Disneyland for Adults

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Oh the joy it brings to children young and old. But Disneyland isn’t just for people with children. Disneyland is for couples in love, singles celebrating birthdays, grown up girls and guys trips, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and so much more. Disney by day and after hours offers plenty to see and do, and surprisingly some pretty foodie-recommended places to eat. Be entertained by and be our guest at the Happiest Place on Earth.

I’ve spent many hours, nay, years of my life, journeying to locations across the country and world, enthusiastically planning and executing my dream of being a foodie and a travel photographer while hitting all the “oh-hell-yes-that’s-amazing” must-see highlights as well as connecting to the culture by looking for local treasures and talking to the people who make a place a home. But somehow, no matter how much I travel, I keep coming back to Disneyland. And in fact, as I type this, I am sitting at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim CA, enjoying a class of Rodney Strong Cab Sav, and working, as I do, from wherever I go.

Love it or hate it, the Disney brand is smart, efficient, and effective at keeping you constantly entertained. For me, Disney also happens to embody a lot of the business values (innovation, becoming a LoveMark, commitment to excellence, standing out from the crowd) that I try to put forward in my own Portrait and Wedding Photography business. But all that business stuff aside, there’s pure joy here. Joy on the faces of those who visit, truly of every age. I dare you not to smile as you cross the threshold from real life to a place where time stands still and calories from Churros don’t count.

But how do you see and do it all when you have such limited time and when Disney vacations can cost as much as a trip to Paris? You maximize, of course! So if you are seeking advice on how to do Disneyland without kiddos in a compressed period of time, read on!

Here is a suggested itinerary for One Day in Disneyland (DL) and Disney California Adventure (DCA) for a group party of nostalgic thrill seekers, foodies, and alcohol-consumers…

Suggested ONE day Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Itinerary

Where to Eat and Drink

My favorite must-stops are below. I highly recommend making reservations through Disney Dining for those that accept one!

  • Sit Down Experiences:
    – Visit Carthay Circle Restaurant in DCA at least twice, once for a drink in their lounge (no reservation required though there could be a line to get in), and once for lunch or dinner (reservation required). The food here is just delightful. Share a bottle of wine on their terrace (ask them if you can sit out there, they often don’t seat there when it’s not busy). Try the Ceviche, it’s delicious, don’t believe me? Ask the fishes. Ahem.
    The Napa Rose, part of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, is a great place for dinner, as well as a drink. It’s honestly the best of California on a plate. You can drink and dine from the regular menu in their lounge (first come, first served) without a reservation, but you definitely need one for their dining room. Try their summer tomato salad (seasonal). Amazing.
    If you’re really looking to deep dive into the foodie experience here, I recommend the Chef’s Table. You get to sit at a counter right up against the open-air kitchen and you get multiple courses of the finest the restaurant has to offer. You can add a wine pairing to this experience. It’s a great special-occasion kind of event, but they only have 2 seatings per day, so book in advance!
    The Lamplight Lounge: this is a newly opened restaurant and lounge in DCA’s Pixar Pier. It’s still got the famous Lobster Nachos (which I confess I have never had but people rave about) as well as a simple bar-food type menu. I wasn’t overly impressed with the food for the price, but if you can score a seat overlooking the water to enjoy a drink, this is the best view in DCA, IMHO. There are two ways to eat/drink here – one is to go early and stand in line to get in when they open at 11 (lounge only) and the other is to reserve ahead for the dining room.
  • Alll the quick stops
    – Go to the Wine Country Alfresco Tasting Terrace, a hidden gem of fine wine tasting along the back side of Grizzly Peak and accessible via the main street. It’s a quieter part of DCA and the heavy appetizers are just right to pair with wine flights on the Terrace. If you’re not hungry yet, or if the Terrace isn’t open, the lower half of the building offers counter service beer and wine also. Secret tip – ask them if they’ll do a flight for you – often they will! The wine (and yes, beer) aren’t the cheapest, but when the sun is shining and the breeze is blowing, this is a great place to sit and people watch.
    – walk all along Pixar Pier in DCA and visit the little stands that sells delicious wine and craft beer as well as interesting quick foods (Turkey legs, corn dogs, not my thing, but no judgement). It’s nice for a meander the loop with a glass of wine. Just be sure to drink before you ride – no alcohol allowed on the attractions!
    – when you’re in Disneyland, stop by at Bengal Barbecue (tasty meat on a stick), the French Market Restaurant (cafeteria line style foods and French inspired crafted desserts) and Cafe Orleans (clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl). They are all delicious.
    – eat CHURROS. I know, I know. And POPCORN. They’re both the perfect walk around the park food. Enough said.

