Top 10 Walt Disney World Activities for Adults

Sure, Walt Disney World is a great place for kids of all ages. Spinning around endlessly in an out of control tea cup or singing “it’s a small world after all” with the dolls of the world will bring out the kid in anyone, sometimes you might need to get away from a the “kid stuff” - if even just for a short while. And when you do feel like you need something a bit more grown up while at Walt Disney World, here are 10 things you should consider.

Sample one of over 70 authentic Mexican Tequilas at La Cava del Tequila
In Mexico’s Epcot pavilion, there’s a hidden gem of a tequila bar called La Cava del Tequila. In this small cavernous bar, you’ll find authentic Mexican artifacts in a setting meant to honor the Mexican tequila making tradition. Sampling tequila and enjoying tapas style food is a great way to take a break from the crowds.

Putt around the greens of Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World has 99 holes of championship golf and is known the world over as one of the top golf resorts. With courses designed by Pete Dye and Tom Fazio among others, you’re sure to find a a course to challenge you.

Discover Walt Disney World’s “Backstage” magic
Walt Disney World offers tours of its theme parks that range from a few hours to all day. The premier tour, Backstage Magic, is unique in that it’s the longest (7 hours) and that tour guests must be at least 16 years of age. The tour reveals some of the “magic” that makes Walt Disney World such a magical place, including access to areas most guests never see, including the tunnels beneath the Magic Kingdom and backstage access at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Enjoy a romantic dinner at Victoria and Albert's
Victoria and Albert’s in the Grand Floridian hotel is Walt Disney World’s premier restaurant. Featuring a world class American menu, Victoria and Albert’s offers the perfect setting for a quiet meal (kids under 10 are not allowed). Additionally, the restaurants has a dress code that sets it apart from other Walt Disney World eateries such as men must wear sport coats (ties are optional).

Catch a performance of Cirque Du Soleil's La Nuba
Under the modern, white, "bigtop" at the end Downtown Disney Westside you'll fine La Nuba, Cirque Du Soleil's permanent show at Walt Disney World. If you've seen any of Cirque's other productions, then you know what you're in for; a 90 minutes of beautiful, artistic performance that will take your breath away. The show is performed twice nightly and tickets start at $69.

Watch the fireworks at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom while lounging on a white sand beach (and avoiding the Magic Kingdom crowds)
Every night above Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom the sky lights up with a spectacular fireworks display that can be seen from any of the hotels' beach that sit along with the Magic Kingdom on the Seven Seas Lagoon. While the show can be seen from the beaches of the Contemporary Resort, The Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian Resort, it’s the Polynesian Resort offers the best view for the show. Grab dinner at one of the hotel's restaurants and then cozy up with your loved one in one of the hammocks on the white sand beach and enjoy the show.

Unwind with a spa treatment
At Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel and Spa, you can unwind and let yourself go with a blissful spa treatment. From 25 minute facials to all day experiences, this top notch spa has something for everybody. And with many Florida inspired treatments such citrus zest facials and body treatments, it’s the perfect way to spend a lazy Florida afternoon.

Dance the night away at Disney’s Boardwalk
On Disney’s Boardwalk you’ll find the Atlantic Dance Hall, a nightclub featuring DJ’s and live bands for guest 21 and older. Dance or simply watch others dance as you enjoy this hot Boardwalk club.

Join the fun at a dueling piano bar
On the Disney Boardwalk you’ll find Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bad for guests 21 and older. Two piano maestros battle each other and the audience each night in an entertaining environment that soon has everybody up and dancing.

Take a horseback ride through Fort Wilderness
At Walt Disney World’s Tri-Circle D Ranch you can saddle-up and enjoy a guided tour on horseback through Fort Wilderness. Discover the natural Florida along the trails around the wilderness themed camping resort just across the Bay Lake from the Magic Kingdom.
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Top 10 Walt Disney World Treats

I love visiting Walt Disney World to ride the Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or Epcot to see Captain EO. But I really love visiting Walt Disney World for the food! And more specifically, for the the treats. All around Walt Disney World sweet treats abound and here are my top ten treats from Walt Disney World.

Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bar
The classic Walt Disney World treat, the Mickey Mouse bar is available all around Walt Disney World. From food carts in the them parks to the food courts in the hotels, a Mickey Mouse bar is never far away.

Dole Whip
No trip is complete to the Magic Kingdom for me unless I’ve visited the Aloha Isle stand in Adventureland for a Dole Whip. What is a Dole Whip you ask? I’m not entirely sure. It’s like an ice cream or frozen yogurt but I do know it is a non-dairy, pineapple flavored, and it’s heavenly.

Turkey Legs
When I’m in Frontierland I can’t pass the turkey leg stand without contemplating buying one of these delicious treats. These giant turkey legs are big and could actually replace a meal (and where are these giant turkeys because must be huge to have legs so big!). And it’s entertaining, in a primitive sort of way, to see people walking around with turkey leg in hand gnawing at them.

Egg Rolls
No trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom would be complete for me without an egg roll from the egg roll cart located between the Flights of Wonder show and Africa. Poking my head inside this fragrant food cart to order and egg roll is heavenly (actually, I don’t think you’re supposed to poke your head inside but I can’t help myself). In fact, last time I was at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and had an egg roll I asked the girl working the cart how she can work in there for eight hours a day and not eat every single last egg roll!

Anything from the French Bakery at Epcot
The official name of the bakery is Boulangerie Pâtisserie, but I only just learned that. After years of going to the hidden treasure in Epcot’s French pavilion, I’ve never lingered outside long enough to look at the name.

Kinley Lemon
At Epcot’s Club Cool, guests can sample (for free!) different Coke products from around the world. There are different fizzy drinks to sample, but my favorite is the Kinley Lemon from Israel. If you visit Club Cool, be sure to try the Beverly, too. It’s delicious so take a big gulp of it!

Kaki-Gori
In Epcot’s Japan pavilion you’ll find the Kaki-Gori cart serving up, of course, Kaki-Gori. It’s a snow cone with your choice of strawberry, honeydew, or tangerine flavored toppings (or all three!).

Churros
A sweet, sugary doughy treat, a churro will always satisfy my sweet tooth (at least for a few minutes). And they’re sold in the Magic Kingdom from a cart in Frontierland and at the Cantina de San Angel restaurant in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion so one is never far away.

Cookies from the Main Street Bakery
If you’ve ever visited the Magic Kingdom you know about the Main Street Bakery. Even if you didn’t go inside to enjoy of of the bakery’s sweet treats, you certainly smelled the fresh baked cookies. Disney pumps the smell of fresh baked cookies out onto Main Street to lure passers-by in to the bakery (and I always fall for it!).

Popcorn
Okay, so popcorn is nothing special. But the popcorn at Walt Disney World just seems to taste better than popcorn I get elsewhere. It’s yellow and salty and reminds me of trips to Walt Disney World when I was a kid. Plus, you can get it in some great souvenir buckets. I love getting it from the popcorn cart with the toy clown turning the popcorn (at the end of Main Street by Cinderella Castle).

With so Much to See and Do at Walt Disney World in 2010, Here Are 10 Things You'll Want to Be Sure Not to Miss!

As summer is fast approaching, many people start to think about where to spend the annual summer vacation. And if your family is like millions of of other families, you've decided to visit Mickey Mouse and the gang at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida.

So, you've decided to visit Walt Disney World in 2010. But with four theme parks, two water parks, and dozens of other activities on site at Walt Disney World it would be impossible to see and do everything in just one trip. To help you out a little, I've compiled my top 10 must sees at Walt Disney World for 2010.

The Celebrate You Parade (Magic Kingdom) - This lively parade is presented daily at 3pm in the Magic Kingdom. All of your favorite Disney characters dance and sing along the parade route from Frontierland to Main Street USA as they help you celebrate whatever it is you're celebrating that day; your first Walt Disney World visit, your birthday, whatever!

Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show (Disney's Hollywood Studios) - A relatively new addition to the studios, this action-packed stunt show was imported from the Disney Studios in
the Disneyland Paris resort. The outdoor spectacular shows many of the tricks used to create chase scenes from your favorite movies. This is a fantastic addition to Disney's Hollywood Studios (although they had to raze the "residential street" which used to be part of the backstage tram tour and included such gems as the Golden Girls house to make room for this attraction.

SpectoMagic (Magic Kingdom) - The Magic Kingdom's follow-up for The Main Street Electrical Parade, SpectoMagic is a nighttime parade featuring a million points of light that wind around the park and transform the night into a brilliant display of color and sound that only Disney could pull off.

Fantasmic! (Disney's Hollywood Studios) - Mickey Mouse's dreams quickly turn in to a nightmare as the forces of good and evil battle for control of Mickey's dreams in the spectacular show at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Presented in the Hollywood Hills Theater, the memorizing show features all of your Disney friends, fireworks, music, floating stages, and patented water screen technology on which clips from classic Disney movies are shown.

Expedition Everest (Disney's Animal Kingdom) Enjoy a scenic train trek to the top of Mount Everest, that is at lest until the infamous Yeti changes the plan. As your train emerges from a cave, riders catch a glimpse of the Yeti's shadow and notice the train track ahead is ripped into two. Unable to proceed, the train starts going backwards, downhill into a dark cave and speeds over and around Mount Everest to escape the Yeti.

Wishes (Magic Kingdom) - Exploding above the skies of the Magic Kingdom, Wishes tells the story of the power of dreams through fireworks. Jiminy Cricket and the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio narrate this breathtaking display of dreams in the sky.

Sorin' (Epcot) - Based on the popular attraction at Disney's California Adventure, "Sorin' over California," this flight simulator takes thrill seekers on a hang glider ride over California. Flying high over the major cities, the Napa valley, the coast, orange groves (complete with orange grove smell), and eventually Disneyland, riders have the sensation of flying as the movie screen surrounds the hang glider that is suspended in mid air

Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom) - Updated for 2010, this classic Disney ride takes space travelers on a high-speed, indoor rollercoaster ride through space. As you're rocket is set to "launch," you travel past mission control on your way to the launching pad. Once at the top, your rocket begins its travels through space as it twists and turns and encounters a few, albeit small, drops along the way.

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth (Epcot) - Each evening the World Showcase at Epcot comes alive with music, fireworks, water fountains, and lasers as the night-time spectacular Illuminations is presented on and above the World Showcase lagoon.

It's a Small World (Magic Kingdom) Finally, no trip to Walt Disney World would be complete without a trip on the "the happiest cruise that ever sailed the seven seas." It's a Small World is a classic Disney attraction. Guests board boats and set sail on an around the world adventure. Along the way, different continents and countries are represented by singing dolls all singing along to the infectious "It's a small world after all" song. The cruise ends with a spectacular finale in which dolls from all around the world join together to celebrate friendship and peace.

10 More Things You Never Knew About Walt Disney World

There are so many secrets at Walt Disney World... Here are 10 more things you never knew about Walt Disney World.


The Golden Girls lived at Walt Disney World

Okay, so maybe Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia didn't call Walt Disney World home, but their house was there; Right on the Disney-MGM Studios backlot! The original Golden Girls house was in Los Angeles, but when the Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney's Hollywood Studios) opened in 1989, an exact exterior replica of the Los Angeles house was built on Residential Street, Disney-MGM Studio's neighborhood street set (since demolished to make room for new attractions). From 1989, exterior shots of the Golden Girls house were filmed at the Disney-MGM Studios.


