What would you do if you found yourself at Walt Disney World for Valentine's day?
Better yet, where would you find romance on your Honeymoon?
Walt Disney World is continually ranked as a top honeymoon destination and growing engagement destination. I have seen lots of couples have a Disney engagement on my own Facebook news feed and even witnessed one in person on my last trip to Disney World. Perhaps even more impressive is the more than 50,000 couples who have had a Disney destination wedding since 1991 (this includes Walt Disney World, DisneyLand, Disney Cruise Line & Aulani).
To me, one of the most Romantic places on Disney property is the BoardWalk. Disney's BoardWalk is a throwback to turn of the century boardwalks on coastal cities.
What to do at the BoardWalk
For couples looking for romance this is a place where you can get away from the crowds of the parks and have a quiet date night (or morning) without giving up the Disney charm. You can share a sweet treat from Ample Hills Creamery or the BoardWalk Bakery and take a stroll around the boardwalk with it's shops, and street entertainment.
Where to eat at the Boardwalk
For an upscale dinner, book a reservation at Flying Fish (2 table service credits if you're on the Disney Dining Plan). They specialize in sustainable seafood and prime steaks. This restaurant is on my personal "must try" list, I have heard nothing but good reviews from friends who have dined there. For a more moderately priced dinner (1 table service credit on the Disney Dining Plan) you can book a reservation at Trattoria al Forno. for an old world style Italian meal. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. On our last trip we had breakfast at Trattoria and it was one of my favorite meals. Breakfast is a character dining experience with appearances from Ariel, Prince Eric, Rapunzel and Eugene (Flynn Rider). I recommend either meal for a romantic feel, but if you're not a fan of characters they do not make an appearance at dinner.
Another place to find romance at Disney World is in the World Showcase in EPCOT.
What to do in the World Showcase
My absolute favorite thing to do in EPCOT is walk through each country and look at the immaculate detail that was put into each pavilion. You could walk by and look at the architecture and be impressed, but when you take the time to really walk through the shops or eat at a restaurant you find the truly unique details. Each country has it's own shops, walk up food carts, and occasional visits from characters.
Where to eat in the World Showcase
You can snack around the world going from one immersive pavilion to the next. This is what we tend to do because we can't decide between the countries. If you do have a preference though each country's pavilion has at least one restaurant that has an atmosphere fit for romance. My personal top choices would be La Hacienda de San Angel in Mexico, Monsieur Paul in France, and Tutto Italia in Italy. La Hacienda is only open for dinner and is 1 table service credit on the Disney dining plan. Monsieur Paul is 2 table service credits and also only open for dinner. Tutto Italia is open for both lunch and dinner and is 1 table service credit.
Of course we can't talk about romance at Disney without talking about the Magic Kingdom. While I don't have the data to back it up I would say almost all of the the engagements that take place at Disney happen at Cinderella's Castle. Honestly, it is the picture perfect place.
What to do in Magic Kingdom
The rides, the shows, the fireworks what's not to love? I think if you're looking for romance and you are a true Disney fan then I say you have to make arrangements to see the Happily Ever After fireworks show. For extra romance you can book a Fireworks Dessert Party. This will guarantee you seating for the show without having to save a spot an hour in advance. If you don't want to spend the extra money on the dessert party then grab a mickey bar from one of the carts (or popcorn in my husband's case) and create your own "dessert party." One of the most romantic things for me was sharing our childhood loves with each other. Riding the Journey of The Little Mermaid was really special because it felt like my childhood had come to life and it was so nice to share that joy with my husband. One of the only rides my husband remembered from his childhood trip was Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress so it was pretty neat to get to experience it together.
Where to eat in Magic Kingdom
There are so many places to eat in Magic Kingdom and honestly I have had lots of great quick service meals and snacks in this park. For fairy-tale romance though I have to suggest dining at Cinderella's Royal Table where you can dine inside the castle on Main Street. You will be dining with Disney Princesses so if that's not up your alley then my second suggestion is Be Our Guest, where you can dine inside the Beast's castle. Dinner at Be Our Guest is considered table service and the Beast makes an appearance, but it is not a full character dining experience. If you are on the Disney dining plan Cinderella's Royal Table is 2 table service credits and Be Our Guest is 1 table service credit at dinner. Breakfast and lunch at Be Our Guest are considered quick service so those meals are a cheaper option.
Where do you think is the most romantic place at Walt Disney World?
