Tips for Adults Doing Disney World
If you’re childless adults visiting Walt Disney World without the kids, we have info & tips for making the most of your trip. This includes romantic hotels, relaxed experiences, bars & lounges, and other unique activities catering to an older audience. How to do Disney as adults should be a topic of interest for couples, friends, or anyone else looking for a more sophisticated or slower-paced vacation.
Despite the misconception that Walt Disney World is only for families, there has always been a lot for adults to do. After years of marketing Walt Disney World almost exclusively to families with small children, things are finally starting to change. As of the time we last updated this post, we’ve been noticing more adult offerings at Walt Disney World in the last couple of years.
This includes hotels like Disney’s Riviera Resort and Gran Destino Tower, restaurants by celebrity chefs at Disney Springs, an explosion of bars & lounges, adult-oriented special events, and more. Walt Disney World is now aggressively catering to adults without kids, a demographic that accounts for over half of all visitors….
It might surprise some families, but Walt Disney World is actually quite popular for adults without kids. There’s an unfortunate stereotype that childless adults who visit Walt Disney World are weird or odd (and maybe we are, but that has nothing to do with our affinity for WDW!). This stereotype is an outright myth.
As with families, many adults who enjoy visiting Walt Disney World appreciate the escapist environments, fun attractions, wonderful details, great dining, and other options. By and large, they enjoy the parks for a lot of the same reasons families do. However, they also enjoy some different experiences at the parks (and beyond), and this post tries to speak to some of those more adult experiences. Note that these experiences aren’t reserved exclusively for adults traveling without kids–with great childcare services at Walt Disney World, and “adults-only” date night can be perfect for parents, too!
As you may know, my wife and I are visitors of the childless adult variety, and we get a lot of enjoyment out of Walt Disney World…but probably in some different ways than many families. Here’s how we do Disney…
If you’re one of the people who can put aside the cynicism and look for the quality adult-oriented entertainment and experiences at Walt Disney World, you’re in for a lot of fun. We’ve already touched upon a lot of these things in our “Walt Disney World Honeymoon Tips” post.
Think of this as a bit of a sequel to that post, with less (albeit some) focus on the “romantic” side of adult offerings. About the biggest distinction between honeymooners and adults without kids is a potential lack of romance, so we’re mostly focusing on that. Still the same concept.
Everyone’s idea of how to do Walt Disney World for adults is a bit different. Some adults enjoy things like character meet & greets, and some adults like peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. I’m not passing judgment on these folks (I like characters and PB&J!), but I’m going to aim for the experiences and adult activities that I think will have the broadest appeal to average adults…
Hotels
The first question when planning this type of a trip is where to stay? If you’re doing an adults-only Walt Disney World trip, we don’t recommend Disney’s Art of Animation Resort or one of the other resorts featuring larger-than-life Disney characters. These resorts are primarily themed towards children. Unfortunately, these are the cheapest resorts at Walt Disney World, so you’re going to have to spend a bit more for ideal adults-only Disney accommodations (or, you can go off-property).
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be too much more expensive. The “Moderate” tier of Walt Disney World resort-hotels has several nice options. These include both Port Orleans Resorts if you’re after something romantic, or Coronado Springs Resorts if you want amenities more tailored towards adults. You can read more about these in our Walt Disney World Moderate Hotel Rankings.
While we personally favor Port Orleans Riverside, there’s a lot to be said for Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. It can be appealing because it’s the “convention” resort among the moderates, and has amenities that go along with that. Moreover, Gran Destino Tower is a lot like a Las Vegas style hotel, albeit with a Disney twist. Thematically, it’s not Disney’s finest work, but it’s hard to argue with the adult amenities and value for money–especially at the Chronos Club Level!
If luxurious themed hotels are more your style, we prefer the Epcot resorts (BoardWalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, and the Swan & Dolphin). They’re all within walking distance of Epcot’s World Showcase (the highlight of the theme parks for adults) and within walking distance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you’re not a fan of walking, boat service is available to both parks.
