Walt Disney World is for everyone. Children love it, sure, but we also see a lot of couples in their 70s or 80s walking around wearing Mickey ears and loving the atmosphere just as much. It’s so cute! I want to be one of those guests when I grow older! Yes, strolling around Epcot, taking my time, checking out every pavilion, and relaxing next to the love of my life. Just chilling.
If you’re planning to travel to Disney with your parents or grandparents (or, hey, great-great-great-grandparents), you’re in the right place. It’s important to pay attention to a few small details when traveling with older guests, just to make sure they’ll also have a great time at the Happiest Place on Earth. Maybe they’ll want to stay in a quieter hotel instead of a more crowded Disney resort, maybe they’d love to rent a scooter to explore the parks at their own pace, and maybe they’ll discover a brand new show at Disney that warms their hearts.
Yes, this guide is for them, the beautiful seniors visiting Disney World, whether it’s for the first time in their lives or if this is basically their yearly tradition.
This guide will help you with things like:
- Picking the Best Hotels for Seniors at Disney World
- Wheelchairs & Scooters
- Our Tips for Traveling with Seniors to Disney World
- Dining at Disney World
- The Best Rides at Disney World for Seniors
Are you ready? Let’s go!
Picking the Best Hotels for Seniors at Disney World
It’s not easy to choose the right hotel, since a lot of factors will come into play, like the size of your party, personal preferences and your overall budget. With that in mind, you’ll need to decide whether you want to stay at a Deluxe Resort, a Moderate Resort, or a Value Resort. The biggest difference between them is price. Value Resorts offer the most affordable rooms, starting at $160 per night, while Deluxe Resorts start at $540.
Every Disney hotel also gives you the perk of entering the theme parks 30 minutes before they officially open. Deluxe Hotels also come with the Extended Evening Hours perk, allowing you to explore the parks for a few extra hours after closing on select nights. For more information about Disney World resorts, be sure to check out our Resort Categories Comparison guide.
Disney World has dozens of hotels, making the decision even tougher. That’s why we’re sharing our top picks for every budget, highlighting the best Deluxe, Moderate, and Value resorts, and why they might be great for your seniors. We’ve also included the starting price per night for each of them:
The Best Deluxe Resorts for Seniors
- Disney's Contemporary Resort ($650): One of the main hotels at Disney World, located within walking distance of Magic Kingdom. It also offers boat transportation to Magic Kingdom, and the monorail system runs right through the resort. The monorail is perfect for getting around quickly, and it gives you fast access to EPCOT as well. For a more peaceful stay, consider booking a Garden Wing room, which tends to be quieter than those in the Main Tower.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge ($570): I love Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s a stunning resort with its very own savanna, where you can watch more than 40 species of animals roaming around, all from the comfort of your room. The resort also offers nightly safaris, which can be a really fun experience for the whole family. The only downside? It doesn’t have access to the Skyliner, monorail, or boat transportation systems, so you’ll need to rely on the complimentary Disney buses or your own car to get around.
- Disney's Wilderness Lodge ($550): Wilderness Lodge is one of the most beautiful resorts at Disney World, and that alone might convince your group to stay there. It’s a quiet, relaxing hotel that offers direct boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. If you’re staying here with seniors, it’ll likely be for the serene atmosphere and the stunning, majestic design of the entire resort.
The Best Moderate Resorts for Seniors
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter ($350): Port Orleans is actually divided into two areas, French Quarter and Riverside, and you really can’t go wrong with either. This is a beautiful, charming resort that’s perfect for adults. While it doesn’t have Skyliner or monorail access to the theme parks, it does offer boat transportation to Disney Springs, making it a great pick for those who love shopping and dining. Bonus perks: the resort offers fishing excursions and live jazz at Scat Cat’s Club.
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort ($300): Coronado Springs is a gorgeous resort, and the Tower rooms are often compared to those in Deluxe resorts when it comes to style and feel. If you're looking to save some money while still enjoying a beautiful, upscale environment, this could be a great fit. Just keep in mind, it only offers bus transportation to the theme parks.
The Best Value Resorts for Seniors
- Disney's Pop Century Resort ($250): We think Pop Century is a better choice for seniors than Art of Animation for one simple reason: it’s slightly more peaceful. Instead of being surrounded by Mickey Mouse 24/7, you’ll find nostalgic pop culture references scattered throughout the resort. It also offers Skyliner access to both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, which is a huge plus for a value resort.
Wheelchairs & ECVs
If you're traveling with seniors to Disney World, there's a good chance you’ll need to rent a wheelchair or an ECV at the parks. Now, listen closely, you’ll be walking around all day and night at Disney, especially in places like the World Showcase at EPCOT. Sometimes, you can walk 8 miles per day at a theme park, which is a lot. So even if your parents or grandparents don’t typically use mobility aids, it might be worth considering one just to make the experience more comfortable for them.
Keep in mind that you can bring your own wheelchair to Walt Disney World. You can also rent one at any Disney World theme park or at Disney Springs. A single-day wheelchair rental costs $12, and if you rent for multiple days, the price drops to $10 per day.
Not sure what an ECV is? It’s a small, motorized vehicle for one person, and look a lot like a scooter. You drive it around at low speeds and park it before entering any attraction. Most of them include a small basket where you can store snacks, drinks, or other small items.
ECVs are available to rent for $65 per day. A refundable deposit of $20 is required when renting inside the theme parks. At Disney Springs and the water parks, the refundable deposit is $100.
For more details about wheelchairs and ECVs, make sure to check out our guide: Strollers, Wheelchairs & More Services Offered by Disney.
