Older kids "bored" with DVC, Hilton Head option?

[TCARON]

I need some advice, recently back from 3rd BCV stay with our 16, 17 and 22 year old boys. Great time playing volleyball, swimming, dinners but they ended the trip by asking if we could "skip" WDW next year! I was soooo.. bummed. Should we try Hilton Head? I took them on Soar'in and they yawned!

They like the beach, surfing, we did that at Typhoon Lagoon last year, and water sports.

Any suggestions to revive their excitement would be helpful.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Wow! I just got back with three kids, ages 28, 25, and 24, and they loved BWV piano bar and Pleasure Island! It shook me up when they walked in with vodka and wine for the week there, but they are grown up, I guess!

You might want to do HH or Vero, but VB is quite laid-back unless they REALLY like the beach and pool! Otherwise, you can always trade your points in to II and go on a cruise, backpack trip, etc. My kids are looking forward to VB for a couple of days, but really want to return to BW next year. You could try to do the other options at Disney, but stay away from the parks--the piano bar, PI, DisneyQuest, water parks, boating,parasailing,golfing, and Orlando. Otherwise, VB and HH are both lovely beachside resorts with lots of beach options.

I share your pain. Wouldn't you just like to kick your kids in the butt, and tell them to Get With The Plan!?? What's not to like??

 

[Frozenfingers]

We like to break up our trips a bit too...
This year we went to Ft Lauderdale for the weekend.. and did an airboat tour of the Everglades.. Highly recommend it, and we will be doing it again as well.

Maybe you need excursions to some not so tame places like Universal and Isle of Adventure, Tampa is a short drive and Busch Gardens is just great!!

Kenendy is on our "to repeat" list.

Plenty to do on I-Drive..

One year we spent Thanksgiving at Silver Springs... it was old, but a very nice day..

Discovery Cove is on our "to do" list... and I think there are some manatee encounters on the Gulf side up towards Destin?..

Have a great time planning !

 

[Halle]

WE did HH last summer with DS' 22, and DD 21. They loved being able to walk to the marina area where there are shops and bars. Downside was having to drive to the Beach and small to nonexisitent waves. We love bodysurfing so we are headed to VB this summer in search of the big curl!! We had always gone to Myrtle Beach but realized that was stupid if we could reserve DVC. We're doing 4 days at VB and 2 at BWV.....gotta get to Jellyrolls and Blizzard Beach!!!!

 

[lsyorke]

I have to admit that the 15-17 age range is tough. Not old enough to do the Pleasure Island thing, and too old for "parades". We've taken a break until DD is older and able to do the "adult" things.

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

Gee I think it time for a mom and dad alone trip, don't you?
A romantic getaway?
Leave the kids with a STRICT aunt who won't let them party while you are gone.
I bet it only takes once...and they will be glad to go to WDW no complaints!

On a more serious side....this is a really hard age for kids to like doing much of anything with mom and dad. My DD is an only, and we often took a friend along with when she was this age. The friend had usually not had the op to vaca a such great places...so it worked out well. My fav tho, was when our d wanted to go on a senior trip to Mexico. NOT!!! We took a cruise and a few families from Ohio I think , had gotten together to take about 20 of their kids on a senior trip cruise. The main planner fam had two twin boys...who instantly both fell in love with our DD! So she was quite the Queen of the Ball for that cruise and had so much fun. (and we enjoyed the parents...so we were happy too)

It's hard when our kids outgrow our family vacations. Sigh. But then we can look forward to having grandkids to take to Disney World someday!

maybe try renting out the points you normally spend for your Disney vaca and trying an eco-tour or adventure vacation.

Best of luck!

 

[Beach_Bound9]

I need some advice, recently back from 3rd BCV stay with our 16, 17 and 22 year old boys.

Seems like the most fun activity for almost adults is meeting other almost adults of the opposite gender. Timing at HH or Vero can be hit or miss on that account. For the first part of our recent Vero trip, no teenagers. Second part, teenager meet-a-thon at the pool, beach, volleyball, dodgeball, etc. HH offers bike riding along the beach and provides access to many areas via bikes. Vero doesn't.

 

[JoEllen]

I agree Beach Bound9 that the difference between a great trip and an ok trip for teens is if they meet other teens. We're also thinking of trying HHI for the first time and are worried it may be too laid back for our 15 yr old DD. But she likes to play golf with us (when her buddies aren't around) and hope there are enough other activities to keep her entertained.

We're BWV members and she can't wait until she's old enough to go to Jelly Rolls!

 

[spiceycat]

with beach and surfing - I would do VB first - it has more waves than HH did by far.

or you can take my way out - I sold part of my DVC (a little contract) and brought another one on the beach near Panama City Beach.

he picked the area - I picked the place - not on the strip - so he has to walk to get there.

aren't most of the good surfing at the Pacific Ocean not the Atlantic???

how about a trip to Hawaii?

 

[Laurajean1014]

I need some advice, recently back from 3rd BCV stay with our 16, 17 and 22 year old boys. Great time playing volleyball, swimming, dinners but they ended the trip by asking if we could "skip" WDW next year! I was soooo.. bummed. Should we try Hilton Head? I took them on Soar'in and they yawned!

They like the beach, surfing, we did that at Typhoon Lagoon last year, and water sports.

Any suggestions to revive their excitement would be helpful.

My rose colored glasses are still on..... what offers more, unless you like the beach, but after a few days, I need some action.

Ask the boys what they would consider fun and go from there!

 

[Kathy O]

I have to disagree with the person who said there weren't any waves in Hilton Head. My boys 13 & 15 had a ball riding the waves and boogie boarding in the month of July. Maybe other months are more calm. There are also many sailboat trips and I saw lots of young girls down by the lighthouse area. We had a great time. Hope you do too! Kathy O

 

[OneMoreTry]

My 16yoDD and 14yoDS prefer HH to WDW hands down.

My 10yoDW and 7yoDD call it a tie.

They sound like your kids at WDW. Definitely do HH.