Sharing a room with teenagers

[wilma-bride]

I have a couple of questions regarding our next trip. We are travelling with my daughters (DH's step-daughters) and staying at the Renaissance Hotel, Sea World, with one room.

My DH is slightly concerned about lack of privacy, for both him and my daughters, when it comes to showering, washing, etc.

Has anyone who has travelled and shared a room with teenagers (particularly if they're step-children, rather than your own) got any tips on how to maintain a bit of privacy during your stay.

My other questions is regarding the white customs form you fill in before entering the USA. As far as I am aware, you have to fill in one form per surname. Does that mean I will need to complete a separate form for my daughters as they have a different surname to us?

Thanks in advance

 

[Hilary]

Oh yes, travelling with teenagers - I know it well!

We have two DDs (now aged 20 and 16) and have been sharing hotel rooms with them for the last 10 years on our trips to Florida. Privacy is difficult, but we find that we don't spend very much time in our rooms when we're in Orlando because there's just so much else to be doing! The bathroom becomes a dressing room as well, but we've found a lot of the hotels have a basin outside the bathroom, meaning there can be someone in the 'private' bathroom space at the same time as someone else making use of the basin outside. Other than the bathroom, there's not usually anywhere else to hide!

If the resort has a lobby or lounge close to your room, this is sometimes a good way of 'escaping' for a short while to give everyone a bit of extra space. It's also a great place to people-watch

To be honest, now that DDs are older, we do appreciate the extra space of a villa / apartment set-up, especially towards the end of our holiday when we might not appreciate each other's company quite so much! However, this has more to do with breathing room than privacy for us, but we don't have the step-daughter complications to consider as well. We certainly haven't given up all staying in one room, and I know we'll do it again.

Good luck!

As for the customs form, I think you will need to complete a form for your step-daughters, too. Anyway, better to fill one in and not need it than the other way around

 

[wicket2005]

I usually got dressed near the sink area which was round a corner and just told the lads not to come round. If one was in the bathroom I just told him to stay there till I said it was safe to come out.

We didn't spend that much time in the hotel room so it was just a case of getting changed and jumping into bed. I appreciate it may feel a little awkward when dealing with step children though.

I would do quite a bit of research re the kids having different surnames from yourselves with immigration being as it is. I know the white customs form is per surname but I would be more concerned with the visa waiver scheme. I know relatives who have taken nieces, etc have sometimes had to have a letter from the parents saying they can go away, which makes me think you may have to have some sort of documentation to prove you are the parent. It is just worth checking up and making sure you have the right documents with you if you need them.

 

[carolfoy]

Quote From Bev - I would do quite a bit of research re the kids having different surnames from yourselves with immigration being as it is. I know the white customs form is per surname but I would be more concerned with the visa waiver scheme. I know relatives who have taken nieces, etc have sometimes had to have a letter from the parents saying they can go away, which makes me think you may have to have some sort of documentation to prove you are the parent. It is just worth checking up and making sure you have the right documents with you if you need them.

Agree its a good idea to take any docs with you, I've had as many people be asked if they've had permission to take other peoples children with them as haven't!
Just a letter from their mother would suffice I should think

 

[Hilary]

If you haven't already had a look at the hotel details, take the 360 king Guest room tour here and you can see there is an area just inside the front door which looks as though it leads to the bathroom - this would make a semi-private area like wicket mentions

 

[wilma-bride]

Just a letter from their mother would suffice I should think

Thanks Carol - I am their Mother but I will certainly take the Court Order with us. The trouble is, obviously we have different surnames as I have remarried and they still have their Father's surname. I will also check out the immigration thing on the US embassy website.

I am more worried about preserving their and DH's dignity and save potential embarassment on both sides. After your advice, I think we'll try and get ready while DH is still in bed and then go down to the lobby and wait while he gets ready.

I'm not too bothered about our 'together time' (if you know what I mean ) as it's only 2 weeks and I'm sure we can get rid of them for an hour or so if required. It's more the problem of shy teenage girls and a man who isn't their real Dad in close proximity. It sounds awful but I just don't want there to be any embarrassing moments which could potentially ruin the holiday for everyone.

Thanks again for your advice.

 

[disneyholic family]

i don't think you're right about the different surname...
i think it's by family group, not by surname....
my sister kept her maiden name but they always fill out only one form when they enter the US...
but it really doesn't matter....the instructions are written very clearly at the top of the form...

as for privacy.....go to a cheaper hotel and get two rooms...

 

[wicket2005]

I'm not too bothered about our 'together time' (if you know what I mean ) as it's only 2 weeks and I'm sure we can get rid of them for an hour or so if required.

Wow an hour+, lucky you.

Going back to different surnames, it obviously is a common problem so I don't think you will have any problems but to be on the safe side it is just worth finding out about any documentation you may need.

As Hiliary says your room will have a slightly separate area, like we had in the Rosen. This will be ideal for getting changed in. I don't think you will have any problems.

 

[wicket2005]

i don't think you're right about the different surname...
i think it's by family group, not by surname....

You do go up in family groups. However, I have read reports about people needing letters when taking other people's children with them. Joh is the mother but there would be nothing on the kids' passports to say this and with the surnames being different it could raise questions. After all there would be nothing to stop anyone taking your kid away if they had the kid's passport. I would hope there would be so sort of security in place to prevent people taking other people's children away. As I keep saying it is worth checking it out rather than leave it and find you have problems at the airport. It doesn't hurt to just check it out.

