Tell me why you go to WDW as an older adult?

[Bete]

I'm 52 and from the midwest and I've been to WDW 17X. Nobody in my family or friends can understand why I want to keep coming to WDW. My hubby has gone on all these trips with me. It's not a business trip, either.

We take other vacations each year, but I still come back to WDW. It seems I can't let more than 2 years go by without a return trip there.

I think part of the reason I keep coming back is that I'm a kid at heart. Also, I have a lot of creativity and imagination. I think out of the box. I like fantasy. I can see the parades and fireworks over and over again and I never get tired of them. I like the live entertainment at all the parks. I like the dining experiences. I find it romantic to a degree. I could ride Buzz Lightyear all day long. I could on, but you get the drift.

I would like to know from others what are your reasons for going and going back again? Should I try to go to other places more and leave this place alone?

 

[deltachi8]

"Why do we have to grow up? I know more adults who have the children's approach to life. They're people who don't give a hang what the Joneses do. You see them at Disneyland every time you go there. They are not afraid to be delighted with simple pleasures, and they have a degree of contentment with what life has brought - sometimes it isn't much, either." Walt Disney

I stole it from some one's signature line. It sums it up pretty well.

 

[Vivianne]

DH and I have gone to WDW at least five times. The first being our honeymoon. I think I go back to relive some of the experiences of our first trip. We have taken other vacations but going to DW is like visiting an old friend. I would like to see other parts of this country. We live in the Northeast and this past September we went to Niagara Falls for the first time. It was great! But we always do our Disney trip (we went this past May). I want to see the Grand Canyon next year but Disney will always be a trip we take eventually.

 

[TDC Nala]

Go where you like. Like where you go.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

DH and I just completed a trip to WDW for my 53rd birthday. I got cards in my hotel room from both Mickey and Minnie, my age was announced to everyone at Whispering Canyon Cafe, and PUSH sang happy birthday to me.

I wore a princess tiara during the whole trip.

I can't recall when I had so much fun.

 

[Simba's Mom]

DH and I just completed a trip to WDW for my 53rd birthday. I got cards in my hotel room from both Mickey and Minnie, my age was announced to everyone at Whispering Canyon Cafe, and PUSH sang happy birthday to me.

I wore a princess tiara during the whole trip.

I can't recall when I had so much fun.

That is so cool! I had my 53rd birthday a few months ago and didn't have nearly that much fun. Shoulda gone to WDW for it. I love to go to Fantasyland and ride all the rides (except I have a little trouble hauling myself up on those carousel horses sometimes, as my tag says!). I tell everyone, "It gives me an opportunity to get in touch with my inner child." Translation: It's just plain FUN!

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm planning my 3rd Disney trip in just a little over a year....most of my family thinks I'm nuts, my friends think I'm a little nuts, my sister sort of gets it, but not totally. Everyone is always asking me...."Disney, AGAIN?" "Why don't you go somewhere else, go to Vegas, go to the beach, why Disney again?"

I just tell them I love it and it's my vacation, but really the reason I keep going back to Disney is the feeling -- I've travelled alot, I love to travel and always have a good time, but there is no other place I've been where I get the feeling I do when I first step into the Magic Kingdom and see the castle. There is no other place where I can go and feel like I do watching Wishes or Festival of the Lion King. There are ALOT of reasons I go back to Disney, alot of things I enjoy, alot of things that interest me and fascinate me and make me happy at Disney, but nothing compares to the feeling...the total immersion and escape of being at Disney. That's why I keep going back and most likely will keep going back.

 

[boomhauer]

I'm planning my 3rd Disney trip in just a little over a year....most of my family thinks I'm nuts, my friends think I'm a little nuts, my sister sort of gets it, but not totally. Everyone is always asking me...."Disney, AGAIN?" "Why don't you go somewhere else, go to Vegas, go to the beach, why Disney again?"

I just tell them I love it and it's my vacation, but really the reason I keep going back to Disney is the feeling -- I've travelled alot, I love to travel and always have a good time, but there is no other place I've been where I get the feeling I do when I first step into the Magic Kingdom and see the castle. There is no other place where I can go and feel like I do watching Wishes or Festival of the Lion King. There are ALOT of reasons I go back to Disney, alot of things I enjoy, alot of things that interest me and fascinate me and make me happy at Disney, but nothing compares to the feeling...the total immersion and escape of being at Disney. That's why I keep going back and most likely will keep going back.

I'd say most of this sums it up for me as well.

I'm a 29 year old guy, and I get a lump in my throat watching Wishes. I get tears in my eyes and shake with excitment in the morning when the Magic Kingdom opens up. I love it. That's all I can say.

 

[margev]

i am 37 years old and the mother of four and we as a family love disney, my husband and i however are looking forward to going alone when the kids get older. don't get me wrong we love going as a family and will cherish the memories with our kids but i see my husband and i enjoying just as much when the kids are grown!!