Another great option is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This is especially good for those who don’t have as much interest in the theme parks. This resort is filled with rich cultural theming, and just outside the hotel is a savanna with animals roaming it.
If you have the money, a room overlooking this savanna is a great option and a balcony overlooking the savanna could provide you with the perfect relaxing hangout spot. The other great benefit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is that three very nice restaurants (Jiko, Sanaa, and Boma) plus a great bar are located at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Alternately, if you like luxury, but don’t need to stay in a Disney hotel, there are a variety of nice hotels in Disney Springs and just off property. Among these hotels are the Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria, and Ritz Carlton. The overall experience off-property isn’t the same as it is when staying within the confines of Walt Disney World, but luxury travelers may find that the Disney accommodations aren’t up to snuff or don’t offer good value for money.
If you are unsure of which hotel might be best for you–or need personalized help with any aspect of your trip–we recommend contacting a no fee “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” (basically, Disney’s term for a travel agent) to get a quote and to help you plan. They get their commission from Disney, so none of the authorized (key word) planners will charge you for booking their trip and helping. Here’s one such recommended Authorized Disney Vacation Planner!
Nightlife
When Walt Disney World closed its Pleasure Island nightclub complex a few years ago, Disney’s most “adult” form of nighttime entertainment died. Even though Pleasure Island is gone from Disney Springs, there are still several other locations there that have great nightlife.
Raglan Road, Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar, Morimoto Asia, STK, Jaleo, Wine Bar George, the Edison, and the Boathouse are just some of the options that are great for adults later in the evening hours. Since Disney Springs has sprung to life, we are much more interested in this entertainment district, and now visit several times per trip. It’s much more convenient than it used to be, and there are some awesome dining options and bars.
The BoardWalk, which is part of a hotel that we recommend above, has good nightlife. Starting an evening at the excellent Flying Fish Cafe and concluding the night at Jellyrolls (dueling) piano bar with stops to see the boardwalk entertainers along the way is a great way to spend an evening. From there, you can also see the nightly Epcot fireworks, Illuminations, without going into the park.
In the resorts, some great options include Territory Lounge at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Crew’s Cup Lounge at Disney’s Yacht Club, Mizner’s Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Bellevue Lounge at Disney’s BoardWalk. Really, you can’t go wrong at any of the Deluxe Resort lounges.
For a truly unique nightlife experience, we recommend Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Tucked away into a quiet corner away from the lobby, this is a themed tiki bar that features interactive effects, tons of detail, and references to classic Disney attractions. Even if you don’t drink, it’s worth going here solely for the entertainment value. (Just order an appetizer and non-alcoholic drink–it’s totally worth it!)
Surprisingly, some of the best bars are actually located inside the parks! With the exception of Magic Kingdom (where you can only order alcohol for dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant), every park has at least one excellent bar.
There’s La Cava del Tequila at Epcot, Tune-In Lounge (part of the 50s Prime Time Cafe) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Nomad Lounge or Dawa Bar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Just don’t have one too many there and fall into an animal area!
Dining
There are a lot of nice restaurants at Walt Disney World, but the vast majority of them are in the resort-hotels, so most people never experience them. Instead, they eat at the large counter service restaurants, many of which churn out uninspired options in order to quickly service a high volume of guests. If you’ve ever heard any of your friends complaining about the dining at Walt Disney World–that’s why.
If you’re doing an adults only trip, make an effort to eat at restaurants outside of the theme parks (if you’re really ambitious, make it your goal to eat at least one non-theme park meal per day). Even if it’s only doing a counter service restaurant at the Mara, eating outside the parks will make you more likely to explore the resorts in which they’re located, taking a stroll along the beach or sitting in front of a lobby fireplace while you’re there.
If you really want to have an inexpensive but slow-paced Walt Disney World dining experience, head over to Captain Cook’s at night, grab some snacks, and then grab a hammock on the beach and watch the Wishes Magic Kingdom fireworks show. A relaxed way to enjoy the fireworks with a drink in hand…pure perfection.
