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

[MickeyLuv'r]

Hard to tell what the future holds. We joke about going to WDW until we are very old. I could maybe see us eventually skipping some rides.

Our appreciation of WDW has always gone beyond thrill rides. Even in the early days, I recall loving the topiaries and landscaping. We've also always valued the customer service, food, and general cleanliness of the property.

Sadly, I now foresee WDW prices getting too high, or WDW no longer offering good customer service.
Those factors have the potential of driving us away long before we get too old for the rides.

On the plus side, Universal gives WDW real competition. We've long spent time at both properties, and will continue to value both - as long as they both offer great experiences.

Last, well, dare I say, I am also concerned for the general well-being of our country right now.

 

[KaliSplash]

I first went in 1979 with my soon to be wife at age 26. It is 40 years later and we are planning another trip no later than April.
the feel of walking around the parks, etc., is virtually exactly the same for me. Am I as "theme-park commando as I used to be, probably not quite. But I do remember how to do that, which we did 2 years ago on a trip focused on Epcot and DAK. But it was a 2-day trip, not a 6-day trip and we had neither of our sons with us. Started taking oldest son when he was <1 and starting taking younger brother when he was just over 4 months old. Tried to hit the parks pretty much at least once a year until about the time they hit college. Still tried to go at least every year or so after that. Older son has made trips without us, younger son may soon do so.

But yes, the "atmosphere" and my love for it has not changed, even if the frequency of trip$ has declined over the past decade in particular.

 

[Incomudro]

I'm 55 and love Disney just as much as ever.
It's certainly possible that when I'm older, that I'll have a harder time with crowds - but there are ways around that.
The thing about WDW is that it isn't just and doesn't offer just one thing.
You could go to a Disney hotel for instance - say Beach Club - and barely leave it.
Maybe just hit Epcot.
My wife's uncle who tragically passed away recently - would go to his VC room at Boardwalk, and rarely hit the parks anymore.
But his son & daughter would visit with the grandkids (they would go to the parks of course) and he would go out to eat with them when they got back.
There are also so many other things that are offered that so few people do, from fishing to cooking.

 

[Wing Rider]

I think it is how you feel and your health. I was 72 last year and rode everything. I will continue to ride all the rides I can while I am still able. Disney World makes me feel like a kid again. I have Peter Pan Syndrome; I won’t grow up.

 

[John park hopper]

I think it is how you feel and your health. I was 72 last year and rode everything. I will continue to ride all the rides I can while I am still able. Disney World makes me feel like a kid again. I have Peter Pan Syndrome; I won’t grow up.

I' m not the only one with Peter Pan syndrome glad to see I have company

 

[BrerWayne]

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?

I just turned 50 and made my first trip to Walt Disney World in 1975. My wife had never been until I took her in 2009 just before we started our family. And I have taken both children on their first trips.
To me growing up Walt Disney World was such a special place. You could get immersed in the fantasy. No matter what awkward phase you were going through Mickey and the Gang was always there and happy to see you and give you a hug or a high five. The world can be a tough place but Disney World was a happy place.

Fast forward to today. I am a little more cynical and jaded, but still love the place. I will say it is becoming very expensive. I am planning to go again in 2021 and hope I get get priced out after that trip.

When I was younger I was a park warrior and was there from rope drop until closing. After having been 19 times, I do not have to do everything. I take a targeted approach to rides. Let my family dictate what we ride and see. Try to focus more on experiences and take it all in. And we tend to spend more time at the resorts swimming and enjoying the amenities of the resort.

So to answer the question, to me, it is like a relationship. It evolves. I still love the place but for different reasons and I think that I always will. Sorry that this was so long.

 

[Bigcityblues]

I am 45, and I plan on continuing to visit WDW and experiencing everything it has to offer, until I can't physically do anything, the cost becomes more than I can afford, or any perceived negatives of the WDW experience start outnumbering the fun, enjoyment and nostalgia I get from WDW. I noticed during our last visit that simple things like the behavior of other visitors and the effect of miles of walking each day started to get to me a bit, especially the last part of each day when I was starting to get tired and a bit grumpy.

My husband is 53 and this was pretty much his feeling at the end of each day, too. His back gives him trouble and the pain and heat had him quite grumpy on some nights when we took our daughter and her friend last month (both 20 y.o.). We’re planning to take a two-year break (not my idea lol).

I didn’t go on any vacations as a kid; my family couldn’t afford to. I went to WDW for the first time as a 30-year-old, with my husband and another couple. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, even though the castle was a pink birthday cake. Epcot is one of my favorite places to be on a vacation, and we’ve been to lots of places. I still feel like a kid when I’m there, even though I never visited as a kid. We really love it and will go as long as we are physically able. I someday hope to accompany grandkids to the World. It’s a magical place for me for sure, although at this point, I think my husband goes mostly to make my daughter and me happy.

