The Teenager!

[real mad hatter]

Just curious. Our son is 14 this year and is looking forward to our fifth visit since 2004.Iam dreading the time where he says " that's it,I've had enough " and doesn't want to go back.Is there any familys still with teenagers who still tag along with them at 16 or 17?and if so,how do you keep them in the Disney magic?:shrug:

 

[rsoxguy]

My daughter is 20 and still loves WDW more than most things in life. We started taking her when she was around two years old. There's no formula. They either continue to like it, or they don't.

 

[mickeysshoes]

Just curious. Our son is 14 this year and is looking forward to our fifth visit since 2004.Iam dreading the time where he says " that's it,I've had enough " and doesn't want to go back.Is there any familys still with teenagers who still tag along with them at 16 or 17?and if so,how do you keep them in the Disney magic?:shrug:

My DD's are 20 & 18 and still love going. We have been 12 times over the past 15 years. They still love taking part in the plannig and choosing where to eat. As they got older we allowed them more freedom. Starting off within the resort, then moving up to within the park we were at and final to go where you want but check in and meet us at the set time and place. We have even now gone as far as letting them head off to dinner when they dont want what we want. Last trip we even had rooms that were not connecting. Their room was the other end of the hall from ours. I think allowing them to come and go as they want as given them their own memories and allows them to explore what we might not want to. oldest DD is leaving for the College Progam in 26 days so there is no dislike there!!

 

[NYwdwfan]

I was that Disney teenager - we started going when I was about 3 and my grandparents moved to Florida. We drove down every year to visit them and stopped at Disney on the way - from the time I was 3 until I was 18. Once I went to college, I looked forward to having a few days in the house by myself when my parents made the yearly trip. Not to mention my grandma's condo was really strict and even at 18 I wasn't allowed in the Clubhouse so there was NOTHING to do there. I then went with my college roommate after we graduated - we were around 23 - it was her first trip and she marveled at the way I knew where all the bathrooms were. I then went on my honeymoon for 5 days before a cruise. And now that we have kids, we have been bringing them every year since they were 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 (they are now 6 and 8). I guess my point is - I was immersed in the magic from a young age and was able to appreciate how much better Disney does things throughout my life. I would have never passed up an opportunity to go.

 

[bennyw01]

I am 24 now and WDW is still the highlight of my year! has been every year regardless of age.

They key to keeping a teenager happy is to mix it up a little, maybe bring a friend and take advantage of the local shopping as its brilliant compared to where I reside.

The annoying thing for me though being between 18-21 in the states is obviously not being able to have a cocktail at the water park or a beer with my meal.

 

[DisneyJoe]

My oldest son took his first trip at age 6 and has visited 10 times since. He is now 21 and is in the Disney College Program. It was his idea to apply!

Our youngest is 9, and has been to WDW 6 times and on 1 Disney Cruise. He'll be taking 2 WDW trips this year and 2 cruises. He just did a homework assignment on Walt Disney - and it was his idea.

Just let them see your enthusiasm, for us it was enough.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

Just curious. Our son is 14 this year and is looking forward to our fifth visit since 2004.Iam dreading the time where he says " that's it,I've had enough " and doesn't want to go back.Is there any familys still with teenagers who still tag along with them at 16 or 17?and if so,how do you keep them in the Disney magic?:shrug:

We started bringing our son to Disney when he was 3 .... he's now 23. LOVES Disney (he actually *grew up* there) so for him, going to Disney is as nostalgic as it gets. A day doesn't go by, when he doesn't remember something he did when he was *a kid*, through the years. The sites, smells, tastes of his childhood, come flooding back to him, in a day. If, (and thats a big If) your son loses the Disney Magic (which I honestly doubt), there's always things to keep him occupied, the water parks, thrill rides, even his Ipod LOL (yep, my son still brings his). Like other posters have said, let him be part of the planning too, choose a restaurant, a park, or even the resort. Disney is for EVERY age, or do what I did, constantly told my son "When you're a Dad, and are standing here with your kids, you will remember this moment with me", BINGO .... Instant memory!!!! Don't worry, you instilled that Magic in him, with a little help from a certain mouse :animwink:

 

[fractal]

On our last trip in August, 2 out of my 3 were teenagers ( and in fact still are ).

My son was almost 15 and my daughter was 17.

What we did was give them more freedom to go on their own - and even take their 10 year old sister with them (or not).

Somedays they wanted to hang by the pool instead of go to the parks - so we would split up.

I also think the Dinning Plan is key. Personally, its too much food for me, but one thing teenages love to do is eat. They love going to all the restaurants.

We also got a 2 room villa at Beach Club - teenagers need more room. Although there were still several "fights" and arguments, I couldn't imagine having us all cramed in one room for a whole week.

