The magic of Disney has seduced many a young couple into choosing Walt Disney World for their honeymoon. Disney is far from being a child-centered destination, and the newly wedded find plenty of attractions to fill their days, from whimsical choices that ignite the child at heart, to adult options that are just for the grown-ups.
If you’re considering a Disney World honeymoon, here are some essential facts to know before your stay.
1. Disney offers a Honeymoon Registry
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A Disney honeymoon is far from being a budget destination, and after all the indulgences of your wedding, you may not have much left for your vacation. Instead of worrying about where you’ll find the funds yourself, why not let your guests pay? You can set up a honeymoon registry online absolutely free. List accommodations, meals, tours, and anything else you want to include in your vacation and your friends and family can help you build the ideal honeymoon, piece by piece.
Some of the items available for the registry include:
- Accommodations at a Disney Resort Hotel
- A Disney Dining Plan for your stay
- Tickets for the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Quest
- A round of golf
- Specialty cruises
- Surrey bike rentals
- Carriage or horseback rides
- Backstage tours and experiences, like swimming with dolphins at Epcot
- Disney gift cards for dining or shopping
- Dinner show tickets for events like the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at the Polynesian
- Spa services
- Flowers
- Wine or champagne packages delivered to the room
2. The best restaurants book early
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Your honeymoon is the perfect time to indulge in luxury meals, but the best and most romantic restaurants on property fill up early. You can make dining reservations up to 180 days in advance, and for many locations you should absolutely call and book your meal on the first date that you can. For dinner shows like the Spirit of Aloha, you can book up to a year in advance.
If you want to include some of the best restaurants on property in your vacation, don’t miss Le Cellier in Epcot’s Canada, Monsieur Paul in Epcot’s France, the Plaza at the Magic Kingdom, and Victoria and Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
3. Those little buttons work magic
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You can pick up honeymoon buttons at your resort’s check-in desk, or at Guest Relations anywhere on property. Plan to wear these buttons everywhere you go, because you never know what delights may be in store. Restaurants typically offer a special desert or other treat for honeymooners. When Cast Members see your buttons in the park, they may just offer up special experiences. Keep your buttons in a prominent place and see what happens.
While buttons will do the trick in most cases, you can also ensure you get a little special treatment when you’re dining at table service locations by mentioning your honeymoon when you make the reservations. This will add a little note to let your server know you’re celebrating. Feel free to bring it up at your table, as well.
4. Little extras can make your stay
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Honeymooning at Disney gives you the opportunity to enjoy dozens of special excursions and romantic moments that are more difficult to capture when you’re on vacation with small children. Make the most of this experience by including plenty of downtime and quiet little moments in your stay. Some options to consider include:
- Booking a resort with an outstanding pool, and including plenty of time for poolside drinks
- Lounging on a waterside hammock at the Polynesian
- Planning a couple’s massage at a Disney resort spa
- Riding in a horse drawn carriage at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside or Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds
- Sharing a sundae at the Beach Club Resort’s Beaches and Cream Soda Shop
- Planning your visit to coincide with Epcot’s Food and Wine festival, and filling your passports as you dine and drink around World Showcase
- Taking a Backstage Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Swimming with dolphins in the Disney’s Dolphins in Depth tour
- Booking the Disney’s Holiday D-Lights tour around the holidays
- Taking the Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour for a closer look at Magic Kingdom
5. There’s a sweet spot for vacation planning
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You can’t book a Disney honeymoon more than a year in advance using the honeymoon registry. Many tours will only book up to six months ahead. As mentioned above, dining options let you book 180 days early, while dinner shows allow you to book up to a year ahead. Make a list of all the experiences you want to include in your honeymoon and mark your calendar for the appropriate dates so you can make your reservations as early as possible and ensure a spot in your favorite hotel, restaurants, and tours.
If you want to avoid crowds and enjoy an easier time planning, schedule your honeymoon for one of the slower seasons at Walt Disney World. The summer months, spring break, and winter holidays are packed with families on vacation. The crowds die off early in January and stay away until spring break. You can also enjoy a sweet spot in May, between spring break and summer vacation, or in September and October, after schools are back in session and before the holiday season sets in.
If you can’t score a seat in every restaurant on your list, don’t let it ruin your vacation. Many of Disney’s best highlights are available to anyone with a ticket. Snuggle up during Wishes, catch the Electrical Water Pageant from a Magic Kingdom resort beach, and enjoy a drink under the lights of Illuminations. There’s no reservation needed for experiences like these.