 

[Goofyernmost]

The first time I went to WDW was when I was 35. My wife had never been and neither had my two children ages 9 and 7 (almost). The had me at the entrance from Rte 192. I was from Vermont. The town we lived in didn't even have push button phones yet, so driving in and tuning in the radio signal which changed as we progressed up World Drive impressed the hell out of me. I was fascinated by everything in MK. I wanted to know how they managed to make it all work, but, it did indeed remain gap mouthed the entire time. I never wanted to leave. We took a brief visit to EPCOT Ctr. which at the time had only been open for four months. That one hadn't yet settled into the expected Disney efficiency. Many things had not opened yet, there was very little information about what was there and what was had lines that almost stretched out the main entrance of the park. We opted out and went back a couple of years later. It was much better then.

So, leap forward to now. Since that happy day in 1983, I have been to WDW 46 times. Sometimes with family, sometimes as an escort for some "challenged" folks and since 2001 I have gone a couple of times with my grown children, but, mostly by myself. (Solo) The place still entertains me, but, as I age it is getting harder and harder to get around so I am looking at the end of my visiting real soon. My point was I never stopped enjoying the place. I never stopped thinking back to that first trip with my little family and the fun we had. Even in 2001 right after my divorce, I went and for a while just sat on a bench and remembered those times. It along with one other thing lifted my spirits and I was once again able to enjoy, partially through memories and partially because that feeling of being a kid again always seemed to kick in. I am going to try and get there next September. I may have to resort to renting a scooter and risk being judged by many as just being fat and lazy. For this next trip I will risk that. If I thought I could get away with it I'd tape a 3D middle finger statue on the scooter.

 

[BrerWayne]

The first time I went to WDW was when I was 35. My wife had never been and neither had my two children ages 9 and 7 (almost). The had me at the entrance from Rte 192. I was from Vermont. The town we lived in didn't even have push button phones yet, so driving in and tuning in the radio signal which changed as we progressed up World Drive impressed the hell out of me. I was fascinated by everything in MK. I wanted to know how they managed to make it all work, but, it did indeed remain gap mouthed the entire time. I never wanted to leave. We took a brief visit to EPCOT Ctr. which at the time had only been open for four months. That one hadn't yet settled into the expected Disney efficiency. Many things had not opened yet, there was very little information about what was there and what was had lines that almost stretched out the main entrance of the park. We opted out and went back a couple of years later. It was much better then.

So, leap forward to now. Since that happy day in 1983, I have been to WDW 46 times. Sometimes with family, sometimes as an escort for some "challenged" folks and since 2001 I have gone a couple of times with my grown children, but, mostly by myself. (Solo) The place still entertains me, but, as I age it is getting harder and harder to get around so I am looking at the end of my visiting real soon. My point was I never stopped enjoying the place. I never stopped thinking back to that first trip with my little family and the fun we had. Even in 2001 right after my divorce, I went and for a while just sat on a bench and remembered those times. It along with one other thing lifted my spirits and I was once again able to enjoy, partially through memories and partially because that feeling of being a kid again always seemed to kick in. I am going to try and get there next September. I may have to resort to renting a scooter and risk being judged by many as just being fat and lazy. For this next trip I will risk that. If I thought I could get away with it I'd tape a 3D middle finger statue on the scooter.

I forgot about tuning your car radio to WDW information! That was cutting edge back then!

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I thi k you already notice changes in the way you enjoy things, but I think that comes from repetition and travel companions more than time(except for spinning rides, after 35 those seem to just be near u bearable).
What I mean is if you go WDW enough, you may not be all about getting on every ride each visit. Maybe you soak in the scenery a little more. With kids you might find you enjoy doing a treasure hunt when in your youth you would never want to waste park minutes on anything but a ride.
So its different but all good. Ever evolving never static, which is awesome that is humanity.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

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.

Ya never know. Once thing I will say about WDW is there is a reason it's so great for families. The service is usually top notch. And there is usually something that will appeal to every family member. My family likes to mix things up. We too plan city trips, but this is a big Disney year, we did a Disney cruise this past winter then a big trip planned for June. But next year, we plan on hitting Colorado to ski and possibly Europe that summer. Keep an open mind, I think you might be surprised.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

OP, I have to laugh at your statement of feeling old at 30's????? You have a long way to go, if you are lucky
My husband and I are in our 70's and we go every year. We love it! Where else can you go and feel safe and have so many options for entertainment? Or you could just enjoy the beautiful resorts. We find something new to experience each time we go. I have a bucket list of things I want to do that we have never done before at Disney, and I have not completed it yet.
It's a place of good memories with the kids, grandkids, and wonderful times.
I guess we will quit when we can't walk any more. As of right now, we will continue to enjoy it. There is no age limitation of going to WDW.

