disneyland with tweens and teens

[DLfan4]

what are some things that you suggest doing or eating or seeing, when you go to disneyland with tweens and teens. We have gone when our kids were little, but next trip they will be tweens/teens. what are some suggestions for things to do, eat or see that your tween or teen likes.
thanks

 

[sweethannah]

DD11 loves the cali adventure side as it has more of the thrill rides she likes. Single rider for RSR is a breeze too.

We like Cove Bar for adult libations and DD can grab an icecream on the boardwalk and join us. It's a nice central spot to keep an eye on the kids if they want to ride Screamin a bunch of times. Also we enjoy Trader Sams for the fun ambiance.

 

[Luckymommatoo]

It depends a lot on what your kids are like, of course, but my DS enjoys being the FP runner (he knows the parks very well, has a phone and is confident about being solo). I love it, too! Star Wars launch bay has a lot to look at if your kids are fans. Animation Academy. It's fun to buy the Hidden Mickeys book and look for them. Definitely more single rider. Better/longer/more expensive meals (Carthay Circle Lounge, Trader Sams, High Tea at the DLH). I involve the kids more in the planning as they get older. It's fun to bring older kids, I think. Have a great time!

 

[my*gracie*girl]

Ditto for everything listed above. I was shocked at how much more fun *I* had on our March trip with my 13.5yo dd doing the FP running! She has the app on her phone also and that was a huge bonus! Tweens/teens are so tech savvy that she was a pro at helping us navigate our days. Not sure if yours are using social media yet, but she follows foodsatdisneyland on IG and watches youtube videos and loves loves loves to make lists of things she wants to do/try on our visit. It has been so much to plan with her at this age. I noticed she was more interested in characters at 12/13 than she was at 10.5, so don't count that out depending on your kids.

 

[PinkBudgie]

When my twin boys were in their early teens they went through a stage where they didn't want me to take their pictures. So, I came up with a bribe-- I mean a game. I typed up a scavenger hunt of places they needed to find and have their photos taken there. They were worth different points. I then made up a prize chart. Each time they hit the next point level they got the prize that went with it. Small prizes included press pennies, or snacks. The biggest prize was two weeks without chores when we got home. They never reached that level because the big points were gained by taking pictures with characters and they were not doing that no matter what. But I did get some good pictures without eye rolling and they had a good time.

 

[disneyxica20]

it really depends on the kid. i went recently with my 11 and 13 year old nieces and they were almost total opposites. the 11 year old would be happy to spend most of the day in fantasy land. she hates the thrill rides, except for indy and thunder mnt. we finally got her onto haunted mansion and she didn't like it; she said it was too scary. the 13 year old wanted to be on the fast/scary rides all day.
the animation academy is always a hit. pressed pennies are fun to hunt down and collect and they may enjoy the music and dancing at jammin on the backlot

 

[BriannaRuth]

My girls were 10 and 14 last time we went. Other than not being so into Princesses, they didn't do a lot differently than they did when they were younger. We go 5 days and they still do 3 in DL and 2 in DCA as we've always done. They still love the FL rides and still like lots of the character meet and greets. Last time we went they still wanted to do Ariel's Grotto and the 10 year old still dressed up for it, but this time will be the first time we skip that. However, they want to do Goofy's Kitchen instead (no dressing up!).

This year they'll be 12 and 16 and they're still enthusiastic about doing a lot of the same ... one big exception is they both love Screamin' now and can ride it over and over and over again. I do think we'll be spending some time at the Cove Bar while they do that. I haven't told them yet, but this is the first year we'll probably let them have some independent time at DCA (as long as they're together). DH and I are in our 50s so some of the DCA rides are getting a little much for us to do multiple times! Overall I'd say they are a little more spread out than they used to be -- they now do almost everything except Bugs Land and Toon Town.

Mine also like the Animation Academy. They both hated the Mad T Party (dance party) and have no desire to do it this year now that the theme has changed, either. Too noisy, loud and crowded even as teens.

Re: photos -- I had the same issue as Pink Budgie. Kids this age are not into having pictures taken. I like her idea! I've also found they do better with the DL photogs than with me. They wouldn't be rude and frown in a photo someone else is taking, so I hand my camera off a lot. This year I'm going to assign each of them a couple hours a day where they're the official photographer and see what they come up with.

On the plus side, now that my kids are older they understand more why we do some things and don't fuss as much. They totally get why I want them to get up at 6 AM so we can be one of the first ones into the park, why leaving mid day is a good thing and will not be forever, and they are not as cranky at 9 PM as they used to be when they were little after a day of this much activity!

