First day at WDW with teenagers

[grinningghost]

We're going to have a very long drive down to WDW and we'll have two teens with us. We're planning on letting them do their own thing most of the time, but would like to spend a little bit of time with them. If you were me, would you want to spend the first part of the first day with them, then let them go on their own, or would you just let them do their thing right away?

 

[cindala]

On our first day at Disney we never do any parks. Since it is a travel day, and everyone is tired, we usually spend the afternoon at the pool, then head to DTD for dinner, shopping and Disney Quest. We have 2 teen DD's, and they seem to like this.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I'm reaching back in my memory (not to far, but far enough) to answer that question. We did a drive from Massachusetts down to Disney in a camper when I was a teen. I distinctly remember that as soon as we arrived at Fort Wilderness and got the camper hooked up, we kids went one way and my parents went in the entirely opposite direction. We were just so excited to be #1. out of the camper and #2. at Disney World, that even though we didn't go into the parks, we took off and road the monorail through the hotels and by the Magic Kingdom and then hopped on the Epcot monorail and rode on that one around the park and back. That seemed to work perfectly for us. We returned to the camper and made peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches while waiting for my parents to return from a much needed, quiet dinner and a few glasses of wine I'm sure. The rest of the time, we basically did our own thing in the mornings and made plans to meet up in the afternoon.

Now with my kids getting older, I find that most mornings, we're on completely different schedules. I like to get up early and get on with things, while they tend to sleep in, shower, hair, make up rituals, etc. By the afternoon though, we're all up and out and it's just easier to make plans for that time. Last summers trip to WDW was fun with teenagers. I told them that they could do their own thing at times, but that we also had some family things scheduled, like Cirque de Soliel. We'd map out our plans for the day and also a time and a place to meet, but funny enough, almost everytime, my cell phone would ring well before our scheduled meeting time and it was my teenagers hoping to catch up with us early. I have to say that Disney was a magical place when I was a teen and it's been just as magical now that I'm a parent with teens. It just has that something special that draws families together.

Have a wonderful and safe trip.

 

[Micca]

With teens it seems no matter what you do it's wrong
If you're confident they are ok on their own(and they probably are) I'd bet they'd love to split up and meet you for meals...which of course you'll arrange and pay for That's a nice time to compare notes, and maybe they'll want to share with you an experience they had or vice versa.

 

[grinningghost]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I think I have a "plan". I say that in quotes because as you know, with teens, a "plan" doesn't always work out.

Unfortunately, our first day at WDW will have to be at MK no matter what (at least for me) - because it's the only night there will be Spectro. I can't miss that. Since the kids are pretty intent on riding TOT and RNRC, I'll give them the first day option of going to MGM, while DH and I go to MK. But I'll be clear that if they want to see Spectro, they'll have to be at MK in the evening, otherwise they won't get another chance to see it. If I know my DD, she'll want to run to MGM, ride the biggies then hurry back to MK to see Spectro. Then we'll at least have a little bit of togetherness on our first day.

She's young and if that's what she feels like doing, so be it. I'm going to be leisurely sitting on the curb on Main Street waiting for my parade.