5 Hacks for doing Walt Disney World Without Kids!

 

Growing up in Florida, Walt Disney World has always held a special place in my heart. As a kid, it was where all my dreams came true and now as an adult, it’s where I get to relive my childhood while taking in the adult spectrum of the parks. Walt Disney World on it’s own is an amazing experience with or without kids; however sometimes the adult aspect of Disney can be easily overlooked. I’m here to show you my top 5 adult hacks for doing Disney WITHOUT kids and give you the tools you need to have a magical vacation as a “BIG” kid!

1) Book an “adult friendly” hotel

The Walt Disney World Resort offers MANY amazing hotels on-site but when it comes to the no kids side of things there are a few resorts I’d recommend over others. #1 Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Day Spa. If you’re looking for a resort near The Magic Kingdom, the  opulent, Victorian styled Grand Floridian is the place to stay. Rooms are pricey, but very spacious and with an in house monorail, you can get to the parks with ease. #2 Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. This on-site sea-side themed resort offers a great location for fun nightlife at Disney’s BoardWalk and easy access to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. #3 Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower. This resort is also within The Magic Kingdom area of the resort and is so close, you could walk to the park. It also houses a monorail terminal that runs throughout the resort giving it’s guests easy access to park destinations. The hotel offers a super modern theme with a much higher price point than the more family friendly resorts on site, Plus views of The Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella’s Castle and Space Mountain can be breath taking.

2) Drink yourself around the world

Literally! EPCOT’s World Showcase pavilions offer a massive selection of amazing food and drinks from each country featured. Grab a beer or two at London while snacking on some macaroons from France! Another great event to attend is EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival which is held in the Fall each year. Separate tickets are available for this culinary event full of beverage seminars, top chef food tastings from around the world and more! It’s a wonderful chance to leave the kids behind and enjoy being an adult at Disney.

3) Hit the parks at night

Heading to Disney during the off season is a great way to combat crowds, but hitting up the parks at night can almost guarantee you’ll avoid large groups of people, gain fast access to rides and bypass any waiting times. During most the year, The Magic Kingdom stays open between 10pm and 11pm with EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios staying open between 8pm-9 pm every night. This can basically give those hitting the parks late a MEGA fast-pass to the whole park since wait times can drop drastically (especially during the late night parades) to anywhere from 5-0 minutes! Popular Magic Kingdom rides such as the Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train and Pirates of the Caribbean can easily be ridden multiple times in the later hours of the parks. When it comes to the holiday season, parks can even stay open as late as 1am, giving you even more time to enjoy not having a “bed time”.

4) Dine fancy

The Walt Disney World Resort offers some of the best food from around the world created by top chefs and culinary experts. From fine steaks to succulent seafood, you’ll find anything and everything you could want to try somewhere on Disney’s property. My top adult picks are: #1 Victoria and Albert’s.  This high end, Victorian themed restaurant will fulfill your finest tastes with world-class 6 course dining and award-winning wines. This restaurant is great for a fancy date night. #2 Cinderella’s Royal Table. Don’t be fooled by it’s character name sake, this restaurant is the utmost magical dining experience. If you’re looking to propose, or simply make your sweetheart’s princess wishes come true, dinging in the castle at The Magic Kingdom is the place to be. With great food and an amazing atmosphere, the staff is more then willing to help you make any special occasion super magical. Not to mention dining at night can give you a spectacular view of the fireworks show. #3 Flying Fish Cafe. If you’re a seafood lover, there’s no better place to go than Flying Fish Cafe on Disney’s BoardWalk. With a fun maritime theme and great food, a dinner here sets you up for the fun nightlife that the BoardWalk offers.

5) Take a tour

Nothing gives you an insiders look at Walt Disney World like a custom tour! There are lots of great behind the scenes tours and adventures that the resort offers which give you the chance to explore Disney like never before. My personal adult only recommendation is the Backstage Magic Tour. This tour will take throughout the Walt Disney World Resort showing you all kinds of backstage secrets. Everything from how things are designed to their inner workings, art work and secret places throughout the parks only employees know about! The tour includes backstage fun at all 4 Disney theme parks as well as Disney’s Central Shops, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and the Walt Disney World Nursery and Tree Farm.

 

Being an adult at Disney can be one of the most magical and fun experiences you’ll ever have. Throw in these 5 hacks and you’ll be sure to get the most out of your pixie-dusted vacation!

Traveling WITH kids or know someone who is? Take a look at my Top 10 Tips For Doing Disney With Kids!