Teenagers and not wanting to go to WDW anymore...advice?

[CRB#33]

I had planned on taking the kids who will be 16 and 14 for what was probably going to be our last WDW vacation together (until I went with them as "Grandma" someday) next Easter.

Both of them told me that they really aren't interested. I asked if they wanted to mix in Universal and Sea World during the trip and they were like, "nah".

We just got back from our cruise and I know they're vacationed out, but I was wondering if others had this kind of experience.

I need to book soon because it's a holiday. From your experiences as parents of teens, do they usually come around and end up wanting to go? Or am I going to be making a mistake if I book.

I guess it's kind of a silly question because you don't know my kids, but they're nice kids, straight A students who work very hard during the school year. They were Disney fanatics until about 3 days ago

Any experiences you all would be willing to share?

 

[simonmunro]

Mine went through that stage and isn't it so sad. They come around again about 20 I guess... The only cure I found was to let them bring a friend. The expense and added responsibility was enormous so be prepared if you go this route. Do they have a favorite cousin or something that would go? Adjoining rooms seems to make them happy too, like their own place but of course you're right there. Sorry I couldn't help more but they just seem to go through this phase.

 

[Indyman]

I have a similar experience with my soon to be 16 year old. He used to be nuts about WDW, but in the last 3-4 years gotten big into thrill rides. Since there isn't enough of the big (and I mean BIG) thrill rides at WDW he finds it boring. That makes it tough for us since our 11 year old still would very much like to go.

 

[Kitty 34]

I SO know what you're going thru!!! My boys started showing an uninterest to WDW last year, esp the DS who at the time was 16.

So.....we went to Vegas instead. (Last June)

Well, this year when it came time to trip planning we again started to plan a trip to Vegas. Guess what, the boys decided WDW and Universal would be much more entertaining!!!

I would strongly suggest throwing in a day or two at Universal for sure.......and of course 6-8 days at WDW!!!

Good luck!

 

[NMAmy]

DD is only 13 so I'm not quite as far along as you, but for our last trip she would not be involved in the planning at all and I was a little concerned. She wouldn't help pick restaurants or what day we'd go where...Every question was answered with, 'Whatever, I don't care." Well, the minute we got there--that all changed!

"Why did you pick this?" "How come we're not doing that?" I told her there was no complaining as she wouldn't give me any input! The trip really brought us together as a family again, though, and made her drop the snotty teenager routine for a week. Well worth the money for the trip!

I'm hoping that I can keep her wanting to go with us all through her teens.

 

[parmtoo]

My two DDs are 14 & 16. They have been very hard to read about our upcoming Aug. trip. They haven't wanted to help me plan at all! My DS, 8, is so excited he can barely breath!
Now that the trip is getting closer, they seem to be a little more excited. They want time for themselves, to walk around together and just do the thrill stuff. I promised them that time, but said they must do family things too. I'm hoping when we get there, they come down to earth and drop that "teenage know everything" thing for the time we are there.

 

[kpgclark]

My advice is to go somewhere else. If they aren't interested, ask where they'd rather go. There is a lot to see in the world.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, plan something with them that they might want to do. That would be my advice. I am trying to do alot of different things since I realize I only have my dd home for 5 more years. For us that is going to be only 2-3 BIG vacations if we are lucky.

 

[grinningghost]

I understand what you're going through. Last summer we went to the World with our then-14 year old. She did bring a friend which made it better, but overall, she didn't have that "spark" that we here on the DIS all know so well. Those girls spent very little time in the parks. They preferred the hotel pool, Downtown Disney and watching Lifetime movies in the room.

I really think it's a stage. Disney just isn't cool when you're a teenager. I'm hoping she'll hit her 20's and adopt her parents' attitude that Disney is for EVERYONE.

Until then, know you're not alone. And even if you do make the trip I'm sure it will be fun, even if your sulky teen won't admit it.

 

[CRB#33]

Originally posted by kpgclark
My advice is to go somewhere else. If they aren't interested, ask where they'd rather go. There is a lot to see in the world.

Yes, I thought that maybe they were secretly thinking of something else, so I did ask. They said there wasn't anything else at this point.

Of course my DD mentioned scuba diving in Austrailia, but I told her to find her rich uncle first

We are a bit limited also because this was just going to be a mom and kids trip. DH isn't going and my stepson goes to a different school (lives with his mom) and he doesn't have that week off.

