Orlando with teenagers - give me your top tips! (which parks did they like best?)
 

We are fortunate to have been to Orlando a few times when our children were quite young, a few times when they were toddlers and the last trip when they were 8 and 6.

We were due to go in 2019 (when they would have been 9 and nearly 11) but cancelled owing to my son breaking his arm and then postponed to 2020 (when they would have been 10 and nearly 12) and well we know what happened there so now we are looking at late 2021 or 2022/2023 (when the kids will be 12 and 14 or 13 and 15).

All the things I had planned for 2019 they aren't really going to be the right age for - lots of character meals, BBB etc so I need to have think about what is a better fit for teenagers.

They still love theme parks but definitely more into the thrill rides now and i'm wondering if Disney will be nice for the theming/characters but may no longer hit the spot for thrill rides as each park only really has a couple of those type of rides.

Our previous trips have been 90% Disney with the odd day elsewhere (Seaworld, Universal, KSC) but i'm thinking many of the things that appealed to them at 6 or 8 are not going to be interesting now.

I'd be interested to hear from parents of teenagers to understand what sort of thing they enjoyed most on an Orlando holiday?

We have already decided that it must be a villa as with having a boy and a girl one big shared room won't work and we have stayed there before so we know the wi-fi is good (a critical factor for teens I am learning! )

Our kids like Universal and SeaWorld the best.
They like Disney but large parts of it are for little kids.
They love Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, parts of Epcot ,their least favourite is Magic Kingdom.

Our kids, now 22, 20 and 17 are all coming next year, and looking forward to just doing Disney.

It brings out the child in us all, and they are no different.. and lots of new stuff too, as well as enjoying old favs... Lots of which are timeless/ageless classics in our eyes... always been drawn back over last 10 yrs... Thrill rides are great, but SW is a half day park for us, Universal 2 days, whereas we can go back to each Disney park several times and see new things.

I think maybe sit down with them and discuss what where when etc. Dont forget MK still has lots for older kids. Last trip we had 2 teens 15 and 16 a 12 and 9 year old, we still did all the Disney Parks but must admit the teens preffered I o A.

Happy planning.

Plus the Tron coaster will also be open in MK when you are planning to go

I wouldn't cancel all plans for character meals, I'm 41 and still get excited to see Mickey (I'm sure I'm not the only grown up like this).

Our kids loved Universal - it is very teen friendly - but they are excited for Disney too, I don't think you can bear Flights of Passage, and they're excited about the Star Wars too.

I'd say Universal and Busch Gardens for teenagers, loads of big rides. That said, HS, AK, MK and EP in that order for Disney, not forgetting Water Parks! Disney still feels safer than the other Parks if they wanted to split up.

Definitely talk to them and go through each Park as the maps etc are online to see which rides and experiences they might prefer. Could save you money too when buying the Park tickets.

Away from the parks our teenagers loved ifly on international drive, go-karting at Orlando karting, discovery cove, old town Kissimmee especially the muscle car night, shopping at the outlets, sea screamer at Clearwater. However they still loved all the parks including Disney.

Mine are boys of 14 and 18. They have had less than no interest in Disney since they reached the magic 54 inches.

Seaworld or Busch at no1 and Universal/ Islands at equal no3/4.

Worldwide, then it is 6 flags or Thorpe Park with Alton towers just behind. The Florida ones are rated inferior... but not the weather or concentration of good parks!

Ours loved funspot on I Drive
Wonderworks
And the airboat ride
As well as busch gardens and sea world. The day at discovery cove was also a huge hit as was Kennedy space centre