 

[mom2rtk]

There is a huge difference in what kids this age prefer. The key is to involve them in the decision making. My 15 year old still gets up early easily at Disney to hit rope drop. Many don't and it becomes quite a struggle. Know your kids and find a schedule that works.

I think the big thing is to give them ever increasing doses of independence in the parks.

 

[Kindermouse]

When my twin boys were in their early teens they went through a stage where they didn't want me to take their pictures. So, I came up with a bribe-- I mean a game. I typed up a scavenger hunt of places they needed to find and have their photos taken there. They were worth different points. I then made up a prize chart. Each time they hit the next point level they got the prize that went with it. Small prizes included press pennies, or snacks. The biggest prize was two weeks without chores when we got home. They never reached that level because the big points were gained by taking pictures with characters and they were not doing that no matter what. But I did get some good pictures without eye rolling and they had a good time.

Genius, pure genius!

 

[Happyjenz]

Get a Hidden Mickey book. Its one of our favorite things to do. Started when mine were much smaller, me reading it to them. Now, I hand it over, they're in charge of it, and it has become quite the challenge each time we go to find the ones that are elusive to us. Pretty sure there's an app too, but I like the book, doesn't use battery power up

 

[PHXscuba]

The great thing is letting them plan some of the trip! I always make sure the first few things of the morning are my choice so we avoid some long lines, but after that they get much more say in what we do. More stamina and patience means being willing to wait longer for parades or favorite rides, being able to stay up for fireworks, sit-down meals (DD16 loves Carnation Cafe) and using single-rider lines or sending them on something I'll pass on (spinning ).

We found on our last trip with two teen girls that giving them some downtime near dinner to rest, check their social media, eat at leisure, and talk through our evening plans made everyone happier. We just grabbed a table outside Jolly Holiday Bakery and took turns getting food and using the restroom. Bring a battery charger -- pictures and Instagram suck a battery dry!

PHXscuba

 

[mpadilla89]

Like others have said it depends on the kids interests. i have always taken my now teen sisters and each time i ask if there is something in particualr they would like to see adn for some reason in never really changes. One has said she NEEDS to see winnie the pooh each time (8,11,13) the other one love the not so popular characters like alice and stich and pins(10,12,15)

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

We just got back from a Disneyland trip with the kids - 20, 17, 15 and 10 and they all loved it! They loved California Screamin, Radiator Springs Racers, Space Mountain, Tower of Terror and I was surprised to find that they enjoyed the classics like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and even Small World. Not into the parades or shows at all.

Laurie

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

DD(13) mostly enjoys just being at Disney, but I think the highlights for her on our recent trip were the Animation Academy, Blue Bayou, and the World of Color Dessert Party. I'm framing our Animation Academy Plutos as a surprise; this is the first time she has been happy with her results. She has always been artistically talented, but being older allowed her to keep up with the instructor.

She has no interest in characters, though she humored me with a princess lunch. She still loves the light-up cups, and ordered a specialty kids cup whenever she got the chance. She loves riding thrill rides over and over, but she still won't go on outside coasters. She doesn't fuss about rope drop like she did when she was little ("Mom, I get up for school earlier than this every day.").

 

[ParkHopper1]

Not into the parades or shows at all.

Every kid is different. Just went with my neighbor and two 15 year old surfer type boys and they though WOC and Paint The Night were the coolest things ever.

 

[avalon451]

Best fun I ever had was going with my 13 y.o. DD. She loved it, loved the thrill rides. Claimed she wasn't interested in the characters, but ended up having a ball at the one character breakfast I dragged her to.

 

[daneenm]

Just got back from a trip with DD19, DS15, DN14. As others have said, they all have different interests, but this time DS15 conquered his fear of California Screamin'! Hyperspace Mountain was done many times by this crew. WOC Dessert Seating was really a hit with all of them.

DS15 also liked to be FastPass runner and to navigate us to whoever we were going next. My crew likes food, so they all enjoyed our nice sit down meals each day....Carnation Cafe (10:30 brunch), Naples, Catal.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I would say dont force it if anyone is indifferent..
A very nice coworker of mine took her niece and nephew to DLR - or at least tried to.. They drove from the Seattle area and during that time the 13 y/o girl and 11 y/o boy fought in the back seat the whole time. Silly stuff kike pointing at each other and saying "I'm not touching you" or staring at the other one.
Then after arriving at the hotel, the kids decided they were just too cool to go to DLR. Never mind that my friend had already bought two day PH's for them. Total waste of effort, time and good intentions.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

One suggestion - have each person pick one thing they really want to do. We've always done this and it helps keep down any complaining when they know that they will get to experience their favorite and this attraction is Susie's pick. Also, give them some time on their own. That way, they can explore and you can experience something they aren't into. That's when I watched the parades and they ran off to Space Mountain again.

Laurie