First Time going to Disney- reluctant to go - any advice?

honestly? drop the thought that its going to be awful, if you go in expecting it to be rubbish, then that's the day you will have!

OMG really? I am 65 will be 66 in July and MK is the first park that I have to go do when I get to Disney. It is where I find my inner child that is hidden until am there. You have to find your inner child and go and laugh and forget about everything else. I do know there are some people who don't understand the attraction and I always feel sad for them because in my eyes they have just grown up. I think with the day in and day out things that weight us down we need to be young and not have any worries and for me MK is where is all starts for me.

Hi dcmay! Welcome to our forums

I've been traveling to WDW for more than 40 years and I absolutely love the Magic Kingdom, because - well - it's magical! This is the quintessential Disney experience and the size and scope of the environments are pretty impressive, the sparkle is in the details at the Magic Kingdom and the Disney Imagineers have styled every nook and cranny in the Park.

From the moment you pass under the train station, you're transported to a different world of signs and sounds. You travel from your reality in the here and down back in time. As you stroll down Main Street USA, looking in the windows of vintage storefronts you are drawn further into the fantasy with the castle coming closer and closer.

When you reach the hub you have the choice of where to go. Frontierland (with Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and The Country Bear Jamboree) and Liberty Square (With Sleepy Hollow Refreshment, the Steamboat, and Haunted Mansion) will take you further back in time to explore classic periods of Americana with mad dashes of fun. Adventureland (wit hthe Jungle Cruise, Dole Whip, the Tiki Room, and Pirates of the Caribbean) is a lush and exotic experience that has amazing landscaping and fun shopping. Fantasyland, though largely geared towards children is Disney's immersion in to the world of Fairytales and Disney's Animated pictures. I know lots of adults that can go without Fantasyland, but just as many who wouldn't miss it because it connects them with their childhood. Fantasyland (with The Little Mermaid, Be Our Guest, Small World, Peter Pan) offers many locations for character meet and greets, and the new section enchanted forest that just opened is truly lovely. Tomorrowland (with Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, and the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor) is a fun romp through 'the future' with some nerdy shopping for Star Wars fans.

Plus the parades and fireworks at the Magic Kingdom are to die for!! Stay for wishes.

Over all there is a lot that of grown-up fun in the Magic Kingdom, especially when you really take time to appreciate the details. Don't just scan the landscape, stop and smell the roses - so to speak.

It might help us help you, if you told us a little more. Why do you think there will be nothing there for you? What sort of things do you like?

Dis you read my post, or did we hit send at the same time?

Depends on what you like really!

There are thrill rides, boat rides, haunted mansions and more! Make dinner reservations for Cinderella's Table if possible. Grab a Dole Whip or a Cake in a Cup! Hop on the train and take a ride around the park. Battle it out on the Toy Story ride. Ride It's a Small World over and over. There is so much to choose from. Let the kiddo in you out and have fun! Or just let the day happen! I am sure if he is insisting, he has an amazing day planned for you!!!

Well, I do agree with Robyn in that if you go in to something thinking that you hate it, you will. So right off the bat you should think positive! This is an adventure - a little step outside of your comfort zone yet still in safety.

The Magic Kingdom really isn't just a theme park, it's an immersive experience and there really is a lot to do. Are you a foodie? We could give you restaurant recommendations. Do you like to shop? We all have our favorite stores and one of the most popular is in the Magic Kingdom. Do you enjoy stage shows? There are many of those. Do you like photography? We could give you a list of some of the most popular pictures to take.

You said that you don't care for crowds on loud noises. I wrote an article about enjoying the Parks with anxiety disorder (prevelant in my family) back in 2011. Take a look at the suggestions there, they may help some.
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/managing-anxiety-disorder-when-traveling-walt-disney-world

I am not a crowd person either! I get very anxious, nervous, sweaty and all kinds of stuff. It takes a group of 8 friends and Xanax for me to do the bridge run with 10,000 of my closest friends every year. Concerts and Festivals terrify me. (wow, opening up to my friends in a big way today) but honestly I have never felt that way at Disney. I get distracted by the beauty and detail in EVERYTHING. If you like photography, take your camera and click away. Just in one park I've gotten 800+ pics with no problem.

