You might think that visiting Disney World without kids isn’t fun, but I’m here to tell you that’s a total lie — a Disney World trip without kids can actually be more MORE fun! I visited Disney World many times before I had kids, and now that I do, I still like to squeeze in a few adults-only trips a year.

However, now that I have two little Disney babies at home, my perspective on how I experience Disney World without kids has changed. The things I prioritize are different, where I stay is different, and even what I wear and eat are different. And on our most recent trip to the parks without the kids, I made some BIG mistakes. So, don’t be me! Here are my top 6 tips on how to make the most of your time at Disney World without kids!

Move At Your Own Pace

When you head to Disney World with kids, it’s nearly impossible to have a good day without some sort of a plan. Your day revolves around nap times and meal times, and you have to plan which rides you get to based on height requirements. Oh, and you’ll be doing it all on basically no sleep — FUN!

However, when you go to Disney World without kids, you can throw all those minute-to-minute plans into the trash! Of course, if you’re a Type A planner, go for it, by all means. But if you aren’t, this is the perfect time to take it slow.

On our first trip back without kids, we made the mistake of setting alarms and rushing to places, only to realize we didn’t need to — this was our time to relax! Next time, I would sleep in late, stress less about getting to the parks right when they open, and enjoy a slow, quiet start to our day. I’d grab a coffee and relax on the balcony. I’d still take that mid-day break I usually plan into the schedule for naps, but instead of watching the kids sleep in the room, I’d sit by the pool with a cocktail.

Without kids, you have the luxury to do things on your own time — no matter how busy or how slow that may mean.

Choose The Right Resort

For a trip with young children, staying at a fun and immersive Disney World Resort hotel like Disney’s All-Star Movies or Disney’s Art of Animation is a must-do (at least once, in our opinion!). But for an adults-only trip, you can skip the larger-than-life Disney character decor and choose something a bit more eloquent and relaxed, even if that means paying a bit more!

Disney currently has three resort categories (Value, Moderate, and Deluxe), with Value being the cheapest and more geared toward the littlest Disney-goers. However, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts offer additional amenities that the kid-centric resorts don’t, including table service restaurants, extra entertainment, larger pools, and more.

Here are my favorite Disney World Resort hotels to stay at without kids:

• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (Riverside & French Quarter)
• Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

These resorts are a bit of a splurge, but we’ve always found the extra cost to be well worth it for the more upscale dining options and quieter atmosphere.

Enjoy Adult-Themed Activities

Even Disney knows that Disney isn’t just for kids — there are SO MANY adults-only areas, experiences, and restaurants that make visiting Disney World without kids even better.

Instead of packing our daily to-do list with attractions and theme park food, I like to focus on the things that we can’t do with kids (or, at least, the things that are more difficult with kids). Here are a few of the hidden gems, both inside and outside of the parks designed for Disney Adults:

• Behind-the-scenes tours (like the Keys to the Kingdom Tour at Magic Kingdom and the Behind the Seeds Tour at EPCOT)
• Sangria University at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
• Tequila Tasting Experience at La Cava del Tequila in EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion
• Wine Tasting Classes led by world-class Sommelier George Milotes at Wine Bar George
• Golfing at one of Disney’s four world-renowned golf courses operated by the Arnold Palmer Golf Management group
• Senses Spa Treatments at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Segway Tours and Boat Rentals at Select Disney World Resort Hotels
• Adults-Only Bars and Lounges through Walt Disney World (including GEO-82 at EPCOT and Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort)

Remember that focusing on just the theme parks is the mindset you need to have with children, but when you visit without them, think outside the box and explore more that Disney World has to offer!

Rethink Your Dining Reservations

Dining at Walt Disney World is an adventure in itself. Between the number of locations, dining styles, cuisines, and decor, there truly is something for everyone.

If meeting characters is important to you, then by all means enjoy the character dining! They are great options to meet characters without having to wait in line. However, character dining often involves busy restaurants, loud environments, and subpar food. On my adults-only Disney vacations, I avoid the restaurants where entertainment is at the forefront and focus on places that have a more slow-paced focus (which can be hard to enjoy with children in tow).

A few incredible dining options include:

• Dinner at Topolinos Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Brunch at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs
• Dinner at Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort around the time Magic Kingdom fireworks take place
• California Grill at the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort (and remember to return for the exclusive Magic Kingdom fireworks viewing area!)
• Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (for a big splurge)

Enjoy The Resorts

While it is possible to resort hop and explore what the Disney resorts have to offer (even the ones you aren’t staying at!) with kids, it’s easy for them to get really bored, really quickly, and end up throwing a fit. Sure, seeing sights and browsing through gift shops start out as fun for them, but once they realize there isn’t that much in it for them, the fun goes out the window.

Heading to Disney World without kids is a great time to do this on your own! Hop on the monorail or Disney Skyliner and take a tour of the Disney hotels. Browse the gift shops, stop at the bar or lounge for a quick drink and appetizer, see the resort decor, or even stop by the Disney Vacation Club desk at certain resorts to take a room tour!

The ability to move at your own pace lets you experience everything Walt Disney World has to offer, and gives you the time to do the things your kids would likely roll their eyes at.

Prioritize the “Big-Kid” Rides (Without Kids!)

When heading to the parks with little ones, many parents opt to experience the more thrilling attractions solo, utilizing the Rider Switch program, or just skip them entirely. If you have young kids, you likely are restricted by Disney’s height requirements, and even with bigger kids, they can be scared to take on some of the more thrilling rides in Disney World.

So, when you’re at Disney World without kids, skip the slow-moving rides that you only go on because you know your kids will like it (like “it’s a small world”) and head to the more thrilling ones, even if the lines are long!

Some of the best rides for adults in each park include:

• TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT
• Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Expedition Everest and Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Comments

What are some things you like to do at Walt Disney World without kids? Let us know in the comments your best kid-free vacation tips!