Doing Disney "Teen" Style

3 Tips for a Great Walt Disney World Trip With Teens

When most people think about a trip to Walt Disney World, they imagine their little one’s eyes lighting up with wonder as she meets her favorite character for the first time, but your theme park vacation can be even more fun with teens and tweens! You don’t have to stop mid-day for naps or lug around a stroller, they have no trouble staying out late for fireworks and you can also enjoy those thrill rides since everyone meets the height requirements.

Here’s my advice for vacationing at Disney with teens and tweens:

1 – Embrace their schedule

One of the top recommendations I give to avoid the long ride lines is to arrive early and get as much done in the first few hours the park is open as possible. 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! You are setting your family up for frustration and arguments if you plan to be at the park gates before they open every morning, so why not start out asking them what’s more important to them – sleeping in or avoiding the long lines? And then let that be your guide.

If they want to sleep in, 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. The lines and crowds will thin out some as the night wears on and is a great time to enjoy the parks with your older kids (Mom and Dad can grab some Starbucks to keep from turning into a pumpkin at night!).

2 – There’s 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 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? 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 while you relax and enjoy some downtime catching some rays (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. Grab dinner at one of the food trucks or the T-Rex dinosaur-themed café. Enjoy some ice cream from Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop or cupcakes from the Sprinkles Cupcake ATM as you spend the rest of your night wandering through the shops.

3 – Plan some tours

When you visit with young kids, it’s hard to take part in the fantastic tour options Disney has to offer, but they are perfect to experience with your teens or tweens. What teen wouldn’t enjoy crossing over alligators and hippos on a rope bridge during the Wild Africa Trek in Animal Kingdom or getting a peek backstage to see how all the magic happens?

Want to really WOW your teens? Let me tell you about 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, I can even hook you up with a private VIP tour guide to spend the day with you!

Planning the perfect experience begins with scheduling a quick vacation consultation call. Click here to request a time for us to chat. We’ll discuss the details of what you’re looking for in your dream vacation and I’ll help you find a way to make it happen! Prefer to get started online? No problem! Click here to fill out this quick form and I’ll send you some options as a starting place.