11 Tips for a Disney Adults Only Trip

Don’t Skip Character Meals

Disney World itself is often mistaken as a place just for children and that is definitely untrue. If you are planning a trip to Disney World you will find many things that seem geared toward children, when in reality adults would enjoy them as well. Character meals are usually regarded as for children.

While it is true they are a great way for kids to meet the characters without the lines, the same goes for adults. You can meet Mickey and his friends, princesses, 100-acre woods gang, and more!

There’s something special about adding a little extra magic to your meal. The meals themselves vary in theme, quality, and characters.

Take Stroll Around the Boardwalk

The park we spend the most time in is Epcot. This is pretty common for most Disney adults-only trips. We enjoy exploring the pavilions in the World Showcase. Right outside of Epcot, there is an entrance/exit between the UK pavilion and France pavilion.

It is extremely easy to leave Epcot and head over to the Boardwalk area. Whether you go during the day for a break from the park or after the parks close and want to enjoy the nightlife, there is plenty to do and see.

Trattoria al Forno is a great choice for a character breakfast. Flying Fish is one of my favorite restaurants for a date. Jellyrolls is a dueling piano bar that is a great adults-only escape after a park day. Not to mention entertainment along the boardwalk itself.

Enjoy Traveling Around the World

Regardless of if you plan to drink around the world or snack around the world, you should definitely set aside a day to explore the World Showcase. Each pavilion is full of delicious treats, fabulous drinks, unique experiences, and more!

You’ll find character meet and greets, such as Snow White in Germany, Belle in France, Mulan in China, and more! Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app or posted times for when to meet them.

There are also performance acts such as acrobats, bands, voices of liberty, and more! My Disney Experience will have a schedule for each unique entertainment option available.

You can learn about other countries and their cultures. China, France, America, and Canada all have films or sit-down shows that give you a more in-depth look at each.

Plus, Epcot has four different festivals that run throughout the year. Unless you are going between June and August, chances are you will be there for one of them! Make sure you know what mistakes to avoid doing when you are at an Epcot festival.

Do Not Skip Kiddie Rides

While not every ride in Disney World is going to be amazing, you should never skip a ride you think is just for children. Disney World is a place for kids and kids at heart.

Peter Pan’s Flight is one of my favorite rides but is typically considered a ride for kids. Dumbo and “it’s a small world” are classic attractions.

This doesn’t mean you must ride these attractions but don’t skip a ride because you think it is only for children. Be sure to check out ride guides for each of the parks so you know what is worth your time to wait in line and which you can avoid.

Pick the Correct Accommodations

Much like any vacation, where you stay can play a huge factor into your trip. There isn’t one ultimate resort that is the best. Picking the right hotel for you depends on how many people you are with and what you plan to spend your time doing.

If you plan to leave Disney to explore Orlando, visit Universal, or just don’t want to be “in” Disney 24/7, there are lots of off-property that still provide similar perks to staying at a Disney property.

If you want to stay at a Disney resort, I would suggest either a moderate resort or a deluxe resort. While the value resorts are obviously more inexpensive, they lack a lot of amenities that most adult-only trips would enjoy. Values do not have any lounges or anywhere to hang out after the parks.

Whether you want a nightcap or just somewhere to relax that isn’t a hotel room, moderates, and deluxe resorts have more areas to relax. If you are interested in staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort for a moderate price, check out the complete guide to renting Disney Vacation Club points to save you hundreds! 

Another reason we prefer staying at a moderate or deluxe is the size. While we don’t need a giant hotel to enjoy our stay, we love that the larger resorts are more spread out. This means we aren’t always next to a pool that gets loud in the morning. You also don’t hear kids running around as much.

If you are going as a large group I highly recommend one of Disney’s unique accommodations. Besides any Grand Villa at a Disney Vacation Club property, there are a few special places you can stay. Polynesian Resort has bungalows, Saratoga Springs Resort has treehouses, and Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge has cabins on the lake.

Plan For One Splurge Activity

Disney started a lot of extra-ticketed activities recently. Some activities have been around for years, like tours. Others are newer in the last few years, such as dessert parties or after hours events in the parks.

The truth is, most of these are pricey and the question “are they worth it?” is constantly asked. While the answer is not always a cut and dry yes or no, a lot of them favor adults vs kids. Between the price and the experience, it usually is a better bang for you buck for adults.

Types of splurge activities include:

• • Dessert Party for Fireworks Viewing – perfect for people who want to spend a bit more time riding rides vs searching for the perfect firework viewing location. Epcot’s dessert party includes alcohol too!
  • Behind the Scenes Tour – great for anyone who wants to know more about how the magic happens. There are many tours offered ranging from an hour to an entire day. Each park has various offerings as well as tours that are specific to the time of year you are visiting.
  • After Hours Party – this is idea for people who want to spend lots of time on rides and zero time waiting for them. This is offered at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. You get access to the majority of attractions and unlimited drinks and snacks, such as popcorn, soda, water, ice cream, and most importantly Mickey bars!
    Tip: Don’t spend money on a park ticket for the day you chose to do an after hours party. Spend time during the day at Disney Springs or resort hopping, and head to the park for the start of the party
  • Spa Time – ideal for a long trip where you need a recharge day. There are spas located at Saratoga Springs Resort, the Grand Floridian Resort, and Walt Disney World Dolphin. You can walk or take a boat from Disney Springs to Saratoga. Grand Floridan can be accessed via monorail or boat from the Magic Kingdom. The Dolphin is a short stroll or boat ride from Epcot.

