Going to Disney World as a child is a very different experience than going to the parks as an adult. As a younger child, Disney World’s lively characters and intricate theming truly transport you into a fairy tale. Still, going back to Disney as an adult doesn’t mean your experience will be any less “magical”. Disney does a great job including a wide variety of attractions that appeal to every member of the family.
Last May, my husband, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I went to Walt Disney World for a 4 night stay over Memorial Day weekend. I have been to Disney World many times throughout my childhood, high school, and even once in college. For this trip, we stayed at Disney’s Art of Music Resort and visited The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. For those thinking about a trip to Disney World, this is an adult’s perspective of visiting these particular parks while sharing our trip highlights.
Magic Kingdom
For our first park, we visited Magic Kingdom. With Cinderella’s castle, popular Disney characters appearing throughout the park, and classic attractions, Magic Kingdom is the most “Disney” of all the parks. While many of the attractions are more popular for younger children, there are still a few notable thrill rides like Tron Lightcycle Run and Space Mountain, which are roller coasters. Nothing beats the nostalgia that is experiencing Magic Kingdom and seeing your favorite movies come to life through the different attractions. Even as an adult, I can still appreciate the classic slower rides like It’s a Small World. Although the song may get stuck in your head, It’s a Small World is a relaxing boat ride that showcases different regions of the world with adorable animatronic characters. For adults that have never been to Disney World, Magic Kingdom is definitely worth a visit.
Hollywood Studios
For our second day at Disney World, we went to Hollywood Studios. In my opinion, Hollywood Studios shines for older teens and adults. Attractions like the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror were awesome thrill rides, sure to impress any thrill seeker. The Rock ‘n” Roller Coaster is a thrilling launch roller coaster in the dark while The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is an exciting drop ride with a spooky backstory! In addition, Star Wars Fans can look forward to seeing Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge which makes you feel like you’re really in a galaxy far far away! We were especially impressed with the attraction Rise of The Resistance because it really made you feel like you were in a Star Wars movie. I won’t spoil the ride, but trust me when I say it is a must do for any Star Wars fan! Besides those attractions, there are countless other shows and rides that appeal to guests of any age. Some of my other attraction favorites for guests of all ages include The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular show and Toy Story Mania. Overall, Hollywood Studios is a park that will have older teens and young adults coming back for countless visits in the future.
Epcot
For our third and final park visit, we headed to Epcot. We were lucky enough to visit during Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival, which meant even more food/drink options and beautiful floral displays throughout the park. For us, the biggest highlight of our day was going to the World Showcase. The World Showcase is one part of the park that features 11 countries that you can walk around and explore. We loved snacking at all the different countries while trying some tasty cocktails! There is endless shopping throughout the World Showcase with some rides sprinkled in throughout a few of the countries. For adults going to Epcot, the World Showcase should be a priority. The other attractions in Epcot outside of the World Showcase were also entertaining, and we especially liked Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. This was an exciting roller coaster dark ride with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises! The ride Test Track is always a classic as well, and we had fun making our own vehicles and zipping around the race track. However, we still felt that the most exciting part of our day was the World Showcase!
We really had an amazing trip and I even got to see and do some new things that I hadn’t been able to experience on previous trips. Magic Kingdom really gives you that classic Disney experience, while Hollywood Studios has thrilling experiences, and Epcot lets you experience several countries in one day! No Disney trip feels the same, and there is always something new to discover. Disney World truly is a place for the young and old, and is the best “magical” vacation out there!