I love visiting Disney World with my kids — seeing that first Mickey hug, the hysterical photos from Tower of Terror, their amazement at the castle lit up by sparkling fireworks.
But, I also love visiting kid-free — trips for work, solo trips, with friends, and as a multi-day date with my best friend.
My husband and I bundled up for a late January visit and four days of experiences geared toward adults.
The Swan Reserve was the perfect resort for cocktails, late nights, and strolls to the parks
One of the newest hotels at Walt Disney World, the Swan Reserve is bright, airy, and very kid-friendly.
Though run by Marriott, it has a lot of Disney perks, including bus and boat transportation, early entry, and an on-site Cast Member to help with all things Disney Parks. There’s even complimentary childcare when dining at specific restaurants.
It’s a beautiful walk to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios. The rooms are huge, flooded with natural light, and pretty much Disney-theme free.
The best part is the lobby lounge, Stir. Anyone who has tried to find food or a relaxing cocktail after braving the post-fireworks crowd at Magic Kingdom knows how hard it can be to find late-night food at Disney.
Almost every night, we visited Stir for a snack and cocktails like the fruity and delicious Garden Party cocktail for me, and the whimsical Banana Hands for my husband.
Our top priority was the Disney magic we love, the food
In just four days, we ate at 10 different spots — artsy bites and sips at EPCOT International Festival of the Arts Food Studios, brunch at Art Smith Homecomin’, dinner with stunning firework views at California Grill, and cocktails with pirates at The Beak and Barrel.
There is finally a lounge at Magic Kingdom. I felt like I needed an eyepatch, a parrot, and the lyrics to “Yo Ho” memorized when stepping into the immersive world of The Beak and Barrel.
We had prime seating in front of the fireplace with battling ships-in-a-bottle above us. The Beak and Barrel is not a spot for lounging — there are special effects, a two-drink limit, and a maximum of 45 minutes.
Dinner at EPCOT’s Takumi-Tei was elegant, and for guests ages 8 and up
The complete opposite of the noise and rushed feeling of The Beak and Barrel was the tranquil, soothing Takumi-Tei at EPCOT.
Takumi-Tei is tucked away in the Japan pavilion with subtle signs leading to the heavy wooden doors. Once inside, we were transported down a tranquil hallway, away from the hustle and bustle of EPCOT.
There are five different dining rooms, and we were in the washi paper room. Pink cherry blossoms, softly lit from behind, lined the walls.
Takumi-Tei is omakase — or “leave it up to the chef” — style. There’s no kids’ menu.
Every dish was beautifully plated, and each course was creatively and carefully prepared. Our elegant and knowledgeable server, Sakura, was soft-spoken, adding to the tranquil, exquisite ambiance.
A visit to the adults-only GEO-82 lounge was magical
Disney World is adding more experiences for grown-ups, like the adult-exclusive EPCOT lounge GEO-82.
There are no strollers, no kids’ menu, and no lack-of-a-nap meltdowns. What it does have is sophisticated homages to Spaceship Earth, stunning views, a stellar cocktail menu, and delicious bites.
There was no time limit at GEO-82. We relaxed and took in the details like the Spaceship Earth on the ice cube in the Brown Butter Old Fashioned. I took my time sipping my Peach Shrub Whisky Smash, savoring the accompanying cookie. The only cocktail that comes with a cookie!
We were out late every night
With just the two of us, there was no one dragging behind and sighing. No one was falling apart because they were over-tired.
We did late-night dinners, raced onto rides right before the park closed, and saw the 10 p.m. Disney Starlight nighttime parade. Cast Members directed us to one of the best spots to watch the parade — in Liberty Square near Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe.
I had the time to find magical Disney details I usually miss
We walked right onto Star Tours and meandered slowly through the queue to warm up from the frigid mid-30s temps. Finding Disney easter eggs in the baggage screening area — like Genie’s lamp and a Buzz Lightyear toy — were a bonus of taking our time, finding details we’re usually rushing past.
With no one to amuse while waiting in line, we made spontaneous attraction decisions. A pre-dinner journey on “It’s a Small World” was perfectly timed, and we were under the clock when it struck 7 p.m. — a new experience for us both.
It was finally a Disney vacation, so I didn’t make a ton of plans, book Lightning Lanes, or have a specific schedule for each day. We weren’t rushing from one reservation to another or stalking the My Disney Experience App wait times. We lingered over meals, had new experiences, and enjoyed the magic our way.
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