Close Banner
last chance frog

Walt Disney World® Resort Theme Park

more savings

SAVE UP TO $85 / TICKET

GET MY TICKETS

15 Reasons We Say "Yes!" to Disneyland for Adults

by Mommy Frog on August 2, 2023 11 Los Angeles

Disneyland for Adults - pinterestI have a confession to make. I go to Disneyland without the tadpoles. Sometimes I hop away with just Leap, and sometimes with friends. I often go with visiting relatives (I do make a pretty good tour guide), and sometimes I simply go by myself. For some reason, this fact surprises many people. They believe that Disneyland is just for kids or that an adult can only have fun there with kids, but I believe Disneyland is just as fun (perhaps even more fun) for adults. Whaaatt?!? Is Disneyland for adults?

Kids are always playing in fantasy and adventure and dreaming about tomorrow. Adults only get to visit those states of mind, and Disneyland makes it easier and more approachable. You know you deserve that Mickey pretzel. Let me convince you that a guilt-free, kid-free journey to Disneyland should toadally be in your near future. Plus events such as Food & Wine make it so easy to want to break away with some adult friends and relatives to have a little kid-free fun.

Why We Leap for Joy at Trips to Disneyland for Adults

Disneyland for Adults - Women eat at Cafe Orleans

Visiting Disneyland is a great way to soothe your inner child! Whatever problems you have, you can leave them at the gate and indulge in some good, wholesome fun. Grab your siblings, besties or sweetie for a Disney date, or go solo. We promise you won't regret it!

1. It was Walt Disney’s plan to make Disneyland for adults (as well as children).

Disneyland for Adults - Sisters in Teacups

You see, Walt Disney had a problem. He had children, but he could not find an amusement park to take them to that he could also enjoy. The kids might be on a ride, while he sat on a bench and watched them. He wanted to create a magical place where parents could have fun, too, and that dream developed into Disneyland — where all family members are happy to go spend time together. And he did such a good job that adults want to visit even if they do not have children or do not necessarily always want to take them. Thank you, Walt!

2. You can go on your favorite rides.

Disneyland for Adults - Guardians of the Galaxy Photo

You and the children in your life may enjoy different rides. Perhaps you love thrill rides, but your tadpoles do not meet the height requirements and you may or may not have someone to supervise them in the park. Or perhaps the opposite is true. Your older children might be all about the thrills, while you enjoy a slower pace. If you go without the kids to satisfy your wishes, then when you do take them, you can be 100% there for them. You'll be happy to go at their speed and do their attractions because your Disney needs have been met. See, I can justify anything to make it better for my tadpoles! I'm told good parents take care of their own needs as well as their children’s needs. Perhaps there is no better place to do this than Disneyland.

3. You can take advantage of Single Rider benefits.

15 Reasons We Say "Yes!" to Disneyland for Adults - Single Rider Lines

Going with adults also makes it easier to hop in a Single Rider line to reduce wait times. Single Rider is offered at Incredicoaster, Goofy’s Sky School, Grizzly River Run, Radiator Springs Racers, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, Soarin', Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. You can sometimes qualify for Buddy Passes for single riders or small groups at Monster’s Inc. Ask for a pass at the queue entrance.

4. You can maximize Genie+ and buy individual Lightning Lanes for fewer people.

Genie+ is an optional way to make ride selections to bypass the standby line and use the Lightning Lane entrance. You can purchase Disneyland tickets pre-loaded with Genie+ or purchase in the Disneyland app once you have entered the theme park. It has a daily fee associated with it, but if you are just buying for yourself, it's a whole lot cheaper than buying for a family of four! Just sayin'.

The ability to skip the lines and get the included, unlimited PhotoPass downloads make it worth it. When I visit alone and use Genie+ to reserve Lightning Lane for one person, I find that I get much earlier return times than for larger groups searching at the same time. There may be one ticket available for an earlier return time, or I can get the jump on another guest’s cancellation. Score! Since many Genie+ rides have height requirements, you can get your money’s worth when using it for all the “big rides” without your youngest companions slowing you down or keeping you from going full throttle.

If I want to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, it's much easier to justify the cost of purchasing one or two individual Lightning Lanes compared to buying for the whole family.

5. You can see your favorite shows and parades or revisit old favorites.

15 Reasons We Say "Yes!" to Disneyland for Adults - Waiting for Disney's Electrical Parade

You might wax nostalgic for the Enchanted Tiki Room or want to catch a certain parade, while your kids have been there and done that and are onto new adventures and rides. They might not want to camp out for a good spot for a parade or fireworks when there is so much other fun stuff to see and do. When you go without them, nobody can tell you "no" or whine. It is oddly freeing as a parent to get to do exactly what you want because if you are like us, you are always giving and making sure everyone else is happy.

