TRIP REPORT: This will be the last trip for a long time.....

[BrianL]

And not sure why any adult without a kid would want to ride a ride that is obviously a kid's ride.

"Kid's Ride" is subjective though. There are many people who find fascination with the artistry that goes into a carousel horse. For some it brings nostalgic feelings of childhood. Walt himself and his Wife loved the Disneyland carousel.

So what makes something a kid's ride? Intensity? Theme? It's going to vary from person to person. Honestly, with how a lot of kids are today they like things that are way more intense than a carousel, leaving that classic as one of the most "adult" rides in the park as it appeals to those who remember them being everywhere.

Oh, and it was absolutely wrong of that woman to grab the horse and not get off for the person who had already chosen it, and really it wouldn't matter how old the person was.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

"Kid's Ride" is subjective though? THere are many people who find fascination with the artistry that goes into a carousel horse. For some it brings nostalgic feelings of childhood. Walt himself and his Wife loved the Disneyland carousel.

So what makes something a kid's ride? Intensity? Theme? It's going to vary from person to person. Honestly, with how a lot of kids are today they like things that are way more intense than a carousel, leaving that classic as one of the most "adult" rides in the park as it appeals to those who remember them being everywhere.

Oh, and it was absolutely wrong of that woman to grab the horse and not get off for the person who had already chosen it, and really it wouldn't matter how old the person was.

Good point. And yes age doesn't matter, one shouldn't cut in line. I personally would have no desire to ride the carousel but I agree with your point.

 

[JoeA]

I have seen bad behavior on all fronts - kids, adults with kids, adults w/o kid...you name it. That is a thread all to itself!

My wife and I have pictures of our little girls sitting on my shoulders and they're now in the mid to late 20's so we've been going a LONG time. And we still take trips with our adult kids. But most trips these days are just the wife and I. And we have a blast!

To me, Disney isn't about the rides per se but the experience and sharing that experience with others. I loved going with my kids just to see the excitement on their face. And recently we took a dear family friend who was sick (and since passed) so that she could experience Disney and that too was magical - just to look at the park "through her lens", if you will.

We have also taken several family reunions where we've had kids from all ages - from 1 to 79 or family trips where the youngest was 22! Disney is for family and friends and some may or may not include kids!

 

[map57]

You know....I really expected more questions about the fast passes.....

 

[OtherScott]

No....not any specific behavior....as I stated....to me it is about that sparkle in the kid's eyes and the smiles on their faces....

To me it takes away when I see kids waiting in line to get pictures with their favorite characters and their are adults with no kids waiting in line in front of them. As an adult I can see spending a lot of time at EPCOT going "around the world" or at AK going on the Safari or different animal excursions....not waiting in line for Dumbo.

I guess it would have helped if it had not been so many......

Maybe I shouldn't have listed it as a negative, but maybe as an observation.

Yep.

I said a few months back, "I never read much about what your kids think about this or that."

 

[Tinks1984]

TBH, when I've paid around $16,000 and coming from the UK for a vacation what we've saved for 3 years for, I'll happily wait my turn in line for any ride or character. I think I've paid quite enough to be allowed to do so!

I will also in turn, let little ones stand in front of me for a parade or to see something of interest - and being only 4'10" tall, sometimes those kiddies are bigger than me! Oh, and another thankful joy? I now have my very own little dot of a princess who's coming on our said trip next year! I cannot wait to experience it all again through my child's eyes...totally different for me again going back as a parent!

 

[jenji124]

I understand you're entitled to your opinion, but there are many reasons adults go to Disney without kids. I went to Disney as a child and teenager with my parents. My dad is no longer with us, but Disney was a place that my dad loved and it is a place that I feel close to him. My mom and sister feel the same. My sister and I don't have children yet so it's a place the 3 of us go to remember him and create new memories. In my opinion it's a shame you make a statement you did when you have no idea the reason adults go.

 

[patty57]

Sorry....it's just an observation.

I may, but hopefully I will be taking grand kids after they have left....and it won't be just me and the wife.

I'm hoping for grand kids too, but it doesn't always happen so quickly. In the meantime, I will take my adult trips to WDW and have a great time.

 

[yesmylove]

Wow!! My husband and l are in our mid fiftys and have been going to the parks without the kids for years as they are grown. Let me tell you, its not only kids that get that sparkle in their eyes when they see their favorite childhood character, or see the castle lit up at christmas, or the bus pulling up to their favorite resort to start their vacation. Many a time l have finished a vacation with a tear in my eye because l have not wanted to go home. Even my husband at his age has said that there is nothing like walking onto main street and seeing the castle again. And hell, if l want to stand in line and have my picture with a character, kid or not, l will.
my husband proposed to me again on our 25th anniversary vacation with Mickey and Minnie. A sparkle in his eye and a tear in mine.

