Disney for a tween who doesn't like rides?

[mastermind307]

My sister and her family will be coming up to spend a couple of days with us while we're at Disney. My nephew (12) doesn't like rides. I'm trying to come up with some ideas that he'll enjoy. This will be the second time my sister's family has visited Disney. The first time was when my nephew was 6, he wouldn't ride many rides, and they didn't have a good time. So this time I'm wanting them to have a more enjoyable time.

What are some favorite things to do inside and outside the parks that a 12 year old boy might enjoy?

 

[mom2rtk]

That's a tough sell. Usually the rides are a hook for tweens who start to think they are too old for Disney.

Maybe some sort of tour at AK?

 

[pitpat]

There are so many different kinds of rides, it's hard to know what his reason is. Was he scared at 6? He still doesn't enjoy any type of ride? Does he like Disney movies? Does he care about characters at all? If not, I'm not sure why they're going to Disney.

Do you think he would he like Tom Sawyer Island?

 

[bigbabyblues]

Star Wars stuff at Studios? My boys always liked (and still do, at 16 and 14) the Agent P missions at Epcot. Animal trails at AK, trying to "catch" the water in the jumping fountain by Figment at Epcot--sounds lame, but we spent an hour there one night about 3 years ago, they were both soaked and it was one of our favorite nights still). They like the Indiana Jones show, eating at the different places in the World Showcase, looking in the different shops and countries of the WS (especially Japan and UK), the aquarium and exhibits in the Seas. Fireworks cruise (pricey but worth it to us), Lego store at DS, hanging out at DS in general, mini golf.

My boys do like rides, but Epcot and HS have always ben their favorite parks.

 

[hllb]

Lots of shows at Hollywood Studios. I’d also say the Agent P mission at Epcot. There’s a sorcerer game at MK with cards too though I don’t know how it works.

 

[KbarrMVP]

Do you think he'd like the shows? Hollywood Studios has the Indian Jones stunt show. Also, if he's into Star Wars, there is a lot of fun Star Wars entertainment at Hollywood Studios. Does he like water rides? Maybe a day at Blizzard beach?

 

[nighttowll]

I think you need to figure out what it was that he didn't like at 6. Not saying he will love all rides, but by determining what it is he didn't like, you may find some rides he may like that are different from what he did before. Also, something he might have been scared of or bored by at 6, he might actually like at 12. There's a big difference between a 6 year old and a 12 year old. I'd point that out.

Maybe he'd make an exception for Star Wars, POTC, TT, or some of the coasters.

Has he ever been interested in space or being an astronaut? The Mission Space ride where it simulates going to the moon might be fun for him. It isn't a typical kiddy ride, and if you do the green side, it isn't an intense coaster type ride either.



As far as non rides:

There are shows. Lion King and Indiana Jones would be good for a 12 year old boy, not too babyish, girly, or boring. The Monsters Inc comedy show is fun at MK. Also, maybe check out the smaller shows and demonstrations at World Showcase. We always enjoy the Chinese acrobats.

Try filling time with parades and fireworks, or maybe plan some long sit down meals. Boys usually like things that involve food. You could try one of the dessert fireworks parties.

Try out some of the interactive / scavenger hunt type games like Sorcerers of the MK, Pirates Adventure, or Agent Ps Showcase.

Visit one of the water parks or plan time at the resort pool.

Try the virtual reality experience at DS, the Void.

Visit FW, hiking, fishing, horseback riding.

Rent boats or bikes.

AK is a glorified zoo. Does he enjoy animals? There's a bird show, animal trails, and a safari ride.

There's a small aquarium at Epcot if he likes fish.

 

[JamieH]

My son has never liked the thrill rides, 2 years ago, at 10 years old, the only thing I could get him to try was 7D and he wound up liking it. His favorite things have always been the "games" like Agent P and the pirate one at Magic Kingdom. He also loves to explore the countries, but not all kids enjoy that. This year, I purchased some passports from Etsy that have lots of cool info in them that he can fill out ... the ones at Epcot are fun too but these have I spy games, photo ops that he can look for using his camera, etc. He's 12 this year and I've got him convinced to try everything at least once b/c he liked 7D (and because his 9 year old sister is braver than he is LOL) ... does he not ride anything or just the thrill rides??

