Are your teenagers ever NOT so thrilled to go to Disney?

[Sherri]

I feel really bad asking this. My DH and I are such hugh Disney fans and thats why we bought DVC. My son really likes it a lot but for my daughter it seems more like chore. She can definatly take it or leave it.
It makes me sad a bit because I remember how enthusiastic she was when we were going to Disney for the first time when she was 6. Of course there have been many trips since then. It just seems at 13 she is not loving it.
We do go on other vacations and she seems much more enthusiastic about them. I just wondered if this is a stage or anyone else has had a similiar situation ever. Thanks-

 

[Divamomto3]

I have a 13 year old and an 11 year old. They're enthusiastic to a point. But on our last trip, we added on an extra day while we were there and they were mad because they wanted to come home to see their friends. GRR! DH and I told them to get over it. They had fun, but the 13 year old is definitely all into his friends. He did spend ample time text messaging them while we were at the pool.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

we have DD's 16 and 14. They will like spending time at the pools and can take the parks or leave them. DS (3) will be all over MK and that will keep me bus. DW would rather stay home than stand in long lines in the sun...

Our teenagers WILL have fun...they have been informed.

We usually try to get a day or two of internet access so they can do emails and IM for a while. They also both have cell phones and can check in with their friends back home as needed.

 

[DonnaL]

I definitely understand where you're coming from.....we're a Disney family all the way.......except for our 23 yr old daughter, who's never really liked Disney vacations since her first visit at six!!! She does go, but, basically tolerates it. Her idea of ANY vacation is to sleep late and then just vegetate near the pool or on a beach. However, her four year old son is another Disney nut like the rest of us!!! He's been to WDW every year since he's 18 months old and next year he's going twice, once in January with the whole family and again in May with just DH and I (papa and grandma). On the other hand, our two sons ages 25 and 17 can't get enough Disney. Our oldest seriously considered accepting an advanced internship AFTER he finished college, but, then decided he needed a real job (big sigh of relief from Mom and Dad LOL). And, the youngest has the months counted to the first opportunity he will have to apply to the College Program!!!!

 

[Sherri]

Well it was funny because we were so excited to get the dining plan and pick out fun places for us to eat at the different parks (which they had a say in as well). Anyway, we bought our hopper passes and will also spend a couple days at the water parks. You would have thought I told them Christmas wasn't coming by their (well mainly DD because DS is more excited then she is) reaction when we had something planned everyday.
We will be coming from a weeks trip in New Orleans and I guess they feel they don't want to be at the parks everyday. My thought is that they can sleep all they want when they get home, vacation is the time to do things.
Anyway, DH and I decided that if they want to hang at the pool one day then we can play it by ear and do that anthen try to change the ADR for a place out of the park.
Someone mentioned that their son was at the pool texting his friends. That will totally be our kids. I mean we kind of take them away on long vacations so we can have time with them and get away from all of that.
Kids grow up too fast.

 

[wordzylady]

When we bought DVC our DS was 12 years old and we had been going to Disney since he was 9 years old. Last year he was 15 and was the first time he expressed that he was tired of the parks. This year DH and I did Disney for the first time just the two of us and we're leaving for VB tomorrow with our DS and a friend to just do the beach thing for a week. I think it's just a phase for teens. While he's going through the phase DH and I will just have to enjoy Disney by ourselves............somebody has to do it!!!!!

 

[sameyeyam]

My DD(14) is not real thrilled with Disney, but I really think it is just a stage she is going through. This year DH couldn't go with us, so we let her invite along her best friend. Now her best friend admitted to having a blast, but DD acted like she couldn't care less.

I let her & best friend go off alone each morning in the parks (armed with cell phone). Then we meet up for lunch, go back to hotel, swim, etc... Then we head back to parks for dinner around 9pm and fireworks, etc...

I think they have a little better attitude if you can let them bring a friend along (if finances permit!). I know my DD still isn't crazy about getting up early in the morning, but our tradeoff is she gets to spend the morning without Mom, and all afternoon swimming & lounging by the pool.

We also felt pretty good about taking her best friend, she is one of 9 children and most likely would never have been able to go to Disney if we didn't take her. Only thing was, I felt bad that I couldn't take her other 8 siblings. They are wonderful kids and if my budget were unlimited they would have went also!

I've also noticed DD doesn't complain nearly as much when spending time in the waterparks. She complains constantly about the theme parks, how hot, lines are long, etc... So we throw a lot of waterpark time in.

Of course most teenagers complain about everything Mom does anyway, so why should Disney be any different?

 

[halld6479]

we take our grand kids age 15 going on 16 girl and 14 going 15 boy they love it in fact last year they offered to give up the normal huge xmas we have for a chance to go back this year and we did, on the rie home they ask if next year they could bring a friend. next year? guess they were telling me something lol
our only mistake was the night we left grand son had got a xbox 360 and he wanted to stay in the condo instead of going to the parks, so he stayed behind then called on cell tellin us he was on his way when he was done. and the n he would spend a couple hours doing the rides. love taking kids that age they can do there thing and we can do ours, thank god for cell phones.

