It's will be 6.5 years since we've been to WDW.

[Tisha82]

The last time my family was there ( spring 2008) my two boys were 11 and 14. They will be 18 and 21 when I'm thinking of going again in the fall. We went 3 times in 4 springbreaks back then...so wanted to take a break and do something else.

I haven't mentioned it to them yet...but I'm wondering if they will have a good time or not...or if I'm just trying to relive those magical times of their childhood with them. The first time we went was in 2005 and it was the BEST vacations we've ever had. They were 8 and 11 then. So...for those of you who took your kids...then waited again until they were older, what was their experience?

Also, I"m jsut been reading about the new FP+. Can you still do regular FP, also?

 

[dotcomgirl18]

You can no longer do regular FP. And in terms of if they'll enjoy it, I think it still depends on if they like Disney or not. All through college I was still in love with WDW and it was exciting for me every time I visited. Try and plan some special experiences for them that they couldn't have enjoyed when they were younger (maybe a tour that you have to be 16 or up for, buy your 21 year old a special Disney alcoholic beverage, go to a nicer restaurant, etc.)

 

[kbelle8995]

From what I understand regular FP (Legacy FP) is gone. I think that they can find something that they will enjoy.

 

[Tisha82]

Thanks. I think the big difference is that they can go off on their own this time...vs. having to stick with us. I guess I'll just have to ask them if they want to do it. Also, I believe there is a Cirque show in Downtown disney, and yes...out oldest will finally be able to drink. Well, legally that is

 

[disfanforlife]

We have been going every year since 2006 (except one year) and all three of my kids still love it!!!!

 

[MeanestMomEver]

We also only get to go every few years.

My daughters are now 19, 23 and 27. While my oldest is now a FL resident and may or may not join us for the weekend, the other two are college students and CHOSE to come with DH and I over spending spring break with friends or their older sister who lives near the beach.

Our most recent trips were in 2008 and 2010 and we had one in college each time that chose to join us because they really do get that "just like old times" feeling back.

For them, it really has never been about whether we get in certain amounts of attractions or maximize fast pass. It's always been about family time and that's no different now that they are older. And, as the 23 yr old puts it- this is probably our last family trip. She's probably right. Careers, engagements, etc are cropping up these days and it won't always be possible for us to travel at the same time.

I'm sure you will all have a great trip!

 

[aaturner]

We are going for the first time since 2005, mine were 9 & 4 last time we went. We are celebrating my oldest graduation from high school and leaving for college in the fall. I know it will be a very different trip with older kids but really looking forward to making more memories!

 

[rwdavis2]

Our kids liked Disney at that age. BUT, they liked Universal just about as much.

 

[Moonwolf]

I think if they are interested in going then your trip will be great. I'm 25 and a big Disney fan. I just went back to the World with my friend for the first time in 15 years last spring. It was like experiencing everything new again. Plenty of things had changed but there were still things that I remembered that made it nostalgic. I loved it so much that I'm planning another trip next year.

When I ask my brother, who also enjoys Disney movies but isn't quite as enthusiastic as me about it(though we do enjoy being silly and breaking out in Disney songs), if he would like to come with me he was all for it. The last time he went he was around 11 and will be 19 next year (he went back with my parents while I was in college). The things he expressed interest in most was really getting to really explore WS & riding TSM(the line was to long last time and he couldn't get a FP for it).

If you have the time you may also consider swinging by Universal for a day or two to satisfy and large thrill ride urges they may get.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

At their ages, will they even be able to get away in "the Fall"?

 

[TNDisneyNut]

The last time my family was there ( spring 2008) my two boys were 11 and 14. They will be 18 and 21 when I'm thinking of going again in the fall. We went 3 times in 4 springbreaks back then...so wanted to take a break and do something else.

I haven't mentioned it to them yet...but I'm wondering if they will have a good time or not...or if I'm just trying to relive those magical times of their childhood with them. The first time we went was in 2005 and it was the BEST vacations we've ever had. They were 8 and 11 then. So...for those of you who took your kids...then waited again until they were older, what was their experience?

