How long will you enjoy theme parks, or how long DID you enjoy the rides?

[Walt Disney1955]

Just a simple question here because there was one thing that struck me as a man in his late 30s. I am getting older, I am not 20 or even 25. I am a married man with children and much different things on my mind than in my teens or 20s. I witness this first hand as I realize the "scene" at a club is not geared towards me anymore. The music isn't what I recognize or grew up with, I don't see people I know anymore that are there and to be quite frank I am more content just sitting around a pub with some friends in that sort of scene, or of course, gearing things towards family outings and vacations. I've accepted that those things change, and the club scene in general is what appears to be on a slow but gradual decline I find because clubs that were open when I was younger are closed and not replaced by the same amount. It leads me to believe that texting, anti-socialism and stuff like online dating has replaced a lot of social aspects that I was used to.

Okay, so enough about that rant, it is what it is.

But what does this mean for enjoying theme/amusement parks? Well, when I went after a long hiatus in 2009 it had been 7 years. I took my wife for her first time. I am not in my early 20s anymore but my late 20s. I told myself that I shouldn't worry if the park doesn't have the same "feel" for me anymore. Well, it was the same, and then some. And even last year when we went with our kids it is the same, even in my late 30s. But it has struck me, I am not 60, or 70. I am not even close to 50. Is there going to be a time when this "scene" is not going to be for me anymore. Whether it is a physical aspect of not wanting to walk around or just having interest faded.

Tell me your stories about it. Has it dwindled for you, and if it did what age was it? Or could you see yourself doing this at 80 years old?

 

[eliza61nyc]

As with everything, one's mileage may vary.

I'll only speak to Disney as I'm not much of an "amusement" park person. I don't particularly like any of the great adventures so I pretty much out grew them after the first visit.
I don't consider amusement parks as vacations, more like some thing to do on a nice day.

I'm sliding into 60 ville. retiring in 7 months, 3 weeks, 15 hours, lol but hey who's counting.

I can't imagine losing interest in the world any time soon. I love the parks. Now I think one thing that help is that it's not the only place I go. I also like the fact that it's evolving. I like seeing new stuff Ip or not so my interest is always piqued.
I'm the weird one, I never go to Epcot and get confused and think it's the MK. it's totally different as is Hollywood studios and Ak.

I'm a dvc member and some times I'll take a long weekend and mainly stay at my home resort.

my kids are in their late 20's and every time I suggest selling our membership I have to sleep with one eye open. they too don't seem to be losing love for the parks.

I'm researching places to be a snowbird in and one reason Florida is high on the list is because of the proximity to the world. I don't want to live in Orlando but a few of the coastal communities are scoring very high.

Yes at 80 I'll probably still be going, hopefully with the grandbabies.

Oh and 2 years ago we had a family reunion/birthday party for my Aunt. It was her 100th birthday. lol, she spent it with Mickey

 

[Walt Disney1955]

I'm the weird one, I never go to Epcot and get confused and think it's the MK. it's totally different as is Hollywood studios and Ak.

Thanks for your post, it was great. I just copied this part, why do you not go to Epcot? Do you just do the MK or the other three outside of Epcot?

 

[Smiley/OCD]

We took my then 85 y. o. late father in 2013...he went on everything except the rides he had to climb into...I plan to keep going until I'm done, if you know what I mean. That's what is great about the world...if you can't go on a few attractions, there's hundreds of other thing you can still do.

 

[CP_alum08]

Im 32 and have been going to the parks since I can remember, did a stint in the College Program, and was a FL local for about 3 years after college. The thing I’ve noticed in the past 5 years or so is that how we (my wife and I) enjoy WDW has changed. It’s not that we like going any more or less than we ever have, it’s just changed. 10 years ago the thought of relaxing at our resort and having a pool day was absolutely nonsense, now we look forward to it! There is a focus now on food and drinks and trying new places, meaning some days there is a long sit down lunch in the middle of the day. We still love the parks and the attractions but it’s become more and more obvious that there is SO MUCH more to do.
So to answer your question, I don’t think the magic will ever go away for us it will just continue to evolve over time.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I cant envision myself ever being so old or frail to continue going to WDW, or losing interest in what is offered to cease going back. Maybe the coasters will get too rough and I'll bypass those but theres surely more than enough milder attractions and entertainment choices to enjoy in the parks. Disney will continue adding more new, interesting things so I wont ever get bored with them. I'll keep going as long as theres a way to get there and as long as I have the money to pay my way. Retirement is supposed to be enjoyed and with more time available, I cant see anything better than being able to enjoy more of the Disney parks and resorts than I do now.

