Should a teenager pay for their own theme park tickets & spending money...

[dtsaos]

while on vacation with their family (parents and other younger siblings)? why or why not?

 

[all4fun]

How old is the teenager?

On face value, I would say No to park tickets but yes to spending money, depending on how old the teen is and if they have a job or not. I probably wouldn't expect them to be responsible for everything such as dining but any extra's they may want should be paid for with their own money. Just curious, are you a teen who's parents want you to pay or a parent who wants your teen to pay?

 

[Octoberbeauty]

No! Does being a teenager make you less of a member of the family?? However, they should earn some of their own "spending" money. Even my five year olds are doing that.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Why would anyone expect their older child to pay for his own tickets, but the parents pay for the younger child's tickets. That doesn't make sense to me. I can see spending money - we even have grandparents give the kids disney dollars for birthdays, Easter, Valentine's day etc. so they have their own spending money. Does the teenage have to pay for their own room too?

 

[minkydog]

I would not expect my own teen to pay his way into the parks or for all his meals. I do expect my kids to save up their own spending money. They are responsible for buying their souveniers and whatever snacks they want. I provide nuts, crackers, fruit,granola bars, etc. so buying snacks is totally their choice.

If I were taking someone else's child i would expect that child to pay for their tickets and their spending money, but not necessarily their meals. it would depend on the situation.

 

[disneyjunkie]

If it's a family trip, I think the parents should take care of transportation, room, tickets and meals. I think it's fine to have a teen or even 9-12 year olds come up with his or her own spending money and extra snack money. My son calls this is junk money.

I take care all of the major stuff but he's responsible for all the extras. (Popcorn, fudge, candy apples, slushy type drinks, PINS...) He saves some of his birthday money, Christmas money and allowance to spend as he feels when we're on vacation. He's 13 but we also did this on our other two trips when he was 9 and 12.

 

[pyrxtc]

I'm on a no basis. I think that if the parents are taking their kids to WDW then they should be paying for everybody. It is not the childs fault that they keep getting older. I can see if they lived on their own and asked to join the family and could afford it then maybe. But if the teen is at home and goes to school and the parents say we are going to WDW on this date, the whole family, then parents should pay for their child. Soon enough the kid will be off in the world making it on their own and having to pay for everything themselves. If they buy snacks and meals and souveniers for other children, they should buy for all. I would say set a price limit for souveniers and snacks that each kid can spend then when they hit that limit, they are using their own money. That is what we are planning. A family vacation is for everyone, not to use as a teaching guide for teens on how to pay their own way in life! My DH ex makes my SDD pay for her own snacks while buying the younger daughter everything and it makes me soo MAD!! SDD is only 10, way too young. Ex won't even buy lunch if they are out, she has to use her own money. I'm a if it's neccesary then I pay and some extra's but to not pay for lunch fpor your own kid or to eat an ice cream snack with younger DD in front of other DD and not let older DD have anything is just mean.

OKay so YES, parents should pay for everything they are paying for the younger siblings, if no younger sibling then they have a lot more to spend on the teen!! LOL!!

 

[robyn323]

No on buying thier own tickets. But yes if they want to buy something extra for themselves like souviners for friends at home ect.

 

[dtsaos]

Okay, I guess I'm totally off base for even asking this question! I thought it was a decent way of teaching some responsibility, but you guys (and my DH) have straightened me out!

 

[seashoreCM]

I suppose that you as parents can declare years in advance that when your children reach certain key ages you will not be buying this and that for them.

But if you are not buying them theme park tickets, you must offer them the choice not to come at all and you must still make sure they have meals and a roof over their heads.

Not buying them theme park tickets can have long range undesirable effects such as making them emotionally unstable from being left home alone. Every kid is different. It is hard to say what will happen. You too may have tearful emotions as the kids leave home years from now, you wishing you spent more time with them, including at Disney World.

Family hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/family.htm

 

[crazelion]

I thought the parent suppose pay for everything on family vacations. I can see the teen junk food money. Let the kid be a kid. It's hard in the real world as in adult not send a child in the real world until he turns adult.

Now if the teenager friend now yes they should pay there on way.

