Tips for Bringing BFF

[Poppins2010]

My girls have brought college friends with us. Up front they knew that they would be responsible for their own airfare and park ticket and Most food. I would cover the room since we stayed off site and rented a townhouse we had plenty of room. I would pay for all the food we ate in the townhouse and usually ended up at least paying for one or two meals in the park. We get military tickets so the park tickets are cheaper and we've always seemed to find pretty cheap airfare for them.

Communication is the key..they also know up front that they WILL be getting up early at being at rope drop lol!

Rope drop. Excellent point.

 

[MichelleVW]

Rope drop. Excellent point.

We went the week before Christmas and took my 20 year old daughter's best friend. Before we went my daughter told her friend, "you have to listen to my mom and do whatever she says" Her friend, (that I've known since she was 7 years old ) said, "why wouldn't I listen to your mom?"

 

[ShelliRenee]

We took my son's friend (Who is also my best friend's daughter). It was free dining, so it was just the cost of her ticket and spending money. I paid for the room and gas down.

 

[mom2rtk]

Rope drop. Excellent point.

That really is a great point. My friend let her teenage son bring a cousin along, then she spent the entire trip trying to get them up and out the door. The boys would stay up late then not want to get up and get to the parks before noon. She was SO frustrated and said she'd never do that again (they were offsite with only one car so they couldn't leave until everyone could go).

 

[richmo]

Just wanted to add if the BFF is under 18 you'll need a notarized letter for medical emergencies and the medical insurance card.(just in case)

This is the most important piece of advice so far. I'm not sure if you need it notarized, but don't leave home without it. If they don't have an actual insurance card, make sure you get a copy of the parent's card. Plus make sure you have mom and/or dads cell, home and work numbers in case you need them.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Whenever I'm planning these types of trips, I like to have the person coming pay for whatever would be non-refundable if they were to change their mind. For a Disney trip for us, that would be the airfare. I feel it reduces any awkwardness or resentment about $ that might arise if the person chose to back out. (for whatever reason)

 

[mom2rtk]

Whenever I'm planning these types of trips, I like to have the person coming pay for whatever would be non-refundable if they were to change their mind. For a Disney trip for us, that would be the airfare. I feel it reduces any awkwardness or resentment about $ that might arise if the person chose to back out. (for whatever reason)

Smart move!

 

[gobo2]

We've brought DD15's bffs on the last two trips. We are comfortable but not wealthy. Both girls' families are much better off than we. We covered the room and some off the food but the girls' parents bought their own plane and park tickets and most of the food bill. This was understood in the original communication.

I'd love to be able to pay for everything, especially since this year's bff is paying her own way with her earnings from modeling. We just really can't.

 

[MichelleVW]

That really is a great point. My friend let her teenage son bring a cousin along, then she spent the entire trip trying to get them up and out the door. The boys would stay up late then not want to get up and get to the parks before noon. She was SO frustrated and said she'd never do that again (they were offsite with only one car so they couldn't leave until everyone could go).

In my world they would have been left. I make my expectations clear the night before and my girls know that "we are leaving at 7:45" means we are pretty much walking out the door at 7:40! When we are traveling with slow people (my mom, sister, my own bff) I tend to see how late they are the first day, (I say 7:45 and we leave at 8) then I add a 15 minute buffer the next day lol. I'm not a total dictator though lol...everyone expects me to make the plan but I will give them a few options and let them pick which one they like better. Last trip we actually skipped rope drop at AK thanks to our afternoon Fast Pass Plus!!

 

[mom2rtk]

In my world they would have been left. I make my expectations clear the night before and my girls know that "we are leaving at 7:45" means we are pretty much walking out the door at 7:40! When we are traveling with slow people (my mom, sister, my own bff) I tend to see how late they are the first day, (I say 7:45 and we leave at 8) then I add a 15 minute buffer the next day lol. I'm not a total dictator though lol...everyone expects me to make the plan but I will give them a few options and let them pick which one they like better. Last trip we actually skipped rope drop at AK thanks to our afternoon Fast Pass Plus!!

Yeah, I really was frustrated that my friend let her schedule be dictated by the teens. I love staying onsite because anyone not ready can be left behind, but can still get to the parks.

I told her later the problem is that she was on a Disney trip but teens were on a trip to Florida. They really just wanted to swim and shop at the outlet malls.

 

[Tigger's ally]

We paid for everything but park ticket. We always drove the van and had extra room. We took my daughters best friend who came from a single parent home that was always financially strapped. We knew it would be hard for them but I told her mom 8 months in advance that we would love to take her and that the ticket cost was around $250. That was the basic ticket, which we upgraded to park hopper and water park and added a day. That way her mom to this day can be proud that they skimped and saved to send their daughter to Disney World.

 

[kmb584]

As a kid I was on both ends: my parents allowed me take a friend once a year and I went on vacation with a friend once a year (sometimes the same friend, sometimes a different one).

My parents didn't expect the other parents to pay their child's way when we invited someone along. They covered everything from airline tickets to park tickets (if applicable; some of those vacations were to Hawaii or Alaska or London, not just WDW or DL) but did appreciate when the parents sent their child with souvenir money. When I was invited on vacation my parents always offered to pay my way but as far as I know that offer was never accepted. They did send me with souvenir money though.