Taking your child's friend?

[lisatx04]

My DD 15 has a friend that she does everything with. They are so close that some think they are sisters. Her friend's family are Disney lovers and went to Disney in December. We just booked for our annual stay at OKW in July.

I mentioned to DH that maybe we should consider inviting DD friend. Have any of you brought a child's friend? If we invite her, I will be telling her parents that the only thing she will need to buy are her park tickets. We will pay for everything else. Does this seem reasonable?

We live in Texas and will be driving to WDW. As for meals, we eat breakfast in the room and have lunch and dinner in the parks.

DH then asked if I would let DD and her friend go to the parks on their own. Not sure about this one. My initial feeling is to let them go off on their own in the park we are also in. What do you think about the kids going off on their own?

We will need to make a decision soon as I will need to make ADR's and will need to make them for either 4 (no friend) or 5 (with friend).

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[genmasjoy]

When we go anywhere for more than a weekend, I have told my DS that we are having a special family vacation and we want to spend the time together as a family, no friends invited. However, for just a weekend, like an overnight trip, I'm fine with him bringing a friend. I think for more than a couple of days it gets to be too much. I'm sure two fifteen year olds would be ok in the parks, I would pick a time and place to meet. With cell phones, it's easy to connect. i agree that if you invite the friend, it is reasonable for her parents to pay for the park tickets and you pick up the rest of the expenses.

 

[momof2disprincesses]

We have allowed both of our daughters (now ages 20 & 16) to bring friends to WDW and we are going on a cruise on the Dream in 18 days and allowing DD16 to bring a friend.

For the WDW trip, our oldest brought her boyfriend and our youngest brought a good friend. For that trip, we had 2 unused 4 day park tickets and gave them to our guests and asked both of them to pay to upgrade them to park hoppers since our entire family had AP's. We also had told them that we'd pay for 1 meal per day out and if they wanted other things, they needed to pay themselves.

We always ate breakfast in our 2 bedroom villa at Kidani and then usually ate dinner out, with some snacking in between. This worked well PLUS we had lots of sandwich fixings and snacks in the room and they knew to help themselves to any of it at any time. Our budget daily for meals out was $100 and we rarely spent the whole $100. It helped that we had a car and could eat offsite a little cheaper most times. Some days our meal "out" was Chick-fila or McDonald's.

We also drove, so there was no additional cost in transportation.

So for that trip, adding them cost them (and us) very little. Also, since we had the 2 bedroom villa, all the girls slept in the 2nd bedroom and used that bathroom and my dd's boyfriend had the living room and 3rd bathroom for himself.

For the cruise we're doing, the additional cost of just the cruise was $500 for the friend, so we asked that girls parents to pay that portion and they actually made her pay half with her own money. We are covering all other expenses, except if she wants to buy any personal items. We are NOT doing the parks, but just a quick 2 night stay at AKV after the cruise.

I believe it is super fun for our kids to have their friends come along and we have not regretted inviting friends.

 

[Donna M]

We have let our teenager bring a friend. It made the trip special for them. We had the parents pay for plane tickets, park tickets, meals in the park since we let them go where they wanted and he did pay for Boma. We payed for the meals we ate in the resort since we didn't go to the parks every day.

I made a point of asking the parents before my son asked his friend just in case they couldn't afford it or he couldn't go for some reason. This way his parents wouldn't have to deal with the boy pestering them about not being able to go.

You know the girls best and how they would do. I don't think there would be any problems during the day; how late you let them stay is up to you and the other girl's parents.

 

[goofydad99]

We are considering doing this.

Our waitlist didn't come through so it won't happen this year.

I would have them pay for park tickets and we would cover food. Since we drive we wouldn't have to worry about that.

I think 15 year olds should be able to handle the park on their own. Make sure they have a cell phone and you should be good to go.

 

[Snurk71]

We've told DD11 she can have a friend come along on a trip. We've initially taken the position that the only thing we would ask to be covered is the plane ticket. Other than that, everything else will be on us (outside of souvenirs). But truth be told, if we thought the airfare would be a stretch for a friend's family and preventing her to go - we'd likely cover that too.

We figured if we were doing a beach vacation there wouldn't be much out of pocket expense. So since we're choosing Disney as the destination, with a high out of pocket cost, that high out of pocket cost is on us. Plus, we figure it's kind of our cost for having an only child.

