Help-rescue a not so hot trip

Gah, all of you are making me worry about the day when my son will become a sulky teen!

When I was that age, I was a perfect angel on trips :littleangel::rolleyes1 But then again, my parents would send me on tours. I took what was then the same thing as the the Yes tours, and also the behind the scenes type tours. It was really interesting, and I met other teens who I would later spend time with in the parks (with parental permission). Of course, that was in the old "Gold Key" era. But it was still nice, and I became penpals (when there will still pen pals) with several of the teens I met. Of course now it will be facebook, right?

So....maybe a Keys to the Kingdom tour? Or do the Fireworks dessert party in MK (my brother loves that, and what's better than chocolate covered strawberries and fireworks? Nothing!) Plus, something like a special event can make her feel "special" and like she's doing something super-exclusive. Most teens like to feel like they are doing something that no one else gets to do - like they are a "special snowflake". :rolleyes2

Plus, touring the hotels is pretty nice. And you can't beat the view from the top of the Contemporary Hotel. There are caveats for that - you should look nicely dressed (not like you've just come from the pool or all sweaty from the parks.), you have to stop at a certain floor and then the CMs will escort you up to the top. You don't have to dine there, you can just tell them that you want to go to the observation deck. But there is a nice bar there that serves appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. That's a view that will make her feel very "special".

Heads up about DD - it's a complete cluster right now, and the parking is insane as well as the construction. Unless you want a ticked off teen, avoid it!

However, the Grand Floridian has the same bath soap shop as DD, so that might be a winner. And the Beach Club has Beaches and Cream Ice cream (vs Girradelle) so those are some alternatives for shopping. World Showcase has great shopping - the Japanese pavilion is perfect if she's into maga/Hello Kitty/and other Japanese stuff. England has lots of Dr. Who (Matt Smith and David Tennent versions especially) and Downtown Abby stuff. And (what we call the "coke ride") has some really neat flavors to sample. If you really want to back at her for her behavior, give her the Beverly brand!

Hopefully these tips and the rest of everyone's advice will help. :)
 
I'm sorry, but there is no way I would spend a lot of time and money re-arranging a trip to suit a sulky teenager.



But then my family is well aware that a trip to WDW is not meant for sleeping in late. We can sleep in when we are home.

I think that part of the problem may be that as parents, we think that for our kids, WDW will never change. We take the little teen troglodytes on vacation, believing that they will magically morph back into the kids we brought the last time. It never works.

I think that under the circumstances, it may make sense if the OP reassesses the touring plan to see if perhaps there is a way to make the best of what is rapidly becoming a very disappointing stay. I am not at all sure that I would leave her in the room, and I woudl not force her to make rope drop. I probably would change what we did, and maybe make the trip more of a mother daughter meandering one.
 
I think I've figured some of it out. She planned all our FPs and made them for RD. She says she wants to do rope drop but then she is horrible to be around til about one pm. IVe totally let her plan everything. She wants Harry potter world but I can't take on that expense and she is ok with that. So we did a bunch of her fav rides this mornin and are back in the room chillin because the park is open til one am. I am going to see wishes, she doesn't have to go but I bet she will. Then we sleep in tomorrow and have late FPs for HS
Her fav park. I'm just sad that I have a kid who can be so disrespectful to her mom, some of the things she says are downright cruel. I don't want to lower the boom because we're on vacation and I paid through the nose for it but I am really disappointed in her.

Thanks so much for all the advice. I truly appreciate and am glad I'm not the only one out there!
 
Try Universal's Islands of Adventure for a day instead. Most teenagers will prefer the Universal parks over Disney...

EDIT: Sorry, just spotted you said she wanted to do Harry Potter but the budget didn't stretch, so unfortunately it's too late to plan that in. Maybe with hindsight you should have planned a few nights at Universal instead of only doing Disney?
 


I'm just sad that I have a kid who can be so disrespectful to her mom, some of the things she says are downright cruel. I don't want to lower the boom because we're on vacation and I paid through the nose for it but I am really disappointed in her.

Thanks so much for all the advice. I truly appreciate and am glad I'm not the only one out there!

Quite honestly, I think you will change your view in about a month. Because her view will change as well. I would gently suggest thinking about good things your daughter has done in her life instead of what is going on for this one trip. Forget about the money you spent, forget about what you want. Remember all the things your daughter has done for you in the past 15 years. And then, treat her like an equal because she almost is.
 
