I have been involved with many debates regarding all-things Walt Disney World related. Love it or hate it, it seems that everyone has an opinion on it. One of the latest conversations that I had regarding my favorite vacation spot dealt with the opening of Storybook Circus and how Magic Kingdom is not fun for adults.
Seriously? I whole-heartedly do not agree.
While yes, a lot of the rides in the Magic Kingdom are tame and would be labeled “kiddie rides” at any state fair or carnival, it doesn’t make them any less pleasing to the grownups. I enjoyed the rides of Magic Kingdom as a child and I love them still (but for different reasons) as an adult. As a child, I viewed the rides with a sense of wonder; to fly over London on Captain Hook’s ship or to get scared as the wicked witch popped out at me while touring the woods of Snow White was a thrill. As an adult I ride these rides with a feeling of nostalgia and remember the joy of experiencing these rides on a treasured family vacation.
I have had the opportunity to vacation in Disney as part of a family trip with my children and on a girls-only adult trip (no kids, no husbands) and I can tell you, when we go without the kids, we are just as excited to tour the Magic Kingdom as we are when the kids are with us. I may not ride Dumbo or Goofy’s Barnstormer but I most certainly am looking forward to touring Storybook Circus to see the details and theming that the Disney Imagineers are known for!
Don’t get me wrong, if you are looking for thrill rides, then no, Magic Kingdom is not going to do it for you. As thrilling as we enthusiasts find the three mountains of Magic Kingdom, they are still tame by today’s standards. But just because this particular park lacks the adult “thrill” factor shouldn’t make it any less enjoyable. Why not allow yourself a day to tour a park with the eyes of a child? Take the time to remember what it was like to get excited by seeing the characters or sit and watch a parade and watch the faces of those around you who may be seeing it for the first time.
There is so much to see and marvel at while you walk around the Magic Kingdom and if you go in to it with an open mind you’ll see that it truly is not just for kids. Think about all of the planning and hard work that went in to each of the attractions. Take one of the behind the scenes tours and learn more about the attractions and what it takes to keep them running.
But most importantly, walk through those turnstyles at the entrance and put all of your worries and cares behind you for a day and let yourself just enjoy the sights and sounds of the park that was Walt Disney’s dream.