Disney as an Adult: The Trip that Made Me fall in Love with It Again

My “First Time” at Disney… as a Disney Adult (And What Actually Surprised Me)

I go to Disney World a lot. One of my favorite things to do is drop my kids off at school, head to the parks, walk around for a few hours, grab lunch, and get back in time for pickup. It’s the best kind of reset.

Because I’m there so often, I see Walt Disney World in every season. I get my favorite eats, I get to experience the parks at different times of year, and I get to enjoy Disney in a way most tourists don’t—without the pressure of bustling from one ride to the next.

But this past weekend? It was different.

My agency trip brought 150 Wondermakers to Walt Disney World for training, experiences, content, and a whole lot of bonding. Core memories were made, and I will forever be reassured that this agency is the one for me.

And during all that agent bonding, I discovered something kind of hilarious:

I don’t actually know anything about staying at Disney.

I’ve been to Disney… but have I really BEEN to Disney?

Staying on property felt like going “home,” except the home had been renovated while I was gone. Familiar, comforting… and also brand new. It reminded me of coming back to a place you lived years ago and realizing you don’t know where anything is anymore.

That’s how I ended up doing something I never thought I’d do: during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, I got myself a “First Visit” button.

Because honestly? It felt true.

We stayed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and it was genuinely part of the magic for me. The African-inspired design, the warm earthy vibe, and the feeling of being in a resort that’s its own destination made staying on property click in a totally new way. It didn’t feel like “a place to sleep between park days”—it felt immersive, calming, and honestly a little transportive (in the best way). I’ve always loved places that feel like stepping into another world—history does that for me—and Animal Kingdom Lodge gave me that same “transported” feeling.

Here are some things that stood out to me—plus what I’d recommend if you’re planning your own “Disney adult” trip.

1.) “Hey Disney” might be the greatest new feature on the planet (hot take, I know)

I know this can be a hot take, but I absolutely loved it.

I woke up to Fozzie the Bear, Elsa, and Miss Piggy. (Fair warning: Fozzie announcing “TIME TO WAKE UP!” made me levitate out of bed that first morning. Not gentle. Very effective.)

What surprised me most is that it’s not just cute. It’s useful. It can give you resort info, help you navigate the basics, and connect you to cast members if you need something.

And when we go back in the summer? I will absolutely be taking advantage of the bedtime stories. Why would I read a bedtime story when Tiana will read one?

Practical tip: If you’re staying on property, build little moments like this into your trip. Disney isn’t just rides—it’s the in-between magic that makes the whole experience feel immersive.

2.) Many rides were a “first time”… or a “first time in forever”

Normally, I have my kids with me. They’re still super little, so there’s no way we’re doing the big kid rides yet—height requirements decide our fate.

Because of that, Guardians of the Galaxy, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, and more were true first-time experiences for me. It made me fall in love again with Disney stories I haven’t gotten to fully enjoy lately because I’m usually watching Bluey and Frozen on repeat.

Another really fun surprise: I got to ride classics like Pirates of the Caribbean for the first time in a long time. Pirates is technically any height, but if you’ve got littles you know “any height” doesn’t always mean “any vibes.” (That ship at the beginning can be a lot when someone is still deciding if Mickey is friend or suspicious.)

Being able to revisit those rides as an adult felt like meeting an old friend and realizing you still click.

Practical tip: If you normally travel with kids, consider building in one adult-friendly window:

• a childcare-supported evening (if it fits your comfort level)

• a swap system with another adult (one does rides, one does kid time)

• even a quick 2–3 hour “grown-up lap” while the kids restYou don’t need a whole separate trip to rediscover the big rides.

  
  

3.) The buses are actually pretty convenient (I was shocked too)

I am spoiled. I generally park at the park, walk straight in, or if I’m going to Magic Kingdom, I ride the monorail. I have never been on a Disney bus.

Even when I stayed on property as a kid, we stayed at the Polynesian—so it was monorail and good vibes. I truly didn’t know what I was missing.

