Orlando, Florida, is the famed home of Walt Disney World, the "happiest place on Earth." While children might love to visit the land of Mickey Mouse, teens are more apt to roll their eyes at the tame, themed rides and ear-wearing guests. If you plan to spend time in this touristy Florida city with a teenager, you might want to save the money you could spend at the Magic Kingdom and instead visit one of these more age-appropriate venues.
If Disney World is a theme park, then Universal Studios is a thrill zone. Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure are home to more than 25 rides, including nine big thrill attractions. The newest addition to the parks, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, allows guests to select the music they hear while riding the heart-pounding coaster that hits speeds of 65 miles per hour.
Many teens will enjoy the live music shows, as well as the shopping, entertainment and dining options. Tickets start at $73 for a one day/one park option in 2009. Teenagers, especially perpetually starving teen boys, can get the unlimited dining pass that lets them eat all day long at participating restaurants for one low price. For an additional $19.99, you can add this option to your park ticket.
For the teen who is not content to watch animal shows, Discovery Cove offers a once-in-a-lifetime interactive experience with a wide variety of marine life. The park, next to Sea World, plunges guests into a beautiful tropical paradise, complete with sandy beaches and thatch huts. The all-inclusive park limits admission to a small number of guests each day, and visitors can spend the day playing with dolphins, swimming among sting rays and tropical fish and lounging in swaying hammocks.
Meals, wetsuit usage, parking, snorkel equipment, towels and lockers are included in the ticket price. Admission is $289 for guests who want to swim with the dolphins and $189 for those who do not. Guests also receive complimentary admission to Sea World.
A far cry from the rest of the Disney parks, Disney Quest is a five-story world of interactive adventure. While your teen might balk at the Disney name, he is sure to bask in the glory of the cool technology once inside the Downtown Disney location. Every video gamer's dream come true, this attraction offers a virtual world of entertainment where you can design rides, experience the pirate life or learn to draw cartoons. This is better than any ordinary video arcade, and ticket prices are $40 for ages 10 and up in 2009.
