Hey there, Karen - welcome to planDisney! I'm so glad you found us. As a fellow nostalgic adult and a parent to two teenagers myself, this question really speaks to me! We cool moms have to stick together, and I'm happy to offer some tips for traveling with teens based on our family's experiences.
My girls are now 17 and 15, and vacations at
Walt Disney World Resort have been part of their lives since they were princess-obsessed little girls. As they've gotten older, they each have their favorite attractions, snacks, and experiences that are must-dos whenever we visit. They have strong opinions about which park to visit and where to eat, and they often take the lead in planning!
Not long before our family vacation earlier this year, I listened to an episode of the planDisney podcast that was all about
visiting Walt Disney World with teens and tweens. Although I'm a veteran planner, I came away with lots of great ideas about some new experiences to check out that would engage our older kiddos. The single best piece of advice? Let them spend some time exploring the parks without parents! We took this advice on our March visit, and my girls set off for an
EPCOT adventure on their own. They had a great day together making sister memories and enjoying some independence while my husband and I visited
Disney Springs for shopping and a dinner date.
Karen, there are experiences in all of the parks (and beyond) that might just be perfect for your teenagers. Here are a few favorites recommended by my in-house experts and my planDisney pals:
- Thrill rides in all four parks are irresistible to most teenagers! My oldest loves The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios, while my youngest's favorite is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. You can filter the list of attractions to get an idea of what might appeal to your kids.
- Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour is an unforgettable tour of Magic Kingdom Park featuring backstage access. It's only available for Guests aged 16 and up - ideal for your family! I also recommend Wild Africa Trek, which is an incredible VIP expedition at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
- The Disney Water Parks are always a lot of fun with older kids who can tackle the big slides and other attractions without water wings! Don't forget that Guests staying at a Disney Resort Hotel in 2025 receive free water park admission on check-in day.
- Disney Springs is always a hit for shopping, with popular stores like Kendra Scott, Fabletics, and many shops with unique Disney merchandise.
Karen, I hope you have the most wonderful vacation with your family. There's something about the "Disney Bubble" that makes all of us feel like a kid again - and I hope your teenagers have the same experience! Thanks so much for visiting planDisney, and please reach out again if we can help with other questions!
See Ya Real Soon!
Susan