9 Important Things to Know Before Going to Disney World As An Adult
There are so many experiences that change once you become an adult and Disney World is no different. Here are 9 important things I wish I knew before going to Disney World as an adult.
These are some tips, tricks, and insights that can help you have a magical time at Disney World as an adult!
Disney World is actually for adults (don’t let people shame you)
Most people don’t realize this, but when you dig into Disney history, it’s pretty clear.
Most people think Disney World is for kids, and sure, to a point it is. But the reality is Disneyland, and later Disney World, was created because Walt Disney didn’t want to sit on a bench while his daughters rode the merry go round.
He wanted to go on the ride with his kids–as an adult. His kids were fine. They had their rides. He did not.
And while he may have built Disney World with families in mind, it’s also pretty clear that he built a place for adults to be kids again.
This is a man who would ride his toy train set in his backyard without a child in sight. He was the perpetual big kid, and I firmly believe that’s the experience he wanted to give to every adult.
He was also well aware that while kids may love the experience, it was the adults who were spending the money. If he wanted them to open their wallets, he had to create a place that they would also want to visit.
So next time some tries to shame you for being a “Disney Adult”, know this place was pretty much built for Disney Adults. The kids just get to benefit from it.
Disney food needs more attention
I had no idea how complex, interesting, and delicious Disney food could be until I started going to Disney World as an adult.
Yes, you can absolutely get Mickey pretzel’s and ice cream bars. But you can also find some high end, high quality meals, including Michelin star restaurants. And that says nothing about the wide array of food in between.
This includes unique snacks and quick service meals! You may think that Disney food would really set your budget back, but honestly, there’s plenty of reasonable and affordable options.
Most quick service locations will run you around $15 a person for a healthy portion size. This is about the same as a meal at Panera (depending on what you order). Table service is, of course, more expensive and can run the gamut.
Definitely do your research before you go, because while there are many delicious restaurants, there are also some real duds out there.
Disney World is more fun if you don’t overeat
Speaking of Disney food, it can be so easy to get carried away. This is especially true if you find yourself at an Epcot festival, which features some unique dishes.
It’s also very easy to do if you add the Disney Dining Plan to your vacation package. (Because seriously, it’s a lot of food!)
I think it can be a lot easier to get caught up in the moment and overeat as an adult than it is as a kid. Kids have their parents to stop them. Disney adults do not.
And while it can be a ton of fun to indulge (and you absolutely CAN if you want to), it can also make you so incredibly uncomfortable.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I definitely enjoy eating in Disney World, but I’ve learned it’s so much more fun when I stop when I’m full instead of sneaking in one more dole whip.
Taking breaks is always a good call
Resting is a key part of my Disney success plan.
This means both taking breaks in the parks, and having a couple slower days outside the parks each trip.
On park days, I like to sleep in and get to the parks a little before lunch time. Then, I’ll make it a point to have extended breaks at meal times.
I also typically plan to have 2 rest days outside the parks on a 7 day trip. And I typically try to schedule these after an Epcot day since that’s the park that requires the most walking.
It’s easy to want to be on the go all the time as a kid (and, let’s be honest, even as an adult). But I’ve learned taking this rest and having more energy for park days is one of the best gifts I can give myself.
Planning (and keeping it realistic) can make the trip more fun
Most kids typically don’t offer a lot of help in the planning of a Disney World vacation. This is probably in part because of interest (planning often doesn’t sound that fun to most kids), but also because of budget.
The adults are the ones paying, so they’re the ones planning. Personally, I’ve found that planning a Disney World trip makes going even more fun.
It lets you do a deep dive into Disney’s offerings and truly consider the food, rides, and shows you want to experience. This is a really easy way to get excited and build anticipation for your trip!
So do yourself a favor and make time to do some serious planning before your trip. Just be careful not to over-plan. This can make things stressful for everyone.
Lightning Lanes are worth it
When Lightning Lanes first rolled out I was resistant. It was hard to justify paying for something I used to get for free.
On my first trip with Lightning Lanes, I bit the bullet for Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios because there was enough rides in those parks that I thought I would regret it if I didn’t.
But I decided to skip because there were so few rides, and I ended up waiting two hours to ride Kilimanjaro Safari. Never again.
I’ve decided that I value my time more than the cost of the Lightning Lanes and I don’t think I’ll ever do A Disney trip without them.
If you want to learn more about Lightning Lanes, check out this post.
An easy way to limit souvenirs is to limit suitcase space
When you’re in charge of the budget, it can be easy to get caught up in the moment and overspend–especially on souvenirs. So if you’re looking for ways to increase your impulse control, limiting the amount of space in your suitcase is one surefire way to stop the spending.
Now, I’m not saying you should splurge on souvenirs if you want to! I’m just saying if you’re looking to keep your spending in check, this can help!
The Disney Credit Card is a great way to reduce trip expenses
I don’t have many credit cards, but one card I have is a Disney credit card. It gives me Disney Reward dollars that I use to reduce the cost of my trip.
I use this credit card every chance I get. I figure if I’m spending the money anyway, I might as well get something back for it.
It’s also a fun to watch the rewards dollars go up each month and look forward to the trip where you spend those rewards.
This has saved me anywhere from $300-$700 on my trips, depending on my spending and the space between trips.
If this is something you’d like for yourself, you can email me ([email protected]) or DM me on Instagram for an exclusive referral link! I only have a limited number I can share each month and year, but if I have any left, I’m happy to share.
Disney World might actually be better as an adult
This may be controversial, but I actually think I enjoy and appreciate Disney World so much more as an adult than I ever did as a kid.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I definitely love Disney as a child. There’s something very special about believing you’re interacting with your favorite characters and magic is real.
But I think I appreciate knowing that this is a place that people created. The magic the lives in Disney World is something people made possible.
It’s also really special to have place to go where happiness and magic live–especially in today’s world. That’s something that easy to take for granted when you’re younger.
What are some things you wish you knew before you started going to Disney World as an adult? Share it in the comments!