What to do in non park days with older teens?

[new]

We have some park days and some days with nothing planned. Any suggestions of attractions for older teens? Any hop on hop off tours in Orlando?

 

[LoveDaisy]

When our kids were that age they like mini golf, Disney springs (shopping, movies, and bowling), and most of all Universal. They had zero interest in alligator things, nasa, or sea world. They didn’t care to do much in Orlando itself but they are used to nyc and Boston and thought it was boring, so we stuck to the more mainstream tourist stuff. Have they said what they would like to do?

 

[hardcorestitch]

We have some park days and some days with nothing planned. Any suggestions of attractions for older teens? Any hop on hop off tours in Orlando?

If you’re staying on Disney property, those days are a great time to hop resorts! Check them out and (where applicable) get some ADRs for the resort restaurants like Artists Point or Sebastian’s Bistro.

If you’re staying at a non-Disney hotel and it’s not close enough to Disney Springs, there are some other attractions in Kissimmee… largely tourist traps like Fun Spot and Old Town. Keep in mind that although Fun Spot is free admission, the rides aren’t. It’s pay-per-ride. If that’s not your thing, there’s plenty of mini golf both in Disney and outside. There are plenty of shopping centers including the two Premium Outlets if they’re into that sort of stuff.

 

[Brian Noble]

I like the mini-golf idea.

I also think there are a few restaurants that my kids loved at that age. Cowfish, for example---bento boxes with sliders and sushu, what's not to love!

I think you could make a full day at City Walk: an afternoon matinee at the theater there, dinner at Cowfish, and mini golf after. This has the bonus that no one has to get up early---a huge win at that age.

 

[new]

I like the mini-golf idea.

I also think there are a few restaurants that my kids loved at that age. Cowfish, for example---bento boxes with sliders and sushu, what's not to love!

I think you could make a full day at City Walk: an afternoon matinee at the theater there, dinner at Cowfish, and mini golf after. This has the bonus that no one has to get up early---a huge win at that age.

What is city walk?

 

[bluezy]

Have you asked them what they want to do? Do they want to spend a day doing nothing or do they want to go do something?? Some kids like to have time to lounge around, others do not. I know at that age, our kids would want to be part of the discussion of what is being planned for them. By the time our kids were in their early-to-mid teens (about 14 and older), all they wanted to do was be in the parks. We don't do "no park" days, instead we do sleep-in days and just go to the parks for a few hours later in the day/evening. Even on our sleep-in days, our teens would head to the parks without us and spend some extra time there. We'd meet up with them later in the day...or not at all. If they prefer to go to the parks and you're staying on property or somewhere with transportation to the parks, add a few days to their tickets and let them go (it may not be as expensive as you think to add more days depending on how many days you already have).

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Ask your teens. They may want the pool, shopping, Level 99. Get them involved with the vacation, they will feel valued.

 

[Brian Noble]

What is city walk?

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/citywalk

 

[hardcorestitch]

What is city walk?

Do be aware that CityWalk has parking fees before 6. Disney Springs doesn’t have that.

 

[RickNJane]

Our goto/tradition is a trip to Gatorland. We go every trip to WDW. We first visited in the 1990's. I thought it was going to just be a campy tourist trap. Well maybe it is, but it is a fun, campy, tourist trap. Our kids loved it when little and even more now that they are adults.

 

[pibbette]

I like the mini-golf idea.

I also think there are a few restaurants that my kids loved at that age. Cowfish, for example---bento boxes with sliders and sushu, what's not to love!

I think you could make a full day at City Walk: an afternoon matinee at the theater there, dinner at Cowfish, and mini golf after. This has the bonus that no one has to get up early---a huge win at that age.

I LOVE Cowfish.

The Mini-golf at Universal has always been a hit with my kid. Depending on the gender, a trip to the outlets is something they might enjoy. The Nike actual outlet has some amazing deals.

There's the Andretti Go-Kart track, the Top Golf. Also, Bowling at King's (I've only ever used their Boston location, but I assume it's the same)

 

[Brian Noble]

Back in the day, we used to take time out of a Disney trip specifically to grab lunch at Cowfish.