 

[Monty]

My 16-yo son Morgan has been going with me since he was 5. He loves it and was genuinely happy when I surprised him with a quick trip in February. He gets upset when I talk about being able to go more once he's moved out. :lol:

I'll keep taking him as long as he wants to go and can get away. :king:

 

[TheAmazingBobbo]

I never had the privilege of going until the quizbowl team I coached won the state championship in 2007 (I was 24) and earned the right to represent Ohio at the Panasonic Academic Challenge (later: National Tournament of Academic Excellence) hosted by the Contemporary... I probably had the most fun I've ever had over those four days, and we repeated in 2008, so I got to go again, actually just 3 months after I splurged to take my girlfriend and her two kids on a spring break trip. I've pretty much gone back every year and will continue to do so until I get tired of it or run out of money... I know for me at least, that I always find something new that I didn't experience the trip before and I always hit the favorites that I have experienced before.

 

[SuprDav]

Mine is 16 & still loves it. She passed up a chance for a week at the beach in favor of a week at WDW in December.

 

[Master Yoda]

My 20 year old daughter who is now married looks at us like we kicked her dog when she hears that we are going to Disney without her. I do not know how you keep that magic other than making the trips a positive experience and not chore.

 

[Tinkwings]

Well I had read confessions over the years of peeps saying how they resisted admitting anything and acting bothered by the hole thing...only to confess in their 20's they still LOVED it inside but were indignant to show it!

My 17 yr old still loves it....but if anyone else asks he says he goes there for the food!:lol: Once there he lights up and I let him dictate some of the planning...my younger 14 yr old son has always wanted to "live" there..... We are constantly plotting our return.....:sohappy:.

 

[lbrad]

Our children have been going since they were 2!!!
They are grown (in age ;0)
DD 19 LOVES WDW!!! Gets upset when we talk about going without her ...lol
DS 20 would never admit it BUT he loves WDW too
DS 22 is the same ... they would go in heart beat if given the oppurtunity.
unleash them little by little ... they will always have the magic in their <3

 

[goodanu]

Just curious. Our son is 14 this year and is looking forward to our fifth visit since 2004.Iam dreading the time where he says " that's it,I've had enough " and doesn't want to go back.Is there any familys still with teenagers who still tag along with them at 16 or 17?and if so,how do you keep them in the Disney magic?:shrug:

I'm loving this post because I'm there now with my two daughters 13 and 16. We have been to the world at least every other year since my oldest was two. We even raised the ante this past year by joining DVC. The plan is to keep going at least every other year as long as their scedules permit. This summer we go with my brother and his young children so no problem this year. But in future years if for some reason the kids grow tired as they get older, which I doubt. The DW will have no problem using our points to get away cuz we still love it.
If I'm in my mid forties and still enjoy wdw, hopefully my kids will love it as much as they grow older. Just saying.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Just returned (3/8-3/12) from our 16th trip with my 15yo son, and 16yo daughter who both love Disney and look forward to every trip. My daughter loves it so much that she's looking forward to the point when she's in college when she can apply for the College Program and go to work there. They both love Disney, the parks, the hotels and the movies a lot and I can't imagine either of them not. Better than just loving it though, they "get it". They understand it's not just a theme park, its the magic, the feeling of escaping reality for a little while and enjoying playing and/or just relaxing away from the real world.

 

[Sharkreef11]

My parents took my brother, sister, and I when we were 10, 8, 5. We are now 26, 24, and 21. There is nothing I am more passionate about than our Disney trips and I know my brother and sister feel the same way. We were hit with the magic right away and it has stayed with us. I dread the possibility of not going one year. I would be heartbroken. I think a big thing that made a difference is as our family grew our tastes changed AT DISNEY. Meaning some of the attractions that we see or rides that we go on. We expanded to water-parks and being able to enjoy Downtown Disney differently. Another big one is we hit fancier restaurants and that brings a different experience. The love never goes away and that is why it is unconditional.

 

[93boomer]

Our daughter is 26 and still loves Disney! We took her last January with us and had a blast. We started taking her every year when she turned 6. I don't think she will ever get tired of visiting.

 

[JIMINYCR]

When my son hit "those troubling teenage years" we found that the biggest problem came from his wanting independence "from the parents". It wasn't cool to be seen with us, didn't want to go on certain rides, watch parades, etc. So we solved it by allowing him to set his own schedule, make his trip his own but he always had to spend at least an hour with us in the morning and an hour in the evening, share meal time with us, and answer his cell phone when we contacted him. He was always a trustworthy kid so we really had little worries that he would get in trouble with this freedom. After a while we found him spending more time with us as the time went on.
Now that he's in his 20's he asks every year = When's our Disney trip being scheduled?

 

[Alison1975]

Just curious. Our son is 14 this year and is looking forward to our fifth visit since 2004.Iam dreading the time where he says " that's it,I've had enough " and doesn't want to go back.Is there any familys still with teenagers who still tag along with them at 16 or 17?and if so,how do you keep them in the Disney magic?:shrug:

Mine is almost 18 and is giddy like a school girl over our Sept trip..