Does Age Change Your Disney Experience?

Well I am 74 now and haven't reached that stage yet.

It's always about the rides,shopping and eating to us! We have laid back in the resort a bit more in th epast few years though.

I really don't anticipate ever outgrowing Disney. It has always been a part of my life, but never before as deeply entrenched as it has been for the past 7 years. We might scale back on our WDW visits, but that doesn't mean that we're abandoning Disney, just enjoying other Disney travel products. We also love DL and DCL and are over the moon to check out Aulani and AbD. We want to see the other global park locations, too. Even with all of these travel idea floating out there in our minds, we find ourselves needing to make sure that we still go "home" every once in a while.

I was 51 the first time I visited WDW. I'm still more or less in the same general age group, so I really don't have a point of reference yet. I don't think I will ever outgrow WDW, although it's possible that if I live long enough I may reach a point when going is no longer feasible. We'll see. I would have to be REALLY old and infirm for that to happen, though.

We first visited WDW in 1988 at the age of 33 when we took our kids Karin and Lynne aged 9 and 6. We travel from the UK and thought this may be a "one-off" experience but were hooked. We have made the trip pretty well every 3 years since taking any additions to the family each time. Our last visit was in 2015 when my wife and I were joined by (now) 4 kids, 2 sons-in-law and 6 grandchildren.

As you might imagine, the trip has taken a different form over the years. Initially, it was rides, experiences and atmosphere; now, it is similar save my experiences are more vicarious than actual. Mrs Chris55 holds the coats now as the younger members enjoy the rides; I find, increasingly, I am keeping her company!

But we all love it albeit at different levels. For me, it is the atmosphere that keeps dragging me back - watching all those other people (not just our group) enjoying themselves gives me a feel good factor not experienced anywhere else. I can't see that changing however old we become.

The dynamics have changed mind and our next trip (this summer) will be a smaller, more manageable group. With the coincidence of holidays now a problem, Mrs Chris55 and myself will take a portion of the family only on each visit but, perhaps, aim to go every 2 years rather than 3. Gotta be a "win" in there somewhere

Hi and Chris55!

I don't ever think I will be "too old" to enjoy Disney. The way we tour and what we do may change a bit, but that is also what makes every trip something different and special. When our kids were little it was all about them and what they wanted to do. Now, we get to do what we want, when we want and that is really fun!

Good question, one I gave some consideration of our last trip. During my 20s I'd get to the parks early & stay until closing, it was all about the attractions. During my 30's I spent more than my fair share of the time "drinking my way around the world". During my 40s it was more about the deluxe resorts & food. Now I'm focused about time spent in the theme parks, sort of made a complete circle. We don't get there at rope drop or stay until closing, or run from attraction to attraction. But I try to soak everything in at a slower pace & savor my time there. We sat in front of the castle in MK for about 20 minutes one evening just enjoying being there.
No, I don't think there will ever be a time I'll be mentally too old for WDW, it's been 36 yrs & I'm still just as enamored with it as the first time I went. However there will be a point at which I'll be physically too old, I just hope it's another 36 yrs from now!

I don't know if the way I experience Disney has changed but I do feel like I'm different when I visit Disney now, my first visit was when I was 5 and we went every other year until I was old enough to pay for my own half so we switched to every year! all those years as a child I loved the parks yeah and the rides and stuff but I don't think I was ever aware of "other stuff"

now as an adult as a combination of getting older (and now able to indulge in alcoholic beverages!) and also staying on site I feel I see the whole picture rather than just the rides I pay attention to the cast members, food and restaurants, shopping and just generally people watching

all I have to say is I feel extremely sorry for the poor guy who ends up with me and my expensive Disney habit - I hope he is rich!

I think how we plan our trips changes as we get older. We are early risers so that hasn't changed but we now like to schedule in an afternoon nap or just down time at our resort. We also don't rush to see or do anything if we miss it we miss it. I think great dinning has become more important to. We like our sit down meals.

yes, it has changed, but no less fun and anticipated! We are a bit slower and I think appreciate the small things (aka stop and smell the flowers and listen to the music). We also know what we like and plan for it instead of just trying to cram it all in.
That being said, I still put the count down on my computer, have Disney phone cover on in my pocket, and wear my Disney jewelry proudly as I anticipate my next trip in January 2018!!!

For me, absolutely yes.

When I went to WDW three times in five years from 2009-2013, it was all about rides and characters.

Now that I'm older at 26 and realizing 30 is surprisingly on the horizon, I have a different mindset for whatever my next trip will be. I don't want to spend my vacation everyday where I get up early and rush to do everything in the parks. I've realized I want to spend more time away from the parks, really stopping to take the time to smell the roses of what WDW has to offer because it's more than just the parks. I want to take some off-days of just relaxing where I get to visit all the resorts, take photographs, try all the resort restaurants I want. The days of spending the day at the parks and coming back to the hotel room with very tired feet are over for me.

I think my focus has changed to DCL cruises. It's just enough Disney for me to enjoy without long lines and ankle crushing strollers. I love the parks but now it's more eating, some rides and just being in the magic. The cruises offer that as well as passport stamps and blue water. I'll always have a special place for the parks but I tend to book short stays before sailing.