Teenager that does not want to go along to WDW?

[Misty89]

does anyone have a teen that does not want to go to WDW ? We have been blessed enough to travel there 2x in the past. what would you do? would you just not go?

thanks

 

[bicker]

In the immortal words of Zork: "time passes..." Children grow up and part of that involves asserting their independence. It occurs in various stages as they age, and once they become a teenager, it'll manifest itself in wanting to establish that they can stand on their own, without their parents. It takes several more years before they realize that being able to do so doesn't necessarily mean it is something they really want to do. Our neice is reaching that age, we think, or at least will in the next couple of years, and we're working with my brother on some conspiracies to address it to his satisfaction to some extent.

So my question to you: Do you want to use the club or the glove?

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Is it possible for you to take along a friend? That may make the trip much more enjoyable for your child.

 

[bicker]

Hehe... what a coincidence!?!? We've decided to use the glove -- our conspiracy is to set the trip up as aunt and uncle taking niece to WDW with a friend... still a family affair, but not the same old - same old she's had to deal with, with snotty brother tagging along, for the last nine years. I think it'll be great.

 

[Snow Shoe]

For our last two trips to WDW, our DD (15, then 16) really didn't want to go. So we told her to pick a friend that she would like to go with her. Both times it didn't work out to well; they both got on each others nerves and ours before the trip was over. For our annual up an coming July trip, DD announced that she didn't want to go anymore. My wife and I said fine, we're going then without you. I beleive at this point she'll not be going, but staying with friends. DD is asserting our independence at this point.

Now on the other hand, our two adult children and families are chomping at the bit to get to go with us.

 

[Misty89]

what do you do for the friend as far as $$? did you pay for the friend? did you the friend pay for some off the trip?

DD would have somewhere to go if she did not come along...but it is the point, a family vacation and i am not sure if it is right to go on a trip without all the family

thank you

 

[Nanu57v]

If you invited a friend I would offer to pay for either the park tickets or the plane ticket, and the room of course.


My parents gave my brother and I pagers (in today's world that would be cell phones), when we were teens. We were free to roam any park alone. They would drop us off at AK, and we could stay there until they told us to meet somewhere at say 5pm. We couldn't leave the park though. If we were going to leave the park we had to travel together and inform them of course.

DH skipped a family trip when he was a teen. He stayed with his grandma. I think he was crazy.

 

[seashoreCM]

My USD .02

Before the trip, lay down one rule, your teen may not stay at home alone. It is too tempting to hold a crashable party.

Then let your teen decide what he wants to do within that constraint, stay with friends, stay with Grandma, or come to WDW.

But... if your trip is during school days and your teen has something important to him like football or the school play, you should respect his wishes and you arrange to have someone take care of him at home or with transportation.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Planogirl]

I'd let the kid stay with someone. It's not much of a family trip if one member of the family resents being there.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I feel a little different. Those years of family vacations are almost over. I would do everything that I could to make this vacation special and fun for your child. Do Disney Quest, Rent Boats, Plans some sleep in mornings and pool time. Allow them some freedoom in the parks, BUT insist that everyone goes. There is some thing about being all together with just the family that creates bonds that happen no other time.

 

[Snow Shoe]

When we took DD friends, we paid for everything except the friends spending money. We feel that when you envite sombody on this type of vacation, we're responsible for all the costs. When we go this July, DD will stay with a friend at their house.

The past two times with her friends, we all had to be at the same park. All of us had cell phones and meet at specific times in the parks as a check in. There were nights when we ate seperatly, she had her own ADR's at different restraunts because she didn't like some of our places to eat. They had to be in at midnight.

 

[Planogirl]

Be careful though because I've heard plenty of horror stories about surly teens. I have my own but they involve DH and my mother.

 

[shades]

I know someone who allowed their daughter to take a friend and they paid for room, meals, & tickets - and gave the kid a room key with $50 on it for spending money. That is probably what I would do, too. Even though it is expensive to take an extra person & pay their way - I'd still want them to have some spending money of their own to enjoy.

But - if your teen is totally against going - it will probably ruin your trip if you make him go. I know whenever I force my 13yr daughter to go with us out to dinner - she pouts the entire time and is grumpy. I try to ignore her - but, it isn't always easy to do. Sometimes, I make her go anyway - just to reinforce that I'm the boss;o)

 

[tinkerjo]

im 12 and i love disney world and my brother is 15 and still loves it! good luck though!

 

[Holly]

We are leaving for WDW in a week, and my oldest is staying at home with his grandparents (they live with us). My son has been to WDW 7 times, and just wasn't interested in going this trip.

I begged and pleaded to no avail, and there was NO way I was forcing him to go, because he would have made the trip miserable for everyone.

I'll miss him while we are there.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

We've done both

had the boys bring a friend (we pay for plane, room, meals) request parents pay for park ticket and spending money for snacks, gifts, arcade games etc..

Middle son enjoys the park for a maximum of 5 days, then wants out.. so on our last family vacation he brought a friend and they flew back home after five days. Our son spend the rest of our vacation at his friends house.

This compromise worked out great for us, we got a "family vacation" and he was there long enuf to have fun but not get bored..

Is your teen old enuf to do this??

 

[Tortuga Viejo]

I have 2 sons 16 & 18(and 2 smaller children). Both still love to go to the park, but have asked to stay home in the past. This past summer my oldest son got up every morning and got fast pass tickets to the big rides. Since we had park hoopers - his goal was to ride all the top rides in all 4 parks in the same day! He did it - but he was one tired puppy. He would call on his cell frequently to give us updates on the wait times and lines. My younger son spent a few days at MGM studios. My husband and I also spent at leat half a day with each one on one doing something they liked to do, while the other parent one stayed with the younger kids.
I think these "one on one days" will be remember as some of the special times by each of them. This year my oldest one joined the marines and will not be able to go on our annual winter trip. We are all (including him) glad we forced "travel as a famliy" issue. JMHO.

 

[pjv]

My kids were the same way, last year, 2 years ago, I went without them and had a blast, they say I walk way too much in the parks and tire them out! This year they are 13 and 17, They wanted to try to go again, and we went in May, I brought a friend to both of them along and we stayed in the cabins, and they did enjoy themselves, oldest one got to stay in the cabin later in the evening if he was tired and My DD and I went to parks till closing, ended up having a great time! If you have some one to watch them while you go to disney then don't hesitate, worked out fine with me!

 

[staci]

I took a friend when I was 17. We had a great time, and did spend a lot of it with my whole family. That was an expectation from the begining, that family time was a priority. We took a friend that was very agreeable and got along well with my parents.

Her mother was not in the financial position to ever take her on vacations, so this was my friend's only trip to wdw (and one of her only trips).

My parents paid for the hotel and her park tickets. My friend used her money to pay for her plane ticket and food. (Knowing how expensive ts restuarants are, my parents paid for her food there. She usually bought 1 meal and any snacks each day for herself).

Honestly it was a great trip,but make sure you know your child and the child you are bringing. I can imagine that it may not be so smooth for every family.

 

[Deesknee]

I'm not sure how old your teen is, but mine is 14 & we had the same problems with both our trips to WDW this year. She came with us. We offered to "allow" her to stay home. The hitch was we picked who she stayed with. She loves her grandparents very much, but for some strange reason she decided to come to WDW with us rather than stay with them.

Good luck