Disney for a 16 year old boy?

[mshanson3121]

I'm considering inviting my baby brother to go to Florida with us when we go back. He would be 16, and it would be his first trip. My reservations are:

He's a huge science kid. Not really into plays/musicals etc...

He's not much into rides. He'd do some but not coasters etc.

So, what does Disney have to offer for a teenager like him?

 

[Hi Pluto]

He would love EPCOT with all of its future-science exhibits. And he'd probably like to walk the world showcase. I'd say, take him along. I'm sure he'll find himself having a good time.

~Cari~

 

[rteetz]

I'm considering inviting my baby brother to go to Florida with us when we go back. He would be 16, and it would be his first trip. My reservations are:

He's a huge science kid. Not really into plays/musicals etc...

He's not much into rides. He'd do some but not coasters etc.

So, what does Disney have to offer for a teenager like him?

Well I'm 17 and have written a few Disney articles on the subject which are in my signature below.

As for science I think Epcot might be good for him. Mission space, the seas pavilion, even spaceship earth could be very cool to him being that it is his first time.

Disney has a ton to offer for every age.

 

[tsme]

What about some tours? The Land has a tour, Behind the Seeds, that's inexpensive. There are others of course, but are more $$. Also, if he likes animals, AK has the walking trails & sometimes if you get to conservation station early you might see a vet procedure being done.

 

[pattyw]

Just make sure if he's one that likes to sleep in- let him. It's not pretty to get a teenager up for rope drop! We are much happier travelers when we let our kids sleep in. Now with FP+, you can have them arranged for later in the day- and staying until park closing is great!

 

[craigkerstiens]

I'll echo many others and say there would probably be plenty for him to still enjoy. I'd also encourage the pool at the resort as an option for some fun for him, and I bet you'd be surprised at him enjoying all of the night time shows.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I'm considering inviting my baby brother to go to Florida with us when we go back. He would be 16, and it would be his first trip. My reservations are:

He's a huge science kid. Not really into plays/musicals etc...

He's not much into rides. He'd do some but not coasters etc.

So, what does Disney have to offer for a teenager like him?

I would probably look into the youth education series to give him a glimpse of the science in the parks, especially if you wanna do a park he's not gonna find much interesting in. There are a bunch of 12-17 year old classes on Properties of Motion, Physics and Energy and Waves, Physics (in MK) and Evolution in Technology (EPCOT) that are being offered this year.

I would also do less "parks" and more fun activities in his wheel house. Going in, I wouldn't expect him to want to spend more than 1 day in each park, since you don't want him to get bored (and if he does, you can always be happy and upgrade the ticket with more days during the trip)...

 

[Spork24]

Who else is in your travel party?
I was a kinda nerdy teen when I went at 16. I had a blast but went with one of my good friends.

Would it be you and the wife? Kids? How close are you guys? Most of the fun is about who you share it with!

 

[mshanson3121]

Who else is in your travel party?
I was a kinda nerdy teen when I went at 16. I had a blast but went with one of my good friends.

Would it be you and the wife? Kids? How close are you guys? Most of the fun is about who you share it with!

It would be myself, my husband, our two children who would be 10 & 7.
Possibly our mom, too.

 

[NinaBella]

,.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

As a former 16-year-old boy (one who spent one absolutely torturous day in MK at 17), I think you're going to have to ask. I probably would have enjoyed some things at AK at that age, and definitely the water parks. Epcot & DHS would be iffy. MK a definite NO-GO! But again, every kid is different.

 

[aggiedog]

I have two nerdy 16yo dds. One is a big gamer. They love Epcot. Their all time favorite store, on the planet, is the one at the Japanese pavilion. They are also foodies, so really enjoy the wide range of choices at Epcot.

Just asked one dd, who says she likes the decorating/imagineering that is involved in all the parks, attention to detail, etc.

You could consider a behind the scenes tour. Lots of tech goes into making WDW run. We are doing lunch with an Imagineer, though I've only got 2 seats reserved. It will probably be me and my gamer dd, who is interested in doing animation as a career. Hopefully we'll get someone in that vein for the lunch.

