Disney with tweens & teens

aprilfoolwed

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Nov 15, 2008
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We haven't been to WDW for a few years, and the kids just keep getting older (how dare they??? LOL). We're planning a 2015 trip to celebrate my grad school degree, and the kids will be 14, 12, and 9. The youngest one is so excited to get on rides he was too small for last time.

But what are some "must do" things for teens & tweens? Things we may have not even thought of during prior trips because the kids were younger? We used to focus on character dining and such - but maybe not anymore?
 
Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are must do for that age group, IMO.
 
aprilfoolwed said:
We haven't been to WDW for a few years, and the kids just keep getting older (how dare they??? LOL). We're planning a 2015 trip to celebrate my grad school degree, and the kids will be 14, 12, and 9. The youngest one is so excited to get on rides he was too small for last time.

But what are some "must do" things for teens & tweens? Things we may have not even thought of during prior trips because the kids were younger? We used to focus on character dining and such - but maybe not anymore?

Following. .. DD will be turning 12 on our trip.. we last went when she was 6...so whole new ballgame from a young child to a tween
 

Well, my kids' favorite thing to do at Disney is eat - seriously! The second I booked our trip for December, everyone put in their ADR requests. :rotfl:

They love the "thrill" rides at Disney, but they also enjoy the classics.

Don't discount the characters. On our trip last year, there were a couple characters that I wanted to meet so the kids grudgingly agreed. They had so much fun, that we ended up meeting a ton of characters that trip - so many more than when they were little! The characters are so kind and sweet to the little ones, but with older kids we found them to be downright funny. Particularly entertaining was meeting the princesses with a teenage boy.;)

At Epcot, we spend more time in WS. The Agent P adventure is great for the ages of your kids. Mine also loved getting a "passport" and having it stamped at each of the countries.
 
My teen and tween like both water parks. The more thrilling slide is at BB, but my kids like the water coaster and pools at TL. We don't do character meals anymore. Kids have a say on where we want to eat and not want to eat. We go more commando, and stay til closing some nights. I also give them time by themselves in the parks or pool. We have to stay at the YC, as both kids like the decor of the hotel and enjoy the pool, and closeness to Epcot and HS. The tween will still do characters, the teen, only a select few, when in the mood. They generally humor me when I want all of us to get a picture. It is more costly, both can eat a full adult meal and it is also fun, as no more naps, strollers, and less bathroom runs, etc. We can all ride the same things and both like taking pictures with their own camera. It is a great time to tour the parks, less to carry and they are better at behaving while in line.
 
My girls are 9 and 12 and are definite water park fans (BB is their favorite, but wanting to swim with the sharks at TL this summer after opting out last time we were there), but they still absolutely love the main parks and are finally willing to ride pretty much anything there. If you haven't been in a few years, you might be quite surprised at what a different experience you can have, just in the parks, without even thinking much about it. Our first couple of trips were focused on Fantasyland by default...not so much anymore. I would suggest that you encourage them to study the website, YouTube videos of various rides, books, etc., and let them plan out some of the trip based on their own research. That would get them vested in the plan and, by default, they would figure out what they might want to do differently this time.
 
TL has both the best and the worst water park attractions. Everything at BB is fun, but it's missing some of the unique features of TL. It's a tossup.
 
I actually would still do a character meal-I personally, still love them! A good portion of my trip was waiting in line to meet characters and stuff. Games like Buzz Lightyear and TSMM also become more fun now that we can actually aim and become more competitive :cool2: My suggestion? Don't assume they're going to grow out of the little things, because it's Disney, and everyone is still a kid there! Don't just pass off Peter Pan or the Teacups. A little more leeway is nice, to shop and such, and also maybe a break to ride a ride the rest of the family isn't going to want to do (I usually hit Space Mountain first thing and then meet back at Peoplemover.)

Overall, enjoy the trip!
 





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