Ideas for the teenage tour group, free special things to do.

[Cruz Family]

I just have a few ideas to throw out there.
-An evening at Ft. Wilderness for the free movie, Chip and Dale, and very cheap campfire s'mores
-Free wake-up calls
-For all the 1st timers, First time visitor pins
-Spending an evening at the Boardwalk, maybe walk over to Beaches & Cream and grab an ice cream.
-I would definitely look into the Photo pass CD, its not cheap but for $99 (per-ordered) the whole group can take a ton of pics all over the parks, test track photos, and even pics from Chef Mickeys.
-Make sure you check out Ice Station cool at Epcot, for free soda samples from around the world.

Hope it helps!

 

[disneyholic family]

also the various transportation boat 'rides'....
like the ferry from the TTC to the MK and the boat from the MK to FW and the WL....that's my favorite boat ride...

and my kids as teens (and still now) loved to ride the monorail around...just to ride the monorail, and also to visit the various resorts...

 

[Tonya2426]

There is also the book "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World". The book is about $10 but would provide hours of fun.

 

[ADP]

At Disney's Hollywood Studios -
Go to Animation Courtyard and visit the "Magic of Disney Animation". There is a 30 minute experience there not too many people know about. Its called the "Art of Disney Animation". Inside you will find a 30 seat theater where a Disney Animator will assist guests in drawing some of their favorite characters.

This experience uses some tools (similar to what an animator uses) to assists guests in drawing a very nice Disney character of your choice. Not only do you get to learn and experience how to draw these characters, but you get to keep your picture as a rememberance and a souvenier. this is a totally free experience (park admission required) and I highly recommend it.

 

[catycatcat4]

also the various transportation boat 'rides'....
like the ferry from the TTC to the MK and the boat from the MK to FW and the WL....that's my favorite boat ride...

and my kids as teens (and still now) loved to ride the monorail around...just to ride the monorail, and also to visit the various resorts...

You sure your fave boat ride aint small world?????

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I think that could definitely be a trip highlight - a Kitchen Sink followed by a rental canopy bike ride around the Epcot resort area. That would be a really fun evening! (Remember to wear closed toe shoes or else they won't let you ride.) When you split the cost, it's not that expensive, either.

Nothing like the appetites of a bunch of teens to tackle a "Kitchen Sink" at Beaches and Cream! We've never had a big enough group to actually get one, let alone even think of finishing it.

Nancy

 

[disneyholic family]

You sure your fave boat ride aint small world?????

oh my HOW could i forget???????????????????????????????????

 

[tinkbutt]

-definitely the boardwalk at night
-the west end of DTD can be cool for teens too with the magic shop if its still there and the funky stores!!
-STAY AWAY FROM PLANET HOLLYWOOD

on an EMH night go to Epcot and take them through nemo, they might think the ride is lame (I loved it!!) but the aquarium Is Awesome as soon as you get off the ride the first tank on the right as you exiting the ride has two dolphins!!! there is also two or three HUGE SEA TURTLES ( or as DBF calls them "look Crushes!") the tanks also have GINORMOUS fish they prolly weigh as much as me!!!and make sure to round them all up and everyone go in to turtle talk together.....On an EMH night you could be the only ones in there so it would be special for your group!!!!

well thats all I have for now

 

[daneenm]

At Disney's Hollywood Studios -
Go to Animation Courtyard and visit the "Magic of Disney Animation". There is a 30 minute experience there not too many people know about. Its called the "Art of Disney Animation". Inside you will find a 30 seat theater where a Disney Animator will assist guests in drawing some of their favorite characters.

This experience uses some tools (similar to what an animator uses) to assists guests in drawing a very nice Disney character of your choice. Not only do you get to learn and experience how to draw these characters, but you get to keep your picture as a rememberance and a souvenier. this is a totally free experience (park admission required) and I highly recommend it.

We have done this at DCA and all of us really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it.

 

[Cruz Family]

bumping!!!

 

[DSNY4ever]

Okay this isn't exactly free, but it will be cheap- Make shirts! You can buy plain white shirts (or maybe another color after Julie's advice ) and you can have the kids decorate them with fabric pens, permanent markers or puff paint, they can all put their names and the year on them or their school and then they can sign the backs of each others shirts or better yet, they can have the characters sign the backs!

