15 Tips for the Best Time at Disney World with Teens (2023)

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15 Tips for the Best Time at Disney World with Teens (2023)


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Disney World with teenagers and tweens? Absolutely! If you suppose Walt Disney World is only for little children, then suppose once more. A Disney trip with teenagers, nonetheless, is a very completely different expertise than when visiting with younger kids. In reality, in some ways, a Disney World journey is healthier with large children. They do not want naps, they will keep up later to observe fireworks, and so they’re tall sufficient to experience the entire sights. Follow these 15 tricks to maximize enjoyable and reduce stress at Disney World with youngsters and older children!

Find Orlando offers, together with low cost Disney World tickets, at Get Away Today. Scroll down for the right way to save!

Teen and tween at Walt Disney World
My teen and tween goofing round at Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park (Photo credit score: Colleen Lanin)

1. Ask teenagers to rank their high Disney World rides.

Teens and tweens will certainly have opinions about what they need to see and do at Disney World. By all means, allow them to assist with planning and take among the burden off your self. Plus, the extra large children get entangled, the extra possession they will absorb your Disney journey, and the much less complaining you will hear later!

Get older children concerned as quickly as the choice has been made to journey to Disney. They can do some on-line analysis, learn a guidebook, or speak to pals who’ve visited. Most importantly, encourage teenagers to put in writing a ranked want record of rides and reveals at every theme park.

Even although your teen most likely meets each top requirement within the theme parks, it is not possible to squeeze in each single desired attraction throughout your Disney World trip. Read on to be taught hacks for squeezing in your loved ones’s favourite rides!

Star Wars Rise of the Resistance ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Star Wars Rise of the Resistance experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Photo credit score: Colleen Lanin)

2. Avoid lengthy strains with Genie+.

Replacing MaxPass and FastPass, Genie+ is an non-obligatory improve at Walt Disney World. It presents digital entry through smartphones to make shortened queue wait-time requests.

For instance, use Genie+ for in style sights like Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disney Magic Kingdom Park. This add-on buy permits your loved ones to skip the standby line. Then your tweens or teenagers achieve higher entry to their favourite thrill rides through the Lightning Lane.

Reserve your spot in line upon every day entry to the theme park. Note: you may reserve every Genie+ experience or attraction simply as soon as per day. Typically, you may squeeze in three to 4 rides per day utilizing Genie+ should you arrive early sufficient.

Favorite thrill ride, Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom
A favourite thrill experience at Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain (Photo credit score: Matt Stroshane, Disney)

3. Purchase particular person Lightning Lane for the most effective rides.

You can even reserve single rides and experiences utilizing a person Lightning Lane buy for the most recent and hottest sights, positive to have lengthy strains on a regular basis. Individual Lightning Lane upgrades can be utilized at the side of Disney Genie+ or individually.

Purchase this à la carte choice for the most recent and hottest sights, like Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind at Epcot, Rise of Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom.

Pandora - The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom
Pandora – The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom (Photo credit score: Colleen Lanin)

4. Cut wait occasions with the Single Rider line.

Thrill seekers will particularly respect Disney World’s Single Rider choice. Tweens and youths not afraid of using on their very own will minimize wait occasions considerably by standing within the Single Ride line as a substitute of the stand experience line.

You can wait with household and pals throughout lengthy strains, however then will probably be slotted into empty spots when it comes time to experience.

5. Broaden your Disney World eating horizons with teenagers.

Ask larger children for solutions for Disney World eating preferences. Many of the eating places on the Disney World theme parks and lodges settle for eating reservations as much as 180 days earlier than your go to so it is a good suggestion to plan forward if there are particular eating places your teenagers wish to strive.

Visiting Disney World with teenagers means you will get extra adventurous with eating decisions. Most older children will probably be open to making an attempt new meals with flavors from all over the world within the Epcot World Showcase eating places, for instance.

Teen eating dumplings in the China Pavilion at Epcot
My teen daughter consuming dumplings within the China Pavilion at Epcot (Photo credit score: Colleen Lanin)

Teens and tweens are able to sitting nonetheless for longer than youthful children and minding their manners throughout a fine-dining expertise, too. Take a break from the parks to dress up for an evening out at one of many fancier Disney eating places, like Le Cellier Steakhouse within the Canada Pavilion or Citricos on the Grand Floridian Resort.

Citrico's restaurant at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, redesigned in 2021
Citrico’s restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, redesigned in 2021 (Photo credit score: Matt Stroshane, Disney)

6. Spring for spacious lodging.

Choosing the precise lodging will be the important thing to a profitable journey to Disney World with teenagers. Generally talking, the extra space you could have, the higher…particularly with this age group.

Sure, you would possibly have the ability to match a household of 4 or 5 into an ordinary resort room. But if it ends in squabbling then it may be price spending extra for extra house.

Family members will not be tripping over one another. Plus, everybody can have extra privateness and higher sleep. Lodging with multiple toilet and a kitchen makes getting out the door quicker within the morning, too.

When on the lookout for additional house for your loved ones trip, select to remain off-property or on-property at Walt Disney World Resort.

Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht Club and Beach Club
Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club (Photo credit score: Todd Anderson, Disney)

Disney Resort Hotels

Disney properties embody advantages like Disney-provided transportation and superb on-site themed eating choices and swimming pools with thrilling water options. We named Disney’s Beach Resort, for instance, one of many world’s greatest lodges with lazy rivers.

Some of Disney’s Deluxe Villas, like these on the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, can sleep as much as eight or 9 visitors. Other Disney properties, such because the Art of Animation Resort, provide household suites with a lounge, kitchenette, and two bogs. Although many Disney lodges have connecting rooms obtainable, they can’t be assured at reserving.

Teen and mom in horse-drawn carriage at Disney's Fort Wilderness
Riding in a horse-drawn carriage with my teen at Disney’s Fort Wilderness (Photo credit score: Travel Mamas)

Families to 6 individuals who wish to “rough it” in consolation can select the cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Guests get pleasure from a pool with a waterslide, carriage rides, and the favored Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue eating spectacular.

Disney’s in a single day visitors additionally reap the benefits of prolonged early mornings or night hours at Disney theme parks. Learn how to save cash on Disney Resort lodges now.

Vacation Rentals Near Disney World

Staying off-site means a wider number of choices together with suite lodges in addition to residences, condominiums, or house leases close to Disney World. Choosing non-Disney lodging is commonly a lot cheaper.

But it additionally means foregoing lots of the advantages related to staying on Disney property. Still, trip rental properties might also provide supplied shuttles, superb swimming swimming pools, eating places, and onsite household actions.

Trying to find out which lodging choice is greatest for your loved ones? Read extra about Disney World trip properties vs. Disney lodges and determine for your self!

Mickey-themed bedroom at a Kissimmee vacation rental home
Mickey-themed bed room at a Kissimmee trip rental house

7. Sleep in and keep late.

If there’s one factor most tweens and youths have in widespread, then it is a penchant for sleeping in. Lots of large children are troublesome to get away from bed within the morning, each at house and on trip.

Rather than combating your teen’s pure sleep patterns, embrace them. If you even have a late dozer, you then most likely will not have the ability to rise up on the break of day for the rope drop. You can, nonetheless, compensate by staying up late.

Late nights could also be the most effective time to get pleasure from Disney World with teenagers. Stick round for fireworks reveals and different nighttime occasions. You might also get pleasure from shorter wait occasions for in style sights like Avatar Flight of the Passage after households with younger children have departed for the day.

Stay late to watch fireworks at Disney World with teens and tweens
Stay late to observe fireworks at Disney World with teenagers and tweens (Photo credit score: Matt Stroshane, Disney)

8. Split up from youthful siblings.

Be ready to divide and conquer when exploring Disney World with teenagers, particularly when additionally touring with youthful kids. Let’s face it, older siblings like various things than little children.

Spend time collectively having fun with actions that enchantment to the entire household, like using Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios or watching a parade at Magic Kingdom. Then cut up up so large children can get pleasure from thrill rides like Test Track at Epcot, the quickest experience at any Disney park on this planet.

Teens watching a parade at Magic Kingdom
Teens watching a parade at Magic Kingdom (Photo credit score: Olga Thompson, Disney)

9. Give teenagers some freedom to discover.

Disney World is a fairly protected, closed atmosphere that teenagers and tweens can navigate with ease in the event that they keep inside one park. Some mother and father could even be prepared to let older youngsters journey by themselves between parks utilizing the Disney transportation system.

Be positive to ascertain guidelines for preserving involved and staying protected. Set particular occasions and places for assembly up once more, too.

10. Use smartphones at Disney World with teenagers.

Even should you do not buy Genie+, you may nonetheless scope out theme park choices like wait occasions, eating choices, and Disney Park resort reservations through your smartphone with Disneyland’s Genie app.

Additionally, since Genie+ consists of limitless PhotoGo downloads, your tech-savvy child will love accessing skilled pictures throughout their time within the Parks. Selfies are nice, however PhotoGo pics are even higher. Parents who need a lot of pictures, even when exploring parks aside, will particularly respect this feature. And be certain that these smartphone batteries keep charged up at Disney!

Plus, smartphones allow mother and father and youths to remain in contact when separated. You’ll have peace of thoughts figuring out you will get a maintain each other by textual content or cellphone name.

Minnie Mouse with smartphone
Smartphones make visiting Disney World with teenagers simpler (Photo credit score: quackersnaps, Depositphotos.com)

11. Bring alongside a good friend to Disney World.

To give older children some freedom at Disney World, carry alongside a good friend. This is particularly helpful for single kids or teenagers with a lot youthful siblings.

It’s not that they do not love you. (They do!) But teenagers will most likely have much more enjoyable if they’ve somebody their very own age to share in Disney’s magic.

Discuss funds with the good friend’s mother and father earlier than leaving house. Typically, if bringing alongside only one good friend, the host household can be in command of resort prices and meals whereas the visitor would pay for their very own airfare and any entrance tickets.

You may also select to journey with one other household with kids of comparable ages. Then mother and father and youngsters can discover the parks individually and meet up for meals or particular rides collectively.

