Going to Disney World as a Child vs. An Adult? NEED HELP

[LAKid53]

It's called becoming an adult. I notice things as an adult (and now have to pay ) that I didn't as a child, but I still get a thrill on many of the rides. And shed a tear when it is time to say goodbye. I actually turn around and say goodbye to Walt, Mickey and the Castle as we leave the MK for the last time.

Both my adult daughter and I still get the "we're going to Disney!" excitement before each trip - and we go every couple of months. Her BF now comes with us, and he's a relative newbie, so we get to see the wonder through his eyes.

It will be fine. Just think of the things you can now do once you are 21. Have a glass of champagne with your mom and best friend to celebrate. And your mom will make sure everything goes smoothly. And she will be proud (and a little sad) that her baby girl is turning 21.

 

[Nubs70]

As an adult, you learn the degree of crap your parents went through to let you experience WDW. So when seems ungrateful or complains, you will understand the restraint your parents displayed.

 

[Bugz]

Yes have fun and if theres a line a mile long, do something else,dont force yourself to have fun relax and enjoy yourself, look at the great things, theres alot of them!

 

[TXDisney]

You're going for a long time so you'll have enough time to do everything you want. Try everything. Eat nice meals, tide every ride, do dessert parties, relax. The magic is everywhere and caters to all types of people. My happy place us Epcot. So we end most nights there for dinner, few drinks and fireworks. Since we know that we do that probably 75% of the nights we're there.

 

[righttrack]

Did you feel that you had to somehow "share" this magic with the others on your last trip? Were you more worried about them, and their reactions and getting them to have as much fun as you were? To me, that is the source of less than happy Disney vacations. Don't focus on them. They will find the magic on their own. Just live in the moment. Don't take too many pictures/video, but take some. Don't "live through the viewfinder" as we do now as adults. Live in the moment.

 

[Coolneal]

Hey everyone!


Thanks for clicking on my board, I appreciate everyone's insight so much.

I leave for Disney World in exactly 14 days on the 26th and will be staying until January 5th. Yippee!

I am asking for help because my last trip went a little haywire and so I am having anxiety about this one.

However, let me start at the beginning.

When I was about 6 years old, my mother and grandmother surprised me with a trip to Walt Disney World on Christmas morning. We left that night and the next three days were the best of my life. My mom and I had recently moved out of my dad's house, so this really brought my mother and I closer together and cheered me up so much when I was feeling like my life was being torn apart. It's for this reason that Disney World has held such a special place in my heart. (By a special place in my heart I mean sometimes when I would search the disney world website I would start crying in excitement.)

I have been to Disney about 4 times since then, including for my 16th birthday. This time, we will be celebrating my 21st birthday!! It will be just my mother and I until Jan. 1st, then my best friend will be meeting us to spend until Jan 5!

Last May, I planned a trip to Disney World with my best friend and our boyfriends. I planned most of the trip and expected to be able to play my mother's role of totally awesome trip planner who keeps her cool.

I could not.

I had constant anxiety attacks and cried every day about how it just didn't "feel like disney". I felt like I was in a really small version of what I had remembered and I wouldn't allow myself to disconnect from the "real world", one of my favorite things about being there. I was constantly analyzing the cast members and remembering that they have separate lives and that this is just a job. I knew that when I was 16 but now I can't stop thinking about it. I can't explain it, but when I saw a mickey head I didn't feel the same feelings I have always felt. I really feel that it was due to the stress of being the trip planner and my mom not being there, but I worry that it's because I'm growing up.

When I am with my mom and we talk about the trip I get really, REALLY excited, but when I'm alone I remind myself of my last trip and convince myself that I just grew up and I'm not enchanted by it anymore.

Can anyone give tips on how to find the magic again??? Or explain what the heck is happening??

Thanks so much,
Aly

Try to unplug from the "real world" only use your phone when necessary (reservations). Take the time to enjoy the magic and only respond to emails, texts or return calls when your at the hotel and only allow yourself so much time to respond.. It helps me slow my life down and enjoy the time I have with family and friends more .. Have a great Vacation!

 

[jloucks]

With wisdom often comes sadness as they veil of ignorance is lifted and you see things how they really are. The secret is to realize how finite everything really is and that in no time at all, it will be over for you here on earth. It is then that even the most simple of things become beautiful again.

Put more simply... EVERY moment is extremely special. ...even magical.

It will likely be a few more years before you feel the full impact of the knowledge regarding the finality and brevity of life. For me, this helped.

See those old people at the mall watching people and smiling? They get it.

 

[Ben_since_1971]

Aly,

I hope you had a good time on your trip. I know I am a little late to this discussion, but I would like to give you my perspective as my history with 'the World' is similar to yours.

I first went in 1972 when I was 6 years old and I thought the place was the coolest ever. I went one other time in 1973 then didn't go again until 1985 when I was 18. It was still a pretty cool place. Then I went in 1992 on my honeymoon, and have been going every year since 1997.

I too had worries that I would 'ruin' my old memories of WDW by going as an adult. And indeed, some things that were magical as a kid just don't seem the same when I am older. When I was a kid, the Magic Kingdom was this place soooooo far away from everything you had to take the monorail or a ferry - no cars allowed anywhere near it!!! I have to admit it was a little jarring to be able to drive right up to the gates (well as far as the Contemporary). And yes there is a little lost when you know how some of the magic is made. The difference for me was that I also realized that I had an opportunity to experience it new again - as an adult - and make all new memories. And that is what I did and have continued to do.

But I also learned it was a place where my childhood memories suddenly could become very real again. As someone else said, it's impossible to recreate those memories and feelings - you are not 6 or even 16 years old anymore. But you can relive them. For me, it's saying hello to Big Al in the Country Bear Jamboree, or seeing the backside of water (how many people can say they have heard the same joke for over 40 years and never get tired of it!), or chuckling every time I ride Haunted Mansion because of how scared I was as a 6 year old and except for the ballroom remembering only my father's knee because that's where my face was buried.

Now maybe my perspective is a little different because I am 48 and I have a few more miles on my odometer than you do. But for me, Disney World is like going home. I am fortunate enough to have that place be a part of my entire life. I was there as a young boy. I went as a young man. And I have continued to go as I have gone through each stage of my life and I hope to still be going long after my hair has turned gray. I am lucky in that I have a lifetime of Disney memories. And I am always creating new ones. I can never go back to being 6 years old. But I can remember what it was like - and better yet - I can recreate those feelings anytime I want to. Sure things change. But as much as they change, they still remain the same.

I could go on. But I guess what I am driving at is this - relax. Don't try to look at Disney World as a 6 year old using 21 year old eyes. Look at it for what it is - an awesome magical place. Look to the castle, or Peter Pan, or whatever you remember, and while you can't re-create the exact 6 year old moment, you can remember it. And realize you get to re-live it again. And again. And make new memories. And before you know it - you'll send in that final payment on your next trip, and the adult who just got the confirmation email will magically turn into the 6 year old doing his (or her) 'Going to Disney World' dance.

 

[Ben_since_1971]

Just looked at the Tokyo Disney clip - that's what I am talking about!

 

[scoobygirl39541]

You mentioned how you look at Mickey and only see the costume... It's more symbolic than that. When you look at Mickey, see all the families that get to be together BECAUSE of the costume. Think of all the little kids who believe in magic just seeing the costume, which then brings joy to the parents and grandparents. That's one of the best beauties about WDW, as you age, you get to experience the magic in new ways. There are many more examples, but this is how I deal with the costumed characters. Of course they're not real, but what they symbolize is very real and very precious. I'm 25 and that's just a little piece on how I keep the magic alive