HELP!! Doing WDW with a 17-yr-old girl!!!

[Gracie'sMom]

OK, so my sis and I are taking our families on a combined WDW trip again September. We have three kids between us. A 5-year-old girl (no problem there just show her the princesses), a 13-year-old boy (no problem either - just point him towards the rides) and then there's the dreaded 17-year-old girl (yikes!!). Last year she spent the entire time rolling her eyes and texting back to KY undoubtedly about how lame and boring her family is!

Any idea on how to get her to crack a smile and maybe enjoy herself other than to smuggle one of her own tribe in a suitcase?

I thought maybe there would be a thread about who's going what week on the teen board but didn't see anything on the first 2 pages so I closed it.

We are going 9/20-27/08. If anyone has ANY suggestion to make life tolerable for a teenage girl please don't hesitate to share!

Many thanks!

~Becka~

 

[Russian-in-Kansas]

The one and only time I had been to WDW was when my dad took me when I was 16. It was fun riding Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror and going through the countries. It was lots of fun doing it with my step brother though, he was 15 at the time. I don't know if I would have liked it as much if it was just me, my dad and my step mom, they're kind of a bit slower paced..So, perhaps you could have your daughter invite a friend and let them go off and do things on their own once in a while? Or meet a few people her age there and let them do things on their own?

 

[Rora]

Don't be intimidated! Being 17 myself (about 6 years ago) I can tell you what I would have LOVED doing if I hadn't been a Disney freak.
1. Spa Day!
Depending on what hotel you are staying at, there might be a in-Resort Spa that she could go to. I know the Swan and Dolphin have a Spa.
2. Ask her
While I'm sure the answer will be "Go home!", ask her what she wants to do at WDW. If she's a ride person, let her go do the rides w/ the 13yo or maybe a "cool adult". If she's a shopper, let her hit all the Disney stores.
3. As scary as it is, let her bring a friend?
This is up to you and your families but letting her bring a friend would be the saving grace here. She would definitley have a great time but you probably wouldn't see much of her.

Sadly, teens are teens and she simply just might not have a good time regardless of how hard you try. Exempt her, if you want, from some family stuff that she would dread (like a family character dinner?). Either way, I hope your family has a great time and 17yo comes around to the WDW way and enjoys herself!

 

[Gracie'sMom]

Hi and thanks for the response! Taking an additional person just isn't in the cards! It would be the easiest solution but an 8th body won't fit in the mini-van and 7 people in two adjoining rooms is about all we can tolerate without wanting to kill each other by the end of the week! It's our hope that we can get her hooked up with another teen or two while there so she enjoys herself and her and her daddy don't lock horns over "attitude."

Ya think we'd have learned our lesson last year!

 

[Tammysue5]

Because taking a friend is not in the cards... and I can understand that... I would maybe start by asking her what TS meals she might be interested in. We went last year Me, DH, DS16, DD8 DD5. We ALL agreed that we were taking a family vacation. Everyone got to pick places they felt were "must dos" ... Example. DDs wanted CRT and Akershus.... DS16 went right with us and was actually a good sport... he posed with ALL the princesses. Posed like Alladin w/Jasmine. His sisters LOVED it as much as the princesses themselves. DS chose Planet Hollywood .... DD5 was NOT really thrilled that she had to sit by "the chucky doll' for dinner,,, but she too was a great sport... even posed for a pic w/him. The kids understood that we could have nice vacation or a not so nice one! They enjoyed all the meals because no one was allowed to complain about the others' choices.

Did DS texted while there? oh yeah! but we agreed to compromise... if he did not overdo the texting.. we would allow him to keep the phone... it worked pretty good. He sent pics back to his friends and girlfriend so that was ok too!

DS sat w/us for all the shows and the girls rode every ride (except TOT... you have to have some limits... DS did not hold them to this one... . )

All the kids did admit that they had fun doing what the others wanted and then having the others doing what they wanted.

DS would give the girls High fives for doing the rides he thought were cool and they laughed when Piglet flexed his muscles with DS.

Good Luck!

