Special Trip With Son (12)

[dvcdudes]

As luck would have it my younger son is ill and will not be able to join us on our next WDW trip. My wife is going to stay home with the little guy and I'm going to bring my 12 year old.
It will be just me and him. At first devistated that we were'nt going together as a family, I've started to look foward to the "special" trrip with my 12yo DS.
NOW I NEED YOUR HELP!
I need to know of any tips (in the parks or out) of special things a dad and his 12yo son might do to make it an extra special time.
We go twice a year so we're pretty familiar with WDW but we've always gone as a family of 4. I'd like to do something a little different this time.

 

[LKS]

At 12, your son is old enough to drive his own mouseboat. You could be his passenger. I am planning to send my husband and 10 year-old son off for a ride while our younger kids are at Grand Adventures in Cooking. I would also definitely plan a waterpark day.

 

[dvcdudes]

We're leaving 3/23. Do you think it might be too cold for a water park. We've been there before in February and it was downriight cold. We did have a day or two when it got warm but like warm enough for a dip in the pool but I don't know about all day at the water park. We've never been down in March or April so I don't know how the weather is.
I like the idea about the boats. We're staying at the BWV so they have them right across the lake at the YC.
Thanks,

ANY MORE???

 

[Disney Fool]

hmmm.. this requires serious thought.....I sense that a serious,scientific experiment should be engaged in by you and your son: How about undertaking the very, very serious study of which desert is the absolute best at WDW? To do this would require hours of study and research. I suggest you begin at Epcot, at Mexico and work your way clockwise around the lagoon. Then, move on to MK, and compare each land.

 

[cheeringmom]

My DH and 12 yr old son spent 2 full days there. The girls and I had a ball doing "girl" things. have a special trip. And sorry about your little ones illness. Hope its not serious. Pam

 

[dvcdudes]

Thanks Pam(cheeringmom),
The little guy has Epstein-Barr Virus. Not too serious but he is run down and we don't want to take a chance that all the running around in WDW will run him down any more and cause him to miss more school. He missed a week but the doctor said he could go back to school once we found out what was wrong. When he comes home from school he is usually spent and needs an hour or so to relax to build back up.
We figure better safe than sorry. If we didn't own DVC and go to WDW twice a year, we'd probably take him and just rest often. We'll be back in August so at that time I think I'll take one of our days and just let him do whatever he wants to make it special for him (hopefully he'll be better by then) the doctor says it could last 10 months .
Thanks for all the great tips.
I love the one about the desert test!!!
when we finish, we can play a new game called roll daddy home.

 

[Disney Fool]

(tee-hee)

 

[LKS]

As for the temperatures for water parks. I do think they heat the water at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon so on a warm day it could be pretty good. By March 23, it should be mostly warm, but there could be a cool snap. You will have to play it by ear.

 

[dvcdudes]

Bump Leaving in one week

 

[DeeP]

How about booking one of the fishing excersions from FW? The fishing excursions are with your own private pontoon boat with a boat captain and last for about 3 hours. It is a catch and release program unless you have a room with a kitchen like BWV and you want to eat your catch for dinner. One of my coworkers did this with their boys at 10 & 12 yo and the boys loved it. You could also go horseback riding at FW, go on the hidden Mickey quest at WL, go to the game room next to ESPN where they have loads of games that a 12 yo would love. DQ is another sure hit with a 12 yo. If your son likes sports go to the Disney Sports complex for the NFL challenge or go to ESPN and watch a game and eat wings and burgers. If you have a car there is a go cart place a few miles from WDW where your son and you could drive your own go carts, drive to Universal & IOA for the day, IOA has great coasters that appeal to most 12 yo. Have a great trip!

 

[dvcdudes]

I think we might try NFL Challenge.

Thanks... Any More???