Part of the fun of visiting Disneyland as an adult is reliving some hoppy memories of past visits when you were little. Maybe you had a favorite ride from your childhood that brings up positive memories, but your family has different favorites. You can ride your favorite rides or meet your special characters when you aren’t responsible for everyone else’s desires. But it's also fun to make new memories!

Disneyland for Adults - World of Color

As much as our toddler, Lily, loves to see nighttime shows, she often needs to go to bed before they start. But when I visit with just adults, we can stay up late to watch fireworks or projection shows, World of Color and Fantasmic! (Fantasmic! is temporarily paused until spring 2024.)

6. It’s the remedy for not getting to go as a kid.

Grandma Frog was a Midwestern froglet of the 1950s. She dreamed of being able to visit Disneyland, but the closest she ever got to Disneyland was watching it on television until she was an adult and could take herself (and my dad) there for her honeymoon. She overcompensated for this “childhood loss” by taking my siblings and me often when we were young froglets, and she passed her love of Disney on to us. Now she still goes every chance she gets. It’s like she is making up for not getting to go as a tadpole. She and I go without the kids (don’t worry, she is a loving grandma who is also always jumping to go with the tadpoles too), and it is a great bonding time for us when we aren’t caring for everyone else in our brood. I swear it keeps us both young at heart.

7. You can bond and celebrate occasions with friends and family members.

Disneyland for Adults - Flora's Birthday Button

Disneyland makes a great family trip for the adults in the family. It is almost like being kids again! All of your problems melt away and you can have new adventures and live out fantasies together by sharing a day at Disneyland. Celebrate a big birthday, special event or anniversary at Disneyland to make it more memorable. Take a sibling trip or make Disneyland the destination for a reunion. Maybe you and your siblings or buddies have all grown up with "Star Wars" and want to spend time in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It can be a lot easier taking several hours to visit the cantina for adult drinks, building a lightsaber, building a droid, riding rides, shopping and posing for pictures with your lightsabers around the land. You can all geek out together.

We see many adults with matching Disneyland spirit jerseys and their ears on, sharing their favorite treats and taking photos at iconic locations and the many decorative walls in the parks. Many local adults meet up with friends at Disneyland after work to unwind and relax.

8. Meet new Disney-loving friends.

Disneyland for Adults - dapper day

If you are alone in your love for Disneyland when it comes to other adults in your life, but you want to share the joy of Disney with someone, then there are social media Disneyland meet-up groups that allow people to find other Disney-addicted adults who want to visit the parks and make new friends, even if it’s just for part of the day. It's a great, no-pressure way to share the love of Disney with like-minded people and keep the magic alive and live vicariously through others (by sharing photos and memories) when you can't be in the parks.

One of our readers from Florida made his first trip to Disneyland. He joined a Southern California-based Facebook group of adults who often visit Disneyland solo but like to meet up with others from time to time. He got some hoppin' tips from the Undercover Tourist site and his new online community. Plus, he made friends along the way. By trip time, he had a string of people excited to finally meet up with him in the parks. They met up for a ride or a meal, they showed him the ropes and shared their favorite treats with him. It made his trip super magical. It certainly was more special being able to share it with new friends rather than spending five days alone in the parks. We love that a shared love of Disney can connect people who live on opposite coasts!

9. It can be romantic.

Disneyland for Adults - Couple kissing near castle

Leap and I really enjoy visiting Disneyland with the tadpoles. But we also enjoy having an occasional date night at Disneyland to focus on us. And we are not alone. There are many couples holding hands, getting snuggly on rides, wearing matching T-shirts or ears, and getting engaged — yes, we’ve seen several couples get engaged there!  We love to see couples celebrating weddings or anniversaries or enjoying a nice meal at a table-service restaurant. Sweethearts Nite or Pride Nite After Dark parties make for a perfect couples date night at Disneyland.

15 Reasons We Say "Yes!" to Disneyland for Adults - Steak at Blue BayouThe most romantic restaurants are Blue Bayou or one of the resort hotel restaurants such as Napa Rose. At Disney California Adventure Park, there are several bars and nice restaurants where you can enjoy adult drinks and a romantic atmosphere. You can go wine tasting in the park or explore the fun and colorful drinks at the Lamplight Lounge — be sure to check out the hidden menu drinks on our post on secret menu items before you visit!

Carthay Circle is a very special place to have a nice, romantic meal in the dining room. Or, you can share some nice small plates and drinks in the Alfresco Dining lounge or patio. You can enjoy a nice glass of wine and some Italian dishes at Wine Country Trattoria. (Perhaps you can recreate the spaghetti scene from "Lady and the Tramp?")

