Walt Disney World for Seniors

Seniors that visit Walt Disney World are essentially of three distinct varieties. The first group are the senior couple who are simply visiting the World because it's a place they want to be. They could be local Florida residents, they could be "snowbirds" down for the winter from northern climates or they could simply be folks who just refuse to grow up. They might be avid attraction riders or they could be bench-warmers who like to watch the world go by.

The second group are the grandparent, or grandparents, who are accompanying their sons and daughters with their families as sometime babysitters to allow the younger couple to get out and enjoy a quiet meal or head for Pleasure Island. They are usually a happy contingent because the grandkids adore them due to their unwavering ability to say yes to every request that the grandkids want. "Grammy can I have a.... Yes, sweetheart".

The third group are the bravest folks alive. They are the grandparents who have chosen, yes CHOSEN, to go to Walt Disney World with their beloved grandchildren but without their control group, the parents. These folks would no sooner enter the New York marathon or go bungee-jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge but somehow they're at the world with their death-wish grandchildren. "No Grandpa, this isn't a roller coaster. It's very mild." Yes, it's certainly not a roller coaster, it's in fact the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The little angels!!!

There are several areas that seniors need to be aware of when they venture through the archway on World Drive.

Firstly, as a senior, you need to be aware of the time of year that you are visiting. Summer in Orlando is extremely hot indeed. 90-95 degree temperatures from early morning till well into the late evening are commonplace each and every day from May through November. Be aware of the heat index; it will sometimes be a lot higher if there is humidity that day.

Secondly you need to be aware that Walt Disney World can, and does, require a lot of walking to get around. If you are prone to needing a rest every few steps, Walt Disney World will be purgatory for you. If you are fairly active it will be less so. If you are at all hovering on whether or not to get a wheelchair or a scooter, take the plunge and get the scooter. You will be surprised how much of a comfort it is to be able to sit and ride at the end of a long day.

Thirdly, food. Most seniors have digestive systems that have become used to more simple foods with less emphasis on the more exotic combinations of flavors. Although Disney does have a large number of "fancy" food locations, almost every hotel has a place where more basic foods are available and are welcomed by those of us who are less adventurous in our choices.

Walt Disney World is not short on its share of senior visitors and a visit there is as much fun at 70 as it is at 7. The great news is that both ages allow you enormous latitude as you behave like a child on any given ride.