Kids Bringing Friends

[bethsg]

I am going to take my kids to Saratoga Springs in Jan. We are going to visit Universal/IOA, which we have never done before. I have twins who are turning 16. They are each going to invite a friend. So here is my question. When you are bringing your children's friends, what do you pay for, and what do you expect their family to pay for? We will have to fly from Balto, so I expect airfare to be at the lower end of the rate range about $135 PP.

Also, what terms for this vacation do you agree to with their parents before you go? I want to think this through carefully, before they invite these friends and I call their parents.

 

[Pa@okw95]

When my kids brought friends I always bought them their tickets for the parks; they were welcome to whatever food we had, but that was usually just snacks or a bagel for breakfast. I also would take them out once or twice to have a good meal somewhere. Anything beyond that, they paid for. If they traveled by air, they would pay for that also. You all better agree on the rules for 16 year olds before the trip, that includes all the children also. Like do they go out at night on their own, etc.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Whenever we have brought kids along, we paid for their ticket, lodging and food. We drive, so they rode with us. They only had to come up with spending money. I'd ask them to provide their own airfare.

 

[MI mom of 3]

We were going to take DD16's best friend with us last time and she is going with us next summer. She is expected to pay for her pass, we will pay for everything else. Except souviniers of course.

We are driving tho. I don't know what I would do about a plane ticket.

We took her with us to Niagara Falls a few weeks ago. She was so cute. She kept trying to order the cheapest thing on the menu. "I'll have salad and water." We had to convince her that she could order what ever she wanted.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Hi there! We have taken friends two different times and we have done it differently both times. I think a lot depends on the financial situation of the family you are inviting the teen from. The first one, the visiting teen's family paid for airfare, his WDW/USO tickets (which is the only two things we asked for), plus they added about $300 extra for food (all their idea). The teen was responsible for having his own money to purchase souvenirs if he wanted any. The second teen we invited another year was from a big family so we asked that he only have money for his souvenirs. We got a great deal on airfare, had leftover hopper passes and a 2BR at BCV so we had plenty of food for them to eat. The only other expense was the USO tickets which we also got at a great price. Since they were 17 at the time and very good kids, I gave them each spending money for the day (a per diem) that they could then spend on food or games or whatever...it was less than I had budgeted so I had some more to pay for all the snacks and goodies/frozen pizza/sandwich goods, etc. in the refrigerator. They loved it and ended up coming back to the villa and eating so they could use their money other ways. They NEVER asked for more money and never complained. It was wonderful and we all had a great trip.
The other thing I did with both teens, I had their parents sign a health/insurance form similar to what they have at church youth groups and had them send along a photocopy of the front and back of their insurance card. We have never had to use it but if something happened, I wanted to be able to get them the medical help they needed.
One teen's family also traveled while we were gone. The other family was at home, so it helps to know what the visiting teen's family is going to do while you are gone. We left our cell number with them so it was a local call to check with us.
Have a great trip. I hope my story will help in some way.

 

[mikesmom]

We've let DS bring a friend from the time he was 16 through about 19. (College has made some big changes in travel patterns.) Anyway, we paid for the rooms, of course, also paid for the airfare, but that was because we had excess frequent flyer miles and it was no cash outlay. I also covered food, as I figured I would be feeding them at home (DS and his buddy) as we were the local hangout. We ate mostly in the room and had a couple of PS's over the week.

I also had charge privileges on DS card. He knew if they were at Blizzard Beach I didn't expect them to go all the way back to the room for lunch, they could get the occasional burger. I didn't want to see big lunch bills every day. I did expect them to carry water bottles from the room. I did expect them to go back to our room at BWV for lunch or supper if they were in Epcot or MGM. They never abused the privileges.

DS's buddy covered his own park ticket. His mom showed up with a check before the trip to cover some of the extra food costs, although I didn't ask or expect that.

 

[Merilyn]

I have done both ways-they pay/I pay. It depends on who it is-boy friend/girl friend? We went last time and when we ate in they were welcome to join us. I did pay for all at a couple of meals, but they were off on their own most of the time. They paid for their own tickets. You have to understand my kids are much older as are their friends. We try to help with the vacation cost as much as we can since they are just getting started in their jobs. It is very expensive to vacation so we like to do it. When they were younger most parents paid for the tickets and airfare if we flew.

 

[Patty3]

Boy, you guys make me feel cheap! We have taken different DD's friends on trips to WDW and they always paid for their own airline ticket and admission pass. I do provide the food and we always eat dinner out and pay for their meals. They also bring their own spending money.

 

[RumpleMom]

DD 18 is taking a girlfriend this trip. This is our first trip taking a friend. The friend will pay for airfare, park ticket and her food if they are out and about on their own. We will cover the room cost and all of the food eaten in the room. If they eat out with us we will pay for her meal too. DD went to the beach last summer with her family and this was what they did. She just has the additional cost for airfare.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I would say it depends completely on the finances of those involved. I have no children but bring my nephew & niece on most trips and they have brought friends on occasion, sometimes I cover the costs, sometimes their family have paid, sometimes it is split. I am not wealthy by any means but I make a decent living and don't go without, as I have no kids, only a long time GF (who is not a Disney fan).

