Granted, most people head to Walt Disney World with their kids in tow, and many people would not even consider it a vacation destination without kids. However, you can’t beat a night (or a week) in Disney without the kids, whether you leave them in the room with a sitter, or leave them at home all together. Those who have only been in the parks with little kids, running from character meal to parade to nap time miss out on the wonderful options available in the parks, if you just take a few minutes to look around.

#10: Downtown Disney – Now, of course, you can enjoy Downtown Disney with kids. That is true for most of the options below, but if your kids are anything like mine, they bore quickly when shopping, especially when there are rides to be riden.  Downtown Disney has some great restaurants (Fultons!), some great “adult” shops, especially on the West Side. Even with Pleasure Island closed, Downtown Disney is a great place to hang out and enjoy yourself. I had intended to add Cirque du Soleil as #9, but I will include it here. Great show, even better when you don’t have to shell out all that money to take the kids too.

#9: Street Performers – By far the most hidden gem of Disney World, the street performers of Hollywood Studios are a site not to miss. There are others that are great too, the Jammitors of Epcot and the Mayor and his posse in the Magic Kingdom. Just hang out and watch for a while, you will laugh like you have never laughed before.

#8: Boat Rides – Disney offers numerous boat rides throughout the Walt Disney World resort. Many in and around the Magic Kingdom to nearby resorts and the Transportation and Ticket Center, from Epcot to Hollywood Studios and back (with stops at the Boardwalk area resorts), the boat from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney, etc. Many times with kids, you just want to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, which often precludes you from enjoying one of the many boat rides. Relax, the kids are safe, and enjoy the ride.

#7: Special Events in the Parks – Disney offers many special events in the parks year round, many of which can be enjoyed even more without little ones. I love the Food and Wine Festival and the Flower and Garden festival in Epcot, which are much, much better when you can take your time and enjoy. Also check out the Eat to the Beat concert series, the Candlelight Processional, ESPN the Weekend and any of the Disney marathons. Fantastic events that make Disney special.

#6: The Boardwalk – One of my most favorite places in all of WDW, especially in the evening. Great restaurants, a few shops, Jellyrolls, bike rentals and buskers. Just take some time strolling and checking out the performers, grab a treat at the bakery, you will be in for a fantastic evening.

#5: Just act like a kid for once – With kids around, especially if they are little, you end up riding kid rides all day long (Hello Dumbo for the 13th time!). Worrying about the kids, getting on and off the rides, you really can’t enjoy the rides for what they are. Take time and ride a few of the “kids” rides, Peter Pan is my favorite, Snow White is decent too.

#4: Dinner at a Signature Restaurant – I prefer not to take my kids to super nice restaurants while at WDW, not because of the cost or that they won’t behave themselves, but because the (and all kids) tend to fall asleep on the table. Not sure why, long day, slow service, etc. Take your significant other out to a nice meal, Disney offers some of the nicest restaurants in Florida. I love Flying Fish and Jiko, but any signature place will do.

#3: Ride the “Boring” rides – My kids have a list of boring rides they refuse to ride (or will only ride once), many of which are my favorites. I could ride Living with the Land over and over (same with Tomorrowland Transit Authority). Without kids, you can relax and enjoy those slower rides, and not worry about having to drag the kids on kicking and screaming.

#2: Explore the Resorts – My kids can’t think of anything more painful that taking time out of the parks to explore other resorts. My wife on the other hand, can’t think of anything better to do. The kids always win. Disney has some fantastic resorts, with great themes and grounds. Maybe schedule a nice dinner at a resort one night, and spend a few minutes just walking around to see what the resort has to offer, you may find a new place to stay your next trip.

#1: Quiet places in the Parks – Disney has built some fantastic places in each park, many of which you never notice as you are running to fit in that last Pirates of the Caribbean ride before the parade and fireworks. Without kids, you can sit and relax your feet for a few minutes without hearing constant crying (unless your feet really, really hurt). As you walk around, take your time and find those secret places. The English Garden in Epcot is fantastic, and the Animal Kingdom is full of quiet corners and fantastic benches.

Disney is so much more than a theme park, it is full of wonderful places, restaurants, rides and entertainment. I love taking my kids to WDW, but if I had the choice, I would leave them home, it makes for a much better vacation.

Epcot hasn’t always been associated with rides. Great food and education was the name of the game for years. In recent years, Walt Disney World has spent millions, if not billions, or dollars to upgrade the park and install state of the art rides. Here are our top 10 rides in Epcot:

#10: The Seas with Nemo and Friends - Located in what used to be the Living Seas pavilion, it has now been turned into a Nemo themed pavilion. The Seas with Nemo and Friends takes you underwater with Mr. Ray in search of his class. Great special effects, you get to go through the giant aquarium that is the center piece of the pavilion. Fun for everyone.

#9: Maelstrom – Located in the Norway pavilion, Maelstrom takes you on a Norwegian adventure through the history of Norway. Complete with a visit through a historic town, evil trolls and a big water fall, Maelstrom isn’t to the level of most Disney rides, but it is fun, and usually easy to get on. There is also a beautiful movie after you get off the ride that presents the wonderful areas of Norway. You can bypass the movie if you wish, but you must wait for the doors to open, which is every 10 minutes or so.

#8: Living with the Land – My long time favorite in Epcot, I would have listed it higher but many find it boring. Take a gentle boat ride through a Jungle, desert and prairie before entering Epcots greenhouses. Check out the innovative ways Disney grows food for many of their restaurants, including growing food without soil. Very informative, and relaxing. Little kids and teens may find some of the ride boring, while other parts hold their interest pretty well.

