HELP! My 14year old does not want to go!!!

[Micelf33]

We are planning a trip to Disney in January and my 14 year old son told me that he has no interest in going.
He has not been to Disney before and i have showed him as much as i can on the disney site and he still thinks it is babyish!!
He told me with all those characters all around that it is for kids!
I dont know how to respond and i cant believe he does not want to go.
However, i will force him to go and im sure he will have a great time, but is there anything i can say in the meantime.
Help Please!!

 

[Demon Llama]

Sell the more thrilling attractions at WDW. Tell him about Dinosaur, Tower of Terror, Aerosmith's Rockin' Rollercoaster, Mission Space, the big 3 mountains etc....once he gets there, you won't have to do any convincing. Just let the magic unfold!

Good luck!

 

[murcor]

I dont know how to respond and i cant believe he does not want to go.

I cant believe it either

I agree with Demon Llama "Sell the more thrilling attractions"

He will love it and will want to return!

 

[Susan--Ontario]

Tell him that you've booked a princess breakfast where he can see some of the most beautiful girls he can imagine, and get his picture taken with them, and even get a big ole sloppy kiss with lipstick and all.

 

[talicskai]

What about a one day trip to Universal Studios or Busch Gardens? Perhaps that will excite him a bit more? Good Luck!

Teresa

 

[pxlbarrel]

Not having kids but being one at heart, I think some people go through several phases....

1. 3-12 years - Wanting to go to Disneyland or WDW desparately
2. 13-24 years - They're too cool to ever hang out at WDW and hanging out with their parents at WDW is even worse
3. 25-100 years - Wishing they had gone earlier and now go every year.



I never went through phase #2...I always wished I could go. Don't worry, he's probably only protesting to show that he's a cool kid and cool kids don't hang out with Mickey. Once he gets there, he'll have fun. When he comes back, he'll tell his friends how lame it was but you'll know the real truth.

 

[Micelf33]

I showed him all those rides and all he could say is hmmmm
I did tell him that i booked a lilo and stitch meal for his sister and he said forget it!!! That i would not force him to go.
But yea, he is at the stage with raging hormones and too cool to be with mom or dad. We took him to Six Flags in Minneapolis this summer and Mall of America and i think it near killed him.
He was in the Apple computer store whenever he had a chance to chat with his friends.
Maybe, if i offer to pay him so that I dont have to hear him B**ch and complain that will do the trick until we get there.

 

[Micelf33]

Oh yea, i forgot to say that my husband is being no help. He seems to be on my sons side.
I got mad and said fine, this is unfair that me and Stephanie should miss out on Disney because of you guys and so we are going regardless.
I told him that my daughter and I will go alone and that seemed to do the trick.

 

[Pokemom]

My 14 year old son is the same way. We have been to WDW a few times and this year he did not want to go. I think it is part of being 14 - "family vacations" just aren't cool. Once my son got there he had a great time, but when we got home and people asked him about it, it was "just OK". I chalk it up to being 14. I agree with the suggestion of promoting the more adventurous rides. Also, try to give your son some freedom and responsibility in planning and once you get there. If you are going to one of the waterparks, maybe let him look up information on them and choose which one to go to. Let him have some time on his own. He'll have a great time while he's there, but don't expect him to admit it. Just appreciate the time you're there.

 

[SandraC]

One word......JASMINE!

 

[ChisJo]

I agree with talicskai - take your son to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. It seems to have more of the thrills for the teens than Disney does. He is at an age where a) being with the parents isn't really cool, b) being with anything that has to do with giant stuffed mice +/or princesses probably isn't the "in-thing" and c) he wants a little bit more independence from his parents.
I see many teens having a great time at Universal. There are many more adventurous rides and maybe a little bit more opportunity for him to enjoy the trip. Show his the websiteUniversal Studios . Let him know that Spiderman and the Hulk are both on the top 10 rides list.

When you were 14 (or your husband), would you want to hang out with Mickey Mouse? What sounds better to a 14 year old: Mickey Mouse or Superheroes (the x-men, Captain America)?

Just my opinion.

Jo

 

[CharlesTD]

Ah just tell him it isn't for kids especially tell him it is one of the top Honeymoon destinations around so how can it be for kids when so many adults visit the place alone every year.

