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Theme parks amuse everyone, but sometimes your teen may feel a bit "been there, done that," so Family Travel Forum has a few ideas to keep him pumped about your trip to Orlando, FL.

So you're heading down to Orlando, Florida one more time. Just as your teens were introduced to Minnie and Mickey years ago, the youngest of your clan now deserve the same opportunity to meet the mice, ride Space Mountain and take it all in. And although you don't mind repeating the experience (after all, "It's a Small World" never gets old!), your sullen teens have been there, done that, and made sure to let you know. Fear not. 

There are more themes in Orlando than Walt ever imagined, even for youngsters who think they ought to be traveling sans parents. Although it may not always appear to be true, older kids do indeed appreciate learning experiences while on vacation. And multi-dimensional Orlando rules when it comes to engaging the teens while entertaining the little ones.

For Your Dr. Doolittle

By its nature, SeaWorld is the most educational of the Orlando theme parks. The standard visit, with the Shamu show and the new Kraken floorless roller coaster, can make for an amusing day. But for any teen with even a modest interest in marine life, the Marine Mammal Keeper program should not be missed. 

The program is as it sounds – participants 13 and older spend the day in wet suits, tending to manatees, beluga whales, dolphins, and seals at various staging areas throughout the park – preparing food for the animals, feeding and training them. Working alongside professional trainers, guests move from the kitchens, where hundreds of pounds of fish are weighed and prepared for mealtime, to the tanks, where a snappy hand signal sends an animal swimming.

Throughout the eight-hour experience, the focus is on education as well as participation. Trainers outline the nature and characteristics of the animals, and discuss their behavior and personalities. It's quite amazing to realize just how "human" these creatures are, each with their own temperaments, preferences, and occasional bad days.

As is the case with many of the particularly unique experiences in Orlando, the Marine Mammal Keeper program, at $399 per person, isn't cheap. But for marine animal enthusiasts, or even your average adventurous teen, it's worth it. A T-shirt and lunch are included. And what makes the program extra special – the fact that each session is limited to only three participants – is also cause for note: book early! For more information on the Marine Mammal Keeper program, call 407/351-3600; 800/327-2424 or visit www.seaworld.com.