I'm 50 years old and about to go to the Magic Kingdom for the first time

[Joebradley62]

Never say never! I'm 50 and I'm finally headed to the Magic Kingdom for the first time. The trip began as a business conference work trip and I added my husband and 10-year-old son to the mix, and then my 15-year-old stepdaughter freed up her time to join us. Now we're planning an amazing trip and I can't wait!

What are the must-see attractions, the definitely-eat-there restaurants, and the don't-miss-out rides?

The thing I'm looking the most forward to is a special vegan dinner with Chef TJ at Trail's End.

It is about the past and the future. Leave your present at home, embrace your inner child, dont let the crowds get to you. Go early, hit the pool at lunch time. Then head in later for nighttime stuff fireworks etc. Vegitarian options are pretty plentiful at most table service places.

 

[tazmad]

My advice is to take in the things that you can't experience anywhere else. Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World, Splash Mountain. Also, take the time to enjoy the atmosphere. Stop and actually look up at the windows on Main Street. Pay attention to the little details that are often skipped at lesser parks. Don't feel like you have to do everything. Just enjoy. I envy you. You're in for a treat.

I do love those rides at Disneyland. I forgot to mention that I lived in LA for ten years and worked for a Disney-owned company for a couple of years. They gave us free annual passes, so I was a frequent visitor at DL! But I know it's nothing like Disney World. I can't wait.

 

[geekza]

I do love those rides at Disneyland. I forgot to mention that I lived in LA for ten years and worked for a Disney-owned company for a couple of years. They gave us free annual passes, so I was a frequent visitor at DL! But I know it's nothing like Disney World. I can't wait.

Well... perhaps I should add a caveat to my recommendations, then.

By all means, take in the Mansion, Pirates, etc., but as I'm sure you're aware, the WDW versions of the rides are different. In the Haunted Mansion, the stretching rooms aren't elevators, as the show building is on the same level as the Mansion entrance, there's no walk-through portrait hallway (you ride past them), and WDW doesn't have the Hatbox Ghost. Small World is very similar except that it doesn't have the awesome facade, the boats aren't in a flume, and there aren't any of the Disney characters. Pirates will be nothing but a disappointment to you after becoming familiar with the original. It's much shorter, with no Blue Bayou, although the Carribbean fort facade and queue are kind of cool.

The benefits of the MK are that it's (much) larger, has some attractions that aren't at DL, and has some that are no longer at DL, like the Country Bears and Carousel of Progress.

Have a great time and be prepared to be underwhelmed by WDW's Pirates.

 

[tazmad]

Well... perhaps I should add a caveat to my recommendations, then.

By all means, take in the Mansion, Pirates, etc., but as I'm sure you're aware, the WDW versions of the rides are different. In the Haunted Mansion, the stretching rooms aren't elevators, as the show building is on the same level as the Mansion entrance, there's no walk-through portrait hallway (you ride past them), and WDW doesn't have the Hatbox Ghost. Small World is very similar except that it doesn't have the awesome facade, the boats aren't in a flume, and there aren't any of the Disney characters. Pirates will be nothing but a disappointment to you after becoming familiar with the original. It's much shorter, with no Blue Bayou, although the Carribbean fort facade and queue are kind of cool.

The benefits of the MK are that it's (much) larger, has some attractions that aren't at DL, and has some that are no longer at DL, like the Country Bears and Carousel of Progress.

Have a great time and be prepared to be underwhelmed by WDW's Pirates.

Awesome! I'm so excited. Almost as much as my 10-year-old son! He's been to Disneyland two or three times (his dad used to take him, and I took him once when he was 2), but he hasn't been in several years.

 

[JohnD]

Never say never! I'm 50 and I'm finally headed to the Magic Kingdom for the first time. The trip began as a business conference work trip and I added my husband and 10-year-old son to the mix, and then my 15-year-old stepdaughter freed up her time to join us. Now we're planning an amazing trip and I can't wait!

What are the must-see attractions, the definitely-eat-there restaurants, and the don't-miss-out rides?

The thing I'm looking the most forward to is a special vegan dinner with Chef TJ at Trail's End.

Must dos (in no particular order):

• Haunted Mansion
• Splash Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Space Mountain
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Other classics

• Jungle Cruise
• Pirates of the Caribbean (with new redhead scene -- haven't seen it myself)
• Peter Pan's Flight (do at rope drop to experience queue. FP+ bypasses it)
• its a small world
• People Mover
• Buzz Light Year
• Belle (okay, I audited this for my niece. Your stepdaughter will definitely like it. There were some boys who got a little excited at seeing Belle too, LOL.)

Shows

• Hall of Presidents (with Trump)
• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Country Bear Jamboree
• Mickey's Philarmagic
• Carousel of Progress
• Monster's Inc Laugh Floor
• Muppets: Great Moments in American History

 

[EricsBiscuit]

My advice is the parks are more than just rides. Slow down. Observe the beauty of the parks and listen to the entertainment. Catch the Main Street Philharmonic or the Dapper Dans! MK has the best show lineup of any castle park. CoP, Phillarmagic, CBJ, HoP, Muppets, and the Tikki Room are awesome!

 

[Incomudro]

Get there before it opens.

 

[macefamily]

Good for you ! Have a magical time !
Disney is for every age.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Never say never! I'm 50 and I'm finally headed to the Magic Kingdom for the first time. The trip began as a business conference work trip and I added my husband and 10-year-old son to the mix, and then my 15-year-old stepdaughter freed up her time to join us. Now we're planning an amazing trip and I can't wait!

What are the must-see attractions, the definitely-eat-there restaurants, and the don't-miss-out rides?

The thing I'm looking the most forward to is a special vegan dinner with Chef TJ at Trail's End.

I recommend you get the birnbaums guide off amazon or B&N and read it. It’s simple and still the easiest/most useful way to familiarize yourself.

And have fun...

 

[EngineerMom]

Look at what you and the kids like
For instance right now no one in my family is into princesses so we’ve been skipping Frozen at Epcot because we’d rather fastpass and rope drop Soarin and test track
Mission space can be intense so I do the less intense

Vegetarian- look at menus including bar menu. Our friend who was with us last time found things on some bar menus. He made a meal of apps at some. And liked spice road At Epcot

 

[JohnD]

Look at what you and the kids like
For instance right now no one in my family is into princesses so we’ve been skipping Frozen at Epcot because we’d rather fastpass and rope drop Soarin and test track
Mission space can be intense so I do the less intense

Vegetarian- look at menus including bar menu. Our friend who was with us last time found things on some bar menus. He made a meal of apps at some. And liked spice road At Epcot

Well M:S orange is intense which I've avoided like the plague. I also avoided the green version until they switched it up into a orbit around the earth. It doesn't spin. So I finally did it. I'd do the green version again. Probably still won't do the orange.