There’s nothing better than an Adult Only Disneyland trip and I’m here to prove it to you with ten of my top tips for planning, experiencing and enjoying Disneyland either by yourself or with another adult.
1. Travel Light
One of the core benefits of doing an adult-only Disneyland trip is that you can travel much lighter than your stroller-pushing, backpack-wearing, toddler-toting parental companions. Take full advantage of the ability to travel light and double up in a lighter park bag by carrying only what you really need into the park. Stay on property and utilize the Disney Store shipping back to your hotel room when shopping. Arrive early to the park and breeze past the security checkpoints jammed tight with scrollers and families.
2. Coffee
If you can’t live without your morning coffee, you are in luck. Drop into the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café in Disneyland on Main Street for a breakfast sandwich and a hot coffee. There are also five Starbucks locations between Downtown Disney and both parks where you can not only access the entire Starbucks menu, but also the exclusive drinks unique to Disney property. All Starbucks locations will allow you to pay with gift cards and use the Starbucks app.
3. Rides
While those traveling with kiddies are spending the majority of their day in Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown and Bug’s Land you can be hitting up the more thrilling, adrenaline-pumping rides. Be sure to take advantage of Fastpass and Single Rider so that you can ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure, California Screamin’, and Space Mountain multiple times during your visit. If you want to take some downtime and relax, the slower rides are a nice break from the hustle of the park and you can ride them at less than peak times like first thing in the morning, during lunchtime or right before the park closes.
4. Resorts
Staying on property certainly, holds some amazing adult-only Disneyland perks. Be sure to plan time to enjoy the multiple pools, with private cabanas available for rent, where you can spend a leisurely afternoon ordering drinks by the pool and catching a few California sun rays. If serenity and pampering are more your style, the Mandara Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel is the ultimate for adult only Disneyland enjoyment. Indulge in a few adult-only Disneyland themed libations by visiting Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, The Lounge at Steakhouse 55, or book reservations for the Napa Rose Food and Wine Pairing Experience.
5. Fine Dining
Disney boasts some of the best restaurants and themed dining experiences, but most people never get to enjoy them when traveling with their family. Dining the adult-only Disneyland way means booking those advance reservations (up to 60 days before your trip) and experiencing all that Carthay Circle, Blue Bayou, Napa Rose and Steakhouse 55 have to offer your palate. If you plan your trip far enough in advance, you might even get lucky enough to book a dining experience for Fantasmic, World of Color or a special event.
6. Alcohol
It’s true that you can’t buy a drink inside Disneyland (unless you have access to the exclusive Club 33) but there are plenty of places inside California Adventure and Downtown Disney to get alcoholic drinks. I highly recommend the Carthay Circle Lounge, Cove Bar, Alfresco Tasting Terrace inside the park and the Uva Bar or Tortilla Joes at Downtown Disney. My personal favorite place to have an adult-only Disneyland sip will always be Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel.
7. Shopping
When you can take your time strolling, browsing and exploring the shops, Disney can be an amazing place to find unique gifts and collectibles that you can’t find anywhere else. There’s always the World of Disney where you can spend hours going through section after section, but other great shops that cater to the adult-only Disneyland crowd are Cristal d’Orleans, Off the Page, PANDORA® Jewelry, or the Silhouette Studio.
8. Night Life
The fun is just beginning after the park has closed and the kiddies have gone to bed. Hop into one of the nightlife hotspots such as Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen for some live music or ESPN Zone Sports Arena for drinks and the big game highlights. If you want something a little less active, try catching a late-night movie at AMC Downtown Disney 12 Theatres.
9. Photography
If you own a DSLR there’s nothing better than an adult-only Disneyland trip to capture some of those rare photos and experiences. Because you are able to walk and explore at your own pace, taking breaks to set up that perfect shot or wait it out until the bigger crowd clears is easy.
10. Childish Fun
Disneyland is a magical place where even the oldest of adults can be a kid again. So be sure that during your adult-only Disneyland trip, put aside all the #adulting and responsibilities and let loose, be immature, act like a child. It’s okay, and quite frankly, expected of you while visiting Disneyland. This is the most important thing – have fun!