Oh - are you gamers? There is also an interactive card game that can be played through the park. Also an interactive pirate treasure hunt in Adventureland.

EEEEK!!! I can't wait to read this article! Even though I have been fine on all of our trips there, these kinds of things are great to read!

The merchandise can be pricey, but you don't have to buy anything food I think is quite reasonable and comparative to other amusement parks. There are plenty of places to eat, i'm sure you will find something you can enjoy.

Crowd wise, you are visiting at a quiet time so hopefully it shouldn't be too busy for you. We like to start the day with a ride round the whole park on the steam train.

have you had a look at any park maps to get an idea what there is to do and to get a baring on the park? I suffer with anxiety in new places and the maps are really good so I can get an idea of where I am going.

You're going to be ok. Honestly, I can't imagine a better place to spend a day in Florida. I also think that he's right, in that everyone should go at least once.x

For starters - it's one of the slower times of year right now so it is not going to be wall to wall people like it is during the summer. On a scale of about 1-10 the crowds will be about a 5. If you can get there when the gate first opens in the morning you can take advantage of some of the slower periods of time before more people arrive.

If it gets too crowded and you would like a break mid-day consider hopping on the monorail and heading over to visit one of the resort hotels, you could also take a boat ride to get to them. The Grand Floridian is amazing and elegant, a real site to be seen. You could eat lunch there at the Grand Floridian Cafe, or maybe even have tea (link to Disney's page about the tea room - you can make reservations here). It would give you a chance to relax a bit before heading back to the Park. If he's been many times then he shouldn't mind taking a bit of a break in the afternoon.

Is it expensive. It can be, yes. However if you eat at counter service restaurants rather than table service (with a waitress) it's not that much different than anywhere else. It all depends on how you eat. Some people just snack there way through the Park all day long and never sit down for a "real meal." Disney has some really fun food.

Kristen the monorail is down in the daytime right now x

It sounds like you may really enjoy some of the show style attractions, most of these don't usually have a zillion kids on them even during busy times.

Swiss Family Treehouse in Adventureland (only if you can handle heights, I can't)
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland
Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland
Liberty Belle Riverboat in Liberty Square
Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square
Magic Kigdom Rail Road
TTA People Mover in Tomorrowland
Carousel of Progress in Tommorowland

Check out this article about attractions to relax on
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/attractions-relax-magic-kingdom

Oh well the boat rides are lovely - and that would also add the Wilderness Lodge as a break option.

Are we helping at all dcmay?

I'm in my sixties, and love going too! We went many times when my son was younger, and then didn't go again for 14 years. We've made up for that in the last couple of years, and honestly, I think we have more fun now than we did when we were younger. I don't like crowds either, but there is so much to look at, even if you are in line, that you can be in your own 'bubble' if you wish. If you get a little overwhelmed, take a trip on the Steamboat - it's a lovely way to spend a half hour. It's rarely crowded, especially if you go upstairs. If you want an inexpensive lunch, head over to Sleepy Hollow, and get a waffle sandwich. The fruit and nutella one is less than $7, and absolutely yummy. Columbia Harbour House also has some great choices.

We love just looking at the architecture, and all the little touches in the Main Street windows, etc. If you start out with the idea you will enjoy yourself, you will. Let the magic find you.

Even Sheldon Cooper can't resist the Disney Magic.

ahhhhh Sheldon!

The first time I ever went to Disney world, I was 32 years old. My husband and I have no children and I thought I would enjoy it, but I didn't think I would fall in love with it. I have extreme anxiety, resulting in panic attacks sometimes, when I am around new people, especially crowds. I was very worried about being around so many strangers. It turns out that I have NO anxiety when I am at Disney world, especially magic kingdom. When the crowds are extreme, or right before or after a parade or wishes fireworks, I do tend to get a little bit anxious, but hardly at all anymore.

I am someone who has never been able to relax, at anytime, anywhere, except in my own home. I am completely relaxed and in the moment at Disney world. It feels like my home away from home. My hubby and I live in SW Florida and we have Annual Passes. We go every chance we possibly can because we both love it so much(and he was 28 the first time he went to Disney world.) We go at least 30-35 days a year now, but I would go several days a week if I lived in Orlando. It really is a wonderful place if you can let yourself enjoy it.

