A Childless Millennial’s Guide to Disney
Are you a childless millennial? Enjoy visiting Walt Disney World without kids? Love to line up in front of parents for Mickey Mouse pretzels? We have the perfect guide for you. In this post, we’ll cover the things that childless couples and millennials are allowed to do at Walt Disney World!
This follows a viral Facebook post in which one brave mother had the fortitude to stand up to (well, via social media long after the fact) the scourge to humanity that is adults without kids visiting the Disney. This Facebook post has made the rounds before, but it blew up after an editorial proclaiming that childless millennials going to Walt Disney World is weird. For some reason, this elicited an internet firestorm from clueless millennials who don’t realize they should only be obsessed with age-appropriate things like Applebee’s, bingo, and conspiracy theories.
Frankly, I’m glad someone finally had the courage to confront us nefarious millennials. Per “news” articles written by Boomers, we millennials are responsible for killing an eye-popping number of purported American national treasures: restaurant chains, cable television, doorbells, cereal, handshakes, the housing market, domestic beer, Hooters, diamonds, golf, Harley Davidson, dating, consumerism, gyms, mayonnaise, and so much more. It’d be a shame if Disney joined our lengthy list of victims…
Of course, I don’t actually blame millennials for these casualties, just as I don’t blame the Lost Generation for killing the horse-drawn carriage industry or Baby Boomers for creating the concept of a participation award. I do think this scapegoating of millennials is really odd and, in many cases, misplaced projection for systemic changes set in motion by earlier generations.
With that said, here’s our exhaustive and comprehensive list of things childless millennials are allowed to do at Walt Disney World…
1. Anything Anyone Else Does – That’s it. That’s the list. (You can also feel free to print out this post so you have it handy when visiting Walt Disney World, though.)
You might want to avoid things like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, but pretty much everything else is fair game. I don’t think we need a long-winded diatribe, feel-good Walt Disney quote, or pointed “clap-back” here. That would be preaching to the choir; if you’re reading this, you already know that the magic of Disney transcends age, and there are different layers to the parks that appeal to different ages, demographics, and interests.
We could dissect the meticulous level of Imagineered detail goes into the parks, much of which is over the heads of children. We could list the world-class dining, bars, and entertainment aimed squarely at an older demographic. We could showcase resorts, spas, golf, recreation, etc., that is not for kids. All of that might be reassuring, but it’s unnecessary. If you’re an adult fan of Disney who doesn’t have kids, there’s presumably a reason for that, and you don’t need to be told again what that is.
On the off chance that you’re finding this blog post as a childless millennial who was inadvertently turned on to Disney as a result of this whole media kerfuffle and started reading this in a sincere attempt to plan a trip and find things that might appeal specifically to you, our apologies. (At least there were some positive unintended consequences of the controversy!)
We’d recommend consulting our Walt Disney World for Adults or Honeymoon Tips for Walt Disney World posts. (The latter is a good resource even if you’re not honeymooning at WDW.) Or just our regular Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide, because that’s pretty much universally applicable. Most experiences in the Disney parks are designed for a range of ages; even seemingly kid-oriented things like Fantasyland dark rides can be appreciated by adults for their whimsy, charm, and (potentially) nostalgia.
Finally, a bit of sincere commentary. Millennials are not without blame. We are at least partially responsible for the proliferation of clickbait ‘millennials are killing’ content like this. (Finally, something we’re aiding instead of killing!) Boomers are also partially responsible, as they seek a convenient boogeyman to blame for perceived societal issues, changing times, and the march of progress.
Articles like that one aren’t going anywhere any time soon. However, every click or share on social media–even ones that are ‘hate-clicks’ or voicing disagreement–helps guarantee that another such article will be written. This is an art Howard Stern mastered in the 90s, but apparently we haven’t learned anything since. (In fairness, most millennials probably weren’t of age then.)
Expect plenty more articles like that ‘childless millennials are weird for liking Disney’ one, because we took the bait even harder this time, despite it being like the 23rd mainstream article this year that trotted out the exact same tired trope. What should be inducing a yawn at this point is instead prompting an impassioned response.
I’m cognizant of the fact that this post also only helps further fan the flames, which is why I don’t normally weigh in on pointless topics like this. There’s no winning this ‘argument’, but you cannot lose if you do not play.
In at least partially keeping with this mentality, I deliberately did not link to the viral Facebook post or article that inspired this blog post. You’ve undoubtedly read articles like it before or heard similar sentiment from friends. You don’t need to read it. You already know what it says.
Perhaps naively, I’m mostly hopeful that this blog post sparks introspection. We don’t have to take the bait every single time. I used to have an office colleague who asked (disingenuously) why I visited Walt Disney World so much, and poked fun at me for “going to play with Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse again this weekend.” Finally, I didn’t respond with a persuasive argument–I gave a terse, “[expletive] yeah, and I’m going to have a [expletive] good time chilling with my homies” before walking away. That pretty much put an end to that.
