Ever had your kids bring a friend???

[copcarguyp71]

We are entertaining letting our DD bring a friend on our trip in 2014 (she will be 11). I would love to hear thoughts and or personal experiences from those who have made this leap of faith.

Our DD's best friend is a great kid and the two never fight or argue one bit when spending weekends together but I know that a week with someone else's kid is a huge gamble. She does not currently do roller coasters and DD (and us) love them so that is a huge downside but the upside is that DD and DD-friend talk about this all the time together and hint-drop to us. We are pretty much leaning towards not doing it though simply because it could take a great high-dollar family vacation and turn it into seven nights of purgatory.

We are going to take her for a three night jaunt to Ocean City MD to test the waters this summer but I am very interested in hearing from my WDWMagic peeps on this one.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

I rought my boyfriend when I was 16 (we had been together 3 months) and my sister was 14 and brought her best friend (they had been best friends for like 2 years) I think in retrospect, 16 was a little young to bring a boyfriend. We argued the whole time (I can admit now I was a spoiled brat back then and when he didnt want to do what I did, I got mad at him.) So I guess technically I ruined the trip!! lol

A few years back, my 17 year old cousin brought his girlfriend with us. HUGE MISTAKE!! She was loud, obnoxious and rude. They had only been together a few months and my aunt I guess didn't really know her all too well. She spent all her money and had to borow some from my aunt, promising her parents would pay it back (she said she had spoken with her dad and he was fine with this) Well when we got home and dropped her off, her father had NO clue about her needing extra money. She had lied about talking to him and he was REALLY mad. We decided going forward if any family was going to be traveling with us and staying in our timeshare that we own, they are not allowed to bring guests. If they want to pay for their own hotel, then that's fine; They can bring whoever they want at that point.

I think each situation is different though. If you know soemone really well, it could work out, but bringing someone you are not to familiar with could be a problem. I guess only you know for sure if you think your family and your daughters friend will mesh well together on vacation

 

[Doug Means]

Last June 2012 my daughter was 12 and outnumbered 4 boys and her going. so we took one of her friends with us. it was great. no real issues. we knew the family well enough and her parents had no issues either. i look back at the pictures we have with her in them or just of my daughter and her, and love the memories. i feel like if my daughter didn't have someone to relate to other than me or her brothers, she just would not have had the great time she did. it still might have been fun but may not have beenas fun. with that all being said, i feel like you must know the family and people you may want to bring well. then and only then can you make a good decision.

 

[Mot]

Since my daughter was 8! we have taken a friend almost every trip. At the age of 17 we took four girls. We had as much fun as they did. All the CMs couldn't believe we took on that task. We even attended the Halloween Party in costume on that trip.
Every time we took a friend it made the trip that much more fun. No fights and lots of laughs. It also made rides more convenient since we are a family of three.