Adults without kids - ideas for smelling the roses

[julesann]

My db and I have been fortunate to enjoy the parks 4 time this year with our first ever APs.It has been a wonderful connection for us--two sibs both in our fifties This probably won't happen again for a long time. We did a family reunion trip for my db's 50th birthday in December: it was fun and exhausting to navigate the parks with 16 people. Just the two of us are going in a few weeks for 3 days and I wonder what suggestions you might have for us: we are looking for new ways to slow down and enjoy the parks. We are usually first at the gates types of folks, but some of our favorite rides are closed right now. What do you like about the parks when you make time to smell the roses

 

[ParkHopper1]

Ride Mark Twain
See Aladdin
Go to Tom Sawyer's Island (I still call it that)
Get a Mint Julep and Beignets
Turtle Talk with Crush
Mickey and the Magical Map
Dessert and a drink at the Napa Rose Lounge

 

[dznyfam3]

What about one of the tours? I haven't had a chance to do one myself because my son is too young but I would love to do a tour one of these days. My mother in law did the Walking in Walt's Footsteps and she loved it!!!

Also try and ride the Lily Belle. I did this a couple years ago with my son when he was 3 and he still remembers it!!

Definetely recommend dinner at Carthay Circle. Love those jalepeno cheddar biscuits!!

That's just my two cents. Have fun!

 

[julesann]

Ride Mark Twain
See Aladdin
Go to Tom Sawyer's Island (I still call it that)
Get a Mint Julep and Beignets
Turtle Talk with Crush
Mickey and the Magical Map
Dessert and a drink at the Napa Rose Lounge

Great ideas! Is the Napa Rose lounge different from the Hearthstone?

 

[ParkHopper1]

Great ideas! Is the Napa Rose lounge different from the Hearthstone?

Yes...the front lounge of the restaurant is first come first serve and they offer full bar and wine list, their dessert menu and appetizer service in REALLY comfortable chairs.

 

[Gisele]

If you should decide to stop and smell the roses, make sure that you don't get a bug up your nose, or worse, a bee! In case you have allergies, don't forget to bring a hankie. Now, if you do forget to bring Kleenex, feel free, you have my permission, my blessing, to use the sleeve of unsuspecting bystander. Hopefully, they'll never know what hit them.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Yes...the front lounge of the restaurant is first come first serve and they offer full bar and wine list, their dessert menu and appetizer service in REALLY comfortable chairs.

The NR Lounge offers the entire menu, not just the abbreviated one on the tables. Just ask your server to see the full menu when you are seated.

As for grown up ways to enjoy the parks:

You can still be first at the gates, just make sure you get the DL early for breakfast at Carnation Cafe! Meet Oscar and people watch as families arrive in the park.
Trader Sam's at the DLH
Breakfast or dinner at Steakhouse 55
Eating beignets and watching fireworks from the Jazz Kitchen Express or eating on the balcony of the Jazz Kitchen and watching fireworks in DtD
Swing Dancing at the Royal Swing Ball at PFF on Saturday nights (also dancing at TLT and sometimes in DtD)
Carthay Circle Lounge -- enjoy a cocktail and the yummy lounge menu
WOC meal at CCR or a F! meal at BB -- you'll have much more flexibility not having to worry about kids
Take the time to chat with CMs and get to know them. We've had great conversations with CMs about why they love Disney and where they are from.
The tour suggestion is great!
Get your favorite treats, find a prime bench at the Hub, and people watch!
Ride your favorite rides (the ones that are open) and take the time to notice and appreciate the details. Ask CMs in line what little details you can look for.
Disney parks have so much live music! Check the daily schedule to find out who will be playing and where. The jazz bands in DL and DCA, the Dapper Dans, Five and Dime, the Ellis Island Boys (fantastic!), the Mariachi Divas (Grammy winners!) -- you can see so many great musicians without any additional fee.
Have a wonderful trip!

