Traveling with Teens: Minimizing Angst and Maximizing Thanks

You’re excited about your upcoming trip to Disney World but you’re worried that your teen won’t have the time of their life. Many people, teens included, are under the mistaken impression that Disney is just for kids. The truth is that there’s something here for everyone to enjoy. Let’s consider some tips to maximize fun!

Give your teens space and privacy and watch them flourish

Teenagers need space – it’s simply the reality of the situation. You can give it to them by renting a vacation home instead of a resort. In a vacation home they’ll have a room to themselves, yet you’ll be in the room next to them so you can keep an eye on them. Giving them space and privacy at night and in the mornings will help them recharge and be more involved in family activities during the day.

Keep them involved

A successful trip to Disney World involves plenty of planning. If you have everything planned out with no input from your teenager, they’re likely to bristle at the idea of having no control. On the other hand, if you ask for their help choosing restaurants, deciding which FastPass+ reservations to make, and which parks to spend the most time in, then they’ll feel involved – and they’ll be much more excited about the trip as a whole.

Consider giving them a night to themselves

Depending on the age of your teens, and their maturity level, you may consider giving them a night to explore on their own. Obviously you won’t hand them the keys to your rental car and encourage them to drive around Orlando by themselves, but you can travel to one of the parks together, give them a little pocket money for dinner, and let them go off on their own. For security sake, check in with them via phone every hour or two and give them a clear curfew.

Set a budget and stick to it

You do want your teens to have a good time, but you don’t want to bribe them to do so. To avoid arguments over souvenirs once you’re in the parks, set a budget before hand – and stick to it! You could give them a prepaid gift card with a specific amount on it and tell them they can spend it as they’d like, but once it’s gone it’s gone, or you could set a daily allowance and let them know what it is. No matter how you decide to do it, make a plan and follow through with it.