I think I've figured some of it out. She planned all our FPs and made them for RD. She says she wants to do rope drop but then she is horrible to be around til about one pm. IVe totally let her plan everything. She wants Harry potter world but I can't take on that expense and she is ok with that. So we did a bunch of her fav rides this mornin and are back in the room chillin because the park is open til one am. I am going to see wishes, she doesn't have to go but I bet she will. Then we sleep in tomorrow and have late FPs for HS
Her fav park. I'm just sad that I have a kid who can be so disrespectful to her mom, some of the things she says are downright cruel. I don't want to lower the boom because we're on vacation and I paid through the nose for it but I am really disappointed in her.

Thanks so much for all the advice. I truly appreciate and am glad I'm not the only one out there!

I am 57 and I cringe every time I remember some of what I said to my Mom. I know this is a tough trip and a tough time, but as others have suggested, maybe both of yor viewpoints will change on a bit. I bet you will fall over when she tells her friends what a great time she had.

A few years ago, I joined my sister in DLR to visit her DD, who was a CM at the time. Now Kim was a few years older than your DD< but Holy Headache!!! If I had not gone with my sister, I bet she would have been curled up in fetal ball within two days. LOL! :dance3: My niece, who thought she was the best hostess ever! was a nightmare! She spent just about every night at our hotel, which we never expected. She accompanied us just about everywhere we went, again....on her own. She really did go over and above what we ever expected, but what a cost :rotfl: One night, after we dropped her off at her housing complex, and discovered she lost her key, so she would just wait until she was let in :scared1: my sister keeled over in the car. Poor thing was a mess! I also belive we had more wine on that trip than on any other, before or since!

She is older now, and still does not believe she was difficult! LOL!
 


I hope things get better on this trip for you; you've gotten a lot of good advice and empathy from fellow parents of teens. For future reference: I have two 17 year old sons and one of them was a total jerk in 2011 so I didn't bring him for the past couple of trips. He's coming this year and he's very much looking forward to it, they get over it. Even if they don't, if you love going to Disney, go with someone who shares the joy. I know how frustrating it is. I was ready to push my son in the moat a few years ago.
 
I think that part of the problem may be that as parents, we think that for our kids, WDW will never change. We take the little teen troglodytes on vacation, believing that they will magically morph back into the kids we brought the last time. It never works.

I think that under the circumstances, it may make sense if the OP reassesses the touring plan to see if perhaps there is a way to make the best of what is rapidly becoming a very disappointing stay. I am not at all sure that I would leave her in the room, and I woudl not force her to make rope drop. I probably would change what we did, and maybe make the trip more of a mother daughter meandering one.

Which is pretty much what I suggested in the part of my post you didn't quote.

The OP can re-assess things without having to go to added expense. And I am glad that is what she is doing.
 
I think I've figured some of it out. She planned all our FPs and made them for RD. She says she wants to do rope drop but then she is horrible to be around til about one pm. IVe totally let her plan everything. She wants Harry potter world but I can't take on that expense and she is ok with that. So we did a bunch of her fav rides this mornin and are back in the room chillin because the park is open til one am. I am going to see wishes, she doesn't have to go but I bet she will. Then we sleep in tomorrow and have late FPs for HS
Her fav park. I'm just sad that I have a kid who can be so disrespectful to her mom, some of the things she says are downright cruel. I don't want to lower the boom because we're on vacation and I paid through the nose for it but I am really disappointed in her.

Thanks so much for all the advice. I truly appreciate and am glad I'm not the only one out there!


Hang in there!

One thing though, my mom never, ever tolerated cruelness. On or off vacation. I'm not saying lowering the boom but one thing my kids know is that they will not and cannot talk to me any ole way they feel like it. LOL although my mom was one of those naturally witty people, I would usually say some thing smart to her and she had a serious comeback that would shut me down. My aunt use to laugh and say "eliza" you're trying to go up against a professional.

Anyhoo,

One thing I would say is don't be to disappointed. Listen, I think as Disney lovers we feel that everyone has to love it always like we do. they don't and that's perfectly ok.

I agree with Maxismom. Let go of the "dreams" you had for this trip. you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Ask her each day what she wants to do. it maybe a little, it maybe nothing.

