Teens & Tweens at Walt Disney World
For most people, a Walt Disney World vacation conjures up images of strolling down Main Street USA pushing a stroller, or holding the hand of a young child decked out in clothing featuring their favorite character.
You think of riding Dumbo with your toddler or introducing your preschooler to her favorite princess.
While those trips with little ones can be full of magic, Walt Disney World also makes a great vacation for families with teens and tweens.
Think about it… no strollers, no need to take a break for nap time, they will eat something other than pizza and chicken nuggets, and everyone is tall enough to ride everything!
The experience is completely different, but it can be a family vacation none of you will ever forget.
It’s the perfect time to plan a senior trip for the graduate!
Here are our top 3 tips for your Walt Disney World vacation with teens and tweens:
Embrace their schedule…
One of the top recommendations I give my clients to avoid the long lines in the parks is to arrive early and get as much done in the first hour the park is open as you can. This plan works great with young kids who are often up at the crack of dawn anyway, but as any parent of teens knows, the older they get, the later they want to sleep! It’s setting your family up for frustration and arguments if you plan to be at the park gates before they open every morning, so take your teen’s advice and “chill out, Mom!”
Let the families with little kids enjoy their time at the morning extra magic hours and plan to enjoy time with your teens staying late at the parks at night. Evening extra magic hours mean that one of the theme parks will remain open for onsite resort guests a few hours past its regular closing time. The lines and crowds will thin out dramatically as the night wears on and is the perfect time to enjoy the parks with your older kids (Mom and Dad can grab some Starbucks to keep them from turning into a pumpkin at night!).
There is lots of fun to be had outside the theme parks…
While you’ll spend much of your time in one of the four major theme parks, the fun doesn’t stop there.
Hanging out and relaxing at your hotel pool can be the perfect way to spend an afternoon (especially if you need a chance to recover after your late-night adventures at the theme parks). Give the kids some time to explore the resort, grab lunch on their own and meet you at the pool.
Looking for even more water-based fun? Take the time to check out one of Disney’s themed water parks. The kids will love the thrill rides and wave pools, and it’s the perfect opportunity for you to send them off on their own while you relax and enjoy some downtime (maybe even with an adult beverage or a good book).
Disney Springs is full of restaurants and activities that are sure to be a hit for an evening of family fun. You can plan on bowling at Splitsville or taking in a concert at the House of Blues and grab dinner at one of the food trucks or the T-Rex café and then enjoy some ice cream from Ghirardelli or cupcakes from Sprinkles as you spend the rest of your night wandering through the shops.
Plan some tours…
When you visit with young kids, it’s hard to plan for all of the fantastic tour options Disney has to offer, but they are just perfect to experience with your teens or tweens. What teenager wouldn’t enjoy zipping through the trails of Ft. Wilderness on a Segway or getting a peek backstage at how all the magic happens?
Want to really WOW your teens? Check out the options such as the Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour or the Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour. If you’d like a more flexible VIP tour experience, we can even hook you up with a private VIP tour guide to spend the day with you!
