Will Disney World be worth the money for me?

[DisneyWishes14]

We could go to WDW, never go on a ride and still have fun! There is SO much to do there. You could literally just walk around, see shows and attractions, and have a great time.

Along with the PP's suggestions of looking at youtube and buying some guide books, here are my suggestions for each park:

MK
Avoid Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Stich's Great Escape and Goofy's Barnstormer. Unless you are afraid of ghosts (in that case, avoid Haunte Mansion), everything else is pretty tame. See the castle show, the parade and the fireworks.

EP
Avoid Test Track, Mission Space and possibly Soarin (I would youtube this and see what you think). I would also youtube Frozen Ever After (the ride goes backward and down a small hill at one point, I'm not sure how you would feel about that). Everything else is tame. Check the showtime schedule as there are a ton of shows in the pavilions and the Jammitors in FW are fun, too.

AK
Avoid Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, It's Tough to Be a Bug, Kali River Rapids and Primeval Whirl. The shows here are fantastic and the animal trails are a lot of fun.

HS
Avoid Star Tours, Rock and Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror and possibly Great Movie Ride (again, youtube it, it might be ok. The Alien scene freaks me out!)

I don't think it will be a waste. AK and EP, in particular, have a ton you can do without ever going on a ride.

 

[melana]

I am about as big of a chicken as there is when it comes to riding rides of any kind. This is why I do not go to Kings Island anymore. But at Disney I love their attractions. I know my limits. Like I would never go on Tower of Terror or Expedition Everest, because I know I would have major issues due to my anxiety.
Before my first trip (at the age of 31 in 2009) I did a lot of research on each ride to see what I thought I would enjoy and stuck with those and even tried a few more. There is a ton of info out there.
Believe me when I say this..you are going to have a good time whether you ride all the rides or none at all!! There is just so much to do that you will still have a great time.

 

[tobikaye]

I see some things people are telling you to avoid are actually things you probably could handle. If you can do Adventure Express, you might be able to do Big Thunder, Seven Drawfs, and Barnstormer. If you can do White Water Canyon, you should be fine on Kali. Again, I would watch point of view videos and read descriptions of the attractions and decide based on what you know you can handle.

 

[Minniesgal]

WDW is so much more than rides or even parks. We still love to go after 20 years and almost never go to the parks now.

 

[nighttowll]

People at work tell me all the time they wouldn't like Disney because they don't like coasters, fair rides, and fast rides. I usually respond with, well try walking backwards because that's about how fast most Disney rides go.

Disney attractions are usually slow moving rides on tracks or in the water that move through different scenes that tell a story.

There are a few fast rides at Disney and a handful of coasters between all 4 parks, but the rest of the attractions are family rides designed for mom, dad, baby, and grandma to all ride together.

There are approximately 35 attractions at MK alone. Of those:

• 4 are coasters (1 a kiddy coaster, 2 tamer outside coasters, 1 intense dark coaster) none go upside down

• There is one ride that spins in fast circles high up in the air.

• There are 2 slow water rides that have a few drops, one has a big drop at the end.

• There are teacups that spin fast in circles.

Unless you are a very small child scared of the dark or loud noises or something that is about the extent of the "thrills" to be scared of at MK, and most of the above thrills are on the tame side.


Epcot has 0 coasters. 1 ride with a car that goes fast at the very end for a short part on a track. 1 ride where you sit with your feet dangling in front of a screen that simulates flying over land.


AK has 1 intense coaster that goes forwards and backwards, but not upside-down. A crazy mouse ride, a dark dinosaur ride that is sort of jerky with a small drop at the end, and a small water-rapids ride with a couple of small drops. Very tame compared to most other similar rapid rides.


HS has an intense dark upside down coaster, a drop tower, and a motion simulator ride.


Disney is about more than rides. There are shows, themed meals, parades, fireworks, character meet and greets, street performers, animals, aquariums, and games to play. You could go all day and stay busy and never ride anything. However, I think you'll find plenty of things to ride that move at a snail's pace.

