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Original poster

Ungrateful Teens on Florida holiday

536 replies

WatermelonWaveclub · 13/09/2025 18:54

I brought my 3 teens (18, 16 and 13) to Florida to celebrate my eldest's 18th. Honestly it has been a nightmare. Every morning they refuse to get up. We end up leaving for the day's activity hours late. At least one usually refuses to come. Then we end up rushing around with the youngest upset we don't have time to do everything they want. When we get home late and I just want to sleep I am expected to sort food for whoever stayed back at the hotel. Then they stay up late keeping me awake. I'm exhausted!

The main thing they seem to want to do is stay in bed on their phones! Noone seems to worry about wasting a lot of money on activities they don't attend or any thought to making the most of a holiday they are very lucky to be on! No care about me missing out on things I'd like to do or their sibling would like to do. They were fully aware of what the holiday would involve and said they would like to go on the holiday. For example they knew there would be a lot of swimming. One has point blank refused to swim and the other 2 will swim hypothetically but have not once been in the hotel pool with me in almost a week and both just layed on sunloungers on their phones at the water park yesterday.

How would you deal with this situation?

OP posts:
NoSoapJustUseShowerGel · 13/09/2025 23:02

I think I would calmly talk to them about how upsetting it is to have spent all this money on a holiday because you thought they’d be excited about it, but they don’t seem to be making the most of it.
Try and come to a decision together as a group about what time everyone gets up for the day and what time you leave the hotel to start activities. Maybe agree on a limit on time on phones before you get going for the day so that phones don’t distract them from getting up and out for the day. Said as a mum of similar aged teens, so I’m familiar with the lure of the phones.

AliceMaforethought · 13/09/2025 23:01

hopspot · 13/09/2025 21:10

Missing the start of the Autumn term is hugely disruptive to a child. They return and everyone else is settled with friendship groups and routines established. It’s the worst time of the year to be taken out for a holiday.

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I wish we still had the laugh react, as your post is risible. What hyperbolic nonsense.

DeathStare · 13/09/2025 23:01

Mademetoxic · 13/09/2025 21:27

Because it's the start of term, and they have had a whole 6 weeks off school.
I hope they get fined, heavily.

It is disruptive to the staff and other pupils when individuals are off school. It's selfish.

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You don't even know that they live in the UK. it may well be school holidays if they live elsewhere.

If in the UK the oldest two may well not be in education at all but in employment, apprenticeship or about to start university.

Any or all of them could be home educated.

Many Scottish schools have a couple of days holiday in Mid-September as do some private schools. So if theyve gone for a week it could well be that there's one child missing three days school.

This is such an odd thing for complete strangers to get worked up about - it has no bearing on the actual question, and the idea that the kids are missing education is purely conjecture.

Even if they are missing education there are many contexts where that might be perfectly reasonable. Plus it really isn't anyone else's business.

FunnysInLaJardin · 13/09/2025 22:59

Ablondiebutagoody · 13/09/2025 19:03

I pointed out those lounger + phone kids to DS10 on holiday this year. Literally hours and hours under a brolly doom scrolling. I let him know that if he ever does that, it's our last holiday. What a waste of money.

good luck with that

Tdcp · 13/09/2025 22:55

"We're leaving at 9, be ready to go or we're going without you"

At their ages they are able to do themselves food.

Don't make the youngest suffer because the older ones are being twits.

5128gap · 13/09/2025 22:52

RoseAlone · 13/09/2025 22:17

Noone in their right mind goes to the parks at opening time no matter how early they're up. That would be downright stupid.

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I've not been for 15 years, but with the extra magic hours it was an excellent call back then.

