Just said no to a WDW trip!

[Mom to Jordan]

There have been lots of threads on bringing a friend along so thought I would post an experence from the other side. Ds ,just today ,had a friend ask him to go with his family to WDW over spring break. His mom had told him he could ask any friend and he asked my DS.

Now these guys have been on again off again friends for years and while I know the mom well I have a few issues with a few things that we do diffently. I just could not feel good about letting DS go. They did also expect us to pay for DS's part of the trip though I had not yet got the finial details on that. We have not only a WDW trip, but also a DC trip in the works for this year and though money was not the major factor it did come into play.

I was relieved that DS seemed to realize that this was not the perfect plan it seemed to be and accepted my answer pretty well.

Not sure why I wanted to share all of this except maybe to say not be hurt if a child's parents turn down a trip. It really feels differnt comming from the other side and allowing your child to go so far away with another family. We fully intended to take this child with us at some point and I had never really thought about any hesitation she might have. Now I will understand if she does.

Jordans' mom

 

[blessedby3]

I dont blame you. We are very particular about who our kids play with and what the other kids are allowed to see/do and how their parents discipline and speak to their kids. I wouldnt let our kids go with a family if they werent on the same "page" as us. We just let our DD15 ask her best friend to go with us last November and it worked out well. They have been friends for 6 years though, and we know the family well. I dont think I would take a kid much younger than that though, because FL is a LONG way from VA and I wouldnt want anyone getting homesick or crying down in FL and there be no way to get them home.

 

[Callalily6]

Maybe this is my weird ettiquite...but I thought if you invite someone to come on a trip with you, you pay for them. I know that is besdies the point, but I wouldn't feel too bad saying "no" since that wasn't an issue. Its that whole - my family is your family - thing. Like they would watch your kid like he is their kid. That is the part that would be spinning in my mind...Glad your DS accepted it and he gets to go with you later anyway!!! That is a nice alternative.

 

[all4fun]

You make a good point. It's a classic case of putting yourself in someone elses shoes for a minute. When you put it that way you can see how it might be difficult for another parent to say yes to a trip like that. I would have a very difficult time letting my ds go if someone asked him too. (OK projecting into the future here. Realistically who's going to ask to take your TWO Year old on a trip without the parent along too, LOL.)

Btw, we have taken kids who weren't "ours" to WDW in the past so I always thought that in the future we might bring one of ds's friends along (if it was something he wanted). Your post has put that in a slightly different light so now if someone were to turn us down it will be easier for me to understand why.

 

[Melissa]

I would have a hard time saying yes as well, unless my dd was 14 or so (she's 8) My dd has a long time best friend and her parents are good people but I have said no to a week ski trip for 2 years now-I'm just not ready I guess.