How do I get my 17 year old son interested in Disney again?

[bacoach2014]

After a LONG hiatus, we are back. Our last trip to the World definitely didn't go as planned. Lets just say that there were a lot of setbacks and none of us were too thrilled with visiting again anytime soon.

Well, DH and I were talking about it tonight. We decided that we want to go back next year. It will probably be sometime in September of 2015.

The issue is that my son will be 18 and right now he could care less about going. He says that there isn't much to do there. I honestly think that he has forgotten about all the fun things to do there.

We will be driving this time instead of flying. I honestly think that driving is 100 times more fun than flying. I would do a trip with just my husband and me, but every time I even try to consider it, I feel guilty. When I ask my son about it, he says that he wouldn't mind staying home. So, why do I feel like he would be missing out if we do a couples only trip?

Should I force him to go? Should I maybe consider the fact that he's done with family trips and just go with DH? I'm so confused and need some help....

I have a 14, 17, 19, and 22 year old. they all love disney. A couple of things you could do is tell him he doesn't have to hang with the family all day he could do his own thing. show him some of the things for older kids and let him know that he can do that without being with the family all day. If he has a younger brother or sister, maybe would find it more fun to take them around while you can do what you want. Last may suggest he could take a friend.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I remember being a boy that age in Disney.... the princesses helped keep my interest. Sorry, true.

Pocahontas was in 2012

 

[minnie4me]

I'm not looking forward to this time, but it will be coming.
Maybe focus away from the parks...DTD has bowling, an Imax theater, hanging at the pool, nice dinners, water parks, golf (mini or regular). I guess EPCOT is the most adult themed park, especially for science and history lovers. If you've got some money to spend, send him to the Dale Earnhardt racing track. A boy that age would love to drive a race car, I'd imagine at least most would.
What are his interests, and at what time of the year do you want to go?

 

[nicki.momof3]

1. Bring a friend - get a one bedroom so that they have the privacy of their own sleeping space. Better yet get a 2 bedroom if you have the points or $$$.

2. Don't make it a family 100% of the time trip. You can plan a dinner together every evening but otherwise let him an a buddy hang out.

3. If you are going during a peak time - Easter / Christmas let him take advantage of the super late 1-3am hours.

4. Does he golf - have a golf, pool trip. You and your husband hit the parks and let him relax and sleep in and do stuff he wants.

 

[Aliceacc]

If you're driving, he doesn't have to decide now; he can decide pretty much at the last minute.

So I would drop the subject for the time being.

Even if he changes his mind the night before you leave, he can pack a suitcase. You can add one to your room number. He may or may not get to share your ADRs or FP+, but that isn't the end of the world.

Some battles simply aren't worth fighting. You're not going to be able to convince an 18 year old to love something you love. So I would let him know that the invitation is open right up until the moment you pull out of the driveway, and that you would welcome any input even if he's chosen not to come.

BUT-- give some thought to leaving him home alone. He wouldn't be the first 18 year old to have a massive keg party while mom and dad were on vacation. I would want to have a good handle on what was going on in my absence.

Also, if you're planning for September, won't he be at school? If he's 18, will that mean Senior year of the start of college? (It could go either way.) That may be part of his hesitation..

 

[SWofDisorder]

What about doing other things like the water skiing, behind the scene tours, rent a boat. Also is there something educational to do for him? Research how the elevators work on ToT, etc.

Teenager years are difficult, Good luck.

 

[Hannathy]

I missed 2 things the first time I read the OP and responded!

1. I just saw you said driving! No teen I know thinks driving with their family is fun. With their friends as a road trip hell yeah, with family no. I can almost guarantee he will get in the car with ear buds, a pillow, various electronics, and you will not see or hear from him unless you stop for food. He will sleep 90% of the trip.

You want him to go fly.

2. Just saw it is September, how would that work? if he is in college unless its a weekend trip he can't go and most kids don't want to miss senior yr of high school.

 

[MandiC]

The thing about kids is they turn into their own people he might be going through a phase, he might just not enjoy Disney. Not everyone does as much as we would all love if our kids were lifelong Disney-lovers. I wouldn't force him but maybe point out that there are other things, if he *really* doesn't want to go to a certain park maybe that day he can go and do something else.

 

[Sugardimples]

Don't feel guilty. I assure you that he will be taking many vacations without you and will feel no guilt about it.

 

[OLIVIA'S DADDY]

He has other interests now, why force him to go? He most likely still enjoys it, but would rather do things with his friends. Wait until he takes his child for the first time, or he brings his girlfriend for the first time! The magic will surely return!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I missed 2 things the first time I read the OP and responded!

1. I just saw you said driving! No teen I know thinks driving with their family is fun. With their friends as a road trip hell yeah, with family no. I can almost guarantee he will get in the car with ear buds, a pillow, various electronics, and you will not see or hear from him unless you stop for food. He will sleep 90% of the trip.

You want him to go fly.

2. Just saw it is September, how would that work? if he is in college unless its a weekend trip he can't go and most kids don't want to miss senior yr of high school.

I missed those two tidbits as well, and agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts above.

 

[powellrj]

I have 2 boys that are now grown. The oldest stopped wanting to go at around 15. Now he is almost 31 and still won't go. He will go to Orlando with his DW and the rest of us, we go to theme parks and he visits army buddies.

Other DS would go with us again, but he is too busy these days. He is 23 and graduates from college next month. He really wasn't thrilled with the last trip he took with us when he was a senior in HS, what made him change his mind was we let him drive, pick many of the restaurants and visit with friends in the evening that on the college program. He had a good time, not a great time.

