Will senior citizens love DL?

[ncbyrne]

DH and I are senior citizens and love Epcot at WDW. We will be in So Cal the first week in Oct. We plan on two days in DL. We have never been there. We are not interested in thrill rides. Is there still enough that we will love in both parks? Should we invest in park hoppers?

 

[bumbershoot]

If you like WDW I'm sure you'll like DLR.

Anything over a 1 day ticket is a hopper automatically. So your 2 day tickets will allow for hopping, nothing extra required. Have fun!

 

[NicoleDisneyFan]

Even if you dont love thrill rides then I think you would like California too so a park hopper is a good idea. My grandmother loved going to both parks but we do usually stay in the original disney park but it is also because I have to younger ones who like the rides over there more. It is well worth going to both parks to take it all in even if you don't ride most of the rides but California doesn't have that many thrill rides so it wouldnt be a problem. Have fun on your first trip!!

 

[Sherwin]

Ooh, there's a picture in the stickied Spirit of DLR thread that shows a senior citizen couple on the teacups having the time of their lives! I'm sure most of us have seen it. It's an awesome pic.

 

[Brady's Mom]

My parents are senior citizens - at least according to the calendar - and love to go to Disneyland. They have been with us on the last 2 trips we have taken. They do love some of the thrill rides, but may only ride them once and then they enjoy all of the other things DLR has to offer. There are great shows and parades and fireworks and nostalgic rides that are so much fun - I can only imagine you having a really great time.

 

[LavenderPeach]

My mom has a friend who goes often to DL with her husband and they don't do any of the rides, they just enjoy the atmosphere.

Also, if you have a little extra money to spend, you could do a tour so you could hear about some of the history of disneyland, etc. I think some of the tours go on a couple of rides but I'm not sure. I don't think they are thrill rides, but again, not sure about that. I've never been on a tour but I keep suggesting them to everyone else! I guess they just sound like they would be fun. I better try it sometime.

 

[firefly87]

I think you will have a wonderful time! Check out the thread below about the best Disney Secrets. You can take your time through the parks and check out the nooks & crannies of DL. One thing that I have never done (and didn't know you could do until I read that thread) was to pick up the phones somewhere on Main St. and listen to the gossip on the party lines
or sit outside the dentist's office and listen to the goings-on!

Treat yourself to a nice dinner at either the Blue Bayou (DL), Wine Country Trattoria (DCA), or one of the nice restaurants at one of the Disney hotels. Have a great time on your trip & getting ready for it (to me, that is half the fun!).

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=989311

 

[mystic_path]

There is so much for anyone of any age to enjoy at DL. Here is my list of things that i thought of off the top of my head. I know I am missing a few things. Hopefully someone will fill in the blacks. Definitely get the park hopper pass and make use of it though.

There are loads of rides that you can enjoy that arnt thrill rides, but yet really fun:

Pirates, Soaring over California, The haunted mansion, any Fantasyland Ride, Finding Nemo, Winnie the Pooh, the Sailing ship columbia, or the paddle wheeler, Jungle Cruise. The train rides around the park, Monsters Inc, Toy Storia Mania or Buzz light year are fun.

3D Shows:

Its tough to be a bug, Muppets 3D vision, and Honey I shrunk the audience.

Misc things to see:

- Pirate Island
- All of Innovations and their new futuristic house
- Disneyland at night time is just so peaceful and even more magical
- Fireworks (Friday-Sunday)
- Aladdin Musical
- Fantasmic (Friday-Sunday)
- parades (Daily)
- Electrical parade (if up and running by the time you want to go. Its seasonal and is getting an over haul right now)
- Down Town Disney has some great places to eat and unwind

 

[WannaBeAPrincess]

Ooh, there's a picture in the stickied Spirit of DLR thread that shows a senior citizen couple on the teacups having the time of their lives! I'm sure most of us have seen it. It's an awesome pic.

My favorite picture, ever!