10. You can stay in the park longer and lighten the load.

Some tadpoles or kids with special needs require breaks from the parks. They may get overstimulated or may only be able to handle a half-day in the park without leaving for nap time. Adults are more likely to be able to power on through and get a full day in the park. You can really get your money’s worth of nighttime entertainment from a full-day visit.

It is also much easier to move about the park without pushing a stroller. What a relief it is to leave behind the heavy backpack filled with everyone’s sweatshirts, water bottles, snacks and souvenirs. Your back will love the lighter load, and you will love the freedom. It is mentally easier to enjoy the day without constantly counting heads and making sure you have everyone. (Although some adults tend to get easily distracted and wander off too!)

11. You can splurge on snacks and meals.

Disneyland for Adults - Treats

Some of the table-service restaurants at the Disneyland Resort are nice but on the pricey side. We often reserve them for date night or a night out with friends, since the tadpoles are happy with a corn dog or quick snack to keep them going. Even though the bars at the Disneyland Resort are pretty kid-friendly, we particularly enjoy visiting them when our kids are not with us. Other things you might splurge on are the Genie+ service or treats you don’t want your children to have themselves or see you eat. (Or, you know, just enjoy not having to share your Dole Whip!) There are perks to being an adult, after all!

Disneyland for Adults - gch bar at grand californian hotelHere’s our guide to our favorite Disneyland snacks in case you need some inspiration. Another fun way to try creative dishes is to visit during the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival held in the springtime. You can enjoy adult beverages, taste food from the festival booths or attend special meals, winemaker receptions and seminars. Some events are 21+.

15 Reasons We Say "Yes!" to Disneyland for Adults - Adult Drink at Trader Sam'sOne of our favorite bars on the property is Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar. It's at the Disneyland Hotel. Order some adult beverages that cause a reaction in the room!

12. You do not have children in your life.

Disneyland for Adults - disney bounding Maybe you love Disneyland, but you do not have any children in your life, or your kids are grown. Don’t let that hold you back. Go! Have fun. There are many adults of all ages without children hanging out in the parks with friends or family members. Many like to get their ears on or DisneyBound — that is, wear clothing that channels the colors and style of a Disney character without breaking the “no costume” rule. You do not need children to access the rides, entertainment and yummy treats that Disneyland has to offer. There is a reason that adults can ride on every ride. There are no kiddie rides just for children. Everything at Disneyland is for everyone!

13. It is a mood-enhancer and stress-reliever.

Disneyland for Adults - charcter diningWe all have problems and stressors that we cannot always control in life. These problems may come and go, but when we are at Disneyland, those issues disappear for that day. We are in a hoppy place, and Disneyland offers the perfect escape from reality. Even once you have to return from Fantasyland back to “Realityland” (our least favorite land of all), your “Disney high” will sustain you for a while. It helps you stay positive and able to tackle the things you need to do. The mental break of visiting Disneyland is good for your health! Now that character hugs are back you can get an extra boost!

14. You can dress up for After Dark parties and go trick-or-treating.

Disneyland for Adults - cruella costume

You see a lot of adults having fun (both with and without children) at the Oogie Boogie Bash Disneyland Halloween party and during Disneyland After Dark events. Remember how fun Halloween was when you were a kid, putting on a costume and going door-to-door for free candy? You can relive your childhood Halloween at Disney California Adventure's Oogie Boogie Bash!

At this after-hours Halloween party,  you get to trick-or-treat for candy and dress up (plus meet your favorite Disney Villains). And during every day of Halloween Time at Disneyland, you can meet villains and costumed characters or enjoy special Halloween treats! It makes it almost like being a kid again!

Disneyland for Adults - Woman in costume with lightsaber on Star Wars Nite

The Disneyland After Dark parties are ticketed events that take place after the park has closed, usually starting at 8 or 9 p.m., which is definitely better timing for adults than kids. Each party has a different theme. Event themes have included Grad Nite Reunion, Star Wars, Sweethearts' Nite, 90s Nite, 80s Nite, Pixar Nite, Villains Nite, Disney Merriest Nites and Super Heroes. The 2023 After Dark events included Sweethearts' Nite, Throwback Nite, Princess Nite and Pride Nite (as well as Star Wars Nite)!

This is a great chance to stay up late in the park. Plus you can dress up as a favorite character and meet rare characters. Spend time playing with and posing for photo-ops with your favorite adults who are really kids at heart too. You'll also be surrounded by like-minded people and make new friends in the park.

