Senior Trip--need budget help and ideas

[pigget74]

Here is what I have so far...and yes this is for May '13.

I gave my son an option--all expense paid trip to disney or he could go on a cruise (not the class cruise) and he would have to pay part of his way.

If he goes to Disney--I would provide room and he could take 3-4 guys with him. I would charge the boys a small room fee. At this point--do I require them to purchase the dining plan to ensure that they have meals while there and I am not going to have to cover them in case they run out of money? We are DVC so room is not an issue and we can add dining plan. Then I thought about adding a dessert illuminations or fantasmic. There could possibly be a girls group going as well, but my best friend will take care of their rooms. I am in charge of planning for 10 seniors, my family, and friends family. What would you do?

I am trying to come up with a quote to give everyone...thanks.

 

[Marionnette]

Here is what I have so far...and yes this is for May '13.

I gave my son an option--all expense paid trip to disney or he could go on a cruise (not the class cruise) and he would have to pay part of his way.

If he goes to Disney--I would provide room and he could take 3-4 guys with him. I would charge the boys a small room fee. At this point--do I require them to purchase the dining plan to ensure that they have meals while there and I am not going to have to cover them in case they run out of money? We are DVC so room is not an issue and we can add dining plan. Then I thought about adding a dessert illuminations or fantasmic. There could possibly be a girls group going as well, but my best friend will take care of their rooms. I am in charge of planning for 10 seniors, my family, and friends family. What would you do?

I am trying to come up with a quote to give everyone...thanks.

I would avoid anything that requires the kids to pay you for anything. There's always the possibility that one of them will stiff you. Give your son some gift cards to pay for food and make a few ADRs for the kids.

Let them purchase their own airfare. Airfare is credited to the ticket holder if a passenger cancels, so you would be out the money for their ticket if any of the kids bale out.

Tell them where they can purchase their tickets and how much it will cost. Give the parents an idea of what OOP costs for food might be, based on where you're making ADRs and what it costs for a typical CS meal. Let them each pay for their own meals. Tell them to add extra for spending money.

My daughter took a graduation trip with her high school friends and they had a blast. I hope your son enjoys showing Disney to his friends.

 

[mjkacmom]

Why can't he take the class cruise? I would imagine that would be a lot more fun! And if there is a class cruise, and his friends are going, I can't imagine the parents would be willing to pay for their child go to WDW in addition.

I have no problem paying for my kids to take school trips, but I'm not paying $1000+ for one of my kids to have a vacation with friends. I went away for long weekends with my gf's in HS down the shore, and I paid for myself, the same with spring break in college.

 

[luvsJack]

If you aren't going to be out anything with them using your DVC, I would just tell them that the cost of the DDP and the tickets and not charge them a room fee. And give them a deadline of when it has to be paid, if they don't pay by that date they can't be added.

 

[SaraJayne]

Why is Disney free for him but anything else he has to pay for?

I imagine his class cruise would be a lot more fun.

 

[Patience]

I vote for the class cruise. It sounds like your son goes to WDW regularly since you are DVC members. A cruise with his friends and classmates would be something new and exciting for your son and a great way to celebrate the end of high school. Depending on the cruise line, a cruise might not cost all that much either. Your DVC accomodations and WDW will always be there but the class cruise with his friends will only happen once.

 

[Marionnette]

Why is Disney free for him but anything else he has to pay for?

I imagine his class cruise would be a lot more fun.

Not speaking for the OP, but I know that with my kids, the class trip (senior week) was not a school-sponsored event and there was a lot of bad behavior associated with it. Only one of my kids participated in it and he ended up coming home early because they got kicked out of the house they were renting. Not blaming the other kids. He was just as guilty of bad behavior as the rest of them. But if he could do it over again, he would have chosen differently. He would have enjoyed a week at Disney World a lot more than a week of sharing a beach house with teenage drunks.

I imagine that the Disney trip would be free for the son because the OP would not be out the cost of a room or ticket for him (assuming that like most DVC owners, they have APs). And if she were to charge the other boys a room fee, then she would be able to offset his dining plan costs. That would make it a pretty cheap trip for the OP to fund. Since she is the gift-giver, she gets to decide how much she wants to spend. And as the kid's mother, she gets to decide what kind of trip she is willing to fund.

