What To Know About Visiting Walt Disney World as a Grown-Up

When my kids were little, Walt Disney World Resort was one of our favorite destinations. As preschoolers, they were enchanted by the Magic Kingdom. In grade school, they loved Epcot’s World Showcase. As teens, they soared down every high-speed ride in the parks.   

Now that they’re in their 20s, we still love visiting Walt Disney World as a family. Yes, we still head eagerly to our favorite rides, but now we enjoy Walt Disney World differently. 

Turns out, the 53-year-old resort has plenty to offer adults, from themed pubs, sports lounges and bars to entertainment zones for adults. 

Experiencing Walt Disney World Through Adult Eyes

Visiting Walt Disney World with adults who have spent their childhoods at the park is a unique experience. That’s because it’s not just Walt Disney World that they’re revisiting, but their own childhood memories, too. It’s fun reliving those times as we enjoy new experiences as adults.

Must-Do Experiences at Walt Disney World

There is no shortage of rides to entertain at each of Walt Disney World’s four parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Some rides are designed for younger children, but many attractions are perfect for grown-ups. 

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon are among our own family favorites. Both attractions provide an immersive experience and riveting plot line that make them among the most popular rides in Walt Disney World.

My personal favorites are Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where you can soar through Pandora on the back of a banshee, and Toy Story Mania!, where I try to beat my 23-year-old son in an adrenaline-filled carnival shooting game. 

Dining at Walt Disney World

Dining in Disney parks is another top draw for adults. Most sit-down restaurants at the parks require reservations, and many offer an immersive experience that only Disney can provide.

A good example is the Space 220 restaurant at Epcot. This space-themed restaurant shuttles guests to 220 miles above the Earth to dine among the stars. Viewers can watch shuttles coming in for a landing or astronauts out for a spacewalk.

The food itself has a futuristic touch with an artistic flair. The restaurant only offers a prix fixe menu, so it might not be for everyone. There is an excellent three-course meal for vegans available.

READ MORE: A Vegan’s Guide to Walt Disney World

Outside the Parks

Walt Disney World has several popular areas outside the ticketed parks. Disney Boardwalk is a quarter-mile promenade filled with dining, shopping and nightlife. There is no admission fee for Disney’s Boardwalk, but some venues have cover charges. 

AbracadaBar is a turn-of-the-century, magician-themed lounge serving signature cocktails like Pepper’s Ghost (Ciroc pineapple vodka, and habanero lime) and Parlor Trick (Four Roses bourbon small-batch, simple syrup, and a splash of soda water). 

Disney Springs is another dining, shopping and entertainment district that is a must-visit for adults. The Edison is an opulent, 1920s-themed restaurant and bar in the Town Center at Disney Springs. On select nights, The Edison becomes 21+ only and offers live entertainment, from musicians to aerialists.

House of Blues is for music lovers. This entertaining venue has live bands; you can dance the night away while dining and drinking fun cocktails. With their high-flying antics, Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatics show Drawn to Life at Disney Springs is a crowd-pleaser for all ages.  

Disney After Hours

Our family’s favorite time to visit Walt Disney World is during one of their after-hours events. These specially ticketed evening events provide additional hours of access to one of the parks. The park is less crowded, and your ticket even includes some snacks. 

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs on select nights, usually from August to October. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a festive event that runs on select nights throughout the holiday season. The events generally take place from 7:00 PM to midnight.

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Janna Graber is an award-winning American travel journalist and current editor of Go World Travel. Since moving to Austria at age 19 for college, she’s been in love with world travel, and has covered destinations around the globe for more than 40 newspapers, magazines and websites. She’s the author of three travel anthology books.

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