Theme Parks Aren’t Just for Kids

From fine dining to behind-the-scenes tours, these destinations have plenty of attractions for older park-goers

toy story themed topiary displays at the entrance to epcot

Adults can have fun at theme parks, too. A trip to EPCOT can include a flower festival in the spring, such as this year’s event, which featured topiaries of Woody, Buzz and Bo Peep from Disney Pixar’s “Toy Story.”

Courtesy Olga Thompson/Disney

Chris Morris,

AARP

Published June 08, 2026

If you thought your theme park days were behind you, think again. In recent years, park operators have been adding features to appeal specifically to nostalgic empty nesters ... and just plain older adults.

Wondering where to start? Here are some offerings for older park-goers.

Disney

Get festive: Visit EPCOT in Central Florida for themed festivals throughout the year. Celebrate arts and the holidays in the winter, flowers and gardens in the spring, and food and wine in the summer and fall. Prefer the West Coast? Head to the Food and Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure Park for tastings, seminars and live music. Or check out Disneyland’s Sweethearts’ Nite for an after-hours date night.

Go ‘Backstage’: Multiple tours offer behind-the-scenes looks at Disney’s history and operations. Keys to the Kingdom at Disney World in Orlando explores the park’s inner workings, including secret underground tunnels that allow staff and supplies to move about unseen. Also at Disney World, get a private tour of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve with Animal Kingdom’s Savor the Savanna excursion or join the Caring for Giants tour to learn more about the park’s African elephant herd.

Wine and dine: Several Disney resorts and parks offer dining that’s a step above typical theme park fare. Sample the chef’s tasting menu at Victoria and Albert’s in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. (Be sure to make reservations far in advance.) Or choose from more than 1,500 wine labels at Napa Rose at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa in Anaheim.

a clown at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights has Jack the Clown, over-the-top haunted houses and masked actors.

Courtesy Universal

Universal Studios

Take fright: Enjoy a good scare? Check out Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights with over-the-top haunted houses, masked actors with chainsaws and devil horns, fire-wielding performers and more. Horror has become a cottage industry for Universal, which also has a year-round stand-alone immersive horror experience in Las Vegas and another coming to Chicago in 2027.

Explore other worlds: Universal parks have a collection of themed worlds that extend beyond the rides. There are three Harry Potter areas in Orlando alone, each portraying a different part of that fictional universe. Want to hang out with Mario and Donkey Kong? Super Nintendo World is like stepping into a video game.

Catch a concert: One of Universal’s biggest festivals each year is Mardi Gras, which includes free performances by major musicians (with park admission). Among the artists who played in 2026 were Tyler Hubbard, The All-American Rejects and Barenaked Ladies.

Six Flags’ Wild Safari experience features open-air vehicles that allow passengers to observe animals, such as elephants.

Courtesy Six Flags

Six Flags

Off-road it: Six Flags is known for its roller coasters, but its New Jersey location offers a different kind of wild ride. Its Wild Safari experience features open-air vehicles that allow passengers to observe animals from six continents, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes and lions. If you want to extend the immersion, the Savannah Sunset Resort offers glamping with panoramic views of the 350-acre park.

Celebrate Oktoberfest: This fall festival — celebrated at multiple Six Flags properties across the country — is loaded with craft beers, bratwurst, pretzels, live music and more.

a woman poses with a dolphin in the water

At Discovery Cove in Orlando, you can get a 30-minute session to swim with dolphins.

Alamy

SeaWorld and Discovery Cove

Take a dip: Don’t forget your swimsuit for a 30-minute session with bottlenose dolphins in a shallow lagoon at Discovery Cove in Orlando. Don’t feel like getting wet? Head to nearby SeaWorld for the Dolphin Encounter, where you can watch dolphins play, or the Dolphins Up-Close Tour to learn more about the marine mammals from animal care specialists.

Get up close: SeaWorld also features up close tours with penguins, sea lions, beluga whales and other marine life. (Each offered separately.) Learn about the animals and, in some cases, touch them.

If you are still obsessed with rollercoasters, like the SkeiKra, but can no longer ride them, you can take a behind-the-scenes tour at Busch Gardens.

Alamy

Busch Gardens

Enjoy the ride: Roller coasters might be a little harder on your body than they were in your teens, but if your obsession with them remains, Busch Gardens offers a behind-the-scenes tour. You’ll explore the control room that launches the coasters, learn about how the ride cars are maintained and get front-of-line access to experience them for yourself.

%{postComment}%