 

[map57]

I understand you're entitled to your opinion, but there are many reasons adults go to Disney without kids. I went to Disney as a child and teenager with my parents. My dad is no longer with us, but Disney was a place that my dad loved and it is a place that I feel close to him. My mom and sister feel the same. My sister and I don't have children yet so it's a place the 3 of us go to remember him and create new memories. In my opinion it's a shame you make a statement you did when you have no idea the reason adults go.

To me it is a shame that so much is being made about an observation I made on our trip. I could care less whether adults go or not. EVERYONE has their reasons for going or not going. I simply stated there were a large number there without kids....I never said there shouldn't have been. If people want to keep reading into that (obviously), there is nothing I can do about that. Enjoy your time as you should.....we did.

 

[HopperFan]

First off, let me say we loved the trip and had a great time. This was our 4th trip since 2008 (6 years). So we have seen changes and learned some things in that time. Kids are now 13 and 11....the "magic" is pretty much gone for them. They are not into animated movies anymore and didn't care anything about going to a parade or a show. We still did a few, but they wanted to RIDE the RIDES. As most of you know....you can ride cheaper rides other places....

The nice part was when my oldest said he would definitely want to bring his kids....that made me feel like I did my part as a parent....

Positives:
Magic Bands - Loved using them instead of tickets, keys, and fastpass tickets. Step in the right direction.

Memory Maker - got a lot of pics and getting the ride pictures and the two ride videos is great. Another move in the right direction.

Food - For the most part we ate whatever and whenever....and loved it. One of our favorite is the funnel cake at Sleepy Hollow in the MK. If you go, get one and send me one back....
If you don't go there...go to O'hana and send me back the desert from there. They don't deliver...we checked....

Magical Express - If you are flying down and staying at a resort....use it. Only negative was having to be up a little early the day we were leaving, but taking care of our bags coming and going made that worth it.

Nothing was broken down....all rides were good and we had a good experience.


Negatives:
Fast Pass - Could have put this in the positive some too... I liked being able to get the 3 ahead of time and knowing we could get on the rides pretty quick....BUT....I also felt like I HAD to follow the schedule as opposed to being in the moment and wanting to do something else. Sometimes it just happens... Also, if you don't have a fastpass....you were going to wait. October has picked up in numbers....but there were plenty of times that there was a 30 min or longer wait because MORE people now have fastpasses. Case in point....Extra Magic hours at DS....(so a lower crowd than normal hours right...).....there was a 60 min+ wait for RnR....same as it was during reg hours.

Adult Park Goers - I know this may go against many, but to me the parks are about the kids....always has been and should be IMO. My wife and I weren't shocked that people would be there without kids....just at the large number of people that were....and I'll just leave it at that.

7DMT - Hate to say this was a negative....but as both my kids said..."why would anyone wait over an hour to ride that?". They both said the ride was fun, but that was about it...and it was REALLY short. Don't blink twice....you will miss most of the ride. We rode it 2 times and enjoyed it....but it didn't make the must do list on the last day (and we went to 3 different parks and ended with the Halloween Party that night). IF it were as long at BTMRR, I think we would have done it more and they would have liked it more.

So as I said...it was a great trip....just probably our last....
For us it is about our kids and spending those "moments" that are special in their lives....so as far as Disney goes....next....the grand kids!!

Next up....relaxing beaches.....

I'll be glad to answer any questions that I didn't get into enough specifically.

map

First off I truly do appreciate your review overall. It was clearly an honest review based on your experience because you liked some things that get bashed and didn't liked some things that are loved. And reading your review I agree for "your" family it is probably time to find another vacation spot. If everyone in your family isn't finding the enjoyment and value we all want in our vacations then there are many options out there that will work. Maybe you can hit a 2-fer with the beaches of Clearwater with a couple days at Busch Gardens that has some amazing thrill rides. We did that one year because Dad is not the Disney person the rest of us are.

But on the points I bolded I would disagree.

1) Your description of the RnR line had nothing to do with FP+ as there is no FP during EMH. Disney attendance is up, parks are way more crowded than they have been in many years. EMH are now being utilized more than ever to avoid the heaviest crowds and if this was during an evening with a MNSSHP then the other parks do pick up the slack. Hollywood Studios - having RnR and ToT can be popular for thrill riders and a draw for EMH.

2) I agree, the parks are full of adults, more than ever. There are many reasons for this - these adults were once kids who went to Disney and fell in love with it, many school districts no longer allow kids to skip school for Disney trips so this time of year you see less kids, adults have expendable income and Disney outright markets to adults. Are "parks about kids"?...no.

Disneyland was built as a place for families to enjoy together because it was being designed and built for adults as well as children. Look on all those construction walls at the Disney quotes. Disney is ageless. Disney World has very much been built with the adult guests in mind - they are the ones with money to spend. Eliminate that purpose and you can shrink the resort way back. Disney's target is absolutely adults. Young adults, adults with young children, adults with older children, adults with adult children, adults who are empty nesters, adults with grandchildren - adults with income to spend.