#7: The American Adventure – Located in the American Pavilion in the World Showcase, the American Pavilion was long the center piece of Epcot. Fantastic animatronics, wonderful historic footage and unique technology are used to tell 200+ years of American history in 30 minutes.

#6: Turtle Talk with Crush – Located in The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk was a unique attraction for Disney that has now been reproduced at Disneyland (California Adventure) and more recently the Monsters Inc.Laugh Floor in the Magic Kingdom. Crush, while completely animated on screen, interacts with audience guests, including answering questions and poking fun of adults. Great attraction for kids, and different every time, so you can easily see it several times during your trip.

#5: Honey I Shrunk the Audience -  The original 4-D Disney Movie (if you don’t count Captain EO), it has kicked off a few other versions including It’s Tough to be a Bug and Mickey’s Philharmagic. Watch as Professor Szalinski, the star of the Honey I shrunk the “blank” movies receives an award for the inventor of the year, and accidentally shrinks the audience. Fun, action packed “movie”, with a few scary parts. Some little kids may be scared, but you an always leave if needed.

#4: Mission: Space – Located in Future World, Mission: Space is a great ride, taking you to Mars, complete with full G-Forces and troubles galore. Great ride, including guest interaction required to get you to Mars.  Mission: Space isn’t for everyone, and several people have actually died after riding it. Disney now offers a non-spinning side, which isn’t quite as fun, but if you suffer from nausea, you might want to consider that side.

#3: SpaceShip Earth – The original attraction of Epcot, SpaceShip Earth takes you on a history of the world, specifically, a history of communication. Great animatronics , complete with sound and smells to match the scene, SpaceShip Earth is entertaining and educational at the same time. A recent update has added to many of the scenes. If there is a line, come back later in the day, usually by late afternoon, you can walk right on.

#2: Test Track: Located in Future World, Test Track was Epcot’s original thrill ride. Replicating a car testing grounds, Test Track takes you through the testing of a new car, including the high speed banked turns. The single rider line is a great way to bypass the line if it is long, but be warned, your party will be separated.

#1: Soarin’ - Located in The Land pavilion, Soarin’ is basically a duplicate of Soarin’ Over California that opened in California Adventure. Soarin’ replicated a hang glider ride over California, including a visit to Disneyland. Fun for kids and adults, the sights, sounds and smells are amazing, just a fantastic family ride.

Epcot features some great rides, and really shouldn’t be missed on your Disney World vacation. Give it a try, you will be amazed how fun and beautiful the park is. Oh, and lines for Soarin’ and Test Track are often very long, so make good use of the Fast Pass system early in the day.

Epcot, with the World Showcase at your disposal, offers a wide variety of food, drinks and snacks that make Epcot a special place to visit. During the Food and Wine festival each Fall, the number of offerings explodes. We will cover the 10 best snacks available to Epcot guest on a normal day, I couldn’t limit myself to just 10 during Food and Wine:

#10: Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies – Found in Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion, these cookies are freshly made throughout the day, a great snack for adults and kids alike.

#9: Minnie’s Strawberry Fruit Bar – Located throughout the park at ice cream carts, Minnie’s Strawberry bars are deceptively yummy, and may possibly even be good for you. Hey, it has Strawberry in the title, how bad can it be for you? A great break from a normal ice cream treat.

#8: Crepes – Located outside Chef de France in France, this crepe carts makes them like the do on the streets of Paris, right in front of you. With options such as chocolate, Strawberries or Sugar (yum, my favorite), you can please everyone in your family with one stop.

#7: Peach Tart – From the Boulangerie Patisserie in France, the Peach Tart is my favorite of many wonderful snacks available at this busy snack shop. From the classic Eclair to Elephant Ears and Napoleons, you are sure to rekindle your memories of France for a few dollars.

#6: Apple Strudel – From Sommerfest in Germany, the Apple Strudel is to die for. Plenty of tables around, and a wonderful atmosphere make Germany a great place to stop to snack. And if you are a beer drinker, Sommerfest offers several Germany beers to go with your strudel.

#5: Red Bean Ice Cream – A Chinese specialty, this ice cream is found in the Lotus Blossom Cafe in China. A unique taste sets this ice cream apart from others, not suite, but a slight tart flavor makes is special. If you want to try something out of the ordinary, the Red Bean Ice Cream should be your first option.

#4: Club Cool - While technically not a snack in itself, Club Cool is a great stop on a hot day to pick up a free drink or two. Sponsored by Coca Cola, Club Cool offers free drinks from around the world, including Smart Watermelon from China, Mezzo Mix from Germany and Lychee Mello from Thailand. Some are fantastic, others, not quite so much.

#3: Kringla Sweet Pretzel - From the Kringla Bakeri og Cafe in Norway, the Kringa Sweet Pretzel is just awesome. The Bakery offers other wonderful cakes and sandwiches, a nice, out of the way place to snack or dine. Plenty of tables around overlooking the Norway play area (cool ship that kids can play on).

#2: Mickey Ice Cream Bar – From ice cream carts from around the parks, what would a trip to Disney be without eating a Mickey Head Ice Cream Bar or ten? Shaped like Mickey, this is a classic vanilla ice cream bar covered in chocolate. Messy for kids and adults alike.

#1: Funnel Cake with Sugar - From the Funnel Cake Kiosk in the American Pavilion, this is the classic American Fair treat. Deep fried dough covered in powdered sugar. The line is usually long, especially right before Illuminations, so plan accordingly. You can get your funnel cake covered in chocolate, ice cream or fruit, but the plain old sugar one is by far the best. Just make sure you eat carefully, that powdered sugar has a strange way of finding the front of your shirt.