Walt Disney World is one of the most romantic places on earth. It is also one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world, which is no surprise since Disney practically wrote the book on fairytale romance. No matter how you are looking to celebrate love and togetherness, there is something for every couple at Walt Disney World, from newlyweds to contented parents looking for a peaceful night out.
Want to turn up the romance on your next Walt Disney World vacation? We found 14 ways ways to feel the love at Walt Disney World for any occasion. Have you tried all of these?
1. Parents, take a much-needed night off
Image: Disney
Parents can sometimes feel a little guilty even thinking of visiting Walt Disney World without their kids. After all, kids make the Most Magical Place on Earth even more magical. However, a Walt Disney World vacation is also an excellent opportunity for a much-needed date night without the little ones. How is this possible for busy parents though?
Fortunately, Disney offers in-room babysitting. Disney’s babysitters will come prepared to keep your little ones entertained with plenty of arts and crafts, storybooks, and games while you are gone. Prices for in-room childcare vary and are available at Disney’s website.
2. Have a romantic dinner
Image: Disney
For couples in love, almost every sit-down meal at Walt Disney World can be romantic. However, there are a few Disney restaurants that truly stand above the rest for a special night out.
If Disney magic is your elixir of love, you can’t beat the otherworldly atmosphere of Epcot’s Coral Reef or the fairytale magic of Be Our Guest. For a special evening watching the fireworks, consider a carefully timed reservation at The Contemporary’s California Grill. No matter where you are sitting in the restaurant, the lights are dimmed and music is piped in during the fireworks, making it one of the best places outside of Magic Kingdom to view Disney’s nightly spectaculars.
If you are looking for superb food paired with an intimate atmosphere, look no further than Epcot’s Monsieur Paul — the mature upstairs counterpart to Chefs de France—or Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Jiko. Le Cellier at Epcot and Narcoosees are also excellent choices. For the most intimate dining experience of all, you can book a private meal complete with butler service with the Grand Floridian Intimate Dining Experience. You may have to call around to find it as this is one of the resort’s best kept secrets—sometimes considered part of their VIP or event planning services. Many Disney cast members don’t even know about it!
Image: Disney
For foodies, we hold a special place in our hearts for the Flying Fish at Disney’s Boardwalk, an ever-changing innovative culinary experience with a great atmosphere. Tutto Italia also continues to stand out as one of Disney’s most excellent Italian restaurants both for food and ambience. Of course, there is no dining experience at Walt Disney World that can top Victoria and Alberts, Disney’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant.
What is your ideal romantic meal? Is it a waterside lunch at the Rose and Crown Pub or Spice Road Table? Is it an intimate steak dinner at Shula’s or the Yachtsman’s Steakhouse? Whatever it is, you can certainly find a romantic dinner you will never forget at Walt Disney World.
3. Stay at a romantic resort
Image: Disney
Walt Disney World resorts aren’t all waterslides and giant characters. Choose the resort for your next vacation with romance in mind. For the feel of a peaceful waterside getaway, consider the Yacht and Beach Club. The Polynesian is also a favorite choice thanks to its peaceful Hawaiian theming.
Port Orleans French Quarter is frequently touted as many guests’ top pick for most romantic resort. It is generally considered quieter than other Disney resorts (even Port Orleans Riverside) with an atmosphere perfect for couples in love. The Contemporary’s Bay Lake Tower is another option with some of the most stunning rooms available on Disney property if you’re looking for modern elegance.
Other standout resorts for hopeful romantics include Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge—particularly the safari-view rooms–, Wilderness Lodge, Old Key West, and even The Walt Disney World Swan (which tends to be quieter than the Dolphin). Of course, the undisputed king of romantic resorts at Walt Disney World is none other than The Grand Floridian. If you are open to splurge, you can’t go wrong with a stay at this Victorian getaway.