I'm still waiting for them to let me know what they "really" want to do.

 

[kpgclark]

How about an oceanfront resort somewhere? That is relaxing and fun. There are lots of things to do on the coast of Florida. Another idea is an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean. They normally have lots of events for all ages.

 

[TINKTWINS]

Well this upcoming trip my oldest DS is finally 18 so Grandma doesnt have to house sit for us, and Im a little ok with him being home, DS 15 who also usually stays home with grandma too, is joining us because his GF is in my DD dance studio and they are performing so since all his friends will be there hes excited, but up until now, his trip 2 years ago was enough for him he claims.

I dont get kids, If my parents were offering up trips you bet your sweet beetootie I would be there lickity split!! Whats wrong with this picture! Ugggg kids

Free vaca, fun in the sun, shop till you drop ect.

Dont they know all this goes away once they hit 18 and they will no longer have any all inclusives.

 

[powellrj]

my kids are spaced apart in ages and the last few disney trips we took, my oldest just wasn't interested. The first time he said he didn't want to go, we took him, but he didn't want to leave the hotel room. He was 16 and I didn't want him to ruin the trip for his DB who was 8 so we left him in the hotel where he slept for the day when we went to MK. He did go on the universal and gator land days. The next time we went he signed up for summer school just so he didn't have to go and stayed with his grandparents. The last time we went was the hardest because we went to Disney and he went to basic. My middle DS is now 13 and I am starting to see the signs of not wanting to go on vacation with us. We are going to Universal in Oct and he is excited about that, but we are taking little weekend trips this summer and he just isn't interested. My youngest is 8 and she still loves to go everywhere!

 

[grinningghost]

I think TINKTWINS hit the nail on the head. What is it with kids these days??? If I had been offered a WDW trip as a teenager I would have been insanely happy. As it was, I went as an 11 year old and then not again until I was 25.

Is it that kids simply have more "stuff" now than we did? They don't crave WDW because of the internet and cell phones and everything else?

Or is it that WE on the DIS are WDW freaks and we can't understand why everyone else isn't????

It pains me to know my DD doesn't have the Disney drive like me. Do they make anything for that? DISagra or DISalis?

 

[letfuller]

I would be willing to pose as a teenager to go to WDW with you!!!


give it a couple of weeks and see if there were somewhere else they might want to visit.



~Linda

 

[lisajl]

Boy, I feel bad for all of you.

My DD who is 18 can't wait to go again.
Of course, we don't go every year, or get to stay for over a week, but she loves it there.

We also have two boys, 10 and 7. They think we are going this year, and I have to keep telling them it is next year. They love WDW. I am so happy about that!!

I figure the next time we go will be the last time with our DD.
She will going on her own soon. Ok...now I'm gonna go cry!

Maybe I will have to tag along with her.

Lisajl

 

[Keli]

What is your gut feeling on this? Because you said that until three days ago the kids were disney fanatics I am tending to think that they will come around and enjoy going again but are just 'vacationed out' right now. So if it were me I would probably go ahead and book the trip. You can still cancel at a later date if it becomes apparent that the kids really have no interest in going. But I would plan some time at universal too, that might 'spice up' a disney trip for them.

 

[oldkicker]

....and I'd be willing to pose as three teenagers if that would help....

My teens are still very excited about trips to WDW so I can't offer much advice...

 

[Fire14]

I vaguly recall myself going through this as a teen. For me it wasn't WDW though it was Cedar Point. My parents chose to let me stay home and house/dogsit and they called me every night. One yr they gave me my part of vaction money and I went and got a perm for my hair.
I never got to go to WDW as a kid so I can't speak on that front.

 

[PrincessDeb]

I'm lucky-my 15 year old stepdaughter doesn't think she's too cool for a trip to Disney. I had told her about reading stuff like that on the boards and she couldn't get over that teens don't want to go! She's a travel nut so I think she'd kill us if we went without her. Luckily, the 12 (DD) and 10 (DS) year olds still think it's great, too. None of them will wear anything Disney oriented in public now but they still all want to go! We are doing the countdown, too-only 3 more vacations with the 15 year old! I want to do a Disney cruise with her before she graduates, too but not sure if I can afford it. Disney vacations are great for getting us together as a family. We can all enjoy ourselves there!
Deb