 

[SaraJayne]

Not speaking for the OP, but I know that with my kids, the class trip (senior week) was not a school-sponsored event and there was a lot of bad behavior associated with it. Only one of my kids participated in it and he ended up coming home early because they got kicked out of the house they were renting. Not blaming the other kids. He was just as guilty of bad behavior as the rest of them. But if he could do it over again, he would have chosen differently. He would have enjoyed a week at Disney World a lot more than a week of sharing a beach house with teenage drunks.

I imagine that the Disney trip would be free for the son because the OP would not be out the cost of a room or ticket for him (assuming that like most DVC owners, they have APs). And if she were to charge the other boys a room fee, then she would be able to offset his dining plan costs. That would make it a pretty cheap trip for the OP to fund. Since she is the gift-giver, she gets to decide how much she wants to spend. And as the kid's mother, she gets to decide what kind of trip she is willing to fund.

Class trips around here are school-sponsored only. Anything else is just a group of friends going on a trip together.

As far as the cost difference between the two trips, of course he's going to take the disney trip (which is sounds like Mom wants to take, not the kid). It's free!

I don't think it's fair when the parent says I'll pay 100% for something *I* want to do, but if you want to do anything else, half the cost is on you.

 

[Marionnette]

Class trips around here are school-sponsored only. Anything else is just a group of friends going on a trip together.

As far as the cost difference between the two trips, of course he's going to take the disney trip (which is sounds like Mom wants to take, not the kid). It's free!

I don't think it's fair when the parent says I'll pay 100% for something *I* want to do, but if you want to do anything else, half the cost is on you.

I disagree with the statement that I bolded. I always told my kids that the United States of America is a democracy (it's actually a republic, but I digress). However, my home is a benevolent dictatorship. My house, my rules. The OP has given the kid a choice and that's more than she needs to do. Heck, she doesn't HAVE to give him any kind of trip at all! In my book, gift recipients don't get to dictate what they are given.

 

[dzorn]

Class trips around here are school-sponsored only. Anything else is just a group of friends going on a trip together.

As far as the cost difference between the two trips, of course he's going to take the disney trip (which is sounds like Mom wants to take, not the kid). It's free!

I don't think it's fair when the parent says I'll pay 100% for something *I* want to do, but if you want to do anything else, half the cost is on you.

As a parent My money I get to choose how it is spent. If they do not like my choices they are more than welcome to pay for their alternatives out of their money.

Denise in MI

 

[SaraJayne]

I disagree with the statement that I bolded. I always told my kids that the United States of America is a democracy (it's actually a republic, but I digress). However, my home is a benevolent dictatorship. My house, my rules. The OP has given the kid a choice and that's more than she needs to do. Heck, she doesn't HAVE to give him any kind of trip at all! In my book, gift recipients don't get to dictate what they are given.

You are correct. She doesn't have to give him any trip at all.

 

[mjkacmom]

I imagine that the Disney trip would be free for the son because the OP would not be out the cost of a room or ticket for him (assuming that like most DVC owners, they have APs). And if she were to charge the other boys a room fee, then she would be able to offset his dining plan costs. That would make it a pretty cheap trip for the OP to fund. Since she is the gift-giver, she gets to decide how much she wants to spend. And as the kid's mother, she gets to decide what kind of trip she is willing to fund.

So, this gift to her son (bringing his friends) would actually be free for her, so the friends would be paying for the gift.

My dd's friend is an only child, and her family takes a trip every year at Christmas. This year, for her 16th birthday, her gift was to bring friends. Her parents paid for the girls to go (food, accomodations).

