What is a dad to do???

[323sarg]

We have been going to Disney World since my kids were 3 and 1.5. We have had great times and spoiled our kids when we go and get them what they want and do things we all want to do.

Fast forward to last year, we did not go to Disney as my daughter plays competitive softball and travels the country. (She is 13 now). We went to Colorado, Tallahasse, AR, and OKC just to name a few. This summer their season ended early and we decided to go to Disney for a family vacation. DD tells me Disney is for babies and we do the same stuff. ( by same stuff she means the parks and rides). Said she will go but does not seem excited at all.

I asked her what she would like to do or get special and she wants a custom wood bat from Downtown Disney.

What is a dad to do?

 

[com_op_2000]

Maybe start treating her to the more adult WDW things. Have your DW take her on spa day and special lunch. Let her try out some of the water sports. Take her over to ESPN/WWS and checkout the ball fields, I know that they hold softball games there. It is time for you to start letting go, even though none of us wants too; we still want to see the special sparkle in our DDs eyes when you walk into MK.
Oh, buy the bat!

 

[disneyfreak33]

I agree with the above poster, especially the bat. Water sports are fun, you can try renting out one of the water crafts or maybe splurging and see if you can do the para sailing.

The water parks are always fun as well. You can also try to get her the surfing lessons at typhoon lagoon if she is interested. Maybe take the whole family on a tour of some sort @ one of the parks.

Good luck and have a great vacation otherwise

 

[LSchrow]

i agree with PPs:
mix it up

there is soooooo much to do outside of rides at the parks; show her the stuff she hasn't done in the parks (street shows, performances, event classes, arcade games at MK) & at the resorts (AKL CMs are fascinating, community hall, BW carny games & performers).
she might love eating at ESPN, WWS (see if you can go when there is training/games), mini-golf, cirque show, water mice, etc

see if she might want to go outside of WDW, maybe go on a swamp ride, see crocs, pick oranges, etc. spend some time with just the two of you (or your spouse and her) - let her pick a special restaurant for lunch, maybe shop, and make few plans - just enjoy one another's company. try staying at a different resort.
does she have a camera (not on her cel)? at that age, she might enjoy taking random photos, sort of a pictorial essay.

after many years of going to WDW, the rides have become a backdrop for our vacations - not the primary focus. relaxing by the pool, making friends with strangers, trying new foods, enjoying one another's company makes our time at WDW real vacations

 

[dallastxcpa]

I think for most of us our teenagers go through this phase. And honestly it breaks your heart, but for the most part it is short lived.

I will never forget when my daughter was about 12 or 13 we were at Disneyland, just me and her. I asked her "Honey, what do you want to do?"

She looked at me and said, "Mom don't call me that, someone will here you."

Here we were in California with people we would never see again and she was worried that someone would think less of her because I called her Honey.

I still like to give her a hard time about that one. She's 17 now and Disney/DCL is always her first choice of vacation.

 

[323sarg]

We mix it up every year and stay at a different resort. I even let her pick this year and let her pick a special place to eat. She chose Narcoose, because she can get steak and lobster since we are going to do the dining plan.

I will get her a bat. LOL

Thought about increasing her shopping budget and letting her get a room key.

Through our travels she has become quite the map reader too so I was going to let her right up front this year on the drive. Little things but figure it will help

 

[clm10308]

What about giving her a little freedom to do some things on her own or with her sibling. If You are not comfortable letting her go around a park on her own, then let her go to the resort game room, gift shop,or counter service restaurant on her own.

Giving her a larger shopping budget works with teenage girls to an extent, but eventually that could backfire, or at least become difficult to maintain on future visits. My DD didn't really need a larger budget, just more time in the shops.

 

[Micca]

If she feels she'd like to do more adult things she could start paying

 

[JimMIA]

Agree we all face this situation, especially if the kids are involved in competitive sports.

We were in Orlando (not WDW) this spring for a big figure skating competition and my daughter had Saturday off between events on Friday and Sunday. I asked if she wanted to take the 1/2 hour drive down to WDW and she said no -- she wanted to stay and watch the other girls skate. But she was willing to drive a few minutes further to Kissimmee if the rink there had any available ice time (they didn't).

Obviously, buy the bat.

I might also take her to see Cirque du Soliel. Any athlete will love that amazing show.

 

[ITGirl50]

You can also see if she wants to bring a friend. My DD (16) still loves WDW, but it doesn't seem as magical with her parents. When she brings a friend, especially one who has never been, she gets so much more excited about it. You could give them limited freedom at the park (you all go to the same park, but let them do their own thing while there). They love that adventure.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

My kids 13& 15 are the same.....but we have been to Disney every year for 9 years straight and they been there done that. To make it especially hard is I only live 1.5 hours away now.......asked them if the wanted to go to a disney this summer and hang out in the water parks and they said No!

Really?

But....we may go for the weekend next month because I asked if they wanted to go to Seaworld.....and they do.....it's a nice change. Or maybe we will go o US. They are dying to see the HP ride. So maybe you'll have to go there to change it up.

Does she like the beach, you can break it up and head to the beach....Disney has a resort in Vero Beach.... They have all kinds of activities, like tennis, archery, volleyball, you can rent bikes, rent jet skies, go on dolphin watch or just enjoy the beach.

It's not in your face Disney, but its a very nice resort right on the beach 2 hours away from Disney. We have been a few times and the kids love it. They actually want to go there on there 2014 spring break over Disney....

Or try a cruise.....they are fun!

 

[com_op_2000]

From my DW,
Maybe it would be a good idea to have her bring a friend along. That is what we did. After our DD went away to college we started going by ourselves and enjoy it a lot. Now that we have GKs we are enjoying the kids things all over again. So there is hope so hang in there.

 

[dbs1228]

When our dd's were younger (3 of them) we would let them for limited time go with each other and explore the park. When they got a little older we would let them take the boat from ft wilderness to Mk in the evening (oldest dd was 16 so she would drive golf cart to boat) they LOVED that. This past NYE they each brought a friend with the friends paying airfare, park ticket and 20.00 towards food and we did a big grocery shop. I think it was one of their best trips experiencing all through their friends eyes!

Our youngest dd did the Segway tour with us in Epcot one year when her sisters had to fly back for college classes and we stayed a few extra days - she loved it.

 

[323sarg]

Just wanted to give everyone an update since I have gotten some great ideas.

First, the bat is a gimme at this point. LOL

I mentioned her going off with her brother in the park and she was ok with that. We then just got to talking and it came up why she did not really want to go. She told me it wax because Disney costs a lot of money and you and momma have a lot to pay for with me starting high school this year, her travel ball. ( I almost cried, I was so proud of her at that moment). I told her not to worry about money we have it taken care of and we go to Disney to spend time as a family.

I also told her she can ride up front this year on the drive up there. She has become quite the map reader with our softball travels.