As far as nicer table service restaurants go, there truly are too many to list comprehensively. We’ve compiled our list of the Top Romantic Walt Disney World Table Service Restaurants, but there are countless options that didn’t make the list. Although we have not dined at them, we’ve also heard great things about the restaurants at the Swan & Dolphin hotels, and those options are high on our list of places to try in the near future.
It’s on that list, but the restaurant that really bears separate mention here is Victoria & Albert’s. It’s by far the best restaurant for adults at Walt Disney World (not just according to me–Zagats agrees!). There are some other restaurants that we really enjoy that didn’t make our “top” list–you can read all of our Disney restaurant reviews here. Even if you are on a trip with kids, you might consider getting a babysitter and having a date night at one of these restaurants!
One thing worth noting for those who aren’t Walt Disney World regulars: some restaurants at Walt Disney World are “character dining” meals. If you’re not interested in meeting Disney characters, you should avoid these restaurants. By and large, they are loud and filled with kids. We happen to enjoy character dining, but we’re big Disney geeks who get kicks out of that sort of thing.
In general, we seem to find fewer children at the resort-hotel restaurants late at night. Families generally eat earlier and in the parks, so going at the end of the night can be a respite from kids (if they bother you).
Attractions
Are certain Disney attractions more adult than others? Ehhh, if we really wanted to bump up the word count of this article (a noble goal, indeed), we could come up with a tortured list, but I think it would serve little purpose. By and large, the attractions are a constant. They’re the main draw of Walt Disney World, and you should experience the attractions that you most enjoy, or the ones you most expect to enjoy. They won’t really set the tone of the trip one way or the other.
The only recommendation here is to avoid anything with even a moderate wait time. Whereas there are some “rite of passage” attractions that parents with kids shouldn’t miss, as adults, there’s nothing that should be all too devastating if you miss (unless you have an absolute favorite attraction you simply cannot miss). Plus, there’s nothing relaxed or romantic about spending hours in line with other peoples’ children. That is, unless you need some “motivational” birth control.
To prevent this section from being totally superfluous, we do have one recommendation for doing “non-attraction” attractions. What does this mean? We have no idea, to be honest. Actually, what it means is doing things that aren’t listed on the park maps as attractions, but can be such enjoyable experiences that they ought to be considered attractions. Our favorite non-attraction attraction is Drinking Around the World Showcase.
If you’re not a drinker, try replacing alcohol with snacks. (If you love snacks and booze, combine both for the ultimate experience!) World Showcase is a great place to find great food and beverages, with some fun entertainment along the way. Your own self-driven “exploration” tours of the parks also fit the bill here.
For example, if you’ve got a green thumb, you can wander around the parks looking at the numerous types of flowers used (for a low-cost alternative, check out the Behind the Seeds at Epcot tour). If you’re interested in old Hollywood, wander around Disney’s Hollywood Studios examining the different props throughout the parks. Interested in a certain type of architecture? Find a park or resort that includes examples of that architecture.
The possibilities are truly endless here, and these self-driven explorations will give you a greater appreciation for Walt Disney World. Not only will you have a lot of fun in the process, but you’ll see that Walt Disney World isn’t the simple kiddie park many people degrade it as being.
Special Stuff
There is no shortage of special activities at Walt Disney World for adults. The problem will be the amount of money you’re willing to shell out for such activities. Options range from things as simply as a couples trip to the spa (or solo trips to the spa and golf course) to things as extravagant as a private dinner in the Tower of Terror. Other popular options include fireworks cruises and tours.
A free alternative to a fireworks cruise is timing a free boat ride from the Ticket & Transportation Center to the Magic Kingdom right as the fireworks start. You’ll be on the boat with about one hundred of your closest friends, but it’s a big boat, and that’s still far fewer people than on Main Street! Try the boats from the Magic Kingdom resort hotels to the Magic Kingdom for a more intimate experience than the TTC to Magic Kingdom boat.