 

[Wild4Walt]

I agree with the tour idea - there are some good one's at MK ( Keys to the Kingdom comes to mind ) and AK. If he has a special interest there are some other good options at Epcot ( there's a tour at the Land Pavillion that pertains to gardening, scuba diving, learning about the pavillions around the world. ) There's also fishing at POR, several shows ( both first run at DS and movies by the pool at many of the resorts ). Oh. mini golf and the water parks too.

 

[mastermind307]

Thanks for all the ideas. I had thought of some of them, but not all. I'm used to planning for my DD11 and she loves the rides and characters, but it's hard to plan when I don't really know what my nephew is interested in. So I figure I'll make a list and send it to my sister so that she can look at it and see if there's anything he might like to do and take it from there.

They are only coming up to Disney because my daughter and I will be there. They recently moved to the Ft. Myers area and I invited them to come up for a day or two while we're there so we can see each other since I don't know when we'll be back to Florida or they'll make it up to Indiana. My sister thought he'd like the rides now that he's older, but they went to a festival where he rode a viking ship type ride and hated it. So now she's rethinking Disney and I am trying to come up with a list of things he might enjoy so they'll still want to come up.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Does he like Harry Potter? Maybe he would like to see Universal?

 

[Ladyfish77]

Socerers of the Magic Kingdom might be fun for him.

 

[neverlandsky]

My DS (14) doesn’t like thrill rides. He loved the Muppet Show at DHS, Flights of Wonder at AK, Tiki Room at MK, and Aquarium and shopping at Epcot. I stayed behind with him while other did thrill rides. We looked in the exit shops, did restroom breaks, or snacked.

 

[srwarden1928]

There are plenty of rides that are not thrill rides at Disney. Even so, some people who "don't like thrill rides" might like at least SOME of Disney's. DW hated coasters and was afraid to even ride Splash Mountain. She enjoyed Soarin, Test Track, Mission Space Green, Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Kali River, and Dinosaur. I normally don't care for drop rides. I won't ride them other places. I never miss TOT because I just LOVE the way it is themed. Of course I always liked The Twilight Zone. Find out what he doesn't like and why he doesn't like it. That information could be helpful in evaluating rides he has never had the opportunity to try. Also, what other children from your family will be there and how old are they? Peer pressure can be VERY powerful for Tweens.

 

[Thing 1]

The Viking ship ride is unlike anything at WDW. There are plenty of stuff I would not make a child ride if I thought he might be afraid or truly feel uncomfortable but honestly I would not let a tween ( and yes we have a tween) decide he didn't want to go on any ride on a family trip. I usually give a kid that age two vetos on rides at each park that they can decide they don't want to ride and everything else we do as a family because, well it's a family vacation! I would be sure to include extra pool time or shows or whatever he might like but not plan the whole trip around him. If he has the right attitude, there has to be a few rides he will joy and if not, I would insist on dropping the attitude and sucking it up. This is of course baring any true anxieties or issues

 

[JessicaW1234]

I think he would like the Sorcerers of the Kingdom at MK. It is a game where you have a map and have to go to several different locations throughout the park and find the hidden screens. (For example, there's one hidden along the shops on Main Street.) Once you find them, you use playing cards to activate each screen, which tells part of the story and gives you clues for the next one. My DD & DS really had fun with it!

 

[gypsy_at_heart]

I honestly hate most theme park rides - six flags is not my happy place - but Disney rides are a whole different ball game.

I am not a fan of space mountain or rock n rollarcoaster but haunted mansion? Pirates? Jungle cruise? Love em. I feel like they are more interactive entertainment than a traditional ride

 

[KenHutch]

The only things I can think of are Star Wars and Indiana Jones. I have no experience with boys but my 17 year old thinks that Goofy's Barnstormer is a scary ride but she spends 2 days in Epcot just shopping.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Honestly if my tween or teen didn't like riding rides I would pick a different vacation destination.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Cool tours:

• Wild Africa Trek
• Sense of Africa
• Epcot Living Seas: Aqua Tour

Attractions that aren't "rides" in the sense that he might think of them? Things like HM, Pirates, etc. -- are those off the table?

When is the trip? If during F&W or F&G, if he's a junior foodie (like my Tweens), he might like sampling at the booths.