 

[of2dbeach]

ok me being a mom of 3 teens my only thought after i read your post is just tell her about all the georgious guys we have here in Florida that are nice and tanned and buff from surfing all day. She will be packed and waiting in the car for YOU!! There are a bunch of stores on I-4 there cheap and have alot thing that are cheap she might like such as nail polish , purses , etc. Old town is great place for teen with alot of rides and games this is where alot of teens hang out at. Maybe she would like to do pressed pennies in the park ? maybe let her have some down time like going to the arcade in the hotel where you can still watch her but not be right on top of her either. i know she is 17 but I wouldnt let her be totaly alone. Let her send post cards back home to her friends.gessh i am going to have to ask my teens what they liked to do there.. brain fart .. Must be the old age creaping up on me

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

The last time I was in WDW I was the dreaded teenage girl. I had a blast, though!! Granted I was there with friends on a school trip, but I think I would have had a good time with the fam, too.

At that age, MGM (at the time) was my favorite park!! There was a lot to do for our age group there. I agree with PP and would let her be part of the planning. Let her pick a restaurant or the park for the day. Good luck!!

 

[Taja]

Can you involve her a bit in the daily planning? TS or CS locations, order of attractions--and what are her favourite attractions? Can she help trying to fit everyone's preferences into x number of park days?

Although we visited Disneyland several times a year when I was young (lived about an hour away), it always was a treat for me. We didn't have that many opportunities for vacations or outings, so each was special in its own way.

 

[PEANUT1]

This may seem like a strange question but does she have to go? I mean if she really doesn't want to, maybe she can stay home either alone or with a friend/ family member. Why have them pay all of this money for her if she really won't enjoy herself.

I can't relate at all to this because I was so thrilled when my parents took me and my little brother when I was 19.

 

[eliza61]

Aah life with a teenager. I can fully sympathize since I now have 2. My youngest son is also an expert eye roller (I swear to god, I'm going to choke the life out of him if he sucks his teeth one more time.)

Anyway,
I would try to let her pick a few of "her" activities. My sons loved DTD even though they couldn't drink, they thought it was cool to hang out there. They really loved Disneyquest and really loved the water parks. I felt comfortable enough to let them do DQ & typhoon lagoon by themselves.


Hey Peanut1 usually I'm right with you (must be because were neighbors).
Family vacations unfortunately for my kids (LOL) are mandatory. Probably because I think 1 week out of the year in order to reconnect is not asking to much from them. I do try to give my sons a lot of say (where to go, when & where to eat etc. etc) but skipping out is not an option.

 

[mom2prettyprincess]

I so agree....why make her go? It maybe a family trip and all, but if she didn't enjoy it last year, what do you think you can do different to make her enjoy it this time and a bit older. There has to be someone she can stay with, especially if she can't take a someone along. That would really be a downer for the rest of the family to have someone tagging along that really doesn't want to be there and isn't enjoying the magic that the younger ones are. How many times has she been, some people just aren't the type that are disney lovers that want to go every year or so. But that is just my opinion.

 

[8EONUE8]

We must be lucky, we have two of the dreaded teenage daughters and we havent had any issues on our trips. Heck, we couldnt even get them to go do something on their own.

For the Jan '07 trip, we asked if they wanter a big Christmas or small Christmas and a WDW trip, well you see where we ended up. Even the face painting was their idea.

Kid are all different, I mean our oldest is going with us to this summer instead of with her friends on a senior trip - who would have guessed.

I would recommend letting her in on the planning and let her select somethings to do and see.

 

[disney_momma21]

ok me being a mom of 3 teens my only thought after i read your post is just tell her about all the georgious guys we have here in Florida that are nice and tanned and buff from surfing all day. She will be packed and waiting in the car for YOU!!

Some of the lifeguards at Typhoon Lagoon were pretty cute!!

 

[Gracie'sMom]

She's conflicted! She was given the opportunity to stay home (this is her senior year and she will miss a week) and after some thought she said she wanted to go. Her plane ticket is purchased so now she's tied in. With both of the other kids (the 5 yr old is mine) she just doesn't have anyone she can buddy up with. She's really a good kid but I know if she gets bored she will start the eye rolling and huffing. I did ask her about the day spa and she liked that idea. It's a bit $ so may not be an option (have to wait to see how the money flow is by then) she was also interested in the segway tour so at the least that will perk her up. Anyone going that same week and have a teen we could buddy her up with?

