Advice needed from parents for first trip with pre-teen

[JeanfromBNA]

DH and I are taking our 12-year-old niece to WDW for a week in June. We are staying in a 1BR at Bay Lake Towers. She has never been to WDW before, but DH and I have been many times. We are flying there, and it will be her first airplane flight.

She says that she is interested in princesses (her favorite is Merida) and she is an active child that seems to embody the "tween" phase: she sometimes wants to be a child, and sometimes wants to appear more grown up.

DH and I don't have children, so do any parents or grandparents, or anyone with experience with tweens have tips or advice for how to make sure that this is a happy trip? Along with the household supply list for the 1BR, we will be sure to pack patience, but is there anything else that we might need?

 

[Gorechick]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/walt-disney-world-with-a-tween-less-drama-more-magic/

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

We first went when our daughter was 12, and it was a wonderful trip. The only thing she was not thrilled about was posing for photos (we had purchased Memory Maker, so we stopped for a lot of pics), but she knew these were important to me since have so few family photos of all three of us together. Luckily, while not thrilled, she was still a good sport. She helped me with the planning of the trip, so she knew what to expect, what rides we wanted, where we wanted to eat, etc., and she was excited about seeing it all come together. If you can include your niece in any of the planning, that would probably be a good idea. Maybe give her a guide book and tell her to make a list of things she really wants to do or see. Then include as many as possible in your plans. If you or her parents are able, perhaps make sure she has a GC or two to spend as she pleases. Also, it will be hot in June, so planning plenty of breaks from the heat - indoor shows, places to eat, water rides, etc. - will help lessen the risk of tween grumpiness (and adult grumpiness, too!).

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Twilight Sparkle pegged the biggie...making sure that non existent of you get over-heated/tire/hungry or dehydrated goes a long way for all travellers, no matter what their age!

Other than that, I would do my best to explain to her that Disney trip is really an escape for everyone, where you want to be in the bubble, where Princesses and a giant Mouse are "real" and nights are filled with magical (pyrotechnic) stars. Candy apples are a food group, along with Mickey-shaped food of all varieties. The real world is checked at the gate and, without being Goofy, you can play and be carefree, and it is all good. Let her know why you go, and keep going back, and how thrilled you are to be able to share that special experience with her. Let her in on the fun of extending good wishes to people wearing celebration buttons, and finding hidden Mickeys.

You obviously enjoy your Disney vacations, and how wonderful that you have a chance to "see" at all again through fresh eyes. Really, don't we ALL embody that tween phase while we are there? Most of us love our old classic rides, as well as seeing the lastest and greatest. We gobble our Mickey ice cream bars as happily as a 5 yr old, and enjoy a lovely adult meal, complete with appropriate beverage. Your niece will do the same, minus the adult beverage, of course. Just do your best to let yourselves go with her flow as much as possible and practical. Splash in the pool and eat chicken nuggets when it seems like the thing to do. Put on a little makeup and do your nails together for an evening at Disney Springs. Window shop for stuffies.....and shoes and diamonds! Remember, she is bringing along the best of both worlds. Enjoy it!

 

[Hikergirl]

Don't stress about how to make sure she has a happy trip, she will definitely have a happy trip!
I found that when my own kids were that age, the whole "tween, I'm too cool for this" stuff disappeared at Disney. They wore ear hats, rode the attractions and loved every minute of it. The only thing they stopped doing by that point was the character meet and greets. I think they were still in to pin trading though.
I miss those days at WDW

 

[holden]

I'd just ask her what she would like to do. Give her options and let her pick.

Also, something you might not think of because you don't have children, she's at the prime age for puberty to hit at full force (if you know what I mean). The summer DD14 turned 12 was the summer for her. Pack some feminine supplies just in case (if she or her parents don't think of packing some for her).

 

[Cinderella94]

I don't have children but remember going to Disney as the preteen (it wasn't too horribly long ago....well....10 ish years). I despised having to wear matching shirts. That's all I can really remember my mom and I going back and forth about when I was that age on trips.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Oh, we plan to let her know that this trip is all about having fun, and being carefree for a whole week. We are fortunately able to spoil her rotten while she's there, so the main limits on the trip will be time and common sense. I was mainly wondering about whether she might be too cool for certain "kid" things that I hadn't considered, and I didn't want to embarrass her (her Uncle will do a great job of that, anyway). There are no matching t-shirts in our plans, although I know her parents and grandparents will want photos, so she'll just have to suck that one up .

