Is DL for grandparents traveling alone?

[ncbyrne]

DH and I (64 - 63) will be in California next year. We have been to WDW and we are considering DL as a destination. We do not like thrill rides and have no interest in kiddie-land attractions. We already love Soarin', but what else is there for us to do? Is one park more senior friendly than the other?

 

[seattlebusymom]

Disney is for everyone! I say go! There are many things to look at in both parks putting rides aside.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I agree! There is something for everyone. There are some neat shows in Calif. Adventure. The bug show and the muppet show. Even the Pirate's Lair (Tom Sawyer's Island) is worth a look. There is a neat interactive cave to walk through. Also good pirate photo spots. POTC and HM and the new ISASW. Toy Story and Buzz are not to be missed. They are not just kiddie rides. Not sure what WDW has, but I have heard some of the same rides are actually different. It would be fun to spend a couple of days just to see how it compares.

 

[Sherry E]

You won't be bored at all! There is plenty to do! I was just at DLR last weekend, and I cannot tell you how many senior couples we saw having leisurely dinners, strolling through shops, on rides, at the hotels - it is not a cliche to say that DLR truly has something for every age. If by kiddie rides you mean things like Snow White, Mr. Toad, etc., you can easily avoid those. Although I personally think Dumbo is a lot of fun! You can go on Autopia, Jungle Cruise, Storybookland Canal Boat (not exactly a kid rid, but cool to look at), Mark Twain, Haunted Mansion... You can even go on the Teacups and if you don't like spinning, they go very slow. Things like Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin and Toy Story and even Buzz Lightyear may be considered 'kid rides' in some way, but they have elements that adults really like. It's a Small World will be open next month, in its holiday splendor, and that is great to see. Let's not forget that you can take the train around the park as well, and see 'dinosaurs,' etc. And The Tiki Room - you have to do that! There are a few shows you can see. There is LOTS to do. You probably won't even have time to do everything!

I am 41, and even though my friends and I have not yet reached senior status, we don't 'do' the parks like we once did, where we raced from ride to ride and got on as many things as we could. The stamina is not what it once was and we get tired and things start to ache. My friend needs to sit down a lot, whereas I will usually push myself through the pain and pay the price later! I sometimes would like to go on more rides, but the people I go with are not as ride-crazy as I would be. So we spend lots of time people watching, looking in shops, eating, taking Photopass pictures (make sure you do that!) and riding just the main things we like or want to see. We don't ride the real kiddie rides anymore (even though I would ride them if my friend were up for it) and we don't do the thrill rides. But we LOVE Pirates of the Caribbean and go on that repeatedly, as we do with Soarin'. And we just went on Toy Story Midway Mania three times. We were never without activities!

You will have great and very busy time!

 

[NostalgicDad]

There was a terrific picture posted not too long ago of a couple riding the Tea Cups. That was perfect proof of grandparents having a great time together at DL. Maybe someone can find it as I'm not having any luck.

I'm sure you guys will have a blast, though!

 

[Sherry E]

There was a terrific picture posted not too long ago of a couple riding the Tea Cups. That was perfect proof of grandparents having a great time together at DL. Maybe someone can find it as I'm not having any luck.

I'm sure you guys will have a blast, though!

The photo is in the Spirit of DLR thread -

Here is a link to that page - scroll down to post #348:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=996748&page=24

 

[azdisneylover]

Disneyland is for all ages! How about taking a tour of the park? The train and monorail are great to ride to see the park and relax. See the shows, parades, and feel the magic in this wonderful land Walt created for all of us.

 

[tinkermell]

I'd say go for it.

If you compare just the DL park to the MK, it is smaller.......................but there are more things to see.

Fantasyland and Toontown have alot more detail than the MK.

New Orleans Square is probably a favorite of most people. Alot, including me, just love to sit and people watch from there there.

This is the same area that Fantasmic is showed right on the Rivers of America. No stadium seating though.

There are so many touches added to DL. It is very charming, and around every single corner, you will find something different. It is what they had to do, in order for them to get everything in.

So needless to say, you will have less walking. When we went to the MK, one of the first things I commented to my DH was, that senior citizens would get worn out walking there. Be warned though, that the walkways at DL are smaller.

My all time favorite highlight for me are the fireworks. Believe it or not, I even like them better than Illuminations. I think it is because they are very nostalgic to Disney, and all of the famous attractions through the years. So I like to sit and people watch while waiting for them to start.

DCA is sort of like MGM. I think you would enjoy walking around there too. Of course it is very California themed, and beautiful. During certain times of the year the Main Street Electric parade runs. There are certain parts of it they are redoing, and I'm glad, but it is still worth your time to see it.

And one last comment. I am 52, with 4 children and 2 grandkids.

Can you tell I still love it?

 

[Disney_Villain]

The Aladdin show, fireworks, day parades, Electrical parade, Fantasmic, character meals . . . these are the main things my in-laws go for - and they are in their mid-70's (they don't do many rides, but they love going to DL with us). I am sure they would go wine-tasting in California Adventure as well, if we scheduled that with them.

 

[nunzia]

I could spend several days at DLR, not ride one thing and still have a blast. (however, I can't miss Indy, Buzz, Soarin, Peter Pan ,Train, etc etc etc.) I love just walking around and enjoying the ambiance. Don't miss the Walt Disney story and exhibits, the cinema, the new innoventions thing in Tomorrowland, The preview center in DCA (is that open yet?) all the nicer restaurants you don't want to do with kids, the fun snacks, plus everything everyone else has mentioned. We took the Grandkids in May and it was great, but I tell you, we are REALLY looking forward to our January trip with friends. If you don't mind the price, consider staying at the Grand Californian..beautiful grown up place.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Get a AD res for Blue Bayou - come early or at an off time, ask for a table by the water. My parents used to go to DL just to do this.

 

[PHXscuba]

It looks like from your signature that you are big Disney fans, so I think you would like to visit DLR, if only to compare it to WDW. My senior-age parents, who live near DL, got annual passes one year a few years back and went lots, even though they have been there many times in their life.

If you are already coming to CA, definitely spend a day or 2 at DLR and do exactly what you want to do. I recently visited WDW for the first time after going to DLR many times and had a lot of fun seeing what was different even in just the Magic Kingdom.

PHXscuba