Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups: Special Events

Throughout the year, Walt Disney World also offers amazing seasonal events, and many of these are geared specifically to adults. Here are my top five recommendations for special events adults will love.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival: Each spring, Epcot showcases beautiful flower displays and topiaries of Disney characters throughout the park. Guests can also learn from gardening experts in the Festival Center, or sample delicious international dishes at the Outdoor Kitchens. If you happen to be a tea enthusiast, this is the only time of year that Epcot offers a free guided tour of the English Tea Garden in the UK Pavilion.

Star Wars Weekends: Star Wars fans absolutely need to make a visit to Star Wars Weekends, which takes over Hollywood Studios on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Guests can meet Star Wars celebrities, see a special parade and fireworks show, and meet iconic Star Wars characters throughout the park. Note that if you want to meet popular characters such as Darth Vader, Chewbacca, or Boba Fett, visit them as early in the day as you can – their lines will be very long.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: This is Epcot’s most popular special event, where guests can visit marketplace booths throughout Epcot’s World Showcase with tasting-size dishes and drinks from around the world. The booths include the countries of Epcot’s World Showcase, as well as many others such as Scotland, Brazil, Australia, and South Africa. The event also features specialty meals, tastings, and cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs (for an additional cost). Keep in mind that this festival is very, very popular – try to visit on a weekday for less time waiting in line.

Candlelight Processional: This show at the America Gardens Theater is a traditional telling of the Christmas story with a celebrity narrator and full choir, taking place several times a night starting in late November. The performance is included in park admission. If you would like a guaranteed seat for the Candlelight Processional, consider a dining package, which includes guaranteed seats and lunch or dinner at select restaurants in Epcot.

Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights: Every holiday season, a dazzling display of millions upon millions of lights cover the Streets of America at Hollywood Studios. The lights blanket the buildings and moving displays sparkle overhead. Access to this display is included in park admission. It’s difficult to find a time when this display isn’t crowded, but you may find fewer crowds if you visit during a showing of Fantasmic! or shortly before the park closes.

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Elizabeth lives in Kansas City with her wonderful family. Elizabeth first visited Disney as a child, and when she prepared to visit Walt Disney World as an adult, she foolishly thought she may have ‘outgrown’ Disney. Happily, Elizabeth was proven wrong – but she also realized how good planning can make such a difference for having a fun, relaxing vacation! Elizabeth became her family’s go-to resource for Disney planning. Now she is dedicating her planning skills to helping other families create vacation memories as a travel agent specializing in Disney destinations. She will plan your trip as if it were her own. Her blog, planningformagic.com, has tons of advice on how to plan your next Disney trip, including trip planning instructions, sample itineraries, dining tips, and more. Visit her on Facebook or Twitter for more planning tips and theme park news. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@theaffordablemouse.com.

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