And, Holden, you bring up memories I would rather forget. Something similar happened to me on a school trip, so I will be prepared just in case. We'll have a well-stocked first-aid kit. It'll look more like a cabinet.

 

[Surgie2]

What a lucky girl she is! I really like the the Birnbaum WDW for Kids book. I've had the regular version for several trips but came across the kids version and ordered for my grandkids for our trip next year. They are too young to read but they enjoy the pictures. Your niece would be able to read and help do some of the planning. I think she'll be happy no matter what so no worries there. But it's a bonus for her to take part in the planning. You might get her a special autograph book - lots of cute ones on Etsy. If she decides not to collect autographs, she can use the book for a journal or to put pictures in.

https://www.amazon.com/Birnbaums-2017-Walt-Disney-World/dp/1484737784/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491015425&sr=8-1&keywords=birnbaum's+2017+walt+disney+world+for+kids

 

[Figmentmommy]

Oh, we plan to let her know that this trip is all about having fun, and being carefree for a whole week. We are fortunately able to spoil her rotten while she's there, so the main limits on the trip will be time and common sense. I was mainly wondering about whether she might be too cool for certain "kid" things that I hadn't considered, and I didn't want to embarrass her (her Uncle will do a great job of that, anyway). There are no matching t-shirts in our plans, although I know her parents and grandparents will want photos, so she'll just have to suck that one up .

And, Holden, you bring up memories I would rather forget. Something similar happened to me on a school trip, so I will be prepared just in case. We'll have a well-stocked first-aid kit. It'll look more like a cabinet.

Don't be surprised if she wants to do some if those kids type things - heck I'm 30 some odd years older than her and I still act like a kid there! As my kids got older they still enjoyed things like pin trading, taking funny pictures, and wearing hats/ears. They also still enjoyed the ocassional character meal. If you think she'd like to get some autographs an alternative to a book is using postcards. When my kids outgrew autograph books they would pick out their favorite postcards from the resort gift shop and then have a few characters sign the backs of them. They were a nice keepsake from our trip. We were not into wearing matching shirts, but we did each have a Disney shirt in the same color family and picked one day on our trip to all wear them. It wasn't too matchy matchy but looked coordinated in a sense. It made for a great photopass picture.

 

[Thing 1]

I think the best thing about WDW is there is nobody you know there and you don't have to be cool! Plan well to reduce waits and get FP for things you think she will like and don't assume she won't like the kid stuff.... we still love things like pooh! One thought is being homesick. Has she been away from her parents for a week before?

 

[JeanfromBNA]

She's active in Girl Scouts, and has been away on scouting trips and camps. I think she's been away for a week before. I hope that the ability to text her Mom and Dad whenever she wants will help.

 

[Felicis]

What a lucky girl she is! I really like the the Birnbaum WDW for Kids book. I've had the regular version for several trips but came across the kids version and ordered for my grandkids for our trip next year. They are too young to read but they enjoy the pictures. Your niece would be able to read and help do some of the planning. I think she'll be happy no matter what so no worries there. But it's a bonus for her to take part in the planning. You might get her a special autograph book - lots of cute ones on Etsy. If she decides not to collect autographs, she can use the book for a journal or to put pictures in.

https://www.amazon.com/Birnbaums-2017-Walt-Disney-World/dp/1484737784/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491015425&sr=8-1&keywords=birnbaum's+2017+walt+disney+world+for+kids

That is the book I have ordered for my daughter! OP, It will be a great way to involve her in the process, and help you plan things like character FP+. My DD will be 10, so a wee bit younger. Your girl might be a bit into Belle if she sees the latest Beauty and the Beast - my DD is mad on Emma Watson (Hermione and Belle - what awesome roles!)

 

[Marthasor]

I agree with PP's who suggest buying a book or having her go online to pick out what she would like to do in each park (top 3 rides, restaurants, etc.). I would also suggest planning one special event (if Club Villain is going on, it's REALLY cool) and maybe taking her to Disney Springs to go shopping for 1/2 a day.

 

[arminnie]

I took my niece on her first trip when she was 10. One thing that helped was that I gave her an allowance of $50 to spend on "things". So she had choices to make on how to spend that money. That was a little over 20 years ago so I'd probably make it be $100 today. I did of course pay for her food and tickets.