 

[disneyholic family]

You do go up in family groups. However, I have read reports about people needing letters when taking other people's children with them. Joh is the mother but there would be nothing on the kids' passports to say this and with the surnames being different it could raise questions. After all there would be nothing to stop anyone taking your kid away if they had the kid's passport. I would hope there would be so sort of security in place to prevent people taking other people's children away. As I keep saying it is worth checking it out rather than leave it and find you have problems at the airport. It doesn't hurt to just check it out.

that doesn't have anything to do with the customs declaration form...
the customs declaration form just deals with what you're bringing into the country...
the issue of kidnapping will come up at passport control.....
but there are zillions and zillions and zillions of divorced and remarried families in the world, so i can't imagine all of them are walking around with letters attesting to the fact that the mother is allowed to take the kids on a vacation with her...

 

[Supercod]

Thanks Carol - I am their Mother but I will certainly take the Court Order with us.

You be fine if your the mother, shouldn’t be a problem. I went with my wife and her 2 sisters (wife having the same surname as me of course) her sisters where 8 and 10 at the time and we took along a letter from my wife’s mother but didn't need it in the end. The customs/passport control people do a kind of "mini interview" asking the kids who they are with and what they are here for in a very friendly fashion I think they pick up on anything odd from a kid that age and older where as younger they might not be able to, so having a letter and in our case a photo copy of the parents passports and the birth certificates along with my own marriage certificate was over kill, but hey if we needed it I was prepared

As for Privacy I known my wife’s sisters since they where toddlers and it was very much like them being my little sisters also (I have 3 sisters myself so dealt with this situation many times) and the simple solution was for me to get changed in the bathroom and wife and the girls got ready in the room, once complete they got on with hair and make-up part.

Now as you can imagine sharing the one room brings a challenge all to it’s own when you and your husband wish to be.. What’s the polite way of saying this, ah close to each other as after all of you’re away for a long period in our case 2 weeks you do have to think about it, it’s a holiday not prison after all Our solution was a simple one, after being out at a park all morning we head back to the hotel, have a break and then head to the next park, the kids hated the idea of having a nap during the day so we say to them we need to have 1 hour to re-charge our battery’s and then we could go to next park, because we where staying in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge we simply gave them some money to grab a snack and then they would go to the arcade they had in the hotel.. by the way the Florida sun and all the walking means we really did take naps some days but hey I though I say as it’s important you and your husband have a complete holiday and think about how you can deal with a situation like that having the 1 hotel room.

 

[wicket2005]

but there are zillions and zillions and zillions of divorced and remarried families in the world, so i can't imagine all of them are walking around with letters attesting to the fact that the mother is allowed to take the kids on a vacation with her...

Quite true but some people HAVE had problems so hence the need just to check out the facts.

 

[misskrystal]

I went 3 years ago with my friend and his family (mother, step dad and brother). We all shared one room without any problems.

We all changed in the bathroom, so that was never an issue and we all spent time apart when we went out, which made living together so closely much easier.

As for the visa waiver forms, the people I went with all had different surnames, but were told by cabin crew that 'family' meant household, but if in doubt, ask cabin crew for help.

 

[Disney owl]

Sorry can't help but wish you a great holiday.

Our kids are all ours but for this reason we book and stay in a villa.

I'm looking forward to staying in a hotel once we can go without them!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Amyrlin]

I would not worry about the different surnames, I have taken my three children with a different surname and never been questioned about it at all. This is not an area where this will be an issue (this was confirmed by US immigration before I went for the first time).

For the customs form as you have different surnames you will need a different form.

 

[anng1962]

I would not worry about the different surnames, I have taken my three children with a different surname and never been questioned about it at all. This is not an area where this will be an issue (this was confirmed by US immigration before I went for the first time).

For the customs form as you have different surnames you will need a different form.

3 of us are sharing me dd and my husband (dd's stepdad) DD(17) plans to dress/undress in bathroom. my daughter has different surname so may take copy of birth certicate! though DD can speak up for herself etc.

 

[Madjock]

Joh is the mother but there would be nothing on the kids' passports to say this and with the surnames being different it could raise questions

I still use my maiden name (just sheer laziness on my part!) and I had no problems at all when I took my DDs on my own.

Privacy is an issue when the kids get to a certain age no matter what the set up and the only way around it when sharing one room is to utilise the bathroom.

 

[drennan]

Hello Joh

Can't help on the privacy thing, as for the different surname bit i can tell you what i experienced. My eldest DS Billy was i think 5 when we first took him to WDW and he has my maiden name, he was on my passport at the time and to be on the safe side i took a letter from his dad giving permission (we are still very friendly so it was no hassle) the problem is that my ex has a different surname so i don't think that helped!!! At immigration by son was asked what his name was and of course he said Billy (his registered name is william but NO-ONE and i mean no-one calls him that- it was just a thing i done when he was born so he could choose when he was older what he prefferred, Billy, Will, William etc ) the bloke at immigration asked him 3 times and each time he answered Billy i did try to explain but was told very firmly that he was asking "The BOY" at this stage my son started to cry he was only 5 for god sake i was NOT happy to say the least - anyway to cut a long story short a very nice man came over to settle Billy down and listen to what I was trying to say to the another bloke that he only knew himself as BILLY, the nice man apologised to both me and my son and let us go on our way, Billy is now 12 and has his own passport but we don't fill out a seperate waiver form out just for him as he is just a family member and that seems to go through okay, i think we were just unlucky that first time taking him but my heart does beat that little bit quicker when i get nearer the front of the queue

ttfn
Sharon x