It's NOT FUN Being 16 in WDW!

[kimmar067]

At least, that's what my DS, Jesse, would say! We have been going to WDW on a pretty regular basis [last time Aug 2002], and my DS couldn't WAIT to try his luck at jet-skiing at the CR. He'd waited ever-so-patiently for THREE WHOLE DAYS, when we finally made it over to the CR on our way out from MK so that we could sign him up for 1/2 hour's woth of jet skiing. Well, it seems that, unbeknownst to us, the policy has changed as of last April. You must be 16 WITH A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE. Being that we hail from New Jersey, where you qualify for a DL at age 17, he only had his permit. So, we nixed the idea of the jet ski and decided to opt for his perennial fave, the 'Mickey boats' , aka water mice. Alas, that too, is ruled by the same policy. Now, mind you, it would not have been so bad, except for the fact that my 2 older DS's have been driving these water vehicles by themselves since they were 12!

Okay, now back to AKL once again, he decided to excercise in the weight room at AKL. The nice CM there gave my DS full rein of the facilities. Now, on the 3rd day, there appeared a young lady working at the desk. Upon my DS's arrival, he was greeted with: "Sorry, you must be 18 years of age or older!" ACK!!!

Well, they say things come in three's, so here goes:
Now, outrageously BORED with himself, he was excited about going to Teen Night on Thursday at DTD [PI]. He arrived, only to face the words: "Seventeen and older ONLY!" So much for 'Teen Nite'!! I just hope this doesn't leave a bad taste in his mouth for next time (or there won't BE a 'next time' !!)

 

[lovethattink]

He must have been so disappointed. I know how he feels. I am a petite adult. We went to Hershey Park a few years ago and they wouldn't let me ride the Conestoga Wagon without an adult because I was too short. DS was so disappointed I couldn't take him on it.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I feel your pain. I know what you are going through. We were there last year when the accident happened that changed all the rules, we didnt see it and I only heard about it when we got back. All our 3 teen ds 16,14 and 12 were doing the mouse boats by themselves. It was ds 12 first time and he didn get the hang of it at first. Well Our trip is scheduled for april 24 and ds 17 only has a permit too, he is scheduled for his driving test april 8, so if he passes at least he could drive the other 2 around in the mouseboats, taking turns with each of them, if not, I think we will all be miserable. Ds 17 is also a lifeguard and loves working out in the weight room etc. We are staying at the swan and now he looks alot older and he is really tall 6'2 and growing, so maybe they will let him, I dont know. I guess its disney quest for them and I am thinking about the surfing lessons at tl or possibly renting a canoe and fishing at fw. They need something different. They have done parasailing, horseback riding, fishing etc. I even had to bribe them with..gheesh... a day at universal just to get them to come to dw. I guess every year is starting to wear on them.

 

[Sandyincanada]

Disney seems to skip over the teen years. We also do Usf/Ioa more now as they are bored with alot of stuff in Disney but one is finally old enough to really appreciate World Showcase....that was nice to see.

This is more of a heads up. Friends just came back from a Disney Cruise with teens and they felt the same way. She said they had lots to do for younger kids but very little that interested teens. She said even the pools, they had pools brimming with little ones and adult pools but not really a pool her teen could enjoy. SHe had a good time all in all but will not do it again with her teen.

 

[carbur]

For the water mouses you used to have to be 12. I went to WDW in July and i was 12 at the time. We didn't know until we got down there and that is when they told me that i could not drive them because they chaned the age limit. I am 13 now and i can't wait till i am 16. Here in Ohio you get can your drivers licenes. i can't wait

 

[kimmar067]

....would up 'hanging out' alot at the spa [hot tub]near the pool area at AKL and he went to DTD by himself to shop, but I think it was to 'scope out the babes'!![and there were ALOT of 'em there, what with all the cheerleaders!!]

 

[nearlychildless]

What is teen night in DTD? We are going for a week march 22 at POR with DH just turned 18, first time as teen with out having a friend with her. As it last year in high school she seems more accepting of doing Disney with her parents than she has been for the last few years. We did the Disney cruise with her when she was 15 and 16 and it was great, however last year we did a different cruiseline as she said the older teens where to much in between on the Disney Cruise.

 

[kimmar067]

...my DS found out on one of those "disney activities' channels while at AKL. Have your DD check it out when she gets there! (I'll also ask my DS.... )

 

[disneyworldgirl]

I feel bad for your DS, and I know this isn't exclusively a Disney problem. It seems almost everywhere you go, there are precious few things for kids from 13-17 to do. That used to drive me nuts when I was his age.

Maybe if Disney gets enough requests, they'll come up with something just for younger teens. I hope he has a better time next trip.

