Would you ask your kids to help pay for a vacation?

[Merriwind]

I haven't read anything but the OP, so as not to be biased by replies. I just asked DD9 what she would say if I asked her to contribute $150 to a WDW trip and she said, "No thanks." (I used paying for tix as the need, since we live within driving distance). I think that your kids are a little young to ask this of them.

Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[Nancyg56]

I think you know your children and what they are okay with. I have known families that saved together for vacations and they all survived and were happy for the experience. If you think that this is something that they will want to do, by all means ask them. Kids can surprise you when given the opportunity to pay for something, many will enjoy that time more than when mom and Dad pay.

 

[Christy LOVES Disney]

I don't have kids so this might not be as relevant as people with kids but if I was that age and my parents needed the money and I had it and it involved going to Disney World I would jump at it. But I'm not so sure it's the age that matters. I think it may be more of the kid. Some kids love Disney and some like it. If your kids love it im sure they would jump at the opportunity to go again, which it sounds like they love it. I don't know if I would tell them that I would be paying them back and just do it as kind of a surprise. Since it would be a "learing experience" of how much things really do cost and money doesn't grow on trees. I would sit them down and say it is up to ya'll no one else's opinion matters... don't make it sound like you really want to go cause then they may feel pressured. Just say yall have the opportunity and if yall are up for it we can do it. Hope everything works out.

 

[Vacation Lover]

Here's how I see it: the kids' Christmas money is to be spent on something THEY WANT. You need to give them the information that Disney is an option so they can make an informed decision. I'd present it like this: "If you were able to use $150 of your Christmas money to go to Disney, would you want to do that?" Make sure they know that they must BOTH answer yes in order to do it. If either one of them answers no, drop the subject and do not go on the trip this time around.

As long as neither one is guilted into doing it, I don't see anything wrong with having them pitch in for the trip.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I guess it all boils down to whether THEY want to go to WDW/FL again or whether YOU just dont want to pass up this opportunity to go again.

I would just present it to the kids as "we have an opportunity to go again and for less money than normally but we are still short some of the money because it is so last minute. We can still go, if EVERYONE in the family chips in, meaning the kids' chip in for their airfare from their Christmas money. If we are not in 100% agreement to each do our part, then the trip is a no go."

But be prepared to really SELL it because if anyone is reluctant to part with their money then you have to be willing not to go.

If it's really FOR YOU because you can't give up the great deal, be prepared to pay it all yourself.

Another way to approach this is to ask if they were willing to contribute $$ from their Christmas money to make this trip possible since it may not happen otherwise. If they all say yes - great. If there are dissenters, you may re-work it as a "loan" as others have suggested.

I know my kids would hand over their money in a nano second if it meant another trip to WDW. Lol.

Good luck.

 

[SmallWorld71]

My 8 year old says, "It is O.K. to ask as long as you just don't take the $ without asking. Their answer would depend on how much they like Disney."

My kids have long contributed part of their Christmas $ towards our annual trip to Cape Coral to visit their Great-Grandparents - we could not afford it otherwise. I think those precious memories are more important than the material objects they might buy with the $.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I did talk to the kids father today and he said he wouldn't mind one bit if they wanted to use their money to go to WDW with us. I didn't think he would mind and I know he appreciated being asked.

No, this isn't a case of me wanting to go more than the kids. I'm a former WDW CM so I have been to WDW literally thousands of times. My kids love all things Disney and would go every day if they could.

The trip can only happen if it is a cash trip - we won't be going into debt to go. DH can reschedule the training for later in the year but it would be at a different location (and nowhere nearly as fun as WDW so we would not be tagging along).

Honestly I would love to have the cash to foot the entire trip and just literally surprise the kids the day of the trip but this time it won't happen that way if we do get to go.

 

[DawnM]

No, I wouldn't ask my kids to pay. I might for extras, but not for airfare, lodging or food. Those are givens in our family. Extras can be their tab.

