Disney with a Teenager

[Diznejen1]

Happy Easter Everyone!!
In July my family will be traveling to WDW for a week, my conceren is my 15 year old step-son. When we stayed last year he seemed to get bored WAY TOO quickly. My hubby & I love Disney and can never get bored at the most magical place on earth. So I am writing in hopes of some suggestions from the masses. We have visited all the parks, Disney Quest and the water parks. Is there anything we maybe missing that he would enjoy? Also, do anyother parents of teens let their children seperate from you in the parks/resorts? Vacation is for family time....but is giving the boys a little alone/freedom time a bad thing...and how safe are they there?
Any suggestions are welcome.Thanks

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

I am a 15 year old girl so I don't know how much of a difference that makes but whenever I go me and my 14 year old sister get a little alone time on the "Big-Kid-Rides" while my parents take my 5 year old brother to Fantasy land for the millionth time. We also get time to explore "Tom Sawyers Island" durng the day which is a cool place to meet a lot of other teens. (It is in Magic Kingdom) Usually we stay together and I love Disney and I never get bored but it is nice to be able to explore Disney without the Parents!
Hope that helps

 

[Hannathy]

Can he bring a friend? that might help him enjoy the water parks or even the parks more. Otherwise I'd give him some freedom away from Mom and Dad that might help. I feel Disney is a very safe environment to allow kids freedom. My 14 yr old DD went to the pool, or arcade, or food court herself. If there was somewhere in a park and she wanted to go and no one else did she went herself. She came back to POP by herself on the bus after remembering she had to have something from Japan and we were at the front gate, no way I was walking back to Japan again( espec, since it was starting to rain) so we went back to POP and she went to Japan got her thing and took the bus back to POP. Possibly an evening at DQ while Mom and Dad have a quiet dinner and evening?

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Can he bring a friend? that might help him enjoy the water parks or even the parks more. Otherwise I'd give him some freedom away from Mom and Dad that might help. I feel Disney is a very safe environment to allow kids freedom. My 14 yr old DD went to the pool, or arcade, or food court herself. If there was somewhere in a park and she wanted to go and no one else did she went herself. She came back to POP by herself on the bus after remembering she had to have something from Japan and we were at the front gate, no way I was walking back to Japan again( espec, since it was starting to rain) so we went back to POP and she went to Japan got her thing and took the bus back to POP. Possibly an evening at DQ while Mom and Dad have a quiet dinner and evening?

First of all I would not want to bring my friend on a family vacation. That is something you do closer to home.
No offens that to me seems like to much freedom. I mean sure it would be fun but the parks are huge and waiting in line for the bus to return to the resort could be dangerous by yourself. I guess whatever works for you but that is just my opinion.

 

[DanenRox]

I too would suggest letting him bring a friend, and I personally think at 15 years old it is certainly reasonable to give the kids a little leash. Of course, the potential friends parents will have to be in agreement and both boys must have a degree of maturity. Come nightfall, you may want to gather again as a group.
On our last vacation, we couldn't lose our 20, 19 and 14 year old (and we tried!). Don't be surprised if the boys choose to hang with you even if you give them opportunity not to.

 

[kellyg403]

My teen dd's have each other, so I don't really know if bringing a friend along or a cousin would be something your family would want to do. As we all know, teens really only like other teens! They are 13,14,15 and yes they are allowed to venture off on their own in the same park as we are in. They have a cell phone, their dining card and know where to meet us when it is time for dinner or we are going to another park. They are also allowed to walk to the main lobby at our resort or take a walk around the resort exploring. At DQ, dh and I go to the top floor and hang around and they show up when they are done. They have not yet gone to other parks without us or ridden the buses alone but I am sure within the next few trips they will be.

It has been a good mix for us, family time and apart time. Some park days we hang close together and some times we don't see them until dinner time. They love WDW as much as we do and some things are of much more interest to them then us. TOT is not one of my favs but they could ride again and again.

Not sure if being with another teen will help him not be bored but it might be just the ticket.

Kelly

 

[Barb D]

My DS15 and DD13 traveled Disney transportation together this trip (without us.) They were fine. They even went back to MK late one night when the rest of us were just too wiped out. I second the idea of letting him bring a friend and letting them go off together at least part of the time.

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Why would you want to bring along a rowdy teenage boy's friend on a family vacation. I do agree that it might be better in pairs but if my sister wanted to bring a friend I would feel a little betrayed.

 

[Barb D]

Why would you want to bring along a rowdy teenage boy's friend on a family vacation. I do agree that it might be better in pairs but if my sister wanted to bring a friend I would feel a little betrayed.

I never saw that the OP said the stepson was rowdy. My DS15 isn't rowdy. Neither is his best friend. If space wasn't an issue, I'd let my kids bring friends. Fortunately, they have each other (and get along well, and aren't rowdy.)

 

[catbertdave99]

I have a DS16 and a DS13. I have taken a friend for my oldest son on both of our last two trips (we traveled with a my youngest son's friend's family, so he already had a friend along). For me, it has been great -- I'm real careful about who the friend is that I take, but they've both been great guys and we've had a really good time. It really helps to make the trip even more fun for my sons.

We've been without friends, and we all still loved the trip, but I guess I've just had a really good experience taking an additional teenage boy along. No problems at all. Plus, if they want some time on their own, and IF I say it's ok, it makes the "buddy system" much easier.

 

[rie'smom]

We always allow our daughter to bring a friend. It's great. They come to the parks with us and ride together,talk, and can keep up with each other. During the teen years,it's very hard to be "cool" when travelling with your parents. Whether Disney,skiing,or the beach, our daughter is always happier with a guest. It gives my DH and I time to visit too.

 

[Diznejen1]

You guys have been great...he has already chosen a friend to bring along and we have set ground rules about meeting up and touching base with the cell phone if we decide to seperate at the parks.Who knows, maybe given the free time will make the time we spend together more special. He is not too rowdy of a boy and neither is the friend he chose is his closest and pretty level headed. We are staying at CBR so room should't be an issue. I think ya'll suggestions (From ALL of you) are SUPER....thank you so much and I'll report back in late July!!

 

[zippyhannah]

Why would you want to bring along a rowdy teenage boy's friend on a family vacation. I do agree that it might be better in pairs but if my sister wanted to bring a friend I would feel a little betrayed.

you have you sis to hang with tho her dss dosnt have any 1 his own age i think that was the point