Magical touches mean a little more

Though you never know quite when they’ll happen, magical touches are one of the hallmarks of the Disney experience. You might get an unexpected FastPass, a free birthday cupcake, or just a warm congratulation for your celebration buttons. These are great as adults but absolutely fascinating for children.

You’ll soon find that those special little touches go beyond freebies. In many modern settings, children are all but ignored. At Disney, however, Cast Members know that these are the most important guests in the park.

They’ll get down at eye level to speak with pint-sized guests. Little girls are addressed as princesses, and any child in a princess or pirate costume will get the full treatment as such. There’s true magic when a little girl in a Cinderella ball gown finds adults bowing to her as she passes or inquiring about her kingdom. Little boys light up when they can duel with pirates or storm troopers at their respective attractions. Disney allows children to experience the game of make believe on a life-size scale with dozens of players in their game. Indulge your child in some of their fantastical whims for the day and see where an unhindered imagination can take them.

You look past the attractions

Many theme park attractions are too wild, frightening, or overwhelming for small children. If you’re used to visiting Disney as an adult for the roller coasters and wilder rides, you’ll find a dramatically different experience waiting for you with kids, especially if they’re young. Fortunately, visiting with small children doesn’t mean that you have to forego the fun. It only means that you’ll see a different side of it.

There are dozens of activities around Walt Disney World that are designed with kids in mind. At Magic Kingdom, you can while away hours at the Casey Jr. Splash N Soak Station, where fountains and mists create a refreshing water play area. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can sign up to join the Wilderness Explorers and collect stickers at activity stations throughout the park. There’s plenty to keep you busy, even if you never enter the queue for a traditional attraction. With children, you’ll see the possibilities in a new light.

Your vacation becomes a learning experience

Children absorb information wherever they go. You’ll find this evidenced in a big way at Walt Disney World. As you explore Epcot’s World Showcase looking for a bite to eat, your kids will be taking in the rich cultural details associated with different countries around the world. Take them into the gift shops, attractions, and films around these areas and you may surprised at the insightful questions that pop up from grade school and middle school students.

Along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail at Disney's Animal Kingdom, you’ll find well-informed Cast Members equipped with fascinating facts about the wildlife in residence. Rafiki’s Planet Watch is all about teaching guests how to be better stewards of our planet. Your dinnertime conversation will reveal dozens of deep ways Disney carefully included an important lesson in your fun-filled day.

Visiting Disney World with children after your adults-only vacations is an eye-opening experience that can bring the parks to life in ways you never imagined.