Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Separate family and adult only days at Disney?

44 replies

Scarlypopsmummy · 14/02/2024 21:24

This comes from our recent trip to Disneyland Paris with our 2 kids (8 and 6).
It was the first time for all of us. DH and I were really surprised to notice the amount of childless adult visitors and the rides they chose to go on-Dumbo, Slinky Dog, Pinocchio etc. These people ranged from young couples to 40/50 year olds. The problem is that the seats are quite small and clearly meant for kids but these people were queuing (and in some cases pushing past kids) therefore kids were waiting 45 mins to get on.
I cannot understand it as I wouldn't go without the kids, particularly on rides such as Dumbo. However, I get that everyone has their own interests.
AIBU to suggest Disney should have separate days for adult only and then families? I know they won't but it was really annoying while we there!

OP posts:
ManchesterGirl2 · 14/02/2024 21:27

Apart from the ones pushing past queues, they've done absolutely nothing wrong. They have as much right to be there as you and your kids.

ZenNudist · 14/02/2024 21:32

YABU

Disney is for all ages.

Slinky dog dash is one of the top rides at DHS. And it's great fun.

Some people don't enjoy the more thrilling rides. Should they be banned from the wimpy rides?

I don't believe people were pushing past kids at disney. It's a well ordered queue system so short of elbowing a 5yo out the way to get into the queue system there's not much opportunity.

SoRainbowRhythms · 14/02/2024 21:34

YABU. It's for everyone.

Original poster
Scarlypopsmummy · 14/02/2024 21:35

ZenNudist · 14/02/2024 21:32

YABU

Disney is for all ages.

Slinky dog dash is one of the top rides at DHS. And it's great fun.

Some people don't enjoy the more thrilling rides. Should they be banned from the wimpy rides?

I don't believe people were pushing past kids at disney. It's a well ordered queue system so short of elbowing a 5yo out the way to get into the queue system there's not much opportunity.

I haven't said anyone should be banned. Please read my OP.
Small children struggle to queue for long periods. I'm suggesting it would be great if Disney considered adult only days-certainly not banning people from going!
We were queuing for a ride that hadn't opened and were pushed past by a group of adults who ran for the gate when it opened.

OP posts:
burnoutbabe · 14/02/2024 21:36

Slinky dog in Orlando is fun! A long rollercoaster. I got up early and rope dropped it in January then did frozen sing along. My boyfriend stayed in bed for sone reason!

In Paris it's a weird small carousel? I'd avoid it there.

GreenWheat · 14/02/2024 21:38

God no, that would get so complicated. If the problem is adults queuing, only to find they are too big for the seats, then lots of places have a sample seat at the queue entrance for people to try before they queue. They should do that.

HelloMiss · 14/02/2024 21:39

Yabu

Lovingitallnow · 14/02/2024 21:42

Do you imagine the queue will be easier if it's full of kids? Or do you think if they make Mondays adults only and Tuesday families only that all the families from Monday and adults from
Tuesday will just stay at home?

ManchesterGirl2 · 14/02/2024 21:43

Small children struggle to queue for long periods. I'm suggesting it would be great if Disney considered adult only days-certainly not banning people from going!

But that makes no sense. If there were separate family and adult days, then there would just be more families on the family days. So you'd queue for just as long, but behind families rather than adults.

wheo · 14/02/2024 21:45

Me and my partner are going for 5 days in December- we are in our 30s and don't have children.

I've been to Disney probably about 10 times as as adult. It's super fun being able to drink beer and go on rides all day.

Don't see an issue with this to be honest 😅 the seats aren't too small at all

Original poster
Scarlypopsmummy · 14/02/2024 21:47

Lovingitallnow · 14/02/2024 21:42

Do you imagine the queue will be easier if it's full of kids? Or do you think if they make Mondays adults only and Tuesday families only that all the families from Monday and adults from
Tuesday will just stay at home?

Queues will be shorter if it is just families (or just adult groups) so, yes, probably easier and not that much difference as Disney is already full of kids.
If I was imagining how it would work logistally (which I haven't really, just musing on a thread), it may work like Butlins so their adult only/family timetable. Disney won't, but I personally think would be great.

OP posts:
TimeMovesOn · 14/02/2024 21:47

We're just on our way back from a school trip to Disneyland Paris where our teenage pupils performed, then had free time to visit the parks. We (the adult staff) didn't go around the parks with them, they were allowed on their own.
I didn't go on the rides you mentioned, nor did I push past any children to get on a ride (!), but don't assume adults without children don't have them somewhere in the park- we had forty eight!