 

[71010]

My husband and I have always gone to WDW. When the kids were little we would go twice during the year, once with the kids and once alone. We always say that Disney is much more fun without kids. It absorbs all of your senses. The pulse of Epcot, the smell of the Magic Kingdom the pace of MGM and the serenity of the Animal Kingdom. It is such a great escape from reality. We always come home wishing the world were run like Disney.

 

[bobbiwoz]

WDW is where mom wanted to celebrate her 85th birthday, DH and I went on a DCL cruise for his 60th. We go because we enjoy it, and whatever time it is in our lives, it's the only time we have!

Bobbi

PS. I've offered some DVC accomodations to my aunt for her 80th birthday celebrations. Haven't gotten a reply yet.

 

[wdwluver]

I just love WDW. The first time I went, it was by myself and I had a ball! Two years later, I took my mom. When I got married and had my 1st child, I took my family for the first time. We've been every year since then. My mother in-law thinks I'm crazy, but has grown to accept it.

I'm going back in two days and just can't wait! It will be the first time with just me and DH.

It's the kid in me that loves it so much.

It's good not to have to be so serious all of the time. What would we do without a fantasy.

 

[spiceycat]

it has some of the best hotels in the world (my opinion).

it has some great weather!!!

it is lovely....

I just love it. the people, architecture, landscaping, atmosphere.

It is a pleasant and fun place to visit.

My mother is 83 and only wants to go to WDW. We have been to other places - Atlanta, St Augustine, Hilton Head, Williamsburg, Destin, New Orleans - but she loves WDW - so do I!!!!

It is pretty wonderful. I joined DVC because we loved it so much. :thewave:

go join DVC then your friends and family will think you HAVE to return each year....

 

[Elfstar]

I walk in the gate, see the Castle (or Spaceship Earth, the Tree of Life or the Sorcerer's hat), and I shed all my adult responsibilities and really relax. It's the most rejuvenating vacation I know, even though it can be the most exhausting... but that's part of the charm, too - remember when we were children and played till we were totally worn out? Remember how well you slept then? That's what happens to me at Disney - that's my definition of the Magic!

 

[ZippyDooDah]

Well, I'm only 34 but I can tell you why I keep going back. The Fantasy. When you were a child, you had no problem believing in fairies and pixie dust and flying boys. As you got older, you saw "the strings". You noticed the dumpsters beside the theater and the stage manager in the wings and the cable tied to the flying boys. Well, at Disney, it's all still hidden. They do such a good job of hiding all "the strings" that you can be 5 again no matter how old you are. You can believe in all the magic with no hindrances, and no interferences, and no guilt, and no regrets!

 

[LoveWDW]

I grew up watching Disneyland on TV and being enchanted but knowing my family could never afford to go. After I had grown up and gotten married and had two children, we went to WDW. The first place we went was main street. I'll always remember that wonderful feeling of seeing the castle and realizing a dream had been fulfilled. I don't think that until that moment that I got over my tightly held childhood knowledge and the disappointment that Disneyland was something I wouldn't be able to visit. I was a kid again.

 

[Lord Fantasius]

1) Nostalgia
2) Reconnaissance for when I can finally talk my wife into going and bring our children (so far family = DW, DD2 + DD/DS in January)
3) People watching and watching other families have fun
4) Relaxation / FUN / and not having to worry about acting like a kid!
5) General safety and security so it's easier to relax
6) Atmosphere

-R

 

[jonestavern]

"Why do we have to grow up? I know more adults who have the children's approach to life. They're people who don't give a hang what the Joneses do.

Hey! the Joneses do WDW!
I think I can speak for DH, here, also. WDW is just such a stress relief!
With all the pressure at his workplace, the real world situation, dealing with an elderly house & extended family concerns, WDW is a real escape hatch!
always something new, we never have time to see & do everything, so we will always have lovely trips to plan! We love discussing our past or future trips.
We have DVC so of course, we look forward to WDW with grandchildren & by ourselves.
The walking is great exercise & it's a fascinating walk! Love the resorts & the overwhelming majority of the CMs are super!
Yes, we don't mention WDW to a great many acquaintances for the attitude we get, but we loved our 1st DISmeet & the DIS board of course where we can plan & get excited!!!

Jean

 

[DaisyGirlAllTheWay]

I am planning my 2nd official trip to WDW in Feb...

My first (unofficial) was when I was 12 and I had such a horrible time...my former friends mom took me with them and I was treated terribly. (blocked it out)

And now that I have graduated college and work full time I wanted to go last august to erase the previous bad memories and create new ones with my boyfriend... (out of my own pocket) we went, we had a great time...and oh my goodness he proposed. That in itself is reason enough for me to want to go back constantly and relive Wishes....

 

[Flanigan]

...Why do we have to grow up?...

Growing Old is Manditory
Growing Up is Optional