Do tweens like Disney World?

[tikkipoo]

DH (to my surprise ) has actually said he would like to go to DW again in a couple years. He questions if DD will still want to go - she will be in the 11/12 year old area. Do your kids that are this age still like to go and do they have a good time? How is your trip different with this age child than on previous trips?

 

[Robo]

No.

12 year olds do not like WDW.

12 year olds like to sit quietly in libraries and read non-fiction.

Theme-parks are best-enjoyed by 3-8 year olds and certain retirees.


signed,

Ebenezer Scrooge (Dec. 24th)

 

[bradk]

it depends on the kid, doesn't it?

i've been and going with an 11 year old who probably would enjoy more thrill rides (she wants to go to universal more than disney probably), but she's totally into it. i also try to direct the experience to suit her age more by introducing her to hidden mickeys as something to keep occupied along the way.

but i've also been with mid-teen girls who have been nonchalant about most everything aside from animal kingdom, but immediately melted at the sight of eeyore.

there is something inherent to disney that is not duplicated anywhere. whether the kid gets that and gets into it, that's an individual thing really. the important thing is that it isn't forced on them.

 

[jamaunt]

Absolutely! Now granted, it MIGHT depend on whether or not your child likes the more adult "thrill" rides. My nephew is 11 now and will be 12 when we go in June. He loves ToT, RNR, EE, the mountains, etc. Since you haven't been in awhile, she may love everything. I'd defintely say GO!!

 

[WeRblam]

My kids are now 17 (DS) and 14 (DD actually won't be 14 until next month). They absolutely love coming to Disney. They have been on cruises, etc and still want to come here. Is either your DD or DS into VMK - the Disney website computer game? They love it and when they come to Disney, that is the first place they hit to get the Quests. It is a several questions they must answer correctly (by either visiting the attraction or seeing the movie) and they win a VMK card which can be redeemed on line for virtual prizes.

They also enjoy the rides just as much as they did when they were little. The can go to the arcade without me (nice break for me - I hate arcades!). You may also want to check out Disney Quest. Lots of things for older kids to do here. THe water parks are awesome and Typhoon Lagoon offers surfing lessions before the parks open. The minature golf is fantastic - my DD absolutely loves doing this.

I am a travel agent and just booked my friends DD and five of her friends for their senior trip to the World. So, they are never to old to have fun...

 

[Mom24Princesses]

Ages of DDs on WDW trips:

96 -- 5 -- 3
98 -- 7 -- 5 --- 10.5 mons
01 --10 -- 8 -----3.5 ---14 mons
03 --12 - 10 ----5.5 ---3
2/04 -12.5-10.5---6.5 ---3.75
6/04 -13---11---- 6.75---4

This summer 07--16, 14, 9.75, 7.

There has NEVER been a single moment when one of them has not wanted to go back to WDW. There are a million things for tweens-teens to do.

The nearly 16 year old mentioned (when we were talking about our 08 DCL trip) "We HAVE to go before I turn 18 so I can attend the teen activities." (Usualy only for 13-17)

I really can't imagine why you had any doubt.

 

[mousebit]

I know exactly what you mean. You get kinda worried that at that age they'll want to be seen anywhere with you! But, so far my DGD11 still loves it and her friends still think it's cool. We'll be going to celebrate her 12th BD next month. Her tastes have changed a little tho'. She really loves the water parks, the shopping, the resort arcade and the dining. She enjoys the characters, but mostly for the purpose of collecting autographs that she scrapbooks. She's on a quest to eat at all the character meals (except the JoJo one at DS - says she just can't go that far ) and find all the Hidden Mickeys. She loves World Showcase and the thrill rides. She would not be "caught dead" at Bibbidi Bobbity Boutique, but would love to get a manicure/pedicure at the GF spa. She still has a great time and even humors me by wearing our DISigned matching Tshirts when we go, tho she would never wear a Disney shirt at home. Her motto: What happens at Disney, stays at Disney! So she tends to be a little less worried about doing "little kid stuff" when we're at WDW.
Anyway, go if you have a chance. Just don't expect her to be gaa-gaa over Dumbo. Have a great trip!

 

[dixiedizfan]

When my kids were tweens, they adored Disney. That is one place where they didn't care if the park had thrill rides or not, as they love the attractions (Haunted Mansion, Pirates, etc.) for what they are. Now that they're older teens, WDW is still their favorite place to vacation ... and they still wouldn't care if it had thrill rides or not.

 

[Tinkerbell424]

Well like Brad says it depends on the child.When I was 11/12(that was 2 years ago) I loved going to WDW.In fact I still do!