The Contemporary Resort Hotel is a prefabricated hotel

The massive A-frame Contemporary Resort hotel at Walt Disney World is instantly recognisable to most visitors. But what most visitors don't know is that the hotel, build by U.S. Steel, is unique in that the rooms were meant to be removable. You see, the hotel's guest rooms were buily off site and hoisted and slid into the hotel's A-frame during construction. The idea was that when it was time for an update to the guest rooms they would be slid out and replaced with a new, updated room. However, over the years, the rooms have settled and gotten permanently stuck into the hotel's frame so no rooms have been removed since the hotel's opening (they have, however, been updated the old fashion way; one room at a time and on-site).


Two of Disneyland's most beloved attractions had their start at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

Disneyland in Anaheim, California opened in 1955, a full 16 years before Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. As such, most of Disneyland's attractions were replicated at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom for its 1971 opening. Since opening, however, some attractions that got their start at Walt Disney World have been replicated at Disneyland. These include Space Mountain and The Country Bear Jamboree (since closed at Disneyland to male way for a new ride).


Miss some characters from a closed Epcot attraction? They might be working somewhere else at Walt Disney World

When Communicore opened with Epcot Center (as it was called in 1982), one of the stars was SMART-1, a purple robot you could talk to and he would answer back (amazing technology in 1982). However, by the 1990's he wasn't so amazing as technology caught up with him and during a renovation of Communicore into a new attraction, Innoventions, SMART-1 was removed. He can now be found, silent and not moving however, as decoration at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort hotel.

And remember the famous car crash scene in the now closed World or Motion? Well, when it became Test Track, the was no use for the mechanical chickens used in the car crash scene. Luckily they found a new home at Mickey's Toontown fair in the Magic Kingdom.


Singin' in the rain... Even on a sunny day at Disney's Hollywood Studios

While there are hundreds of lamp posts at Disney's Hollywood Studios, there's one that's different. In an nod to the classic film Singin' in the Rain, there one lamp post with an umbrella attached. When someone stands under the umbrella, it pours down rain; No matter how sunny it is!


Children never get "lost" at Walt Disney World. Really!

With millions of visitors a year, you'd think that there would be at least one lost child, right? But you'd be wrong. Why? It's simple, really, Walt Disney World only has lost parents. That's right, when a child is found alone, it's handled as a lost parent rather than a lost child. The reason is to help the child to feel better about the situation by stating they're not lost, it his or her parents.


See the "real" Epcot in the Magic Kingdom

When Epcot opened in 1982, it wasn't quite as Walt Disney had imagined. Walt Disney envisioned an entire city of the future with people living and working in it. While the Epcot that was built is still a lot of fun and a great place to visit, you can see the "real" Epcot as Walt Disney dreamed it on display in the Magic Kingdom. Just ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (formerly the WEDWay People Mover) and in one of the tunnels is a model of a futuristic city. The model is the original Epcot model.


Watch the waters of 22 nations dance at Epcot

the Fountain of Nations in Epcot's Future World is comprised of several fountains that shoot water into the air synchronised to music. However, the water that's used isn't just local tap water. During Epcot's opening day ceremonies, representatives of 22 nations poured water from their homelands into the fountain to create a true fountain of nations.


Can you get into the VIP at Epcot? Probably not.

Sure, we all know about the velvet ropes outside today's hottest nightclubs and lounges. But did you know that there are VIP only areas at Epcot (although there's no velvet rope, there are secret doors and hidden entryways)? Most of the Future World attractions have VIP lounges that offer plush surroundings, free food and drink, and are a great place to cool off and grab a bite to eat. And you can even go directly from the VIP lounge to the front of the attraction's line (no waiting!). The catch? Well, you have to work for the company that sponsors the attraction that the VIP lounge in housed in (or be a guest of the sponsoring company).


Things are not always as they seem in the movies

The Earful Tower, the large water tower with Mickey Mouse ears at Disney's Hollywood Studios isn't really a water tower. It was built to serve only as a landmark for the Disney-MGM Studios (as it was called with it opened in 1989). In fact, it's never held any water. It does, however, sport a Santa hat at Christmas.... size 342 3/8!