 

[networkpro]

I don't think my family will age out of Disney vacations. My 82-year-old mother rides Expedition Everest.

 

[larryz]

"Every one of them knew that as time went by they'd get a little bit older, and a little bit slower..."

 

[StarWarsGirl]

My parents have been going together since 1986. They still go. I think the type of trip they do now is different. They spent less time running around to rides and more time eating, walking around Epcot, and sitting by the pool. Whereas my brother (17) and me (24) spend more time riding TofT multiple times. I think they'll end up giving up Space Mountain before long because it's too rough, but they do everything else. They'll go until they can't anymore.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

My 82-year-old mother rides Expedition Everest.

That is one cool lady.

 

[ppet]

My wife and I are in our mid fifties and still enjoy the rides, We love to do coasters but some of the rougher ones we now stay off of. At WDW my wife won't ride space mountain anymore due to it jerking her neck. But we did the front seat of EE 9 times in an hour last October. Going again in 6 months and can't wait.

 

[jpeden]

My wife and I are both 29 and we try to go twice a year (live in GA with no kids). We LOVE it when we go by ourselves - we’ve been with others and have not enjoyed it nearly as much. We think of it as “our place” and decided that we are no longer inviting people to go with us.

For the first time in almost two years we are going by ourselves in September and I am so excited. I don’t think we will ever lose the love we have for it, but I know even over the past five years our style has changed. Now we don’t have to do everything, and spend more time walking at the resort or at DS. It’s so nice to be able to go at a slower pace and just enjoy the atmosphere.

 

[Heppenheimer]

I still love theme parks, but I need to take Gravol for anything faster than the People Mover.

 

[Ben_since_1971]

I am 52. I have been going to WDW since 1972 (7 years old). It will never not be a place of magic for me. Haven't reached the point of not going on the thrill rides, but even if I do, there is just so much more for me to enjoy.

 

[SirWillow]

I turn 50 next year. I still love Disney and amusement/ theme parks as much as I did 30 years ago. I may go at a slower pace than I did back then, but I still usually outlast my kids and love them. Still ride everything, still see all the shows, but I now stroll from ride to ride rather than fast walk or light jog between them. I enjoy a few more sitting breaks and people watching compared to the past when I raced from ride to ride. but they are still just as magical and enjoyable as they were.

Can't wait for my kids to have grandkids so I can introduce the next generation (wish they would hurry up already!! lol)

 

[ThemeParkJunkee]

I am 62. I am more afraid my body will age out of WDW before my love of themed entertainment ever does.

 

[John park hopper]

I began going in 1972, after the boys grew up there was a long break going back but-- went in 2017 and then again in May with son and granddaughters. I will turn 70 this month and I still enjoy Disney though the crowds do bother me more than they used too. Hope I will still be going when I am 80

 

[Patcheslee]

Admittedly this year will only be my 2nd visit age 38, first being in 2017 with DH40 and DD now 10. I'm a big theme park/amusement park person so visit the locals every summer. I've slowed down on coasters mainly due to height requirements which DD10 just now hit the 54' illusive mark this summer. I'll just say that day left be sore and bruised from repeat rides. I'm actually looking forward to going at a slower pace this time because we do want to visit the less popular attractions we missed the first time. I don't think any of us will age out because Disney is a slower pace vs back to back roller coasters for 10+ hours, it's just a different style of touring.

 

[mdcpr]

I might be in the minority here, but we don't love theme parks. I'm seriously planning a trip to WDW for the family as something we need to do once. We like cities (going to Boston, Philly, Montreal), or country (Catskills, upstate NY). After WDW, we're doing to Legoland New York when it opens since it will only be a couple of hours from our home. And maybe Universal Studios. That's going to be it for us.

 

[Susan Savia]

First went in 1984 in my young 30s. We have been nearly every year since, many times twice a year. The children have grown up to love the parks as much as we do. Doing a first ‘family’ trip in February 2020 with the grandchildren. Our touring style has not changed over the years, just slowed a little to include more park bench sitting and people watching. We’ve seen lots of changes over the years and look forward to whats to come.