Personally, I’ve lost the compulsion to engage in conversations like this. Maybe I’m getting old, but I don’t have the energy or patience for any commentary or discussions I perceive as being in bad faith, or for the sake of inducing an argument. Not everyone has to approve of our interests or hobbies. You don’t have to offer a justification for what you like, or bring others around to your line of thinking. Disney fans shouldn’t be a cult that feels compelled to indoctrinate the uninitiated. If you still find yourself tempted to engage with every trolling post or comment like this, just remember that every adult without kids who you do convince is one more person in front of you in line.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What do you think about this whole ‘childless adults doing Disney is weird’ thing? Think we should just ignore it, or try to “beat” the stereotype? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I took my kids to Disneyworld their whole lives, when I remarried we went to Disney for our honeymoon. When the kids were gone we went once or twice a year together without kids it was great. Now I go on my own I get a lot flack for going solo like it’s unnatural. It’s the best place you can go solo I’ve met people from around the world, you never have to go far for a conversation. I think maybe just ignoring being hard of understanding is the way to go….
I am that fellow co-worker you told off many years ago. From that day on, once I stopped crying, I vowed to create a bigger, better Disney blog.
Mission accomplished!
Signed,
Joshua H.
Lol, I did indeed see the article in question and wondered what I’m supposed to do at wdw now? Just wander around aimlessly? Now WWTBAM is gone, where can I go to be safely penned up??
Haha, perhaps the tone isn’t properly conveyed here due to the expletives, but I definitely didn’t tell my coworker off–I leaned into it while using the foul language to offer a contrast to the squeaky-clean perception of Disney. (While I don’t curse on the blog, I do quite a bit in real life…I didn’t used to, but Sarah corrupted me!)
In any case, well played with the Josh joke! Didn’t mean to spoil that, but thought I’d clarify for the benefit of everyone else.
If there’s a better target for picking on than millennials, it has to be Disney bloggers, right?
Thx for taking it in the intended spirit!
My husband and I are in our early 30s, and going to Disney World for our first trip with my 58 year old dad. It’ll be our first family vacation in over 20 years. We don’t have kids, have no interest in kids, and hate that kids seemingly get to have all the fun. (We recently took a trip to our local nature center where there are two couples of red wolves, and there’s an opportunity to ‘feed’ them. I signed up, OF COURSE, even though ‘feeding’ them literally means putting on a plastic glove and throwing a piece of meat over the fence. While we were discussing all the trials and tribulations the red wolves are facing today, they mentioned that kids would have the priority of feeding. I very loudly booed. I still got to throw my meat, though).
My husband and I don’t have any interest in going around the world and visiting places. Yeah, I’m sure it’s nice, but it’s not something on our bucket list. I do want to visit Japan, though, and not just because of their new Beauty and the Beast ride. And, we haven’t visited Australia since my husband moved to the US almost 10 years ago, so that’s on the list. But other than that…the other ‘adults’ can have all they want while I will be planning my next Disney trip.
And you should see my house! Every room is either Disney, Harry Potter, or something ‘nerdy’. I could only imagine what these ‘normal’ adults would say about it.
I am a childless Gen X. I guess maybe that should be considered worse in this woman’s eyes because at least Millennials are closer to a young, acceptable Disney going age. I know she also had an issue with the girl’s outfit too. Oh well!!
I suppose I could go ahead and complain about folks like her who have a tantrum throwing child ruining my fun at the Disney Parks. Why should I have to wait on lines with a disruptive child when I am there on my stress free vacation??
Some people are not happy unless they make other people unhappy!
Hi Tom! People should learn to mind their F business! Live and let live! As long as it’s not hurting others. I’m 54 and my wife and I love to go to Disney World, just the two of us. The kids are all grown up and don’t follow no more but we still have a ton of fun. Disney is really our happy place! Keep up the great work!
Same here! 48 and 52. Kids grown and we go alone. We are headed in in 33 days! We have seen both rotten , bratty kids, and rotten bratty adults. No age profiling needed. Politeness and common sense should be ageless. And I agree. Mind your own business. Usually if I see people of any age behaving badly, I walk away and am thankful they arent with us!
I’m a younger Gen-X whose kids are grown. We used to take them to the parks: Disneyland and a couple times to Walt Disney World.
Now? They go live their lives and we go to Disney. We bought DVC and use it along with visiting the parks whenever we can, without kids. We’re on our 6th trip this year, with 4 more to go.
