Families with Split-Aged Children.

[tporter4]

I have:

15 yo son
8 yo daughter
6 yo daughter

In lieu of Christmas and Hanukkah (we're split on that, too, lol) we are going to WDW. Planning our trip Dec 19 - Dec 25 has been a bit like planning two separate trips. Between the gender and age gaps we're going to be tag-teaming this trip and I'd like to solve some of that as well as make something special for him. (He was already a little hard to convince to give up his holidays and come ... First world problems, I know.)

For the girls I was able to snag the obvious things for them (BOG dinner, Bibbidi Bobbidi, Tea, salon for nails). Note: I have been completely unable to find a CRT and this has been obsessed.

Anyway, for my son I have split up our FPP and plan to endure Tower of Terror, and other things that are liable to give me whiplash and throw a disc in my back. Grin. But... "experiences" for him I'm finding zip. He doesn't golf. I looked at Richard Petty experience but I don't know he'd enjoy that (he also only has his permit). What else is there for the teenage boy? What meals? ESPN area is not open during this time, correct? Due to construction? He's a HUGE sports fan.

Your insight and help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
Traci

 

[MommyMK]

Is the RC car store still in downtown disney? You can build your own car there. Surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon if that's open. Movies at DTD theater. Parasailing or driving the little Mickey speedboats. Fishing excursion, Segway tour, archery at fort wilderness. Bowling at splitsville, visit to disney quest. A day at Universal to do the thrill rides and Harry Potter stuff.

 

[tporter4]

Is the RC car store still in downtown disney? You can build your own car there. Surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon if that's open. Movies at DTD theater. Parasailing or driving the little Mickey speedboats. Fishing excursion, Segway tour, archery at fort wilderness. Bowling at splitsville, visit to disney quest. A day at Universal to do the thrill rides and Harry Potter stuff.

Thank you - you gave me a lot to look up! I appreciate it.

 

[powellrj]

My kids have a large age gap too. Now they are 31, 23 and 18. We use to take yearly trips when they were younger, so I have some experience with this!

I would ask the 15 year old up front what he would like. I know at that age, my oldest would have loved to have time alone to ride what he wanted and would have loved to have had the cash instead of an experience. Does he have a cell phone that you can split up and keep in touch? Could you give him 2 hours to do what he wants before he does things with the family?

 

[tporter4]

My kids have a large age gap too. Now they are 31, 23 and 18. We use to take yearly trips when they were younger, so I have some experience with this!

I would ask the 15 year old up front what he would like. I know at that age, my oldest would have loved to have time alone to ride what he wanted and would have loved to have had the cash instead of an experience. Does he have a cell phone that you can split up and keep in touch? Could you give him 2 hours to do what he wants before he does things with the family?

Thank you for the been-there-done-that advice. I will give him time to himself (blessed event for a boy with two young sisters - lol) and I bet he'll prefer $, too. I need to sit him down and just have him engage in the planning as others advised on the difficult teen thread. Sadly if I give him two hours he'll use it to sleep or sit on his cell phone. But, I think that's important to him too. Thanks!