If inviting a friend for you're DD or DS...

[Lorix2]

what do you expect to pay for, for the friend while on the trip? Of course food, but if the parents offered money for the airfare for example, would you accept it? or is that in bad taste since YOU invited THEM?

Want to invite DD's friend (14) along, but want to be sure it's going to be affordable too.

How did you approach the money aspect or how would you?

thanks

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We brougth a friend for DD for her birthday. I had comp tickets from being an extra in the taping, so we provided the ticket. She was responsible for all her expenses (at least her parents were) except dinner as we were going to chef Mickey's as a celebration.

When my friend came with us wayyyy long ago--She was permitted to come but had to have money for her tickets and ordinary expenses and my mother basically provided her shelter. Since I had asked my mom if she could come as opposed to outright inviting her---this was my mothers requirement if she were to come along and her parents agreed.

You can decline the airfare, but if they insist I would just take it. You could turn it around and get them a nice souvie or do something extra special with the girls that wasn't in the budget before.

If my child were going on a trip--I would be very uncomfortable with an all expenses paid situation and would insist on paying a portion if not covering her expenses. But that is just me.

 

[pedro2112]

If I invite someone, I pay. I wouldn't turn down their offer to pay some of the expenses, but I would not expect them to offer.

 

[Lorix2]

Thank you both, I wanted to be able to afford everything, but I guess I won't feel too badly about accepting their offer to help, if they do.

 

[Vickie46]

I would hope they help.. but thats my opinion.. but I understand what you are thinking too.

 

[Nancyg56]

When we brought friends along with the kids we paid their way. They just brought spending money. We never flew, so that was an expense we did not need to think about. If the parents offer, I would think it is okay to accept some compensation.

 

[tmli]

Kind of the same but different situation. In May I am bringing my neice (3)with ds (9) and myself. Prior to extending an official invitation I asked my sister first if she would consider letting me and how much if any she could contribute. We agreed on airfare and ticket she would pay and I would cover food, spending, souvies etc. Don't tell my sister but if she had of said she couldn't afford flight and ticket I would have paid and taken her anyways.

 

[staylor]

For my very first trip to WDW in 1980 my best friends family invited me to go along with them. They asked my parents to could cover my airfare they would cover the rest. Fortunately, my parents said yes and started this whole disney addiction that we have going today. LOL!

 

[dixipixi]

We are bringing DS's (16) friend along this year. He's a really good kid that we know really well. DH and his Dad went to school together and they live in our neighborhood, so we know the family really well.

We're paying for everything (except his spending money). We're driving down so we didn't have to worry about airfare and the hotel costs the same whether or not he comes along...so no extra there. We've bought his tickets and we'll be paying for his meals. I'll also pay for snacks and things when he is around me because there is no way I'd pay for everybody else and single him out to pay for his own. When he and DS go off on their own, they'll each be responsible for their own snacks.

This kid came everyday and helped us out when our home was heavily damaged during Katrina. He wouldn't take any money from us, so this trip is our way of thanking him. DH and I knew what we were capable of paying for before we asked him. When we did ask, we were up front about what we would pay for and let him know that he only needed to bring his own spending money.

But that's just our personal situation. I don't think there's anything wrong with asking the friends family to pay for their tickets or airfare but I would be up front about it at the beginning.

 

[Goobergal99]

Having been an only child and always being able to bring a friend on vacation with me, I know my mom never would have accepted money from their parents. Although, their parents never offered anyway (my mom still wouldn't have taken any money from them though, I know her) Now being in her shoes and having a daughter (almost 7) who will probably be an only child I don't think I would ask either, it really doesnt seem appropriate. Just consider the circumstance, you are offering your childs friend a vacation but then expecting their parents to pay the bill, kinda seems like charging entrance to a a party.

 

[WaltD4Me]

it really doesnt seem appropriate. Just consider the circumstance, you are offering your childs friend a vacation but then expecting their parents to pay the bill, kinda seems like charging entrance to a a party.

I understand the thought here, but I think there is a big difference between being invited to a party and going on a vacation....especially to Disney.

I think it would be sad for someone who was thinking of bringing a child's friend, not do so because they feel they would have to pay for everything and couldn't quite afford to do so, when the child's parents might be perfectly willing and happy to help out with some of the costs so their child could go on a wonderful vacation. KWIM?

And Take for example, this post...........

For my very first trip to WDW in 1980 my best friends family invited me to go along with them. They asked my parents to could cover my airfare they would cover the rest. Fortunately, my parents said yes and started this whole disney addiction that we have going today. LOL!

Now what if she had never even gotten the chance to go because her friends parents couldn't to pay her whole way and didn't think it was right to ask her mom for the airfare?...I mean, just think! We'd have one less DIS'er here today!

I think it's great if you have the means and can invite someone and pay for everything, but if are thinking of it and can't quite afford to foot the whole bill, I don't see anything wrong with discussing it with the parent's to see if they can or are willing to help with some of the expenses.

 

[mickeyluv]

Okay, I hope I'm not opening myself up for flaming but here it goes.

I have wanted to post this for weeks now, but have been too afraid. We are going to WDW in May and I have thought about asking my DD (8yo) friend to come along. This will be our 3rd trip with our DD. The real reason we're able to go this year is because last year we purchased AP in hopes of a return visit this year. (To some I know I'm getting ready to sound really selfish)...in a way I want to invite our DD's friend to go because I know that our DD would have a great time with her there, but then again I know that we won't have that one-on-one experience with our DD if it were just me, DH, and DD (I mean, you know, WDW is such a memory making vacation and not just a trip to the beach or county fair), so I'm torn on what to do. I really want to give DD's friend this wonderful experience though. She is a really sweet child and loves to come spend time with us. The other thing is that she has 3 siblings and I would feel bad that she was going and they weren't (their ages are 2yo, 5yo, and 12yo). We are thinking of getting the DDP this year because we are renting points so eating wouldn't really be a big deal and her ticket, for a Passhopper, I think, would be around $230.00 (I'd have to double check that to be exact), so I was thinking of just asking her to bring souvenir money if we decide to invite her. Oh, I almost forgot, we are taking DD out of school to go also, so that would mean she would have to get out to go.

Okay, so anyone here want to give any advice? (I'm putting on my firesuit now )

 

[travellady]

Haven't done Disney with my son's 13 yo best friend but did take him on a cruise last summer. Before telling anyone, I talked to his parents first and told them their son could come along if they paid his part of the cabin cost. We planned on covering everything else such as food extras (though most is covered on the ship), souviners, snacks, excurions. His parents had no problem with that at all.

I have thought about taking him to Disney when we go and would ask they cover airfare, we'd cover all else.

 

[Hef4545]

We have brought my son's friends and a couple of cousins on different trips.
We usually drive so it is no problem. We ask the parents to pay for the park ticket. We pay for any meals or tours. We have always had lots of fun. The kids have also brought their own spending money.

 

[Goobergal99]

I can see where everyone is coming from, some ppl can afford it and some can't. Like I said I was an only child, now I have an only child so it isn't as though their are other kids to consider.

To the poster who mentioned that she is going to take her kid out of school, heck we are too, Disney is hot, hot, hot in the summer and family vacations are just as important as 1st grade math (IMO anyway )