Are you in the mood for love? Romance is an intrinsic to the Disney mystique as a certain circle-eared mouse. So many of the classic Disney animated films end with a magical kiss, signifying that true love has carried the day. This special concoction of love and courtship is available during your next visit to a Disney theme park, too. You simply need to know where to look. Here are six of the most romantic things you can do during your next visit to Walt Disney World. For convenience, I’ve ordered them so that you can plan the perfect couples outing at Disney if so inclined.
1. Breakfast in bed…with presents!
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Do you want to surprise your loved one with a magical start to the day of passion? There are two versions of this strategy, one of which is cheap (by Disney standards). The other is more for special occasions such as a big anniversary or celebration…and maybe not event hen.
Did you know that Disney can provide your partner with special gifts on check-in or first thing in the morning. They have an entire section of romantic in-room gifts. For the modest cost of $365, they’ll provide your loved one with chocolates, roses, and champagne. They’ll even throw in a Swarovski crystal bracelet to commemorate the event. I’m going to assume, however, that you didn’t found a start-up that’s made you a millionaire. $365 on top of the cost of a Disney vacation is a bit steep. You can set up many of the same options cheaper.
Several florists in the greater Orlando area happily deliver to Walt Disney World. Order from one of them, and you’ll have the roses waiting to present at the perfect moment. As for chocolate, several grocers deliver as well. Pick the one that has the assortment you like. Alternately, you can order from Amazon (or the like) before you leave, requesting shipment at your hotel. With a bit of planning, you can make any day make Valentine’s Day seem fraudulent by comparison.
No matter how you choose to handle the above, the one thing that you MUST do to have the perfect romantic Disney day is start with breakfast in bed. Many onsite resorts and several non-Disney competitors offer room service as an option. You’re going to need food to fuel your day, but that doesn’t mean you have to rush to get dressed. Instead, spend more time with the one you love while somebody else brings breakfast to both of you.
2. Reenact a classic love scene
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Your middle meal of the day should happen at Magic Kingdom. That’s where Tony’s Town Square resides, and it’s on the must-list for sentimental, if corny, gestures. You know the movie scene I mean. It’s the signature moment from one of Disney Animation’s hallmark achievements, Lady and the Tramp, the one recreated countless times in pop culture as well as spaghetti dinner dates. It’s this one.
All you need to do is head to the restaurant. Then, order what has to be the most popular dish on their menu, spaghetti and meatballs. It’s basically the reason for the existence of Tony’s Town Square. Once your lunch plate is in front of you, you’re only a nudge of the nose away from a (predictable but) sweet gesture that will capture your lover’s heart all over again. Keep in mind that Magic Kingdom is the most popular theme park in the world. I’d strongly suggest advance dinner reservations for Tony’s Town Square to position yourself as the meatball sharer of your partner’s dreams.
3. Get a massage
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Luxuriating at Walt Disney World is never more than a scheduled appointment away. Several onsite resorts feature some of the finest spas in Florida. The most legendary of them is Senses, a 15-room facility at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. I’d suggest surprising your partner with a romantic massage. It’s a wonderful way to spend a relaxing afternoon with the person who puts the stars in your eyes.
Book a room in advance then act secretive about what you have in mind. Since it’s right off the monorail, you can build a mystery about your designated location. Once you tell your sweetheart that they’re getting off at the Grand Floridian, they’ll figure it out, but that will only heighten the excitement. Is there anything better than side-by-side massages with the love of your life?
4. A romantic dinner
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Okay, nothing at dinner will top the cheesy nose-push of a meatball across the plate, but you’re still going to want to eat another exquisite meal. The whole point of your dream day of love at Walt Disney World is to kick back and enjoy the calmer aspects of a park visit. While you’ll spend some time at Magic Kingdom and Epcot if you follow these suggestions, the point isn’t to ride a lot of attractions or to hang out at one of the parks all day. Instead, you should plan to take it easy. There’s nothing romantic about feeling like you’re on a time schedule all day. Every suggestion here — except for the final one whose timeline Disney controls — is something you can schedule on your own.
