As we all know, Disney is not just a park for children and families. There are plenty of Disney-obsessed couples out there who choose to get engaged or married or honeymoon or all of the above at the Disney parks. And, why not? Most of us grew up watching Disney's fairytale romances on the big screen. Disney is an incredibly magical and incredibly romantic place to be! So, what are some suggestions for a little bit of romance around the parks? Well, here are a few I have either enjoyed myself or have seen other people absolutely rave about.
1. Kissing your lover in 11 different countries!
This is one I have been dying to do myself and I do plan on dragging my boyfriend to do it with me when I get back to Orlando in August. Sorry, David! Apparently, this emerged as a way for couples to keep track of which pavilions they kissed at during their vacation. A blogger named Laurie Zeller posted about how she made these kissing passports for her Disney wedding/anniversary clients as special gifts for their trip. She only gifts them to her clients, but that doesn't mean you can't DIY your own! In fact, it might feel more personal and romantic if you do create it yourself. This is an especially nifty idea for people who love to scrapbook, take a ton of pictures and have memory books. You can even make it so you have a space to write a little blurb about other adventures you had at that country's pavilion! I wonder if people add all the quick service country carts during the Food and Wine festival in the fall.
2. Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian Resort
It's a bit of a pricey spa, but if you're planning on saving up your money and doing something really special and relaxing for a honeymoon or anniversary, it seems well worth the price (well, for a few things). You can get a relaxing couple's massage for $275 for 50 minutes and $390 for 80 minutes. The rest may not be too interesting for some men (but others may be super excited about it) and include pedicures and manicures for both sexes (though, the men's are cheaper) and a variety of different body therapies. You can leave your vacation feeling like brand new people, relaxed and happy. If I could afford to, I would definitely pay for the experience. The Grand is a beautiful resort (and also very pricey) and there are great places to eat there (whether you're looking for character dining, something fancy or something casual) and you can see the electrical water pageant from their beach. And, considering it is also one of the resorts that is right across the lake from the Magic Kingdom, it's pretty convenient too.
3. Watch the fireworks!
Fireworks are always a great backdrop for a kiss, no matter where you go that is putting on the fireworks show. Most of the parks are incredibly crowded though and it can be difficult to feel the romance when you're shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of strangers, some of which are probably trying to push through the crowd past you. So, why put it on the list? Well, instead of watching the fireworks at the parks, you could watch them from your hotel. Depending on where you're staying, many hotels on Disney property have rooms where you can actually view the fireworks from your room. The most obvious ones are the 3 hotels right across the lagoon from the Magic Kingdom (the Polynesian, the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary), but keep in mind that you pay an extra fee for a theme park view room. So, if you're not staying at one of the resorts where you can see fireworks from your room or you are not staying in a room with a theme park view, what do you do if you want to watch the fireworks from outside of the Magic Kingdom? There is a beach area around the lagoon that faces the Magic Kingdom. Nothing seems more romantic than lounging on the beach and watching the fireworks comfortably and not sandwiched between several other park guests.
4. Get engaged!
Getting engaged at Disney is becoming extremely popular. I don't know exactly how many videos I find on my Facebook newsfeed a week that involve a Disney engagement, but it's a lot. Honestly, you can get some beautiful engagement photos done there either with a professional photographer hired through Disney, by yourselves or by asking PhotoPass photographers around the parks. Pictures in front of the castle are ones I see all the time and some people even propose on their favorite attractions! I've even seen a Splash Mountain proposal! I'd be scared of losing the ring! I think one of the most romantic Disney engagement deals I've seen comes from the restaurant, Cinderella's Royal Table. They have an engagement package called "Glass Slipper Engagement" and they will bring out a glass slipper with the ring in it on a bed of rose petals to your table along with special desserts and a celebratory toast! They even have a PhotoPass photographer ready to take pictures of this special moment. Definitely the perfect beginning to a happily ever after.
5. Romantic dinner for two
This one seems like it would be a given. It's the quintessential date night idea. But, think about it. Disney has so many amazing restaurants all over property each one specializing in a different type of cuisine. The possibilities are endless. If you and your significant other are both doing the College Program, you could make a bucket list of restaurants you want to try before your programs end. Steering the conversation back to Epcot, there are a ton of restaurants serving cuisine from around the world. Personally, David and I like eating at Germany. The food there is absolutely delicious, but so is all the food around the World Showcase. I love getting a warm pretzel from the stand there and coupling it with a grapefruit beer before the Illuminations fireworks show starts. They have sausages and "nudel gratin" (German macaroni and cheese) and a shop that sells some of the best sweets I have ever had. You could also go to Japan and get green tea cheesecake (which is absolutely amazing) or go to the UK and get fish and chips. There is so much delicious food all over Epcot! Maybe we should try eating around the world instead of drinking around the world. Epcot is definitely a go-to for a romantic date day. But, there are plenty of other places you could go too! There's the Sci-Fi Dine-In Drive for those couples who want the nostalgic feel of sitting in a convertible while at the drive-in movies, California Grill for a fantastic view of the fireworks at night and a classy meal, and many other places all around Disney property. There are so many options, it's tempting to try them all.
