Ungrateful Teens on Florida holiday

The other thing is to check what they would like to do - maybe they want to do one of the restaurants they have seen on social media (last year I think Raising Cane's was popular)?

I'm so sorry OP. I understand its hugely frustrating right now when all they want to do is doomscroll and lie down and youve booked things, theyre not considering the cost to you but realistically, they wouldnt as theyve not been on the other end of that yet-paying for thier family to do something and nobody seeming to sppreciate it.

That being said, if thats what the oldest is doing, and this holiday was meant to be to celebrate thier birthday, is this something they even wanted to do? Or something that was picked and just so happens its thier birthday too?

I think i'd personally feel a little annoyed (although EXTREMELY GRATEFUL- I dont have anyone planning anything for me) if someone planned something for my birthday but none of it was to my liking? It feels this is very much a family holiday but youre saying its for the 18 year old. Is 18 even bothered about the holiday really? Would they have prefferred a different present and you maybe assuned they would like this? At that age a lot of people probably want to do more with thier mates than thier family.

You have done a lovely thing btw. Just trying to see it from another angle.

It's the start of term. Of course all children should be attending school/college.

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.

Bali, I’m sitting on the long sandy beach under the trees admiring the beautiful surroundings, teens in their hut.

Thanks for saying. I was thinking they had
lost the plot! Will ignore.

Take the 13 year old on time. File the older twos wasted money under idiot tax and move on, they just aren't at those ages. Tell them if they don't come out that's fine but you arent paying for a big holiday for them again.

Agreed! One of them is an adult. They need to find a way to make the most of the holiday and put it down to experience and don't do that type of holiday again.

Did the 18 year old want to go to Florida to celebrate his / her birthday ?

Not always. Having flown this route probably over 100 times in my life I and my family have had it all ways especially if you take a nap or wake up at two on the morning, can’t get back to sleep and then go back to sleep on the early morning .

Forget the nagging & getting frustrated with them every day - I would be sitting them all down for a family chat/meeting & telling them just how much the holiday had cost & what that means in relative terms you / them.
E.g “I’ve had to work incredibly hard for this holiday, & paying X for this trip is equivalent for X months wages for me (or if they have a part time job even better… work out how many days/weeks they’d have had to work to earn that much money). I’ve booked it as a treat for DC1’s 18th & so that we can all have an amazing experience as a family. You are so incredibly privileged to have been taken on a holiday like this. So many people could only dream of being able to have a holiday abroad, never mind to Florida. You are missing out on real life experiences that you’ll never be able to have again because you want to stare at content on a phone that will still be there when we get home. I am really, really disappointed.
Tomorrow is a new day. We will be doing X and leaving the accommodation at X time. It would mean a huge amount to me if you got up & joined us & were part of our family. If you don’t want to that’s your choice & you can stay here, but you’ll need to find your own food to eat & that’s that. I won’t ever be paying for a holiday like this again as it simply it not worth all the effort I have put in to make this possible. That’s all I’m going to say about the matter, the choice is yours to make”.

There is more to Florida than Disney though, for those that want theme parks.. Universal, Seaworld parks. Those are both more geared towards older children, teens and adults.

Jet lag ✔️
humidity ✔️
Scorching days ✔️
walking around and queuing in parks ✔️

A Florida holiday is hard work.

What on earth are you doing waiting around for them to get up. You tell them all the schedule the night before. You tell them that at 9 or 10am you will be leaving to go to ... Then you leave with whoever wants to come and is ready, having first got their own breakfast. Then some days you could return to the hotel/pool in the afternoon and join them if they didn't get up. If you wanted a full day out with your youngest, then don't feel the need to hurry back and take your youngest out for a nice early evening meal. Hand them a loaf of bread/stuff for sandwiches and let them sort themselves out. Use earplugs to get off to sleep.

We came back from Florida a few weeks ago.

You need to adjust your expectations a bit (and they need to adjust theirs).

Plan for what's happening over the next 2 days. Make it clear that anyone who stays at the hotel will be expected to sort their own food (are you at one of those apartments that have cooking facilities? If not leave them the price of a meal at the hotel).

Eldest is old enough to organise an Uber to come and meet you later if they want. If they want to lie in then make an agreement that if they get up and out early with you tomorrow, the day after they get to lie in. Or go out later in the day and stay out later.

Worse, a PBP (previously banned poster) that is trying to bait people into engaging with them. Just ignore.

I've voted YABU - but only because you sound like you are being a Martyr. Waste of money for the kids - yes, of course - but this can't be new behaviour, so let them do what they want to and you and your youngest do what you want to do. Otherwise they are spoiling both your holidays. Don't cook for them if they don't come with you. And leave if they aren't ready when you told them what time you will be leaving. You can't MAKE them enjoy themselves, so leave them to it.

Do your own thing and resolve to charge them rent to repay asap

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.

You need to take their mobile phones of them until they get home Epcot centre is a great place universal studios and Kennedy space centre you need to engage them and find out what they enjoy they obviously don’t like swimming pools

Why are people giving the OP a hard time about the kids being out of school?! My parents took me out of school to go on holiday all the time. It didn't stop me from getting a first class degree.

Are you an easily amused parrot by any chance?

i would tell them how you feel about their behaviour!!! and impress on them that if they don't change then it will be last holiday u take them on (all 3 ) no change then have fun with your 13 year old and forhet the other 2 certainly if they don't join in then no food let them starve they'l soon come round !!! don't forget its your holiday too enjoy

Why are you taking them away at the start of the school year?

Well that’s a bit silly