A Kids-Free GUILT-Free Disney World Vacation

While Central Florida may be known as the family vacation capital of the world, lots of adults find themselves in the area and wonder – should I visit Walt Disney World? For some, the prospect of visiting theme parks without their children is akin to blasphemy, but it’s time to correct that taboo. Whether a business trip, an adult getaway, or just passing through, there are plenty of reasons for your kids-free Disney trip to be guilt-free, too!

Let’s start with the obvious: If you’re in the area and seeking a fun time, Disney World provides everything from exciting nightlife to fine dining to relaxing experiences, and that’s without ever setting foot in the parks. In fact, TouringPlans blogger Lisa Gilmore recently shared her itinerary for exploring the World outside of the theme parks, giving just a few of her favorite alternate activities. Here are some other reasons you should say YES to Disney World – even if your kids aren’t around.

1) The Business Trip

Amenities in the area make it a popular meeting destination for professionals worldwide. If you make it to Orlando for work, you should also get to play a little, right? Conventions are a great opportunity for adults to converge upon Disney World. Many organizations even offer discounted tickets or special passes for evening activities.

Even if you’re not visiting a theme park, the convention resorts – including Yacht Club Resort, BoardWalk Resort, and Contemporary Resort – are among Disney’s finest, giving coworkers a fun place to wind down after a long day of meetings. Sarah Graffam, another TouringPlans writer, provides some great tips for the convention crowd – of course, we’re always up for a good excuse to spend some time at Disney World!

2) The Getaway

Young parents are among the toughest to convince when it comes to kid-free Disney, but a short trip away as a couple might be the respite you didn’t know you needed! Sure, you’ll miss your own little princess when you walk through Cinderella Castle, but let’s be honest – you flinch at the idea of taking your rambunctious toddler to California Grill for a 9:00 PM dinner. While your little love is cared for back home, you can enjoy a relaxing dinner with the original special someone in your life. Celebrating an anniversary, birthday, or promotion? Even better! Disney knows how to make any occasion special, and this time you get to enjoy dessert without any extra forks poking at your plate. Treat yourself to moments as a couple that are a little more crowded as a family, whether it’s riding an attraction together for the first time without Rider Swap or sharing a romantic dinner. An uninterrupted conversation can be as magical a moment as hugging Mickey Mouse!

3) Just Passing Through

Whether you’re a Disney expert or you only visited once when you were a kid, there is a LOT to do – way more than can be done when you’re just “passing through.” Planning a trip – especially with the new Disney FastPass+ system and My Disney Experience – has become a project that often starts months before your vacation. When traveling with kids, you may find yourself so preoccupied with running from one attraction to another, you forget to experience Disney World in your own way. If you’re in the Orlando area with a day or two to play, it’s just enough time to give you a taste of the magic without the pressure of trying to do it all.

Traveling kid-free gives you a different perspective. You can fall back and let the rope drop crowds race to Space Mountain while you take a leisurely stroll to appreciate a deserted Frontierland. You can catch Festival of Fantasy from wherever you happen to be standing, without worrying if everyone can see over the crowds. You can enjoy Fantasmic! – and also determine that your 4-year-old may not be ready for that snake scene just quite yet.

Bonus: TouringPlans offers guides especially for Adults Only, including different versions depending on what your goal for the day might be. For example, there are a dozen choices for Magic Kingdom alone, taking into account how much time you have to tour, what part of the day you’ll be visiting, and which types of attractions you may be most interested in.

If you’re still not convinced, consider your grown-up Disney World vacation as a scouting mission. Checking out attractions, sampling food, getting a lay of the land – these are all important ways parents can make the best choices for their families in the future. Of course, you’ll be returning with your kids some day, so it only makes sense that you’ve done your research to help make their next visit terrific!