Grownup Getaway

I think Walt Disney World is misunderstood and underappreciated in many circles. I’m at the point in my life where Mommy and Me playgroups, preschool birthday parties, and family vacations to Walt Disney World are considered the norm but it wasn’t always so. Rewind a few years and the mention of a trip to Walt Disney World without kids was met with concerned glances and polite nods by casual acquaintances. I may as well have said that my husband and I were spending our anniversary at Chuck E. Cheese. To most people outside my Disney family, Walt Disney World is considered a place to take the kids, not the perfect destination for an adult getaway. I couldn’t disagree more. I’m here to tell you that it’s possible to spend the entire week without a single character interaction, mouse ears are not required attire, and chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese are not the only things on the menu.

What Does Walt Disney World Offer Adults?

In a word – everything. This single vacation destination has top-notch service, incredible dining options for every palate, entertainment of every variety, activities for active vacationers, rest and relaxation opportunities for visitors who want to take it slower, and even culture and learning.

Dining

As AJ from The Disney Food Blog says, “food IS a theme park.” If you’re a foodie, you could make a vacation out of sampling all the delicious fare the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer. Signature dining restaurants are a wonderful choice for a grownup trip; the Disney Dining Plans make them a more affordable option. Although children are allowed at these restaurants, the atmosphere is decidedly grown-up without being stuffy. My favorites are California Grill for the view of Wishes, Artist Point for a quiet, relaxed atmosphere, and Bistro de Paris for outstanding service and food. You don’t have to choose signature dining to have quality food and service. Wolfgang Puck Express in Downtown Disney is well known for being a great value with its large portions and fresh, well-prepared food. Kona Café in the Polynesian Resort is a favorite of mine and if you time dinner right at La Hacienda de San Angel, you’ll be treated to some of the best seats around for IllumiNations.

Adult Beverages. If an adults-only trip wouldn’t be complete without an adult beverage, I have a few suggestions. The Epcot Wine Walk is a well-kept secret. For $20 per person, you will receive two samples of wine at each of Epcot’s three wine shops. Stop in one of the wine shops in France, Italy, or Germany to purchase your Epcot Wine Walk Passport and start your tour. If you prefer spirits over wine, La Cava de Tequila in Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion is the place for you. Tequila connoisseurs have over 70 different varieties to choose from while guests like myself can try a unique margarita. Beer lovers can raise a pint at the Rose and Crown Pub in Epcot’s United Kingdom Pavilion or Raglan Road in Downtown Disney. For some entertainment with your drinks, stop by my favorite, Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar in the Boardwalk area or take in “Ye Haa” Bob Jackson’s show at the River Roost Lounge at Port Orleans, Riverside.

Entertainment

By its very nature, the Walt Disney World Resort is entertainment but many guests don’t look beyond the theme park attractions when they search for entertainment. In each park, you’ll find outstanding “street performers.” Magic Kingdom is home to the Dapper Dans, a barbershop quartet, Epcot has the World Showcase Performers, Hollywood Studios has the Citizens of Hollywood, and DiVine is legendary in Animal Kingdom to name just a few. Stepping out of the theme parks, Downtown Disney is home to La Nouba, a Cirque du Soleil show, Disney Quest, Characters in Flight, the AMC movie theater with its new customized concession stand, and lots and lots of shopping opportunities. It’s almost overwhelming when I think of all the choices!

Active Vacationers

Everyone likes to vacation a little differently. For adults who like to keep things exciting on a trip, Walt Disney World won’t disappoint. If your budget allows, the new Wild Africa Trek in Animal Kingdom and the Richard Petty Driving experience immediately come to mind. Wild Africa Trek takes you “behind the scenes” of the Animal Kingdom savannah and you’ll see the animals from a whole different perspective. Guests use a harness and zipline to get an up-close-and personal look at the hippos and crocodiles after crossing shaky suspension bridges. The Richard Petty Driving Experience offers both a drive-along experience and a behind the wheel experience. Active vacationers can get the best of all worlds by participating in a runDisney event. Sign up for a 5K, half- or full- marathon and you’ll experience the Disney magic while keeping fit. Roller coaster enthusiasts can park-hop and experience the best thrill rides Walt Disney World has to offer in a single day. They can even design and simulate their own ultimate coaster at The Sum of All Thrills in Innoventions in Epcot or CyberSpace Mountain at Disney Quest.

Rest and Relaxation

Sometimes it’s not a vacation without a little rest and relaxation. There are three full-service spas on Disney property. They are located at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, the Dolphin Resort. After relaxing with a spa treatment, visitors in search of a relaxed and leisurely vacation can sip afternoon tea at The Grand Floridian. Avid golfers will not be disappointed with the offerings at the Walt Disney World Resort. Less experienced golfers can try their hand at miniature golf at Winter Summerland or Fantasia Gardens. For an economical approach to taking it slow, look no farther than the quiet pools or beaches at your resort. Renting a cabana at a Deluxe Resort like the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, or Polynesian resort guarantees privacy and service but does come with an added cost.

Culture and Learning

Walt Disney World has no shortage of learning opportunities. Take a tour such as Behind the Seeds and learn about agriculture or take a backstage tour to learn the “secrets” behind Walt Disney World. Visit during Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival in the fall and sign-up for a lecture series or cooking demonstration. If plants are more your thing, participate in a gardening demonstration during Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival. Visit Animal Kingdom and take some time to read the signage and speak with the very knowledgeable Cast Members on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and Maharajah Jungle Trek. Epcot has tons of educational opportunities; Innoventions has rotating exhibits that inform and entertain and touring World Showcase and speaking with the Cast Members that hail from the country they represent is a wonderful cultural opportunity.

I’ve just touched on a small fraction of the options that make Walt Disney World Resort a perfect vacation destination for the grownups. So, I say find a sitter, leave the kids home, and treat yourself to a long weekend in the “World.” That’s what I’ll be doing.

Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers When she’s not chasing after her little ones, you can most likely find her at the beach or in the kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe. You can follow her on Twitter @DisneyExplorer or become a fan of Beyond the Attractions on Facebook.

This article is part of the 19th edition of the Disney Blog Carnival. To read more articles like it, visit the Dismarks Disney Blog Carnival.

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Tags: Artist Point, Behind the Seeds, Bistro de Paris, Bob Jackson, California Grill, Characters in Flight, Citizens of Hollywood, CyberSpace Mountain, Dapper Dans, Di Vine, DisneyQuest, Downtown Disney, Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Epcot Wine Walk, IllumiNations, Jellyrolls, Kona Cafe, La Cava de Tequila, La Hacienda de San Angel, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, Polynesian Resort, Port Orleans, Raglan Road, Richard Petty Driving Experience, Rose and Crown pub, runDisney, Sum of All Thrills, Wild Africa Trek, Wishes, Wolfgang Puck Express, World Showcase Performers

This entry was posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:00 am and is filed under Attractions, Columns, Leisure, The World, Touring. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.