Do I like sugar?

Image: mjhagen, Flickr (license)

It’s impossible not to consume sugar while at the Disney Parks. Between the delicious candies and baked goods, the Mickey-shaped ice cream bars and the Dole Whips, and the alcoholic beverages and cocktails, it’s hard to stay away from sugar in such a playful place.

But, even looking at it metaphorically, Disney can feel quite saccharine at times itself — whether it’s in the shows that challenge you to dream a bit bigger or the cast members that implore you to have a magical day. If you don’t care for sugar — both real and metaphorical — Disney isn’t for you.

Will I survive being around children constantly?

Image: lorenjavier, Flickr (license)

Walt Disney World and Disneyland are amazing places to vacation as adults, regardless of whether or not you have children with you. The myriad bars, restaurants, and nightlife opportunities make Disney’s parks some of the coolest places to spent a night out with friends.

And yet, no matter how much fun Disney is for adults, it will always be a place for families to spend time together — and that means, there will be a lot of children.

You can stay way from kids mostly on a trip, but if you hate being around children at any time, stay far away from the Disney parks. 

Can I tell when I need rest?

Image: harshlight, Flickr (license)

One of the biggest challenges for any Disney vacation is knowing when your body is telling you to take a break. It can be easy to ignore the signs of hunger or sleepiness when you’re surrounded by overwhelming stimuli and adrenaline-inducing rides.

The only way to survive a Disney trip is by keeping in touch with your own well-being. Only you will know when you need rest, and if you aren’t good at figuring that out for yourself, you might need a more low-key vacation.

Am I willing to suspend my disbelief?

Image: cd23murray, Flickr (license)

Above all else, Disney is a place of magic. And the most important part of magic is the suspension of disbelief. We all know the magician didn’t actually pull a rabbit out of her hat, but for just a second, we’ve allowed ourselves to become convinced that she did.

Disney is the same thing. If you’re unable to let yourself believe that the animatronic fox you’re looking at is a real character, or if you cannot let yourself forget that you’re suspended from a massive Erector set in front of an IMAX screen, Disney isn’t your cup of tea.

So, count up your scores:

If you have 8-10 “Yes” responses, you should go ahead and book that trip ASAP. You’ll have an amazing time, and you probably already knew that.

If you have 5-7 “Yes” responses, you’ll still enjoy a Disney vacation, but you’ll need to put some work into it. Decide some areas you’ll be willing to compromise, and put an action plan into place. Practice waking up earlier, or recruit a friend to make your FastPass+ reservations for you.

If you have 0-4 “Yes” responses, you probably want to reconsider booking a trip to visit a Disney theme park. There’s no shame in that! I hear the south of France is nice this time of year.