The buses are actually a great way to get places, and they come often. I would argue that at the right time of day, it can be faster to use the bus than some other forms of transportation.

One thing I didn’t get to do (but I want to next time) is use a Minnie Van, which is basically Disney’s on-property Uber that can take you around property.

Practical tip: Even though transportation is easy to navigate, you still need to plan accordingly. The property is huge. Build extra time into your day for:

• walking to the stop

• waiting

• the ride itself

• and any second “leg” you might need (especially if you’re transferring)

  
  

4.) Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (and the moment I stopped caring about my checklist)

Before going on the trip, I did ALL the research about the Christmas party. I wanted to make sure I could “get my money’s worth” and figure out the best way to do ALL the things.

And then a weird thing happened when we got there. I didn’t care.

I can’t stress this enough: if you’re so busy checking off your metaphorical to-do list, you can spend all that money and time and forget to actually stop and enjoy it.

So I walked into Magic Kingdom and didn’t do anything according to my pre-arranged schedule—and honestly? It was better. I listened to the music, watched the parade, met characters, and even rode the PeopleMover for the very first time.

And yes, I learned something that made me gasp:

Did you know the PeopleMover goes INSIDE Space Mountain????

Another surprise: Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland. If you’re looking for a show that gives you a break from walking and puts a smile on your face, I laughed out loud at the cuteness. Definitely recommend if you need a reset and a grin.

Practical tip: For party events, pick one “must-do” and let the rest be bonus. Parties are where vibes matter most.

5.) My Disney Adult Rules (the stuff I wish I’d learned sooner)

• Pick your pace: rope drop or late nights—trying to do both is how you crash on Day 2.

• One anchor per day: one “must-do,” then let everything else be a bonus.

• Midday breaks aren’t optional: even 45–90 minutes back at the resort changes your whole trip.

• Buffer time is real: transportation, crowds, and snack stops will humble you—plan for it.

• Leave room for magic: the best moments are usually the ones you didn’t schedule.

6.) My plans changed. A lot. (And that’s the beauty of Disney)

We had Lightning Lanes. We had plans. We talked strategy ahead of time… and we still changed our plans over and over.

And that’s the beauty of Disney. Even though we were on a “schedule,” we were able to flex enough to make the vacation fit our priorities and what we wanted to get out of it.

For example: we booked a Lightning Lane for Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios. But once we arrived, we realized the new Villains show was running—and we really wanted to see it. Disney made it easy to adjust our Lightning Lane plans, keep us on track, and snag a Lightning Lane for Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster (not part of the original plan). If we hadn’t been flexible, we would have missed what ended up being one of the best parts of our day. Seriously though, the song is still stuck in my head and it’s been a week.

Another example: I was tired. Like, exceptionally tired. Saturday night I had planned to go to Jollywood, but that was going to be too much. So I changed my ticket, ordered food from the resort, and went to bed early.

And it was much needed—and OK.

If you check in with yourself or look at your kids and your first thought is, “I wish we didn’t have plans tonight,” it is absolutely okay to cancel those plans and go a different direction. If that’s what you need to make your trip more enjoyable, this is your permission to do that for yourself and your family.

The last thing you need is to push overly tired children and adults around the parks in the name of “magic.” Maybe it’s just me, but that doesn’t sound very magical at all.

Practical tip: Build a flex pocket into every day—either a midday break or a low-key evening option. Your whole trip will feel better.

The bottom line: there is magic at Disney—and it gets to be YOUR magic

Overall, the bottom line is that there is magic at Disney. We saw couples celebrating 20, 30, 40 years together. We saw newlyweds. We saw littles running around in tiny princess dresses. We saw friends on big trips. We saw families making core memories.

Your trip to Disney can be as relaxed or as scheduled as you wish—and the best part?

It is your story.

There are lots of things I can recommend about Disney, and there are lots of experiences I can recommend, but the one thing I highly recommend is this: make it yours. Make it your adventure, your story, your magic.

And if that changes? It’s okay. Disney will be there when you’re ready to come back.

And odds are… some things may be for the very first time.