Holidaytimeyay · 13/09/2025 22:52

I think that you need to let them do their own thing. Did they have a choice whether to go to Florida? We went a little while ago with similar aged teens but they had a choice whether to come or not. One chose to stay at home. We all had a fantastic time but if someone was tired, they could leave the parks (Universal and Disney) and go back to the hotel. Two DC’s didn’t want to swim but I swam with the other DC, everyone had a great time. I think Florida is amazing for teens, mine particularly enjoyed the Star Wars, Harry Potter and Avatar bits of the parks, it’s not just for small kids.
This year a different DC chose to stay at home as they knew that they would get bored on the holiday we had planned. One of the teens who came, very much did their own thing, but did join the rest of us for evening meals: I think giving everyone choice over what they do and space is key to having a great holiday.

Anon501178 · 13/09/2025 22:50

2015pls · 13/09/2025 18:57

I’m guessing they’re very much like this at home during holidays and weekends and you hoped they’d undergo a transformation on holiday?

Unfortunately they have just stayed the same

This.Sounds like they are used to just thinking about themselves and being allowed to do whatever whenever.
You would've probably been best to discuss phone usage rules before the holiday.They sound quite addicted.
I would be livid that they were being so ungrateful though and would be telling them it would be our last holiday together until they changed their attitude, as i was not paying out for them again.

Lilactimes · 13/09/2025 22:46

I took a 17 and 19 yo to Florida last year. We did 2 days in Universal then went to the beaches Gulf of Mexico side - they were stunning. They loved them and eating out down by the beach and just chilling.

ChelseaDetective · 13/09/2025 22:45

citygirl77 · 13/09/2025 19:55

My friend took her two teenage girls on an expensive two week holiday to Mauritius. She said they moped and looked at their phones all day. They were miserable. No sooner had they got home they rushed out - she passed them in her car, sitting on the wall outside The CoOp smiling and laughing with friends. That was the happiest they had been since the beginning of the holiday. She learnt a valuable lesson that day.

I don’t know why but I find that strangely touching.

MrsOverthinker25 · 13/09/2025 22:44

MyElatedUmberFinch · 13/09/2025 22:19

I have arranged a day out with my American friend the week after next at one of the parks and I’m mid 50’s and she’s in her 60’s.

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I love that! Have the best time 🤍🏰

AliceMaforethought · 13/09/2025 22:42

Figgygal · 13/09/2025 22:18

Why aren't they in school?

Not this again. Totally boring and irrelevant question.

MyElatedUmberFinch · 13/09/2025 22:37

Have you tried tweaking the day around, my teens loved brunch at Denny’s and then a theme park, sightseeing, shopping, airboat, Space Center etc?

TheGreatWesternShrew · 13/09/2025 22:36

Vaguelyclassical · 13/09/2025 19:05

Why Florida? The older teens are obviously far too old for Disney and it's a rather flat state with some everglades full of nasty biting things; there are also rather a lot of people in unbecoming red baseball caps. Great beaches, but you didn't need to come to the States for those. (Or to swim in a hotel pool.) You might have done better with a buzzy, interesting city in the US. Or a buzzy interesting city in Europe at a third of the cost. Sorry if I sound snarky, but I'm genuinely interested in the logic here. (But I do sympathize with you--I grew up in genteel poverty and I'd have been down on my knees in gratitude if my own parents took me out of the country!)

How are they too old for Disney? I went at 21 with just my boyfriend and we had a blast.

Ziferblat · 13/09/2025 22:32

Anyone else feeling depressed reading this? I have a 14 yo and 11 yo. I love travel. One of mine likes it more than the other… Both are screen addicts but dropped their phones for nice beaches and island hopping. Are there any specific holidays anyone recommends with DC that are mid teens plus?

OP ignore the critics. Short of beating them how can you make them do what you want? Many of those condemning you didn’t raise their children in times where screens were such a part of childhood.

2pence · 13/09/2025 22:32

Take them to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights if you haven’t already. That’ll get them off their phones 🤣

MyElatedUmberFinch · 13/09/2025 22:20

RoseAlone · 13/09/2025 22:17

Noone in their right mind goes to the parks at opening time no matter how early they're up. That would be downright stupid.

