Everyone dreams about taking their kids to Disney World someday without ever thinking about the hassle of dealing with stroller parking, constant crying and complaining about the long waits. As magical as it can be, going to theme parks with children is a major hassle. Even though going to Disney as a child is almost unavoidable, it's still fun if not even better to go once you're technically an adult. Hear me out.
1. You don't have to go on any kiddie rides
As fun as the ear-bleeding Small World song is, speeding through pitch dark on Space Mountain is just way more fun. Once you're legal, you're past the height restrictions for the most amazing rides on the property. Instead of waiting in line for an hour to bounce around with an animatronic Pooh for 30 seconds, you can find yourself going from a dead stop to 60 mph on the Rockin' Roller Coaster and having the time of your life without having to chicken out the emergency exit (Shoutout to my 8-year-old self).
2. Meeting characters is still just as fun
There's no doubt you were excited to have breakfast with the princesses as a child. There's also no doubt I was excited to have a hilarious conversation with Gaston as a college kid. It's almost more fun to be able to ask the actors questions to see how they respond in character, and meeting Minnie and Mickey can still bring a smile to anyone's face.
3. The nostalgia brings back those big childhood smiles
Clearly, I wasn't horribly excited to meet Pooh as a child, but I couldn't stop smiling this time. Something about seeing stuff from your childhood brought to life brings goofy smiles to any adult's face. The nostalgia of the Star Wars attractions can bring a tear to even the manliest man's eye. There's just nothing like it.
4. The fireworks are absolutely breathtaking
By the end of the day when the fireworks start, most kids have already tapped out or are too afraid of the loud noises to really appreciate the gorgeous nighttime beauty. The stunning light on the gorgeous castle (or Chinese Theatre for the Star Wars show) set to classic songs and lines of dialogue are a sheer delight for any adult. There were several times that I stopped snapping photos and just stood in awe of the fireworks display, something that you can't truly appreciate until you're older.
5. There's no better place to people watch
Almost 53,000 people visit Magic Kingdom on any given day. With numbers like that, you're bound to find all types of interesting characters to observe during your wait times. I saw a woman wearing a strapless leopard jumpsuit in the Animal Kingdom. I saw frat boys screaming their cheers in line for the slow-moving train. I saw people from all over the world trying to find their way around, and many more crazy types of people that I would have definitely missed as a child with only my next meal of chicken nuggets on the mind.
6. The Disney Magic will never go away, no matter what your age
Whether you find inspiration in the parades about wishes or the story of the man and the mouse, the magic of Disney World will continue to inspire childlike wonder in all who visit. There truly is something special for everyone at Disney, even more so when you visit as an adult. I can only hope that more college students return to Disney World before they start their families just to truly appreciate all of the wonders it has to offer.