Dawn

 

[disneyjunkie]

OP, when is your next planned trip?

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

OP, when is your next planned trip?

We have been invited to go with the girl's Godmother in mid-May (she is using DVC points for a room at PORS) but DH won't be going on that trip since he will be at training in Virginia then.

That trip of course would not require any of the kids money since we have plenty of time to budget for the airfare, food, tickets, etc... The kids would only use their money for any souvenirs they wish to purchase.

This trip in a couple of weeks is definitely a "bonus" trip if we do get to go - not the typical planned vacation. Like I said in my pp, we would not go unless we could go on "cash".

 

[disneyjunkie]

We have been invited to go with the girl's Godmother in mid-May (she is using DVC points for a room at PORS) but DH won't be going on that trip since he will be at training in Virginia then.

That trip of course would not require any of the kids money since we have plenty of time to budget for the airfare, food, tickets, etc... The kids would only use their money for any souvenirs they wish to purchase.

This trip in a couple of weeks is definitely a "bonus" trip if we do get to go - not the typical planned vacation. Like I said in my pp, we would not go unless we could go on "cash".

So your next trip is just four months away.

Did your whole family vacation together last September?

2 trips within an 8-month period.

I'd skip this one. Your kids aren't really missing out on a trip to WDW. They're actually doing better than most kids (and adults for that matter) their age.

Do you have someone that could watch the kids while you and your husband go alone?

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

So your next trip is just four months away.

Did your whole family vacation together last September?

2 trips within an 8-month period.

I'd skip this one. Your kids aren't really missing out on a trip to WDW. They're actually doing better than most kids (and adults for that matter) their age.

Do you have someone that could watch the kids while you and your husband go alone?

September was the much belated wedding reception for DH and I at the Living Seas so it was actually the whole family along with all of our guests including DH's parents and friends from all over and my ex.

It would be heavenly to spend some time alone with DH. Are you volunteering? We're only a couple of hours from Brooklyn by train!

 

[MissyDVC]

I don't see any problem with it and I know that my kids would both answer yes in a minute! And we go alot, too! But they would rather spend their money on a WDW trip than anything else. You know your children best. If you are comfortable with it, just ask.

 

[GoinToDisney]

We have spent some of dd's money to buy her season passes to sesame place. It was given to us to decide how to spend it for her, as she is only 3. Lot's of family members contributed $ toward a swing set. I found one that would last longer and was cheaper. I had already told everyone that any extra $ would go toward her sesame passports, so that is where it went. I have no regrets. She has soooooooooooo many toys and enough clothes to wear a different outfit every day for 3 weeks. She enjoys going places and doing things more. We also put some of her bday $ toward a pool membership. We were given a check for $100 in June to buy her a winter coat. The coat cost 30, and the rest went to the pool. Of course, since then, we have probably spent that and then some on a lighter jacket, rain boots, 2 hats and gloves sets and clothing.

Now, this is a 3 year old who didn't even know she had the $, but I think your kids are old enough to decide. I think people don't give kids enough credit. It is not a parent's job to provide Disney trip, just as it is not your job to buy every toy. I think it is fine to give kids the option, but just remind them that you are already going again in May. I'm not sure why people would assume you are going in debt to pay for a trip. I guess "can't afford" means different things to different people, and many people really do go into debt. To me, it means that you have $ set aside for all of the necessities and not quite enough left over to pay for the trip. In our house, it actually means that we don't want to take it out of the savings because the savings has to last until I go back to work. We don't want to tap into savings too much per year because we hope to still have our 3 month cushion in case of emergencies once I do I return to work.

I have to ask, would the kids have to miss school for all 3 trips? If so, then I don't think it is a good idea for them to miss school for 3 vacations in one school year. Family vacations are important, but teaching resposibility is also important.

