Help Needed From Seasoned Travelers

[nickspace]

I am a bit worried. I am taking my son on a AKV trip for his 16th B-Day on Nov. 10th. He is a good kid but lately he just likes sitting around the house and has lost his sense of adventure. I am worried that I am going to want to go out and do things while he just wants to sit inside and do nothing. I feel like I am going to be a solo traveler but am not very good at that.

I really want him to have some fun but if he doesn't want to explore I don't want to sit around and do nothing. I am willing to do nothing for a little bit but not for that long.

Help!!!!!

 

[spiceycat]

maybe a trip to us/ioa - might bring her adventure side again.

for some reason teen boys seem to like us/ioa better than wdw - it will change back to wdw when he goes to college.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Or better yet, tell him to suck it up because he's in Disney!

 

[aliinfl]

Have you two done something like this alone before? It all really depends on the kid. Some kids are like that at home, but out at the parks, espcecially if they don't get to frequent them, they have a great time. My daughter is 16 and son is 17 and they have grown up at the parks so I am going through a little of this now, but it's really more so because we live here. This is the age where parents aren't as fun as being with other kids. If they had kids that went with us, they would be fine, but when it's just me, it's not the same. Ungrateful kids! Lol! kidding! Just stinks that they have to grow up.

 

[jeffmilw]

Just like the poster who was trying to convince her boyfriend to visit Disney with her... you need to find something your son is interested in... and make sure you find that at Disney. Once he finds somehting there he enjoys, he should be goood to go, and I bet you won't be able to get him away!

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

What about bringing a friend?? Would that help?

 

[disneychic2]

Was this trip something he wanted to do? If he was enthusiastic about going with you to Disney originally, he'll probably snap out of it once he gets there. Having said that, since it is his birthday and the trip is to celebrate it, doing whatever he wants to do would probably be the right thing to do. There are worse things than hanging out at such a beautiful resort watching animals and spending uninterrupted time together. Teens are a tough nut to crack. Everything is major to them. Hopefully it's nothing serious bothering him and he just needs a bit of pixie dust to set him right. I'd start with the water parks or pool since most teens love that sort of thing, then go to HS since the rides there are geared more to teens than the little kids. What a cool parent to be doing this for him! Good luck and enjoy every moment!

 

[nickspace]

Thanks everyone. I just don't want to be alone with no one hang out with.

 

[nurse.darcy]

maybe a trip to us/ioa - might bring her adventure side again.

for some reason teen boys seem to like us/ioa better than wdw - it will change back to wdw when he goes to college.

Well, this was not the case for my son at 16. Or even now at 17. He is a Disney fanatic, and when given the choice between going to Disney or US/IOA, he chose Disney.

Every teen is different. My son grew up thinking Disneyland was like the local city park, cause we went there sort of like that. We lived 20 minutes from there and went all the time even if it was just to ride one ride and wander around. We started making WDW our thing a few years ago. We love it.

Let me tell you all a story. For two summers my son and I had our annual summer trip together. Then in 2009, he invited a friend. This year (2010), it was just him and I and he confided that it was his best trip yet. He was actually disappointed that he had taken a friend the previous year and we didn't get our bonding time. Now I should tell you that this kid will hardly say two words on a daily basis and spends time playing video games and being on his own. It disconcerted me for a while till I found out how many friends he really does have and how much he enjoys life. At Disney, he is just my little boy all over again.

 

[nickspace]

Thanks.... Sounds like my son. I am hoping that once we set off together the pixie dust will work it's magic.

 

[spiceycat]

Well, this was not the case for my son at 16. Or even now at 17. He is a Disney fanatic, and when given the choice between going to Disney or US/IOA, he chose Disney.

Every teen is different. My son grew up thinking Disneyland was like the local city park, cause we went there sort of like that. We lived 20 minutes from there and went all the time even if it was just to ride one ride and wander around. We started making WDW our thing a few years ago. We love it.

Let me tell you all a story. For two summers my son and I had our annual summer trip together. Then in 2009, he invited a friend. This year (2010), it was just him and I and he confided that it was his best trip yet. He was actually disappointed that he had taken a friend the previous year and we didn't get our bonding time. Now I should tell you that this kid will hardly say two words on a daily basis and spends time playing video games and being on his own. It disconcerted me for a while till I found out how many friends he really does have and how much he enjoys life. At Disney, he is just my little boy all over again.

you are one lucky lady.

don't have any children - so talking about my nephew. when he told me that Disney was boring and he did not want to go back. I was hurt.

he goes with his parents and he start taking a friend. got so upset about his attitude that talked to my boss at work and he say he would grow out of it.

well he did. finally wanted to spend more time at WDW and us/ioa.

just be very happy that your son enjoys WDW as much as you do.

annual passes are great - you can do when you feel like it.

 

[let'sgo]

Why don't you look at doing a Premium Package for one night? That would give you two days of fun things to do. I did one in Sept. and went parasailing, bass fishing, jet skiing (that was the highlight of the trip), took a tour, went to La Nouba, and there's a ton of other things you can do on it as well.

Show your son what his choices are and see if he'd rather do other things like what are on the Package deal. Included are boat rentals, tubing, biking, miniature golfing, meals, and different things than the parks. I bet he'd love one of the Segway Tours.

For one fee you get all the fun you can fit in.