Teenager losing interest

[Dano1182]

My DS is now 13 .I am wondering if teenagers lose interest in going to DVC.
Anyone have an issue with kids aging up and not wanting to do disney?

 

[Pakey]

I've been there. All 3 of our sons, adults now, no longer enjoy Disney. The love went away when they were in high school. They are beach people and if they are going to an amusement park, they want thrill rides, not Disney rides. I have 500 points a year that I now struggle to use.

 

[Brava Centauri]

We have been surprised that our kids (DD=19, DS=17, DS=16) haven't lost interest. We have done something "Disney" pretty regularly and we all still have a good time. I think our biggest issue now is scheduling trips. With after school / summer jobs, it keeps getting harder and harder to schedule.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Bill and I are taking ten of them to WDW in June - our son and nine of his friends (boys and girls). They are all very excited. I've been told that immediately after graduation I need to have a video camera ready because the ten of them are going to yell out "We're going to Disney World!!" They are all either 17 or 18 yrs old and very excited.

We've got a GV reserved for a week. Should be fun.

I'm planning on being in Orlando next week for business and I'm going to try to get the graduation Mickey ears for the ten of them if they have them out yet at World of Disney.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

Giving them more freedom to do as they please while at the parks has made a big difference. DD will turn 16 just a couple of days before our trip in May. DSs will be 22 and 24. I think they have enjoyed disney even more the older they get. The guys have managed to bring a friend the last few times we went. I think that adds to it. Let them help plan the next trip. Maybe it will be to WDW. Maybe they want to try a Disney Cruise or Vero Beach. They might want to try Hilton Head or if you have enough points posibly Aulani. Then the next trip they might want to go back to WDW or DLR. It does not hurt to change it up a little bit. One of my nephews was determined that he was to old for Disney a few years back. But he was going to spend his spring break in Tampa with the Grand Parents. He was 17 at the time. His parents went ahead and booked the plane. We had booked a week at OKW and invited them to come with us at the same time. We nephew had to join us. He was not happy. Disney was for little kids. From the minute he steped foot on the property he was hooked. Could not believe the place. Ended up having the time of his life. He still talks about it and tells everyone this was his favorite vacation. He is a poor grad student now but is trying to find a way to join us again this May.

 

[cseca]

Heck our DD is barely 2, and I think if she and her future sibling ever not interested in going to Disney we'll still be ok. Because I'll still want to go... More points for moi!

 

[LSchrow]

About the time DS turned 15, family vacations in general became more complex. We adapted by allowing him more freedom (he loves all there is to do in the BW area), letting him bring a friend, and having him plan some of our activities.
On the other hand, now 27yo DD and I have taken a girls only WDW trip every may since she tuned 18.

 

[n2mm]

Been there twice now! It will get better and they will come back. I went through it with my kids, but they are all adults now and beg us to let them come (sometimes we do, sometimes we don't). Now that my grandson is 17 he has no interest in WDW. His last trip was when he was 15 and we let him bring TWO friends (both 15). Stayed at the BCV that trip and gave them the entire 2nd bedroom wing of our 2 bedroom unit. He told us then that he was pretty much done with WDW then. I think I wore him out when he had his own AP at 6 yo and we took him at least twice a year from then on -- sometimes more. He didn't even do the cruise with us last year because of the limitations of cell-phone use. It's OK, we ALL still go (4+ trips a year) and he stays with family or friends. He only misses us when he's hungry and texts us to see where we're eating. He'll come back....they always do.

 

[mdsd8700]

Bill and I are taking ten of them to WDW in June - our son and nine of his friends (boys and girls). They are all very excited. I've been told that immediately after graduation I need to have a video camera ready because the ten of them are going to yell out "We're going to Disney World!!" They are all either 17 or 18 yrs old and very excited.

We've got a GV reserved for a week. Should be fun.

I'm planning on being in Orlando next week for business and I'm going to try to get the graduation Mickey ears for the ten of them if they have them out yet at World of Disney.

I just have to say I think that is AWESOME! What a wonderful way to share your DVC with your children and their friends. I would just love to do something like that!! I have no doubt they will all have the time of their lives and remember it forever, it is definately most generous. I hope you have a wonderful time.

To answer the OPs question. Our DD is 14 and our DS is 17. Our 17 year old is a Disney Freak like DH and myself. He is thrilled that he will be going to Disney for nearly the next 50 years. Our DD not so much. She doesn't complain about going but wonders why we go so often. This has been the case for several years now. We usually go to DLR every other year to change things up. We have done DLC and want to try Aulani in the summer of 2012. Even with her less than overly excited feeling toward Disney we purchased our first DVC contract this past June. She does enjoy herself when we are there so I think as the time passes and she gets older she will come to appreciate it more. Although not sure she will ever be a "convert" so to speak. That was okay with us, we are still sure that our DVC was a good choice for our family. However I am thinking if I told her she could take 9 of her friends and stay in a Grand Villa as a HS graduation gift, I have a feeling she would start to Love Disney in ways she never has before That is just something I am going to have to keep in mind!

