Dating in the most magical place on earth sometimes isn’t the most magical experience for your wallet. Even if you find someone worth melting for, the parking price alone starts at $20, and theme park admission will easily run you at least $150…and that’s if you decide to go dutch.
Luckily, being a Cast Member, I don’t have to worry about those kinds of expenses. But while I’m the type of Cast Member that would gladly spend 2-4 hours of my day off standing in line for rides and shoving through sardine-packed streets of tourists, my boyfriend is the complete opposite.
Our dates tend to involve some lesser known Disney locales, which is great for preventing me from buying yet another dinglehopper, and great for him so he doesn’t feel like he’s going to work on his day off. Bonus greatness: none of them involve theme park admission, so they’re accessible options for non-Cast Members as well. And some of them are even free!
1. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
It’s probably one of the weirdest, most whimsical bars you’ll ever find. Literally tucked into a corner of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Trader Sam’s is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention to the doors in the hallway past Captain Cook’s. Run by a hearty crew of Skippers who didn’t have the sea legs for Disney’s Jungle Cruise, there’s never a shortage of puns and jokes. Every drink order turns the lounge into an interactive experience, and the pan-fried dumplings are a great dish to share – just learn from my mistake and make sure to remove the chili pepper from the soy-sesame sauce first. Great if you’re looking for a casual, fun date atmosphere, but might not be good for a first date; it can get pretty loud when you order the Uh-Oah! and have to appease the Tiki gods. You grotto check this place out!
2. Disney Springs
Still sometimes better known as “the place where Downtown Disney used to be,” Disney Springs can be a dress-up or dress-down date. With a seemingly never-ending selection of shops, places to dine, and free nightly entertainment, it has something for everybody. Tip: lunch menus at various restaurants tend to offer the same fare as dinner hours, but less expensive pricing. Another tip: if you’re an Annual Passholder, Disney Chase Visa holder, or Military-affiliated, be sure to ask about discounts. If you’re visiting during evening hours, time your walk up to the top of the Coca-Cola Store just right, and you can make it to the rooftop beverage bar to see some fireworks and share a coke.
3. S’mores, Movie Under the Stars, and Fireworks at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
A three-for-the-price-of-none experience, start your evening with some conversation between sticky bites of toasted marshmallows on the beach. You only have to bring the chocolate and graham crackers if you want to make a campfire sandwich – dowels, endless supply of marshmallows, and a cozy fire pit are provided. Snag a spot in the loveseat swing while you wait for the giant inflatable movie screen to get set up, and enjoy a complimentary Disney movie as the beach slips into twilight. When the movie’s over, the resort pipes over the music for Happily Ever After, and you can enjoy a lakeside view of Magic Kingdom’s newest nighttime spectacular. Around the holiday season, it’s a great way to catch the 360 degree fireworks for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
4. Recreation at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Whether it’s biking that gets you rolling, or boating that floats your fancy, Fort Wilderness is the perfect place for a Great Outdoors-themed date. Enjoy a loop around Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon on a Sea Raycer, but just make sure to know the difference ahead of time between Lake Patrol waving “Hello!” and “MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.” Race the resort loops with no hands on your handlebars, and don’t forget to stop by Tri-Cricle D Ranch to see the ponies that pull Cinderella’s carriage. Call ahead to arrange a horse-riding session, or enjoy a wagon ride around the resort. After a day of adventuring and working up an appetite, satisfy your hunger with a finger-lickin’-good buffet at Trail’s End. Long-term guests of the resort decorate for the holidays, making it a scenic off-the-beaten-path date idea. It’s an unspoken tradition that turns the campgrounds into a great trick-or-treating experience for Halloween, and a glittering wonderland for the winter holiday season. Learn from my boyfriend’s mistake and be sure to advise your date in advance if sunscreen, bug spray, and/or athletic attire are needed.
