Talk to me about WDW with teens!

[carcam51]

Planning a trip next year with my DH and my DS14 and DS16 (at time of travel) - 7 days with hopper and dining plan. My DH hasn't been since he was two, and the last time my boys were there they were in strollers! Talk to me about what WDW is like with your teens. Is your time more leisurely or is it just as planned as when they were little? I am a planner, but I'm curious, do any of you fly by the seat of your pants through the parks? Any and all tips for touring with teens are welcome!!!

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

I think it just depends on your teen and what they like. I'm a big Disney fan. I don't mind doing parks open to close, eating at character meals, and meeting characters. I also enjoy riding the rides, as I'm sure most do. I'm a planner as well so I know what I want to do in advance, though I'm fine with a little spontaneity.

Your teens might want to sleep in a bit more and they may end up staying out late in the parks and wanting to only focus on rides. It could go either way really. I think the best thing to do is ask them what they want to do and get their priorities and go based on that.

 

[Thing 1]

LOVE WDW with teens. They can walk without whining and stay out late and eat good places !!! I suggest that you involve them in all the planning and then you sort of know how they feel about rides and show and time away from mom and dad. Our teens (mine and sisters) pretty much stayed with us but many want some time on their own too. Discuss how much freedom you are ok with and budgets and how to handle snacks, food etc. I took a late night a few times with my then teen and we did a EMH at a park and had an absolute blast. We left our little one and dad at the resort but you could just take some individual time with each one and then maybe a date night with DH!

 

[Aliceacc]

We just got back from a week there with my 3 teens. We were at the Boardwalk with parkhoppers and on the DDP.

We tended to do it as we always do-- rope drop, a break from about 2-5, then return to the parks for dinner and the evening.

With FP+, there were a few times when we let them sleep in a bit, since we knew we had the big rides covered.

And the morning we used our FP+ on Frozen Ever After, my 18 year old son slept in. We texted him as we were getting on the boat for DHS, and he got on when the boat got to the Boardwalk.

 

[carcam51]

I suggest that you involve them in all the planning and then you sort of know how they feel about rides and show and time away from mom and dad.

YES! You have me really excited!!! I realized the other night while talking with them that they don't really remember a whole lot from their last trip - 10 years ago!!! They remember some of the rides, but this may be an entirely new experience for them! I expect they will want some time away and a date night with DH...I never even considered that! Thank you for the idea!!!

We tended to do it as we always do-- rope drop, a break from about 2-5, then return to the parks for dinner and the evening.

With FP+, there were a few times when we let them sleep in a bit, since we knew we had the big rides covered.

This is our intended plan as well...I find that it makes staying for evening EMH that much more enjoyable with that break in the day. Great thought on the FP+ to allow a day or two for sleeping in. This will be the first time I've used FP+ and I think it could be very helpful being able to plan those rides in advance.

 

[Aliceacc]

It also makes that first day a REAL day. We got to the Magic Kingdom that day at about 3 pm, with a 6:30 ADR. We had FPs for 4-5, 5-6 and 8-9, ballpark. So were still able to count it as a "real" day, getting on Big Thunder, Splash and I forget what else with a minimal wait.

 

[carcam51]

It also makes that first day a REAL day. We got to the Magic Kingdom that day at about 3 pm, with a 6:30 ADR. We had FPs for 4-5, 5-6 and 8-9, ballpark. So were still able to count it as a "real" day, getting on Big Thunder, Splash and I forget what else with a minimal wait.

Isn't that the truth! Depending on flights we plan to arrive fairly early so we can get settled into the hotel, and then hit the park. I'm really looking forward to this trip...No more strollers on planes/buses/monorails/boats etc. It will be wonderful! LOL