teenagers/what makes yours want to go back

[carrie1626]

hi Everyone,
This Thanksgiving myself, DD16 and DS13 will be going again to WDW( 6th trip/in 7yrs) with my parents and sister. All of us adults are Disney fanatics, I can't say my kids are (yet) but they certainly like going. Since our last trip was 2 yrs ago at Thanksgiving, I 'm wondering if there will still be that feeling of wonderment and awe when we arrive. I can admit to all of you, I just about have tears in my eyes everytime I walk into the MK.
So, please tell me, how have your Disney vacations progressed for childhood thru teenager years?
Thanks,
Carrie

 

[dzneelvr]

when they hit their teens we alternated a trip to WDW in the summer with a different one so as to not overdose them, and us, on Disney. so far it seems to be working well as they absolutely look forward to the trips in even numbered years. My DS and DD are 2 years difference, so when they hit 14 or so we let them branch out on their own (together) for a time in each park. Once they hit 16 we added some special tours such as Segway and KTTK. We always include them in on the planning of meals, etc. and we sleep in everyday, leaving for the parks around noon, never earlier. This gives them their sleep and sunning time and it jives with their body clocks rather than an early morning every day. It makes for a relaxing start to the day and I get to sun and read a book. DH gets to do his thing and then even catch a quick nap. We had a great time this summer and both DS and DD were back "into" the character pictures. Something we haven't seen them do for some time.

 

[Jennick]

hi Everyone,
This Thanksgiving myself, DD16 and DS13 will be going again to WDW( 6th trip/in 7yrs) with my parents and sister. All of us adults are Disney fanatics, I can't say my kids are (yet) but they certainly like going. Since our last trip was 2 yrs ago at Thanksgiving, I 'm wondering if there will still be that feeling of wonderment and awe when we arrive. I can admit to all of you, I just about have tears in my eyes everytime I walk into the MK.
So, please tell me, how have your Disney vacations progressed for childhood thru teenager years?
Thanks,
Carrie

I'm with you Carrie. I still get teary eyed every time I walk into MK. I also get very sad the morning we are packing things up to head back to the airport. My girls are 15 and 20 and we have been taking them to WDW since they were 2 yrs old. Both our girls still LOVE all the rides. As the years have passed my oldest daughter has come to love Epcot and AK more than MK and MGM. She is a total animal freak making AK and AKL her favorite places to be. My younger daughter just loves WDW in general as much now as she did when she was 2. (she takes after her mommy..LOL) People always look at me funny when I say we are going back to WDW every year. I almost get the impression that they think that my girls are too old and we should be taking them somewhere else. Of course these are usually people who have never gone to WDW or have gone and didn't care for it. (can you imagine that? )
I asked my 15 yr old daughter one time if she would ever consider going on a cruise, (thinking maybe I would offer them a different option for vacation). Her response was would it be a Disney cruise?
I think WDW has sooo much to offer for all ages , you just never get bored . Plus, where else can you go, no matter what your age, act like a kid and nobody cares, and forget about all your worries for a week or so?

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

hi Everyone,
This Thanksgiving myself, DD16 and DS13 will be going again to WDW( 6th trip/in 7yrs) with my parents and sister. All of us adults are Disney fanatics, I can't say my kids are (yet) but they certainly like going. Since our last trip was 2 yrs ago at Thanksgiving, I 'm wondering if there will still be that feeling of wonderment and awe when we arrive. I can admit to all of you, I just about have tears in my eyes everytime I walk into the MK.
So, please tell me, how have your Disney vacations progressed for childhood thru teenager years?
Thanks,
Carrie

I'll just say that I, too, get that feeling everytime I see Mk-and I am a teenager. I could never get tired of it. So I can't really help being that I don't have kids but I know that my experiances from being little to now haven't changed. I still love waking up at 7 in order to eat a banana and get to the parks for the opening, eventhough I normally sleep until 2pm. Sorry I couldn't help.

 

[Tinksmom5]

i've been going to WDW since i'm 4 years old and the wonder of it all still amazes me. the way i see it, you either love WDW or you hate it, there's no in between. the place is so ever changing, that there's always something new to see. go, have fun & i'm sure the kids will too.

 

[Eeyore Excitement]

My advice, just make the most of it, and have fun!!

 

[RumpleMom]

Our teenagers have enjoyed taking along a friend. They like sharing their home away from home with others.

Yes, teens like to sleep in and stay up late.

 

[eeyoregon]

My DS's are 13 and 10 and LOVE EVERY BIT of WDW! It's just such a magical place for us. Wonderful time for the 3 of us to spend together and not worry about "real life".

My DS 10 will actually cry sometimes when he sees a WDW commercial. I will ask him why?? And he always says, "it's because I miss it sooo much!"

This year we shook it up a bit and took our 1st Disney Cruise so now we have 2 addictions = the parks and the ships!

Thank you Walt for giving us such a magical, wonderful, awesome place to visit!

 

[Manda_the_pirate]

I am a teenager, and I can't get enough disney! I have four younger siblings, so I suppose it makes it more magical. We all get to exerience it together. We are going again August 25, 3rd time in two years. I can't wait!

If it were just my 10 year old sister and I going, I don't know if I would have as much fun.

 

[carrie1626]

I think the idea of letting them venture on their own is good. We chose onsite so they could use the buses if they want. We still rent a car because it's so much easier for my mom to get around.
I'll definetly let them sleep in a few days. One of the luxuries of visiting often is we don't have the feeling that we have to do it"all".
I would love to do a MK tour, unfortunately I believe my DS13 is too young, but I think cirque du soleil is something we will do.
Thanks, everyone, I know we'll have a great time AGAIN!!!

 

[Figments Pal]

I'm a teen too, and I still love it. I'm not even sure why, but the whole place is just so MAGICAL that I couldn't dream of growing tired of it!