taking friends along???

[Mickeyhugger]

Okay, I was one who originally posted 'what a great idea' about taking a friend along. Now after reading these horrifying but funny stories about friends traveling together, I've changed my mind. .

I'm remembering now how my DD and her friends fight sometimes, and how sleepovers have been cancelled at the last minute because of it. (These were two 7-year olds.) No, I'm not trying to plant more doubts, I'm actually laughing as I'm typing this, envisioning the catfights that would ensue if we were to travel with CERTAIN friends of our DD. (I guess that could be another thread in itself!)

It sparked my interest hopelea, when you said your DD's family is the type who wouldn't do a cruise. What do they like to do for vacation. (Again, I'm laughing, as we have friends here who wouldn't dream of vacationing unless it's deer-hunting!)

 

[Mickeyhugger]

OOPS! That question should have read 'your DD's friend's family', NOT your DD's family.

 

[dznyacct]

We are taking my DS's best friend (both 14) with us on our DCL western in July followed by 9 days at WDW (can you tell I LOVE Disney!!). He went with us to VB/WDW last July for the first time and I LOVED having him along!! I only wish he started going on vacation with us sooner. They have been best friends since they were 4 and he is a terrific kid. On day one of our VB/WDW trip last July I was begging him to go with us on the cruise (he has to miss some of baseball season, what a sacrifice)! His mom and dad have two older sons in college and have been having some financial problems, so we have paid for his entire portion of both trips, asking that he only bring along spending $$ (~ $200). Our son is an only child and he had so much more fun with his best buddy along. It is a definite increase in the vacation budget and I am very thankful that we can afford to take him along.

I am going to have his parents fill out a notarized "consent for medical treatment" form along with whatever forms come with our cruise documents. I will also get a copy of his insurance card. I checked with the airline, and we won't need anything for them since we're not flying out of the country.

He spent a few days of Spring Break with us and we watched the DCL DVD so he could get an idea of the layout of the ship and check out the excursions (I get to book them next month!!). The first thing he said to me when he got here was how much he was looking forward to the trip. He really does appreciate it, which really warms my heart.

I think each child is different and only you know if bringing a friend would likely work out for your family. Have fun no matter what you decide!

 

[hopelea]

I really am laughing at some of the horror stories. I have to remind myself that these will be moody, pre-teen girls. I am sure they will fight, but I know they will have a great time too.

Mickeyhugger......I hate to admit it, but I do have friends whose vacation is ONLY deer hunting. Luckily this family is NOT. They are going to Canada this August and are saving for it. They are a family of five two dd's 10 & 4, one ds 7. As you know most people with only one (normal) income have to save for a long time to do a DCL. Then when you throw three children into the mix you have to go to a family stateroom. That is more than the dad would ever pay for a cruise I am the type that I will take an inside stateroom, just so I can go.

Well, I asked her mother last night. So, now it is in their hands. I am sure the dad will say NO.......but I will talk him into it!

Thanks everyone!!!

Hope

 

[Reenieny18]

That is a big commitment to bring another child along with you. We had a very bad experience when we took ny daughter's friend with is for a weekend in NYC. Most people know you WALK everywhere in NYC. We barely got to 5th avenue to the DISNEY STORE, and she asked when we were going home. She whined the whole time...

We drove back home that night,, and I couldn't wait to drop her off. Needless to say, my kids and hubbie had a miserable trip.

Let me also, add, that we paid for every thing and I felt so bad when she asked for things and didn' have enough money... so I paid for it.
Think twice about it... but it would be great for your daughter to have a known friend,, but she may meet new poeple,, or worse,, she won't meet anyone and the friend might.

GOOD LUCK
Reenie

 

[Lori00789]

I think vacations are a special time to bond with family members. We have so few days that are not interupted with phone calls, door bells and friends. I look forward to having the time with just my husband and kids. I would encourage the two sisters to spend time together instead if you invite a third child, you might find the two older kids leave the younger one out of their fun.

 

[dianthus]

My DD's best friend traveled to Disney for a week with us 2 yrs. ago- great traveler. We asked her along, as she travels with her parents a great deal too. After this positive experience, we asked her on our Nov. cruise, which was our 25th anniversary. We figured my DD & her friend would have a blast, so we asked 6 months before. Got a CAT 11 across the hall from our CAT 5- everyone's excited... 3 days before the cruise, the friend freaks as she said she's having nightmares about being on a ship in the middle of the sea.... - great! It wasn't us, but it was this fear of being surrounded by water & nothing around... It really scared her... This was not like her at all... We knew something was "up".

After talking to the parents, we were concerned that if this feeling of paranoia continued once we sailed, this could get bad. We decided that she wasn't going to go, as we didn't want to ruin our anniversary. It was better we knew before we left, although it surprised even her parents...We found out later there was some "stuff" going on at home ( parents bickering ) & she didn't feel comfortable leaving for a week not knowing what was going on there. It was taking a toll on her...

My DD was bummed, and normally outgoing & friendly DD didn't really feel like making friends at first. By tuesday she cheered up, made friends & had a blast for the remainder of the trip... Upon our return the friend really regretted not going- oh well...

So even when you know the friends well, you really don't know them or what's going on in their lives... Beware... I agree, vacations like this are for families only.

 

[PRaffen]

Originally posted by hopelea

I can add her to our room at any time, so I will probably wait to ask until closer to cruise!

Our experience - as has been mentioned you may not be able to add her to your room at any time. We were also on the fence about bringing a friend with us for my daughter and my TA advised us when I originally booked to go ahead and pay the deposit for the fourth person as at a certain point DCL will not accept reservations for any more kids once a certain number is reached.

The TA said if we decided not to bring the friend, we could apply the deposit to our final cost.

We took a friend last year for my daughter (week at Ocean City) and there were a couple afternoons the girls were barely speaking but they had to learn how to settle their differences.

We did decide to take a friend (different friend than last year) this year but I know her personality enough that she will be flexible and in all honesty more of a joy to be around than my own DD (and the friend's mom would say the same about my DD )

My daughter is truly more fun and more enjoyable when this friend comes along with us.

 

[hopelea]

We booked the friend about a month ago and everyone is excited.

I feel blessed that I am able to take these kinds of trips and always have the feeling that I would love to share them with other children. I feel this is the right thing to do because this friend would never be able to experience this type of a vacation unless she goes with us.

Her parents can afford to pay her share ($700). So, they are. We will pick up any extra's incurred.

I know there will be trying times. But, I also know that there will be MAGICAL times for everyone involved.

Thanks for all your advice and funny stories!!

Hope

 

[MrsPete]

I would take my nieces along on a cruise, but I would not take the kids' friends -- no matter how well I think I know them! Here's why:

I know my own family best. I know that my nieces have been raised with similar expectations in regards to discipline, nutrition and table manners, independence issues, health, bedtimes . . . so many things. I don't want to discover in the middle of the ocean that I've assumed other families are the same as mine.

With my nieces there'd be no questions about money. I would feel obligated to pay for anyone I invited on a trip (regardless of whether it's a camping trip or a cruise, I think that's just the right thing to do). With a friend, that would be awkward and the parents would feel the need to reciprocate. With my nieces, that wouldn't be a problem.

Finally, there's no question about sleeping arrangements with family members. But with a friend, I think two rooms would become a necessity.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

The only thing I can think of is from the younger girls perspective- Would she get left out of somethings not necessarily on the ship but getting there and back etc- Where normally it would just be the 2 daughters would the youngest feel left out on the flight/car trip and other stuff till she found her own group on ship?
Odd numbers are hard to deal with sometimes because its that third person no matter how hard the skin can sometimes get crushed-

-em