 

[JusticeDisney]

I can honestly see myself going to WDW until I’m not upright any longer. For me, the trips to WDW are far less about the parks (although I certainly still enjoy the heck out of the attractions and rides), and much more about other experiences. For example, I love spending time at the resort (Beach Club is our home resort), eating at the many different and fun restaurants, going for walks around World Showcase or on the Boardwalk or through Disney Springs, just being in and around WDW. I also love watching little kids take in the experiences. The smiles on their faces and wonder in their eyes just makes me feel good.

WDW is not the only place I travel to, but it will always be one of the places I visit. I simply love it there!

 

[RScottyL]

Same here! I am a 48 year old married man, but was introduced to Disney World at 16 years of age when my mother and step-dad took my brother and I.

I live close to Six Flags Over Texas, and went there alot growing up, as well as worked there for a short bit.

Although it can be, I don't consider Disney parks to be in the same class as most amusement parks, and feel they are better! Disney is not just roller coasters, but they have all different kinds of rides.

I am getting tired of Six Flags, but could never get tired of WDW and want to visit all of the other parks.

WDW holds a place in my heart because I enjoyed going there with my family that very first time, and took my wife and daughter there back in 2013 for their first time!

I plan to keep going to Disney as much as I can in the future!

 

[lindawdw]

I still feel excited when planning my WDW trips and although we might take things a bit slower versus our younger days when we did commando style park hopping, we still feel the magic and want to do all the same fun rides that we did when we were younger. We do feel like we enjoy more of the resorts now which is just as special as the parks!

 

[Thingamabob]

I am only 18 years old and now when I go to WDW I get up early and go the entire day and get everything out of the day I possibly can. I know as I get older that is going to change. Once I have kids and go to WDW with the little ones they are going to need breaks and that is going to mean going back to the resort for naps and even mom and dad relaxing. As the kids even turn into teens the days at the parks will change. They will most likely want no parts on mom and dad just like my older brother and myself did once we hit that age. We wanted to do our own thing. Then once the kids are out of the picture things will change again on the WDW vacation as I imagine I won't be able to go as much as I do now. I know my parents can't and they are just in there early 50's now. Then comes the later years and I do hope I am able to still enjoy the parks and it will be totally different I think. A lot more time spent at the resort at the pool and just going into the parks for a few hours for certain things. That is the way I vision it in my future.

 

[PopPopBear]

I will be 50 early next year and still enjoy the parks and all they have to offer. Children are grown so wife and I do not tour the parks in the same style as we did some years ago with the family in tow. Much more laid back approach is the style now. We have done more than several of the backstage type of tours and enjoy them. There is really only one ride I will no longer ride. That is Rockin' Roller Coaster. Just can't do the inversions anymore. I tolerate other roller coasters depending on their movement and Tower of Terror but don't miss these rides if I don't ride them. Overall, plan to still go to both WDW and DLR although maybe not as much in the near future or as frequent. The expected crowds with the Star Wars lands coming on line will keep us away for 2-3 years. Neither of us are Star Wars fans so we will not be fighting the crowds.

 

[beertiki]

50 now, been going regularly for 23 years now, AP for 10 years now, it's a 7 hour drive. I will keep going back until my mind or body will not allow. When the time comes, and it will, I plan on using an ECV. Like others have mentioned, I too predict that one day I will cross space mountain off the list.

Why do we keep going back? Memories. I have over 20 years of good ones. Walking under the train station and onto main street looks and feels the same as it did on my first visit. Everything else in the world seems to have changed, but some things at Disney do not. I hope in 20 years that most of my favorite rides are still there and unchanged.

 

[clarabellej]

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?

I’ve never liked the club scene, lol! So at 58, I much prefer as I always have, good clean family fun. I went to WDW the year it opened (I was 11) and several times with my first two kids. Then I began going when the third and last child turned 5. Then it got really crazy. I went every year with her until she hit 17. Loved every visit. Never got tired of it. Sadly, it did become more of a physical challenge. I’ve had some back issues. Lots of physical therapy sessions. Strengthening the core and all that fun stuff. I actually would begin a rigorous walking regimen prior to each trip. Something I highly recommend for anyone doing Disney at any age. I’ve also learned to slow down a bit. I tend to go go go. You can actually forget to rest and drink water. Well i can anyway. Also it helps once you have teens abd you can sit out (take a break) the wilder rides. So it is ever evolving. I missed this last spring (I think that would have been my 16th or 17th visit/12th in a row) because I let my daughter go with a school group. Do I ever get tired of Disney? Physically, yes. Mentally, never!!!!! Go while you are young. Not just to Disney. Visit the real castles in Europe. BTW, I hope to visit on my 60th with my two grandsons. Last thought: your kids will give you a new lease on Disney & after that, if you are lucky you can go with the grandkids.