Best things about going to Disney World as an adult

I went to Disney World twice when I was a kid, but that was in the 1990s -- a lot has changed since then! In early February, I met up with a college friend and toured Disney all over again. And you know what? It was just as magical as it was when I was a kid. Here's why:1 Disney is an escape from the real world. As adults, we get bogged down with our jobs, the winter weather, the routine and so on. But when you go to Disney, all of that feels a world away. It's almost overwhelming to see all the resorts, gift shops, rides, shows, parades and restaurants packed into one park. Each one is designed and performed to the max, so that you are completely enchanted by the magic of it all. Suddenly, whatever worries or problems you've been lugging around don't seem like such a big deal after all. It's amazing what happens when you allow yourself to let go and get in touch with your inner child.

2 People-watching. It never gets old! You're going to spend a lot of time waiting in line and walking from place to place at Disney, but time flies when there are people to watch. If you need a break during the day, buy a snack, find a place to sit, and take in all the different hairstyles, handbags, Mickey Mouse ears, languages and more.

3 There's always something new to see. The Soarin' ride at Epcot, for example, is a simulated hang-gliding ride that really makes it feel like you're flying over California, right down to the ocean breezes and the woodsy smell of the forests. It's one of the best things I've experienced at Disney, and it just opened in 2005. And some of my favorite movies, like "Finding Nemo" and the "Toy Story" trilogy, came out after I went to Disney as a kid -- it was neat to see how they've been incorporated into the parks. I can't wait to see what they do with "Frozen," which has been a huge success this year. There's also a Seven Dwarfs-themed roller coaster under construction, which looks like it will be a major attraction. Also, if you're returning to Disney for the first time since childhood, you're now old enough for adults-only activities, like hitting the clubs at Downtown Disney or "drinking around the world" at Epcot.

4 Speaking of Epcot, I enjoyed this way more as an adult than I did as a kid. This park is more education-focused, so I can see how it would be dull for kids after a day spent on the Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios or Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom. I loved exploring the World Showcase, where the food is totally worth the money. And call me a nerd, but I thought the 360-degree film about Canada was awesome, and so was Spaceship Earth, a slow-moving ride that takes you through the history of communication. For me, the low-key, spacious Epcot felt relaxing after the Magic Kingdom, the most crowded of the Disney parks.

5 Shopping. O-M-G, the shopping! Just when you think you've seen all the Disney merchandise, you'll walk into a shop that has all new things. I stocked up on items I had no use for as a kid, like Christmas ornaments and coffee accessories. If Disney merchandise isn't your thing, there are huge, high-class malls in Orlando, including some of the biggest outlet malls in the country. The Orlando Premium Outlets center on International Drive even has a Victoria's Secret Outlet, which I didn't even know existed until this trip -- it was heaven! So if you plan on exercising your credit card on vacation, be sure to save room in your suitcase, because you won't find shopping like this in Southeast Missouri.

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