Once in a blue moon I’ll get a weird look from some person, but honestly I see a *lot* of older couples enjoying the parks and the feedback I get from most people is that they wish their kids were grown so they could go without them. It’s really a different experience being able to enjoy your resort, or go to just the rides you want and not have to worry about what the kids want, or with their squabbles, etc. MK, Epcot, and Disneyland really lend themselves to nuanced exploration and can be great for a casual stroll and people watching. I recommend it to all parents, if you can get away!
One thing I think it’s important to keep in mind about a place like DL or WDW is that you are getting a wide cross-section of people. Disney Parks are widely loved across pretty much every demographic in the US — it cuts across political party, religion, race, etc. So you *are* going to run into people with different customs than yours and different levels of entitlement. Some people are awful, but many are wonderful.
Great post Tom! I’ve been to WDW 4 times with my two kids since 2012. We love going with them and will continue to do so. However given the chance I’d gladly do a trip with just my wife and I. It’s something we regret doing before kids but hope to one day make happen. That’s what makes WDW so fantastic – there’s so much for kids and adults alike to do. I can do a character breakfast and Magic Kingdom for my kids (and of course myself!) and then enjoy some adult beverages while wandering the World Showcase at night.
On our last trip in November of 2018 we were at the Character Spot in Epcot (RIP). In front were two women probable in their late 30s, early 40s. One started complaining how young kids shouldn’t be allowed as they’ll never remember the trip. My wife and i looked at each other and laughed. What else could you do at such an inane comment?
People like that lady in front of me and the mother whose post went viral just don’t get it. There’s something for everyone in WDW. That’s why people of all ages go and why they will continue to go.
I’m a young Gen X’er with very young children but before they came along, my husband and I honeymooned at WDW; both types of trips are fun.
These articles about who should and shouldn’t be going to Disney are ridiculous, just like the rants about strollers in the parks, or who should and shouldn’t be using a scooter.
Go have fun on your vacation, and worry less about everyone else.
PS…I’m sorry Ed! I didn’t mean to reply directly to your comment, just to comment in general. But I agree with your post
Gen-x here. I’m just going to quietly back away from the argument and eat my Dole Whip over here in the corner
Laughing out loud! You just described my husband and I.
LOL, watch the 3:27 mark! 😉
https://www.theonion.com/report-rising-disney-world-ticket-costs-prompting-many-1819578075
I’ve seen that before and think it’s hilarious.
I give comedians a pass on pretty much everything. It’s their job to poke fun, subvert or manipulate stereotypes, etc. I have no problem laughing at my own expense!
Well personally I blame Millennials for taking all the attention from all the rest of us who are trying our best to ruin things as well. Don’t we get any credit? I’m 55 years old and I’m a single, childless adult who visits WDW regularly and has bought Mickey pretzels. Where’s the outraged viral post from some kook lady about ME!?
I can see the headline now: “Millennials Are Killing Other People Getting Blamed for Society’s Problems.” 😉
Regarding the viral post from the angry Mom, my 28 year old Millennial daughter said it best: “She needs to go for one day to Epcot without her kid and do beer & wine around the world!”
I’m a Baby Boomer Disney Mom who raised three Millennials, and thank goodness the apple didn’t fall far from the tree because they are still my Disney Babies even though they are 34, 30, and 28 years old. <3 I remember the days of hauling them through Disney World in double strollers, then they eventually they became tweens and then teenagers who wanted to venture Disney World on their own. Nowadays I highly encourage them to go travel while they are healthy, and to hang on to their youth as long as they can.
I will be traveling to Disney World again next week for a girls trip with two of my three Millennial daughters along with my sister and her Gen-Z daughter on a belated graduation trip. My third daughter who is NOT joining us on this coming trip has two kids and it's back to school time for them, oh well!
My husband and I are boomers. And I guess we act like all the other childless couples. We took our kids there for years and they’re going to take their children. People of all ages and diversity are welcome at Disney. It’s a place where happiness and love reign. And if you tell someone you work with you are there. It’s an automatic don’t call you for work! It’s magic Obviously, the people that write these other posts are disappointed because either they didn’t have a good time and they thought that this imaginary place would solve their problems. (By the way Kids are not allowed in some of the wonderful wine and food events for over 21 ) and “kids “ of all ages love a parade, I have faith that Disney will never go out of fashion with any age. It brings happy memories and Fun for all those with open hearts. Nothing fills my heart more than to watch a parade with laughing happy families around me enjoying themselves (and yes the little ones are in front ! )Next time you’re in line buying a pretzel , water, or a Mickey supreme. why not buy a one for the person behind you and hand it to them? We play the Dino games in animal kingdom and give away all the stuffed toys to the little ones around us You’ll be amazed the magic that happens ! Try it !