Also, I"m jsut been reading about the new FP+. Can you still do regular FP, also?

My "adult" kids still have a great time when they go. When we went back and they were teenagers, I just let them have sometimes where they went off on their own, especially when I was worn out. We would make sure and meet for dinner and certain rides we all loved!

 

[Tisha82]

Thanks everyone. I feel better now. Actually. Was considering the week of Thanksgiving. Younger son has the whole week and college one is off that Tuesday on. Now I'm just worried about everything I am reading about how it's not as clean, FP plus doesn't work well and it makes it hard to park hop, and the CM are not as nice.

 

[disneyerin]

We waited 8 yrs between our last two trips (couldn't afford to go more ) We finally went this last December and our DD was 19. This last trip was the best of our lives! It was different.... no more spontaneous shouts of joy or skipping down main street (although I did!)and more eye rolling and "Ohhhh Mom!!"s.
But the trip was SO SPECIAL! We all felt it was perfect!

 

[csmith041177]

Sounds like you are in store for a great drip. My DS is 16.....and he loves the parks. It is definately a different experience when they start going off on their own. However, that will give you more adult fun time!

 

[Jemmi1218]

Please don't let the whole FP+ system be the decision maker. I'm here now and the system is fantastic. I find it perfectly fine for adults who have the ability to wait in the 20-30 min line. I know that is difficult when there are kids involved but since your kids are adults you will be fine. The system has worked flawless for us and we LOVE it. Every cast member has been just as nice as they always have. I have stopped to chat with about 15 of them since I arrived yesterday. The magic is still there. However I have witnessed at least 40-50 people out right screaming, yelling and throwing a temper tantrum to poor cast members. Those cast members did not react with "magic" towards those guests because really why should they. I have seen more disrespectful guests this trip than ever and what the guests don't seem to remember is that the cast members aren't at fault, that they are just doing their job! Plan you trip and have a blast with your kids!

 

[chukdotcom]

The last time my family was there ( spring 2008) my two boys were 11 and 14. They will be 18 and 21 when I'm thinking of going again in the fall. We went 3 times in 4 springbreaks back then...so wanted to take a break and do something else.

I haven't mentioned it to them yet...but I'm wondering if they will have a good time or not...or if I'm just trying to relive those magical times of their childhood with them. The first time we went was in 2005 and it was the BEST vacations we've ever had. They were 8 and 11 then. So...for those of you who took your kids...then waited again until they were older, what was their experience?

Also, I"m jsut been reading about the new FP+. Can you still do regular FP, also?

Your Mileage May Vary. When I was 18 and my sisters were 20, 22, 24 my parents took us to Disney trying to "recapture the magic". It was a disaster. Two of us got caught at Pleasure Island with fake ids. None of us wanted to get up at 7am for rope drop. Etc etc etc. We had a very different idea of what vacation meant at that time than my parents did.

 

[Tisha82]

Chukdotcom...thank you for giving me food for thought. The 3 times we went, they were not in the "sleep until noon" stage. Although no one loves to get up super early, we all did without complaint or problems. We were at most EMH, and both boys were cool with that. Because we were early birds...we got to do SO MUCH.

You are right...getting up at 6:30 - 7:00, especially on their vacation, is not going to seem like a vacation to them. These are the things that need to be discussed first. Yes, I am trying to "recapture the magic". Oh, that first time when they were 8 and 11 was so magical. It warms my heart to think of it still.

 

[chukdotcom]

Chukdotcom...thank you for giving me food for thought. The 3 times we went, they were not in the "sleep until noon" stage. Although no one loves to get up super early, we all did without complaint or problems. We were at most EMH, and both boys were cool with that. Because we were early birds...we got to do SO MUCH.