Where to Stay

High end accommodations can be found at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel, but nearby are lots of other reasonably priced options with ability to walk to the parks. If you want the “Extra Magic Hour” option (which gets you into select parks typically an hour earlier than the general public) you have to stay at an official Disney Hotel.

How to do it all in One Day

Buying entrance to both parks gives you the biggest bang for the buck and also, with all the back and forth I suggest, gets your steps in and burns off all those theme park calories!
1) Get going before the parks open and grab coffee and breakfast (mobile order is your friend!) at the Starbucks in the Downtown Disney District. Sit on the outdoor terrace and eat or hoof it while you munch so you can stand in line for park opening.
2) Start at Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) and immediately FASTPASS Soarin’ Around the World. If it’s not too early, grab a drink at Carthay Circle Lounge.
3) Single Rider Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land. Single Rider experiences are available at certain attractions in both parks. You get to ride faster, but you don’t get to ride with your party. However it’s the coolest thing I’ve discovered at the parks for maximizing the experience. Oh and Racers is totally different at night. I recommend riding it both day and night if you can!
4) walk over to Disneyland (DL) and FASTPASS Space Mountain, or any of the longer wait rides. Not as into the long queues? Then just head left for New Orleans Square, Adventureland, Frontierland and hit the following for nostalgia: Indiana Jones Adventure (psst there’s a single rider line here, but you have to ask the attendant about it), Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Some of these have FASTPASS options but truly they all have interesting enough queues that it’s not necessary IMO even if the wait is long…
5) time for lunch –  head back to DCA because it might be time to ride Soarin’. Before or after, check out the Trattoria or Tasting Terrace near Pixar Pier for lunch or a drink.
6) After lunch, FASTPASS Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout (formerly Tower of Terror), then meander around Pixar Pier for whatever you didn’t get to. Once you’ve had your fill, or when your latest
FASTPASS is calling, head back to Disneyland. Take some time to ride the train for a leisurely way to get from one place to another with that lunch heavy in your tummy.  Hang out in Disneyland until it’s time for dinner.
7) Dinner you say? Head back to DCA, cash in your FASTPASS for Guardians, then then head for dinner at Carthay Circle or Napa Rose. After dinner, if there’s music bumping in Hollywood Land at DCA, you can get your dance and sing on there until the park closes. Or, if you’re more into nostalgia, go back to Disneyland’s Main Street for the Parade or Fireworks.

If you have TWO days: If a one day itinerary looks like too much, get to whatever you didn’t get to or do some of it again!
Some of my Tier Two Items include:
1) Toy Story Midway Mania (at Pixar Pier in DCA) can be competitive and fun.
2) The Little Mermaid ride is straight from the movie. It’s near Pixar Pier and typically has a short line and is very air conditioned, so in the summer months it’s a welcome respite from the heat.
3) go back in time to your childhood and hang out in Fantasyland for all the storybook rides (think Snow White, Peter Pan, Dumbo). These rides can have long lines, though, so be prepared to be around a lot of little kiddos in tight spaces. : )

All told, this is my ideal day. And really, you’re never too old for Disneyland. At least, I’m not.




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