If you’ve never been to Walt Disney World before, you’ve probably asked yourself at some point, “Is a Disney vacation right for me?” And the truth is, it’s impossible to know for sure.
A Disney vacation can be the most relaxing thing in the world for some people, but for others, it can be an expensive and saccharine hellscape designed to deprive them of their sanity. The struggle with Disney is that it’s often hard to know what kind of person you are without making the trip yourself.
Today, we’ll try to solve that problem.
Below, you’ll find 10 questions, each with a yes or no answer. If you’re unsure of whether or not a trip to the Disney Parks is right for you, read these 10 questions and jot down your answers. Then, at the end, we’ll help you tally them up to decide whether you should book that trip or close the Disney.com tab.
Let’s get to it:
Do I enjoy scheduling things?
Image: harshlight, Flickr (license)
For many, planning a Disney trip is as much fun — if not more fun — than even the vacation itself. The greatest joy for these people is nailing the earliest FastPass+ time or the perfect dining reservation.
Even once you’ve arrived, there’s ample opportunity to put together touring plans and even alter things on the fly. Planners love Disney.
Am I able to relax when my plans go awry?
Image: ivanlanin, Flickr (license)
But just as important is being able to stay composed when the plans don’t work out.
For example: Some people arrive at the airport, learn that their flight is delayed, and grab a cup of coffee and a magazine to pass the time. Others arrive at the airport, learn that their flight is delayed, and launch into a whirlwind of heated phone calls and angry tweets.
Things will go wrong on your Disney trip, and how you handle those things going wrong can make or break the vacation.
Am I happy to stand and/or walk for long periods of time?
Image: tcwmatt, Flickr (license)
While you don’t need to be a fitness expert to visit Walt Disney World, it’s best enjoyed if you’re able to explore the parks without getting too exhausted. Walking is the most efficient way to get around the parks, and at the end of the night, you’ve still got to walk back to the bus stop — so some fitness is good to have.
A trip to Disney is an active vacation, and if you’re the kind of person who wants to lie down on a beach and never get up, it may not be right for you.
Note: The Disney Parks are also some of the most accessible places on earth for those with disabilities. So, while standing and walking are necessary for some, if you’re unable to truly do either, Disney is more than happy to help you out.
Can I wake up before 10:00 AM every day?
Image: chad_sparkes, Flickr (license)
The best way to tour the Disney Parks is by getting to the gate as early as possible. Sometimes, that might even mean before 7:00 AM.
Be honest with yourself about how willing you’ll be to wake up that early on vacation. For some, it’s not an issue. For others, it’s a Herculean challenge. Keep in mind: Disney has plenty of coffee between your hotel room and the theme park gates, so if you need a pick-me-up, you won’t be left hanging.
Will I avoid saying, “We need to get our money’s worth”?
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It’s impossible to do it all in one trip when you visit a Disney theme park. In fact, it’s impossible to do it all in a lifetime visiting some place like Walt Disney World. And so, if you’re unable to forget the sticker price of a Disney trip while you’re at the parks, and you assign a dollar value to each attraction and show, you won’t have a good time.
If you know you’ll keep a running tally of ticket-cost-per-attraction-ridden in your head, you should answer no to this question.
Am I willing to look a bit foolish sometimes?
Image: princessashley, Flickr (license)
Sometimes, you just need to be willing to laugh at yourself.
Part of going on vacation is letting go of the daily stresses and giving yourself over to the whims of the universe. Disney is no different: You might find yourself being mocked by monsters at Monsters Inc.: Laugh Floor, or you may discover you’ve been chosen to help Belle tell a story at Enchanted Tales with Belle.
Whatever the case may be, a trip to Disney will sometimes involve looking a bit foolish in front of a crowd — or even just your family. If you aren’t willing to be a bit goofy in a photograph — either with Goofy or solo — then maybe Disney is not the best place for you to vacation.
Do I like sugar?
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It’s impossible not to consume sugar while at the Disney Parks. Between the delicious candies and baked goods, the Mickey-shaped ice cream bars and the Dole Whips, and the alcoholic beverages and cocktails, it’s hard to stay away from sugar in such a playful place.
But, even looking at it metaphorically, Disney can feel quite saccharine at times itself — whether it’s in the shows that challenge you to dream a bit bigger or the cast members that implore you to have a magical day. If you don’t care for sugar — both real and metaphorical — Disney isn’t for you.
Will I survive being around children constantly?
Image: lorenjavier, Flickr (license)
Walt Disney World and Disneyland are amazing places to vacation as adults, regardless of whether or not you have children with you. The myriad bars, restaurants, and nightlife opportunities make Disney’s parks some of the coolest places to spent a night out with friends.
And yet, no matter how much fun Disney is for adults, it will always be a place for families to spend time together — and that means, there will be a lot of children.
You can stay way from kids mostly on a trip, but if you hate being around children at any time, stay far away from the Disney parks.
Can I tell when I need rest?
Image: harshlight, Flickr (license)
One of the biggest challenges for any Disney vacation is knowing when your body is telling you to take a break. It can be easy to ignore the signs of hunger or sleepiness when you’re surrounded by overwhelming stimuli and adrenaline-inducing rides.
The only way to survive a Disney trip is by keeping in touch with your own well-being. Only you will know when you need rest, and if you aren’t good at figuring that out for yourself, you might need a more low-key vacation.
Am I willing to suspend my disbelief?
Image: cd23murray, Flickr (license)
Above all else, Disney is a place of magic. And the most important part of magic is the suspension of disbelief. We all know the magician didn’t actually pull a rabbit out of her hat, but for just a second, we’ve allowed ourselves to become convinced that she did.
Disney is the same thing. If you’re unable to let yourself believe that the animatronic fox you’re looking at is a real character, or if you cannot let yourself forget that you’re suspended from a massive Erector set in front of an IMAX screen, Disney isn’t your cup of tea.
So, count up your scores:
If you have 8-10 “Yes” responses, you should go ahead and book that trip ASAP. You’ll have an amazing time, and you probably already knew that.
If you have 5-7 “Yes” responses, you’ll still enjoy a Disney vacation, but you’ll need to put some work into it. Decide some areas you’ll be willing to compromise, and put an action plan into place. Practice waking up earlier, or recruit a friend to make your FastPass+ reservations for you.
If you have 0-4 “Yes” responses, you probably want to reconsider booking a trip to visit a Disney theme park. There’s no shame in that! I hear the south of France is nice this time of year.