**edit**

I did show her how to log onto this site last night and suggested she try the Teen Disney board. Maybe she will find a buddy to hang with on there!

 

[Tammysue5]

We must be lucky, we have two of the dreaded teenage daughters and we havent had any issues on our trips. Heck, we couldnt even get them to go do something on their own.

For the Jan '07 trip, we asked if they wanter a big Christmas or small Christmas and a WDW trip, well you see where we ended up. Even the face painting was their idea.

Kid are all different, I mean our oldest is going with us to this summer instead of with her friends on a senior trip - who would have guessed.

I would recommend letting her in on the planning and let her select somethings to do and see.

I am right there with you... last year the 2 oldest could not go because of military obligations... this year... DS19 said he is definately going! He had the option of going w/friends but turned them down before we even knew about it. DS23 just called yesterday (from ALaska/military) he is now thinking of flying down to meet us at WDW for the vacation!!! with his new wife!!!! I had the best mothers day... thinking about the fact that eveyone may beable to go!!!

That means... DD6, DD9, DS17, Ds19, DS23 and DIL!!! and Us!



If we were going down the same time... we would be thrilled to meet up...but we are going 8/29-9/6... Hopefully you will have a great trip! I agree with the poster that it is 1 week out of the year.... we made it mandatory last year for DS17, but this year... we told them they did not have to go... ALL said they were going! You can never be too cool for WDW!

 

[NotUrsula]

Turn her loose if you're staying on-property. One thing that you can pretty much count on at that age is that they will NOT get up in the morning, so don't try. Leave a note saying where you'll be at lunchtime if she wants to catch up, and then expect her not to make it.

We took my niece a couple of years ago for a hs graduation gift. Mostly we got along just fine, but there were some things she did that drove us crazy: 1) Overpacked. HUGE suitcase to cram into the car. 2) Packed all the wrong things. Nothing but dark jeans at WDW in June. By the second day she had heat rash so severe she could barely walk. Wrong shoes, too. I had to take her off-property to shop for some shorts, and loan her my spare Nike sports sandals. 3.) This was the biggie: ordered off the top of the menu in every ts restaurant and then left half of it behind. She was ordering steak b/c it was the only dish that she recognized clearly, but she doesn't much like steak, so she would get it and then toy with it. She was too cool to admit that she didn't know various culinary terms like coulis, frisée, etc.
He favorite thing was shopping in world showcase -- she spent two full days by herself hitting every little store there.

Funnily enough, we took her to a late EMH at MK, and she pooped out by just after midnight. The 8 yo and I were laughing at her dragging tail. These days traveling with me is on her never-again list -- she says I'm a slave driver! (We park hop every day and always take a 4 hr break mid-day, so I'm no commando, but I do like my parks at night, LOL.)

 

[Barb D]

I would suck it up and do what you can to let her bring a friend. Rent a full size van. Get 3 rooms at a value. Let her have a really great trip for her senior year. Just MHO. (We just got back Sunday, and my teens are already planning for next year, hoping to each bring a friend. But they adore Disney as it is!)

 

[adell557]

She's conflicted! She was given the opportunity to stay home (this is her senior year and she will miss a week) and after some thought she said she wanted to go. Her plane ticket is purchased so now she's tied in. With both of the other kids (the 5 yr old is mine) she just doesn't have anyone she can buddy up with. She's really a good kid but I know if she gets bored she will start the eye rolling and huffing. I did ask her about the day spa and she liked that idea. It's a bit $ so may not be an option (have to wait to see how the money flow is by then) she was also interested in the segway tour so at the least that will perk her up. Anyone going that same week and have a teen we could buddy her up with?

**edit**

I did show her how to log onto this site last night and suggested she try the Teen Disney board. Maybe she will find a buddy to hang with on there!

I think letting her get on the teen boards is a great way to get her involved with other teen Diser's. She can see what excites them and then maybe talk with you about it. I think the tours are a great way to let her feel like it's not all kids and rides. The behind the scenes tour like KTTK I hear are pretty awesome. Hopefully she finds buddy. Way to go you are an awesome mom, I think it is great that you are working so hard to help her have a good time too!