we are taking our kids to disneyland for the first time for their 12th and 13th birthdays this year. can anyone suggest any "cant misses" for tweens? we want his trip to be as special for them as we can make it.

Stop at City Hall and get them their Birthday buttons! Lots of CM's will acknowledge them by name and wish them a happy birthday.

At 12 and 13, they probably will want to do all the thrill rides, so look at some of the threads about obtaining fast passes. Remember that the FP is good even after the time stated. If you collect several during the day, you can spend the evening going out with a big finish.

They are also at that age where they will have boundless energy and will likely want to be there from opening rope drop until closing. So be prepared for long days and lots of running around. I would suggest having a "game plan" so that you don't do Haunted Mansion, followed by Space Mountain, followed by Splash Mountain, followed by Star Tours, followed by Pirates, etc., etc., etc. In other words trekking back and forth across the park.

They are of the age that they may wish to have a little "alone" time without the parents. If they stick together and remain in cell phone contact, let them explore and be independent for a while. Set a meeting time and place. The parks are very safe, and any CM would be more than happy to help.

Anyway, a birthday and Disneyland is a wonderful combination that your kids will never forget.

Enjoy!

Thats a hard age... and it really depends (IMHO) on how 'grown up' they think they are.

We are going to be in Disneyland on our son's 12th birthday. He's too 'cool' to admit that he's excited... but somehow his old Goofy hat & Mickey Mouse gloves have been pulled up from the bottom of his closet and are now sitting on his desk.

He'll put up a fight when we walk into the Town Hall to pick up his birthday pin. But i bet he won't take it off the entire trip :D.

Plus, we can use the threat of forcing him to have his birthday lunch at Aerials Grotto with the princesses if he doesn't behave! (Last year for his sisters birthday we did lunch with the princesses.... Every princess went out of her way to make him feel as uncomfortable as possible.) :~D

My tween loves eating in the Blue Bayou :) even if just for a treat!

If you're going to DCA, make sure you go to the tortilla factory (with the b-day button) to get the free stack of tortillas. My mom makes me and my sister go on our birthdays (even if it's a school day) to get the dang tortillas so we can have tacos for dinner. But they're verrrrrrrrry good.