Visiting Walt Disney World without kids? Society may have you think that a Disney vacation is really only enjoyable when you bring the kids along, but we know that is not necessarily true. Walt Disney World actually has plenty of activities and attractions that cater to the 21+ crowd and appeal to adult guests traveling without children. What’s more, there are plenty of kid-centric activities that can also appeal to adults if we allow ourselves the opportunity to enjoy them. Read on to discover ways that you can let out your inner child at Walt Disney World regardless of your age:
Meet the characters
Image: Brittany DiCologero
Some guests may have the impression that meeting characters is an experience that is exclusively meant for kids, but that is not the case. Meeting characters can be fun for guests of all ages, especially if you set out to the parks in search of those characters you really want to meet. Adults may not have as much interest in meeting characters from Disney Junior, but there are plenty of other characters around Walt Disney World that you may be much more interested in meeting. Check out the times guide or the character guide on the My Disney Experience app to see which characters you may want to meet during your next visit.
Become a Wilderness Explorer
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Let out your inner child at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by becoming a Wilderness Explorer! Follow in the footsteps of Russell from Up! and learn about the animals found in the park and how you can support conservation efforts in your daily life. The Wilderness Explorer program allows guests to travel throughout the park completing activities and earning badges while they learn about animal life and various cultures represented in the park.
Play games by the pool
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Check the recreation schedule for your Disney resort to see what will be going on at the pool during your stay. While some pool games are meant exclusively for kids, games like trivia and jewelry-making activities can be fun for all ages. Sometimes resorts even offer trivia or other entertainment near the pool bar area. Note that some poolside activities do come at an additional cost (primarily the ones that require certain materials be used like tye-dye shirt making).
Movies Under the Stars
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For more recreation at your Disney resort, head outside to watch a movie under the stars. Each night of the week the resorts on property show different Disney films outside. Movie schedules are available at the front desk, and these events can be fun, family-friendly nights to spend some time at the resort. Grab a beach towel and some late-night dinner from your resort’s quick service restaurant and relax under the stars for the movie—with kids or no kids.
Visit Kidcot Fun Stops
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You may have seen families with kids visiting the various crafting stations around World Showcase, but if you do not have kids yourself you probably really haven’t looked into what these stations actually are. The Kidcot Fun Stops allow kids (or kids at heart) to show their creative side with imaginative coloring activities in each country’s pavilion around World Showcase. Kidcot Fun Stops also result in free souvenirs, as you will be able to take home whatever you create during your trip.
Go to a dance party
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Dance parties in the theme parks can sometimes be hit or miss among adults. While they offer a fun way to let loose on vacation, some adults are turned off by dancing around in the daylight with sometimes little or no alcohol in them. Still, dance parties can be enjoyable for guests of all ages if you allow yourself to get over any feelings of being self-conscious that you may have. You are on vacation after all, and no one else is going to go home remembering the way you danced horribly at the Tomorrowland Dance Party. If you feel like dancing, grab some friends or family and just go for it. In some locations, like the Tomorrowland Dance Party or the Move It, Shake It, Dance and Play It Street Party, you can even snap some quick photos with characters too.
Build your own droid or lightsaber
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You may have noticed some Star Wars merchandise that is much more geared for adult guests. The more expensive, collectable or limited edition products may not be meant for kids, but there are some other kid-friendly souvenirs that you may have never given a second thought to. In Tatooine Traders at the Star Wars attraction (and select merchandise locations like Merchant of Venus in Tomorrowland or Mouse Gear in Epcot) you can actually built your own droid or lightsaber.
This seemingly kid-centric souvenir can actually be a more immersive and creative experience for adults, as chances are more thought will go into the design of each piece. As far as souvenirs from Disney gift shops go, both the droids and lightsabers are also not nearly as expensive as some alternative Star Wars items that you may be tempted to buy. And the lightsabers especially can provide hours of entertainment (for adults too) as they come complete with authentic sounds and light up effects
Enjoy a character dining experience
Image: Brittany DiCologero
Do not pass up character dining experiences just because you are visiting the parks without the kids! Meeting the characters can provide wonderful memories regardless of your age, and if meeting them is a priority doing so during a character meal can help save you some time on your next Disney vacation. Rather than spending time in the theme parks waiting in line to meet the characters, you can spend about the same amount of time you would spend at a table service meal anyways and meet the characters are the same time.
Of course, character dining is often more expensive, especially as many of these experiences are buffets or all-you-care-to-enjoy family style dining. They can cost you two credits if you are using the Disney Dining Plan, so you may want to consider whether or not the greater value is in your time spent waiting for characters or the money you could spend to save time at a character meal.
Visit the attractions you usually skip
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If you visit the parks with the mindset that your day will revolve around hitting all the big thrill rides, you may be missing out on some of the best attractions that Walt Disney World has to offer. Some of the tamer attractions, like those in Fantasyland or the spinner-style rides like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, and TriceraTop Spin, can be surprisingly fun. In some instances (but certainly not all as evidenced by Peter Pan’s Flight) these attractions can have shorter wait times than the thrill rides you may be more accustomed to riding. Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid or Journey Into Imagination with Figment for instance, rarely have substantial wait times, and can help fill the void in the middle of the day when the more “popular” attractions have the longest waits.
How to you embrace being a kid at heart at Walt Disney World? Did your favorite activity make this list? Let us know in the comments!