I think it’s wonderful that you do this. It’s the little Joy’s that make life and trips to Disney memorable. Whether its meeting your favorite character and riding Space Mountain. Or small like sharing an ice cream with a stranger or seeing a full moon above Cinderella castle while riding Big Thunder Mountain. That is what great memories are made from. Everyone needs to relax and enjoy the moments.
I heard about this lady, and I feel like this post brings out what most people think. I recently took a trip to WDW without children and I had a wonderful time. Thank you for pointing out that Disney is ageless and transcends all types of people.
Thanks so much Tom for giving me a platform for my own rant against people who have the cheek to take their children to a Disney Parks and complain about childless couples.
We were recently at DLP and on the first nights fireworks were stood on Main Street and several people tapped us on the shoulder to say (or indicate pointedly) that we were blocking the view of their children. This was not because we were stood on a bin, like many children were, but just because we were adults stood in the middle of the road who happen to be taller than their children.
On another many occasions at WDW children were lifted over the wall and placed in the front of the queue ahead of us for a ride because they are children and shouldn’t have to wait.
We have waited an hour sitting on the floor on a blanket waiting for a parade only to have a mother ask if our children can sit where we are. When we say no the mother stands on the blanket and spills coffee and/or ice cream on us (presumably deliberate) and tells her kids to go ahead and sit in front of us (they got moved on by CMs).
My wife and I don’t technically qualify as millennials as we were both born early 80s but we don’t have children. We recently discovered Disney as a vacation option and find it suits us at the moment.
I love this blog because the hotel and dining reviews have made touring Disney as adults very interesting.
I cannot believe that people behave like this!! What a way to act in front of your children. I go once a year with my girls and I cringe at the way some parents behave! In fact, I warned both girls to be prepared to wait behind adults who love Star Wars at Galaxy’s Edge because they’ve been waiting a lot longer than my daughters, haha.
Yeah, I would like to add (in case it wasn’t clear) that we just smile and get one with it when this happens. We appreciate having kids is stressful (and expensive) and we are never rude to people with children or the children themselves.
Amen. I am not a boomer or a millennial. I am a fan of all things Disney. I have enjoyed vacations to the parks as a child, teenager, 20 something and throughout my children’s life. I am a mom of teenagers. And yes, they still love visiting the parks, even now.
I say kudos to those millennials for being so patient with our whiny kids. For staying silent to us parents who refuse to drag our brood back to the hotel for naps or recognize our day of fun is over.
I have wonderful memories of my trips, before children, with children and I hope to continue to make memories after children.
For the love of Disney at any age!
I can’t believe how much credence has been given to this debate. The woman’s Facebook post comes across as unhinged, crass and entitled. Disney, as with just about every other resort destination in the world, clearly courts any demographic willing to spend thousands on the experiences they create. I feel like this discussion is emblematic of our culture today. The internet disassociates us from our own humanity. We view “others” of all sorts without empathy and blame them for our own poor experiences. I’ve been to Disney parks with and without my children, and have enjoyed special experiences every time. I’ve seen every combination of bad behavior, friendliness, aggression, and extreme kindness from all shapes, sizes, colors and ages during those trips. People are people, and anyone willing to wait 20 minutes to pay $6 deserves a pretzel!
“I can’t believe how much credence has been given to this debate. The woman’s Facebook post comes across as unhinged, crass and entitled.”
Her post (which isn’t even new–I saw it like a year ago) is simply a conduit to revive the same tired stereotypes. I think most people recognize her post, on its face, is way over the top.
However, it has been used as the basis for a viral article that is much more restrained, and has become a pretty common type of content on mainstream sites. It’s not even the first (or second…or third…) article of its kind to gain traction on social media this year!
So happy to see this get posted. I started laughing out loud when I read the email notification. On my way to work this morning, I literally thought to myself “I hope Tom talks about that crazy women’s childless millennial rant.” so extra funny to me that this went live today. As a childless millennial I will continue to visit my favorite vacation spot, so thanks for the tips!
Well reasoned. I think I took the most offense from the editorial suggesting that going to Disney does not qualify as an adult activity, but travelling to Paris and drinking wine, and watching certain films, does. The article also suggested that millenials who visited Disney all the time were closed off, small-minded people who refused to travel to other locations. How completely nonsensical. I suppose the author’s small mind can’t fathom the fact that there can be childless adults who are Disney fans, and who also travel all over the world, and have other hobbies and interests. (In fact, childless adults probably spend more time travelling around the world than adults with kids!)
“Critics who treat ‘adult’ as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” – C.S. Lewis.
Brilliant, Tom! Can’t agree more with your last few comments especially.
Great article! I’m a parent that has been to Disney World several times, and frankly, I can’t wait to go WITHOUT my child! It’s exhausting running around the parks, trying to keep a child happy. I look forward to the day when I can go and take my time, doing what I want.