Just beware that if they carry the pens around for the characters to sign with, you should get REAL fabric pens and not sharpies because the sharpies will bleed through cheap thin shirts and they will end up with autographs all over their skin! They can decorate with the sharpies but if you use them when they are wearing them, they will probably bleed through. You can get fabric pens at any craft or fabric store and sometimes at the craft section of Walmart as well.

Have fun- I think they'll have a blast just being there!

 

[SFBayDon]

Check with City Hall at the MK and set up a group picture with a character. Pictures are cheap to take and really hold huge memories years from now when they all look back at this very special trip.
Don

 

[GenieCat]

Okay this isn't exactly free, but it will be cheap- Make shirts! You can buy plain white shirts (or maybe another color after Julie's advice ) and you can have the kids decorate them with fabric pens, permanent markers or puff paint, they can all put their names and the year on them or their school and then they can sign the backs of each others shirts or better yet, they can have the characters sign the backs!

As it gets closer to Halloween, watch the Creative Community boards. Many talented Dissers there will come up with some terrific ways to use the various shirt transfer papers available.

While having the characters sign your shirt is a great idea, I don't think they will sign anything that you are wearing at the time.

Keep the ideas coming. Keeping teens entertained beyond the rides can be a challenge.

 

[DSNY4ever]

As it gets closer to Halloween, watch the Creative Community boards. Many talented Dissers there will come up with some terrific ways to use the various shirt transfer papers available.

While having the characters sign your shirt is a great idea, I don't think they will sign anything that you are wearing at the time.

Keep the ideas coming. Keeping teens entertained beyond the rides can be a challenge.

Aww shoot, I had no idea that they wouldn't sign something you are wearing. I know a bachelor party going, and I told them to do a shirt for the groom and have the princesses sign his back, I thought that would be funny. It never crossed my mind that they wouldn't - oh well! The teenagers would still probably have fun signing each others shirts, then they would always remember everyone who was on the trip with them.

 

[todayray]

I have a teen and often travel with his school band trips, etc so i wanted to add my input, but you've all beat me to it and more!! What great ideas! I agree with the wake up call, they're free and unexpected and the kids need the call anyway.

These trips are always on such a tight schedule, and the kids never have that much time to really enjoy being anywhere for very long...i would suggest an adult does a little research here on DIS for each of the areas of Disney that you plan to visit and at each place, pass out a list of "try to get to see these..." areas with locations....this way they get to see the best of things in each of the parks. The parks are big and with limited time, they want to see the best and not run around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to find the best. A little bit of research ahead of time will help everyone as they head out in small groups.
I love traveling with teens, I take them to Europe every other year too and it's always fun to see things through their eyes, but they do still need to be given some direction and guidance of what to see, where and some advice on how to manage their time best. (But of course, letting them still make their own decisions! A fine line to walk as a chaperone)

 

[exwdwcm]

good ideas. i know as a teen, i loved the monorails. what about making some candy at goofy's candy company. west side DTD is good too for that age. we actually liked disneyquest for teens too, although that isn't free.

going to check out the animals at AKL is free and they have a nighttime story teller. maybe check out the geyser at WL too?

 

[SamSam]

They do have families participate in parades; the afternoon parade in MK and in the parade at AK. I'm not sure how you go about getting selected, it may be completely random. Maybe someone here knows the answer.

 

[fakereadhed]

These trips are always on such a tight schedule, and the kids never have that much time to really enjoy being anywhere for very long...i would suggest an adult does a little research here on DIS for each of the areas of Disney that you plan to visit and at each place, pass out a list of "try to get to see these..." areas with locations....this way they get to see the best of things in each of the parks. The parks are big and with limited time, they want to see the best and not run around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to find the best. A little bit of research ahead of time will help everyone as they head out in small groups.

When I was listening to the email show I was saying (please tell me I'm not the only one that talks/yells at the people in my Ipod even though I know they can't hear me) don't take any more time away from those kids if you have one special thing planned already. Being in WDW together IS the special thing!

 

[duckyislost]

Aww shoot, I had no idea that they wouldn't sign something you are wearing. I know a bachelor party going, and I told them to do a shirt for the groom and have the princesses sign his back, I thought that would be funny. It never crossed my mind that they wouldn't - oh well! The teenagers would still probably have fun signing each others shirts, then they would always remember everyone who was on the trip with them.

How about a white top hat for the groom instead?

For the teens - night vision goggles at AKL.