 

[antbritt]

I personally invited my 18 year old DS to come to Disney with my DD and I in march. I am payinfg of rhis trip. But he is planning to go with his friends to San Diego in May. Welllllllll that is not my responsibility. so he will have to figure that one out. S I personaally agree that if it is a family vacation you should pay but when they are older adn looking to go with friends then they are on their own to pay.

 

[Julia M]

I personally invited my 18 year old DS to come to Disney with my DD and I in march. I am payinfg of rhis trip. But he is planning to go with his friends to San Diego in May. Welllllllll that is not my responsibility. so he will have to figure that one out. I personaally agree that if it is a family vacation you should pay but when they are older adn looking to go with friends then they are on their own to pay.

Well, sure, older kids during their own thing.....a non family vacation, that's different. I expect I will pay for our kids for some years to come! (My oldest is almost 13)

On the other hand, I am taking dd on a special trip, to the Baton Worlds in Minnesota (we're in CA). I've asked her to pay for her ticket to the event (I am paying for airfare, hotel, car rental, etc) She's only 10, but I wanted her to have a sense of ownership in the trip. She's able to save for a favorite stuffed animal at Build A Bear......I feel she can work towards this.

Julia

 

[Colinsmom]

No way should they have to pay for their own park tickets, assuming that they are still in school full time. I'd set a limit on spending/junk food money and they have to pay for anything over that limit. Or give them plenty of warning and opportunities to save up for or earn that spending money.

 

[crisi]

If you expect them to go, you need to pick up the costs of the "requireds" like tickets and food. You can say you won't pay for sweatshirts, snacks, etc. After all, if your teenager refuses to pay, do you really want to leave them behind?

And, if I were buying things for younger kids, I think I'd have to be fair and buy something for the older ones....."I'll buy everyone ONE shirt, and the little kids ONE toy, if you want more stuff (toys, snacks etc), you'll need to bring spending money. Make sure all kids have ability to earn spending money. A teen who babysits or mows lawns could easily bring several hundred dollars, while their five year old sister may need to get paid for taking out the trash and may need a supplement.

 

[Brina]

Park tickets, no, spending money - yes.

My 5 year olds are saving money for disney - part of their allowance, plus, gifts from grandparents are being put towards their disney spending money.

 

[lclark0621]

Why should a teenager pay for their own admission to the parks?

It is a family vacation! Is the teen somehow less of a family member because they are a "teen"?

I am 28, married, with a DS. And when we go away with my Mom she STILL tries to pay for me. She says "You will always be my baby."

I dont think I would be as excited about a vacation if my parents would have made me pay my own was as a teenager. I probably would have rather saved that money & spent it on something more important to me at the time.

I could never imagine asking my DS to pay his own way on vacation.

I mean are you making the teen pay his own grocery bill? His own water bill?

Are you claiming the teen on your taxes as a dependent? If so, let them be just that...DEPENDENT.

 

[mom23boys]

No way would I ever make my child pay for their own way to Disney.

My oldest is 11 today, he is saving some of his birthday money and some allowance for an ESPN Jersey. Our trip is in August.

But as his parents we will cover everything.

 

[mjmcca]

My first family trip as a "kid" to WDW with both my parents I was 19 and my sister was 18. We were both in college. My parents paid for the whole trip. We had been as kids with my mom and a girl scout troop but this was our one and only family disney trip. This was nearly 20 years ago but i dont think that times have changed that much.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

Why would anyone expect their older child to pay for his own tickets, but the parents pay for the younger child's tickets. That doesn't make sense to me. I can see spending money - we even have grandparents give the kids disney dollars for birthdays, Easter, Valentine's day etc. so they have their own spending money. Does the teenage have to pay for their own room too?

I agree!!! We buy theme park tickets, all food and of course they are allowed to stay with us at our hotel (we even have to book two rooms to accomodate the teenagers)!!! All four children, however, are responsible for saving their own souvenier money!! They save throughout the year, birthday, Christmas, allowance, etc. What they save is what they can spend!!! Sometimes one saves more than the other, oh well, they know if they spend it at home they will have less for WDW!!!