Take the broody teens to Sinsheim!

You could always take them to EuroDisney. :-P

Beat some sense into your kids...they would regret not going.

I think they were too quick to move this thread to this forum. Europe is a place, yes, but the topic is how to convince your children that travel is more worth it than going to Disneyland. That seemed like a good bullpen thread to me.

AH well. Just a Ground Pounder in this here Army.

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Should I drag them kicking and screaming telling them they'll have a good time dammit or just forget it and take them to Disneyworld (where they really want to go...the thought makes me sick at my stomach)?

I'm of the firm belief that the person doing the paying gets to choose what they're paying for. I do think it's nice to get input from the non-payors, but go where you want - the kids can go to Disneyland when they're paying for it...

That being said, I like the Eurodisney compromise. Tell them if they go to Europe with you and don't whine about it (too much), you'll go to Eurodisney at the end of the trip.

NO No No No Eurodisney!

Take them to see Museums!

Take them to eat good Food!

Take them to visit the Sights!

No "Team Rodent"!!!

I'm with static on this one. There's so much to see and do in Europe, eurodisney would be a waste. (Also, might I ask how old these teenagers are...if they're older than 13 or so, shouldn't they have outgrown Disneyland by now?)

I don't know your kids, so it's hard to know for sure, but unless they're already stubbornly closed minded, they'll get a lot more out of experiencing the things about Europe that are different from home than seeking out the things that are the same.

I hear you and I agree with your opinion of any Disney, Euro or otherwise - but as a parent, I can tell you that bribery and compromise almost always prevails over brute force. Having to spend one day at EuroDisney after spending 2-3 months in Europe having a wonderful time traveling and going where YOU want to go is a small price to pay if the only other options are 1) staying at home and going to Disneyland, or 2) dragging along sullen teenagers who had absolutely no choice in the matter and who will make the whole trip miserable.

FYI...My Euro Disney comment was a joke....You don't go to Europe to go to Disneyland...seriously, take them to a museum, or just walk around a city center and tell them it's Epcot.

Yeah...it was like intended as a ruse....Fascinating to see how hated EuroDisney is though. I can't imagine anyone travelling from the States to Europe to go to fucking Disneyland.

Hi All,

The Eurodisney suggestion is interesting...had not thought of that. Where is is? Iv'e been to Disneyworld once and Disneyland probably 30 times in my lifetime and the thought of going even one more time makes me ill. My kids are 13, 16 and 19 and still love Disneyland. Although...bribery has always been effective in the past and I suppose I could endure one more day of Disney in exchange for many glorious days of travel in Europe. Maybe I could just drop them off in the morning and pick them up at closing? Is it safe? Would I get the bad mom of the year award for that?

To keep track of wandering teens, I do recommend that you buy a set of FRS radios .

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To keep track of wandering teens, I do recommend that you buy a set of FRS radios .

That's a very good idea - I'm actually going to recommend that to my sister. She's always losing her kids on trips.

My parrents couldn't afford to do that... so I went on my own around Europe when I was 16. By myself alone. And it was still the best experience of my life.

Don't bring too much stuff and left everyone run off and do what they want, when possible.

I reccomend, Berlin, Amsterdam, Italy/Croatia. Ask them!

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I wish my kids were that enthusiastic! They could really take it or leave it. Should I drag them kicking and screaming telling them they'll have a good time dammit or just forget it and take them to Disneyworld (where they really want to go...the thought makes me sick at my stomach)? I suppose I have a good long while yet to work on them...

Puts your potential in a an entirely different light and everybody is either too thick or hasn't the balls to bang together!

Dump the bloody kids in a disney dithering heap somewhere and you go off for a european affair, there's pesky spaniards, italians, suathe frogs, hell maybe you'll even come across an aussie.

Gee. Go to Paris. See Paris. Do Eurodisney. Then keep on going.

There are some tricks with teenagers, of course.

1. Don't drag them to too many places in one day.

2. Trust them a little. Set meeting times and let them wander in safe places.

3. Stay in one place more than a few days. Let them meet people, not just see things. Teenagers appreciate foriegn teenagers more than fancy palaces and monuments.

4. Give them a budget, and let them spend foriegn money for fun. Spending moderate amounts of money is always fun. Girls often like shopping. Paris is great for low-end shopping in their department stores, with relatively cheap and good fashions available.

5. Pick a few countries, and let them choose which ones. Then see if you can't get them to practice a foriegn language of their choice, at least the basics. That way they can get around much better. Spanish is one of the easiest to learn, and the Spanish appreciate americans trying to speak their language. So do the French.

6. Find an interesting thing to do, preferably action oriented. Teenagers usually like that sort of thing.

Find places in each country that interests them, so THEY choose some of those places you see, things you do. Unfortunately or fortunately, when you take kids on a trip, they often become the focus of the trip whether you want it or not.