When it’s time to plan a trip for adults to Disneyland or Disney World, it can feel a bit daunting. After all, as vacation spots known for catering to families, you may have a different, less chaotic vision for your Disney World honeymoon or adults-only Disneyland vacation.
If so, we have great news for you! Our magic-making, Disney-obsessed travel agents have fantastic Disney resort recommendations to make your adults-only escapade exactly what you’re looking for.
Ear To There Travel specializes in planning trips to Disney destinations for our clients…for free!
We’re a fee-free travel agency and always will be.
So read on to discover our travel agents’ favorite Disneyland and Disney World resorts for adults. Or, if you’d like to talk to us directly and have us book your whole Disney trip for you (at no cost to you), click the button below to get your no obligation travel quote.
Selecting Your Disney Destination
Should You Vacation At Disneyland or Disney World?
When it comes time to choose between the two Disney parks in the US, there are a lot of different factors to consider, as you can see in our complete rundown of the differences between Disneyland and Disney World.
But, in a nutshell, your choice comes down to how you prefer to vacation.
If you’re looking for milder weather, shorter walking distances, and plenty of non-Disney things to do for the less magical folks in your group, Disneyland is likely the better park for you.
If you’re ok with bigger crowds and weather that turns on a dime in exchange for more Disney-centric activities to pursue and the ability to never step foot outside parks and resorts sprinkled with Pixie Dust, then Disney World is the better bet for your adventure.
…Or Set Sail With Disney Cruise Lines!
Don’t forget! There’s a third option for your Disney vacation – one in which your Disney resort floats along with you!
Consider taking a Disney cruise on your next magical adventure!
While there are lots of activities on-board that cater to kids and families, the Disney ships are an oasis for adults who want to indulge in the magic, too.
And if you need help deciding, remember, our travel agents are standing by to help you find the perfect Disney destination for your next adventure.
Choosing The Best Disney Resort For Your Grown-Up Adventure
Once you’ve decided if you’re heading to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA or Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, it’s time to choose where to snooze.
Here’s what our amazing Disney-centric travel agents recommend…
Best Disneyland Resort For Adults
Because the Disneyland Resort is smaller than Disney World, there are fewer Disney resorts to choose from.
Here’s what our amazing agents have to say about where to stay…
The Disneyland Hotel is excellent for adults who love that Disney bubble, with magical headboards, Disney decor, monorail slides and Trader Sam’s Grotto. For a more romantic feel, Disney’s Grand California is luxurious with Tenaya Spa, Napa Rose fine dining and a private entrance to California Adventure and Downtown Disney. – Rebecca Johnson
At Disneyland, there are also a number of off-property hotels that partner with Disneyland.
They’re called Good Neighbor Hotels. Here’s what our agent, Amanda Biddle, recommends…
I’ve stayed on property and off. I enjoyed the Camelot Inn and Suites. Easy, less than 10 min walk. But if budget isn’t a concern, I’d splurge for the Grand Californian.
If you want to splurge and want a Disneyland resort for your adult trip that is chic, cozy, and decidedly magical, The Grand Californian is our official recommendation.
If you are at Disneyland for all that the parks have to offer and only need a room for what we call the 3 S’s (sleep, shower, swim), take a look at the off-property options. Camelot Inn is a great choice, but there are many others to choose from at a variety of price points.
Reach out to us today and we can help you sort through the options!
Best Disney World Resorts For Adults
Because Disney World is significantly larger than Disneyland, there are more options and, therefore, more to consider when planning which resort you’d like to stay at.
When deciding where to stay at Disney World, there are 3 main considerations to take into account.
- Location
- Amenities
- Price
Disney World Resort Locations
Disney World is a sprawling property that encompasses 4 parks, 2 water parks, Disney Springs for shopping and dining, and so much more.
With that in mind, you’ll want to think about where you want to spend the majority of your time on property and take that into consideration when planning your vacation.
We typically recommend that families traveling with young children stay at a Disney resort near Magic Kingdom so they can easily monorail back to their hotel for nap times or afternoon pool sessions.
But for adults, the Disney resorts near Epcot are an excellent choice.
These hotels give you unparalleled, easily walkable access to the food-centric festivals at Epcot, like Festival of the Arts, Flower & Garden Festival, Food & Wine Festival and Festival of the Holidays.
And you’re just a short walk, Skyliner or boat ride away from the heart-pounding thrills delivered at Hollywood Studios, like Rise of the Resistance and Tower of Terror.
As our agent, Deidre Bumbarger, shared, her favorite Epcot area resorts are Beach Club and Yacht Club.
Here’s why…
Beach Club & Yacht Club Resorts share the best pool on Disney property: Stormalong Bay. We love the lazy river, the morning walks on the nearby Boardwalk for pastries, Cape May Café, and the proximity to Epcot for entrance at the International Gateway. The Friendship Boats or Skyliner are both fun options to Hollywood Studios as well.
Heather Tomasek adds…
You have easy access to some great bars and restaurants in the Epcot resort area. The Skyliner is right there as well and you can take a ride to the Riviera to visit their bars and restaurants as well. You can do so much just in that small area!
Disney World Resort Amenities & Prices
One of the best parts of staying on property at Walt Disney World are the wide range of amenities and price points that the Disney resorts offer.
