We're going back! But they're teens now...

floydfamily4 · Oct 15, 2017

Hi all! I am so excited to be FINALLY :love:

planning a trip back to WDW. The last time we went was when my twins were turning 5. This November they turn 13 and we are going to WDW the week before Memorial Day 2018. I have such wonderful memories of that first trip with them and want to have a fantastic time this trip. But I am aware that not only have my children changed but WDW has changed over these years. If you would be willing to share your top 3 bits of advice/strategies for this trip I would truly appreciate it. A couple of family/trip details to help you: J & J are boy/girl twins and generally have a good attitude and great behavior. Except when their hormones take over and I want to kill them or they want to kill each other. Of course DH and I are also older so keep that in mind. We will be staying 1st night at campground and the rest of the week at a timeshare close to property. We will have a car and 6 day non-hopper passes. We do have an interest in every park. Looking forward to reading your advice :idea:

fifthdimensiondweller · Oct 15, 2017

Congrats on your upcoming trip!

So, first thing I'll ask is, are your teens into thrill rides?

-If so, make sure to make Fastpass+ reservations. Last time you were there they were still on the paper Fastpass system. Now, you can reserve your Fastpasses online ahead of your trip (and I highly recommend you do so since they fill up!) Since you'll be offsite for the majority of your trip, you can book them 30 days before your trip. (You might be able to book your very first day's Fastpass at 60 days before since you'll be at the campground your first night, I'm not sure, but i'm sure someone else will know!) You can make 3 Fastpass+ reservations per day, and then you can make an additional ones after you've arrived and have used them up. Edited to add: Make sure you have your park tickets purchased at least 30 days before your trip if you want to do this, since you'll need them to make Fastpasses!

If your kids are into thrills, I recommend Fastpass+ for:

Magic Kingdom: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain

EPCOT: Test Track, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth (Although if you think your teens would have any interest whatsoever in seeing the new Frozen ride, I'd prioritize that ahead of anything and everything else!)

Hollywood Studios: Rockin Rollercoaster, Star Tours, and Tower of Terror

Animal Kingdom: Flight of Passage, Kilamanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest

Another thing that might be different since your last trip is dining. Now, it is almost essential to book any sit down restaurant you know you want to eat at 180 days in advance (so about six months). For you, that's next month! So I'd start researching now and book early in the morning at exactly 180 days- I think you can begin booking at 7AM EST (someone may correct me though, things are constantly changing!). Don't panic if you don't get a reservation the first day you try. Spots open up, and people can and do cancel right up until the day of the reservation- just keep checking back! : )

Finally, Downtown Disney is now Disney springs, and with teens, you'll definitely want to check it out! It's been renovated and completely expanded- it's fantastic!

Have a GREAT trip! My parents took me to Walt Disney World twice as a teen (and once to Disneyland too as a bonus!) and I had an amazing time each time- it's a whole new experience!

floydfamily4 · Oct 15, 2017

fifthdimensiondweller said:
Congrats on your upcoming trip!

So, first thing I'll ask is, are your teens into thrill rides?

-If so, make sure to make Fastpass+ reservations. Last time you were there they were still on the paper Fastpass system. Now, you can reserve your Fastpasses online ahead of your trip (and I highly recommend you do so since they fill up!) Since you'll be offsite for the majority of your trip, you can book them 30 days before your trip. (You might be able to book your very first day's Fastpass at 60 days before since you'll be at the campground your first night, I'm not sure, but i'm sure someone else will know!) You can make 3 Fastpass+ reservations per day, and then you can make an additional ones after you've arrived and have used them up. Edited to add: Make sure you have your park tickets purchased at least 30 days before your trip if you want to do this, since you'll need them to make Fastpasses!

If your kids are into thrills, I recommend Fastpass+ for:

Magic Kingdom: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain

EPCOT: Test Track, Mission Space, Spaceship Earth (Although if you think your teens would have any interest whatsoever in seeing the new Frozen ride, I'd prioritize that ahead of anything and everything else!)

