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!
My Fiance and I are getting married September 3rd and I managed to convince him to go to Disney World for our Honeymoon. He has never been there and I have been there 6 times, 4 of the 6 times I was 16+ yrs old (24 now). I have read almost everything on your blog and I wish I could experience Disney as many times as you!!!! your blog has really helped me plan our honeymoon but my fiance is still on edge about the trip thinking its for kids and all about the rides. I am trying to plan other things like the restaurants (I’ve only been to trails end for dinner so I am really excited about eating at restaurants) and do a couples massage at the spa. I just want to say THANK YOU for all your help in helping me plan my honeymoon. I am beyond ecstatic about showing my fiance the wonderful world of Disney!!
Hope you had a wonderful honeymoon ^.^
I hope you have a wonderful time, and if you can please visit PO FQ for a late night snack and cocktail at the pub, you won’t be disappointed the live band is super fun and food is wonderful they also have a carriage ride around the resorts, it’s a must stop for my mom and I when we go without my boys and we go a lot!!!
Hi my name is Heather and I am going to Orlando in February with my parents. None of us have ever been to FL and we are all very excited to go. I am hoping however that I could get a few questions answered though. You see my Dad has liver cancer and the whole reason we are going is because one he’s never been there and two he wants my mother and I to have a vacation together, as we have always talked about doing but could never afford. With that being said my dad doesn’t have a ton of strength but wants to do as much as possible and see the important stuff like Sea World and WDW, and my question is what else would you recommend as a must see if you knew this would possibly be your only chance to see FL? My parents love sea food and nightlife type stuff. I appreciate any and all feedback, I just want my dad to leave FL saying what a blast that was…
If you love sea food make reservations at Cape May Cafe (all you can eat) also rent a scooter (Buena Vista Scooters).
Great article, I have one more to add on the list of “non-attraction” attractions. My wife and I have been going for years, and have been there with the kids and without. On one of our very first trips (BC: Before Children) we finished our MK visit with a walkway stroll around the lake, past the wedding pavilion, through Grand Floridian and then the monorail to Polynesion resort with exploration and sampling along the way. It was one of the best and most romantic memories that we have and when it was time to take the kids, we relived it with them as well (just not so late). Every time we visit without children we take this stroll as a reminder of earlier times. You can find the pathway to the right of the monorail and boat entrances. Just start walking!
Third graph and you’re still talking about parents with kids in an article that is supposedly about things to do for adults. Do you actually want people to read this?
This is a great website – wow.
My parents are turning 60 and taking our whole family in April
Me and my husband (30 y.o.)
Sister and husband and 3 kids (6, 4, 1.5 y.o)
Sister and husband and 1 kid (1.5 y.o)
Few questions.
1) any ideas for a surprise place to do a full-family birthday celebration (not food related) – a place to watch the fireworks, a way to get a private photographer, a way to make my parents feel celebrated
2) Recommendations for getting different passes for each family (is there a way to get access to different parks each day) and what’s appropriate for each age group. So much reading and still so confused.
Thanks SO much!!!
Hello- My husband and I are vacationing to Disney world for the first time, I love all the suggestions on this blog. If anyone would like to suggest to me a couple of special night time activities I will look forward hearing about it. Thank you!!!
I’m a first time visitor hoping for a couple suggestions. My boyfriend and I have a weekend free in Orlando after a work conference. On Saturday, we’ll be drinking and eating our way around the world at Epcot. Sunday we need to be at the airport by 5 pm. Any suggestions for an adult approved half day experience? We are staying at the Caribe and don’t have a rental car.
Unusual suggestion, but my husband and I had a lot of fun going to the Hoop Dee Doo Revue our first night there when we went. We are about the same age as you and Sarah, and found it to be great – fun, funny, and a little adult humor if you listen for it. Unlimited sangria (or wine or beer I think) makes it even better! And we were seated at a communal table next to an older couple who vacations at WDW every year, and couldn’t be friendlier – they were there sans kids too.
I truly love this blog – keep up the great work! I love the tips, trip reports, and reviews – they’re so helpful and lots of fun to read (and of course the photos are great too!).
My husband and I go to Disney parks about three times a year. Maybe once a year we bring along some nephews or nieces, but most of the time we love going by ourselves. We have enjoyed the parks in Florida, California, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo. I think the parks outside the USA cater mostly to adults (there was nary a kid in Tokyo).
The reason we love the parks so much is as a gay couple we find the friendliness of Disney a great escape sometimes from the reality of life – actually I am sure that is why a lot of heterosexual couples go as well! But knowing that Disney is gay friendly makes me want to spend my money there with the guarantee that the vacation will be great!
That makes me happy to know this bc my husband and i will be having our honeymoon is disneyworld. 🙂
I’m planning a trip to Disney in the near future and this blog is exactly what I needed! As a 22 year old, I still absolutely love riding rides and such, but I was curious what else Disney offered for those 21 and older. The Drinking Around the World Showcase sounds like something that my dad and I would have a blast doing together. We usually stay at the Wilderness Lodge but are thinking about trying something different out this year. Thanks for all the helpful hints!
Excellent article! We disneymooned in 2012 and are taking our first trip back next month. Watching the fireworks from the Poly was one of favorite things to do (we actually did it twice), but I have heard that due to the DVC construction, they have cracked down on non-Poly guests accessing the beach. Do you know if there is any stock in these rumors?
