Disney with Teens: How to Keep Everyone Happy

Planning a trip to Disney with teens can be a whole new kind of magic—less about princesses and more about thrill rides, Instagram-worthy snacks, and just the right amount of independence. Navigating the parks with teenagers takes a different kind of strategy. In this post, we’ll break down how to make the most of your Disney experience with teens in tow, from must-ride attractions to keeping everyone happy and fully in the moment.

We have been visiting Walt Disney World since my kids were babies and young children, it has a special place for us as a family, but even if this is your first visit to Walt Disney World you can find something that teens will love at the Disney theme parks.

My kids are Disney kids and it doesn’t take much to get them excited about a Disney trip, but not all teens feel the same.

You should consider your teens interests to determine what Disney parks and activities will work for you. We have attractions and dining that we enjoy at all parks so we try to plan a day at each, but you should do what works best for you.

Visiting Disney World with Teens

I suggest starting with a basic plan for visiting Walt Disney World and then take time to discuss what everyone wants their Disney vacation to look like.

When you are visiting Disney with teens you need to be flexible and discuss expectations before you arrive at the parks. Do you need a mid-day break? Independent time? Will you be splitting up? All of these questions should be answered at the start of your trip planning.

Best Disney Parks for Teens

The best rides for teens are spread out through the four theme parks. If I could only pick one park to visit I would say the best Disney park for teens is Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but honestly that is by a small advantage and I think all 4 parks offer something great for teens.

Our picks for the best rides for teens at Disney include the most thrilling rides at each park and most teens will enjoy them. I also included a few on the list that are not all thrill rides but teens like them.

Keep in mind most of the rides at Disney World are fun for all ages so even though its target audience may be young, your kids may like it.

Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for Teens

Magic Kingdom is the castle park. Guests will enter on Main Street U.S.A. and have many attractions and rides to experience.

• Space Mountain
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
• Big Thunder Mountain
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Tron Lightcycle Power Run
• Haunted Mansion
• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

Best Rides at Epcot for Teens

Epcot has a lot to discover with the World Showcase as well as unique rides and attractions.

• Soarin’ Around the World
• Test Track
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Ratatouille: Remy’s Adventure

Best Rides at Hollywood Studios for Teens

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has roller coaster rides as well as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. There you can meet characters from Star Wars like Kylo Ren and Chewbacca.

• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Rock N’ Rollercoaster (Currently being rethemed to Muppets.)
• Rise of the Resistance
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania!

Best Rides at Animal Kingdom for Teens

Animal Kingdom is a mix of attractions and animal exhibits.

• Avatar Flight of Passage
• Expedition Everest
• Kali River Rapids
• Dinosaur (Closing in 2026)

Best Places to Eat at Disney World with Teens

I’m going to include the places we like to dine at when visiting Disney World. Most of the time we do quick service because it is fast and has some of our favorite meals. A few places are table service and require a reservation.

• Satuli Canteen (Animal Kingdom)
• Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes (Animal Kingdom)
• Peco’s Bill Tall Tale Inn (Magic Kingdom)
• Columbia Harbour House (Magic Kingdom)
• Les Halles (Epcot)
• La Cantina de San Angel (Epcot)
• Docking Bay 7 (Hollywood Studios)
• ABC Commissary (Hollywood Studios)

Best Resorts at Disney With Teens

We’ve stayed at a lot of Disney resorts and the best ones have space for the kids to explore, a great pool, and an arcade. If you are on a budget consider booking connecting rooms at a value resort for more space.

• Disney’s All Start Sports (Great budget friendly choice if you need connecting rooms)
• Pop Century Resort- on the Disney Skyliner
• Disney’s Polynesian Resort (Deluxe resort with view of Magic Kingdom nightly fireworks)

12 Best Things to Do at Disney with Teens

These are our can’t miss favorite things to do at Disney World that we include in our Disney trips each time we visit.

• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Ride)
• Avatar: Flight of Passage (Ride)
• Docking Bay 7 (Dining)
• Rise of the Resistance (Ride)
• Test Track (Opening Summer 2025)
• Pirates of the Caribbean (Ride)
• Tower of Terror (Ride)
• Chicken Guy at Disney Springs (Dining)
• Walk the World Showcase (Epcot)
• Satuli Canteen (Dining)
• Tron Lightcyle (Ride)
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Ride)

Planning Tips for Doing Disney With Teens

If this is your first time visiting Disney World you probably want to visit all 4 theme parks because there are rides and attractions that are so much fun for all ages.

If you are traveling with teens to Disney World and they have younger siblings it is a good idea to check the height requirement of rides to see what attractions everyone can experience and what are for the older kids.

All of the Disney theme parks have rides for all ages as well as some targeted towards older kids and some targeted towards younger kids. This makes it easy to visit and make sure everyone can ride what they want.

If your teen wants to ride an attraction that is not great for the younger kids you should try to single rider line. You will skip the long line and wait time but you are not guaranteed to ride with your party.

Most likely you will get split up. We have used the single rider line to avoid long waits and it works great with teens and tweens at Disney World.

Single rider line is offered at Smugglers Run, Expedition Everest, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Keep in mind Single Rider line is not a guarantee to be open, ask a cast member upon arrival.

Let them help in the planning of your Disney vacation. Some teens may want to help a little and some may want to help a lot. Including them in the planning process will help make the days go smoother and they will know what to expect.

Be flexible. You may want to wake up early for a few park days but plan some rest days where you can sleep in. The great thing about going to the parks with teens is they want to stay up late. Sleep in and start your day later when everyone is leaving the parks.

Allow everyone to pick their top 3 priorities and then plan your trip with those in mind. For a family of five like us we find it helpful to learn what everyone wants to do during our visit. Then we can plan our days.

Make time for breaks in the afternoon for naps, pool, or to relax in the room. As our kids are getting older we have noticed they need down time at the rooms during the day. It allows everyone to have some time to themselves and recharge for the evening.

Don’t forget about meeting their favorite Disney characters and taking fun pictures throughout the park. There are lots of places to meet your favorite characters as well as photo spots at all the parks.

Make time to enjoy the little details throughout the parks.

Disney World with teens can be a great vacation for your family. It offers awesome entertainment, rides, and attractions making it a great family vacation spot no matter what age your kids are.

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