“You’re dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.” -Walt Disney
There has been a debate that goes on for many different years that asks the question...is Disney just for Kids? Walt imagined Disney World to be a place for both kids and adults, but society nowadays asks this question. There are “Karen's” or problematic people in this world who debate that adults without children should not be allowed to go. Well...I am a 23-year-old Zillennial (Born in between the years of Gen Z and Millennial) who is single with no children, and I love to go to Disney World.
Everyone has their perceptions of theme parks, and some people believe that theme parks should stay as a family friendly environment. I’m sorry, but if you think I am not calling my friends who have been friends for 10+ years, family...you are crazy.
Disney has so many elements for those “Adult Kids”. Those who are old enough to go to parks on their own and are over 18+. The first element is the Nostalgia of the parks. When we go to Disney World, we like to reminisce on the past and see where Disney is going. Heck I remember on my first trip that I could remember I got to see Donald Duck’s Boat and Mickey’s Country House in Toontown Fair. Granted these attractions are closed now, but these memories live on in my mind.
A theme park that truly does have a focus on older kids and adults would have to be EPCOT. The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow has a section known as World Showcase. This area of EPCOT focuses on countries and demonstrating popular cuisines and cultures of the countries. Going through the countries you get to see popular attractions that focus on those countries. In Norway, you get to go on a boat ride through Arendelle. In EPCOT though, you have the chance to do alcohol tastings. A lot of Disney adults go EPCOT to do drinking around the world, a treacherous journey of having a drink from every country. (If you do participate in this activity, please do drink responsibly)
This is going to sound extremely basic but the last thing about Disney World that is also for adults is that they feel like they are home. Disney College Program is a chance for college students to go to Disney World for 4-7 months and work and live at Disney. People move closer to Disney so they can be near the parks. If you had a bad day, you could just drive over and park your car and enjoy your time at Disney. For me, when I got to Disney, it’s a chance for me to leave the world behind me and focus my time there.
The most important reason for my belief that Disney is also for adults is something that Walt Disney said himself. He said that Disney should be for kids and adults. Everyone is a kid at heart even when they do not know it. Disney is truly a place for everyone, kids and adults alike can find the magic.
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