It really is true what they say: Disney World has something for everyone to enjoy. But, planning a trip for an extended family that includes young children, grandparents, and everyone in between can be a challenge.
As soon as we heard about the “Monstrous Summer” 24 hour event at Magic Kingdom this past May, we knew we had to go! We were excitedly telling our family members about it, and before we knew it, our trip had turned into a multigenerational affair. So, I had my challenge before me: plan a fun day at Magic Kingdom for myself, my husband, my five-year-old daughter, my twenty-year-old cousin, and my Grandmother.
It was so important to me that my Grandmother had a fun time. It had been many years since she visited Magic Kingdom, and I was elated to share my “happy place” with her. I knew she was an early riser, so the 6:00 AM opening time of Magic Kingdom that day would not be a problem for her. We were there by about 5:45 and ready to begin our day.
One of the first things we did was stop for a family photo in front of Cinderella Castle. We took advantage of the low early-morning crowds, and we rode some of the slower, gentler attractions. For reference, my Grandmother has heart disease and is a diabetic. Here are the attractions that were suitable for her:
- Walt Disney World Railroad
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Jungle Cruise
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Haunted Mansion
- The Hall of Presidents
- It’s A Small World
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
- Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover
As you can see, that is quite a long list! She really was able to participate in almost everything we did that day. Magic Kingdom is a great place for families traveling with very young or elderly family members. We were so thankful for all the things we were able to experience together as a family.
For lunch, I made us reservations at The Crystal Palace. It is one of my favorite places to eat. I absolutely love the Winnie the Pooh characters, and the food is always delicious. It is a buffet, which is great because there are so many choices! We all had our individual dietary needs, and we all were stuffed by the time we left. My Grandma enjoyed seeing the characters, and watching my daughter interact with them. The Crystal Palace is not quite as loud or interactive as some of the other character buffets, so it had just the right amount of entertainment for our needs. It was also nice for my Grandmother to sit inside a restaurant and take a break from the heat. A quick-service meal would not have been ideal for our family that day.
Although the rest of us had the intent to return later in the evening and stay through the night, we left Magic Kingdom around 1:00 PM to take my Grandmother home. Seven hours of fun at Magic Kingdom was just enough for her. She wasn’t too exhausted to still have a smile on her face as we left. Although traveling with a wide range of ages may pose a bit of a challenge, a little bit of research and prior planning will allow your family to have a wonderful and memorable day!
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