Need some Teen advice please!

[imadisneyfanatic]

Dear "Teen Disney Experts",
I am surprising my daughter with a trip to WDW for her 13th birthday (she will find out when we pull up to the resort - she thinks it's a business trip for me)
My question is...
At 13, have you "outgrown" the character meals?
I want to make my priority seatings but am not sure if character meals are still "cool" at 13.
Also...which one....Sci-Fi Drive In or 50's Prime Time Cafe?
Thanks! This will be a BIG help.
P.S. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge. Too stuffy of a resort?

 

[Rose_Greenthumb]

Well I'm nearly 16 and I still love going and having my dinner with Winnie the Pooh! My brothers are 13 and pretend to be all cool and not like it but you can tell they do!

 

[disneyfanatic60]

I am not a teenager but the Mom of a 16 yr. old girl. My daughter still enjoys all the character meals. In fact, I just booked some for our upcoming trip.

I surprised my daughter with a trip for her sweet 16th Birthday last October. We had a blast. Make sure she gets a Birthday Badge from Guest Services at the parks. My DD was sung to over and over again, some many people were telling her HB that she often didn't know who to thank! It really made the trip much more memorable for both of us!

Make sure you note on your reservations that it's her Birthday at all meals and at the resort. You can order cakes at some restaurants. We did LTT at MK in October and DD was greeted by name (she was scratching her head trying to figure out how they knew). She had a special table with confetti, streamers, etc. This way the characters knew it was a special occasion and they spent some extra time. The CM's sang to her and brought her out a cupcake with a candle!

As far as WL, you'll really enjoy it there. We've stayed there twice and again in a few weeks. My kids really enjoy this resort. Make sure to eat at Whispering Canyon and ask for the ketchup or a large soda! This place is a real hoot!

Have you thought about ordering something special to be there when you check in? I've used Pixie Gifts/Beth on several occasions. For my DD Birthday, I ordered a Tinkerbell cake, plates, balloons, t-shirts, nightshirts, and added some Disney dollars for her to spend whatever way she wished!

Hope this helps!

 

[wdwgirl03]

What an awesome birthday surprise!!

I am 19, and I've been to both the Sci-Fi and the '50s Prime Time cafe. I really enjoyed both, but I liked the Sci-Fi a little more. I'm sure your daughter would enjoy either one.

As far as the Wilderness Lodge, I've never stayed there, but it looks like a very nice hotel. I saw a special on it on the Travel Channel Great Hotels series, and I'd really like to stay there.

I hope this helps a little!

 

[Mickey Mouse Kid]

I am 13 years old, I and still love going to the character meals

 

[2HOT2touch]

i am thirteen and i still love the character meals when i turned 12 my mom brought me to WDW and my favorite resturaunt is 50's Prime time so we went there and the Waitresses and wiaters were really funny and nice cuz the put 12 sraws in my hair for how old i was (they didnt want to put13 cuz thats an unlucky number) and they gave me a great dessert.
i think your daughter will love it b/c i have been at WDW for my b-day when i was 10 and when i was 12 and i was in DL for my 11th b-day and after that i never had the same kind of b-day they all seemed boring but im sure ur daughter will love it

i hope i helped and if u have any more questions just pm me

 

[Pumbaa7287]

I have been to both of the restaurants you mentioned several times. It all depends on your tastes. The Prime Time cafe is really neat. All of the waiters and waitresses are your relatives (mom dad, bro, sis, or cousin). They will make sure you have good table manners like keeping your elbows off the table. If you get caught too many times (like me), they put you in time-out and let everyone point at you and make fun. You also better make sure to eat all your veggies! Just trust me on that one!
For a more relaxed atmosphere, the Sci-Fi Dine in takes you back to the age when drive-in movies starring 50 foot mosters were popular. The kids sit in the front seat while the adults get to ride in the back. You can watch old movie previews for bad monster flicks while eating good food. Try the glowing Ice cube drinks!

Prime time pros- Better food (try the smores and Onion Straw)
Prime Time cons- Not so good for shy people

Sci Fi pros- Better atmosphere-this was really close, but at sci fi you actually feel like you are outside at night. Look up and you can see al the stars. Great Onion Rings!
Sci Fi cons- I actually got sick once, but that was out of the eight or none times we've been and It's never happened again.

My favorite- It's a tie! But if I had to pick one it would be Sci Fi!

 

[disneyangel7488]

I am almost 16 and I love character meals! If she enjoyed character meals when she was younger, chances are, she probably won't grow out of them.

I have never been to the Prime Time Cafe, but I saw a show on restaurants in WDW n the Food Network just the other night. They did a segment on the Prime Time Cafe and it looks just like something out of a '50s kitchen.
The Sc-Fi is awesome! It is just like a drive-in. When I was there, I remember that there were a few people in the restaurant that had birthdays. The waiters would scream out "It's (name)'s (number)th birthday!"

A surprise birthday trip to wDW sounds like an awesome idea. Your daughter will enjoy it!

 

[imadisneyfanatic]

You guys are all awesome! Thanks for the great advice!
I will be sure to take advantage of all of your super tips to make it a really special trip.
Thanks again!

 

[PolynessianBaby]

I am 13 and almost 14 I still love character meals! Also 50's prime time is the BEST!!!!

*Taylor*

 

[CruiserDew37]

I'm 15, and i still like the char. breakfasts,

and if i had to chose... we had a BLAST at the 50's Prime time cafe, so i'd go for that one

 

[soccercruiser87]

im 16 and the character meals are the best!!!

 

[Little Pirate]

... ok ...
I'm 15 and love to do that stuff!
But it all depends really on who your daughter is. Some kids think they're too cool for that stuff, but if she's never been like that, then I say you should definetely do it!
...
Go for the Sci Fi Dine-In Theater... So cool.

Have fun at WDW!

 

[Pigletandpooh]

i am 12 and absolutly LOVE character meals so what if you LOOK to old who is gonna see ya..

 

[ThinkTink510]

Im gonna be 15 tomorrow and i i just came back from my 5th trip in december and i cant wait to go back! in my opinion i would love to have a surprise birthday trip to disney. The characters are great for any age. I hope u have fun