When it comes to having a relaxing or romantic couples vacation, the words “Disney World” don’t exactly fit. Even mentioning the words “Disney World” to some adults could bring about an involuntary twitch.
Their fear is the combination of heat and humidity with huge crowds, long lines, and hyper (or crying) kids is like pure hell. But there’s a whole different experience available at Disney World for adults.
You just need to know where to look, and how to plan a different type of vacation than the standard family Disney trip. In fact, Josh and I have visited Disney World many times together…and we don’t even have children. So we’ve got lots of experience creating a Disney itinerary that adults will love! If you want help planning your Disney trip, contact us – we are happy to help. So from personal experience, here are our top 5 things to do at Disney World for adults!
1. Relax at a World Class Disney Resort
Disney is known for its high standard of quality and legendary service. And their Disney Resorts are no exception. While the theming at the value resorts are more suited to children, the higher end resorts (and even some of the moderate resorts) offer tastefully decorated rooms, manicured grounds, and tons of amenities.
Imagine, strolling through tropical gardens after dinner then laying in a hammock while looking out over a lake and seeing fireworks in the distance over the castle.
Yes, this is actually one of our favorite things to do at Disney’s Polynesian Resort! Or perhaps you want to order room service after an evening dip in the pool under the stars. There is actually a lot to be said when it comes to romance at Walt Disney World for adults!
If you are concerned with kids running around the pool, don’t worry. Visiting during an off season will help, but many of the hotels have quiet pools where you may actually have it all to yourself! Our personal favorite is the Wilderness Lodge. They have river that actually begins inside the resort, then runs outside over a series of waterfalls and ultimately into the pool!
The river continues to run past geysers (which go off every hour or so) and then into the lake. The sounds of the stream and waterfall are so tranquil to me, I not only enjoy swimming there but napping in a lounge chair! But there are also a couple other quiet pools & hot tubs that are literally tucked away in pine trees. To us, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort is pure bliss.
2. Visit a Luxury Spa at Disney
Some vacations aren’t complete without a relaxing visit to a spa! And we are huge fans of indulging ourselves with a bit of pampering. Disney World has a number of top notch spas on the property of their hotels.
Whether you are just looking for a relaxing massage, or a full day of pampering, there is no shortage of options here. The Saratoga Springs Resort is one of our personal favorites, but the Grand Floridian offers an amazing spa experience as well.
3. Dine at Gourmet Restaurants at Disney
Disney World has a wide array of restaurants, both in the parks as well as in the hotels and elsewhere on property. We love food, and with so many amazing restaurants to choose from, it is extremely difficult to narrow it down!
We could be happy eating just about anywhere at Epcot, choosing cuisine from all over the world. But at the resorts, our favorites include Artist’s Point at the Wilderness Lodge, and Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
However, Narcoossee’s at the Grand Floridian and The California Grill at the top of the Contemporary Resort also receive high marks for top notch cuisine with fantastic views of the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks!
Another favorite of ours is located outside the Disney hotels at Downtown Disney, Raglan Road! This Irish themed restaurant is not your typical Irish pub. Stepping inside, the first thing you notice is the beautiful woodwork all around, and the classical Irish decor. There is nightly entertainment, including live music and traditional Irish dancers — yes, Lord of the Dance has come to Disney. But it’s a quaint-feeling, classy affair.
The music is incredible and transports your spirit to the Emerald Isle, and the food is absolutely incredible! Our favorites include the classic Fish & Chips, but don’t miss out on their Shepherds Pie — wow!
These higher end restaurants have incredible chefs, impeccable service, and you will likely be among other adults escaping the kiddos!
4. Shows and Special Events at Disney
Year round there are a number of special events taking place at Disney. If you have a green thumb, then the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival in the Spring would be a great experience. If you are food and drink lovers like us, then the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival will feel like heaven on Earth (seriously…our happiest time of the year!).
Being the travelers that we are, Epcot is our favorite park anyway because it feels like we can take a trip around the world in a day. But during these events, the park is filled with like-minded adults. And they have a concert series every night with popular artists! Always a great time!
Other shows around property include Cirque du Soleil, at a permanent theater at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney). This is a fabulous show that constantly receives rave reviews. Nearby is the House of Blues where there you will find live music everyday, and large concerts most nights in their music hall.
Another unique way to visit the Disney Parks for adults is to take a specialized tour. For example, you can take many behind the scenes tours at the Magic Kingdom Park. If you are an animal lover and dream of going on Safari to Africa one day, then don’t miss the special activities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park!
There is a separate Wild Africa Trek that feels like a safari adventure! This 3 hour VIP tour takes you across rope bridges and up close to animals, and includes a private guide. They also offer other private Backstage Safari trips into their reserve, with one being at sunrise, including breakfast! Again, this is a VIP tour with a private guide – a whole different way to experience the animals up close.
5. Or, Just Be a Kid Again!
While Josh and I love doing the aforementioned activities for adults, every now and then it feels great to put on a Goofy hat or our Mickey ears, get hopped up on ice cream and ride Space Mountain! We have found that the best time to do this is early morning or late at night. In fact, many of the parks will stay open extra late for resort guests only.
We have practically had the Magic Kingdom park to ourselves late at night on many occasions, making it very pleasant to visit!
So Many Things for Adults to do at Disney!
So contrary to popular belief, if you are looking for a unique couples vacation there are plenty of opportunities for relaxing and even romantic options at Disney World. We have gone numerous times and had a blast. In fact, we’ve even put together our own set of Disney for Adults Itineraries – get yours here! If you want to start planning your Disney trip, we can help! Contact us directly to ask us some questions.
Whether it is relaxing in a hammock at the resort and taking a nap, or riding a roller coaster, there is truly all kinds of things to do at Disney World for adults!
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Photo Credit – All photos fall under CC 2.0 – netxvlm, skeeze, saschaz3
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