Magic Kingdom for Adults
Reading “Magic Kingdom” and “adults” in the same sentence would send at least 3 of my friends into lengthy laughing fits. I can say that only because that’s exactly what happened just a few days ago when I was with a group of my friends and Disney came up in the conversation. They know I’m an Annual Passholder and travel to the parks at least quarterly, so the bulk of questions were thrown my way when one of my friends mentioned she and her boyfriend are planning an upcoming vacation to Florida and considering a stop at Disney. More specifically, Magic Kingdom.
Mickey Blog has already covered the best Fastpasses to get for Preschool/Kindergarten age guests, but I don’t think the same recommendations would suit my friends on their upcoming trip, so I had to think fast! Contrary to my friends’ beliefs, Disney is a great vacation destination for folks of all ages, and if you’re planning a getaway to the place where dreams come true, Magic Kingdom should certainly be on the list!
Get to Know Fastpass+
Magic Kingdom is my favorite park. It’s the one spot in all of Walt Disney World that I wouldn’t dream of skipping; even now that I’m well into adulthood there are still so many things I love about it! If you’re planning an escape for the adults, or if your travel party consists of mostly teenagers, you’ll want to get ahead on your planning as early as possible to ensure you get everything in!
As far as Fastpass+ reservations go, you can make them 60 days in advance if you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, 30 days in advance if you’re not. If you need help picking the right hotel for you, simply scroll to the bottom of the article and we will be happy to assist you. Okay, now that you know how Fastpass+ works, let’s get going!
Thrill Seeking Adults
There are two ways to go about Magic Kingdom for adults: planning for thrill seekers, or planning for more mild mannered folks. If the adults in your party are after the biggest and baddest of attractions, then your planning should include some mountain-climbing gear! Here are the Fastpass+ reservations I recommended for my friend:
- Space Mountain- The indoor high-speed coaster blasts off through outer space in complete darkness making it impossible to see the track ahead; you’re never sure which way your rocket ship will veer!
- Big Thunder Mountain- This here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness! This mine themed coaster is the second must-do on any thrill-seeker’s list! Complete with crazy old west themeing and decent drops, you’ve got to take a spin on this mine car gone awry.
- Splash Mountain- Find your laughin’ place! Meet up with Br’er Rabbit and all his friends before bracing yourself for the sheer 50ft plunge into the Briar Patch! You will certainly scream, and you will certainly get wet!
Relax Into the Magic
For my friend who is both obsessed with thrill rides and has never visited Magic Kingdom, these are the Fastpasses best suited for her and anyone like her. When I made these recommendations to her the other day, one of my other friends asked what there is to do for adults like her who would rather stay home than set foot into the queue for a roller coaster, so I again had to put on my thinking cap…and here is what I came up with!
- Pirates of the Caribbean- If you have a Fastpass+ reservation or not, you can’t miss this iconic classic! The slow-moving boat ride offers a chance to look into the lives of scurvy scum from long ago.
- Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin- If you’re 2 or 92 I would bet you’re a fan of Toy Story. And if you’re planning an adults-only Walt Disney World vacation, some friendly competition would certainly amp up the fun! Take aim in Star Command’s training center and see who in your party would make the best Space Ranger!
- Peter Pan’s Flight- Yes, this attraction is fantastic for kids, but seeing as its still one of the hardest Fastpass+ reservations to make, adults seem to love it just the same! Take flight with a sprinkle of Pixie Dust and fly over Neverland with Peter on this slow-moving dark ride.
Just because you can only make 3 Fastpass+ reservations doesn’t mean there are only 3 attractions suited for adults. Try making your Fastpass+ reservations for later in the day and arrive at the Magic Kingdom for rope drop. When you first arrive, head to Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, and it’s a small world before the lines get too long! They’re all fantastic, traditional Disney attractions that delight guests of all ages! I wholeheartedly recommend watching both Festival of Fantasy and Happily Ever After no matter what your age may be, but my friend isn’t too keen on parades and fireworks. If you’re not interested in seeing the shows…you can use that to your advantage! Plan to hit up big attractions that you don’t have a Fastpass for during the show times for guaranteed shorter wait times!
The ‘No Alcohol’ Work Around
Although she doesn’t know much about Disney, my friend knew one very important fact: alcohol is not sold at Magic Kingdom. It isn’t like the other three parks where guests walk with drinks in hand from rope drop to park close, and for her that was (almost) a deal breaker. Until she let me educate her, that is.
It’s true that you can never roam around Magic Kingdom with an alcoholic beverage, but there are a few little known exceptions to the parks’ hard fast ‘no alcohol’ policy. If you play your cards right and begin planning your vacation 6 months out, you may be able to make dinner reservations at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Step inside the Beast’s castle and let the kitchen staff of enchanted objects prepare a fine French meal for you and your party! If you’re a Beauty and the Beast fan or simply a fan of eating delicious food, you won’t be disappointed here- especially if you order the steak (my favorite). Be Our Guest Restaurant offers a selection of wine and beer for age- appropriate guests to enjoy with their meal! Get online 180 days ahead of your trip for any hope of making a reservation here- they go quickly!
Cheers to No Reservations!
Perhaps you waited too long to begin your planning and you missed your chance for Be Our Guest dinner reservations. Don’t worry, you’re not out of luck yet! Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, is a restaurant located in Adventureland, and they’ll be more than pleased to pour you a glass of wine or pilsner of beer and serve it right alongside your entrée!
The King Estate Pinot Noir is my favorite wine on their menu and tastes delicious with their Baa Baa Berber Lamb Chops. More of a cocktail fan? You’ll find an array of offerings here like Punch Line Punch and Schweitzer Slush, both served in metal drinking goblets straight from the jungle! You can make a reservation online, but I’ve had success with walk-in service each time I’ve tried, so if you find yourself without a reservation and still want an adult beverage with your meal, you can get just that at Skipper Canteen! So, we want to know, which of these attractions are your favorite? Would you choose to dine at Skipper Canteen, or try for the Be Our Guest reservation? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! For a FREE quote on your Disney vacation, fill out the form below!
Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer/musician thrilled to be bringing you all things Disney! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon!
