I just KNEW it!!!

[grover]

DS had pretty much told us last trip that he was done with WDW..he was 16..so yeah..I can see his point. Made me a little sad (parents of teens-you totally understand right??) as it was always such a great family vacation for us!

So we decided it would just be dh & I next year..would go in the fall to celebrate our anniversary (we were married at wdw-so that would be perfect!) and have a couple of weeks to relax and enjoy the parks. Heck we were even thinking of spending half our time at Deluxe resort since it would just be the two of us ($$$)..lol!

Well wouldn't you know it..ds over heard us and then later asked if maybe..just maybe we could in May instead so he could join us (on break from University) for the vacation! Funny how his view of WDW changed in not even a couple of years..he wants to go back...YEAH!! So yes of course we try and go in May..there will be lots of time for fall trips later

Have you ever had kids go from LOVE IT..to MEH..boring..and back to LOVE IT?? I have to admit..I was a bit worried he would never want to go back..lol!

Okay..so we have to assess our plan..won't be going deluxe if the 3 of us are going. Loved POFQ, but should we try somewhere new? Really liked Riverside as well but only spent one night there. How do CS and CB compare in size to Riverside?

 

[dis_guy]

Our DDs were 19 and 17 when we went last Christmas and they still just love going. I don't think they'll ever outgrow it, to be honest.

My youngest has already gotten a promise from me to go with her when she has a family of her own.

 

[braddillman]

Have you considered Universal? Our family prefers it to Disney. The thrill rides are a little more thrilling, and I think teens are the prime target demographic there.

 

[grover]

Our DDs were 19 and 17 when we went last Christmas and they still just love going. I don't think they'll ever outgrow it, to be honest.

My youngest has already gotten a promise from me to go with her when she has a family of her own.

awww that is cute!!

 

[grover]

Have you considered Universal? Our family prefers it to Disney. The thrill rides are a little more thrilling, and I think teens are the prime target demographic there.

We always have spent at least a couple of days at US/IOA..love the thrill rides there. We have not stayed on site though..have always found it to be so pricey????

We also have always tried to add in other things too..waterparks (he does really love those), Busch Gardens, Seaworld, outlet shopping (loves that too)..etc. Last time we did the Behind the Scenes tour at MK as he was finally over 16-so that was something he really liked. So the whole trip was not a downer for him..I think he was just feeling like he had outgrown it??? Guess he has come to his senses..ha ha!

 

[maxie]

Good to know that Europe didn't spoil him for WDW LOL. That's great that you're planning again!

If you want to talk Disney summer is a super slow time for me at work.

 

[drag n' fly]

Our next trip is completely about USO. We will have 5 kids with us four of them teenagers so we are definitely the right group for it. I got spoiled by Busch Gardens Tampa and now I just want thrill rides lol.

 

[grover]

Good to know that Europe didn't spoil him for WDW LOL. That's great that you're planning again!

If you want to talk Disney summer is a super slow time for me at work.

No kidding hey..althought I know he would rather go back to Europe or Asia..but that isn't happenin' with Mom & Dad..maybe he finally came to accept that?? heehee!

I'll email you

 

[grover]

Our next trip is completely about USO. We will have 5 kids with us four of them teenagers so we are definitely the right group for it. I got spoiled by Busch Gardens Tampa and now I just want thrill rides lol.

I was so sick when we went to Busch Gardens..I would really love to go back as well..awesome coasters!!

So are you guys staying at US/IOA resorts?

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

My 16yo still doesn't mind the WDW vacations but we don't do a whole lot of park time - this time we are doing 1 day at Epcot with 1 day for WWOHP - haven't ever done Universal before so I'm sure he'll be thrilled since we are all huge HP fans. He's also hoping to save enough money to do the dive in Epcot since he's now scuba certified.

We've been trying to do other vacations too - last year we did the cruise to Alaska, this December we are doing a S. Caribbean cruise over Christmas.

 

[grover]

My 16yo still doesn't mind the WDW vacations but we don't do a whole lot of park time - this time we are doing 1 day at Epcot with 1 day for WWOHP - haven't ever done Universal before so I'm sure he'll be thrilled since we are all huge HP fans. He's also hoping to save enough money to do the dive in Epcot since he's now scuba certified.

We've been trying to do other vacations too - last year we did the cruise to Alaska, this December we are doing a S. Caribbean cruise over Christmas.

US/IOA is fantastic..a friend of mine just came back and said WWOHP was soooo good!

 

[mollyseven]

We have stayed at all the moderates.
My favourite is POR though. My husbands favourite is CB. CB is very large though and you definitely must stay somewhere close to the main building or the bridge that crosses to the main building. If you are wayyyy out in trinidad south it's a haul.
My least favourite is CS. It is also very spread out with the pool being wayyyy far from the main building. At least with CB the main pool is right beside the main building. Coronado has the best buses from all but it just doesn't seem very disney. The place seemed a bit run down. We did stay in casita's 1 which had just been refurbished but the elevators were a mess and the laundry was totally dirty and old and awful. I wouldn't stay here again ever.

