Any tips for what to do with a teenager who thinks Disney is dumb?

[MinnieMe2]

We went to WDW with our teen son (17) and daughter (14) last year. They each brought a friend, who paid for their own air fare, food, and passes. We provided a place to stay. We are DVC members.

The two boys met a couple of girls their first nite there and spent a lot of time hanging out with them. We met the girls, who were very nice. Their situation was similar to ours, in that one of the families is a DVC member and they had their daughter bring her friend for the week. (Met the parents by the OKW pool one day, and they seemed very nice.) The boys did join us for dinner at Boma one nite, and our last nite there coincided with the last performance of Blast, so we all went to that together as well. DD and her friend stayed with us most of the time, their choice.

I think the key was to let them all have some independence, let them choose what they wanted to do and when. The fact that they each had a friend helped a great deal, too. DH and I actually managed to have a nice dinner, just the two of us, one night....

 

[DeeP]

My 19 yo DS has been going to WDW every year since he was 2 and once he got to be about 14 he decided he was sick of WDW. For the first couple of years I still insisted he come with us and he was miserable, then when he was 17 he stayed home. That cured him of his dislike for WDW, I think he was shocked that we would go without him! Now, he is always ready to go to WDW but he still does not go to the parks any where near as much as the rest of us do. He enjoys sleeping late, going to Epcot, DQ, ESPN to watch games, laying by the pool, renting water mice and eating dinner out with the rest of us. We go to WDW 3-4 times a year and he only goes once a year due to college and work but he still wants to go on a yearly basis.

 

[RumpleMom]

Our WDW trips have changed now that the kids are teenagers. Nice meals are much more important to them. Waterparks, DQ, DD and PI are musts. We go to PI three evenings in a week to see Comedy Warehouse and Adventurer's Club. Planet Hollywood, House of Blues, Rainforest Cafe too. It's different, but we are still spending time together as a family, that's what's important.

 

[FunkyRooster]

I'm 18 and still enjoy going although the thought of going with my family is kinda lame. For me, even if I go off by myself and doing my thing either down town or on the boardwalk, it's great. I love Disney though and think I will never grow out of the fun.