It’s difficult to list all of the special experiences you can have if you’re willing to pay a bit extra because there are simply so many. Disney has become very adept at exploiting its property for profit over the years, to the point where (literally) anything is possible if you’re willing to pay the price. Many of these experiences originated as part of Disney’s Fairytale Wedding packages, but are now offered to non-wedding guests. Many of these things are fairly extravagant and expensive (‘If you have to ask the price, you can’t afford them’ level of expensive!)
Less costly options include some of the above, Disney tours, private photo sessions, and carriage rides are all great options. A few of the tours that go backstage specifically prohibit kids under a certain age, and the content can be interesting for even those who aren’t hardcore Disney fans. These “tours” include diving in Epcot, swimming with Dolphins, and Segway tours. As for the photo sessions, we recommend contacting a local photographer (rather than a Disney one), and doing a shoot at one of the resort hotels.
All in all, there are a lot of ways adults can get more enjoyment out of a Disney trip. Our caveat with this particular list is that since we haven’t personally tested most of this “special stuff,” we can’t offer a resounding recommendation. Quite the contrary, in fact. We haven’t tried most of these offerings because we expect the price to be greater than the value. We also don’t find it necessary to spend the insane amounts of money that some things on the “special stuff” list require, but if you have the money and don’t care about value, you might as well give them a try.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Anything Else?
While we’ve listed a lot of things here that are great for adults that we personally do (and some we don’t), this just begins to scratch the surface of things adults could do to have a great time at Walt Disney World. If you have your own tips for adult activities at Walt Disney World, please share them in the comments!
I am going to Disney for my honeymoon in November. We are staying at the Dolphin and looking forward to enjoying Disney as adults. I love your blog it has been very helpful in planning things.
I was lucky enough to grow up in a family of proud Disney-fanatics. It’s always been my favorite place on Earth, and now it even has more meaning. My boyfriend and I went to Disney World for New Years this past year and he proposed to me in front of Cinderella’s Castle! We decided to go back for our Honeymoon in October and staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We will be there for Halloween, which we are so excited about. This blog has given me some great ideas of special things we can do to make our Honeymoon even more special! Thanks for all the great info!
Congratulations! Hope the honeymoon is a blast. Animal Kingdom Lodge sounds like a great place for it!
i’m 25 and single, I’m going with my dad his wife and their daughters. is there anything That I can do as like an all nighter or just something wild to do while they are having their play time?
My husband and I got married in January. He was unexpectedly shipped to Afghanistan 3 days later. So, I have prepared a 7 day trip to Disney in July for our honeymoon on his R&R. This is both of our first times visiting Disney and I feel so overwhelmed with so much information on so much to do. Which, I guess, is never a bad thing! 🙂 I was told to make reservations for your dinners, but I’m trying to find some fun or romantic dinners on the Disney dining plan. Any suggestions for anyone would be appreciated!
Fulton crab house!!!
I thank your husband for his service! I also thank you for supporting him, as a military wife’s job is almost as tough. I hope you have a wonderful trip! My husband and I are going in a few weeks, but we did not make any reservations since we will only be there for three days. I’ll respond back with any ideas when we get back.
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my study and knowledge.
My husband and I just returned from taking our kids to Disney World for the first time (We have only been home for 4 days). As soon as we got home we decided we need to go back without the kids and experience Disney for adults! We never had a honeymoon (we were poor, ramen eating newlyweds! Ha!) and decided its definitely time! We are planning on returning in September for 4 days. We are doing deluxe dining plan and ADR’s for Narcoossee’s, Jiko, Le Cellier and Yachtsman! Im very excited to experience Disney without toting diapers, extra outfits and dealing with meltdowns!
Thus far – all of my Disney experiences have been as an adult and never with kids. My father hates vacation so would never take us; I was 22 when I went with a friend for the 1st time. In 2011 I went with my mom – it was her 1st trip. It is kind of funny the child taking the mom to Disney for the 1st time. We are going back again in December for my 5th trip and her 2nd!