 

[LIFERBABE]

My DS is 13 and we allow him extra time to do what he wants. If that means sleep late some days or play video games that's ok. We rarely tour the parks all day or everyday for that matter.
As long as we get to spend time with them, without all the home stress, Im good.
DS brings his modem and he connects with his friends back home on Xbox Live. We look at DVC as more of a vacation home, so we spend more time in the villa and resort.
One reason we chose DVC over a Vac. Home is the transportation for teenagers and young adults. They have more freedom to move around at WDW. If they get bored, they can go back to the villa on their own or to DTD for a movie etc, eat what they want.

 

[RumpleMom]

Just try planning a WDW trip without your kids and you will find out how much they want to come very quickly.

 

[Disneymanic]

Our DD is 28 and loves everything about Disney still. She wants to be in the parks all day and yet is perfectly happy when we stay at the resort or go shopping. DS, 30, is a little different. He went through a period where Disney was too childish for him. Now he will go as long as he can sleep in and not rush around. His feeling is he is on vacation and should do as he pleases. We have no problem with that. After all, DW and I are going anyway and if the kids want to come, we are fine with that. After all, DW and I still love Disney and our DVC.

 

[extremesoccermom]

Yep been there done that. When DS turned around 15/16 he decided he was no longer interested in going with us. At that age we left him at home with another family member and we just went ourselves. I had no interest in stopping and DH and DD both still wanted to go. It wasn't until last year he is now 20 and we decided to go on a cruise that he decided he would suffer and go with us. He spent most of the time in the room sleeping or playing on the computer. We hit the parks and if he wanted he could call us and meet up.

 

[dbs1228]

Just returned yesterday from our 16th annual WDW vacation with our 3 DD's 19, 18 and 15. I can't say they get sick of it! My 19 year old has already informed me she wants to go again this summer with friends. Both the 18 and 19 year old missed 3 days of college but it was their choice and responsibilty to talk with their professors! We had a ball and the older they get, the more freedom they have to come and go so they love it even more now then when they were younger. Being at BLT when MK was opened until 3:00 AM was a big plus!

 

[dairyqueenmom]

My DD's are 12 & 14 and when given the choice to go to the beach in Florida for a week or Disney for a week, they both picked Disney. We try to mix it up with different resorts, pool hop to other resorts to break our days up. I am so happy they still love it as much as I do. I hope it never changes.

 

[rentayenta]

My oldest is 14 and still loves Disney. I know the day will come and then I will disown her.

My middle DD (12) loves it like I do and in fact wants to be a chef at WDW. She's my favorite child.

My son (9) still loves it and tends to side with my middle DD.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

As Floridians you can imagine that we've been to Disney numerous times. My son, now 14 was 2 when I bought into DVC and though he still loves DVC and the resorts, he is not the Disney nut that I am and have always been. He loves the Orlando area, he loves the resorts (all of them), he's a shopper and loves the Outlet Mall (Nike store). He and his friends (we have taken his 2 best friends to Disney with us each and every time since they were 5) like hanging out at the resort pools, but they (all 14) don't really care to do the parks anymore. Overall, I think they now prefer the water parks, unless the cheerleading troups are in town, then it's Epcot all the way!

Personally, I still love to go to the parks, but I just do what I like and then I head back to the resort. I enjoy the resorts and their amenities more and more and even if and when my son won't come to Disney with me anymore, I'll enjoy coming to relax at the various resorts. (OKW being my 1st favorite)

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Our kids are 23 and 20.... we have been going to WDW since my 23 year old was 3 months old.....there was one year when my son was 19 that he told us he didn't want to go for a while...that lasted 6 months....they both still love to go but now we need a 2 br villa since they each bring their girlfriend/boyfriend along.....my daughter is turning 21 in Sept and guess where she want to go....food and wine.....she's also let us know she wants to have her wedding at disney world(way in the future....so no problems here using our points

 

[Sandisw]

So far, no. But, I will say that I have allowed them, as they have gotten older to make the WDW trip their own.

If they don't want to head back with me at night, after resting in the afternoon, I am okay with it. If they decide not to enjoy the afternoon swim in the pool, I am okay with it. And, if they decide to sleep in and not head to rope drop with me, I am okay with that as well.

My DD 18, who missed the trip last summer because she wanted to spend more time with friends before they all headed to college, is hoping to somehow come with us this year as she is missing it already.

 

[Sammie]

I think they get tired of going with just the family. Any chance your son can bring a friend.