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They so do.

MyElatedUmberFinch · 13/09/2025 22:19

MrsOverthinker25 · 13/09/2025 21:51

Speak for yourself! I head to Disney in 2 weeks for the 14th time and I’m 32. “Too old for Disney” 🤣🤣 I think not. The OP needs to kick her kids up their arses and take their phones off of them. They are ungrateful.

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I have arranged a day out with my American friend the week after next at one of the parks and I’m mid 50’s and she’s in her 60’s.

outerspacepotato · 13/09/2025 22:19

Take a sunset cruise sans kids.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 13/09/2025 22:19

RoseAlone · 13/09/2025 22:17

Noone in their right mind goes to the parks at opening time no matter how early they're up. That would be downright stupid.

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Why not? I don't do theme parks, but that's all I've heard from people who want to make the most of them "we were there at rope drop" etc etc.

Jaws2025 · 13/09/2025 22:19

Hundreds of people do! And get on several rides before the rest arrive. What a strange and inaccurate post.

FunBiscuit · 13/09/2025 22:18

WatermelonWaveclub · 13/09/2025 18:54

I brought my 3 teens (18, 16 and 13) to Florida to celebrate my eldest's 18th. Honestly it has been a nightmare. Every morning they refuse to get up. We end up leaving for the day's activity hours late. At least one usually refuses to come. Then we end up rushing around with the youngest upset we don't have time to do everything they want. When we get home late and I just want to sleep I am expected to sort food for whoever stayed back at the hotel. Then they stay up late keeping me awake. I'm exhausted!

The main thing they seem to want to do is stay in bed on their phones! Noone seems to worry about wasting a lot of money on activities they don't attend or any thought to making the most of a holiday they are very lucky to be on! No care about me missing out on things I'd like to do or their sibling would like to do. They were fully aware of what the holiday would involve and said they would like to go on the holiday. For example they knew there would be a lot of swimming. One has point blank refused to swim and the other 2 will swim hypothetically but have not once been in the hotel pool with me in almost a week and both just layed on sunloungers on their phones at the water park yesterday.

How would you deal with this situation?

Take them to a football game or ice hockey game universal studios Epcot centre Disneyland fortlauderdale beach is amazing and there is shopping maul and brilliant swap market and

Tiswa · 13/09/2025 22:18

RoseAlone · 13/09/2025 22:17

Noone in their right mind goes to the parks at opening time no matter how early they're up. That would be downright stupid.

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Why we literally always go for rope drop (particularly if staying onsite) can get more done in the first hour or so than the rest of the day

are they at the parks though

Figgygal · 13/09/2025 22:18

Why aren't they in school?

CurlyhairedAssassin · 13/09/2025 22:18

I think that if you're going to book a family holiday with late teens it's really important to chuck aside any assumptions about what they'll like and sit down and discuss it properly. The first question should always be "Do you want to come?" because so many parents assume they will want to. If they say they do, then the next question should be "what type of holiday would you enjoy?" If it doesn't match YOUR idea of an enjoyable holiday, then considering you are paying for it, I'd say to them that maybe it's time to go on separate holidays. Maybe offer to pay a little bit towards their own holiday with mates.

If they say they would want to come on the holiday you have in mind, be very clear in your expectations and tell them to be clear in theirs. eg if they say they just want to be able to get up when they like and stay up late and be on their phones as much as possible, suggest that maybe they could stay home and do that as it might not be worth them coming? If they insist they will join in with some stuff, make it clear that it would mean some early morning starts to get out and about and see if they're happy to do that. Or see if they want to invite their friend along (if they pay their own flight etc). Sometimes if they bring a mate along it shakes them up a bit and they're less likely to loll around.

Honestly, there just comes a time when the teens will have their own idea of what makes a good holiday, and sometimes it really doesn't turn out to be what you think it would.