2 families in a row have to cancel so far. I am not too worried about medical problems on-board since their insurance is the same as ours but the trip insurance would have to be changed...hmmm. Another problem... Oh well, maybe next time. thanks for all your thoughts.

too young of a guest for my blood. to take a child that young along for that long of a time would scare me. no insurance covers homesickness....

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

Since it was the child who originally brought this up, I think I'd just be honest with the mom. I'd tell her we'd love to have "Susie" along, but the reality was that it would get pretty expensive for us since we'd have to upgrade the cabin, etc. We'd be happy to pay for her food in the parks as our guest, but the other expenses would be a little more than we could realistically do.

If her parents wanted her to go and were willing to foot the additional costs, I might be willing to take her since a 10 year old daughter could be happier with a friend along than not. On the other hand, taking her on a cruise (out of the country - medical emergencies??) complicates things enough that I might be tempted to just suggest that another time when we are just going to WDW would be better.

 

[jblrn2b]

too young of a guest for my blood. to take a child that young along for that long of a time would scare me. no insurance covers homesickness....

I totally agree and plus you will be a long distance away. I would be so nervous to take another - its one thing if its a niece or nephew but not another family member - plus your kids will love the clubs. My kids met a lot of new friends that they still communicate with.

 

[jblrn2b]

I totally agree and plus you will be a long distance away. I would be so nervous to take another - its one thing if its a niece or nephew but not another family member - plus your kids will love the clubs. My kids met a lot of new friends that they still communicate with.

but not a friend (instead of a family member)- sorry I've had 3 hours sleep today

 

[NHdismom]

For one of our trips next year, my sons best friend is coming along, the only thing we ask is they pay for his air fare, park tickets, and spending money for souvenirs he may want. We will be taking care of meals, and 2 bedroom villa.

We're bringing my teenage daughter's friend with us in April. We will be doing the same as you all--they pay air fare, park pass, and spending money. We also asked her to pay for her hoop-de-doo dinner. You need to remember that bringing a friend will be beneficial to you too.

 

[EDuke98080]

Over the years we have broght our DD's friends (now 20) on varoius WD trips starting around age 10. We have always had the friend pay airfare (if we flew and didn't drive) and their park tickets and spending $$. We have paid all meals and lodging etc. If I were a parent on the other end of this I would't expect another family to absorb all the costs. Most of the parents of the kids we have taken along have insisted they contribute as they were thankful for their child being able to go. When we cruised, we have only asked that the additional person pay 3rd person rate which is way cheaper than 1 & 2. Also the cruising was when guests were older and able to pay on their own. I don't think that invited on vacation should mean free ride - it's way too expensive these days. And just a footnote: we have never run into a child who is homesick at WDW!

 

[tgj]

The best advice I was ever given concerning vacations was not to travel with someone else's child to WDW unless you had traveled with this child before. I wish they had told us before we learned this lesson the hard way.

This is, BY FAR, the best advice on this thread.

IMO, this should be done first, before considering any of the other very good advice.

Good Luck!
TJ

 

[Entropy]

if you bring one along? We are planning a trip in March: 6 days at Disney and then a 3 day Disney cruise. Our 10 year old wants to bring a friend along. It would cost for the plane ticket, park ticket, and we would have to upgrade our cat 6 to a cat 4 on the cruise. That is at least $1000 not counting food and extras.

I was just wondering what others ask the other child's family to pay?

You charge people that you invite out? That's over the top.
OK, I can see it if you're running a business.

 

[tgropp]

We would always let our children take a friend along during our vivits to WDW at Christmas time. If they paid for their airfare and park tickets, I always looked after the rest.

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

If you bring your child's friend along, i doubt that child will have much money in the bank and may not be able to pay.

More seriously though it depends on the parents and their situation. If your child's friend's parents are not in a financial position to help (find out by asking before you mention anything to your child or his/her friend), then you need to determine if you can afford it.

If the friend's parents can afford to help but just don't want to, you could always hold their child for ransom................ uh no bad idea, strike that one.

 

[5forDiz]

The best advice I was ever given concerning vacations was not to travel with someone else's child to WDW unless you had traveled with this child before. I wish they had told us before we learned this lesson the hard way.

Gotta agree with Sammie on this especially since the child is 10 yrs & because of the cruise portion of the trip.

If it were me I'd tell the friend to come along on a future WDW trip. The girls will be somewhat older and it will give you more time to plan and state at the get-go who will pay for all or some expenses.

An extra $1000 for cabin upgrade & other costs is a significant expense for you to incur and I'm going to take a guess here too that if her parents were willing to pay all or a portion of her costs then the child's mom would have made that very clear to you when she called you about the girls discussing this trip. It could be extremely awkward for you to be in the position to say they will have to pay for particular things when they may have already interpreted things to mean you will be paying.

 

[cigarboo]

You charge people that you invite out? That's over the top.
OK, I can see it if you're running a business.

OP didn't do the inviting... Her DD and DD's friend were discussing this and it sounds like DD's friend already knows that a trip costs money, which is why she asked OP how much it will cost. Seems like she must have gone home to talk to her parents about it, which is why the mom called OP. I think OP wouldn't charge people she invited, which is why she's thinking about this and coming on the boards for opinions. However, I see this more of an arrangement as oppose to an invitation. If I INVITED you to dinner and a movie, I would pay... but if we, as friends decided to go catch a dinner and a movie, why would one person be responsible to pay for the other?

 

[EDuke98080]

OP didn't do the inviting... Her DD and DD's friend were discussing this and it sounds like DD's friend already knows that a trip costs money, which is why she asked OP how much it will cost. Seems like she must have gone home to talk to her parents about it, which is why the mom called OP. I think OP wouldn't charge people she invited, which is why she's thinking about this and coming on the boards for opinions. However, I see this more of an arrangement as oppose to an invitation. If I INVITED you to dinner and a movie, I would pay... but if we, as friends decided to go catch a dinner and a movie, why would one person be responsible to pay for the other?

Good point there, that is how I was looking at it too.

 

[spiceycat]

well a family member would let his kids invite friends then expect the parents to pay him.

most of the time he got the money. was asking money for gas, tickets, meals -

taking someone else minor child on a cruise - that could definitely be a big problem. besides the parents permission, medical cards, don't you need their power of attorney - just in case something happens.

you want to hope that nothing will happen - but you never know.

that was a surprise for me - first time I took my niece and her friend to WDW - the girl mother gave me a packet with stuff - never needed it - but it was great to have just in case. most of this stuff won't have occurred to me.

 

[mjem216]

I HAVE NEVER ASKED MY SONS FRIENDS IN THE LAST 4 YRS FOR A DIME HE IS 17 NOW AND ME AND MY WIFE LOVE THE TIME WE HAVE ALONE NOW

 

[jimaok]

If you invite a DD or DS 's freind, you should pay for everything except souveniers (spending money). My kids friends are not fanacially able to pay their own way. It's kind of tacky to "invite " a child to go along and then require them to pay.

 

[alldiz]

Unless you have the financial means to pay for everything....and the other family is tight....I think having them pay for their airfare and park tickets is totally reasonable. I might just suck up the cabin upgrade and such.

I would also hope the parents sent a few bucks for souvies.
Happy planning
Kerri