 

[AngiTN]

Epcot has 0 coasters. 1 ride with a car that goes fast at the very end for a short part on a track. 1 ride where you sit with your feet dangling in front of a screen that simulates flying over land.

Worth mentioning with Test Track, if you can ride in a convertible you can handle TT

 

[andiraye]

I love coasters but many of my favorite things at WDW aren't even rides. I love the parades, light shows and fireworks, dance parties, detailed theming, themed food and character interactions. There are also lots of attractions that aren't shows with actors but also aren't rides. Monsters Inc Laugh Floor and Philharmagic come to mind but those are just two examples. And the World Showcaae at Epcot has never been about rides in the first place.

WDW is really best described as an immersive experience. The rides are only a part of that experience. And (with a few exceptions) they are all pretty much specifically designed for people of all ages. We've been there with my 3yo son and my 85 yo grandmother. You'll love it.

 

[mshanson3121]

Next year, my mom and I are going to Disney World. Great, right? Except I have a problem. I HATE thrill rides. And when I say thrill rides, I really mean any ride. To give you a better idea of what a wimp I am to when it comes to rides, I can only go on four at Kings Island ( a park in Ohio, for those of you who don't know). The Scrambler, White Water Rapids, Adventure Express, and this one next to The Scrambler that looks like a spider. Everything else terrifies me. Which makes me really worried about Disney World. I know the main attraction is the rides. I don't want my mom to spend a bunch of money taking me there just so i can sit on a bench the entire time. Or, worse, take me there and then have to spend even more money so I can do stuff like tours and shows that cost extra. So basically, my question is is if Disney World has any attractions for me that 1. Are tame enough that I won't be scared and that won't bore my mom to death to go on with me and 2. Won't cost extra money to experience.

I'm sure I won't say anything that hasn't already been said. But

It will still be worth it

There are lots of gentle rides available. But also great shows and entertainment. Plus beautiful fireworks, the parade, shops, dining, just seeing the decor etc... The World Showcase in Epcot.

You can google Cognitive Guide to Walt Disney World. It gives a breakdown of every single ride in all the parks, and what to expect - small drops, large drops, spins, bumps etc...

 

[Madivan]

I will just add that I started taking my youngest to Disney when he was 2 months old. I went on 90% of the rides wearing him in a carrier. If he's sleeping he doesn't even wake up.

If you're not a thrill ride person, Disney will be your favorite theme park you've ever been to for sure!

 

[raddisneyfan]

I would say that Disney is NOT an amusement park, it's a theme park.
MANY rides you can take a brand new infant on them they are so mild.
There are also many shows, parades, fireworks etc.
It sounds perfect for you!
Here is what you do, YOU TUBE! There are many videos of the rides.

Start here at these accounts:

Big Fat Panda - https://www.youtube.com/user/thebigfatpanda

MouseSteps - https://www.youtube.com/user/JeffLangeDVD

Search this on YouTube:

disney world attractions POV

This is perfectly put. I totally agree, Disney is a Theme Park. It's all about theme and atmosphere and not about the thrills per se, unlike amusement parks around the country. Disney really tries to make experiences that the entire family can enjoy together. That's what it's all about! Everything has great theming--the rides, the restaurants, the shops--of course, some more than others. All I have to really tell you is GO, GO, GO!

 

[Mrs. Inc]

We could go to WDW, never go on a ride and still have fun! There is SO much to do there. You could literally just walk around, see shows and attractions, and have a great time.

Along with the PP's suggestions of looking at youtube and buying some guide books, here are my suggestions for each park:

MK
Avoid Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Stich's Great Escape and Goofy's Barnstormer. Unless you are afraid of ghosts (in that case, avoid Haunte Mansion), everything else is pretty tame. See the castle show, the parade and the fireworks.