DD is a senior in HS and would still go with us, but we aren't able to travel much these days, so she has been going with friends families on their trips.

 

[Dragonfly_34]

We are in a similar situation - have a trip planned for October and our 17 year old son doesn't want to go. He's been to WDW twice and has no desire to go back again. I can't say I blame him because he doesn't care for amusement parks to begin with, doesn't like roller coasters and there's a big age gap between him and our other children so he doesn't want to spend 8 days hanging out with a 5 year old and 2 year old twins. We've agreed to let him stay home while we are gone. He's going to take care of the dogs and the house, we'll probably pay him something to take care of the dogs since it's saving us from having to board them, and we're planning a smaller family vacation over the summer. I wish he'd reconsider since I wanted one last "big" trip before he graduates from high school but I don't want him to be miserable, especially given how expensive Disney is.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I missed 2 things the first time I read the OP and responded!

1. I just saw you said driving! No teen I know thinks driving with their family is fun. With their friends as a road trip hell yeah, with family no. I can almost guarantee he will get in the car with ear buds, a pillow, various electronics, and you will not see or hear from him unless you stop for food. He will sleep 90% of the trip.

You want him to go fly.

2. Just saw it is September, how would that work? if he is in college unless its a weekend trip he can't go and most kids don't want to miss senior yr of high school.

#2 is an issue.

I don't see #1 as one at all though. I do agree "road trip with friends" sounds awesome to a teen while "road trip with M&D", not so much. BUT, because of the very things you mention, I've found teens do car travel quite well. The ear buds and staring at the phone is pretty much a given, just as it would have been if he had been home. He's just doing it in a car instead of at home. When my teen was younger, we had to find ways to occupy her in the car. Now, it's exactly what you describe - we don't hear from her unless she needs to pee. But, it's anything but misery for her; she's perfectly fine back there in her own little World with her tunes, texting friends, checking out youtube, etc.

Honestly, I still say the choice of destination (and WHO is on the trip) is the bigger issue, not mode of transport.

 

[disney0829]

After a LONG hiatus, we are back. Our last trip to the World definitely didn't go as planned. Lets just say that there were a lot of setbacks and none of us were too thrilled with visiting again anytime soon.

Well, DH and I were talking about it tonight. We decided that we want to go back next year. It will probably be sometime in September of 2015.

The issue is that my son will be 18 and right now he could care less about going. He says that there isn't much to do there. I honestly think that he has forgotten about all the fun things to do there.

We will be driving this time instead of flying. I honestly think that driving is 100 times more fun than flying. I would do a trip with just my husband and me, but every time I even try to consider it, I feel guilty. When I ask my son about it, he says that he wouldn't mind staying home. So, why do I feel like he would be missing out if we do a couples only trip?

Should I force him to go? Should I maybe consider the fact that he's done with family trips and just go with DH? I'm so confused and need some help....

Well I'm going to be 20 in a few months, and I can't be more excited to go on our family trip this summer. I do agree to offer to have him bring a friend, but he still says no, then do a couples trip. I was the same way when I was in high school, but now that I am in college, I can't wait to spend time on a family vacation...especially disney because it makes me feel like a kid again. Even if he says no to this trip, give a couple of years and try again. You'd be surprised how much a family vacation to Disney is a motivation to get through a semester in college when I'm away from home.

 

[SweetMissy]

Awww, I absolutely dread the age when our kids aren't into disneyworld anymore. As sad as it is, he'll be 18, I wouldn't force him to go. This will be an opportunity to go with your hubby somewhere nice and romantic!
Or you and hubby can do disneyworld just the 2 of you, lol. Actually, hubby and I have talked about this when the kids are older...and I don't think I'd want to. I'm a very sentimental person so I would probably be too sad to go there since we've created so many memories when they're small. Ahhh the joys of kids growing up!

 

[CatNipRules]

Okay so after spending some time talking with my son over the weekend, we've decided that we are going to play it by ear.

Since it's a long time before we go, we still have time for him to decide. When I asked him about it again, he said that he doesn't really care whether or not he goes.

I was talking to him about some of the different tours that he wanted to do, but couldn't because on our last trip he was 3 months away from being 16. When I started reminding him of them, I could tell that he was interested. He told me that he wants to do something different and that he wants to do one of the tours. So, even if it's a bit on the pricey side, I'm going to do it.

His dad did the backstage magic tour when DS was 5 and he said it would be interesting for all of us to do it as a family. So, this weekend I actually saw him on the computer looking at the tour and I could tell he was excited about it.

So, I'm seeing that maybe he does want to go, but just wants to do different things while there.

Thanks for all of the encouragement. I really appreciate it.

 

[flutterby3744]

Okay so after spending some time talking with my son over the weekend, we've decided that we are going to play it by ear. Since it's a long time before we go, we still have time for him to decide. When I asked him about it again, he said that he doesn't really care whether or not he goes. I was talking to him about some of the different tours that he wanted to do, but couldn't because on our last trip he was 3 months away from being 16. When I started reminding him of them, I could tell that he was interested. He told me that he wants to do something different and that he wants to do one of the tours. So, even if it's a bit on the pricey side, I'm going to do it. His dad did the backstage magic tour when DS was 5 and he said it would be interesting for all of us to do it as a family. So, this weekend I actually saw him on the computer looking at the tour and I could tell he was excited about it. So, I'm seeing that maybe he does want to go, but just wants to do different things while there. Thanks for all of the encouragement. I really appreciate it.

That's great to hear! I hope that as the time draws closer, that old magic reappears.

 

[Aliceacc]

Also, see if he has any interest in Disney Quest.