letting kids take a friend ?

[Murron]

in the mid 90's When our children were younger they always had best friends that were envious of them going to WDW so we made a deal with them. If they paid airfare and park ticket, we would look after everything else. The friends parents all thought that this was a very fair deal and were quite appreciative that we would do that for their children. And this was always over the Christmas holidays. They just felt that it was a vacation of a lifetime for their children.

This is exactly how it was for us for many years. If, however, there was a child whose family could not afford both airfare and park ticket, we would try to pick up the park ticket occasionally. As others stated, it all depends on where you are financially and where the friend's families are financially and take it from there.

 

[Murron]

p.s. to my prior post. I kind of laughed to myself after sending because I had forgotten the year we had 8 teens with us (6 boys 2 girls) and how we agreed to provide the room and food if they paid for air and park tickets. The food bill for 6 teenaged boys was simply incredible. Eating machines all of them. So be careful of what you commit to LOL LOL

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We often allow our kids to bring a friend. We have no $ expectations from them other than spending $ for their souvenirs, etc.

We plan to pay for airfare, tickets, lodging, food, etc.

The parents of one friend insisted on paying for airfare & tickets, but we didn't ask. They were more than able financially, so we accepted the payment.

Our thought process has always been, you are our guests, and the added fun for the kids is a bonus!

However, if everyone is in agreement in advance, then I would say whatever works for you is great.

 

[thewesterberg]

We just made a trek out to DLR this past January and we allowed our DS10 to bring a friend with. We took care of lodging and food and park tickets (I had won a set of 4 PH) and his friend paid for the plane ticket (which was on Allegiant and was cheap). His parents were totally on board and excited for this opportunity for their son and we loved having him with us.

Our boy is an only child so he loved having someone his age to hang out with; his friend is the oldest of 3 so he loved getting away from his younger siblings for a few days. There are certain friends that I wouldn't have been so keen on taking but his kid was a delight to travel with. Polite, fun, go-with-the-flow. I'd take him with us again in a heartbeat.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

just had friends join us.

1st friend came with mother since they came from out of state, I got the room a 2bedroom and they had the studio part and they took care of everything else.(plane tix, park and food...although I bought grocery and provided meals in the room 3 out of 6 nights, but they wanted to live it up and eat out every meal. And I pretty much had to force them to take the room....they were going to stay off premises....but it would have been hard for DD to meet up with them so they agreed.

2nd friend (older teen) got own park tix, no planes tix as we drove and had gift card for food and snack when I was not with them.....I provided meals when they came with me and they were on there own if they went off by themselves which was just about everyday......my kids had there own gift cards too they used for food when I wasn't there. I let them go off on there own as much as they wanted to.....they really seemed to enjoy that. Also, it was good that they could spend the gift card on what they wanted to.......my dd was eating crepes from France, caramel popcorn from Germany.....gelato from Italy.....they had a great time being independent,eating what they wanted when they wanted.

also they were able to use the gift card to buy other stuff they wanted to so all and all it was great and my bill was like $250 for 6 days for 5 people...

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

It would depend how close of a friend it is for us. If it was a cousin-friend as our kids have, we would probably be willing to pay more ourselves. If it was a friend from school, we would probably want the other parent to pay airfare and ticket and we would pay the rest.

 

[AmyB2006]

I didn't read the other responses because I'm sure there several different opinions on this.

We used to take a friend of mine when I was younger. My parents covered the hotel and food. My friend only had to purchase her ticket.

I don't think it's unreasonable at all to discuss that with the other set of parents.

I would never expect for someone else to take my child to Disney with a free ride. I would at minimum pay for the ticket.

So no, it's not unreasonable to at least discuss it. If the other parents say they can't afford any of it, then it's your decision of whether or not you will foot the bill for the entire trip for the friend. KWIM?

 

[mouseclick1]

We've done it both ways. When my boys were in high school, they brought along 6 friends between the two of them for their spring break trip one year. We covered the room and one sit down meal per day, and had cereal and snacks in the room for everyone. They paid for their airfare, park tickets, any additional meals they wanted, and spending money.

We went again when they were both in college. One son brought his gf, the other brought his roommate. Both gf and roommate felt like family to us by then, so we paid everything for them. They did bring spending money for their souvenirs and such.

I don't think there is a right or wrong way to go about. It comes down to whatever you are comfortable doing and can afford. Do what feels right and enjoy!

 

[JJSWDW]

I was first thinking if we did that, we'd ask the other parents to cover plane and park ticket. However, as someone else mentioned the food can eclipse the cost of the park ticket for a longer trip since the average cost per day on MYW drops so much. That being said, I think I'd still ask the other parents to cover plane and park tickets because it's a known amount and easy to stick to. Arguments may develop when the other parents get a $300+ food bill if they don't understand how much it costs to eat at Disney. I guess the exception would be if you're doing dining plan because that's a predictable cost too. Anything variable has a more likely chance to lead to a dispute in my opinion.

 

[disney_bob]

Paying for any part of the trip is being generous. Each addtl component you pay for is increasing the generosity. I think its perfectly reasonable to just cover the room. Its really nice to pay for food (which can be hundreds of dollars per person depending on the family and length of trip). Paying for the park ticket gets into "Wow thats nice! You shouldn't have!". Pay for the airfare.. well, if someone did that for me I'd feel guilty for paying for all of that.

I agree with a previous poster, though. Talk to the parents first. Make sure you're both on the same page. If they feel its only worth it if the whole trip is free - I'd say "ok, well, that's sad for the kids" and move on. Maybe you have a different relationship with them, though.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We took three friends along with us a couple of years ago. Two of my DS's friends, as a graduation trip, and our daughter got to bring one as well.
Parents paid for QS dining plan and enough to cover the special military tickets.

We drove and paid for hotel on the way down and back, plus we covered a groceries for the villa and two special meals we treated them all to.
Parents were great, and we made sure we had all medical info, insurance cards and notes from parents just in case.

Where we live now though, our DD's friends parents are not so easygoing or trusting. We aren't even allowed to pick up her BFF from her house and drive her to our house. It's insane. We did ask if BFF could accompany us over our NYE trip to WDW, and I thought her mom was going to pass out at the thought of it.
So we have already told DD we don't imagine her BFF will be going on any planned graduation trip, unfortunately.