I also believe in self fulfilling prophecies. If you go into the vacation thinking you won't enjoy it, you won't. If you go into it with an open mind, I think you will be surprised at how much enjoyment you can get from Magic Kingdom.

The only ride or attraction that makes me a little anxious is Monsters Inc. laugh factory. It is an interactive comedy show and each show they pick a few people out of the audience to focus on. They show the people on the large movie screen at the front of the room and the people have to interact a little bit with the monster characters. The idea of being picked as one of those people gives me a panic attack. I have gone a few times, but I was anxious the entire time that I might be picked, so I couldn't really enjoy it. There are no other interactive attractions that might make you the center of attention. If you get anxious at the idea of being the center of attention, you may want to skip Monsters Inc. laugh factory. The odds are you won't get picked, but there is a chance you might.

Funny you say that Annie....I get a little worried about getting picked for stuff too and try to gauge what area of the room they tend to target. I got drafted to play the cowbell with Mulch Sweat and Sears once and I felt a little strange, as I am a solo traveler. But I went with it and had fun anyway.

I think at monsters inc, you could probably explain to a cast member that you suffer with anxiety and ask that you be put somewhere that you wont get picked on.

Hi, dcmay, and welcome.

Like you, I didn't think there would be much of interest to me as an adult at any of the Disney parks. I didn't go as a child (Disney World didn't even open until I was almost out of high school), and I figured, why go to Florida for an amusement park? We have them a lot closer to home, and less expensive, too.

So, hubby and I finally went for a wedding anniversary. I was well into middle age by then. And I totally fell in love with the place. As the years have passed, we've gone more and more frequently, until now we go pretty much every year if not more often. There are so very many attractions at Magic Kingdom that I absolutely love. Maybe you won't love them. But it's just this one day, so give it a try and find out for sure. Then if you really don't like it, next time you can insist on doing Epcot instead.

I am an introvert and have occasional anxiety issues. An extrovert friend who sometimes travels with us doesn't get this; to her strangers in the crowd are friends she hasn't met yet. I think of them more as trees, by which I mean, the crowds are part of the landscape, like the trees and bushes and flowers, etc. I do not have to deal with them. I don't even have to make eye contact. I just have to get around/past them and get where I'm going. Of course I try not to be rude, but then, I wouldn't run into a tree or step on a flower, either.

Some of the best attractions are the ones where you sort of get to be by yourself. Haunted Mansion is a real hoot and has two-person "doom buggies" to transport you past all the ghosts and ghoulies. (Don't worry, it's not very scary.) Other rides seat more than one person per vehicle, but in most of them you and your boyfriend will have a row to yourselves. And you can ask to sit at the front so you won't even see the other people riding with you. Theater experiences this time of year won't be crowded to capacity, so you can find a spot away from other people. You'll probably want to skip the parades and fireworks (crowds abound), but that means the crowds will be low at the rides and attractions.

Food prices are on a par with the prices at all amusement parks, sports venues, and movie theaters. You'll pay a lot more than you would outside the park, but it's more convenient to eat on site than take the time to drive off site. As for shopping, if you want to save money, just don't.

Great idea RobynPrincess I never thought of that. Once the shows I went to were over, I realized I did enjoy it, but I was too anxious about getting picked during the shows to enjoy the atmosphere and have fun. I will have to do this next time and just enjoy!

DCmay I agree with everyone about going to MK with a positive attitude. I am 56 years old and love going when I can. If you can't handle crowds then you definitely want to avoid the parades and fireworks. Take your time walking through MK, ride the train. It takes you all around the MK and it is very relaxing. Go on the Disney website and look at a map so at least you will see the lay of the land. If you can go to a bookstore and look for books like Birnbaum's Guide and the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney. They will help you familiarize yourself with MK and the people on the site well they are the best in giving you ideas (as you have already seen with Kristen's and CrazyCatPersons responses). And don't try to do everything you can't and that will only add to your anxiety level. Go and have a wonderful time.