Help! First trip taking a teenage boy!

[hamilkm]

I am taking 2 of my younger cousins to Disney for the older one's college graduation! We were supposed to do this trip last year but didn't due to my grandmother passing away. My oldest cousin is a 23 year old female but my younger cousin is a 15 year old boy! I have never taken a teenage boy to Disney before! This will be his first trip. My other cousin has only been once for one day. We are going over Memorial day because we have to wait til he is out of school but have to go before my other cousin starts her new job. I know I will book fast passes for all the thrill rides. We will be there 5 nights and are planning on all 4 parks. Probably 1 day in each. Hoping for the 24 hour day in the Magic Kingdom! I was planning on using our last day before we catch our late flight to let them repeat whichever park was their favorite. I was just looking for some suggestions/ideas that you guys with teenage boys might have for me. We are doing a budget trip, so hopefully things in the parks! Thanks so much!

 

[McKelly]

Well, you have a good start booking all the thrill rides - that is what a teenage boy will want. I might also take him to Indiana Jones - he will probably like that. If the budget allows - maybe a meal at Sci-Fi Dine in. If you were staying longer, I would suggest adding the Water Park option - my teens love the waterparks. But with only 4-5 days, you probably won't have time.

 

[hamilkm]

Well, you have a good start booking all the thrill rides - that is what a teenage boy will want. I might also take him to Indiana Jones - he will probably like that. If the budget allows - maybe a meal at Sci-Fi Dine in. If you were staying longer, I would suggest adding the Water Park option - my teens love the waterparks. But with only 4-5 days, you probably won't have time.

Thanks! Sounds like I was kind of on the right track. Only dining reservations I have made are for lunch and Sci-fi and lunch at be our guest for his sister. I had also thrown around the water park idea. I think we may have time if we don't do the 24 hour day because our flight on our last day doesn't leave til 9 pm, so we will have 5 full days. I will just play that by ear and wait to see if they announce the 24 hour day because I think he would think staying out til 6 am was pretty fun too!

 

[Baklava]

Not all teenage boys like thrill rides. Start by asking what he likes. It's easy to get caught up in "boys like this" or "teenagers like that" and it can distract you from the fact that he's an individual.

*My* teenage boy loves Star Tours and Big Thunder. He enjoys Space Mountain but hates Splash, hated Dinosaur and did not speak to me for half an hour after Expedition Evererst. He will not ride ToT or RnRC.

He *does* love the monorail and any meal with a buffet. While he will tell you it's all about the food and not the characters I have photographic evidence of him and Tigger that says otherwise. He enjoys the tiki room and Pirates and enjoyed the aquarium at the Seas but not the ride.

 

[RustManFan]

my DS did not like thrill rides as a teen and is only up for them as an adult when his older and braver DS is along for the ride!

I don't consider Star Tours, BTMRR or Splash Mountain thrill rides and can do them but you will never find me on EE, RnRC, ToT or Space Mountain...

 

[caroline1851]

DS13 and I went in June. He's super easy going and wanted to try most everything since he hadn't been since he was 9. His favorites were:
AK: Dinosaur, EE, Kali
MK: Splash, Space, Buzz, Thunder, Haunted, TTA
EPC: Soarin, Test Track, the coca cola store/samples, snacking around the world for dinner. We shared a snack in each country and it was way cheaper than some of the lousy meals we ate.
HS: Star Tours, RRC, TOT, GMR.

Things he didn't care for:
MK: Peter Pan
EPC:Nemo
HS: Muppets, Indiana Jones

Food he liked: Snacking around world, Whispering Canyon, Crystal Palace (over-priced crap imo though)
Food he didn't like: Pizza Planet

 

[WIFriendofFigment]

Wow, what a cousin you are! : ) That's a pretty sweet gift!

I'd try to involve him in some of the planning and ask him what a few of his must-dos might be. In my experience, most teens like a chance to make some picks. He'd probably be able to look up some things and "favorite" them on mydisneyexperience- unless it's a surprise.

