Doing Disney part 1: Disney for Adults

Disney World trip info comin' atcha hard and fast. We just spent the last week at Disney World and I am thrilled to tell you all the exciting things I learned and did. This is the first post in a 5 part series in which I'll discuss Disney for Adults, Accommodations, Restaurants/ Dining Plan, Disney with a Baby, and What to Wear.

I totally understand if you don't care about how to plan a Disney trip, but as always my posts are filled with colorful anecdotes and awesome pictures. So you should read them anyway. :)

This trip was different from all the other trips I've been on in that the youngest person (apart from my infant) was 17. The things we wanted to do and see were significantly different than what we did when I was 10, Maddie was 5 and John was 13 (they're my siblings geez...catch up!)

Since we weren't kids wanting to ride every little thing and since it we'd all been to Disney World several times in the past, there was no real need to plan every last minute. I did do a little planning beforehand to decide what parks we would be in on what day and that was mainly because we had the Dining Plan, but I'll get more into that later.

This trip was so much more fun because it was more relaxed. There were quite a few rides I didn't go on because I'd been on them before and when it got crazy hot and crowded, we didn't mind going back to the hotel to cool down and nap.

We got to enjoy 4 nice sit down meals and not stress that those two hours were not spend in line for some fabulous ride. And when the line for the new Mine Train ride would not drop below 75 minutes and there wasn't a fast pass to be had, we skipped it without too much heartache, knowing that in due time we'd be back, it wouldn't be a new ride and we could enjoy it without getting sweaty and grumpy beforehand.

So if your upcoming Disney World trip is a repeat visit for a group of adults, keep these tips in  mind:

Be flexible

If Magic Kingdom is crowded, head over to Epcot even if that wasn't the original plan for the day. If it's too hot, go back to the resort and swim. If you stayed up late at Downtown Disney the night before, sleep in.

 Don't make yourself crazy, tired and uncomfortable trying to make every moment count. It's a vacation, you shouldn't be killing yourself.

Enjoy the Scenery

Have you ever just sat in Morocco at the World Showcase in Epcot and just looked at the awesome architecture? Now's the time to do that. No need to rush from ride to ride. When Disney decorates something they really think of every detail. Add a whole new element to your trip by taking note. Or maybe give your feet a break, enjoy a frozen lemonade and do some people watching. There's no better place to see every variety of human than at an amusement park.

Look for Hidden Mickeys

The imagineers who created the rides and scenery at Disney World just weren't having enough fun and decided to hide Mickey heads all over the park. Add a little scavenger hunt to your trip and see how many you can find. There are books you can buy to give you clues (and flat out tell you where they are in case you're slow).

Take Silly Ride Photos

Disney World does not have the most intense thrilling rides but they're still a lot of fun. If you need something a little more exciting then plan out how you'll pose when the ride takes a photo. Here are some hilarious ideas.

And this is what Maddie and I did on our last trip:

Enjoy the Cuisine

Since you're not there with kids, you don't have the pressure of riding EVERYTHING  and you have the time to spare at a nice sit down restaurant. And Disney has some amazing food to offer. Keep an eye out for the Restaurant/Dining Plan post for more info on the yummiest places to tickle your tastebuds.