A Rite of Passage

[wvdisneyfamily]

My kids are 19 and 13 and when we vacation as a family we pay for them.
When they can afford to go on their own with friend/family then they can pay for themselves.

EDIT: just wanted to add that they buy their own "goodies" when we are there from money they earn/save.

I feel the same way. :wave:

I don't have kids yet, but I imagine I will feel the same way. My husband and I have been on trips and outings with our parents where, even though we've been married and 100% financially independent for years, they still insist on paying for things (despite our refusal). It's not quite as large as a whole trip or anything, but they buy dinners or other small things like that. Our parents just love us. I hope to be the same way.

 

[maelstrom]

The only time I've ever paid for my own ticket was when my mother made it a condition of getting to go to WDW at all, and I paid up over $400 for my AP.

If you're going to bother to take your own children on vacation with you, why make them pay for it?

 

[tigsmom]

I don't have kids yet, but I imagine I will feel the same way. My husband and I have been on trips and outings with our parents where, even though we've been married and 100% financially independent for years, they still insist on paying for things (despite our refusal). It's not quite as large as a whole trip or anything, but they buy dinners or other small things like that. Our parents just love us. I hope to be the same way.

I've been married almost 26 years and my in laws still insist on paying for dinners and picking up things for us when we visit. My parents were the same way and my dad always asked if we needed any money. :lol:
There is a phenomenon we call "shopping at grandma's" - anytime we visit we always leave with a goodie bag of cereal, snacks and the like that she knows we like and she picks up when she is shopping.

 

[ChrisQ]

Once I got out of college and got a "real" job, I started paying for my own tickets.

 

[Monty]

DS turns 13 in a couple of weeks. I haven't even thought about it yet.

I honestly think I'd probably still pay for him to join me even after he's moved out. At least until he's comfortably settled and can afford the cost without having to sacrifice other things. :shrug:

 

[TowerOfTerror]

I purchase the 10 day/ park hopper/ no expiration/water park and more ticket. It's just a little bit too pricey for them to foot the bill on this ticket. They usually pay for lodging, airfare and food so it’s a great bargain on my part.

 

[Hrudey3032]

2001 I was 26.My dad had just moved to Florida and we bought 3 day passes.At that time it only was 145 bucks for 3 day no hopper ticket.I then didnt pay for the next 6 years as my dad was a CM and we got in free.

 

[wdwmomof3]

I have always paid but my oldest is only 15. As long as we are going as a family, I will continue to pay for them for as long as I can. If they are older and go with friends, then they will be on their own, unless they let me tag along!

 

[maggiegrace1]

I've been married almost 26 years and my in laws still insist on paying for dinners and picking up things for us when we visit. My parents were the same way and my dad always asked if we needed any money. :lol:
There is a phenomenon we call "shopping at grandma's" - anytime we visit we always leave with a goodie bag of cereal, snacks and the like that she knows we like and she picks up when she is shopping.

Drew's parents are the same way..I have not bought a pack of diapers since Maggie has been born ..I get a box of diapers every week (I have 3 boxes in my closet) and 3-5 bags of groceries every week when we go visit them..:lol:

I have told her that she does not need to do this as we can easily afford it but Drews daddy says to let her do it because it makes her happy..:shrug::lol:

They also bring us out to eat every week and if we even attemot to pay the bill she gets upset.

We just give them really nice gifts as much as we can..

 

[Sleepy01]

I am 28 and also have very very generous parents. They would still pay for a lot of things if I let them.

When we went in 2002 they paid for my trip. I was just out of college with my first job and still getting established. When we went in 2004 and 2005 I paid for the trip, and when we went last year (December) mom said it was my Christmas present.

Again I am 28 and probably on 'Christmas presents' out until age 60...

If it is affordable I think it is nice of parents to pay for family trips until the 'kids' are able to pay for their own. Anything beyond that is a bonus!

 

[tigsmom]

Drew's parents are the same way..I have not bought a pack of diapers since Maggie has been born ..I get a box of diapers every week (I have 3 boxes in my closet) and 3-5 bags of groceries every week when we go visit them..:lol:

I have told her that she does not need to do this as we can easily afford it but Drews daddy says to let her do it because it makes her happy..:shrug::lol:

They also bring us out to eat every week and if we even attemot to pay the bill she gets upset.

We just give them really nice gifts as much as we can..

The boss used to get upset because he felt that they felt he couldn't support his family. It took me ages to convince him to just go along with it, its what parents do and we will probably be the same way when our turn comes. :lol:

We now have a system... if they buy dinner we pay for the drinks and leave the tip and they do the same if we buy dinner. Its worked out fine so far.

 

[dpunky]

Last year when I bought my first Annual Pass

 

[sprocketfish]

On our last complete family trip to the world in 2006, my sisters and I (we were 23, 21, and 19 at the time) volunteered to pay for our own airfare, and I bought an annual pass... we used my annual pass for discounts, etc... I think if we'd go again as a family my sisters and I would again volunteer to pay for our airfare, tickets, etc. again, but my parents would probably pay for the room (or cabin in our case) and food... aside from our family trips, my sisters and I have gone on our own a few times since then with boyfriends, friends, etc... our parents never mandated we pay anything, it was a mutual decision...

 

[Tonphanan]

My parents cover the cost for us to go, but all food and merchandise for me and my daughters is covered by me. I would like to one day be able to cover the whole trip for just the three of us.

 

[lpet11984]

When my parents invite me go to, they pay for the essentials: airfare, hotel, most food, tickets. Otherwise I cover snacks and souvineers. Although now that I am on my own I've offered to help cover other expenses, but they usually insist on covering at least the essentials so that we can stay at a nicer resort which I wouldn't otherwise be able to afford.

When I go without my parents, I cover everything.

It was a great "rite of passage" to be able to afford my first Disney trip without my parents back when I was in college...however, that first trip to Disney for my 16th birthday with my parents holds a very special place in my heart.

 

[The Disney Kid]

I paid for the kids until they graduated college. My oldest daughter took seven years to graduate......HEY, wait a minute!

 

[nmj91385]

At 23 my parents still pay for my ticket as long as I am going with them on a family vacation. If I were to go without them I would be expected to pay.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

I'm 26, and my fiance & I go to Disney twice a year w/our entire families. If our parents do the parks (sometimes they stay by the pool), then we buy our own tickets. If they come into the parks, sometimes they'll offer to pay.

I will say that at around 21 I felt guilty allowing them to pay for the tickets and try to always buy dinner a few nights to even things out.

 

[lpet11984]

I paid for the kids until they graduated college. My oldest daughter took seven years to graduate......HEY, wait a minute!

:lol: Now there's an idea I could get on board with! I like the way she thinks! :animwink:

 

[DDPGambit]

I paid for my tickets on my own when I was 19. My parents still paid for the hotel though. I paid for tickets and my own food. (Though this was mainly because I brought a friend along and we ventured on our own 90% of the time).
My next trip since then will be in May, and I'm 24. I'm paying for it entirely on my own, it's kind of neat, it's like I'm finally an adult...I'm going to Disney without my parents at all!