As pp said, teen boys can be incredibly diverse in their interests.

 

[preemiemama]

Agreed. My DS likes Everest but Space makes him nuts- too much shaking around. Has no problem with RNR but is not big fan of TOT- he’d rather do Star Tours! At 14, he still wanted to wait in line for the Duffy M&G- and that is him in my avatar when he met Pooh in the UK bookstore… Every teen boy is different. Get your cousin involved in some of the planning. Show him some ride videos maybe on You Tube? Plan from there...

 

[jmkjr72]

Sit down with him show him about evey thing there is to do let him in on the plans
I can't speak for him any more then any other teen boy out there and I am involved in scouting and can tell you even in scouts the boys bounce from book worms to one's that want thrill rides to one's who wouldn't mind character meals to include time with the princesses

 

[hamilkm]

Thanks so much for all of the ideas! He has been to six flags a couple of times and absolutely loves every type of coaster you can get him on, so that's why I was going thrill rides! He had also told me no characters, lol! I will have to at least sneak him in to meet Mickey though, even if it is under protest. I also think I have it worked out to stay one more night to go to one of the water parks which I know he will be all for. I'm going to let him choose which one to go to. I've also gotta gear some stuff to his 23 year old sister (it's her graduation present). I'm pretty sure she wants to meet princesses and get autographs. I'm just hoping for no fights!

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

My son loves the roller coasters and food...lots and lots of food.

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

Thanks so much for all of the ideas! He has been to six flags a couple of times and absolutely loves every type of coaster you can get him on, so that's why I was going thrill rides! He had also told me no characters, lol! I will have to at least sneak him in to meet Mickey though, even if it is under protest. I also think I have it worked out to stay one more night to go to one of the water parks which I know he will be all for. I'm going to let him choose which one to go to. I've also gotta gear some stuff to his 23 year old sister (it's her graduation present). I'm pretty sure she wants to meet princesses and get autographs. I'm just hoping for no fights!

We have a rule at the character buffets...no pictures, no food. . Works great!!

 

[hamilkm]

Okay, so I have now book room at POP, flights, and five day park tickets (no hopper) with a 1 day water park pass through my travel agent. This is my tentative itinerary. Let me know what you guys think. This is also the week before Memorial Day.

Arrival Monday May 23 at 9pm. Arrive at POP and go to bed!
Tuesday May 24- Animal Kingdom.
-FP for EE, Kali, and Safari (may end up missing rope drop due to late arrival)
-Hoping for getting to stay for the evening and rivers of light

Wednesday May 25- HS
-FP TSMWM,ToT, ST
-RD RRC (will try to ride a couple of times at rope drop, know it will be a favorite)
-Lunch at Sci-fi
-Indiana Jones, Maybe Frozen and/or Beauty and the Beast
-Head back to room to rest/swim, possibly come back to park for Fantasmic/ Star Wars fireworks (???)

Thursday May 26
-Let them pick a water park for the day
-Evening at Disney Springs

Friday May27- MK
-Really hoping for 24 hour day here!!!
-If 24 hour day, want to be there at 6am, stay til early/mid afternoon. Go back to room to rest/nap. Be back at park in time for wishes and stay until we absolutely can not go anymore.
-If no 24 hour day, will just do a normal all day at MK
-FP 7DMT, Splash, Space
-Lunch reservations at BOG

Saturday May28
-if 24 hour day before. Sleep in and do night at HS with FP for RRC, ToT, and ST. Watch fireworks this night.(or change to a night in any other park they request, just in talking to them I think this will be what they want)
-if no 24 hour day. This will be Epcot day.
-FP either TT or new Frozen ride (??? for 23 year old cousin), spaceship earth, mission space (if teir 2 again)

Sunday May29
-If we did the 24 hour day this will be our Epcot day. Plane does not leave til 9:50 pm.
-If we did not do the 24 hour day, this will be left up to the 2 of them to pick their favorite park to return to!