 

[pigget74]

Wow...a lot of different responses...and some I was not expecting. Yes, we go to Disney a lot or at least we did. I have saved the last 2 years of points. The class cruise is not school sponsored and is mainly only attended for 1 reason and that is to party as much as possible. As far as the trip is concerned, we offered him the trip. The kids would not be paying me that much--I figure take the cost of a value and divide it by all the kids. I am in no way trying to get the other kids to pay his portion. No one has even finalized the cruise for next year...I am not opposed to him going on a cruise...if he and his friends want to go that is great, but he will not be going on the same ship as the big group. Yes, he will have to fund part of that trip. I will pay as much as I would have for the disney trip. One of the main reasons I thought about dining plan is it was a way to let people know about how much to expect to pay.

 

[luvsJack]

Wow...a lot of different responses...and some I was not expecting. Yes, we go to Disney a lot or at least we did. I have saved the last 2 years of points. The class cruise is not school sponsored and is mainly only attended for 1 reason and that is to party as much as possible. As far as the trip is concerned, we offered him the trip. The kids would not be paying me that much--I figure take the cost of a value and divide it by all the kids. I am in no way trying to get the other kids to pay his portion. No one has even finalized the cruise for next year...I am not opposed to him going on a cruise...if he and his friends want to go that is great, but he will not be going on the same ship as the big group. Yes, he will have to fund part of that trip. I will pay as much as I would have for the disney trip. One of the main reasons I thought about dining plan is it was a way to let people know about how much to expect to pay.

Maybe I don't understand how DVC works. Why are you charging the other kids to stay there? Is it costing you something (more than your DVC membership or whatever that you would be paying anyway)?

I think getting the ddp is a good idea. It will make sure that they are all able to eat, even if someone runs out of money.

 

[pigget74]

Maybe I don't understand how DVC works. Why are you charging the other kids to stay there? Is it costing you something (more than your DVC membership or whatever that you would be paying anyway)?

I think getting the ddp is a good idea. It will make sure that they are all able to eat, even if someone runs out of money.

When they first talked about going the other boys thought about staying at a value or moderate. I can get them a nicer place and depending on which resort he can have another friend. I am going to charge them cheaper than what a value would have been---mainly because if he was just going with us we would be in the same room. Since his friends are going it will require 2 rooms--one for us and one for them.

 

[Marionnette]

When they first talked about going the other boys thought about staying at a value or moderate. I can get them a nicer place and depending on which resort he can have another friend. I am going to charge them cheaper than what a value would have been---mainly because if he was just going with us we would be in the same room. Since his friends are going it will require 2 rooms--one for us and one for them.

So you're basically inviting your son's friends to come with you on your vacation. That's really not what I would consider to be a "senior trip".

 

[pigget74]

So you're basically inviting your son's friends to come with you on your vacation. That's really not what I would consider to be a "senior trip".

It is my family--in a resort. His friends in a resort. A girl and her friends at same resort as boys. Her family at same resort as us. Other than being at disney at same time it is not going to be a family trip. He and his friends will even be driving down together. The only time we would all be together is if me and my friend do the dessert party for them. Our two families are very close and the kids have been together since they were babies. They wanted to go somewhere that they could all be together. This year we are going on a cruise with the same friend. Her brother just graduated and we are taking a cruise in July. If my son decides he wants a cruise that is fine...I will be glad to pay the same amount that I was going to for disney. That includes tickets and dining plan.

 

[mdsoccermom]

By having the kids pay a room fee, it sounds like you want your family vacation and are having them pay for it. That leaves. Bad taste in my mouth.

 

[pigget74]

By having the kids pay a room fee, it sounds like you want your family vacation and are having them pay for it. That leaves. Bad taste in my mouth.

I never once said that I wanted them to pay for my vacation. Really--$400 I wish that would cover my vacation. I am asking for $100 per boy for the room. That is 5 nights in a nice resort.

They are the ones who brought Disney up. So if I did not have DVC and had to pay "cash" for a room would it be ok to charge the boys?

 

[kirstenb1]

We have DVC too. OP, I wouldn't charge any room fee. If we invite someone on vacation, we pay for them. I do understand your situation is different, in that you're inviting 3 or 4 friends. When we're there, I often cook dinner in the villa, and we always grab breakfast as we're heading out the door.

Now if you eat all meals in the parks, always, it does make sense for the boys parents to send food/park tix money with them. However, if you do any meals at the villa, I wouldn't charge anything for groceries, etc.