FQ was lovely but I preferred the lushness of Port Orleans and the main pool there and the shops and restaurant there. I am happy to go to FQ for a swim and some beignettes but would prefer to stay at port orleans. We stayed at magnolia bend I think it was called in the mansion section on the ground level close to the quiet pool. LOVED IT.
Also we LOVE the option of the boat to downtown disney....so much nicer than always taking the bus.

hope that helps....I know everyone is different.

 

[grover]

We have stayed at all the moderates.
My favourite is POR though. My husbands favourite is CB. CB is very large though and you definitely must stay somewhere close to the main building or the bridge that crosses to the main building. If you are wayyyy out in trinidad south it's a haul.
My least favourite is CS. It is also very spread out with the pool being wayyyy far from the main building. At least with CB the main pool is right beside the main building. Coronado has the best buses from all but it just doesn't seem very disney. The place seemed a bit run down. We did stay in casita's 1 which had just been refurbished but the elevators were a mess and the laundry was totally dirty and old and awful. I wouldn't stay here again ever.

FQ was lovely but I preferred the lushness of Port Orleans and the main pool there and the shops and restaurant there. I am happy to go to FQ for a swim and some beignettes but would prefer to stay at port orleans. We stayed at magnolia bend I think it was called in the mansion section on the ground level close to the quiet pool. LOVED IT.
Also we LOVE the option of the boat to downtown disney....so much nicer than always taking the bus.

hope that helps....I know everyone is different.

So you find that CS and CB are more spread out than Riverside?
We really loved the lushness of Riverside as well..it is just so beautifully landscaped there! I have to agree on the boat..that is one of the reasons we have stayed more than once at POFQ.

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[damo]

We always have spent at least a couple of days at US/IOA..love the thrill rides there. We have not stayed on site though..have always found it to be so pricey????

If you get the proper discounts, the rooms can be very cheap. We are getting a rate of $134/night at the Royal Pacific (a deluxe hotel) in August with our annual pass rate. Annual passes are $229 but are $149/year to renew. They also have great stay more save more rates that give you great discounts, the longer you stay. Also CAA has discounted rates.

By staying onsite you get unlimited express passes which is extremely wonderful, especially in busier times.

My kids, DD - 24, DS - 21, (and their boyfriends/girlfriends) have never missed a Universal vacation and we head down from Toronto a few times each year and solely do US/IOA.

 

[drag n' fly]

I was so sick when we went to Busch Gardens..I would really love to go back as well..awesome coasters!!

So are you guys staying at US/IOA resorts?

Yes we are staying onsite for fotl perks and just because dh and the kids really want to stay at the HRH and it is our anniversary also.
I definitely recommend POR. Hands down my fav property onsite and we used to be be dvc members and I like it better than any dvc resort.

 

[BellyBaby]

My teen is going thru the "Meh" stage, so we did Universal/IOA, he liked it alot. Next time, we'll probably invite his GF (well supervised, all doors open in the vacation home!! ) That will get him excited again, to show WDW to someone new, and seeing it again thru fresh eyes is always so much fun! We'll ask her to cover her own airfare, park ticket, spending $. Fair, yes?

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I know what you mean OP - my DS has already done that to me! After our last trip in 2008, he stated that he really didn't want to go to Disney World again for a long time. Well, ok, he'll be going to the National Boy Scout Jamboree this late July/early August and so, since he "didn't want to go", I started making plans to go the week that he'd be gone. "Wait, you're going without me?!?" - when he got wind of this.

So now we're going (got my mom & DB's going, too - total of 10 of us) for free dining in mid-August!

 

[grover]

My teen is going thru the "Meh" stage, so we did Universal/IOA, he liked it alot. Next time, we'll probably invite his GF (well supervised, all doors open in the vacation home!! ) That will get him excited again, to show WDW to someone new, and seeing it again thru fresh eyes is always so much fun! We'll ask her to cover her own airfare, park ticket, spending $. Fair, yes?

I think it is totally fair!
It is a great place to let teens loose on their own as well without having to worry too much about them..especially if they have several trips under the belt already. I know our ds knows disney by the back of his hand and can be left on his own with plans to meet up later etc.

 

[grover]

I know what you mean OP - my DS has already done that to me! After our last trip in 2008, he stated that he really didn't want to go to Disney World again for a long time. Well, ok, he'll be going to the National Boy Scout Jamboree this late July/early August and so, since he "didn't want to go", I started making plans to go the week that he'd be gone. "Wait, you're going without me?!?" - when he got wind of this.

So now we're going (got my mom & DB's going, too - total of 10 of us) for free dining in mid-August!

Looks like it turned into a big ole family vacation!