Walt Disney made sure the theme parks he envisioned would be for everyone — both adults and kids alike.
Main Street U.S.A
But, Disney World has gotten the reputation for being a place that’s just for kids, and we’re here to tell you that’s wrong. Visiting Disney World without kids has increased in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. And although we’re sure yours are perfect angels, you might actually end up regretting bringing your kiddos along — here’s why.
Listen, if you want to bring your kids to Disney World we’re certainly not going to rain on your parade — because your kids are probably going to do that anyway. We’ve got plenty of tips on how to tackle Disney World with little ones, but we feel it’s our duty to also mention some reasons you might regret bringing your kids along.
They’re an additional expense
This is a revelatory statement we’re almost positive you’ve never heard before: kids are expensive. Shocking, we know. You know what else is expensive? Disney World. Kids ain’t cheap, and Disney World ain’t cheap — we’re no mathematicians, but we’re pretty sure that adds up to an even more expensive vacation. We know they’re worth the expense, but have you ever considered that maybe, just this once, they’re not?
Monsieur Paul
Kidding, of course, but there’s no denying that bringing your kids with you will significantly increase the cost of your trip. You deserve to get away and enjoy yourself, and hey, there’s always next time for little Billy and Betty. Depending on how many kids you have, leaving them at home can mean you’re able to spend a little bit more dough on yourselves. Go ahead, book that signature meal or special tour. Want to get an extra souvenir or two this time for yourself? You can! Just maybe consider bringing something back for the kiddos too.
You can’t do whatever you want
Remember when there was a time when you could wake up and do whatever you wanted? Imagine going back to that but this time — you’re on a Disney World vacation. No need to get everyone up and dressed to head to breakfast, no no. Just wake up, take your time heading to the parks, or visit your hotel pool. The Disney World is your oyster full of pearls of opportunity.
Caribbean Beach Resort
And, let’s face it — there are some experiences kids just can’t do in Disney World. They might not be able to ride certain rides, and a few of them don’t have rider swap leaving you no choice but to skip them altogether. A few signature dining experiences are also reserved for kids that are a specific age and older — like Monsieur Paul and Victoria & Albert’s, so if you have young ones with you, you can forget about these restaurants.
They might not be old enough
Speaking of age restrictions, depending on what age your kids actually are, well, they might not even really be old enough for Disney World. We realize this sounds silly, but the parks can be intense even for the most seasoned veterans, and your little one might not be able to handle it. Not only that, but there’s a chance that they won’t even remember it. The memories you’re making could likely only be for you, and you’ve run yourself ragged carrying a little one around for nothing. Okay, not nothing, but you know what we mean.
The best way to get around!
Also, a lot of kids aren’t exactly properly equipped to behave in a place like Disney World. It’s not their fault, it’s just kind of what kids do. And, what else do young kids do? They touch everything. There are a lot of different things to touch in Disney World, and guess what, a lot of other kids and people have probably already touched them all! That’s right! Even the strongest Lysol can’t strip away 50 years of germs. Or maybe it can, we’re not scientists, either.
They could hate it
Every Disney adult’s worst nightmare is realizing that their kid doesn’t love the parks as much as they do. Don’t worry, it’s probably just a phase. But, Disney World is an extremely busy, loud, colorful, and overwhelming place for fully grown adults, let alone a kid who is easily overstimulated. The last thing you probably want is to accidentally traumatize your kid just because you wanted him to meet Mickey.
Hey, Mickey!
This brings up a great point — kids might be terrified of certain Disney World rides and even characters. We’ve seen it time and again at character meet and greets and on dark rides. We may or may not have even witnessed a family trick their kids into thinking Dinosaur wasn’t an utterly terrifying ride and then seeing the aftermath (which involved lots of tears and promises of ice cream).
Kids can be party poopers
Have you ever met a kid? They are super not chill most of the time. We can’t really blame them, though, since they’re still figuring life out. They don’t know how to properly react to things or how to behave in public yet, and most parents know just how easily they can push your buttons. Kids can be the biggest party poopers around, especially if you are on a mission to get specific things done on your trip. We’re sure your kids are an exception, but the only way to guarantee a tantrum-free trip is to leave them at home.
Tower of Terror
Of course, you know your kiddo best, and if bringing them to the Most Magical Place on Earth is something you’ve always dreamed of, we certainly won’t stop you. Families have been bringing kids to Disney World since it opened in 1971 and keep coming back, so there must be something to it!
Hollywood Studios at night
Whew. We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT. And this Genie+ thing can be so confusing – which is why we bring you posts like this so often. But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World.
If you’re considering bringing your kiddos to the parks for the first time, check out our tips at the link below — and stay tuned to DFB for more!
9 Fool-Proof Hacks for Taking Your Kids to Disney World
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You can bring kids, in fact, you are supposed to. There are people with children who feel adults without kids should be banned from the parks. Try to bring kids when it’s cooler during the school year. No crowds and no melts downs due to heat. Going to Disney is expensive. Be honest about it. Ask for ice water whenever you can and pack snacks for the long lines. Look for discounts–do you have military personnel in the family, disney plus subscribers, chase disney card holders? Check out DVC rental sights.
I’ve been to Disney World with and without kids. If you’re flexible and plan ahead, a great time can be had by all. The problems come when the adults pack too much into one day and the kids end up overwhelmed and exhausted. Understanding each child’s capacity for heat, noise, crowds, and stimulation goes a long way to having a good time.
I went with my bestie (and her adult daughter) a few years ago. We’re all neurodivergent and after a day at Magic Kingdom we all agreed — The park is lost on real little kids! You touched on most of our reasons why: they won’t remember it, they don’t see Mickey Mouse they see a 5.5’ black creature with weird ears, it’s overstimming, they can’t go on most rides and you’re not paying $50 to take them to a playground that’s free back home. They also can’t verbalize being tired or overstimmed, they just SCREAM. And that’s no fun for anyone.
Let ‘em grow up a few years and take them when they’re 6 or 7. They won’t be literal thinkers anymore, they’ll have seen the movies and television shows and will have favourites, they’ll know Mickey is a person in a costume. And they’ll remember it. For your part, you’ll get to save up more years and that means — right, MORE FUN!