 

[bakerudall]

Disney parks have so much live music! Check the daily schedule to find out who will be playing and where. The jazz bands in DL and DCA, the Dapper Dans, Five and Dime, the Ellis Island Boys (fantastic!), the Mariachi Divas (Grammy winners!) -- you can see so many great musicians without any additional fee.
Have a wonderful trip!

This

Free concerts everywhere! A lot of the older cats in the jazz groups have toured the world with various bands, so it's great to be able to get up close and listen to them.

Also, do two or three of the drawing classes at Animation Academy. I find that very relaxing, especially in that spacious, air conditioned room, and it makes for free souvenirs.

 

[julesann]

The NR Lounge offers the entire menu, not just the abbreviated one on the tables. Just ask your server to see the full menu when you are seated.

As for grown up ways to enjoy the parks:

You can still be first at the gates, just make sure you get the DL early for breakfast at Carnation Cafe! Meet Oscar and people watch as families arrive in the park.
Trader Sam's at the DLH
Breakfast or dinner at Steakhouse 55
Eating beignets and watching fireworks from the Jazz Kitchen Express or eating on the balcony of the Jazz Kitchen and watching fireworks in DtD
Swing Dancing at the Royal Swing Ball at PFF on Saturday nights (also dancing at TLT and sometimes in DtD)
Carthay Circle Lounge -- enjoy a cocktail and the yummy lounge menu
WOC meal at CCR or a F! meal at BB -- you'll have much more flexibility not having to worry about kids
Take the time to chat with CMs and get to know them. We've had great conversations with CMs about why they love Disney and where they are from.
The tour suggestion is great!
Get your favorite treats, find a prime bench at the Hub, and people watch!
Ride your favorite rides (the ones that are open) and take the time to notice and appreciate the details. Ask CMs in line what little details you can look for.
Disney parks have so much live music! Check the daily schedule to find out who will be playing and where. The jazz bands in DL and DCA, the Dapper Dans, Five and Dime, the Ellis Island Boys (fantastic!), the Mariachi Divas (Grammy winners!) -- you can see so many great musicians without any additional fee.
Have a wonderful trip!

I didn't know that about the NR and I've never had breakfast at the Carnation Cafe (it would be hard for me not to be first at the gates ). Details are magical and I think taking time to listen to the music would be a lovely way to slow down and enjoy ourselves. CC and F! and the BB are on our list ! Thank you for all the wonderful ideas!

 

[julesann]

If you should decide to stop and smell the roses, make sure that you don't get a bug up your nose, or worse, a bee! In case you have allergies, don't forget to bring a hankie. Now, if you do forget to bring Kleenex, feel free, you have my permission, my blessing, to use the sleeve of unsuspecting bystander. Hopefully, they'll never know what hit them.

Wow! My own witty Gisele response. You made my day

 

[Juju81]

I recommend the Aladdin show in DCA. Lots of jokes aimed at the adults in the audience and it is a great show for all ages.

Maybe get your silhouettes made on Main Street and of course there is always shopping! And maybe Wine Country Trattoria for a nice glass of vino and appetizers or a meal? You can sit and watch the world go by.

 

[ClosetDisneyJunkie]

if you're a giant nerd like me, search youtube for things like "Disneyland Secrets", "Disneyland Hidden" or "Disneyland history" and find some of the nooks and crannies yourself while you are there. The history of the park is one of my favorite things about it, so I like looking for things like:

relics of the old mine train ride and jumping trout
the "test wall"
the "golden spike" (not actually the center of Disneyland)
NO Square fire plaques
The Jack Lindquist pumpkin at Goofy's playhouse
The hidden goofy and/or donald in Mickey's House (i haven't actually seen either of these)
"pirate ship mast" above NO Square
find the real skull in Pirates of the Carribbean
plus about 10000000 hidden mickeys

There are a lot more. I kind of enjoy looking around for some of this stuff when wandering around the parks.

Separately from the history/trivia stuff, I highly recommend hitting cars land when the lights come on, at dusk.