I love Pleasure Island- some dancing, comedy, the beloved Adventurers Club. And it’s New Years Eve every night complete with fireworks!!!
I have a few “freebies” for the adults ( or relatively inexpensive)….
1. Watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from The Contemporary or The Grand Floridian. You do not have to be staying there and they have great viewing spots. Our latest joy is from the Grand Floridian by their quick service restaurant…they pipe in the music from the Magic Kingdom!
2. France first thing in the morning. Enter EPCOT through the International Gateway (the entrance for the Boardwalk). The World Showcase is not open, but the French bakery IS! There is rarely anyone there…it is like being in Paris by yourself. You can actually hear the music playing and the views are awesome!!
3. Cupcake crawl!! The different resorts, bakeries and sweet shops throughout the parks will have different specialty cupcakes. They continue to change too! This is a great way to discover new resorts and special hiding places in the different parks!
4. People watch. Find a great bench in one of your favorite places, sit and watch. It can almost be like meditating. Although, sometimes it is like watching a slapstick comedy routine.
5. Take the boat from Downtown Disney to Port Orleans Riverside…grab a cup of coffee and a brownie…then head back. First thing in the morning and later at night, this is fabulous!
Those are just a few….my husband retired from the Navy after 24 years and got a job at Disney. We have lived here over a year now and still have so many things we want to see and do. It is a never ending list. ENJOY!!!
Hello, quick question… Is the French Bakery (for purchases only) accessible from the Boardwalk without having to pay the EPCOT entrance fee?
Great ideas, by the way… thanks!
You should write up a list for Disneyland!
My first trip to DisneyWorld was in 1995 with the kids (ages 5,9 and 12. Since then I’ve been about 8 times but I must say two of them have been without the family and were totally different trips! I love having the family there, all together but it’s such a different experience without them. I went in November for the Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon with my daughter and had a really nice time. She now lives in LA so I don’t get to see her much anymore. I also went last September for my 60th birthday with a very good friend of mine. Again a great trip but we decided to scrap the plans and just “play it by ear”. We had a blast. No rushing, no commitments, just a leisurely 4 days. We are both going down again this September for HER 50th birthday and taking our daughters along. And I’m sure it’ll be another great experience!
I have a friend in Disney now 1/2014 and they say pleasure island is up and running. She sent me a picture..
Are you referring to CA or FL?
She is in Disneyworld (FL)
Confused ????
Pleasure Island closed years ago, but Downtown Disney is still up and running. Perhaps your friend is at Downtown Disney.
Thank you all so much! You have given me so many ideas for my future hubby and my 1st trip to Walt Disney World.
I wanted to tell you my idea of Kissing around the world at Epcot. We are going to kiss in each country, and get a cast member to write Congratulation in their own language. We think this will be a fun cute way to experience Epcot!
Hope you both have a great day, and again thank you so much for your great posts!
My husband an I honeymooned in Disneyworld 27 years ago. We are now finally going again, on our own! yay! We have done pretty much every backstage tour you can do. I recommend you take advantage of the tours. The guides are excellent, you do get to hop onto some of the rides during the tours and you also get a meal depending on the tour you choose. It is even a little fun, depending on the tour, to walk by that huge crowd of people standing on Main Street behind the rope to get into the park… there you are in your little tour group cruising the empty park on the other side of the rope as if you own the joint! And speaking of “owning” many of you sound like you visit often. If you are savvy, go on the Vacation Club “talk.” This is a no pressure presentation… REALLY, it is! and it is worth the cost of purchasing a vacation club. (for what you paid for your trip, you could have purchased a DVC!) The agents recommend exactly what you and your family need according to how you travel. No overselling. No pressure. Also, they treat you like gold while on that presentation. Do this in the beginning of your trip. You usually end up with some Fast Passes that last you throughout the day or maybe even two days!!!! They realize you took time out of your vacation to meet with them, so they want to make it up to you.
My only request is that Disney revive their Institutes. After one has exhausted the “tours” there really isn’t much more to do. Would’t it be cool to take an “institute” on how they design their costumes or how they engineer their rides… and actually get to do that for a day or a half a day somehow? or how about working with their business model? They are a successful organization… I’d like to learn from them while having some fun!
Last year was my 1st time to Disney at the age of 31! My boyfriend has been there so many times. I wanted to experience everything and since we don’t have kids we got to do a lot in 10 days! We had fun days and romantic nights! Its nice to do adult things but I also love meeting and getting pictures with the characters and going on rides! The Coronado springs was a great place to stay but our next visit we are staying at port new Orleans! Cant wait I love Disney!!!
Posts like this one highlight why this is my favorite Disney blog. My wife and I are going for the first time together (she’s been to DL and DLP when it was EuroDisney but first trip to WDW) in 10 days and its very difficult to find ideas/suggestions for our demographic. We’re similar age to you and Sarah and also no kids. We’re also both in the entertainment industry so we’re big fans of being “big kids.” Although I’ve been to WDW 4 times before, the last was over 11 years ago and much (including my tastes) has changed. This blog (and this post) has helped us to narrow down and quantify what we think we want from the vacation. The fact that your readers also seem to have the same excited-but-reasonable approach makes it all the better. Thanks again!