I compare my Disney experience with one of my friends who has two young daughters and her experiences are very different. I skip all the little kid rides and most the character meet and greets, which give me more time to enjoy other stuff. I also get to enjoy “Drinking around the World” and more of the evening activities. I don’t have to deal with strollers or nap time. We get to eat where we want on our schedule without working about picky eaters and we never hear “I’m Hungry” or “I’m Thirsty”. (Ok…maybe a bit once my beer is empty, and I am thirsty as I proceed to buy myself another one!) I am also an avid photographer…so I spend a lot of time taking pictures, which I am sure would bore little kids.
I am sure one day I will go with kids and enjoy it — but for now I am enjoying Disney without kids! I would recommend someone who has only gone with kids to try it without.
So what is your opinion of “honeymooning” each trip? Having the buttons on makes the trip that much more fun (constant congratulations from staff and other patrons, surprises at meals, freebies, etc.) but is that an abuse of the magic that is Disney?
We are contemplating celebrating our wedding each trip 🙂
p.s. thanks for the wonderful site!
Hello! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask.
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I look forward to hearing from you! Wonderful blog by the way!
I think they also have buttons for celebrating anniversaries. 🙂
Me and my husband Disneymooned this past August, and it was amazing! One of the things we did on our honeymoon and also do every time we go to Disney World is the Wine Walk in Epcot! Epcot is naturally our favorite park, I was obsessed as a child with Spaceship Earth and Figment (still am! haha) and my husband loves the World Showcase (of course I love it too!) for all of the food and drinks! The Wine Walk is $20 and you get to try 2 wines at each country from Germany, Italy, and France. You get a stamp at each country once you get the wine. You can also split it between 2 people if you don’t want to pay $20 per person. Cheap, fun, and gets you trying wines you might not have before! You can pay and get your card at any of those 3 countries that participate! We love it (and wine)!
I’ve heard some great things about this–great tip! We’re not big wine drinkers, so I think that would be lost on us, unfortunately.
Yeah, being wine drinkers does help! It is a cool little thing that they do that I think a lot of people don’t know about. They should really do it with beer too!
But, I will suggest, even if you don’t really like wine, get a glass of Rosa Regale in Italy…it is so delicious! It’s sparkling wine that is basically like sparkling grape juice! I usually don’t go for super sweet stuff like that but it is so good. And you can get it at a lot of liquor and grocery stores now so every now and then I’ll get some and it just makes me feel like I’m in the World Showcase! =instant happiness.
My fiancé and I are planning our Disney honeymoon for 2014, and I have to say your blog is my go to for planning our trip! I stumbled upon your honeymoon tips post a few weeks ago and cannot tell you how helpful it has been, thanks so much. While we cannot book anything yet I’m having too much fun researching!
Happy to help! Good luck in your preparations!!!
If you need further advice or help booking, feel free to email my wife, Sarah: [email protected]
Last summer I suprised my wife with a Wishes Cruise aboard the Grand1 on our wedding night.It was very expensive but something that I’m very glad that we got to experience. It was an excellent way to view the fireworks and really made us feel like we were the only ones watching. Considering how happy it made her the price tag was very justified.
I don’t have kids yet, and I am trying to go to WDW as many times as possible before I do – which sounds strange to most people. Adults only things my husband/friends/sisters and I have enjoyed are: staying at French Quarter (we were on buses to Epcot and the Studios on two different mornings that had 0 children on board), staying at the Epcot resorts (Yacht Club has the most adult feel), experiencing the Candlelight Processional, cocktails around the monorail, and staying up late/getting up early.
We totally get wanting to go as many times as possible before having kids…we’re doing the same thing!
My husband and I head to WDW each January for the marathon and find our visits to get better with each trip. We always do something new, whether it’s visit a different resort, eat at a new restaurant, try a new drink, take a tour, etc. A few weeks ago, my husband drove a Nascar on the Speedway, which was hands-down one of the coolest things I’ve ever watched (and he ever did). WDW is so expansive that there are always new things to try and fun things to add to the trip. At some point, I’ll welcome the change to plan our trips with our kids and experience it in that perspective… but for now, I love the WDW adults-only trips that we take!