Dapper Day is an unofficial event at Disneyland that usually takes place twice a year. Guests dress up in their fancy and vintage clothes. It's fun for adults to get dressed up, plan group outfits and put a little Disney magic into their attire.

15. Everyone’s doing it. You are not alone.

Disneyland for Adults - Women pose for PhotoPass photo

Here’s permission to succumb to healthy peer pressure. Look around Disneyland and you will find so many adults of all ages having fun and taking silly photos together. There is something about Disneyland that makes everyone seem ageless. Adults wear Mickey ears, Disney hats, spirit jerseys, DisneyBound clothing that channels the essence of a favorite character or Disney T-shirts. Matching shirts with friends or family is popular.

Disneyland is like a magical fountain of youth. It is my favorite place to spend my birthday and celebrate turning a year older. No matter how old you get, you can wonder and get excited as if you were a child. (Along with the benefits of staying up late or having a drink or two). And no matter how many times you go, you can always experience something new.

Do you believe in Disneyland for adults? Have you taken an adults-only trip to Disneyland? If you have any tips or stories, please share them in the comments below.

Related: Best Time to Visit Disneyland

Hoppy planning!

Keep hopping, Mommy Frog!
View Comments
<<  Newer Posts | Older Posts  >>
Oct 5, 2021 at 12:48 a.m. Ava Says...

I agree Disney is for all ages! It's gotten me through tough times.

Reply
Nov 14, 2020 at 6:22 p.m. darold Says...

I was wondering what is best session pass or membership

Reply
Nov 17, 2020 at 4:08 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Darold!

It all comes down to your budget and availability. We love the signature pass because we can go almost every day of the year except for two weeks at Christmas. But the Flex Pass is a great deal. You can hop in as many times as the So Cal Select (lowest pass) without a reservation, but for all the other days of the year except two weeks at Christmas you can visit with a reservation. With the reservation days, you can go as many days as the signature pass for hundreds of dollars less. You can only make those park reservations up to 30 days in advance and can hold up to 2 reservations at a time. But as soon as you use one you can make another. This way, with a reservation, you can go all summer and on weekends and most holidays. The lowest level pass, the SoCal Select, only has weekday availability and at slow times. If you are fine with having to plan, the Flex Pass is the best deal. However, sales on passes are paused, and we do not yet know how pass availability will work with limited capacity once Disneyland reopens. The whole system could change, so be sure to stay tuned! We'll be sure to keep you posted on options!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Dec 26, 2019 at 10:33 p.m. Jamie Lynn Says...

We are both in our 40s and we are heading to Disneyland for our honeymoon December 2020!!

Reply
Dec 27, 2019 at 7:47 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Woohoo! Congratulations, Jamie Lynn! Wishing you and your husband-to-be an amazing honeymoon :)

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Dec 24, 2019 at 1:57 p.m. Greg Dahlen Says...

I suppose many of the things we do as adults are sorta grownup versions of what we did as kids. For instance, someone who liked to paint as a kid might enjoy being a professional artist as an adult. Someone who liked to play with cars might become a mechanic. So the same rides that appeal to kids might appeal to adults, though with a little different perspective due to having more life experience.

Reply
Dec 22, 2019 at 5:32 p.m. Steve Taylor Says...

OMG, yes to adults-only-DISNEYLAND Nite! Wish they would do that! Imagine...no strollers! ????

Reply
Aug 1, 2019 at 3:25 a.m. karla Says...

i just did first solo trip to celebrate turning 55. i had an amazing time! Sure I missed my kids, but they had encouraged me to go and I bought them both ears for the next visit. After that, it was MY day. The cast members were so great and at no time did I feel self conscious or awkward. I even had a great talk with a woman on the Disneyland Railroad who was my age and we reminisced about going to Grad Nite in the 1980s. Super fun watching cast members in the stores enjoy the parade in the street. Just GO. Just BE and remember the child within and the marvelous adult you have become.

Reply
Apr 25, 2019 at 9:22 a.m. nate stubbs Says...

Thanks for posting but I gotta say. My grumpy fifty. Year old butt just can't take all the motion anymore.

Reply
Apr 25, 2019 at 8:02 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

You are so welcome! Thanks for taking the time to weigh in! Do you have a favorite alternative, like a show or parade? We are certain you aren't the only one :)

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Nov 16, 2018 at 7:38 p.m. Leo Franco Says...

What kind of article is this??

Everyone’s doing it, You can stay in the park longer, It can be romantic...

Are these even real reasons?

Reply
Leave a comment
About Us
About Undercover Tourist

Undercover Tourist is the leading supplier of online discount tickets to Orlando, Florida-area attractions, including Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Orlando Resort™, SeaWorld® Orlando, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort and more.

Sign up for our newsletter!