She may never experience Disney they way you want her to again and that's totally ok, world is full of wonderful things parents and teens can experience
 
I am so sorry that is happening to you two!
I haven't read all 4 pages but did anyone mention the dessert party at Tomorrowland Terrace???
 
Me. :) I've always loved it the party. I think I get my money's worth of guava/mango smoothies, chocolate cookies, ice cream, brownies, cheesecake, chocolate covered strawberries, cake, hot chocolate, lemonade and, of course an awesome view of Tinkerbelle and the Castle!
 
She promised we'd do wishes one night. Tonight's the perfect night, park open til one and we've been resting for hours now she doesn't want to go back. She wants to stay in the hotel room. So disappointed but I'm going to go with the flow. Wishes isn't worth hours of dragging a belligerent teen through the park
 
Sadly I ve been that teenager....makes me cringe now how awful I was on our first family trip. I was nearly 16 and all I was worried about is what I was missing out on back home and what my friends were doing.
I did nt want to be in any photos and just acted generally unimpressed by the whole thing.
At the time I never realised how much time and money my parents spent and how lucky I was to be at wdw.
I would love to take my parents back now and make up for my stroppy teen phase!!
 
She promised we'd do wishes one night. Tonight's the perfect night, park open til one and we've been resting for hours now she doesn't want to go back. She wants to stay in the hotel room. So disappointed but I'm going to go with the flow. Wishes isn't worth hours of dragging a belligerent teen through the park

Go by yourself.

I was a teenager and even though I was too a brat, I was very thankful for every trip we could make and afford, even if I didn't have a saying in where we were going. From what I read, your daughter is acting like a spoiled 7 years old.

She really doesn't deserve the great trip you are sharing with her.
 
:) At 15-18 Mom is crazy , behind the times and a real PITA. At 23, eh she does seems to know a little more but again I do know everything so I let her have a smile every now and then. At 35, I realize, you know this woman is just the cutest thing and such a sweet person--dang I was hateful a time or two and now apologize for those days. At 45, I worship her and enjoy every second I can, because well she is precious and now I can teach her about so many new things and treat her to Vera Bradley Bags and take her and Daddy to Disney, get them their own DVC studio and have a blast.

I can remember hating the world and in my head thinking "why am I acting like this?"....it is just a strange stage, again testing the boundaries...Luckily like you she loved me regardless and now she is my princess and I treat her as such....:wizard:

Leave her alone int he room and go to Wishes. Have something fun to drink and a dessert and people watch.. When/if she asks you what you did just shrug your shoulders and tell "what I came here to do"...and let it go.

25 years from now Disney will be there and it will be different, I promise.
 
Go by yourself.

I was a teenager and even though I was too a brat, I was very thankful for every trip we could make and afford, even if I didn't have a saying in where we were going. From what I read, your daughter is acting like a spoiled 7 years old.

She really doesn't deserve the great trip you are sharing with her.

I agree with all of this, Go see Wishes by yourself!
 
I agree - go see Wishes by yourself.

Although what I might do is say "I'm heading back to the park, and you can join me later if you like for dole whips and then wishes - I'll be in Adventureland getting my Dole Whip at 8pm. If I see you, I would love that - if not, have a great time hanging out at the resort and we'll talk about our adventures later - I plan to be back around 11:30pm and I'll expect you back in the room then, too:)"...
 
Go by yourself.

I was a teenager and even though I was too a brat, I was very thankful for every trip we could make and afford, even if I didn't have a saying in where we were going. From what I read, your daughter is acting like a spoiled 7 years old.

She really doesn't deserve the great trip you are sharing with her.

I agree. Go by yourself. No reason that both of you should have a disappointing trip/evening. Maybe a little time apart will be refreshing for both of you. The last time we were at Disney, one of my "must do's" was to watch Wishes (it poured during the entire show the last time I was there). Everyone else in the family said they weren't interested, which was fine. I said I was going with or without everyone else -- I really didn't care if I went by myself. I preferred that to being at Wishes with 5 or 6 people who didn't want to be there. Other than our 9 yo, everyone else was old enough to do what they wanted to. When it came time to head to MK that evening, surprisingly, everyone else joined me. DH & 9yo went on rides during Wishes and the other 3 "kids" watched Wishes with me....AND ENJOYED IT!

I say GO!!! Maybe she'll decide to join you, maybe she won't. Either way, you can still have a nice evening.
 

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