 

[java]

Being in a disney loving family makes loving disney easier for tweens. I have a soon to be 13 year old son that LOVES Mission Space! He is so excited to be going. It helps that his little brothers and sister are all crazy about it too. But I agree depends on the child.

 

[tikkipoo]

Thanks for all your replies! I will have to tell DH that we're going to Disney World! After our vacation this year, I can once again begin my OCD WDW planning!

 

[cmwade77]

My sister, who will be 12 at the time and my other one, who will be 10 when we go are both really looking forward to it, so I do think it depends on the kid.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

DD13 still loves it but look in my Sig at her TINK ROOM she might be a bit biased.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd, 13, pouts if I go to WDW without her. And I do just that once a year!!! She asked, back when she was 10, if she could possibly celebrate her 13th b-day at WDW. Told her we would see how 'life' worked out. Well, we made the trip with a life long buddy of hers (met in childbirth class but live in different towns so the girls aren't in each other's lives every day), and her mom. The girls' birthdays are two days apart. This other young lady tends to be on the more mature side, unlike my very 'young' dd. So, her mom and I were a bit concerned as to how she would enjoy the trip. Well......both girls dressed up in princess dresses for MNSSHP, even though the dresses only came to their knees, they were both thrilled to be able to go off on their own, with no moms for a bit each day. They had a terrific time, acting like little kids. I"m sure that if they had been around their peer groups at home it would have been different though.

 

[ncbyrne]

My DGDs 9 + 13 have been going to WDW every few years, and always with me. I plan, plan and then plan some more, and always involve them in the choices, from the resort, to restaurants and right down to the game plans for the parks. Our next trip is Aug 22-28 and they are both mega into it! However....DGD 13 has two friends that have said, "what, Disney again"? These friends have both only been to WDW once, and they went with their non planning families during very busy vacation times. Their experience and ours can't be compared. There is SOOO much to do at WDW that can be perfect for any age - from toddlers to grandparents. But, it's not like a local theme park where you spend the day riding thrill rides. It's all that, plus a total immersion of everything Disney at it's best - it's a vacation, not a day trip, and it needs lots of planning to get the fullest and best experience.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I agree with a previous post, it depends on your child but when I was 10/11 I wanted to go to WDW but I was not into the whole character interaction, now that I'm 22, I cant wait to go get pics at LTT and do the character connection and meet and greets. My mom asked if i wanted to do the princess breakfast in Norway and I said I'd pass, that is something I can take my children to when I have them along the road but we do enjoy LTT, but it depends on you child, I've gone to WDW almost every other year since I was 1 so i guess if you child wants to go, take them and treasure the time that they want to be with you and spend time with you. When i was younger i couldnt wait to get older so my brother and i could go off and ride what we wanted to and that never happened we always tend to stick with my parents and really make it a "family vacation"

 

[TinkerbellMama]

DH (to my surprise ) has actually said he would like to go to DW again in a couple years. He questions if DD will still want to go - she will be in the 11/12 year old area. Do your kids that are this age still like to go and do they have a good time? How is your trip different with this age child than on previous trips?

If you had indoctrinated her properly, you wouldn't be asking this question now! Just kidding! Anyway, I think it depends on the child in question...although my personal belief is that people who don't like Disney (of any age) need serious mental help! I can't imagine what she wouldn't like about it. There is literally something for everyone, and it doesn't cost HER a dime! Besides, if it's a family vacation, I don't think you should offer her a choice of going or not going. JMO...but in our household, everyone plays. No sitting out a round!

 

[darlak]

My just turned 13 DD loves going and I love that she's now big enough (and brave enough) to ride all the thrill rides with me. For me the best part of taking my 13 y/o DD to WDW, is that last Sept. while we were there, she actually came up beside me and slipped her hand in mine. This from a child who thinks I am soooo uncool. That was when I finally knew, for sure, that WDW is a Magical Place.

 

[tikkipoo]

DH looked at me yesterday (while I was watching the WDW marathon on the Travel Channel none the less) and asks "Would you like to try somewhere different for our next vacation?" I gave him the look...something like I think he got the point.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

DH looked at me yesterday (while I was watching the WDW marathon on the Travel Channel none the less) and asks "Would you like to try somewhere different for our next vacation?" I gave him the look...something like I think he got the point.

My dad has said the same thing before, when i had my high school graduation in 2003 he figured id ask to go to hawaii or europe, nope we went to wdw for the millionth time and for my college graduation in may we are going back to wdw, maybe next yr we can try hawaii lol