Hollywood Studios: Rockin Rollercoaster, Star Tours, and Tower of Terror

Animal Kingdom: Flight of Passage, Kilamanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest

Another thing that might be different since your last trip is dining. Now, it is almost essential to book any sit down restaurant you know you want to eat at 180 days in advance (so about six months). For you, that's next month! So I'd start researching now and book early in the morning at exactly 180 days- I think you can begin booking at 7AM EST (someone may correct me though, things are constantly changing!). Don't panic if you don't get a reservation the first day you try. Spots open up, and people can and do cancel right up until the day of the reservation- just keep checking back! : )

Finally, Downtown Disney is now Disney springs, and with teens, you'll definitely want to check it out! It's been renovated and completely expanded- it's fantastic!

Have a GREAT trip! My parents took me to Walt Disney World twice as a teen (and once to Disneyland too as a bonus!) and I had an amazing time each time- it's a whole new experience!

Thank you for replying! I will definitely start thinking about any meals. Last time we did Crystal Palace and the Akershus in Epcot. I don't feel as compelled to pay for those meals now but I will ask them.

srwarden1928 · Oct 16, 2017

One further point on the fastpasses: while they might not be your highest priorities, you will want Fastpasses for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and for Peter Pan. Then I would choose one of the mountains for the third fastpass. Of course if you have multiple days at MK, that helps. But while the three mountains typically have long waits, these two rides typically have longer.

Fosteringaprincess · Oct 16, 2017

We just returned and had 3 days at mk and couldn't get seven dwarfs mine train.... It was insane! One night things were walk on and we did 8 rides in 2 hrs time and that had a 2 hour wait at closing and opening or more. We have done it right after it opened a few years ago.... But not since. It's always a long wait. And to me we've done it it's not worth waiting 2 to 3 hrs to ride again. So if you want it fast pass it.

LadyCerri · Oct 17, 2017

Still recovering six years later from taking teenagers, I'd suggest limiting your time at MK. The boys enjoyed the other parks pretty well but they did a lot of eyerolling at MK. I concur with the FastPass plans.

ajwolfe · Oct 17, 2017

We have one teenager now (14) and one creeping up on that stage and the one thing I've found in the past couple trips is that I was surprised by the kiddie things he wanted to do at Disney that he normally would seem way to grown for

. It's like that's the one place he lets his inner child out and he wants to ride all those rides he rode as a toddler like Peter Pan and Pooh, in addition to the thrill rides.
So my advice would be to not automatically rule anything out. Ask them for their opinions and what they would like to do. And don't be surprised when it totally doesn't fit the profile of what you thought.

rlk · Oct 19, 2017

We've been taking our two boys, now ages 15 & 16 to Disney World since they were 3 & 4 years old. Nothing replaces those early memories, but traveling with teens to Disney has been (mostly) a lot of fun. The biggest adjustment our family had to make was giving up lots of rope drop mornings. My boys, as well as my husband insisted on sleeping in many mornings. While I was a bit sad at first, I adjusted my expectations and everyone was happy. They got to sleep in and I did rope drop by myself, which, by the way, was fun!

kboo · Oct 20, 2017

My kids are still young but I went often as a kid and teen. I agree with the PP that WDW is still one of those places where your kids may let their inner child out (especially if they don't have any friends along who they feel they may have to act a certain way in front of).

Also - if your kids are starting to hit the age where they need to eat everything in sight, the buffets may be a decent deal. Especially if you get the late morning, latest breakfast reservation - you pay the breakfast price, get breakfast and lunch food, and a break if you've been out since rope drop.

rlk · Oct 20, 2017

I also agree with what some previous posters said about teens still enjoying things at Disney World that they would deem “uncool” In real life. Even though they won’t wake up for rope drop, my teens still request a few character meals, riding most Fantasyland rides at least once per trip and getting a hug from Mickey Mouse.

kboo · Oct 20, 2017

rlk said:
I also agree with what some prep said about teens still enjoying things at Disney World that they would deem “uncool” In real life. Even though they won’t wake up for rope drop, my teens started lo request a few character meals, riding most Fantasyland rides at least once per trip and getting a hug from Mickey Mouse.

Awww. That is so sweet. My 6yo already (just this year) doesn't really wear her princess dresses at home anymore, but wore them for almost all of our "fancy" dinners on our cruise and at WDW in August.

We're going back! But they're teens now...

floydfamily4

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fifthdimensiondweller

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floydfamily4

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srwarden1928

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Fosteringaprincess

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LadyCerri

Momma on a Mission

ajwolfe

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rlk

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kboo

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rlk

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kboo

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