The Best Rides and Attractions for Adults At Disney World

The first thought that comes to mind when anyone mentions Disney World usually has something to do with kids.

But kids or not, Disney World can be equally magical for adults — in fact, some things here are even better for adults than for kids!

Whether traveling solo, with friends, or with a partner, Disney World is a fantastic place to be as an adult. It’s a super popular spot to get engaged, get married, and even honeymoon. So when you and other adult travel companions head to this family vacation destination, what are the rides and attractions you should hit up?

These are the Best Rides & Attractions for Adults At Disney World:

EPCOT

Let’s start in EPCOT since it’s already considered the most “adult” of the Disney World parks, right?

The Edu-tainment Rides at EPCOT

The central theme around EPCOT has always been focused on education. You’ll find this theme as you learn about technology, learn about the environment, and learn about international cultures all throughout EPCOT.  EPCOT has a lot more rides that emphasize edu-tertainment. Because of this, and the slow pacing of some of these rides, it tends to be more appealing to adults than kids.

Especially as tolerance for high-speed adrenaline wanes with age, many adults gravitate towards the relaxed pace (and air conditioning) of EPCOT’s edu-tainment rides, like Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, and Gran Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros.

Films at EPCOT

Along with these slower-paced attractions, affirming this park as the most adult-friendly, is the films in and around World Showcase. These indoor attractions offer a far more relaxed and subdued experience, compared to the roller coasters or thrill rides that kids and teens might be seeking.

Awesome Planet, Canada Far and Wide, and Reflections of China showcase the awe-inspiring splendors of Earth on full display, via films so immersive they make iMax screens look like a relic. Still, they’re a bit too slow and tedious for most kids to appreciate as much as their parents. And let’s not forget about the American Adventure show in the American pavilion. A mixture of animatronics and iMax screens, this is still more adult-leaning.

Intense Rides

There are some rides at Disney World that definitely appeal to the more “thrill-seeking” variety of guests.  So tykes or the more timid guests will shy away from these experiences

Mission: Space, Test Track, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind are the most intense attractions in EPCOT (and even in all of Disney World), so buckle up for a thrilling ride! Adults will particularly like Cosmic Rewind for its 80s-based soundtrack (who doesn’t love a little musical nostalgia with their thrills?).

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Hollywood Studios

Not venturing too far from EPCOT, we’ll head over to Hollywood Studios for the top adult experiences. With its recent expansion including the addition of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, there’s A LOT more for kids and families to enjoy here. But there are still a few spots that may lean more toward the more mature audience.

Nostalgia Heavy Attractions

Some of the Intellectual Property (IP) that Disney has acquired may resonate stronger with a more grown-up crowd. In fact, some kids may not even know who these folks are!

Attractions like Muppet Vision 3D, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (do kids even know what stunts are anymore since movies have SO much CGI…?), and the walk-through gallery and showcase Walt Disney Presents are attractions that carry memories and nostalgia for adults, but may not be as entertaining for kiddos.

We might even controversially add in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run because even though kids will enjoy flying the Falcon and shooting their laser cannons, we’re pretty sure piloting the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy means more to the parents than it does to the kiddos.

Extreme Rides

There are rides in this park that have height requirements for a reason — they get extreme. Extreme launches and extreme drops that sometimes push adults to their limits

Rides like Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith take their experience to the extreme. Adults who know what they’re getting into and thrive off of thrills will love it.

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Animal Kingdom

Does Disney’s “most mellow” park offer up anything for adults? Well, we’d argue the food game at this park is definitely an attraction all by itself (so many good snack spots here!), but let’s dive into the actual rides and attractions for adults.

Scary Attractions

First up are the actual scary rides. We’ve already talked about how some of the parks have intense or extreme rides, but what about actually scary experiences?

Dinosaur comes to mind, as it is potentially too scary, dark, and intense for kids. Heck, even It’s Tough to be a Bug is pushing it! Dark, flashing light, loud noises, dinos or critters poppin’ out at you. These experiences are far from tame.

Exhibits & Trails

While kids of all ages seem to enjoy animals (hence the popularity of zoos!), when families visit Disney World, kids are likely to envision going on rides, and not strolling along trails or stopping by exhibits for most of their day.

As an adult and appreciator of the slower-paced, intentional, and even nature-appreciation, exploring the Maharajah Jungle Trek, Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, and Discovery Island Trails around the Tree of Life, is really an art that adults can enjoy.

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Magic Kingdom

Finally, at the quintessential Disney World park! This park just screams “family fun!” but are there certain attractions that are best for adults?

“Historical” Shows

While Magic Kingdom does have some fun and engaging shows, like Mickey’s PhilharMagic and those jaw-dropping fireworks shows, there are some shows here that appeal to an older audience

Shows that focus on history, like Hall of Presidents and Carousel of Progress, might be a bit too slow for kids to fully enjoy, but offer a great break and some insight for the adult crowd. And don’t forget about the Country Bear Jamboree; while not “historical” per se, the corny puns are definitely for adults.

Slower Paced Rides

We’ve talked about thrilling, extreme, intense rides, but sometimes the mellow rides are just the ones for adults.

You know the ones we’re talking about. Rides like the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, the Walt Disney World Railroad, and the Liberty Square Riverboat. These rides don’t have charming singing dolls, or flashy Disney characters. They just allow the grown up to sit down, relax, and enjoy the experience of being IN Disney World.

Spooky Rides

Yes, even in Magic Kingdom, there are some scary attractions that might just be too much for kiddos, but are classic must-dos for those Disney adults.

The Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain are those two dark rides that can have the potential to just be “too much” for kids to enjoy, but pack in just the right amount of fun, and eery thrills to keep adults coming back time after time!

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While visiting Disney World as a kid — or with kids — is a joyous thrill, there are still certain activities and details that are far more enjoyable for adults, making this the Most Magical Place on Earth for all ages!

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Did your favorite ride make our list for Best Adult Rides in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

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