Teens exploring Pandora - The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Older children exploring Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Photo credit score: David Roark, Disney)

12. Schedule downtime at Disney World with older children.

Don’t make the error of spending lengthy hours within the amusement parks on daily basis of your trip in Orlando with teenagers. Running from curler coaster to curler coaster shouldn’t be the one solution to have a good time at Disney World in the course of the teen years.

Even large children want downtime. Pause to eat ice cream and people-watch on a park bench alongside Main Street. Or, head again to your resort to loosen up within the pool or watch a film in your resort room to loosen up. Heck, your teenagers could even respect a day nap earlier than heading again within the night to deal with their favourite rides.

Guided bicycle tour with my teen and tween in Celebration, Florida
Guided bicycle tour with my teen and tween in Celebration, Florida (Photo credit score: Colleen Lanin)

13. Schedule actions past theme parks.

Be positive to plan a few days away from the 4 predominant Walt Disney World amusement parks. Wander by means of Disney Springs and Disney’s Boardwalk for all kinds of attention-grabbing purchasing and eating adventures. Splash at considered one of Disney’s water parks, Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. Challenge your children of all ages to a spherical of miniature golf at Winter Summerland Miniature Golf or go bowling at Splitsville Luxury Lanes. Or, go for a motorbike experience in Celebration, the city Disney constructed.

From viewing alligators to seaside time and astronaut coaching, discover the numerous different thrilling issues to do in Orlando.

Plan a day at Typhoon Lagoon with teens and tweens ~ Disney World with Teens & Tweens
Typhoon Lagoon with teenagers and tweens (Photo credit score: Disney)

Disney World Resort presents an array of attention-grabbing choices past rides and reveals, too. From guided excursions and behind-the-scenes entry to attention-grabbing courses your children will lengthy bear in mind, check out the attention-grabbing choice large children can get pleasure from.

Disney World Tours and Classes for Teens and Tweens

  • Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour (age 16+)
  • Disney’s Fort Wilderness Back Trail Adventure on Segway (age 16+)
  • Colors of Coronado Painting Experience (age 12+)
  • Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains (age 10+)
  • Epcot Seas Adventures SCUBA DiveQuest (age 10+)
  • Surfing Lesson at Typhoon Lagoon (age 8+)
  • Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom (age 8+)
  • Savor the Savanna Food Tour at Animal Kingdom (age 8+)
  • Meet Dolphins at EPCOT (44″+ top requirement, sometimes age 8+)
  • Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (age 8+ and 48″+)

Review a list of particular occasions and excursions on the Disney web site to make reservations earlier than leaving house.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant at Magic Kingdom
Dumbo the Flying Elephant at Magic Kingdom (Photo credit score: Disney)

14. Ride kiddie rides.

Teens ought to be allowed to behave like children at Disney World. It’s one of many solely locations the place they will let their guard down and cease worrying about being cool.

Don’t assume that older kids will simply need to experience all of the headliner thrill rides like Test Track and Expedition Everest. Some won’t like curler coasters and so they needn’t really feel dangerous about it.

There are loads of different rides at Disney World. They could need to experience Fantasyland rides like It’s a Small World or Peter Pan’s Flight. And that is okay.

Teens meeting Mickey Mouse at Disney World
Teens assembly Disney characters like Mickey Mouse (Photo credit score: Dave Parfitt, Adventures By Daddy)

15. Meet Disney characters.

The similar goes for characters. You would possibly simply be shocked that your teenagers should not solely prepared but additionally enthusiastic about posing with Mickey Mouse or Cinderella, notably if that is their first time at Disney World.

Disney character meals present an effective way to see a bunch of characters without delay with out ready in lengthy strains. So if this feels like a great time to your children, then guide Cinderella’s Royal Table or Chef Mickey’s prematurely!

Disney World is the most effective place for all ages to expertise the thrill of being a child, particularly teenagers!

Teen with balloons at Disney World
Let children be children at Disney World (Photo credit score: Courtney Kiefer, Disney)

Save Money on Your Disney World Family Vacation

Do you need to lower your expenses in your Walt Disney World trip with teenagers? Of course, you do!

Get discounted Disney World tickets and packages if you guide by means of Get Away Today. Make positive to allow them to know that Travel Mamas despatched you!

Explore More of Florida

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Learn about all of the issues to do in Miami with children and youths.

Relax on the seaside with these 21 issues to do at Hawk’s Cay Resort within the Florida Keys.

All great Florida family vacations include beach time, like at this sandy spot in Key West
All nice Florida household holidays embody seaside time, like at this sandy spot in Key West (Photo credit score: fotoZapad, Depositphotos.com)

Keep These Tips for a Disney World Vacation with Teens

Planning to go to Disney World with teenagers or tweens? Be positive to save lots of these high ideas! Just save the picture under to Pinterest. We hope you will comply with Travel Mamas on Pinterest when you’re at it.

Tips for Disney World with Teens

Have you ever visited Disney World with a teen or tween? Let us know your questions and ideas within the feedback under!

A Note from The Travel Mama: Some of my household’s bills have been hosted Visit Kissimmee and Walt Disney World in 2019. This story is frequently up to date to mirror present choices at Disney theme parks.

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