Older Adults are [were] the Key to Disney's Success

[Smiley/OCD]

the true “Magic” of a Disney park is creating a balance of attractions for all ages. I think a few thrills should be in the parks. But it shouldn’t get to a point where those who want to skip thrill rides feel like they are left out the entire day.

Also having a few extremely mild thrills - like pirates and maelstrom / frozen - that’s ideal as well.

IMHO, TWDC & the current leadership are trying to appease and appeal to the Six Flags & Cedar Point crowd…my DW couldn’t go on thrill rides while on our Disneymoon in 1993…she was 25…some people just can’t do thrill rides, REGARDLESS of age…WDW was the one park where everyone could enjoy themselves as a family…it’s one of the reasons we don’t do SF anymore (and we live 20 minutes away from SF Great Adventure) & we haven’t been to UNI in decades. Everything now seems to be a condition now…ISM or IST…a negative connotation to EVERYTHING…

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

A good friend of mine said to me many years ago when I was still in my 40s and he was well over retirement age.... People have told me Retirement is Golden but all Ive seen is Rust.
Yes it's sad that many folks cannot enjoy their older years. I have many customers of mine who put off doing things and dreamt of getting to them when they retired only to have one spouse get too ill or get hit with cancer from some other calamity and never get to realize those dreams.
I'm not foolish enough to think I'm not vulnerable to ill health or crippling arthritis but I will fight to get as much out of my time on this ground as I can. I WILL never give in or give up or think I must stop until my last breath.
BTW.. all my family has reached well over their late 80s so I'm counting on utilizing my good genes passed on to me.

I got similar advice from my dad, he always said to enjoy life today because no one’s guaranteed tomorrow, as a 50+ couple who now have various health issues I’m incredibly thankful for that advice, we still travel a lot but I’m thankful we already have a decade + of amazing travel memories under our belts, had we waited for retirement to “see the world” I’m not sure we’d have been able to.

 

[Jrb1979]

The quote seems pretty squishy in terms of "certain age" and "little for you to do," and more an indictment of the parks than "all seniors" to me.

But anyway, I scrolled through the attractions at Six Flags Magic Mountain (haven't been there in years but it's the only regional amusement park I recall going to) and I don't see anything my parents, in their 70s, would or could ride. Even the one dark ride I noticed seemed to be an interactive video game type ride -- they'd pass. The website is pretty clear what the park is all about -- thrills (see below). It's just one regional park but I think the point of the post is reasonable in my opinion. I also didn't notice any seniors (and not too many children, really) in this pov of Magic Mountain. Seemed like 90-some-percent of guests were age 10 to 20, from what I could tell. Very narrow guest self-selection going on.

Hats off the seniors up for the coasters and drop rides and all that, that's cool. Hopefully I'll be like that, though in my early 50s now and I already have decided "no more Matterhorn." One back surgery is enough.
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Most regional parks are about thrills. It's a big draw. The top seasonal park that is only open May to October had almost 4 million guests this summer. Cedar Point has some of the top coasters in the US. Even one that's goes 120 mph

To go back to the topic, I do agree that Disney has changed towards more physical thrills. IMO it's due to the change in guests. The younger families that make up the majority of guests now, want more physical thrills now.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I remember as child and teenager, the thought of turning 50 terrified me for some reason. Never thought of retirement era and all the problems that come during those times. The big 5-0 was frightening enough.

While that fear has subsided somewhat, it's looming presence in just over 5 years still feels like a creepy shadow in the closet just grinning and waiting.

Many of my current phobias come from witnessing my Grandfather go through Alzheimer's way back. Wouldn't wish his final years on anyone.

I never feared aging. I never thought I would live long enough to get old. Until I went past it, I never thought I would live to 30 years old. I don't remember if I ever told this story before, but on the day before my 30th birthday I was sitting in the boarding area awaiting the "repair" to be made on the plane my boss and I were flying out on for a business meeting in Portland, Maine.

Just trying to make small talk, I mentioned to him about how I never felt I'd live to 30 and here we were waiting to board an airplane that was delayed due to unidentified mechanical problems. When I turned toward him I was shocked to see that the color had drained from his face and he stated "You know we can skip this trip if you are really thinking that way".
I had never considered that a man of his age would be spooked by my story, but he surely was. I just laughed and said to him, "don't worry, if I really thought that something was going to happen today you wouldn't get me on that plane if you put a shotgun to my head". We continued on and I managed to make it at least another 47 years so I'm pretty sure the plane didn't crash.

 

[heapster411]

Presently my DW (79) and I (70), are staying @ OKW for 5 days. We go to the parks daily, sometimes 2 parks in a day. Sure, we're not as speedy as most, but we do rides. I rode TRON the other day, so don't count us out yet. We have seen a lot of people are own age. We are not tagging along on some family package, it's just us. The mind is planning as long as the body agrees! I believe the only thing that will keep us for coming back is when we reach the price point to where it is NOT financially feasible to return! Till then we will plan our next trip for next year. We're Old, but not DEAD!!!! Rock On!

 

[harryk]

Still keep coming to the parks even though don't appreciate the elimination of some attractions/rides to put in new attractions/rides instead of adding and keeping the older attractions. So - who cares if Walt said enough land to add attractions was acquired. But it is obvious that current management does not want to keep the 'Walt' visions. Hopefully they are temporary and new management will be hired who appreciate the 'Walt' visions.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I got similar advice from my dad, he always said to enjoy life today because no one’s guaranteed tomorrow, as a 50+ couple who now have various health issues I’m incredibly thankful for that advice, we still travel a lot but I’m thankful we already have a decade + of amazing travel memories under our belts, had we waited for retirement to “see the world” I’m not sure we’d have been able to.

I always listened to and was grateful for the sage advice my elders were willing to pass on to me. It's a shame not all younger kids want to listen to or be around the older folks around them. I share with my DS lots of my wise thoughts that Ive accumulated by my life experiences and hope he benefits by those words.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I always listened to and was grateful for the sage advice my elders were willing to pass on to me. It's a shame not all younger kids want to listen to or be around the older folks around them. I share with my DS lots of my wise thoughts that Ive accumulated by my life experiences and hope he benefits by those words.

It didn’t connect with me until I hit my mid 20s, I wish I had realized earlier how good his advice was, could have saved myself a lot of financial and educational turmoil, better late than never though.

 

[donaldtoo]

Yea, my Pop (who is still alive and doin’ pretty good, considerin’ he’s almost 93) always said when I was a young man “Someday son, you’re gonna’ find out your old man ain’t as dumb as you thought he was.”
Without goin’ into details, I found that out pretty quickly in my early 20’s, thankfully.
That statement/sentence still rings true to this day. Simple life experience, if you pay attention, can school you like nothin’ else.