For instance, for my January trip, it will be GF and myself and I am taking a life long friend and his family (wife & 4 children - ages 8, 8, 11 & 12) for their first WDW trip to OKW 2BRV for 9 days. Their finances are tight and money is scarce (...with 4 kids money is always scarce). I feel they are all part of my extended family and having had this friend live with my family while growing up he is as much a brother as he is a friend. I treat his wife and kids as family as do they feel the same towards me.

With that all in mind, I purchased the 4 kids PH's (5 day) as their Christmas gift, USO/IOA 3 day passes (for b-day presents) and DQ passes for the kids for the heck of it (the kids are video game junkies) and the accommodations (obviously). My friend and his wife are paying for their airfare (6 tickets), 2 adult PH's, 2 USO/IOA passes and food. Without my assistance they would not be able to take such a vacation and I am happy to be able to extended the offer and be a part of their first trip to WDW and experience it with them all.

I think there is only one thing more enjoyable for a WDW addict than to bring a child whom they care a lot about with them who has never been and that is watching your folks watch their grandchildren take it all in... That is pure magic!!!

 

[zurgswife]

We took my dd's 13 friend last december ....we paid for everything except spending money....airfare, tickets and food.....

but I also agree it depends upon the family......her dad is a church minister and they have 6 kids...funds were low...

 

[westjones]

Originally posted by Patty3
Boy, you guys make me feel cheap! We have taken different DD's friends on trips to WDW and they always paid for their own airline ticket and admission pass. I do provide the food and we always eat dinner out and pay for their meals. They also bring their own spending money.

I think your way sounds quite reasonable.

I am reading all of this and thinking why don't MY kids have friends like these?

I can't imagine anyone paying for my kids to go on such a wonderful vacation (nor would I be comfortable allowing someone to do that for them).

I have had 'thoughts' of letting my kids bring a friend when they are older, but now that I realize that the 'norm' is to pay for everything, I won't be doing that.

DJ

 

[DrTomorrow]

I didn't read anything that said "Paying for everything" is the norm. Some people have the resources to offer more, others don't. Whatever works for you and the invitee. I would be careful, though, about inviting someone if you expect them to pay for most of the costs - make sure they and/or their family can afford it.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We just returned last night. DD's friend joined us the second week. Her dad flew with her to MCO and we picked her up. He flew home!! She purchased her pass at the Disney store before arriving and had plenty of spending money. Her mom gave me all her money and birth certificate, insurance card and all necessary information. We provided in room meals, room, snacks and drinks. The girls went their separate way from us in the parks and each had their own money for lunch and snacks. They joined us for dinner one night which we paid................

Disney is very expensive and it does depend on the finances of the families..............it could either be a very expensive trip or a budget trip.......it is what you make of it!! It kept my DD happy as she is 5 years older than her next sister and 7 years older than my youngest.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

We have been letting DS (18) bring a friend along for the last 3 years. We paid for the room, groceries (snacks, soda & breakfast stuff) and meals if we all ate out together. It just so happens we have taken the same friend and we have been at WDW for HIS birthday. We tried to do something special each year.

This year, we took DS and 3 friends for graduation gift. This time, since there were so many kids we did take money for groceries and I made breakfast a few of the mornings to save them money. The grads had their own studio. I always have them pay for their own airline tickets.

We will be taking friends down next summer and we will be using our points for lodging. The will be on their own for everything else. Annmarie
Annmarie

 

[AnnaS]

Two of my (oldest) son's friends are joining us next week for five nights. I booked a studio for them. I told them I would shop for the room - breakfast items, soda, chips, water, etc. I also bought each one Disneyquest tickets. I have plans for dinner at Chef Mickey which I will treat. They are older though (19) and will be on their own most of the time. Needless to say, they paid for their own flights and will pay for park passes, food, souvenirs, etc. Anytime they are with us though, chances are that we will treat (which I don't see happening too much, lol).

 

[rocketriter]

We pick up the entire room cost (we're doing the inviting, and we're using our points). We also do some special treat for everyone, such as a birthday party. But outside of that our guests pick up their own plane fare, park admissions and food.

 

[JulieM96]

Last summer we brought DD 14's best friend with us for a week-long trip. She spends so much time at our house we feel like she's part of the family sometimes anyway. But because she does so much with us, I sensed her parents were a little sensitive about us paying for too much. So I think how you handle it depends on everyone's situation. The friend's family paid for her airfare and park pass, as well as spending money. We paid for her food and provided the room (no difference for us since it was through DVC points). This worked out well for us.

The other thing I'd recommend is talking to the parents before asking the friend. That way if the parents don't give the ok, the friend may not be so disappointed.

We also had a medical power of attorney for the friend. It was nice for DD to have her friend along, and good for us generally too. It did present a different dynamic sometimes though.

Good luck, and have a great vacation.

Julie

 

[bethsg]

Thank you for all the replies. It's been very helpful in coming up with my game plan for inviting the kids friends. SO, here is my game plan. I think I will pay for their Univesal IOA Pass. I will pay for food for our room, for breakfast and snacks. I will pay for dinners out. I feel like I have to control eating out, since it's uncomfortable when you take a child out with you, who brings their own money, and they order Shrimp, while your kids are getting burgers!
I will ask they pay for their childs airfare, and for extra money for souviners, and park snacks, like water or soda, or ice cream etc. Plus pay for DQ tickets, as I expect these boys to spend nights there since I think Universal will be closing at 6 in January.
I think being in the Villa we can at least do breakfast there everyday, and easy dinners there too, since the parks will close early in late January.
How does this sound?

 

[skiwee1]

double post!