 

[gdrj]

We've had our daughter bring a friend when in high school. We paid for DP (and I think admission?) for the friend since we were going to try the DP plan on that trip. Friend had to pay air and souvineers. Itw as for my daughter graduation (better than having her go to Beach week unchapperoned. They spent some tinme with us and some time on thier own.

At age 15 I think it would depend on what resort I stayed at if I would let them go on their own completely. If staying at BWV or BCV I would let them go to Epcot and MGM for sure... I think it would also depend on other families feelings as well. I probably would end up at same park in the distance...

 

[Sandisw]

Last summer, and again this year, we are bringing my DD 15 (who will be 16 this year) with us for our trip.

In our case, we covered everything but the airfare for the child. I think that whatever you feel is fair is fine, as long as it is clear to the parents what your expectations.

It worked out really great for my DD. In terms of heading to the parks by themselves, I did not allow that and had discussed it with the girl's mom ahead of time. She was fine with letting the girls explore on their own if one of the adults in our party was somewhere at a park, but preferred not to have her daughter at a park with no one else but my DD around.

This year, since the girls will be 16, we may modify things a bit as we stay at BWV and BLT but that will be decided ahead of time.

One thing I did and will do again, since I am providing food and snacks, is get the friend a small gift card to keep with her so if she wants a snack or drink, she doesn't have to ask me all the time as I didn't want her to feel awkward about it throughout the trip. It really worked out great!

Have fun!

 

[photobob]

We took DD's friend last year, they had just graduated from High School. Her friend paid for park pass and I paid for everything else. We let them go off by themselves, they were a bit older than yours. Since the friends family are Disney people they know the drill, I'd ask them about the kids striking out on their own.

 

[dzorn]

We have not taken friends as my two DD are only 2 years apart and get along. I would need to wait till both of them could take someone so no one would feel odd man out.

Denise in MI

 

[PinkTink63]

Normally, I am not a big fan of taking friends on our vacation but we are going to be taking a friend with us this year as our only child is graduating from high school. We said we would cover food and lodging and his friend would have to pay for his plane fare and park tickets. We will be gone for three weeks. We will be doing Disney then VB and back to Disney.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

As an only child myself and the parent of an only child, it's important at times to have friends along to share fun times. I've always brought my son's friend(s) with us! Of course as they were much younger, there was the trust factir that for us as FLoridians we were only 2 1/2 hours away if it ceased to be "fun" but that's never beent he case.

Last year we rented a GV at OKW for 5 days, Bldng 43 or 42?, I brought 5 of my son's best friends as a middle school graduation gift to him and them (they were all dispersing & heading off to different high schools), all 14 year old boys. I've know each of them since they were, 3 or 3 years old. At 14, each with cell phones and a certain amount of maturity, we felt comfortable letting them go to the parks on their own. My son a DVC/Disney expert facilated the buses, park schedules, etc. ect. We had some ADR's, we ate all dinner meals together, lunch some on their own, some back at the villa. They spent as much time just hangin out by the pool, the basketball courts, as they did in the parks. Honestly they just love having a bit of freedom and hanging out together. OKW is such a great resort and you can't beat the room, it really lends itself so well to large gatherings. It went off without a hitch, we all had a such wonderful time and yes, we're doing it again this June, just 4 of them.

Last June since it was my graduation gift to them, I paid for most of (yes, I saved all year) but some parents insisted on giving me money, some didn't and that was O.K. too. This year I invited 3 of the boys to join us again and I will provide the lodging and transportation (car, we live in FL) & also dinners (Villa). The parents will have already bought on-line tickets and provided pocket money for their boys..

It is of course different for us since their is no airfare involved and we are just 2 1/2 hours away!

I think anything you provide is reasonable, have a wonderful time!

 

[disneymomjcs]

Sounds wonderful, I know our dd14 would love to bring a friend on vacation. We usually vacation with family mostly boys or friends that have a mix so she usually has company. She would love to bring a best friends to WDW She is turning 15 soon. I think I would be ok if we were in the park and they go on their own and meet us for dinner or lunch. Haha but I am over protective

 

[nzdisneymom]

I think it's great to invite your DD's friends - and since she and her family are Disney fans, you know she'll enjoy the destination!