 

[Husker Mickey]

Nana always go with our family and she goes on almost all the rides. She is just a big a kid as the rest of us and she's 71! Don't miss out on the Disney experience at the original park. I think you will really like California Adventure. Make sure to do Soarin'. It 's the best!

 

[ballarinamom]

We took my mother-in-law for her 70th birthday. It was her first trip and she had a ball!!! She rode Peter Pan, Pirates and IASW over and over. But her favorite ride was Soarin'. She also really enjoyed the animation area. Have a great time!!!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

My mom has a friend who goes often to DL with her husband and they don't do any of the rides, they just enjoy the atmosphere.

I was going to say that but my sister beat me to it!

Anyway, I was thinking how much you could see if you weren't racing to stand in the long lines for the thrill rides. Many trips we have passed up all these other things to get on the big rides over and over. This next trip we will have a week so I am looking forward to riding the Disneyland RR, the Mark Twain, and seeing the Aladdin show (if it is still playing) among other things.

 

[Sherry E]

You most definitely will have a wonderful time over 2 days in both parks! Believe us here on the DIS, because we wouldn't steer you wrong, that it is no exaggeration to say that at Disneyland Resort, there is truly a wide variety of people from all over the USA. Well, all over the world, really. There is a mix of people of ALL ages - and that is the 100% truth - as well as all sizes, all races, all lifestyle preferences, all cultural backgrounds, everything. Disneyland is not like other amusement parks that really target younger people and load up on the thrill rides. People of any age can find things to do at DLR. I am not a senior citizen yet but I am not a thrill ride person at all either and never have been. About as 'thrilling' as I will get is Star Tours (that may be too much to deal with) or Pirates of the Caribbean!!!

If you don't mind the sensation of heights, I think you will find Soarin' Over California in DCA to be an absolutely stunning, refreshing, invigorating ride, full of scents and breezes and panoramic vistas. It is not a thrill ride but it simulates hang gliding. It takes a little bit of getting used to, and I am sure we all had to close our eyes in certain scenes, but it is so worth it and is truly beautiful. People who don't live in California say they want to move here after riding Soarin', and people who used to live here and moved away say they want to move back! And those of us who already live in California just appreciate our beautiful state even more when we go on Soarin'.

As for dining, aside from the previously mentioned Blule Bayou and Wine Country Trattoria, located in DL and DCA, respectively, there is also Napa Rose in the Grand Californian Hotel (did someone already suggest that?), which is a fine dining restaurant that gets rave reviews form critics and customers alike. Carnation Cafe in DL is a charming, quaint restaurant along Main Street which has good food and good people watching. Plaza Inn is not table service (it is buffeteria-style), but it is beautiful inside and you may enjoy seeing it. Steakhouse 55 is a nice place, located in the Disneyland Hotel. Yamabuki is located in the Paradise Pier Hotel.

As for rides and attractions, there is SO much you can do. In Disneyland, don't miss the Storybookland Boats, Mark Twain, It's a Small World (newly refurbished), Pirates, the various vehicles on Main Street, King Arthur's Carousel, Haunted Mansion, etc., etc. If Fantasmic is showing when you are there, make sure to see that. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is returning to Main Street, as is the Disneyland Gallery - both great to see. Of course, the Tiki Room and the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland can't be missed. You may enjoy Honey I Shrunk the Audience in Tomorrowland, and if you like 'game rides,' try Buzz Lightyear.

In DCA, you must catch the Aladdin musical and also the Animation Building featuring clips and music from all sorts of Disney features in the main room, and then all kinds of fun stuff in each of the little sub-rooms. Another game ride is Toy Story Midway Mania, which is great fun (my new favorite). There is the lovely King Triton's Carousel too. You can see the Muppets 3-D and visit the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, sip a nice fruity beverage at the Cove Bar or grab some wine.