 

[Canadave]

If you can get a copy of the planning video from WDW, the latest one has a teenage 'dude' on it to show the more adventurous side of Disney

 

[mc'smommy]

Oh yea, i forgot to say that my husband is being no help. He seems to be on my sons side.
I got mad and said fine, this is unfair that me and Stephanie should miss out on Disney because of you guys and so we are going regardless.
I told him that my daughter and I will go alone and that seemed to do the trick.

Go ALONE my daughter and I do it all of the time.. My husband can't always get away because of being self employed.. I ask if he wants to go and when he says no I say see ya !....

Go with your daughter and have FUN !

 

[alohamom]

This thread reminds me of the old "Roseanne" show where they all go to the World. Her sullen teenage daughter "Darlene" is too cool too do anything in the begining but then she slowly gets into and by the end is so totally goofy that it reminds me of how enthusiastic I am about Disney! I also love how her husband Dan drinks the beers of the world all around the Epcot showcase, that was just pure sitcom genius(if that exists). I would either see if he wanted to bring a friend and let them explore together or do the Universal/IOA thing for a day as others have suggested. Good luck and let us know how it turns out if he does decide to go.

 

[Third times a charm]

I was going to suggest the same as alohamom suggested; consider letting him bring a friend.

 

[mbb]

We took our 14 year old nephew with us last year...along with our twins - both 7, and our 5 yr old nephew, and (then) 9 mos old niece..and their assorted parents

He expressed some "concerns" about having to go on the "baby rides", will I "have" to meet the characters, etc, etc...

We promised him this was just as much his trip as theirs.. bought a poker set at Ice Station cool, and had some late night tournies, rode Mission Space umpteen times, while the little ones played at Space Base, and yep, hugged right up to Ariel

The night before, everyone got to say what their "one goal" was for the next day, ie, a ride or attraction that they HAD to do...and we worked them in...and everyone had fun

...and Joshman wants to come with us- again- this year..for the "best trip of his life"

HTH!!

 

[MECH8T7]

Tough call.

Ultimately, your son might have a good time but, on the other hand, there presumably is a risk that he might not. And even if he does have a good time, he might take some "ribbing" from his friends in any event...in fact, is it possible that that is what is at the heart of it all?...Do you really think that DS would want to be caught in a picture with the rest of the family standing in front of Cinderella's Castle with silly grins and wearing Mickey Mouse ears...you know, the one that you will get in 8x10 size and hang prominently in the livingroom? Anyways, pre-trip planning and getting your family worked up in a frenzy to want to go is part of the fun for most of the people that visit these boards; much of that excitment will be missed if you are spending a good part of the pre-trip time trying to convince somebody that doesn't want to go how much fun it will be and that, notwithstanding what their feelings are, they're coming anyways.

Would you be able to keep your itinerary flexible during your time down at WDW? If so (and if you are going to have a car), perhaps you can sell DS on the idea that he and DH can go do other things while you and DD spend your time at the WDW parks, provided that DS spends at least the first day with the rest of the family touring one of the WDW parks...even if DS has a great time with the family, he may want to go to other non-WDW attractions just so that he can tell his friends that he wasn't stuck at WDW with the rest of the family the whole time. Anyways, there should be lots of other "cool" stuff that DS and DH can do in Orlando. Apart from the other amusement parks (Busch Gardens, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios)...how about sporting events...such as an NFL football or NHL hockey game in Tampa?...Kennedy Space Centre...golfing...

Good luck with your planning.

 

[Micelf33]

I checked out Universal and i showed him the site and he seemed sort of interested. I think at this age it is even uncool to show your parents that anything they show you is cool.
It will not be a matter of him deciding to go; i am going to force him.
I know he will have a great time once he is there, but i am just trying to avoid the grief before hand.
By the way, how far out is Universal from the resort? We had not planned on renting a car.

Thanks

debbie

 

[Micelf33]

yes, that seems to be what we have also desided to do. I think we are going to split up at times and my husband can take him off to the guy stuff and i will take our 8 year old to the stuff that interests us.
I just figure we have to do this now because in a year or two he will flat out refuse and i may have no choice but to miss a trip of a lifetime.

******Dang Kids******