TeaKitten · 14/02/2024 21:48

Stupid to suggest you should ban children from Disney of all places on certain days, and it is a ban if there are days kids aren’t allowed in.

Original poster
Scarlypopsmummy · 14/02/2024 21:50

ManchesterGirl2 · 14/02/2024 21:43

Small children struggle to queue for long periods. I'm suggesting it would be great if Disney considered adult only days-certainly not banning people from going!

But that makes no sense. If there were separate family and adult days, then there would just be more families on the family days. So you'd queue for just as long, but behind families rather than adults.

Good point, so I don't think that's something we can prove either way as fact. Depends on daily ratios of adult only groups and families on any given day.
Wouldn't know unless it was tried.

OP posts:
PenguinLove1 · 14/02/2024 21:54

Queues wont be shorter doing this!

If you take two busy mixed days and make day 1 family only and day 2 adults only, then you will have two days worth of families on the first day, and two days worth of adults on the second day so it would make zero difference- if anything family day would be even longer as family groups tend to be larger than adult only groups in disney

Disney is just busy full stop, everyone there has paid their money and can go on whatever they want. Learning to queue and wait their turnis a good skill for older kids, and for younger ones a stroller, snacks and a nap are key for long queues.

Merrow · 14/02/2024 21:55

Yeah, I think you just want Disney to be less busy. And the only way that's going to be achieved is if they let less people in, whether it's families or adults alone

Rachel1509 · 14/02/2024 21:55

I found Disneyland Paris to be full of entitled children and enabling parents.
Disneyland is for everyone - if your children are too young to queue then wait until they are older. They are no more deserved of enjoying the fun just because they are a child

PenguinLove1 · 14/02/2024 21:55

Plus most people don't go for one day - for me Paris is a 4 day trip and America is 14 days - they would lose a lot of business if people could only go in on certain days of their trip

Original poster
Scarlypopsmummy · 14/02/2024 22:01

Rachel1509 · 14/02/2024 21:55

I found Disneyland Paris to be full of entitled children and enabling parents.
Disneyland is for everyone - if your children are too young to queue then wait until they are older. They are no more deserved of enjoying the fun just because they are a child

I genuinely didn't expect adults to be there without children as I'd always considered it a children's park. That's why I commented on that in my OP.
My children (and all the others I saw), queued fine for the rides. I am just opening the discussion for family and adult only days.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scarlypopsmummy · 14/02/2024 22:03

PenguinLove1 · 14/02/2024 21:55

Plus most people don't go for one day - for me Paris is a 4 day trip and America is 14 days - they would lose a lot of business if people could only go in on certain days of their trip

Yes, and I know Disney wouldn't do it. I just wondered if others (families and adult only groups) thought the same. Majority on this thread seem not 👍

OP posts:
Fionaville · 14/02/2024 22:08

I don't think it would solve the problem of wait times. It may even have the opposite effect for kids.
If one day a week was adult only, the adults would have a great time with short queues and the families would only have 6 days a week to choose from instead of 7, so it would be busier!
If anyone is to blame, its Disney for letting in too many people each day. Good luck sorting that problem out though.

underneaththeash · 14/02/2024 22:09

I’ve been to Disney as an adult couple twice. We didn’t go on dumbo.

burnoutbabe · 14/02/2024 22:11

In Orlando and la they do "after dark" events which are more aimed at adults and a separate paid entry from say 9pm-1am.

That would tend to be more adults, less families.

I enjoyed extra evening magic hours for 2 hours at Epcot as we stayed in a deluxe hotel. Nice and quiet 9-11. However less good at magic kingdom where it would have been 11-1am and I was too tired!

Original poster
Scarlypopsmummy · 14/02/2024 22:13

burnoutbabe · 14/02/2024 22:11

In Orlando and la they do "after dark" events which are more aimed at adults and a separate paid entry from say 9pm-1am.

That would tend to be more adults, less families.

I enjoyed extra evening magic hours for 2 hours at Epcot as we stayed in a deluxe hotel. Nice and quiet 9-11. However less good at magic kingdom where it would have been 11-1am and I was too tired!

This is a good idea. Disney obviously don't want to introduce this in Paris at the moment. Hopefully they consider it

OP posts:
Goblinmodeactivated · 14/02/2024 22:19

OP I agree it can be a bit of a shock to see how many adults spend the day at Disneyland, as you do expect it to be mostly families as it’s a theme park mainly based on children’s films. I think it’s a greater proportion these days too than it used, it seems a lot more socially accepted sort of thing… each to their own, but I did get a bit wound up when my little ones had to wait for all the adults to have their selfies with Mickey before they could say hello!!!