I often hear people say that they haven’t been to a Disney resort because they don’t have kids so I felt compelled to write a post about why Disney is not just a place for families with small children. In fact, Disney as an adult is awesome, with or without kids. I’m here to give you not just one, but five reasons why Disneyland is awesome without kids.
Here are 5 reasons why you should visit Disneyland as an adult.
Post updated March 2023
I have been to Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Disney’s California Adventure, Disney World and the Animal Kingdom as an adult. And I have had a blast each and every time. We all know that Disney parks are great for families, but I’m going to give you five reasons why it’s an awesome place to go with your partner or a group of friends.
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5 Reasons Why Disneyland as an Adult is Awesome
1. You can avoid the crowds
If you don’t have your kids in tow, you can go when school is in session and avoid the crowds. When your vacation schedule isn’t determined by your kids’ school breaks, you have the freedom to travel in the off-season. This is huge.
Without needing to plan your vacation around a school schedule, you can avoid Spring Break and Christmas times, aka the horror of 3+ hour line-ups. I once went to Disneyland the week before Spring Break; the longest line I waited in was 20 minutes.
We were through the whole park and went on every ride before the day was over, it was absolutely amazing. I didn’t think that was possible, but when you go to Disneyland as an adult without children, it’s possible.
If you can manage to plan your Disney vacation during the shoulder season when the kids are in school, you will have an amazing time. I guarantee it. Not only do you not have to worry about your own kids, but you won’t hear anyone else’s kids crying or screaming.
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2. Go on the rides you want
You can go on all the rides you want, and none of the ones you don’t (read: every ride in Toon Town) Sure Dumbo the flying elephant is cute, but it’s not exactly a ride you want to line up a half hour for. Space Mountain? Now that’s a roller coaster that’s worth the wait.
There are no shortage of roller coasters and ‘big kid’ rides at each of Disney’s parks. Bonus: you’re tall enough to ride them all so there’s no taking turns sitting one out with small children. Lines are part of the deal at Disney, but without kids, you can skip all of the rides you don’t fit into want to do. It’s safe to say that we’d all skip It’s a Small World, am I right?!
3. Eat when and where you want to
You can eat when and where you want. You won’t be forced to endure a diet of chicken fingers, french fries and mini donuts. Unless, of course, you want to. The highlight of my girlfriend and I’s trip to the Animal Kingdom in Florida was our dinner at Tiffins. Everything from the service, to the food and wine, was divine.
Sure, you could dine at Tiffins with kids, they do offer a kid’s menu; however, it is a fine-dining experience that’s best enjoyed without little ones who tend to not be as patient when it comes to a two-hour dinner. Not having to rush through dessert or my second glass of wine made for a very relaxing and enjoyable dinner.
When visiting Disney’s California Adventure, I enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the Wine Country Trattoria, a beautiful winery with outdoor seating tucked away from the crowds and noise of the park. With its Tuscan villa setting, you almost forget you’re in a busy Disney park.
Sipping bubbles in a Tuscanesque restaurant? I bet you’re starting to see why Disneyland as an adult without kids can be an incredible vacation. It’s the best of both worlds. You can ride all of your favourite rides, including the roller coasters, and then relax with a glass of wine before hitting the haunted houses.
4. Stay and play all day and night at Disneyland as an adult
You have the stamina to stay all day and night at the park (without crying). Seeing the fireworks show is one of the highlights for me. If you’re at Disney bright and early with your kids for breakfast with the characters, it’s unlikely you’ll still be there that late. Kids simply can’t stay at the park all day.
Yes, you can take a break mid-day so the kids can nap and then return later after dinner, but without kids, you can do whatever you want. I have definitely put in some marathon days at Disney, lol!
The light show they put on at Cinderella’s castle the last time I was there was incredible. I never want to miss out on the evening shows at Disney. They are amazing.
5. We are all kids at heart
Disney is magical through the eyes of a child, but we are all just big kids, aren’t we? Not having children is no reason to miss out on a trip to the happiest place on earth. My last visit was nothing short of magical. It was pure magic. As an adult who does not have children, I have enjoyed several vacations at Disney and loved them all!
To fully indulge in the Disney spirit, and save some money, purchase your Disney Ears before you go. They are much cheaper outside the parks, plus this way you can wear them there. You can also shop for official Disney store merchandise before you go so you can dress the part.
Last time, I stayed at a Disney resort attached to Disney World in Orlando and I highly recommend doing this. They offer shuttles to their resort parks for fast and convenient transportation back and forth. Disney has it dialled in and it gets better every time I go.
From the moment the Disney envelope arrived at my house containing our colourful MagicBands, to the seamless check-in and luggage delivery that happened while we were poolside, to the wifi that ranged from our hotel throughout all the parks, to their well-designed meal plan that kept us from ever getting hungry – it was all magical.
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A bonus reason why visiting Disney as an adult is awesome is that we are better at getting over jet lag than kids are. If your Disney trip has you flying off to Disneyland Paris or Tokyo, the time change can really affect the start of your vacation. This is especially true if you have kids with you.
Whether or not you have children, Disney is a place I feel everyone should experience in their lifetime. I hope you liked my reasons why Disney is awesome without kids. Have I given you enough reasons to check it out if it wasn’t currently on your list?
I’ve been to the various Disney parks 8 times, so you could definitely say I love them. Writing this makes me want to plan another Disney trip, maybe to the park in Japan next time… 😉
If you’re not sure what to bring with you, check out my packing checklist to ensure you don’t forget the essentials.
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