Hello, hi! I am a self-proclaimed grandma at heart at the ripe age of 29. I am also a Disney adult who loves spending my free time at Disney World. What exactly constitutes a grandma at heart? Well, there isn’t exactly one definition, but for me, I enjoy living a slower life. I am almost always in bed by 9 PM and up before 7 AM. The club life is not the life for me, and I much prefer quieter settings. I would also be perfectly content sitting in a rocking chair and watching the world go by for hours. Plus, crafting is always a yes for me!
Magic Kingdom
While Disney World is generally a fairly chaotic place, I think there is something for just about anyone to enjoy! So, if you relate to being a grandma at heart, or are just looking for some more low-key things to do in Disney World, you have come to the right place! I am sharing some of my unspoken rules for Magic Kingdom and some of the must-dos if you are looking for a great time.
Do Disney World YOUR Way
There are really no rules saying you have to do Disney World a certain way. While we are all about giving you the best tips to make the most of your vacation here at DFB, if you want to go find a seat in Magic Kingdom and people watch for the whole day, you can do that too!
Magic Kingdom
I might recommend a slightly less expensive people watching location if that is all you want to do all day, but I can attest that people watching in Disney World is very entertaining. You don’t have to rush from ride to ride or plan your day out by the minute. There is nothing wrong with doing either of those things, but I often enjoy just meandering my way through Magic Kingdom and just going with the flow.
It Is Perfectly Fine to Relax and Take Things Slow
Sure, it can be super easy to fall into the mindset that you need to make the most of every single minute of your vacation since Disney World is not a cheap vacation. But it is perfectly okay to relax during your vacation. Grab a bite to eat and find a seat to really enjoy it. Savor your surroundings and take the time to appreciate the details. Magic Kingdom has so much to see beyond the surface, so I really encourage you to take things slow.
Hi Pascal!
You can look around Main Street, U.S.A. or hunt for the Pascals hidden in Fantasyland. You can also go on a smelling scavenger hunt with the Smellephants on Parade in Storybook Circus. There are lots of treats to try out, and stores to browse. There have definitely been days when I have gone to Magic Kingdom and walked around for a majority of the day.
Take the Ferry Boat in the Morning
If you are rope dropping Magic Kingdom or heading into the park fairly early in the morning, the ferry boat is the way to go in my opinion. It always feels like a much more relaxing experience to me, and you don’t end up as crammed on as you do in the monorail. The one downside is that there is no AC on the boat, but I always feel so much more relaxed when I take the boat in versus the monorail. If you want to experience the monorail, I recommend taking it in the afternoons!
The ferry boat to Magic Kingdom
Enjoy the Calmer Attractions
Magic Kingdom has some really iconic attractions and a lot of them are on the calmer side. If you are looking for really calm attractions, I suggest checking out the PeopleMover, the Swiss Family Treehouse, Carousel of Progress, The Hall of Presidents, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, or Mickey’s Philharmagic. There are attractions like “it’s a small world”, Haunted Mansion, and Jungle Cruise that are also relaxing. Of course, you can also always squeeze in a more thrilling attraction or two here and there!
View from the PeopleMover
People Watching CAN Be an Attraction
I have said it before, and I will say it again. People watching in Disney World is fantastic entertainment, and I usually dedicate at least a portion of my day to it. Some of my favorite spots include the second floor of Columbia Harbour House at a table near the window, the rocking chairs in Frontierland, watching people come down the drop at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the tables at Tortuga Tavern, and just about any bench I can find in Magic Kingdom. It is always fun watching people experience the park and you will likely spot a melt down or two while you are at it.
I LOVE people watching!
You Don’t Have to Stay Until Park Close
Chances are, I probably won’t make it. There are rare occasions when I manage to stay for fireworks, but in general, I usually leave the park in the early evening so I can be in bed as close to 9 PM as possible. While the Happily Ever After fireworks are lovely and the new nighttime parade, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is supposed to be stunning (still trying to build myself up to see it in person…), you can have an amazing time in Magic Kingdom without staying until park close. Plus, you also get to avoid the chaos that is leaving at park close and be curled up in your pajamas in bed while everyone else is trying to leave.
Encanto float in Disney Starlight
Hopefully these tips will help you plan your Magic Kingdom trip whether you consider yourself a grandma at heart or not! Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World news!
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From being a Disney kid, to Disney parent,, to now a Disney grandma (& Disney adult when we get to go without kids/grand), I love this. Husband and I love going down for a spontaneous short trip when we can and just simply enjoying whatever we leisurely want to as we feel. Favorite meals or snacks, a ride here or there, the sights, the sounds, the smells. So laid back.
My wife and I are Disney grandparents, and always enjoyed going to Magic Kingdom with our grandkids more than anything. But for those times when we went by ourselves, our priorities changed, and we very much appreciated just sitting at one of the tables outside of the Plaza Ice Cream Shoppe, enjoying a delectable treat and watching a scheduled parade go by. In the absence of a parade, the “parade of humanity” walking up and down Main Street suited us just fine.
Of course, it helped that we were Annual Passholders then, and had not just forked over $175 +/- for that simple pleasure.
One of my favorite recent memories is sitting over at Epcot in World Showcase, ice cream from France in hand, at one of the small tables facing the lagoon and just watching the (Disney) world go by! People watching in Epcot is one of my favorite things to do and yes, can be very entertaining! Would definitely recommend!
Colette, it’s like you looked right into my soul!