Our Tips for Traveling with Seniors to Disney World
Transportation
Before you head to Disney World, make sure you know what kind of transportation you’ll be using during your trip.
If you’re driving or renting a car, the location of your hotel will matter less. But if you don't have a car, staying at a hotel with access to boats, the Skyliner, or the monorail can make a big difference. That’s where the Deluxe Resorts really shine, as many of them offer direct access to the monorail or boat transportation, making it much easier to get around without relying solely on buses.
Schedule Mid-Day Breaks
Disney World is fast-paced and can be chaotic. That’s true for me, for you, for children, and, yes, for seniors. Schedule mid-day breaks and ease up on the action while visiting the theme parks. These breaks are also a great time to check out some of the live shows, relax in the shade, and just take in the atmosphere.
Do Things Outside the Theme Parks
It’s probably not a good idea to focus your entire vacation on the theme parks. One strategy I’ve found helpful is to alternate: one theme park day, then a break day, then another theme park day, and so on. Two consecutive theme park days can be exhausting, and seniors especially need time to recharge. Make sure to schedule free days to enjoy your hotel, go shopping, and do something they enjoy.
Try to Visit Disney Outside of Summer
This one can be tough, but try to avoid visiting Disney between May and August. These months are extremely hot, which can be uncomfortable, especially for seniors. It doesn’t help that the parks are also packed during June and July. For cooler weather, visit in January or early February. To avoid crowds, consider going in September.
Watch the Live Shows
There are so many shows at Disney World! There’s Beauty and the Beast and Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios, the parade at Magic Kingdom, Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom, and tons of live music performances at EPCOT. Be sure to check your My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit for official showtimes and any extra performances happening around the parks.
Visit Disney Springs
Disney Springs is a great place to relax and take things at your own pace. There are lots of cool stores to explore and amazing dining options, like The Boathouse and The Polite Pig. Bring your seniors here to unwind, whether it’s with a hot chocolate in hand or a milkshake from Ghirardelli.
For more info about Disney Springs, check out our guide called Shopping at Disney Springs.
Dining at Disney World
Dining at Disney World with seniors can be a different experience than planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth with children. With kids, you'll probably want to try a character dining restaurant at least once, but seniors can (probably) skip that. There are plenty of great restaurants at Disney, and we’re going to list some of our favorites here that seniors might enjoy.
- Disney Springs: Okay, not exactly a restaurant, but definitely a place full of options. The Boathouse is considered one of the best restaurants at Disney, but you can also enjoy some excellent meat at The Polite Pig.
- California Grill: This restaurant is located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The prix fixe menu is $89 per guest, but the food is great, and the view is even better. You dine on the terrace of the resort and can watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom from the comfort of your table. It really is a memorable experience.
- Jiko: Located in Animal Kingdom Lodge, it features outstanding Mediterranean, African, and Indian cuisine. A great choice for those looking for something a bit more unique.
- Cinderella’s Royal Table: This is a character dining experience at Magic Kingdom, but it’s so magical that everyone in the family will enjoy it. You actually get to eat inside the iconic castle, and the atmosphere feels like dining amongst royalty. This one costs $88 per adult plus taxes and reservations are a must.
- Le Cellier: Located in EPCOT, it has one of the best filet mignons I’ve ever had in my life. This is a steakhouse with excellent food, but it's often fully booked months in advance. Be sure to make a reservation early.
- Space 220: Another fan favorite in EPCOT. You’ll dine in a space-themed setting surrounded by planets and the vast galaxy. The food is great, and the atmosphere is top-notch.
- ABC Commissary: Located in Hollywood Studios, this is generally a solid choice since burgers and sandwiches here get good reviews. The truth is, there aren’t a lot of great dining options at Hollywood Studios, but you could also try the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant.
- Tiffins: Located in Animal Kingdom, this is often considered the best restaurant there, second only to Tusker House. The difference is that Tusker House is a character dining experience, so it tends to be a bit more expensive and chaotic.
The Best Rides at Disney World for Seniors
This one’s pretty subjective and depends on what your group enjoys. I’ve seen seniors in their 70s riding Tron Lightcycle Run without a problem, while others preferred to relax and enjoy a live show.
If you’re looking for a detailed breakdown of the best rides at each theme park, be sure to check out our specialized guides:
- Magic Kingdom Ride Strategy
- EPCOT Ride Strategy
- Hollywood Studios Ride Strategy
- Animal Kingdom Ride Strategy
Still, we’re not going to leave you hanging, so let’s rank what we think are the top three attractions at each theme park for seniors, okay?
- Magic Kingdom: For Magic Kingdom, seniors will likely love It’s a Small World, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, and Jungle Cruise. But the real stars of Magic Kingdom are the Festival of Fantasy Parade and the nightly fireworks show, Happily Ever After. Be sure to catch both!
- EPCOT: Our top picks here are Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, and Soarin'. Honestly, many seniors will enjoy simply exploring the World Showcase - driving ECVs and checking out all 11 countries - more than the rides themselves. Don’t miss EPCOT’s nighttime fireworks show, Luminous: The Symphony of Us. It’s worth seeing at least once.
- Hollywood Studios: For seniors, we recommend Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, and Fantasmic. Hollywood Studios has some fantastic live shows that the whole family can enjoy together.
- Animal Kingdom: Our top choices here are Kilimanjaro Safaris, Maharajah Jungle Trek, and Festival of the Lion King. Animal Kingdom is full of unique safaris, walking trails, and live performances, making it one of the most interesting parks for seniors. They may also enjoy the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and the serene Na’vi River Journey.