4. Visit the Four Seasons Orlando
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
Want to experience some tranquility and luxury even beyond what the Grand Floridian can offer? Take a day to visit The Four Seasons Orlando, hidden away in Disney’s exclusive Golden Oak community. Just tell the gate guard that you’re visiting the resort’s excellent restaurants, and you’ll be good to go. Even the pool bar, PB & G, is better than most restaurants at Walt Disney World proper.
The Four Seasons property is full of beautiful paths and sweeping corridors where couples can treasure each other’s company and happily get lost. Just walking through the pool area alone feels like a step into a hidden Disney park you didn’t know existed. Take your time and don’t rush. For the ultimate romantic getaway, skip the Disney visit entirely and plan to stay a night here. It will be an experience you both will never forget.
5. Cozy up on a hammock or a swing on the beach
Image: Disney
One of our favorite romantic activities at Walt Disney World doesn’t even require a park admission. On your next visit, take some time to search for a beachside bench swing or hammock at one of Disney’s resorts. The Yacht and Beach Club, The Polynesian, The Grand Floridian, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the Swan and Dolphin all have charming spaces scattered throughout where couples can cozy up together These are most easily found on the beaches around Epcot’s resort lagoon and Bay Lake, but most of the resorts have couple-friendly spaces like this. We especially love the bench swings at the Yacht and Beach Club.
6. Pick up some matching mouse ears or pins
Image: Disney
For couples who don’t mind wearing their love on their sleeves (or their heads), consider getting a matching pair of couple’s mouse ears. Most guests have seen happy brides and grooms wearing Mickey and Minnie wedding ears, but there are plenty of options beyond these. Find a pair that matches your style and get them personalized to commemorate your trip.
Are you a fan of Disney pin trading? Find some romance-themed pins you two can wear on your lanyards. On our first anniversary, we actually put together an entire lanyard of Disney romance pins that we kept as a souvenir of that visit. This can prove a very fun couple’s activity, and if you prefer the “hunt” of searching for tradeable pins, you can even make it a game as a to search out trader pins from cast members that match your theme.
7. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride
Image: Disney
Many people assume carriage rides are only available to couples getting married at Walt Disney World. While you might have to be a Disney bride and groom to enjoy the pomp of a pumpkin-carriage ride through Magic Kingdom, Disney offers another option. Couples looking for a special time together can book a romantic horse-drawn carriage rides at either Port Orleans Riverside or Fort Wilderness. Reservations are recommended, so plan ahead as spots are limited. Currently, the price for a 25-minute ride is $55.
8. Snuggle up to watch the fireworks
Image: Disney
There is perhaps no more iconic element of Disney magic than fireworks. Couples can make fireworks viewing anywhere in Magic Kingdom a romantic experience. For prime viewing, camp out a spot on Magic Kingdom’s fireworks viewing lawns or on Main Street. For a less-jarring experience, find a spot in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland, though you really can see the fireworks from almost anywhere in the park.
For an extra cozy fireworks experience, find a spot (like one of those aforementioned bench swings) on one of the beaches around Bay Lake or the Seven Seas Lagoon to snuggle together and watch the magic. If you’re willing to splurge, you can even book a reservation for a fireworks dessert party on the roof of the contemporary or on a fireworks cruise to make the experience extra magical.
9. Take a spa day together
Image: Disney
Even for couples in love, Walt Disney World can get a little stressful. Instead of spending your whole trip in the parks, take a special day together to go melt that stress away at one of Disney’s exceptional spas, such as Senses at the Grand Floridian and Saratoga Springs or the Mandara Spa at the Walt Disney World Dolphin. The Four Seasons Orlando also offers a world-class spa. All of these offer a range of couples’ treatments, like massages, pedicures, and facials. Some, like the Four Seasons, can even include access to a private bungalow!
10. Get cozy on rides
Image: Disney
Some of Disney’s most iconic rides really lend themselves to romantic moments. Dark rides like Peter Pan’s Flight, Spaceship Earth, and Pirates of the Caribbean (especially during the off-season) are great opportunities to enjoy some close time together. If you want to guarantee your own row on boat rides, it can’t hurt to ask the ride operator—bonus points if you’re wearing honeymoon, anniversary, or “I’m Celebrating” buttons. Other excellent rides for getting cozy include the Tomorrowland People Mover, Living With the Land, Frozen Ever After (sort of), and even the Navi River Journey.
