So, you are going to Disney with a TWEEN…
You may be asking yourself, “is he/she too old?”, “will they complain and be bored?”, “is it really safe to let them ride alone?” “Am I CRAZY?”
Welcome to vacationing with a tween. The bad news is – yes, they are going to complain. It’s in the DNA of a tween to whine. BUT the good news is this – it will last for no longer than a few seconds because they are NOT too old for Disney! Will you sit happily on a bench eating a Dole Whip while they ride Big Thunder Mountain for the 6th time in a row? Thankfully, YES! (Wondering what a Dole Whip is? Wonder no more!)
Disney with a tween is so wonderful and fun. You are able to ditch the strollers, skip a nap, stay up late, and race each other to the next ride. It is fun unlike any other vacation with a tween. They drop the ‘tude, smile, and may even hold your hand by mistake. They race towards Pooh without a backwards glance and ask you to take a photo with their phone so that they can post it on Instagram for their friends to see. It’s a brave new world, but it lets you squeak that last little bit of kid out of them – and it’s worth it.
So, having said all of that…where to begin? I am your proverbial guinea pig, as I am a mom of TWO tweens. No need to reinvent the wheel, just take notes, sit back, and act like YOU planned the coolest vacation ever.
Flip your family. I know this sounds very unconventional, but read on. When we go to Disney, we flip our body clocks upside down. We stay up VERY late – I mean 2 am late and take advantage of the Evening Extra Magic Hours. Then, we sleep in until 11 the next day and take our time getting to the parks without a crowded bus, rope-dropping Nazis, or screaming little ones. Here are some more thoughts on Extra Magic Hours.
Why on Earth would you want to stay at a park that late (Magic Kingdom does stay open that late in the summer, by the way)?
1. No crowds. Really, you walk onto almost everything.
2. No toddlers…do you think they can stay up past 10 pm?
3. No toddlers = no strollers.
4. Your tween with think you are a rock star. Staying up until 2 am? Coolest parents ever allow that.
5. The promise of sleeping in. You may have noticed that your tween likes to sleep in. A lot. Vacation = relaxation. Embrace the sleep!
So, consider it. Nighttime is magical at Disney, it’s a totally different vibe when you are there past midnight. So, tie a sweatshirt around your waist…leave your backpack at the resort, grab your iphone, and hit the parks. It’s cool to have a tween – they may even forget to roll their eyes at you. Hey, a mom can dream, right?
Are you ready for free spending money? Book your Disney World package with Cameron and receive a free credit on your Key to the World card up to $50. Cameron Fisher is a Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
You can contact her at: cameron@destinationsinflorida.com
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My 11 and 13 year old LOVED our last vacation to Disney! And because they were a little older this time, we could allow them a little more freedom inside the parks. They were very responsible and always met up with us and stayed within the boundaries we set. It was nice that they could have a little time on their own to explore and I could have a quiet Dole Whip! Oh, yeah. They cannot wait to go back.