EP
Avoid Test Track, Mission Space and possibly Soarin (I would youtube this and see what you think). I would also youtube Frozen Ever After (the ride goes backward and down a small hill at one point, I'm not sure how you would feel about that). Everything else is tame. Check the showtime schedule as there are a ton of shows in the pavilions and the Jammitors in FW are fun, too.

AK
Avoid Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, It's Tough to Be a Bug, Kali River Rapids and Primeval Whirl. The shows here are fantastic and the animal trails are a lot of fun.

HS
Avoid Star Tours, Rock and Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror and possibly Great Movie Ride (again, youtube it, it might be ok. The Alien scene freaks me out!)

I don't think it will be a waste. AK and EP, in particular, have a ton you can do without ever going on a ride.

FYI---I was terrified of Haunted Houses as a kid...refused to go to Haunted Mansion until my tween boys teased me into submission in my late thirties. It's nothing like a Haunted House...more like pirates of the Caribbean, but with ghosts. Not scary at all.

 

[crazylady]

My son isn't a ride chicken but he doesn't like the way they make him feel. The only rides he'll ride outside of kiddie world at KI are the log flume, backlot stunt coaster, the bumper cars and adventure express. He wont even ride the twirly things or the boat. By comparison, he will ride everything at Disney except Tower of Terror. I think you'll find plenty to do at WDW to entertain you and get your monies worth. I definitely think 7 Dwarfs is tamer than adventure express. The other mountains might be a bit much for you.

 

[SplashMo]

You will be fine.

Be sure to ride:

AK: Safari, likely Kali River Rapids. Skip Dinosaur
DHS: Ride TSMM. Skip Rocking Roller Coaster, ToT
Epcot: Skip Mission Space, Ride TestTrack and SOARIN.
MK: Ride everything. maybe skip space mountain...

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Why are you going to Disney World (legit question) ? and what other locations did you look at?

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Oh go Mission Space Green ! I did I am not 15 anymore

 

[5kidsmommy]

Thanks so much for the replies. A lot of people have said that the rides at Disney are tame, but when they say that they usually don't realize the extent of my fear of heights and rollercoasters. I'm happy to know the rides won't be too scary for me!

I am terrified of rides. I have panic attacks when my family tries to get me to go on the rides at Cedar Point (we live by it and have season passes) but I can go on almost everything at Disney. Even the thrill rides like Space Mountain and Rock'nRollercoaster are ok with me.

The only rides I cannot do at Disney are Astro Orbitor, Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror. Everest is iffy but I can do it most days.

But seriously Disney rides are nothing like any other amusement park. You will enjoy it immensely.

 

[china mom]

I had a bad experience on a carnival ride as a child and have since avoided roller coasters like the plague.

I loved every second in Disney but would not ride anything that had any kind of a warning about pregnancy/back/heart problems or whatever the sign says.

Then, one time, faced with the choice of sitting a ride out with my annoying FIL or riding something, I chose the ride. Now, I will do Splash, Thunder and, once a year, space. I will still never do Rocking Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror or Everest.

I have always found plenty to do to keep myself entertained without riding coasters. Even just looking at the theming, the gardens, the handing plants and the people can keep me occupied for hours on end. Add to that the shows and parades and you will find that you don't have enough time to see it all and do it all.

 

[mco65]

My oldest daughter is similar in that she can't/wont do roller coasters/thrill rides but she is a DISNEY addict and goes every year. Thrill rides at Disney are such a small percentage of the experience. There is SO MUCH MORE to do without having to set foot on the Rocking Roller Coaster and such.

 

[mindeola]

You will enjoy every minute. I hate roller coasters and trust me, you will LOVE Disney. No need to do any big coasters there. I do not even love the kiddie coasters- I do them sometimes though.

 

[Hikergirl]

I don't love WDW for the rides, but I do enjoy them. I think if you avoid some specific ones there will still be so many that you will like. However, even if you don't do any rides you can still love what WDW offers as far a shows, parades, theming and just the atmosphere there.