Disney World Without Kids. Magic Has No Age Limit.

A few years ago, I received a “free dining” offer from Disney the same week I started exploring destinations for an anniversary getaway. Perfect timing. Although I hadn’t considered Disney World as an option for our trip before that moment, it got me thinking. Could I really go to Disney World without my kids?

Then I started imagining the possibilities. We could dine wherever we wanted, including restaurants without mac ‘n cheese on the menu. We could ride whatever we wanted and ride together!  We could stay up late for every firework extravaganza and not have to worry about meltdowns.

Needless to say, we celebrated our anniversary at Disney World that year. If you’re a parent wondering if a trip to the World without your kids can be a fun vacation option, I’m here to tell you it can. I can’t promise you won’t experience moments of guilt about it or receive funny looks from your friends when you tell them, but as a parent you may be used to those things by now. I am.

The trip is so worth it.

Here’s why:

(1) Dining wherever and whenever you want. Traveling without your kids or as an adult-only group, provides the opportunity to try more adventurous restaurants (like Sanaa) or fine dining (like Victoria & Albert’s). You can even dine with an Imagineer if you want, an option only available to teenagers and adults.

Dining without kids also tends to mean you can eat later in the evening with less hassle. This opens the opportunity to dine with a view of fireworks (like the one from the California Grill) or Epcot’s Illuminations (like the one from a patio table at Rose & Crown). If you want to skip meals entirely and dine on Dole Whips and Mickey-shaped treats, that works too. I won’t tell your kids.

(2) Staying late for shows, fireworks and Extra Magic Hours. I mentioned above it can be easier to stay for evening shows if you’re traveling without kids.  If you stay in a Disney resort for your trip you will also have access to extra time within the parks (called Extra Magic Hours).  The evening Extra Magic Hours are way past little kids’ bedtimes. Disney recently announced they will be offering Extra Magic Hours for the new Pandora attractions at Animal Kingdom this summer. The “extra” hours are 11pm to 1am.

(3) Participating in behind-the-scenes tours. If you want to add something extra to your trip, Disney offers tours that provide a peek inside the magic. Many of them are for adults only. We took the UnDISCOVERed Future World tour at Epcot during our anniversary trip that year and loved it. Not only do you get to learn more about the park and see areas that are typically off limits, you also get VIP access to popular attractions.

(4) Visiting bars and lounges. If you’ve only visited Disney World as a kid, or with kids, you may be surprised to learn how many bars (lounges according to Disney) are available.  Many are well-themed and worth a visit, even if you just want a glass of ice water and and an interesting place to rest. Most serve small-plate meals too. No reservations required.  The Nomad Lounge at Animal Kingdom or the La Cava de Tequila in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion are two fun options.

(5) No driving. If you’re someone who tends to, um, have spirited discussions about directions, this one could be huge for you. If you stay on Disney property, or at a nearby hotel with a shuttle, you can skip driving for an entire vacation. Pretty much anywhere you want to go is accessible by foot, bus, boat or monorail. Yes, the transportation options can take a while and be crowded with people, but who cares? You can climb on board, relax and have no idea how you’re getting to your next destination. Bliss.

(6) Experiencing high thrill rides. Although Disney isn’t really known for adventurous rides, there are some gems. If you travel to Disney World without kids, you won’t have to worry about height restrictions or potentially scary rides. Be warned though, if you travel without the kids that also means you won’t be able to use them as an excuse for not riding something. We rode the Tower of Terror several times on our anniversary trip. I didn’t realize until I looked at the on-ride photos later that my husband doesn’t share my enthusiasm for this ride.

(7) Adding romantic extras. Horse drawn carriage rides, specialty cruises and spa treatments are a few examples of fun couples’ activities at Disney World. The entertainment options at Disney Springs are a good bet too. If you want to try something “free” you could stroll along the Board Walk or watch the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian.

(8) Skipping the kid gear.  If you’ve had the experience of folding up a stroller to board a Disney bus or relocating your stroller among the multi-colored sea of carriages, you know how big a benefit this one is. Traveling with adults usually means you can carry less stuff. If you have a Magic Band, you can skip carrying your wallet and room key too.

(9) Visiting during off-peak season. This one should probably be higher on the list, although the entire list is not in any particular order. The peak seasons for Disney World are typically when kids are out of school, such as Spring, Summer or Holiday Breaks.  If you travel without your kids, you have the option of traveling during less busy times (such as January or September), since you won’t have to consider school schedules. You’re also more likely to score a discount from Disney, since they tend to offer stronger promotions during the off season.

Now that I sound like a heartless monster for listing all the reasons why to visit Disney World without kids, let me clarify. Of course I love going to Disney World with my kids. I feel so grateful for the vacations I’ve been able to take with them there. I loved the looks on their faces the first time they saw Mickey Mouse, Cinderella castle or the size of the sundaes at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. If you’re only planning to visit Disney World once, it makes sense to go with your whole family.

However, if you think you’ll go more often or you’re looking for a fun adult-only trip, Disney World is an awesome choice. Call it “research” for your next family trip if you want.

Adults can benefit from magic too, maybe even more than kids. Add some magic to your world.