Put a smile (and some slime) on your grumpy 'tween's face and have a family blast at the Nickelodeon Family Suites in Orlando, Florida.

Nickelodeon Family Suites has a philosophy: ‘Be a kid, bring a kid,’ meaning dad closes the laptop, mom puts down the Blackberry and families reconnect. That’s all well and good, unless, of course, you’re traveling with a “‘tween” who is not a kid anymore and has more gadgets (like his DS and iPOD) going than Bond and Batman combined. Will that Nickelodeon philosophy hold up if no one is officially "the kid?" Yes, because of creative new additions, some upgrades and consistently pleasing favorites. This amalgam of entertainment, hospitality, and waterpark fun is a remedy for the most jaded and moody of ‘tweens.

Slime Time Live

The newest addition to Nickelodeon Family Suites is Club Slime. Imagine a classic kids birthday party at Studio 54 in 1985 but rated G. Studio Nick is transformed into a slime-inspired night club where you indulge your five senses -- grab a glass of slime at the snack table, then touch, smell, and see slime (hearing not so much). There’s an area to get the club look going with some temporary tattoos or a slime green Mohawk, then hop over and get your picture taken in a virtual sliming. Devin, my 10-year-old son, really got into the game of finding puzzle pieces in thick slime and solving the puzzle before the other kids did. The prize? Arcade cards (more on this soon).

Then it’s time ‘ta bust a move’ with the 'Slime Slide,' the new dance sensation. Irresistibly ridiculous and too funny to ignore, it is the thing that brings the kid out in everyone. There are other fun surprises in store at Club Slime so I definitely think it’s worth it to make it part of your agenda. It is relatively new and not in the daily rotation, so ask about it when making reservations and booking your vacation. Costs do apply but as I said, it's well worth it (plus you get souvenir slime.)

Games, Parties & Character Breakfasts

The Arcade has been upgraded since our last visit. Tokens and tickets have been replaced with electronic arcade cards which can be refilled and combined for prizes. The cards can be scanned to see how many credits are left for games, and how many points you’ve accumulated towards prizes. Easier to transport than a handful of tokens, it's also easier to misplace, so write down your card number in a safe place. If you lose your card, the staff looks up all your information and transfers it to another one for you. There are opportunities to win cards during events and shows as well as at Nick After Dark, the nighttime drop-off program. The Arcade is yet another thing that makes the kid come out of any ‘tween. Devin and I became addicted to the new ‘Deal or No Deal’ game and really bonded over the pinball game, each of us with a hand on a flipper.

Birthday parties have changed a little too, as the games have become less "Pin the Pants on the SpongeBob" and more old-style Nickrageous. These games are more physically, mentally and ego challenging. Devin, who was just two weeks before his own birthday, was begging to have his next party there! For a birthday party, you need a minimum of 20 people, which should be a mix of adults and children since most of the new games are planned with families in mind. They have also written a special "Nick Birthday" song, which can be heard at birthday parties and Character Breakfasts (where birthday guests can stand up and be counted). Nickelodeon Family Suites offers a "Best Birthday Present Ever" deal -- book a three-night stay on your birthday and your birthday night is free.

Character Breakfasts were a huge draw for Devin, who collected autographs from all the characters (each with a character inspired font) and had his picture taken in Bikini Bottom Bash with SpongeBob. The breakfasts always have SpongeBob and Dora, and the other characters booked to appear are listed outside of the Nicktoons Café, so if you have a special favorite, like Cosmo or Little Bill, you can plan ahead.

Family Bonding

I was really blown away with how much my son loved the waterslides. Whereas my 5-year-old daughter was content to stay in the zero-entry swimming pool, splashing and playing, my son couldn’t stop going down slides and climbing the nets and having water dumped on him. In fact, I could only get him out long enough to warm up in the whirlpool. It really proved to me that this was a great family vacation for parents of children of varying ages and interests.

The shows are entertaining for audience members and participants, alike. Nick Live Family Style pits family groups of four, which can be moms and dads with their kids, or cousins with their parents, against each other in "Slime Time Live" games. Sign up with guest services to be chosen to be in any shows, or go to the show and take a chance to participate as an audience member and throw slippery fish or chickens at grownups. Devin and I competed in the Newlywed game show inspired ‘Who knows best?’ to see which of us knows the other better. The game is designed for a 10year-old or older and their parent -- ‘tween perfect -- but be prepared to be embarrassed.

Back at the room, the fun didn’t stop. When we entered the room we found an invitation to use the pillows for pillow fights; guest services will gladly provide more if you need. Blackout curtains allow you to sleep in if you wish, but the kids will want a SpongeBob wakeup call, guaranteed.

My son really enjoyed Nick After Dark, which is completely supervised and allows the kids to be VIPs for the evening. Special backstage tours of the shows with front row reserved seats put these kids on a first name basis with the hosts. There are crafts and Playstation games. The cost is not cheap but it's reasonable, considering that it includes dinner, the shows and crafts. Nick After Dark, gives parents an opportunity to leave the hotel and head to Universal City because at some point your going to be craving cuisine that isn’t so kid friendly.

All the Nick Hotel favorites that thrilled my younger daughter (including dive-in movies, kid-friendly food options in the mall, air brush tattoos at the spa and multiple slimings) were particularly fun for my in-betweener. You can also arrange for private slimings, an experience I couldn’t even begin to describe.

In short, this vacation is a ‘tween's dream. It will give you a chance to really rediscover your children before they evolve into teenhood. Maybe it's Vegas for ‘tweens. As my son said as he watched slime drip down my nose, “What happens at Nick stays at Nick, and we’re soooo coming back.”

The Nickelodeon Family Suites (1877/NICK-KID) is located at 14500 Continental Gateway, Orlando, FL 32821-5102. There are always specials going on, evolving monthly themes, and surprises highlighted on their website.