Some people may think that Disney World is only fun for young children but they would be wrong. With the ultimate guide, for the best parks in Disney World for adults, Walt Disney World can be an amazing time for adults as well.
There is plenty of food, rides, and drinks to enjoy as an adult at Disney. It is almost like experiencing Disney for the first time all over again.
Here's the scoop on the best parks in Disney World for adults!
Must Haves For A Successful Trip
The first thing you need to do to have a fun time in the Disney theme parks is to know what to pack. I am not just talking about clothes, although those are important as well.
Before you pack make sure that you check the weather report for when you will be going. Knowing how hot or humid it is going to be will help you to know what to pack. If you are going at a cooler time of year then you would need to pack differently than you would for the summertime.
In terms of clothes, you should pack comfortable walking shoes, loose-fitting tops and exercise shorts. These types of outfits will afford you the most comfort for a day spent walking around the entire park.
While they are a summer staple, jeans shorts tend to get uncomfortable when you are walking around the parks all day. You also want clothes that keep you covered and make it simple to reapply your sunblock.
You also can't forget to bring your sunglasses with you because you will need them!
Additionally, you want to bring a hat with you as well to keep the sun off of your face. Whether this is a baseball cap, a sun hat, or a bucket hat is completely up to you and your personal style.
You should also bring a water bottle with you that will fit in your backpack. It is important to keep hydrated while walking around the parks, especially in the heat!
Lastly, make sure you pack your bathing suit for the trip. Not only does Disney have great pools to go to but it also has two water parks that you may want to check out.
Firstly, you should consider investing in a cooling neck towel. These are activated by pouring cold water over them and putting them around your neck. They are a big help when it comes to keeping you cool in any Disney World theme park.
Next, you absolutely must have a loungefly for your trip. A loungefly is a small, light backpack that is produced by Disney. They come in a ton of different designs that are based on Disney movies and characters so you'll be sure to find your favorite.
Additionally, they are allowed to go on the rides with you so you don't have to worry about not having your things with you!
Next, you might want to consider investing in a neck fan. These are total life savers for those long days in the park!
These neck fans are both portable and rechargeable so they will last for your whole trip. They are also adjustable so they are sure to fit your neck perfectly.
If you combine the neck fans with the cooling towels you will have no problem keeping cool!
Lastly, you should make sure to pack rain gear in whatever form that means for you. Ponchos, umbrellas, raincoats, and waterproof shoes are all common things in the parks. It is important to remember that it rains in Florida almost every day, so you should pack accordingly.
Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom park is the best Disney park and my personal favorite. This park has plenty of dining options and classic rides for adults. It should be the first thing an adult does at Disney!
In Magic Kingdom, you will find some of the best rides in all of Disney. Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, and so many more!
The Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride with its french quarter inspired design of the main building is unbeatable!
They even have new rides like the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Ariel's Under The Sea adventure!
Magic Kingdom is one of the best parks for all ages because there is something for everyone to do.
In terms of dining, you can grab a bite at Casey's or book a time to eat at the Beast's Castle for the 'Be Our Guest' dinner. Not only is the food at the Beast's Castle delicious but you get the unique experience of being inside the beautiful palace and meeting the Beast himself!
After you've experienced Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom, it is only a short walk to Tomorrowland! Here is where you will find one of the best thrill rides in the whole park: Space Mountain.
This park is a unique experience as it propels you into the future. You can get a birdseye view on the Astro Orbiter or fight aliens in Buzz Lightyear's Ranger Spin!
Epcot
Epcot is next on our list of the best parks in Disney World for adults. There is no shortage of things to experience in this magical place.
The first thing to do at Epcot is to go around the world! I recommend going to the right and starting with France first. Not only do they have great food and alcoholic beverages but it also has the Ratetioulle ride!
Additionally, Epcot has a world showcase that features a wine festival and a garden festival where the different countries showcase both drinks and artistic gardens to represent them. Who doesn't want to see garden art of their favorite Disney characters?