You are right...getting up at 6:30 - 7:00, especially on their vacation, is not going to seem like a vacation to them. These are the things that need to be discussed first. Yes, I am trying to "recapture the magic". Oh, that first time when they were 8 and 11 was so magical. It warms my heart to think of it still.

I would strongly recommend switching your hours to the evening. Sleep in, go to the pool. Head to the parks at night. Stay till midnight at MK. Maybe schedule 1 early morning.

 

[redsbe]

Chukdotcom...thank you for giving me food for thought. The 3 times we went, they were not in the "sleep until noon" stage. Although no one loves to get up super early, we all did without complaint or problems. We were at most EMH, and both boys were cool with that. Because we were early birds...we got to do SO MUCH.

You are right...getting up at 6:30 - 7:00, especially on their vacation, is not going to seem like a vacation to them. These are the things that need to be discussed first. Yes, I am trying to "recapture the magic". Oh, that first time when they were 8 and 11 was so magical. It warms my heart to think of it still.

I would be careful with trying to "recapture the magic" as that can be hard to do at any time and their experience as young adults will never match from their time and your enjoyment of it, when they where kids. I would just keep those memories in your heart and the photos from those earlier trips.

I think it really depends on your kids, my son is now 18 and went to DL/WDW several times from the age of 4 to 14. He still loves to travel and take trips with the family but has no great interest to return to DL/WDW, and wanted to branch out to visit other parts of the country so we have done so and not been to DL/WDW for the last five years as a family (I have gone with my mother and youngest daughter).

I would also take the issues raised by some here about conditions of the parks, CMs, and FP+ with some perspective as those reports can easily be countered by the many positive experiences also posted and those not reported here. WDW has millions of visitors each year and although I am sure not all have perfect trips and issues certainly come up, I remain of the view that with some thought, planning and reasonable expectations you can still have a great time at WDW even though with MBs, FP+, and increasing costs and crowds, touring WDW is changing - as it always has.

I am looking at a possible one day visit to MK as part of an upcoming business trip to the Orlando area, and taken trips to DL/WDW 15 times since the 1970s, most recently in 2012, and have seen the many changes and challenges but was always able to have a great experience mostly because some organization, planning, thinking and managing the experience. In my view, DL/WDW have always been - and remains - an experience that you the visitor can make the most of regardless of what ever barriers and changes exist

 

[Moonwolf]

Chukdotcom...thank you for giving me food for thought. The 3 times we went, they were not in the "sleep until noon" stage. Although no one loves to get up super early, we all did without complaint or problems. We were at most EMH, and both boys were cool with that. Because we were early birds...we got to do SO MUCH.

You are right...getting up at 6:30 - 7:00, especially on their vacation, is not going to seem like a vacation to them. These are the things that need to be discussed first. Yes, I am trying to "recapture the magic". Oh, that first time when they were 8 and 11 was so magical. It warms my heart to think of it still.

I think as long as you are not trying to "recapture the magic" in the exact same way as it was when they were younger you should have a great time. Like don't force them to meet with a bunch of characters because they had a great character interaction the last time. Or don't try to recreate every single special thing you remember. (For an example. My mom's obsessed with taking pictures. Having one or two pictures match what you took the last trip is fun... having them all match is stifling and a sure way to get us to start complaining) The reason your memories were special in the first place was most likely because you were in the moment and just having fun.

Since your kids are older have them involved in the planning process. They don't have to be mapping out ever step with you but, for example if you're planning any sit down dinners and are trying to decided between a few places show them the menus and ask them if they have any preferences. For the wake up time planning late nights instead of early mornings might work. On the other hand if you tell them wait times may be shorter in the mornings they might be all for hitting rope drop (you'll be surprised what will motivate people out of bed. Normally my brother won't get out of bed before noon but when we went on vacation last year he wanted to be up at dawn to go fishing. Sometimes he made it and sometime he didn't but he didn't complain anyone waking him up early like he would at home on a normal day). Don't force them to do anything and giving them the freedom to do what they want goes a long way in keeping everyone happy and having fun.