And don't forget all the shops and the clever, hidden details around the parks and great photo opportunities. Make sure to use PhotoPass to get some great pictures of the two of you together, with Disney enhancements. If you like characters, try a character meal!! Stroll around the 3 hotels - especially the Disneyland Hotel (waterfalls and a nice koi fish pond) and the Grand Californian, which has a piano player, a lounge and a fireplace and comfy sofas in their huge, dimly-lit lobby. Perfect place to sit and rest/relax with a nice drink and have a chat. Have fun!!

 

[JoRo]

My Dad Celebrated his 80th Birthday at DL and we had a Great time he went all rides but Indy and Space Mtn. He loved it and wore his birthday sticker and everyone said happy birthday.

There is so much to do and there are more slower rides then at WDW. Storybook land it great in the day and night its like two different rides.

My folks just had a hard time getting in and out of the rides but it worked out and we took advantage of the special assistance pass so they wouldnt have to stand for long amounts of time.

Enjoy

 

[kkmcan]

If you love WDW I think you will love DL. It has so much character! Lots to enjoy even if you don't do many rides.

My mom (60) went with my family in Jan and she has decided she's just too old for DL. Her words, not mine! She got motion sickness on rides she has done many times before. She got worn out and frazzled by the waiting in lines (although there weren't many), all the walking etc. She's not frail or overweight or anything I just think she'd rather see non Disney places now. I guess it wasn't very leisurely though with all the grandkids there running from one ride to the next.

If you love Disney already, you'll love DL! Take it at a leisurely pace, take in all the sights, sounds and smells and explore all the little places that WDW doesn't have and you'll have the time of your lives.

Have fun!

 

[fairykin]

My mom loves disneyland and dca!
She doesn't go on the thrill rides either.

We went on the Walk In Walt's Footsteps Tour and she LOVED it! Plus you get a beautiful pin and a boxed lunch at the end of the tour.

 

[Hound 109]

DH and I are senior citizens and love Epcot at WDW. We will be in So Cal the first week in Oct. We plan on two days in DL. We have never been there. We are not interested in thrill rides. Is there still enough that we will love in both parks? Should we invest in park hoppers?

I agree with everyone here.....DO IT!!

I'm 13 years from being a senior & can think of 100+ rides/attractions/magic touches worth seeing & doing at Walt's park.

But.....you should do 2 1/2 - 3 days (& get a 3 day park hopper) instead of just 2 days. (& Park Hop each day!)


Before you decide on the dates & days, you should post here on the Dis for opinions. Off season &/or Halloween time has some quirks (gay days....Mickey's Halloween Party etc.) that are good to know about ahead of time.


Also....check out all of HydroGuy's Tip threads. Most are essential reading...especially the "DLR for WDW Vet thread".

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520483


Where are you all staying?


Have a great time at Walt's Park.

 

[The Orchid]

My mum is 66 and loves Disneyland. She rides everything but Space Mountain, California Screamin', Indiana Jones and sometimes she opts out of Matterhorn.

Her favorite ride in the park? Tower of Terror. The first time we went there after it opened, she rode it 13 times. She also loves Pirates, Splash Mountain and SOC. We generally go at least once a year and she is a big ol' kid when she walks into the gates of Disneyland!

 

[blackjackdelta]

DH and I are senior citizens and love Epcot at WDW. We will be in So Cal the first week in Oct. We plan on two days in DL. We have never been there. We are not interested in thrill rides. Is there still enough that we will love in both parks? Should we invest in park hoppers?

At what age are you a senior citizen?

Jack

 

[ncbyrne]

At what age are you a senior citizen?

Jack

I am the OP.... perhaps it isn't a particular age that makes you a senior citizen. However, DH and I are both retired, we both collect Social Security, and we have 8 grandchildren, ranging in age from 6 months to 16 years. I think we qualify.
Our dates are now firm. We will be at DL Sept 27, 28, 29. We plan to buy a two day pass and will spend one day touring the hotels and DD.
I have one more question. My DD has given us Disney Dollars as a retirement gift. Do the Disney onsite hotel restaurants take them as payment for a meal?