 

[off to neverland]

So sorry to hear about your DS. My kids are pretty young now, but I'm sure we'll be facing the same thing down the road.

16 is an age often overlooked.... they aren't kids and they aren't adults.

 

[kimmar067]

....Disney Quest can only take ya SOOOO far!

 

[KirstenJB]

I just turned 18 before going down to Disney, and I had a hard time trying to find stuff to enjoy. Sure I probably could have done a lot more than I did, but It kinda sucks that neither of my parents wanted to go to PI, my sister is 14 (we have completely different tastes) and i sure wasn't going alone to PI. But if i had a friend with me it would have been different. But turning a hick out in the big city is kinda scary. And when I went with my sister to DisneyQuest, I got hooked to the fast and fearious arcade game.

(and as a side note, I got my DL at 15.....and thats for city kids up here in Montana. Farm kiddos can get theirs at 13 w/ legitimate reasons)

Kirsten

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Let's face it, at that age all they really want to do is hang out with their friends and find cute members of the opposite sex. We visit my folks every summer who live on a lake and have all the water toys and boats, and my DD16 STILL manages to claim boredom. The only time she wasn't bored was when I lent her my cell phone for AFTER 9 pm/weekend calls. Teenagers, gotta love em!

 

[nearlychildless]

mine is now just turned 18 and will graduate in May. We are going next week to POR just the three of us and its was her choice where to go. When we went for a couple of days before our cruise WDW ( which were great for middle teens) when she was 16 she was bummed not having anyone she knew her age, now she is more than willing to go but I must admit she is looking forward to going into clubs at PI other than the adventure club. Also she enjoys fine dining and she cant afford it with out her parents and WDW has lots of it to offer. She has booked PS each night including Chefs of France, Tonys, Bomas, Brown Derby and Citrious,(she get pb sandwich during the day).She is the one to wait in line a Bongos. As for any thrill ride, I don't do heights and her Dad does don't do round and round so we will trade off. She also has us signed up for the segways at Epcot and the backstage tour at AK. She will probably want to close the parks down but I guess as I drag myself around after midnight I will be remembering she will be gone next year. I am just glad there is WDW because I sure could not interest in any place else with her old foggy parents except for NY City with Broadway and Bloomingdale.

 

[kimmar067]

mine is now just turned 18 and will graduate in May. We are going next week to POR just the three of us and its was her choice where to go. When we went for a couple of days before our cruise WDW ( which were great for middle teens) when she was 16 she was bummed not having anyone she knew her age, now she is more than willing to go but I must admit she is looking forward to going into clubs at PI other than the adventure club. Also she enjoys fine dining and she cant afford it with out her parents and WDW has lots of it to offer. She has booked PS each night including Chefs of France, Tonys, Bomas, Brown Derby and Citrious,(she get pb sandwich during the day).She is the one to wait in line a Bongos. As for any thrill ride, I don't do heights and her Dad does don't do round and round so we will trade off. She also has us signed up for the segways at Epcot and the backstage tour at AK. She will probably want to close the parks down but I guess as I drag myself around after midnight I will be remembering she will be gone next year. I am just glad there is WDW because I sure could not interest in any place else with her old foggy parents except for NY City with Broadway and Bloomingdale.

....post! My oldest DS, who is 18-1/2, didn't come with us on our trip two weeks ago [college + had to watch the 'fur-baby'!!] We really wished he had come with us - vaca just wasn't the same without him! AND, he and my 16-y-o would have gone off together... Oh well!

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I feel your pain. I know what you are going through. We were there last year when the accident happened that changed all the rules, we didnt see it and I only heard about it when we got back. All our 3 teen ds 16,14 and 12 were doing the mouse boats by themselves. It was ds 12 first time and he didn get the hang of it at first. Well Our trip is scheduled for april 24 and ds 17 only has a permit too, he is scheduled for his driving test april 8, so if he passes at least he could drive the other 2 around in the mouseboats, taking turns with each of them, if not, I think we will all be miserable. Ds 17 is also a lifeguard and loves working out in the weight room etc. We are staying at the swan and now he looks alot older and he is really tall 6'2 and growing, so maybe they will let him, I dont know. I guess its disney quest for them and I am thinking about the surfing lessons at tl or possibly renting a canoe and fishing at fw. They need something different. They have done parasailing, horseback riding, fishing etc. I even had to bribe them with..gheesh... a day at universal just to get them to come to dw. I guess every year is starting to wear on them.

What accident?

 

[nearlychildless]

What accident?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

When the two boats crashed into each other. I read it on the boards when we got back. I think they said they were very young kids, hence no more unlicensed mouse boat drivers.

 

[disneyworldgirl]

That's sad. Do you remember which board the story was on?