Kids Taking Their Best Friends to WDW -- Who Pays?

[WI_DisneyFan]

This doesn't really apply to me, and probably won't for another 5-10 years. It is really more of a general question I have. Occasionally on these boards I see where parents let their kids bring their best friend with them to WDW. I think this is great, as it gives the kids someone their own age to experience the parks with. However, I have often wondered one thing -- who pays for the best friend? I can see it both ways. The parents inviting the best friend would probably look a little rude saying "we want to take your kid to WDW, and all it'll cost you is $750!" But at the same time, I don't think I could ever let my (yet-to-be-conceived) kid go on a trip like that with a friend and NOT offer pay his/her portion. It just wouldn't feel right to me. So do you go halveses? Maybe the parents of the best friend pay for the plane ride and give the kid spending money, but the parents inviting the best friend pay for lodging, park tickets, and food?

So for those of you who have done this, how did you handle the money?

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I don't have any kids yet either, but I think the family that invites the child should pay. I can see having them bring money for souveniers, though. I think of it like any other invitation- you wouldn't say "Hey, we're going to dinner at this great restaurant, and we'd like you to come with us! Oh, but you need to chip in $75."

 

[slug]

Now this is a long time ago, but my parents used to bring me and a friend every year growing up. I know my parents definately paid for the hotel, tickets, food, and any other regular expenses. I'm sure my buddy brought money for souveniers. I'm not sure about the plane ticket though.

 

[thebecka]

Princess - Have a great trip!!!

 

[WI_DisneyFan]

I don't have any kids yet either, but I think the family that invites the child should pay. I can see having them bring money for souveniers, though. I think of it like any other invitation- you wouldn't say "Hey, we're going to dinner at this great restaurant, and we'd like you to come with us! Oh, but you need to chip in $75."

That was my thought, too. If I would take my hypothetical kids' friends to a movie, I wouldn't expect to be reimbursed for it. But I think what confuses me about it is that a trip to WDW is such a "big-ticket item" that comparing it to the cost of dinner or a movie seems odd to me. But I guess a parent wouldn't consider bringing their kid's best friend unless they could afford to do so. That is probably how I would/will approach it when the time comes.

 

[themudd4]

As a child I was able to take a friends with me. My mom and Dad would talk to the parent's ahead of time, and if the Parent's offered to pay for any part of their child's trip my parent's took them up on it but if not they just asked that they give their child spending money for souviners and such. My parent's paid for everything else.

Each year we take our DD to a local park (Holiday World) for her birthday weekend. We rent a cabin and let her invite a few friends to go with her. The friends she usually takes we are friends with the parent's as well and when they have asked how much money they need I aways suggest that if they can pay for a one day ticket to the park, and maybe a little spending money I will cover everything else. But in return when my DD go with them anywhere I always make sure she has her own money for doing what ever...
Being a parent myself now...I would never let my children go on vacation with out paying for their tickets, and at least helping out with the mels and the little extra's, and not to mention having their own spending money.

 

[Indy's Girl]

When I was 14 my mom took my best friend and I to Disneyland. There was no way she could afford to pay for my friend as well and so she approached it this way: She called my friends parents (before I said anything to my friend, so as not to get hopes too high) and told them that she was taking my brother and I to Disneyland, and that we would love to invite my friend as well but could not afford to pay her way. She didn't ask the parents to chip in for lodging or gas (we were driving) as the cost of these things would be the same whether my friend went or not. She did ask that they paid for my friends park tickets, food and spending money. I don't think this is out of line at all. Going to Disney is completely different than a movie or dinner. IMHO it is unreasonable to expect that another family would just pay upwards of $500 or more to take your child on a trip. Many families have to save for years just to take their own children. This is just my opinion, but I would approach the child's parents before inviting their child and lay out what expenses would be. This way, if they choose to say no, the children's feelings aren't hurt. This is just too much money to pay for someone else's kid to get a free vacation.

 

[DizneyNutz]

We took a friend for DD 3 times. The last two times it was the same girl. All three times we paid for the entire trip, snacks and bought a refillable mug each time. All they had to have was their own spending money. We felt just like all of you have said above, if you extend the invitation you should be prepared to pay for it.

 

[Lady Cluck]

This article might be of help to you.

http://www.allearsnet.com/btp/authors_sehl2.htm

 

[jenseib]

This is how we generally work it. We call the parents and tell them that we would love for the child to come, but we cannot pay for all of it and give them a "price" . And we tel lthem to think it over. The price is generally palne ticket, and soemtimes a bit extra to cover extra costs ,like food, etc. We have never had any problems wit hthat, and some kids can come and some can't. Sometimes they can't come because the parents think it is too much money, and sometimes the parents just won't let them go. (because of sports or grounding or something like that) I think it's OK either way. If you want to apy the whole thing, then fine, but I think ti's fine to ask that they pay a share as well.

 

[Starstruckdancer]

I went with my friend once. My parents paid for my ticket, aiplane, and I think for my room. They also gave them some money for some food. But from what I know they paid for most of my meals. I also had some spending money.

 

[homeschool mom]

We are in this situation with our upcoming trip in May. We are a family of 7 and have invited our oldest daughter's best friend to go along and help celebrate DDs 16th birthday. We have spoken to the girl's parents only so far and asked only that she/they pay for her ticket and any spending money she may want. I don't feel this is out of line because we couldn't take the friend if we had to pay for another ticket. Our tickets alone are more than our hotel stay!!!! I wish I were able to invite friends and pay for them, but I just can't do that.
Diaen

 

[kimber6337]

That's what I'm doing. I've invited dd's best friend and I don't expect them to pay anything, but if they do that's GREAT! Since we are driving it really won't be that much more for her to go (food and tickets). I do however totally expect her to bring money for "stuff" she wants.

Either way I expect this to be an awesome trip!

 

[MushyMushy]

We took a friend for DD on our last trip and it was totally wonderful! I think if you're going to invite someone on a trip like that, you should pay. I would never make the offer if I couldn't pay.

 

[flying_babyb]

at 16 I was invited to go to Washigton D.C with my best freind and her mom. Her moms a teacher and was going for a conferance. I was asked to pay for my plane ticket, meals and spending money. Well, I got me a second Job and I did it. I guess its a issue the parents should work out before they talk to the kids.

 

[clydenora]

I personally would feel uncomfortable asking someone to go with us, and then asking them to pay for it, even though it is a much bigger expense than "dinner and a movie". So if I would only invite one of my children's friends if I was prepared to pay.

That being said, if my child was the invitee, I would certainly offer to pay for as much as necessary.