A side note—don’t get too caught up in romance on dark rides, if you know what I mean. The ride operators have infrared cameras and can see everything people on the rides do. Getting called out on a loudspeaker for getting carried away is not a particularly romantic way to enjoy Disney World.
11. Take a boat ride together
Image: Disney
Disney boat rentals are a particularly fun way to enjoy some romantic time together. Generally, the best spots to rent boats are at the Magic Kingdom resorts surrounding Bay Lake (and the Seven Seas Lagoon). The marinas at The Contemporary Resort, The Polynesian, The Grand Floridian, and Fort Wilderness / Wilderness Lodge offer rentals for Sea Raycer speed boats as well as slower options like pontoons for a more leisurely cruise.
Away from Magic Kingdom, The Yacht and Beach Club offer slower boats for a relaxing cruise of the Epcot Resort lagoon, while the Swan and Dolphin offer swan paddleboats for a more easygoing experience (included in the resort fee for guests of those two resorts). Fort Wilderness also offers kayak rentals for an unmotorized tour of Bay Lake or the Seven Seas Lagoon. In the past, Port Orleans and Old Key West also had marinas with boat rentals, those these may not be active currently.
12. Take a romantic walk
Image: Disney
Romance at Disney doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Walt Disney World is full of lovely trails and spaces where couples can walk under the stars or watch the sun rise and set together. Disney’s Boardwalk is one of the most popular examples, as are the resort trails surrounding Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Fort Wilderness is home to a particularly charming nature trail that runs between it and Wilderness Lodge. Another pleasant trail runs between Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Disney Springs. Even the walkway between the Epcot resorts and Disney’s Hollywood Studios can make for a peaceful romantic stroll.
You don’t need to find a trail to take a romantic walk. Inside the parks, take some time to explore the gardens in World Showcase or enjoy a mini-adventure through the Maharajah Jungle Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Beyond the parks, take some unhurried time to get lost at a new Disney resort!
13. Splurge on flowers or gifts
Image: Disney
A Walt Disney World vacation is a great excuse for the love language of gift giving. Every couple is different, so it is entirely up to you the perfect gift for your special someone might be. World Showcase, Disney Springs, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom are some of the best destinations to hunt for unique gifts for your true love. Can’t find the right one? Don’t underestimate the power of a box of chocolates from The Ganachery or Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs.
Want to surprise your significant other with something really special? Arrange for a floral arrangement, champagne, or a celebration package to be delivered straight to your resort before you arrive via Disney Floral and Gifts. You can even personalize your gift with a special message to celebrate any romantic occasion.
14. Propose!
Image: Disney
Speaking of special occasions, Walt Disney World has become a rather famous place for wedding proposals. What better place to pop the question than the Most Magical Place on Earth? How or where you do so is entirely up to you. In front of Cinderella Castle or Spaceship Earth? In the beautiful gardens of World Showcase or the Grand Floridian? At one of Disney’s romantic restaurants? The options are endless.
To ensure your proposal goes according to plan, keep a few things in mind. If you plan on doing any proposals on rides, see if you can give the cast members a heads up ahead of time and get them in on the action (a friend actually managed to pull off a proposal on Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland by doing this). You may want to avoid attempting the big moment on any rides where the ring could fly out of your hand like Splash Mountain. Do be aware that any cast member accommodations will be more difficult if you plan to do your proposal during the busy season, and make sure that you still follow guest etiquette rules by staying within guest permitted areas (no barrier hopping, even for soon-to-be newlyweds).
Get creative, plan ahead, politely get some cast members in on the fun, and enjoy the moment. If you have friends or family with you, make sure they have cameras ready to capture the moment (which you will certainly never forget). Oh, and if you’re already married, there’s no rule saying you can’t propose to renew your vows!
What is your favorite way to enjoy romance at Walt Disney World?