As for going off in the parks on their own, we're ok with our boys going off together in the park and checking in at specific times and locations. We've been going since they were younger than 3 (they are 14 and 15 now) and they know the parks like the back of their hands. We have even let them go ahead back to the resort on the bus without us, but that's just been in the last six months that we've done that. They know how to use the transportation system and they carry a cell phone with them. We are usually 20 minutes behind them - usually it's because I want to look in one more shop and they are ready to go - before, DH would take them on back, but now that they are older, we've let them go back on their own. I'm not yet ready to let them go from the resort to the park by themselves although I know they are capable - I just worry if something happened when they got there and their ticket didn't work properly that they wouldn't be able to get in - if I'm with them when we enter, then anything like that, I can take care of for them, especially since they are still minors. We have also left them at the resort on their own while we've gone to DTD or over to the outlet store. We figure we leave them at home alone, so it's not really any different.

 

[mdsd8700]

We just let DD bring her BFF last November and it was awesome. We were gone for just 4 nights over Thanksgiving. DDs BFF is like our 3rd child and pretty much goes everywhere with us, although this was the first vacation. BFFs family have been DVC owners for years and years and love Disney too. However they never do RD so DDs BFF was amazed how many rides we got on. We definately would do it again. They were both 14 (nearly 15) at the time and we sometimes separated while in the same park which was fine. However they also had my 18 year old son with them, but would have let them go off on their own without him as long as we were in the park too.

 

[Sammie]

We did it a couple of times and honestly we won't again. It just never seemed to work out for our group.

 

[rigsby25]

We have always permitted our children to bring friends. Seriously - it makes the vacation much more enjoyable for the kids. If we bring a guest, we pay for air fare, park tickets, and food. We only ask that they bring spending money for themselves for souvenirs, etc. We even let them sign on their KTTW card for snacks, etc. We are not bringing them because we want to gift them, we're bringing them as a way to make our kids happy. So I wouldn't expect them to pay for anything.

 

[DMKEDM]

I routinely brought DS' friends with us to Disney during his growing-up years--so often that an only-mom-son trip was the unusual one! Like some PPs, tho, the kids we brought along w/us were like "second sons" to me...my house was "kid central" while DS was growing up (I loved it and miss it), so having "an extra boy" along was a positive for me...

And yes, I let the boys explore on their own, but almost always they wanted me to be with them...we got the DDP so they wouldn't have to ask me for snacks/meals--but it was generally a non-issue since we were almost always together. I never bought souvenirs (don't buy them for me or my DS either...I guess one of the side effects of frequent Disney trips is a much lower "need" for souvenirs!)...

And I always assumed I'd pay for everything, but rarely did I...one of DS' friends had a much-traveled father, and twice he got plane tix for all 3 of us on his frequent flyer miles...other times the guest-kid brought along money and "instructions" to treat us for dinner (multiple times). But I always assumed I'd finance the trip and planned it accordingly...when the guest kids' families offered something I viewed it as a "treat" for me...

I think my all-time favorite Disney trip was when I brought 6 kids for spring break for DS' (and his friends) graduation present...they "concocted" a thank-you plan where they all made heart shapes over their hearts as the Dinosaur ride snapped our pics...then bought it, framed it, and gave it to me as my souvenir of that trip...it's now one of my prized possessions, and is proudly displayed on picture shelf...I still get a bit misty-eyed when I look at it...

Each family is different...for ours, bringing friends w/us adds immeasurably to the joy of a Disney trip...

 

[arthur06]

I think my all-time favorite Disney trip was when I brought 6 kids for spring break for DS' (and his friends) graduation present...they "concocted" a thank-you plan where they all made heart shapes over their hearts as the Dinosaur ride snapped our pics...then bought it, framed it, and gave it to me as my souvenir of that trip...it's now one of my prized possessions, and is proudly displayed on picture shelf...I still get a bit misty-eyed when I look at it...

Amazing! thanks for sharing

 

[buzz5985]

I think my all-time favorite Disney trip was when I brought 6 kids for spring break for DS' (and his friends) graduation present...they "concocted" a thank-you plan where they all made heart shapes over their hearts as the Dinosaur ride snapped our pics...then bought it, framed it, and gave it to me as my souvenir of that trip...it's now one of my prized possessions, and is proudly displayed on picture shelf...I still get a bit misty-eyed when I look at it...

Each family is different...for ours, bringing friends w/us adds immeasurably to the joy of a Disney trip...

I am misty eyed reading!!!

When DS was turning 13 - we took one of his friends for a quick 4 day trip. We paid for everything, the friend had some spending money. They had a blast. We let them go off in the park we were in.

This coming summer we are bringing another friend. They are now 15. We are driving to HH, then on to BWV and THV. Auto train home. We are paying for everything. We haven't decided on our ticket's for the parks yet (hopping option)- but they will be allowed to go to the park without us.

Janis