 

[Sherri]

I do consider allowing them to take a friend each and everytime I plan a vacation. But the selfish part of me (and I KNOW it is selfish), feels like it is our time to reconnect as a family atleast other then in the car at home on the way somewhere. With everyones busy schedules I feel like it is finally time we earned as a family. That said. Thanks to everyones help and advice, I will let them bring a friend on our next Disney vacation since we are leaving already on Wednesday for our first part of vacation then onto Disney. I will save our other vacation we take during the year as our "family" time.
I do remember being their ages and going to the shore with friends and to Boston and camping. That is what kids want to do at this age. I have to learn to let go. But I guess thats a whole other issue.
Thanks again for everyones input. I love these boards as it is a way to get an objective prospective on things.

 

[mikesmom]

Mine has loved the Disney vacation all along. Part of it may be that we let him vacation "his way". In the years when sleeping in and lots of pool time was important, we let him do just that! It's still vacation, he just loves the resort! There have been years when the parks were more important and days when the pool beckoned. We still seem to get plenty of "family time" at meals and times we meet up. We even get lots of "family talk" in while waiting to change planes on the trip over and back! (hey, you take it where you can get it!).

Sometimes if you just relax and go with the flow, you'll all enjoy yourselves.

 

[Cruelladeville]

My girls are now 29 and 26, but as teens we went thru the same thing that you are dealing with now. they want to be around their friends, forget mom and dad! Well, we brought friends for awhile, until we had a VERY bad experience(think: naked, on the couch) After that, we tried leaving them home(think: party) Then we bought DVC, and told them to go somewhere else while we were gone--the next thing we knew, we had both DDs wanting to accompany us to Florida! Now, our vacations have turned into family time on my points!

 

[geffric]

It really depends on the kids. My older son DS 15 loves going with me to Disney. We went last year for theF&W festival. He had a great time. Loves AK/Epcot/ MGM for RnR and Tof T. DS #2 who is 12 ( soon to be 13) is bored with everything. Doesn't want to go to WDW. Last year I took him to Universal.


Aside: they both still love DCL 'cause they get to play with friends all day and night and eat nonstop.

 

[Pluto4Pres]

I remember how enthusiastic she was when we were going to Disney for the first time when she was 6. Of course there have been many trips since then. -

How many times have you gone? I know a lot of people on these boards make multiple trips per year. I love Disney, but I don't think I could go that often. 13 is a nasty age. They start to come back around at 18.

 

[Scratch42]

It's a phase! At least that is what I keep telling myself!

She complained so much that I did not book any trips! Now it's, "When are we going back?" "I miss Disney!" Nearly fell off my chair when she said that!



j

 

[Garden Stater]

Sometimes if you just relax and go with the flow, you'll all enjoy yourselves.

i couldn't agree more with you!

i'll be celebrating my 20th birthday this august in wdw, and i've celebrated many others there in the past.

i've been going with my parents yearly since i was 2 and then when they bought the dvc the first year it opened we've gone at least once, sometimes twice a year.

i think what keeps us all sane is not going crazy with planning before we go and going with the flow once we get there. our lives are crazy enough as it is, we don't need to make that part of our vacation too.

have fun!

 

[Sherri]

Believe it or not, we usually play it by ear, but being on the dining plan makes it a bit tough. If we don't keep ADR we made for the park then we have to try and scramble to make them last minute at a resort. I hear that it is hard to get last minute reservations. If we hang at the pool all day then it seems silly to me to use a pass into the park just for dinner when we can save it for another trip. But DH and I decided that maybe we will take a day and change things around a bit and go to the pool and enjoy the resort as a family.
I'm really glad we did the dining plan, but I won't let it dictate our trip and we will switch what we need to switch if need be.

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

DS 16 loves the parks like I do...DS 19 could take them or leave them...and lately has been less than pleasant when we discuss our upcoming trips.

So, imagine my surprise when DS 19 decides he WANTS to go with DS 16 and I on our Mom & Son trip in August....????? I'm a little afraid DS 19 is just planning to come and then pout .... which we all know teenagers can do... but I'm willing to give it a try. He can come and go as he pleases, so hopefully he'll develop a new way of "doing Disney" if he gets total freedom.

We'll see how it goes....wish I could be more optimistic to everyone here, but I really don't think anyone can figure out teenagers...

 

[Anewman]

We were the other way around.

Last year our daughter turned 15 and we were planning a traditional "quinceanera"(mexican celebration), but she insissted that she did not want one and preffered to go to WDW with the family. Well if my 15 year old girl wants to go on a FAMILY trip to WDW, I was not about to say "no" since I know that it may become less common very soon. I was actually the one with reservation, we have been Disneyland AP holders since the about 1993 and felt it would be boring. WE ALL LOVED IT.

 

[MagikMom]

My husband and I are definately more into Disney now than the kids. When we stared going they were DD 8 and DS 5. Now they are 13 and 10. We are going to HH this year instead of Disney for a change of pace. My husband and I are having Disney withdrawal but the kids could care less!!! I think with the older one, she just doesn't like being away from her friends for too long and whenever we go to Disney we go for at least 10 days. Once we are there they have a blast but they wouldn't be upset if we didn't go every year like me and my husband are!

 

[simzac]

We have 2 DS's, ages 15 & 12. I have dropped several hints lately about how someday they will tire of going to WDW with their parents, and I practically get my head chewed off every time. They want to go worse than I do. Guess I'm just lucky.