I’ve heard the Richard Petty Driving Experience is really fun. Maybe someday we’ll give it a try!
I am adding the Exotic Driving Experience at the raceway to our April trip. I am going to drive a Lamborghini! My husband will go with me to watch. Can’t wait! You can do this instead of driving a race car. They have 6 or 7 different sports cars you can drive. Some of them are less expensive than the race cars.
Sounds like it will be a fun experience! Your husband doesn’t want to drive a fast car, too?!
My daughters and I bought my husband the Richard Petty driving experience for Father’s Day last year. If you book ahead of time, there are usually specials. The deal was fabulous… there was a really deep discount. This was an experience he will never forget. I say, “Do it!!!!”
We went to Walt Disney World on oir honeymoon over five years ago. A few months later, we returned for our summer vacation. While waiting for DME to take ua back to the airport, we decided we must return every year. We just celebrated oir 5th anniversary at WDW in Sept whch was oir 8th trip since we got married and our first trip as DVC members.
We always have friends ask us why we go back, especially since we do not have kids. Most people do not realize there is so much to experience! We still have not done everything. It really is not just for kids. We did take two trips with family, neices, nephew and finally taking my little 10 yr old sister this past summer. Was so much fun experiencing Disney through kids eyes.
I totally agree that dining is part of the experience! With so many great restaurants, it takes several trips to dine at all of them. We have may favs but we always try to dine at least one new place. We always have so much fun planjing where we want to dine. We get excited about it.
We are going with another couple this summer (their first visit) and staying at Boardwalk Villas. I cannot wait to be able to walk to Epcot! I also want to experience the night life there.
My wife and I have been married for 4 years and been to disney world or disneyland 5 times since we have been together. Before that we went yearly with family as kids. As an adult i really enjoy going to disney to bring back alot of memories from my childhood while making new ones as an adult.
Mostly we are in the parks from open to close. The last trip we tried to get back to the hotel for an hour or 2 just to recharge. For hotels, if money was not an issue I would stay at the Wilderness Lodge. Its my favorite hotel because of the balance of atmosphere and cost. I like the smaller hotel and it has the deluxe classification and also has the option of the boat for the magic kingdom. For the last 2 times we stayed at the CBR and enjoyed that also. Less cost and still good transportation to all the parks.
For dining we usually have 1 pricier meal per trip. Also we have atleast 1 character breakfast (still my favorite is the Tusker House). Other then that we do alot of counter service and cheaper options to save money. At the top of our snack list is the mickey ice cream pop and new favorite the ice cream sandwich from the main street bakery.
I hope to get back there in the next year or so. Hopeful for 1 more childless Disney getaway but never know.
As a twenty-something who frequents the parks it can be hard to find a posting that so reflects my non-mommy/non-romantic experience (even if I do character hunt and eat PB&Js). In the past few years I have traveled with my adult family, my friends, and myself. A recent trip with my young niece really accentuate how our vacationing style has shifted over the years. The tours have been a neat way to explore an otherwise familiar place, and to have that little extra attention. I particularly recommend the Segway tour at Fort Wilderness for WDW and Florida history.
While at busy times Disney limits parking, don’t think you can’t resort hop. In fact, resort hopping is a good thing for them as you shop, eat, and become interested in staying at different properties. Years of doing this in my childhood led to me staying at all but four hotels. A slower (adult) pace through the hotels makes you realize that all of the price ranges can offer resort qualities. One of my favorite pastimes is a lovely stroll around the Beach Club.
I recently discovered the food offerings in the resort bars when my dad was watching the playoffs. Open to all ages, they have a lovely, intimate atmosphere and food still tailored to the resort’s theme.
You may be interest to know Yehaa Bob also plays the outdoor Boardwalk. His interactions with the passing crowd are great. This brings me to my family’s favorite adult activity. The Streetmosphere. Kids or teens may not have the patience to sit through a whole show that is not an attraction. In my last two years, 80% of our visits have been just Streetmosphere. I even spend my birthday sitting on Main Street for seven hours before I realized I hadn’t done a ride (other then a loop on the train).