Each country is a different experience with special events, which is why some people say that it is the best Disney World park. It is a great place to explore and learn new things while on vacation. Oh and to get some good food and drinks.
Most of the countries have their own restaurants so you can choose whatever cuisine speaks to you.
I would recommend eating in Mexico as the indoor restaurant is an experience in and of itself. In this restaurant, you get to eat under the stars in the streets of Mexico. There is also a temple and volcano that erupts and a boat ride inside!
However, whichever country you eat in is sure to satisfy you!
This is one of the best parks in Disney World for adults because of all of the food and drinks that you can experience. There is also the famous 'around the world' challenge which adults can participate in!
Once you've spent your day going around the world there is still more for you to do the next day! Epcot also has Future Worlds which offers other rides to go on.
Here you will find 'Mission: Space', 'Soarin'', 'Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind', 'Spaceship Earth', and 'Test Track'.
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios (which used to be called MGM) is another great option for adults in Disney World.
In this park, you can journey to the future world of Star Wars! An entire section of this park is dedicated to the world making it the perfect place for Star Wars fans to go.
Here you can pilot the Millennium Falcon or join the Rise of the Resistance! These are both thrilling rides that are essential for fans to experience. This is the best place for any age group to experience.
This section of the park also has plenty of stores and places to get food and drinks. Oga's Cantina is a kid-friendly bar that serves both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Oga's should definitely be on any adults Disney to-do list!
Additionally, you can also make your own lightsaber and a droid! You just have to book a time to go.
After you've experienced Star Wars land you can go over to Toy Story Land, Minnie’s Runaway Railway or head over to experience some scarier rides. Disney's Hollywood Studios is also home to popular attractions the Tower of Terror and the roller coaster ride 'Rock n' Roller Coaster' which features Aerosmith.
One of the best things about this park is that it has no shortage of live entertainment. Not only are the shows a good time but they are a great way to get out of the long lines!
This makes the park one of the best Disney parks for adults because it has a lot of alternative options to rides.
As a bonus both Epcot and Hollywood Studios allow you to take the Skyliner to and from the park if you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort. The Skyliner is not only convenient but it is a great time and a unique experience.
You can utilize this transportation at Disney’s Riviera Resort, The Grand Floridian Resort, Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Pop Century Resort, and the Art of Animation Resort. Unfortunately, it is not available from Disney's Port Orleans Resort.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is mostly about seeing the animals! You can ride on the Kilimanjaro Safaris and see all of the animals in this Disney park.
While this park doesn't have quite as many rides as the others it does have rides from the World of Avatar like 'Na’vi River Journey', and 'Avatar Flight of Passage'.
You can release your inner child in this popular destination. Animal Kingdom is also home to the Rainforest Cafe and a safari character lunch! Grabbing some food is a great way to take a break from the Disney World rides and enjoy the ambiance.
Other Places To Go In Disney
The Walt Disney World Parks are not the only thing to see in Disney World for adults.
If you are in the mood for some shopping then you can head over to Disney Springs. There, they have stores, a great guest restaurant, and live music! Disney Springs is a particularly good place to go for the evening hours.
Alternatively, if you are looking for water parks, you can go to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach! These parks are not just for small children! They have great water slides and are the best place to go if you need to cool off.
Restaurants To Go To
If you are going to Disney then there are some dining spots that you should hit!
For breakfast, Chef Mickey's is the place to go. Chef Mickey's is a character breakfast that is all you can eat at a fixed cost. This means that you can eat as much as you want while already knowing how much you are paying.
Additionally, you can take pictures with Mickey and the gang while you eat! It is easiest to get to Chef Mickey's from Magic Kingdom because you can simply hop on the moneral.
Also in Magic Kingdom is the Be Our Guest dinner at the Beast's castle and Tony's. Tony's is on main street right when you enter the park. The Italian food is absolutely delicious as well!
