Walt Disney World for Teens and Tweens- Everything They Will Love!

We have been taking our daughters to Disney parks since they were babies.  Now that they are teens, the parks are even more fun with them! Keep reading for the Disney World for teens and tweens guide to attractions, shopping, and dining for Walt Disney World’s four theme parks: Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park as well as Disney Springs.

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Attractions

Walt Disney World includes four theme parks: Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. Here are some rides at Disney World for teens and tweens that they will love in each park.

Magic Kingdom Park

The Magic Kingdom has several thrill rides teens will love, including Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain.

Teens and tweens seeking a thrill ride will enjoy Space Mountain in Tomorrowland. Space Mountain features a rip-roaring rocket through the darkest reaches of outer space.  Guests will board a sleek rocket-shaped vehicle and zoom through the galaxy in this roller-coaster-type ride.  The rockets ascend a 180-foot high mountain and then launches into the remote blackness of the dark universe.

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is in Fanstasyland and allows teen and tweens to race through a diamond mine that features the beloved Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs.  Guests will board a rustic mine train and wind through the Enchanted Forest and up a mountain.  The mine train then races down the mountain, past a waterfall, and see the cozy cottage where Snow White and her Dwarfs live.

Teens and tweens will love Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland.  This is the wildest ride in the wilderness! Guests will board a rollicking runaway mine train and climb a 200-foot mountain to the Big Thunder Mining Company.  This 5-car locomotive ride includes a booming waterfall, stunning rock formations, canyons and caves, and a landslide.

Teens and tweens will enjoy the colorful bayou and a thrilling 5-story splashdown on Splash Mountain in Frontierland.  This log flume ride takes guests through caves, swamps, and meadows. Splash Mountain is home to over 100 talking, singing, storytelling Audio-Animatronics critters.

The Magic Kingdom also has some nostalgic rides that teens and tweens will love, such as Peter Pan’s Flight, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion. Click HERE for our article, Eight Classic Rides in Magic Kingdom That You Can’t Miss!

Check out our Attraction Guide to Walt Disney World’s: Magic Kingdom to find more things at Disney World for teens.

Epcot

Disney World for teens also includes great entertainment such as Ellen’s Energy Adventure which is located in Future World East, within the Universe of Energy pavilion.  Some attractions to enjoy in Epcot include Soarin’, the Circle of Life, and Living with the Land in the Land Pavilion, along with the Seas with Nemo and Friends and the Gran Fiesta Tour featuring the Three Caballeros.

Future World consists of several pavilions, including Spaceship Earth, Innoventions, Mission: Space, : Presented by Chevrolet, and Imagination! (Journey into Imagination with Figment).  Check out our Attraction Guide to Walt Disney World’s: Epcot to find more things at Disney World for teens.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is another fun park for teens and tweens!  Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is a great plan for teens and fans will truly feel immersed in this galactic experience!

Most teens and tweens grew up watching the Toy Story movies and will love Toy Story Land. Toy Story Mania allows Disney fans to compete with each other and others while playing carnival games.

Teens and tweens love rock and roll, right?! Thrill seekers will enjoy the Rock ‘N Roll Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Guests will speed along the darkened freeways of Los Angeles in a super-stretch limo to the rockin’ tunes of Aerosmith. This ride reaches speeds of 60 miles per hours past iconic Hollywood landmarks.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is always a hit with teens and tweens.  This elevator ride hurls guests up and down as they experience unexpected dropping and rising as they hear the sound of cables snapping and metal clanging overhead.

Check out our attraction guide for Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios Attractions to find more things at Disney World for teens.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

Teens and tweens will enjoy looking at the hundreds of species of live animals in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. There are also some great thrill rides, such as Pandora – The World of Avatar, Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, and Kali River Rapids.

Pandora – The World of Avatar is themed after the movie, Pandora. The Avatar Flight of Passage allows teens and tweens to experience an all-new expedition where they climb atop a mountain banshee for an incredible flight.  Click out our article on Pandora- The World of Avatar at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain is a hit with teens and tweens! Teens and tweens will board a speeding train and careen through the mountains while avoiding the clutches of the mythic Abominable Snowman. This exciting ride includes a steep climb, a train that races backwards, a double-looping turn, and an 80-foot drop!

Who doesn’t love a water ride? Kali River Rapids allows guests to load a large, circular 12-passenger raft that glides up a 90-foot knoll into a mist. The rafts will sail past an erupting geyser and descend the mountain that includes a dramatic 20-foot slope!  Spectators can spray water on the rafters with elephant-themed water sprayers, so guests should be prepared to get wet!

Check out our Attraction Guide to Walt Disney World’s: Animal Kingdom to find more things at Disney World for teens.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs is a waterside promenade with lots of unique stores and great restaurants.  Teens and tweens can browse over 100 shopping options and over 50 dining options.  Click HERE for a list of Disney Springs stores and restaurants.  There is also a bowling alley, Splitsville Luxury Lanes™, and AMC® Disney Springs 24 Dine-In Theatres.

