Disney for a tween who doesn't like rides?

[Mamapapa]

My tween truly enjoyed the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot and the price wasn't bad either.

 

[littledebbie335]

Oh gosh, those viking ships...barf. I don't like them either, but I love Disney rides! Honestly, I think your best bet will be to really sell the shows and then give him the opportunity to try some of the more gentle rides. I'm not sure what your park plans are, but I think doing the Tiki Room and then maybe trying Jungle Cruise might be a nice way to ease into things. I bet Pirates might be a hit, too! But if he decides that's not his thing, I would focus on shows, interactive activities like Sorcerer's, meet and greets, snacks, and just exploring the parks. There is SO MUCH to do other than ride the rides. Also, if you let him choose the things you do, it might feel less like he's being forced to do something he doesn't want. My sister has never been big on thrill rides, but she enjoys many of the classics and just skips things like ToT.

Also, just a thought but...as DH and I are getting older, we find we're more prone to getting motion sick on rides, and it really reduces our enjoyment (I'm looking at you, Mission: Space). We plan to dose with Dramamine on park days for our next trip. I wonder if that might be part of his issue with rides, and perhaps the same thing might help him enjoy them more?

 

[Rose7777]

My oldest (12) is not a big ride person- he gets motion sickness and also gets nervous easily. He does, however, love Disney. There are lots of rides there that he enjoys, far more than at local theme parks or fairs. At MK, he loves Buzz Lightyear, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarves, and Big Thunder Mountain. He also loves the Monsters Inc show. At HS, he likes Toy Story, the Indiana Jones show, and the Star Wars exhibits. At Epcot, he loves Soarin' and Test Track, as well as Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, Agent P, and the aquarium. At AK, he likes the safari, both animal trails, Kali River, and Flights of Wonder. We also love seeing the street performers and other things around the park.

Oh, and the interactive areas at the end of Spaceship Earth and Mission Space (he does the games while his sib does the ride) are fun, too. My guys could easily spend an hour at the end of Spaceship Earth just goofing around at the different activities.

 

[Sparkly]

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

Not much to do there that isn't rides- I don't remember many show/gentle type attractions. I hate the huge rollercoasters so maybe go on a handful of attractions there.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Not much to do there that isn't rides- I don't remember many show/gentle type attractions. I hate the huge rollercoasters so maybe go on a handful of attractions there.

If you like Harry Potter, it's enjoyable to spend time in those lands. It doesn't have to be about the rides.

 

[sponica]

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.

To be fair, my mom hates amusement park rides but likes Disney rides.

Does your nephew know what it is about the rides he doesn't like? Is it the sensation of moving? Does he get motion sickness? There's always Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion. Tom Sawyer Island is fun.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

12 years old is plenty old enough to ask, and consider, HIS opinion. Talk to him about it! There is a world of difference between 6 and 12 (half your little life!!! do the math, adults ;-p ) and there is MORE than enough to do at WDW if he doesn't like the rides!

You could send him mini-golfing or on a private lesson for something, go on the lakes, do a hike, a behind the scenes tour.... if he's responsible enough you could let him sit on the bus or monorail a few rows away from the family... buy Memory Maker and let him go totally nuts on finding all the PhotoPass opportunities (bonus: subtle parental awareness - "oh he must be in Adventureland, look at this pic with Aladdin and Jasmine...")

send him as a "scout" for the family - check out wait times, pick a QS restaurant, etc. ***** ONLY if he likes to be helpful, I know this would be punishment for some kids!!!****

I like the idea of letting him sample the food kiosks if he is able to buy things on his own... unless he has some medical condition, the day that his family turned him loose on WDW to eat corndogs and cotton candy all day sounds like some good growing-up memories to me! LOL if he does have food allergies well, Disney is also good at accommodating that as long as he is a great advocate for himself

 

[ajfd]

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

As a parent of 13 and 11 year old boys ... a food festival at EPCOT and charging privileges on their bands.

 

[skyblue17]

My friends gave me a "Hidden Mickey" book prior to our trip that I only had a chance to glance at but not do. It's basically a bunch of scavenger hunts to find the hidden Mickeys around the parks. Maybe that is a fun goal and something he can do if others are on rides that he isn't?