The Beast's castle is deeper into the Magic Kingdom park. To reach the castle you have to go over to the 'Peter Pan's Flight' area.
Like Chef Mickey's this restaurant is also a fixed cost. You choose options from the menu and the servers will bring them over to you. This is an especially good restaurant for adults because it serves some great food for mature palettes.
The castle itself is gorgeous and it has three different rooms that you can eat in. You will either get to eat in the West Wing, the Ballroom or Belle's library. Each room is a different experience and they are all worth seeing.
Next, I would recommend the Story Book Dining restaurant at the Wilderness Lodge. While not in the Magic Kingdom Park it is easiest to get to from there. You are able to take the Ferry from the park over to the Wilderness Lodge.
Story Book Dining is another fixed-cost meal with amazing food, magical drinks, and character greetings. At this restaurant, you get to meet Grumpy, Dopey, Snow White, and the Evil Queen!
Lastly, while they only serve appetizers I would highly recommend going to Oga's Cantina. Even if you are not a mega Star Wars fan it is still a fun experience.
They have a wide selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks so there is something for everybody there!
There are more restaurants than these that you can look into if they sound appealing to you. Including a wide variety in Epcot's World Showcase, Casey's, and Space 220. Just be sure to look at the menus before booking because they all serve different things.
Overall you really can't go wrong when dining at Disney so choose whatever calls to you!
How To Plan A Successful Trip
To plan a successful Disney trip you should download the 'My Disney Experience' app. This app is invaluable for your time in the parks. It allows you to plan your whole trip on the app and share those plans with the other members of your party.
Additionally, if you have a fast pass or a disability pass it allows you to book a time to get on the ride right on the app. This way you can do it on the go!
The Disney app also has a map that shows you where the rides are, how long the wait time is, and if anything is closed. It also allows you to see what characters are out and about and where you can go to meet them!
It is a great help with finding your favorite character to get a photo opp with! You can easily find characters like Donald, Daisy, and Winnie the Pooh who you otherwise might have missed.
You and your party should decide what parks are important for you to hit and then plan accordingly. It is important to keep in mind that depending on your interests some parks may need more days than others.
For example, both Magic Kingdom and Epcot are big parks so they probably need at least two days each. If you are not able to allocate two days to these parks then it would be helpful to decide which rides you absolutely have to ride and use that as an itinerary of sorts.
Parks like Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom may not need as much time as the other two because they are smaller. This is why it is smart to do your research about which rides and restaurants are in which parks before you go.
Next, you should plan out where you want to eat beforehand. In order to get most dining reservations in the park, you may need a few months of notice. This is especially true with popular places like Oga's Cantina, Chef Mickey's, and Be Our Guest Dinner.
Lastly, as an adult, you may want to add a rest day into the mix or at least half of a day. Disney can be tiring especially for adults so you will probably thank yourself for the rest day later.
This is why it is important to book a hotel that has a nice pool because you will definitely be utilizing it. As a bonus, most of the Disney pools are themed which just adds to the magic!
If you are staying in a Disney Resort then they will provide you transportation to and from the parks either by bus or by the Skyliner. This ensures that you can just sit back and enjoy your wonderful vacation!
We hope that this complete guide to the best parks in Disney World for adults helped you to plan your next Disney trip! There are plenty of attractions to see at Disney, so go get out there!
The best part is that Disney is close to both Seaworld Orlando and Universal Studios Florida. So, after you are done strolling down main street in Disney you can hop on over to a Universal Orlando Resort and journey to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or see Jurassic Park!
Universal is a great way to continue your vacation if you're not quite ready to go home yet. In short, there are so many amazing things to do at Disney as well as the other parks in Florida.
Hopefully, this article helped you to make your own Disney itinerary for your upcoming trip! We hope you have a magical time!
For more Disney scoop, check out these articles:
- The 30 Best Rides to Fastpass at Disney World [2022]
- 30 Best Rides at Disneyland for Adults
- The Best Spots For Sushi At Disney World Resort In Orlando
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