Should we bring a friend?

[jodyo]

Before my dd was born my dh and I went to Disney by ourselves. When our daughter was born it just worked out that my brother (teen) came with us. the following year my cousin, and the next year my other brother ( I have 2 teenage brothers). They have always saved up to go, or asked mom to go as a x-mas or b-day gift. This year everyones broke. The thing is this year we have our daughter (now 6) and our son (13 mos. when we go) and I have to admit bringing a teen is great. Tthey are helpful with the kids and can also go on the "big" rides with my dh. If we go alone my dh won't be able to ride on any big rides unless he wants to do it alone. And I really hate taking my dd through those play grounds like Honey I shrunk the Kids. My question is should we just pay for someone to come. We really don't have the money, but we could alwys use the cc. I don't know. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[robinb]

Here's my take on it ...

If you don't have the money and need to put it on a credit card, then don't do it. You'll be more crowded in your room with an extra person plus if you're staying on-site you'll need to pay extra for him or her to stay with you. Also, teens eat a lot and you'll spend a fortune on food! You don't even mention how you're going to get to WDW. Will you also need to buy another airline ticket?

I can see how a teen could really be a nice built-in baby sitter, but is it really worth the extra expense to you? I have a 21 month old DD and I always ride the big rides alone since we baby swap. It's really not a big deal for me.

Bottom line: keep yourself out of debt.

 

[jesse]

My daughter did not go on the "big rides" until she was 7., but I've read lots of posts where people describe their 6 yr old and younger enjoying such rides as TOT and BTM. Is your little one a daredevil? She may be Daddy's new ride companion, if not this year, then soon. My dh hates rollercoasters of any kind, so I always went alone, until dd was old enough and wanted to go; now I can't get her off of SM.

 

[Kermit]

I think having a helper would be great, but not worth going into debt. On the plus side, you wouldn't have to pay someone much more than expenses. I mean, how much would you charge to go to WDW for free?

 

[mom42860]

We are taking my niece, I ask her if she would like to come, and told her she would only have to pay her airfare and ticket to Disney parks. We will pay for room (no problem because we are in a cabin at Ft. Wilderness), food, trip to Seaworld, transportation from airport, and rental car for weekend. My children are thrilled and the extra set of hands and eyes with 3 children will be a blessing.

 

[ohiominnie]

We just returned from 10 days at WDW. It was me, dh, dd (6) and ds (4). We also took my dh's sister who is 13. Her parents paid for her parkhopper, and gave her $150, but through a variety of circumstances (too long to get into) we ended up paying for everything else including airfare. We eat like kings while there (at least one big sit down or character meal a day) and splurge on extras (ice cream, smoothies, HUGE sundaes at Beaches & Cream)....so for $450 she got the TRIP OF HER LIFE... and I won't do it again. :/

First off, she never seemed to be happy....teenage thing, I guess. We'd ask her if she was having a good time, or she needed more sleep/rest/food/time away from our kids.. whatever...and she always *said* she was fine...but never acted it. So we spent a lot of mental energy and physical energy trying to show her a good time and please her.

Also, my kids ALWAYS wanted to sit by her, or ride with her, which caused constant bickering about who was going to be with her this time (which, by the way, she *said* she didn't mind)....PLUS....I RARELY got to do anything with MY kids. They always wanted to be by her, so I often times rode rides alone and couldn't see my kids reactions to the rides. After awhile it got to get old.

So to me....It was MORE exhausting to have her there. It wasn't a help to me. Maybe it was just HER, and your potential guest wouldn't be so blah. :/

My $.02

ohiominnie

 

[mom42860]

Very good points, it def. depends on the age of the guest. When we went w/ my sister & her son it was like that, he wanted to show my dd & ds Disney. It was hard beecasue he was disappointed. My niece is 22 so I am hopeful it will be different this time.

 

[jodyo]

wow thanks everyone. Unfortunately my 6 year old dd is a not a dare devil. She's afraid of everything. Sher would never go on any "big" rides with my dh. I know I would have no problems with my brother. He's a great kid and would be a big help, but is it worth the expense. Disney is expensive and we also like to "eat like kings" and we would have to pay airfare from NH and tickets too, I figure at least $750.00. Is it worth it?

 

[robinb]

I still don't think so.

I think the $750 you mentioned is a conservative number. Airfare from NH nas got to be at least $250. Park Passes are through the roof ... the biggest expense in your WDW vacation. If you add "eating like kings" then you're really closer to $1000 depending on how many days you'll be there.

Think of it this way ... given the current special rates that anyone can get at the All Stars, that $750+ would easily pay for 10 nights in a hotel room for your next trip. Why not set aside the money that you would use to pay off your credit card bills for the teen and put it into your next vacation? Buy an annual pass this time and use it in 11 month's time so you can get 2 trips out of it.

I'm afraid that this is not the answer you really want . It sounds like you're feeling guilty that you can go and others that usually come with you cannot. If you can get over feeling bad about them not being able to come with you, I think you will have a really good time as a family of 4.

 

[UrsulaFan]

When are you going? Can you find a creative way of funding this? Have a garage sale! Have the "extra" come over & work to earn the trip, mow the grass, babysit a couple of hours. Can the extra get a job to help pay?I would try VERY hard to figure out a way to make this happen.