ORLANDO, Fla., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey conducted by Harris Interactive reveals that 84 percent of teens favor real-life action on vacation to playing video games at their hotel (16 percent). Adventurous activities high on the list include swimming with dolphins, such as here at Discovery Cove in Orlando. In addition to swimming with dolphins, Discovery Cove also offers teens the opportunity to snorkel with tropical fish and rays, hand-feed exotic birds and relax on pristine beaches. (PRNewsFoto/Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks)
Parents, brace yourselves. Kids' expectations for family vacations just got higher -- and a lot more active. A new survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R) and commissioned by Discovery Cove, an Orlando-based theme park where guests can interact with a variety of marine animals, reveals the following highlights:
- About 4 in 5 Teens(1) (78%) desire a unique, once-in-a-lifetime vacation event or activity that will provide them with bragging rights,and about 3 in 4 parents(2) (72%) want the same for their children.
- More than half of teens say their parents join in on their adventurous activities, while only 14% say their parents want to be left alone.
- About 4 in 5 parents (80%) allow their children to influence their vacation planning.
- Teens favor real-life action on vacation, such as participating in adventurous activities (84%) to playing video games at their hotel (16%).
A "Fin-tastic" Way to a Teen's Heart
More than half of teens (60%) want to tell their friends that they swam with dolphins on their vacation. Other aspects that make up a teen's dream vacation include: exploring a new place (68%), seeing a celebrity (49%), meeting a new friend (42%) and spending time with family (36%).
"
Today's kids have such active lifestyles, it seems only natural that they want to take their vacation plans to the next level," says Stewart Clark, vice president of Discovery Cove. "Discovery Cove has been aware of this trend and has responded by offering guests both a relaxing and adventurous vacation experience."
Parent and Teen Perspectives -- The Family Dream Vacation
Real World vs. Virtual World
Based on the recent sales and widespread growth of video games, one might assume teens would rather play in the virtual world than the realworld. However, an overwhelming 84% of teens opt to leave their joysticks at home and participate in adventurous activities while on vacation. Only 16% of teens would rather play video games in their hotel.
According to study findings, girls are more likely than boys to have an adventurous streak on vacation (90% girls vs. 77% boys), while boys are more likely than girls to prefer playing video games in a hotel (23% boys vs. 10% girls). But even boys grow out of their games eventually. Older teen boys (ages 16-17) are more likely than their younger counterparts to prefer adventurous activities over video games (89% of boys ages 16-17 vs. 74% of boys ages 8-15).
Guess What I Did This Summer?
When asked what makes a dream vacation for them, teens say they would most like to brag to their friends about a once-in-a-lifetime activity, such as swimming with dolphins (78%). An overwhelming number (72%) of parents agreed that their children would want unique activities for the ability to brag. Parents and their children see eye-to-eye that other must-have teen dream vacation characteristics are: staying up late (35% and 63%, respectively), relaxing (42% and 54%), the freedom to be on their own (42% and 54%), spending time with family (51% and 50%), sleeping in (29%and 49%) and not arguing (9% and 17%).
Parents are Just Big Kids ... So They Say
"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Many parents seem to be doing just that when it comes to family vacations. Overall, parents crave participation in their kids' activities rather than lounging in solitude. An overwhelming number of parents (70%) say that, on vacation, they want to
engage in the same activities as their children (e.g.: swimming with dolphins or playing in the pool). Only 4% say they want to be left alone to relax. Others divulged that when they participate in their kids' activities, they let their guard down and were more laid back (64%), were easier to talk to (24%), and were less likely to anger quickly (19%).
Teens agree that their parents' attitudes change dramatically while on vacation. More than half of teens say their parents join in on their adventurous activities, while only 14% say their parents want to be left alone. Generally, teens agree that their parents are more laid back (53%), less likely to anger easily (33%), and easier to talk to (26%).
Teens Have the Power
When it comes to who has the most control over where the family will be vacationing, parents seem to be giving their children more and more choice, with 80% saying that their kids have some or a lot of influence. Teens echo the statement, saying they (65%) and their siblings (44%) have influence in their family's vacation destination. Both parents (96%) and teens (74%) still understandably say that parents have the most overall influence.
About Discovery Cove
Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive adventure park in the heart of Orlando offering its guests extraordinary experiences through up-closeencounters with dolphins and other marine life. Whether it's a 30-minute Dolphin-swim session, snorkeling with thousands of tropical fish in the
Coral Reef, wading with the rays in the Ray Lagoon, hand-feeding exotic birds in a free- flight Aviary or relaxing on pristine beaches, the activities are matchless and geared specifically towards youth and families.
The Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks include Discovery Cove in Orlando;
SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio; Busch Gardens in
Tampa Bay and Williamsburg, Va.; Adventure Island in Tampa Bay; Water
Country in Williamsburg; and Sesame Place near Philadelphia. For more
information about Discovery Cove, visit http://www.DiscoveryCove.com or
call 1-877-4-ADVENTURE.
