Orlando for Teens and Tweens: Where to sleep, shop and play for a memorable adventure
By Catalina Margulis
Disney Fun: Orlando for Teens and Tweens
From outlet malls with your tween’s favourite labels to the latest Disney World rides that even your jaded teen will love, Orlando is a family favourite for kids of all ages.
Where to Play
With four kids ranging from 7 to 15, it’s hard enough getting everyone to agree on the same pizza to order on a Sunday night, never mind travelling together. But this mama be damned if she was going to let democrazy get in the way of ticking off Disney World on her family vacation bucket list. Here’s how I kept everyone happy.
Disney World
Disney Fun: Orlando for Teens and Tweens
Number one on our list, hello, was obviously Disney World. But turns out I had little to fear because there are plenty of new rides geared toward teens that will have even the most experienced 15-year-old guffawing with the pure joy of being hurtled 360 degrees through the dark on one of the largest fully enclosed coasters in the world that is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Disney Fun: Orlando for Teens and Tweens
Another must for your new driver is the new Tron Lightcycle/Run, where they can ride their very own Lightcylce on this roller coaster track, which is one of the fastest at any Disney park in the world.
Younger ones will love Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a 4D experience that has you scurrying through the kitchens of Paris. If they’re not averse to creepy-crawly things, It’s Tough To Be A Bug is an immersive 3D film and live show that offers real-life thrills.
Moana fans will want to check out the new water attraction that walks kids through the water experience. It’s located right next to the Finding Nemo-themed ride (both to be found at Epcot). Here, your youngest can take a trip under the sea to visit Nemo and friends.
For your little princess, a visit to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Magic Kingdom is a must, where she’ll be treated to her very own princess makeover, with a costume, hair, makeup, and tote bag to go.
Disney Fun: Orlando for Teens and Tweens
The ultimate souvenir? Star Wars fans can assemble their custom robot at the Droid Depot, like my tween twins did.
Parents, download the Disney Genie App to access Lightning Lane fast passes and dining reservations to make the most of your day. And be sure to stick around for the fireworks shows on any given night. They’re spectacular, indeed! The Magic Kingdom performance, with its message about making dreams come true speaking to the inner child in all of us, really hits.
Discovery Cove
While Disney World is indisputably Orlando’s greatest attraction, don’t miss Discovery Cove for a fun day all ages will enjoy. Play with dolphins, swim with rays, and ride the lazy river. The provide everything you need—towels, wet suits, snorkelling gear, lockers. Packages also include all-you-can-eat breakfast and lunch buffets, with snack bars available throughout the day.
Wild Florida
At Orlando’s Wild Florida, airboat rides take you through the Everglades for the chance to see Orlando’s second most popular attraction in their natural habitat. Play spot the alligator, and see bald eagles and blue herons along the way. (Dress warmly as it gets cold and windy once that airboat gets motoring.) Turns out the airboat was first invented by Canada’s own Alexander Graham Bell! You can also explore the zoo to see more gators and other exotic animals.
Where to Shop
With fears of my teen having already “aged out” of Disney World, I went into planning overdrive to make sure I could bribe him into at least acting as if he were having fun. The number one item in my arsenal: American shopping malls. This way, he could stock up on hard-to-find labels (at least in Canada, anyway), without the expensive shipping fees.
Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets
Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets has all the brands your kids love, including Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and okay, Starbucks, too. The only problem you’ll have is finding a parking spot at this popular haunt, so you can enjoy it all. (It took a few tours around the lot, but I eventually managed to score a good one.)
The Mall at Millenia
The Mall at Millenia, on the other hand, has parking for days and carries such coveted, hard-to-find-in shops (in Canada, anyway) like Under Armor, Billabong, and Abercrombie Kids. Save the Mall for a rainy day, or to wrap up your trip. This way, you can avoid carrying all your bags if you’re moving locations for a multi-stop vacation.
Where to Sleep
We used to fit into a single hotel room. My daughter is sandwiched between my husband and me, the twins share the second bed, and my eldest takes the pullout couch. Things were cozy, but nice, for a while.
Then the teen reached over 6 feet and now most hotels will tell me they don’t have the space to accommodate so many minors. Fortunately, Legacy Vacation Resorts in Orlando has spacious rooms and villas for larger families that offer plenty of space for lounging, with private rooms for the kids to get a break from each other. Legacy has two Orlando locations near Disney, shops, and restaurants, offering amenities like pools, mini-golf, tennis, and basketball courts. Mom can relax in her King bed while the kids play on their iPads in their guest room with two double beds. The teen can catch up with friends on Snapchat in his Queen bed guest room, and the hubby can watch the game on the big TV in the open-concept living, kitchen, and dining room.
Because you know, the best kinds of family vacations are the ones you spend together and apart!