Do Not Try to Recreate a Childhood Trip

This was a hard one for me to realize. No Disney trip is ever going to be the same which is why it makes it a place people love to revisit. Disney is constantly growing and changing, which is part of the magic. However, this also means you cannot relive a trip exactly, not matter how hard you try.

This is also 100% true regardless of an adult trip or family trip. Your trip as a child, whether it was your first time or your hundredth, it left you with this magical memory.

Just like Disney has attractions and entertainment that are more geared toward adults, the same is true for things geared toward kids. When I revisited the resort my parents would take us to every time (Port Orleans French Quarter) I was shocked to find it wasn’t nearly as big as I remember.

My height has not changed since I was about 13, I have always been short. So it wasn’t that I saw things at a different angle because of my size. For me, there are two reasons it was surprisingly different. The first is kids have a way of adding their own magic and imagination. The second being as a kid you didn’t deal with all of the planning or cost of the trip. You simply enjoyed it.

While this sounds like a depressing thing to realize, but to me, it’s an opportunity for new memories.

Enjoy a Day Outside Disney Parks

There is a lot to do at Disney besides just enjoying the theme parks. Whether you are heading to Disney Springs, trying a different theme park like Universal or Sea World, or simply exploring Orlando, it is nice to have a break from the crowds in the parks.

Orlando itself has lots to do that do not involve Disney. A fun day trip is heading to Cape Canaveral, just be sure there are no events happening that day.

Downtown Orlando has other activities like Gatorland, air boats, and more! For a complete list, check out tammymum.com for some great ideas. 

If you just want a recharge day, but don’t want the stress of transportation, head to Disney Springs. There are plenty of restaurants, lounges, and bars to pick from. There are shops and other activities, like The Void, to

Try Resort Hopping

I highly recommend resort hopping if you are considering taking another trip back to Disney World. It allows you to see what other resorts have to offer and gives you an idea of where you might want to stay next time.

One common way people enjoy resort hopping is the monorail. There is an unofficial “challenge” for Disney known as the monorail bar crawl. You hop from the Contemporary to Polynesian to the Grand Floridian. Some people enjoy adding Wilderness Lodge as well, although it is not accessible by monorail. Whether you want to enjoy a drink each lounge, a meal, or simply want to explore the deluxe resorts, the monorail is a great place to start.

Another way to resort hop is to plan a meal at another resort. It gives you an excuse to visit and explore! One of my favorite resorts to visit is Animal Kingdom Lodge. The food choices are unlike any other resort. They have their own savanna so you can see animals roaming free during your dinner. It is pretty spectacular.

Book a Signature Meal

You don’t have to be a foodie to appreciate a nice meal. Disney signature meals are also categorized as meals that cost two table service credits if you are on the Disney Dining Plan. They have a more upscale feel and the good quality and options are typically better as well.

The reason we enjoy going to the signature meals is because they provide a nice break. Clearly I love Disney, but if you are there for a long trip it is nice to have a “grown up” meal sometimes.

If you are a couple traveling together it also is a great date night! Flying Fish is one of favorite restaurants for a romantic dinner. It isn’t overly romantic, but the atmosphere and menu are amazing.

If you are traveling with a group over a Sunday morning, try and go to California Grill brunch. It is a great place to turn meals into family style and try everything on the menu. Plus bottomless mimosas are a nice touch. Also when you eat at California Grill you are allowed to return at night to view the fireworks by simply showing your receipt from that day.

Thinking Only Die-Hard Disney Fans Will Enjoy the Trip

A lot of people assume if you are taking a trip to Disney as an adult you live/breathe/sleep Disney. While that might be true for some people, it doesn’t mean you have to be a hardcore Disney fan to appreciate a trip as an adult. 

Whether you went as a kid or this will be your first time, there is so much to do with on a Disney adults only trip. There is a lot to do in the parks and outside the parks that isn’t “in your face” Disney content. 

For my group of friends, it is about who are you traveling with more than where you are traveling too. As long as you have a good group of people, you can have fun anywhere! This is definitely true for Disney too. You just need to decide as a group just how much “Disney” you want to do.

You don’t have to have grown up watching the movies or even currently watch the movies to appreciate the magic around you. Similar to Wizarding World at Universal Studios. It helps if you are a Harry Potter fan, but muggles can enjoy the beauty of it just as much! 

Other helpful Disney planning posts:

• 9 Things To Do Right Before Your Disney Trip
• 11 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid at Disney World
• Freebies at Disney World
• Everything You Need To Know About Extra Magic Hours

Are you ready to keep planning? Check out everything you need to know before you go when planning for Disney.