Inviting my Nephew to Join us ~ Questions

[Julia M]

Hi, my extended family (parents, my family, sister and her family and brother) have a fmaily reunion planned in Orlando. We are not planning any trips to the major Disney parks, although my sis may take her family to Magic Kingdom one day. I have lots of passes to the water parks, the guys want to golf and the ladies (just my sister. mom, daughter and me, out 14 in the family) plan to spend a day at Discovery Cove.

Then, my immediate family will be staying and doing Disney for a second week. I invited my nephew to join us (he lives in the Midwest). I told my sister I would pay for his pass, and meals, snacks, of course, but said she would have to pay his airfare home, and souvenirs (my kids get few souvenirs, and save their money and suggested she do the same, but let her know it wasn't like we'd be buying things for our kids and not hers). We would try to arrange our flight home so one of us accompanies him, if not, we'll get him on his flight before we leave.

His staying doesn't impact our lodging (we have a 2 bedroom condo already-our timeshare), but we will need to rent a van, rather than a midsize car, and the pass will be around $200. I can't imaginehis meals and snacks will be too much, maybe another $150.

Should I have offered to pay his airfare, too? Now I'm feeling like I should have. We are in a much better financial situation than they are.

Has anyone done somthing similiar?

Julia

 

[Deb & Bill]

We invited our niece to join us (me, husband and son) last summer. We bought her ticket (UPH since we have PAPs), paid for her food and entertainment. My husband's sister paid for the airfare and gave her spending money. We did several character meals, Sunrise Safari, and bought her a few things as well. It was very fun and she had a great time. My son was thrilled to have her along since they get along so well. We picked her up at MCO (we drove to FL and live in an opposite direction from them) and brought her back to MCO. She was 11, so she had to get a special ticket to fly as an unescorted minor. My husband was able to get a boarding pass to meet her at the gate and escort her back to her plane on her return. He had to show identification to pick her up.

As a matter of fact, we have invited three other nieces along (two the first trip and a third on our trip last Christmas). Each time we purchased their passes, meals and entertainment (MNSSHP, MVMCP, CRT, etc). They just provided spending money. These three all live in the same vicinity as us, so they rode with us in our car to WDW.

 

[aunties]

I took my niece and nephew two years ago and the deal was that my sister pay their airfare, they earn their spending money, and I pay for everything else. At first she didn't want to. My BIL works for a major airline and the kids fly almost free, but standby. I refuse to spend my vacation hoping to get a flight. She finally relented and bought them tickets. When I asked my them to go again, my sister immediately offered to pay for the airline tickets. I guess she realized it was a good deal in the end. And, to let you know what awesome kids they are, I was often treated to a Mickey ice cream or some other small treat out of their spending money.

If he is a minor, making sure you get a medical authorization note from his parents and a copy of his insurance card. I never travel without these.