 

[scrappinmom]

I would ask them! My kids are 13 & 8....and we have a giant piggy bank in our kitchen.....It's a ceramic bank that the girls & I decorated 4 years ago & it says "Disney Money" on it......to make a long story short.....we put all of our change, extra dollars etc in there to save for a trip...well youngest dd got a $100 check from my aunt for Christmas....I just asked her yesterday where she put her Christmas money....you guessed it...she put ALL of it! the check, the cash everything she got from everyone into the pig! I asked her why & she said "because I want to go back to Disney, & I don't want anything else"

So, I would ask them!

 

[Disney 'Ohana]

If you're going in May, I'd say save it for that trip. But I know the feeling of wanting to go so bad. I couldn't do it.

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

If you think your kids are old enough to understand, just ask them and go with what they say. If they both say OK then go for it. I think it's important to help kids understand that there's not just a magical place where all the stuff they want comes from. For example, my son got money for his birthday but it wasn't enough to cover the cost of Guitar Hero for the Wii. I told him if he put in the birthday money he had that I'd cover the rest (he had most of it). That doesn't happen every time he asks for something but it reinforces the point. Good luck!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I don't understand why anyone thinks it would be wrong to ASK your children if they would like to use their money to go to Disney. It is their money, and I think that giving them the choice to use it to go on a special trip is a great idea.

Maybe, talk to your kids together and explain the situation. Tell them that for the trip to happen, they must agree to both contribute. Also let them know that if they decide they would like to save their money/ spend it on something else, that is okay, too! Maybe give them a couple hours, a day, a few days, etc. to talk, and let them decide together. This might be a great learning opportunity for them, whether or not they decide to go.

I wish that I was given the option to use some of my money to go to Disney when I was younger! I think that as long as you don't pressure your kids to go, this will turn out great!

 

[elainemeyerovitz]

"I don't understand why anyone thinks it would be wrong to ASK your children if they would like to use their money to go to Disney. It is their money, and I think that giving them the choice to use it to go on a special trip is a great idea."


As a teacher, I do not think young children are truly capable of understanding money and using it wisely- that is why we as adults need to watch out for their best interests- to protect and grow their money, not throw it away on selfish parental desires. What I want does not matter, only what is best for my kids. It is one thing to allow my kids to blow $10 on a toy, but to allow them to impulsively spend hundreds is concerning. If children are not taught to respect and portion out their money, they will grow into free spending adults.

Not to sound judgmental, but the idea of parents "borrowing" from their kids is so scary and a truly disturbing view of the condition of our society. No wonder there are so many folks with financial woes right now.

 

[Cruz91]

First, my opinion... It is never too young for children to begin to learn the concept of sacrifice and the value of a dollar. We are very fortunate to not be in the OP's situation, but we have still already started teaching our children these lessons. For each trip, we have the kids go to their piggy banks and get out $15 or $20 which will be their spending money for the trip. They give the money for me to 'hold' for them, and are happy to do so. I actually end up just slipping the money back in their banks, but they don't realize it. I want them to understand how expensive Disney is, and that they should be thankful to get to make the trips.

In a similar story, we recently had another learning opportunity. Our church has several 'wish trees' at Christmas on which they put names of children who are less fortunate who may not get much for Christmas, along with ideas for what the child has asked for. We explained to both of our kids what the tree was, and asked that they each go and pick a name of someone about their age. We then told them to get the money out of their banks and we were going to go buy those gifts. Once again, they were happy to do so, and once again, the money somehow found it's way back into their banks . Isn't that what we all try to teach our children? If they do good - good will come back to them. My kids are almost 6 and almost 4, and I am happy with the values they are starting to understand.

So a long-winded answer to your question - no, I don't think it's a bad thing to ask that they contribute to the trip. They are older than my children, and certainly old enough to understand the issue. I do have one minor suggestion on the approach. What about sitting down and talking as a family about how your DH is going to WDW, and it would be great to go along, but the money just isn't in the budget right now. Give them a little bit of time to think about it, and maybe you won't even have to ask.