Check out our article Disney Springs: Ultimate Guide to Dining, Shopping, and Entertainment to find more things at Disney World for teens.

Dining

Teens and tweens are often looking for fast, cheap food so they can go on more rides.  Here are some of the cheaper food finds in each park.

Magic Kingdom

Casey’s Corner on Main Street, U.S.A. offers hot dogs, corn dog nuggets, French fries and ice-cold lemonade.  The Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square has a nice variety of sea food dishes.  Liberty Square also includes Liberty Square Market where kids can enjoy chips, fresh fruit, or a hot dog.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café is located in Tomorrowland and sells BBQ platters, chicken breast nuggets, bacon cheeseburgers, and hot dogs.

Fantasyland hosts The Friar’s Nook that offers fun food such as loaded buffalo chicken tots, hot dogs and fried Twinkies.  Fantasyland also features Gaston’s Tavern that offers vegetables cups, hummus with chips, fruit cups and warm cinnamon rolls.

The Golden Oak Outpost in  Frontierland offers affordable menu items such as hot-n-crispy chicken breast nuggets, waffle fries, and cookies. Frontierland also includes Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café that offers chicken fajitas, taco trios and the Southwest Burger.

Read our Dining Guide to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: All You Need to Know to find more food at Disney World for teens.

Epcot World Showcase    

Epcot World Showcase offers many affordable menu items.  This is a great place to wander and purchase small plates or appetizers from different countries and regions.  Some notable places include Crepes des Chefs de France, Electric Umbrella, Fife & Drum Tavern, and Yorkshire County Fish Shop.

Read our Walt Disney World’s Epcot Dining Guide: All the Dining Information You Need to find more food at Disney World for teens.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Backlot Express in Echo Lake offers Star Wars-themed food, such as the Royal Guard Burger, Galactic Chicken Salad and Dark Side Chicken and Waffles.  Echo Lake also features Dockside Diner which sells foot-long hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches.

KRNR The Rock Station sells hot dogs and snacks. Teens and tweens can also visit Rosie’s All-American Café on Sunset Boulevard and “relish” Angus cheeseburgers, crispy chicken nuggets, fries and coleslaw.

Check out our article Dining Guide: Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios to find more food at Disney World for teens.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Dino-Bite Snacks can be found in DinoLand U.S.A. and offers Buffalo Chicken Chips, the Mickey Pretzel, and ice cream sundaes and sandwiches. The Eight Spoon Café on Discovery Island offers a few varieties of baked macaroni & cheese dishes with different toppings.  Teens and tweens can visit Pizzafari and taste pizzas, salads, pasta, and desserts while sitting among colorful murals.

Check our out article Dining Guide: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park to find more food at Disney World for teens.

Disney Springs

The West Side of Disney Springs features 3 distinctive food trucks.  Teens and tweens can purchase delicious food from Fantasy Fare, Springs’ Street Tacos, and World Showcase of Flavors.

The Marketplace hosts Earl Of Sandwich® and sells hot or cold gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, and wraps. There are also a couple of Starbucks in Disney Springs where guests can purchase coffee, lattes, pastries and snacks.

Activities for Teens and Tweens

Purple Wall

Teens and tweens should check out the purple wall and post a picture to Instagram or Snapchat. The Purple Wall is located in Tomorrowland around the corner from Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor. This is a popular place to take photos with a fun and creative background.

Tours at Disney World for Teens

Disney World also offers some tours that teens and tweens will love.

The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour

Thrill seekers will love this 7-hour tour!  The Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour starts in Magic Kingdom at 8:30 AM, includes lunch and expedited access to attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Click HERE for more information on this tour.

Backstage Magic Tour

The Backstage Magic offers Disney fans an even more in-depth tour of the park. This 7-hour tour is called a One-of-a-Kind VIP Experience as it tours both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Disney fans will navigate the “utilidor” tunnels, go behind-the-scenes of the American Adventure Audio-Animatronics stage show, and observe costuming professionals. Click HERE for more information on this tour.

Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour

Adventure seekers will love this 4-hour guided group adventure.  The Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour starts at the Tree of Life on the Discovery Island Trail and includes expedited FastPass+ access to several attractions.  Tour participants will ride Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain (44” height requirement), Kilimanjaro Safaris, Avatar Flight of Passage (44” height requirement), Na’vi River Journey, DINOSAUR (40” height requirement), and Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular. Click HERE for more information on this tour.

Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation!

Be sure to subscribe to our Disneyland deals newsletter for all of the latest information on deals and saving tips to help you save money and experience more! Sign up here. Check out our other Disney World articles:

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