Keeping that in mind and anticipating the next suggestion as well, I would advise scheduling a meal at Epcot’s World Showcase. Walt Disney World’s second most popular theme park is a simple monorail ride away from your spa treatment, assuming you go straight there. Otherwise, it’s a boat, bus, or monorail trip to Epcot. Since arrival is easy, you’re free to set up advance dining reservations whenever you like. Without getting specific, I would suggest returning to your hotel for some quality time after the spa treatment.
Whatever you choose, the restaurants at World Showcase are among the most romantic onsite. I would recommend one of Monsieur Paul, Le Cellier, or La Hacienda de San Angel. Ordinarily, I’d suggest Tutto Italia Restaurant as well. If you’re taking the suggestion about Tony’s Town Square, however, that’s likely too much pasta for one day, though.
Wherever you choose to eat, mention that it’s a special day of romance when you book the ADR as well as when you check in at the restaurant. Disney wants to take care of its guests when they’re celebrating memorable days. Even if it’s not your anniversary or the like, just be honest about your situation. They might do something to enhance the magic of your meal. One of the unwritten rules of Disney is that it never hurts to mention when you’re trying to do something special for a good reason. Cast members are the gold standard at trying to help you reach your goals.
5. An evening of wine and dancing
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Thanks to the magic of Disney planning, you can enjoy a wonderful night of wine tasting and dining without worrying about transportation. Since you’re already at Epcot, you can imbibe from potent potables across the globe as soon as you’ve finished dinner and whatever else you plan to do at the park.
How much you dip into the wine pool is up to you. More ambitious drinkers enjoy a multi-country bar crawl that can include 11+ adult beverages when they partake at each World Showcase pavilion. Personally, I’d call that poor strategy for a romantic evening, but you and your date can select the level of wining and dining appropriate to your amorous pursuits.
Once you’re appropriately liquored up and relaxed, the place to go is only a few hundred steps away. Exit the back door of Epcot then head left across the bridge to the Boardwalk. Your destination is the Atlantic Dance Hall, a nightclub featuring contemporary dance music, which is actually a step back from its original theme of big band, 1940s era swing. The generic atmosphere of the current version is fine, but it lacks the ambience and novelty of the previous iteration. Still, it’s a wonderful place to hold your body close to the person of your dreams. That goes triple when Disney has big band music playing. Consult with them to see if you might get lucky about the music schedule. Either way, the two of you will get dizzy from the combination of music and wine, guaranteeing you’ll feel like you’re at the Most Magical Place on Earth.
6. Enjoy the fireworks
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The storied tradition of Disney fireworks includes further benefits beyond ending the night with a bang. It’s also a perfect way to cuddle up with the person you love, enjoying some well-earned downtime after an eventful day at a Disney theme park. Walt Disney understood that his new venture asked a lot of its guests, so the fireworks show was his way of helping people taper off after countless hours of walking and waiting in line queues.
Over the past half-century, Disney park planners have mastered the art of fireworks, and that includes highlighted views. When you’re ready to wind down your evening with a brilliant lights display in the sky, several options exist. The best of them in terms of intimacy occurs at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This quiet beach is perfect to set the mood. The sand between your toes, the dim lighting, and the tropical ambience will transport you to an island getaway, even as you stare the display at Cinderella’s Castle only a short distance away.
Alternately, you can zhoosh up the fireworks experience with Ferrytale Wishes: A Fireworks Dessert Cruise. It’s one of the upsell options at Magic Kingdom. Whether a walk on the beach or an upscale boat ride is more romantic is in the eye of the beholder. One is free while the other is more exclusive…at a cost. Select the one that best fits your budget and need/desire to impress your loved one. Either way, you’ll end the night in the most romantic manner possible.
