- I've visited Disney with my kids for years, but they ask to skip the parks now that they're teens.
- To recapture some Disney magic, I "borrowed" my friend's three kids, who range in age from 2 to 9.
- I loved taking them to Magic Kingdom and seeing the Disney magic through their young eyes.
I've been visiting Disney World with my kids for over a decade — but they've become "too cool" for the parks in many ways as they've gotten older.
Now 14 and 16, they prefer trips to Disney that involve pool days and shopping, so it's rare that I get to witness the childlike wonder that once came with encounters with Mickey Mouse or parades at the theme parks.
To try to recapture some magic, I recently took my friend and her three daughters to Disney World with me instead of my reluctant teens.
At 2, 6, and 9, her girls are prime ages for experiencing Disney, so I knew attending the after-hours ticketed event Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party with them would be a special experience.
Here's why I'll definitely be "borrowing" my friend's kids for Disney trips in the future.
I was reminded of things my kids once loved to do at Disney that I hadn't experienced in years
I had all but forgotten those sweet autograph books kids carry to character meet-and-greets to collect signatures from Mickey and his pals.
My friend's kids each brought one, and it was a delight watching them rush up to the characters we met to get autographs and pose for photos.
There were other long-forgotten Disney moments I experienced anew that night, too: eating Mickey-shaped treats, basking in the park's fake snow showers, and picking out the perfect stuffed animal at the gift shops.
A big highlight was taking the girls to see Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which only happens a few times a year.
When I visit Disney parks with my teens, it's rare they have the patience to scope out a good spot and watch any parade from start to finish.
On the other hand, my friend's daughters love Disney characters and were happy to secure a prime parade-viewing location and watch the entire thing.
Parades have always been a Disney favorite for me, and it was a joy to watch them interact with the passing characters.
Taking people who enjoy the parks makes the pricey tickets feel worth it
Disney can be pricey, but it feels way less stressful to spend money on a theme park when you're with people who truly enjoy it.
On the night we visited, tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party were close to $200 each, but I know we got our money's worth.
I'm sure I would've had a great time with my own kids, but the experience would have involved a bit more complaining about lines and itineraries and a lot less excitement.
If I'm going to spend money on Disney tickets, I'd rather buy them for kids who are thrilled to be there than teenagers who are being dragged against their will.
As a mom of teens, I recommend visiting Disney with little kids if you're looking to feel some magic
Taking small kids to one of my favorite holiday events at Florida's theme parks was a special treat — one that helped me feel like, just for a moment, I was a mom to littles again.
Still, I adore my teens. Going to theme parks with them is still fun — just different as they get older.
I've found other ways to continue to explore parks with them, from walking through Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando with my film-buff son to tasting TikTok-famous snacks with my daughter all over Disney property.
My teens will always be my theme-park buddies, but I'd definitely "borrow" a friend's kids again from time to time just to feel the Disney magic all over again.