Check out this great DFB reader question we received a while back!:
I am traveling to Orlando on business and will be in Epcot for one evening. What would you suggest that I do with this rare dining opportunity? Normally, my family accompanies me on this trip, but this year, I’m looking forward to a kid-free night in the park!
There are TONS of great options for a kid-free night in Epcot. I’ve got a couple in mind, but I can’t wait to hear what YOU would do!
Evening at Epcot is Extra Magical!
But also, as much as we all love our families, it’s fun sometimes to have a little grown up time in the parks.
And if you’re a parent who hasn’t had a chance to do that, we still bet that you’ve got a couple of great suggestions dreamed up just in case! So share your suggestions for a dream night in Epcot in the comments section below!
As for what I would do? After about six rides in a row on Maelstrom, Spaceship Earth, Soarin’, and Test Track in a row, here’s what I’m thinking food-wise…
Tutto Gusto for Dinner
For dinner, I would choose Tutto Gusto. The wine bar, one of the newer additions to World Showcase’s Italy Pavilion, features a wonderful menu of tempting small plates — and you don’t need a reservation to dine there! Also, it’s very solo-diner friendly.
You can see a recent Tutto Gusto review right here!
One of Tutto Gusto's Cheese Boards
The atmosphere is cozy, and the wine and beer selection is well-cultivated.
Fireplace Area Seating at Tutto Gusto
But in addition to the Tutto Gusto menu, you can also order anything that you’d like from the Tutto Italia Ristorante’s (the table service restaurant next door) menu as well.
Delicious Fettucine Vecchia Roma at Tutto Italia Ristorante
(For more about our latest visit to Tutto Italia, check out our latest review.)
La Cava del Tequila for a Nightcap
If you’d like a drink after dinner, there is no better place to enjoy a leisurely adult beverage than La Cava del Tequila in Epcot’s Mexico.
With a dizzying array of tequilas and specialty margaritas, this is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy a little me time.
Jalapeno Margarita at La Cava del Tequila
And don’t forget to treat yourself to some of my favorite queso in Disney World…
Chips and queso at Cava del Tequila
And since you’re flying solo, you’ll have a super easy time locating a spot from which to enjoy Illuminations!
Our pick is the wide terrace in front of the Italy Pavilion, or the area just to the right of the Yorkshire County Fish Shop (if there are no private events taking place).
So, readers — now it’s your turn to share!
What would you do if you had a kid-free night to enjoy Epcot? Let us know about your “dream evening” below in comments!
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I seriously laughed after reading this as you just described exactly what my wife and I do every time we’re at Epcot without our 2 kids. As a matter of fact, we ate at Tutto Gusto 2 nights in a row in May for our anniversary and honestly spent most of our evening time at La Cava. As an annual passholder who visits Epcot frequently, I 100% support this posting and agree completely. This is the way to enjoy Epcot without kids.
Oh and after reading this posting, my wife emailed me:
“Did you write that article? Or maybe people were stalking us… I wanna go again. :)”
Well done AJ. Well done indeed.
Josh — Ha ha! That’s fantastic! Great minds obviously think alike! 🙂
the couple of time we were in epcot without the kids. we went to le cellier for dinner. and then spent time looking at all the shops that have things too breakable to let little kids near… and then watch the fireworks…
I have this opportunity coming up in August! My husband and I have been back and forth on what to do. Thanks for the itinerary AJ, and thanks for the second, Josh. The decision is made!
On my own for one evening at Epcot, I would have dinner at Coral Reef (or if it is busy Sunshine Seasons), ride the clamshells in to The Living Seas and go see Turtle Talk. Check out how long the line is at Soarin, go on Test Track, do some shopping and then head to the World Showcase to a spot I like near Germany to watch Illuminations.
Your plan sounds great! I definitely plan to spend time at the tequila bar next time. My husband and I don’t have kids so we get the adults only experience every time. I think the nicest experience we had in Epcot without lots of kids around was dinner at Bistro de Paris for a late dinner with a view of Illuminations. By time we were finished the crowds had mostly dispersed and we had a leisure walk back to the bus in an almost empty park. It was a very nice and beautiful walk. I haven’t been to the new place and don’t know if that would still work. . .
I’m/we’re always at EPCOT without little kids and we love it just the same. We enjoy everything it has to offer like Soarin’ and Mission Space, Mouse Gears and the Seas. All of World Showcase is wonderful. Have a great time!
I really enjoy a “high end” place with a slow meal like Msr. Paul, then heading out to La Cantina and getting a margarita to enjoy by the water. Sit there munching little appetizer snacks till Illuminations.
La Cava for sure. And get a tequila flight. If it had outdoor seating you could stay there all night. Excellent beverages and you don’t feel like you are in the World (not that you don’t want to feel like you are….but it’s a totally different feel in there!). I would also add before that just wandering through “your” favorite countries leisurely, because I’m sure with the kids you get rushed!
One of the best nights I ever had at Epcot was solo, strolling the promenade, checking out whatever stores in whatever countries I wanted, and having a few brews…and yes, a tequila flight at La Cava.
That having been said, next time I’m at Epcot I have a feeling I’m going to walk into Tutto Gusto and never leave.
Why pick jusy one????
That is why my choice for a relaxing night would be the simple drink and bite throughout the countries.
Canada may be the only skip of them all however you can slowly take your time and stroll from one side to the other.
So many good drinks, so many good eats…..why pick just one!
Last time I had a solo at Epcot, it was the end of food/wine so dinner was snacking at the kiosks. Then wait for and enjoy two performances of the British Revolution band, with a sneak over to Off Kilter in between. Fireworks at the end and a slow stroll out the gate with a stop to watch kids discover the fiber-optic sidewalk squares.
When at Epcot last summer, the adults in my traveling party set up shop at Tutto Gusto for four hours (lots of rain that day), while the kids (aged 7 to 16) came and went. An older gentleman, looking to be in his mid 60s, came in late in the afternoon and was seated alone at one of the smaller tables. He proceeded to order a great bottle of wine and a plate of pasta, and quite obviously was having he time of his life, enjoying his wine and chatting with the very friendly wait staff. We commented that he looked like he was having fun, and he said in 20 years of going to Disney with the family and grand children, that hour he spent alone while “grandma” and the kids went shopping was the most fun he ever had in the parks.
I doubt my wife would let me go solo, but I’ve got to agree – if I had one night alone to dine, Tutto Gusto is the place to do it. Fabulous ambience, very friendly and outgoing staff, and top notch food and wine. Can’t think of a single other spot in Epcot itself that would be as much fun.