3) There seems to be much confusion about 7DMT. It is not nor was it ever planned to be a thrill ride. It is in New Fantasyland ... it's beautifully imagineered, has a one-of-a-kind concept in rocking cars and brings some classic Disney back in to Fantasyland. People wait that long because it is new and ... look at Peter Pan, why does anyone wait that long, almost always over an hour, for that? Love it, but I won't wait in that line.

Again, totally appreciate where you are coming from and it sounds like you overall had a good time, appreciate the new technology and it's future - but now your family is ready to move on! That is cool, as long as your family is enjoying each other, that is what it's all about.

 

[Priory]

This reminds me of a famous Walt Disney quote.

"To some that come to this happy place: welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past as long as they bring their kids, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. One of those challenges is getting on Dumbo due to to all of the childless freaks in front of them. And I'll just leave it at that..." - Walt Disney. July 17, 1955.

 

[Jennasis]

Why would the number of childless people be of any particular note? If they weren't doing anything wrong or somehow annoying you...how is it noted as a negative in your list? What's the problem with the number of childless people, or people in blue shirts, or short people, or blonds, or those with blue eyes or anything else?

I don't think I quite get why one would A)notice such a thing or B)list it as a negative? And of course, just because you see no children doesn't mean the people are childless. The kids could be elsewhere (with Grandma etc).

 

[Angel Ariel]

Adult Park Goers - I know this may go against many, but to me the parks are about the kids....always has been and should be IMO. My wife and I weren't shocked that people would be there without kids....just at the large number of people that were....and I'll just leave it at that.

Why is this shocking, and a negative?

DH and I have special memories of WDW and DLR from long before DD was born. We spent our honeymoon there. We're going back in a month on our first trip where we will both be away from our DD overnight. It's my birthday, DH is running the Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon (10pm-4am event)...we're going to enjoy the first true alone time since DD was born, and we don't feel guilty about it at all. DD's already been to WDW 2x in her 2 years, and will be going again in the next year. We're thankful DD's grandparents are willing to come to our house and watch her while we're gone

There's nothing wrong with parents wanting time to themselves too. And WDW is just as appropriate of a place as anywhere else.

 

[Angel Ariel]

As I stated....that is just my opinion...I also stated that we weren't shocked that people were there without kids....just the large number that were.

As far as it being for the kids....from the beginning Disney used (not the only purpose) the parks to promote their TV shows/movies. While we all know that everyone can watch the shows and enjoy them (as I do)....they were directed towards the kids. This is why I said that my kids had kind of lost interest. They aren't into the "kiddy" shows/movies anymore. If you are, then by all means do whatever you like. I could still go and have fun without them, but for us, it is about them. Nowhere in my statement did I say adults shouldn't go without kids.

Enjoy,

map

If you had simply stated what you wrote here, I don't think people would have reacted. But you included it in your "negative comments" section, which, at least to me, comes across as expressing dislike/disapproval that there were so many adults without children.

 

[LaurenT]

No....not any specific behavior....as I stated....to me it is about that sparkle in the kid's eyes and the smiles on their faces....

To me it takes away when I see kids waiting in line to get pictures with their favorite characters and their are adults with no kids waiting in line in front of them. As an adult I can see spending a lot of time at EPCOT going "around the world" or at AK going on the Safari or different animal excursions....not waiting in line for Dumbo.

I guess it would have helped if it had not been so many......

Maybe I shouldn't have listed it as a negative, but maybe as an observation.

Yes, if it were just an observation and not a seeming implication that adults don't belong there because it's all about the kids - i guess i wouldn't have been so irked. As a side note, I have no intention of bothering with dumbo or any character meets - though I do know that there are adults that enjoy that and they are certainly entitled to participate whether or not they have children...
but i find it really odd that there were large numbers of adults without children waiting in line for Dumbo! I've been to WDW dozens of times, mostly with my daughter and have never noticed that.

 

[map57]

Can somebody tell me how to delete the original post. This is getting pretty ridiculous. I made an observation on our trip and it has turned into that I hate any adult that goes to Disney ever without kids......

Just tell me how and I'll delete it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

As a side note....I haven't apologized for what I said....I have tried to clarify that it was the LARGE NUMBER of people their without kids that surprised us. Not people being there without kids. ....and yes there is a big difference in those 2 things.

I don't think it's all that surprising at all. The generation that grew up in the Disney Renaissance (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, etc) are now adults. Disney movies were a *big* part of my childhood, and of many of the kids I grew up with as well. I don't think it's surprising at all that this generation is enjoying experiencing Disney World as adults - with or without kids.

 

[AngiTN]

Can somebody tell me how to delete the original post. This is getting pretty ridiculous. I made an observation on our trip and it has turned into that I hate any adult that goes to Disney ever without kids......

Just tell me how and I'll delete it.

There's an edit button on the bottom right of the box.

But it's been quoted so it isn't going away.

 

[Angel Ariel]

To me it takes away when I see kids waiting in line to get pictures with their favorite characters and their are adults with no kids waiting in line in front of them.

Why in the world does my waiting in line for a character take away the sparkle/magic from the child behind me who will meet them as soon as I'm done?