And all Disney World resorts are held to the standards of customer service and cleanliness that you’ve come to expect from Disney.
There are 3 tiers of resort at Disney World: Deluxe, Moderate, and Value.
Best Disney World Deluxe Resort For Adults
Deluxe Resorts tend to have the very best of everything: amazing decor, beautiful rooms with stunning views, closer proximity to parks, fun transportation (think Monorail or boat rides), delicious sit-down restaurants and character dining, and unique pool experiences.
Our agents’ favorite Disney World Deluxe resort for adults is the Polynesian. Here’s why…
The atmosphere of the Polynesian is so much fun! Trader Sam’s is the coolest bar on property with amazing theming and delicious drinks! Not to mention the Poly is home to Ohana, one of the best restaurants ever (those noodles are to die for) and Pineapple Lanai, the only place you can sit outside and get a dole whip outside of the parks! Lastly, for a romantic, less crowded evening, watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach at the Poly is the best! The music gets piped in so you get to hear the full soundtrack! – Marianna Schreiner
The Poly is classic charm with a really good bar. It is old school cool and one of those places that everyone associates with Walt Disney World. And, it smells really nice. – Jen Allen
Best Disney World Value Resort For Adults
On the opposite end of the pricing and amenity spectrum are the value resorts at Disney World. Remember: you’re still on Disney property and will receive rooms with the Disney-level of customer service and cleanliness that you’ve come to expect.
That said, there will be fewer amenities at your disposal. Think: simpler decor, quick service dining options, fewer transportation options to parks that are a bit further away, more straightforward pool design, etc.
That’s definitely not a bad thing if you are looking to only use your hotel for the 3 S’s (Sleep, Shower, Swim) and prefer to spend your time in the parks. It’s a budget-friendly way to spend more time in the magic.
Our agents almost unanimously voted Pop Century as their favorite Value resort.
Here’s what they had to say…
“When I’m staying at a value, Pop is always my first choice. From the theming to the ease of transportation with the Skyliner, there is nothing to not love about it!” – Lauren Pantalone
“One word, Skyliner. This mode of transportation is so fast and smooth. The way the resort is set up, no room is that far from Century Hall. The rooms are very modern and spacious. I often eat breakfast in my room so having a table is great, but what’s even more wonderful is the Murphy bed that the table turns into. At the end of the night my favorite thing to do is, you guessed it, ride the Skyliner. If you time it right you can even catch the fireworks at Epcot.” – Crystal Caluori
Best Disney World Moderate Resort For Adults
As you might imagine, the Moderate Resorts at Disney World fall somewhere between the luxury of the Deluxe Resorts and the lovely but lesser-amenitied Value Resorts.
They’re great options if you’d love a resort with traditional Disney theming and sit-down restaurants but don’t need it to be over-the-top grandeur. If you want to be cozy and cared for, Moderate options are a great option for you.
Our agents were fairly split on which Moderate Resort was the best for an adult trip to Disney World.
The two that came up as the favorites were Port Orleans: Riverside and French Quarter and the Caribbean Beach Resort.
The agents in the Port Orleans camp shared this as their reasoning…
I love Port Orleans French Quarter because it’s just absolutely beautiful! It’s quiet and has so much of that southern charm. Because it’s smaller, there’s less walking to get to your room or the bus stop (yay!). I also like that there’s not multiple bus stops around the resort because – let’s be honest – if I’m not traveling with kids I’m trying to rope drop to close my park day and I want to get there ASAP. Because it’s not a huge resort with a lot going on, the setting makes it so relaxing if you want a day off from the parks. – Marianna Schreiner
Port Orleans (both French Quarter and Riverside) are really nice resorts with both quiet spaces and spaces for families. I love that you have the ability to wander around the resort and just take in the fact that you’re on holiday. It has options for quiet contemplation and rowdy fun. – Jen Allen
And those in the Caribbean Beach Resort camp shared their insight too…
I love the immersive atmosphere of this resort, and how it transports you right into the Caribbean. Whenever I stay here, it never feels like you’re staying at Disney. I also love morning walks with coffee around the lagoon! – Lauren Pantalone
I get a lot of grief for this opinion, and I’ll admit, the Caribbean Beach Resort isn’t for everyone, but it really is my favorite of them all. The resort is spread out (which may be a con for some), but we love the laid back feel. In addition to their quick service market and Sebastian’s dining location, there’s a Joffrey’s coffee kiosk on property right next to the Skyliner hub. In addition to the big pool, each of the Caribbean Islands has their own “quiet” pool, as well as a beach with hammocks along the water, perfect for a good book and great views. And the Riviera Resort is just a short walk away and offers multiple additional dining options, too. – Deidre Bumbarger
Remember To Consider A Disney Cruise Too!
Lastly, we’d be remiss if we didn’t encourage you to consider a ship as your Disney resort of choice for your grown-up vacation.
Each of the Disney Cruise Line ships has so much to offer, all in one place: fine dining, adult-only spaces, spa treatments, world-class entertainment, exciting excursions, and more!
Learn more about taking a Disney Cruise, how much a Disney cruise costs, and what’s included in a Disney cruise.
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