 

[Bluegrrl]

Get a good tour book and also get him to watch pov YouTube videos. They give you a good idea of what's there and what it looks like. Take the keys to the kingdom tour if you can, I think it would be kinda cool for him. And, don't be afraid to let him wait if you want to ride something like " it's a small world" and he doesn't. And don't just assume he won't like something like that just b/c he's a boy and 16. Boys will surprise you.
Btw, my brother would "pick up" girls at the MK by using his knowledge of WDW. He'd slip into line behind cute girls, chat them up, then arrange to meet them at a restuarant at the park or a hotel for a snack/date!! Sometimes, park rides aren't as interesting as "other attractions" are!

 

[larryz]

Btw, my brother would "pick up" girls at the MK by using his knowledge of WDW. He'd slip into line behind cute girls, chat them up, then arrange to meet them at a restuarant at the park or a hotel for a snack/date!! Sometimes, park rides aren't as interesting as "other attractions" are!

Exactly. And don't forget the visiting Tour Groups...

 

[Bridgett_Anna]

He would love EPCOT. They have a ride called Mission Space. It simulates what it would feel like to take a trip to mars. You get to fly the "Ship" you are in. You also get assigned jobs.

 

[disnut8]

I'm considering inviting my baby brother to go to Florida with us when we go back. He would be 16, and it would be his first trip. My reservations are:

He's a huge science kid. Not really into plays/musicals etc...

He's not much into rides. He'd do some but not coasters etc.

So, what does Disney have to offer for a teenager like him?

The only person who can answer "what does Disney have to offer for a teenager like him?" is, well, him. You said you have two kids, ages 10 and 7 - is he close with them and will he tolerate attractions for them? Will they want to go on things with him?

Other have mentioned Epcot for technology so maybe suggest he reads up on those attractions like Ellen's Energy Adventure and how the ride vehicles work there. Or Tomorrow Transit Authority (Magic Kingdom). Or Mission:Space. He can read about the animals on the Safari at Animal Kingdom. Or on the two walking trails or what's at Rafiki's Planet Watch. He can enjoy all of that with his niece/nephew while enjoying what he knows and seeing it through their eyes and teaching them about things.

Those are things you can suggest but then let him explore Disney World science before you go on his own. If he's that much into science, he'll be able to find out things a lot on people on these boards never knew.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I have two nerdy 16yo dds. One is a big gamer. They love Epcot. Their all time favorite store, on the planet, is the one at the Japanese pavilion. They are also foodies, so really enjoy the wide range of choices at Epcot.

Just asked one dd, who says she likes the decorating/imagineering that is involved in all the parks, attention to detail, etc.

You could consider a behind the scenes tour. Lots of tech goes into making WDW run. We are doing lunch with an Imagineer, though I've only got 2 seats reserved. It will probably be me and my gamer dd, who is interested in doing animation as a career. Hopefully we'll get someone in that vein for the lunch.

My DS8 sounds a lot like your 16yo's!! The very first thing we do when we arrive at WDW - head to the Japan store!

Yes, EPCOT!! Innoventions isn't all it used to be, but Sum of All Thrills might interest him. Definitely look into the YES program. They have a lot of science programs. I echo the PP's who recommend the tours, both in EP and AK.

And, perhaps a day trip to Kennedy Space Center? Orlando also has a science center.

 

[tstidm1]

Star Tours, 7DMT, BTMM (not a roller coaster to me), IASW, Carousel of Progress, Dinosaur, Killamajaro Safaris are some of the rides that he would enjoy due to Science or the other things involved with them. I also don't do the Roller Coasters or even Tower of Terror and I love WDW.

 

[DavidNYC]

Teenage girls?????

What does he like? If you don't like rides, you don't like shows, and if you're not into the stuff you'd see at Epcot, it may not be for him. Depends on whether he's looking at the vacation as family time or he expects to be able to be really busy doing things he wants to do. Pretty much everyone on this board is going to say it's just such a fun place to be and so much to do (which is true) but there are a lot of people out there who can't stand Disney.

Will he have young nieces or nephews with him? Part of the fun is being with them on rides. But I'd have him check out the various Disney sites and see what is there. You don't want be dragging along a teen boy who really doesn't want to be there.

 

[ottawamom]

You should definitely get him to look at the videos on You Tube, then ask him if he thinks he might enjoy it. I have 3 DS(23,21,19) and they still love going to Disney (the boys only go every 5 years so there's always new stuff for them to experience). For us I think its about shared family time as opposed to specifically what we are doing. There are rides that one or another don't want to do but do them anyway because we're a family. Two of my boys are computer nerds techie types and the third is a fitness buff but we manage to find common ground to have fun.