I think I saw him out on the Boardwalk 3 years ago doing a show.
It’s too bad that most “adult” things cost extra, but we usually do one extra thing a trip, like rent a pontoon or take a tour. Otherwise, the best tips for adults are to stay at a moderate or deluxe, and eat lots of food. Thankfully the parks can be equally enjoyed by all ages, but adults get the added bonus of skipping things like Barnstormer and the Speedway!
Most of the really cool adult things cost extra (in some cases, a lot extra). I still think there are a fun number of “free” experiences, perhaps even more for adults than for kids, since adults (hopefully) can better restrain that “I need this!” mentality that kids have when they see things. A lot of these free things involve enjoying the ambiance and taking things slow, but that can be a lot of fun for adults on a relaxing trip!
My wife and I are going next Saturday for 5 days. This is our 3rd Super Bowl trip in a row and 2nd with no kids. We are doing a behind the scenes tour of all 4 parks plus lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe. It’s pricey but we have never done any special attractions so here we go. We are staying at Beach Club which I feel is the prime area for adults. We have ADR’s at Flying Fish and Via Napoli (splitting one of their fine Pizzas is a pretty good dining deal).
Drinking around the world is something we do every time (even with kids! LOL!) so I am sure that is on the agenda again. i really like the new wine bar. The bartenders are knowledgeable and make great suggestions and it is not very crowded. La Cava is the best bar but it can get ridiculously busy. Todd Bluezoo’s lounge is really good (albeit pretty dark) and they have a creative cocktail menu.
One thing that is definitely on the schedule is Yeehaa Bob. We have never seen him perform and have heard it’s a great time for people of all ages.
Is the Cirque du Soleil at DD worth it? Still looking for one thing we haven’t done before to complete the trip.
Last summer my husband and I went to Cirqu du Soleil at DD and it was quite honestly one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen! It was literally jaw-dropping. We were on an adults-only vacation with my brother (who did not attend as he thought it would be too “weird”) and when we met up with him in MK afterwards we could not stop telling him what he missed out on. It was so amazing that when we return in October we will be buying tickets and going again. Of course my brother is actually planning on going with us this time. 🙂
Have you done the Behind the Seeds tour? It’s cheap and interesting, and although there’s the chance that there will be kids on your tour, it’s more “adult.”
We did Cirque de soleil last time we were in Orlando and it was wonderful. I’ve almost been considering doing it again next time we’re in Orlando. It’s a definite must do whether you’re interested in Disney or not.
I am 31 yrs old and have been going to WDW since I was 7 months old (40+ trips). I agree wholeheartedly with this article, Disney is a great vacation for adults and one I still do once every year for 10 days. My girlfriend and I have had a great time the past three years there and have done things like the Wild Africa Trek, mouse boats, jellyrolls, dinner at Cali Grill, Narcoossee’s, and Shula’s. We stayed at the Polynesian, the Beach Club, and a surprise resort for her this year with a special dinner planned at the finest restaurant at WDW! We still do pictures with character’s and went to the Hoop De Doo with family, that’s what’s so great about WDW there is something for every age and income!
The Wild Africa Trek is something we really want to do, it’s just difficult to stomach that price tag. Sounds like you have an exciting trip in store with your friend. I have a guess as to the special dinner…
Tom, I was lucky enough to book the Wild Africa Trek at the time it was being introduced and pricing was much lower. It also included a photo pass cd at the time for your whole stay and not just the trek photos. I couldn’t justify the price tag now.
Kris–I wholeheartedly agree! I’m 27 and have been going every year since 6 months!! Upcoming trip this week with my boyfriend–first together!–so I hope I can get him into the Disney spirit (he hasn’t been since he was 7 years old)!
We honeymooned in DisneyWorld in August and had an absolutely amazing time. In the last week, the Wilderness Lodge was doing renovations to our floor, so we got to stay in one of the honeymoon rooms on the concierge floor! Was a perfect ending and a great experience 🙂