Disney is only for kids??? NO WAY!!!!!

So far, I have visited Disney World, Disneyland, or sailed on the Disney Cruise line without my children 8 times. And let me tell you....it was awesome!

There is a HUGE misconception that Disney vacations are only for families with kids. That is SO not true! There are so many amazing things to do that aren't even designed for kids. And yeah...we have a ton of fun doing the kid stuff without them, too!

So here's a list of awesome things to experience without the kids!

~ Epcot's World Showcase.  Let's be real here. Despite Disney's efforts, World Showcase is just not that exciting for the kids. My kids have always enjoyed it. They loved exploring each country and it's shops. They love filling their passports and participating in the KidCot stations and the Agent P Adventure, but many do not. During the trip with just me and my mom, we spend an entire day in World Showcase, eating, browsing, seeing all the films. It was an amazing day. With my hubby, we try all the fun drinks. I love the atmosphere. I love to just sit and relax and soak it in.

~ Bars, Lounges, and Beverage Stands. I openly admit I enjoy adult beverages, and Disney has some amazing ones in 3 of their parks- Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. (Magic Kingdom is a dry park except for the sit down restaurants.) Plus all the unique options at Disney Springs and the resorts. So many fun options! And how about the Disney Cruise Line? They really have some great places with yummy offerings!

~ Adult Only Pools on the Disney Cruise Line. Yep. Every Disney ship has pool areas only for adults, where you can rest and relax in the sun and some drinks, and no kids.

~ Adult Only Entertainment on the Disney Cruise Line. There are all kinds of shows and games that are only for adults. Trivia, interactive games, comedians, etc. SO much fun!

~ Signature Dining Experiences. There are restaurants at Disney World and on the Disney Cruise line where children are not allowed. Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian is for those 10 and over only. Also, Remy and Palo on the Disney Cruise Line are for adults only.

~ Tours. Oh my! So many fun tours to do, and many are not for kids or only for those 12 and up! Backstage Magic, Keys to the Kingdom, Backstage Magic Trains tour, Epcot Sea Adventures, Wilderness Back Trail Adventure, plus many more! On the Disney Cruise Line there are several port adventures that young children are not allowed to participate in.

In general, we enjoy going without our kids because we can go at our own pace, sit and relax instead of running off to the next attraction. We don't mind waiting in long lines because we don't have kids complaining or in need of entertaining. There's no one complaining about the heat or how much their feet hurt. There's no one asking for every souvenir they see. We can ride Tower of Terror 10 times in a row if we want (though we only made it to 5). We can eat at all the unique places without worrying if they have something the kids will like.

But with all that said, every time I'm there without my kids, I can't wait to plan the next trip so we can have a great family adventure :)

Character Autographs!

One of the most fun--and most inexpensive--things for kids to do in Disney is collect character autographs! Almost every character they encounter will be more than happy to scribble their name for you. Some even drawn pictures! And it makes the whole meet n greet experience even better.

Most importantly, you need an autograph book! They are sold in every gift shop on Disney property. There are simple books filled with blank pages. They hold the most autographs. Or there are photo/autograph combo books. These are the ones I like! One side has a blank page for signing, the other a clear sleeve for you to place a photo of you and the character. These books do hold less autographs though. There are lots of other options for autograph books, if you don't want one from Disney. There are tons of websites that sell them. There are even hand-made ones on sites like etsy. Or a fun notepad works, too. If you want to get creative, make your own!!

Next, make sure you have a signing implement on hand. Something thick works best, like a Sharpie or fat pen. Characters sometimes have a hard time holding small pens, pencils, or markers.

After you've waited patiently in line and it's your turn, have your book open to the page you'd like the character to sign on and hand them your pen or Sharpie. Face characters (like princesses, who do not have a full mask or "head") will often ask your name and chat while they sign. It's a fun experience. They always do autographs first, then pose for photos.

An FYI...certain characters do not sign autographs because they are physically unable, like Mike and Sully, Buzz Lightyear, Baymax, and Beast.

Young kids, maybe up to age 4, don't really "get" what's going on with autographs. I suggest waiting until they are older and really understand. My daughter had no interest until she was five. She noticed other kids getting autographs and just had to do it too! Not to say some younger kids won't be interested, but honestly, if they are real little, it might be better just to focus on them meeting and interacting with the characters.