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Walt Disney World for Teens
Can They Really Have Fun?
By Cara Goldsbury
Can teens really have fun at a place like Walt Disney World? Absolutely! Actually, be prepared to have the time of your life. It's a safe place to assert some independence from your parents, a place you'll never forget.
Here are some of the best experiences for teens at "The Happiest Place on Earth":
For a blast of a time, head to one of Disney's two water parks. Blizzard Beach has a melting alpine resort theme where chairlifts carry swimmers instead of skiers. It's a place for daredevils to challenge wild, rushing water and death-defying slides including the Summit Plummet, a 120-foot slide reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour. Those a bit less adventuresome will love Typhoon Lagoon, a tropical fantasyland offering a wave pool with the tallest simulated waves in the world as well as a chance to snorkel among tropical fish, leopard and nurse sharks and picturesque coral at Shark Reef.
After the parks close, hop a bus from your Disney resort for a night on the town at Downtown Disney. Highlights include Disney Quest with five floors of interactive games, a 24-screen AMC Theater, a Cirque du Soleil show and over 60 shops and restaurants. Favorite dining choices for the younger crowd are Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Caf笠And definitely consider House of Blues, where teens are allowed to attend some of the almost daily concerts in their live music venue next door.
When your parents are wondering which resort to book for your Disney vacation, be sure and put your two cents in and steer them toward one with a great pool. Disney's very best uniquely themed pools include the Yacht and Beach Club's Stormalong Bay, a three-acre mini-water park, the Swan and Dolphin's lush, grotto-style lagoon pool, the boulder-strewn wonderland at the Wilderness Lodge with its very own erupting geyser and the Volcano Pool at the Polynesian Resort with its luxuriant waterfall, smoking peak and perfect views of Cinderella's Castle.
