As Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, we’ve been inundated with heart-shaped boxes of chocolate at the grocery store, sponsored social media ads by floral boutiques and a bevy of “best of” gift ideas for your loved one. Forget perfume or roses. What can be more romantic than the gift of travel and memories to be cherished for a lifetime? Walt Disney World may not offer the same romantic vibe as an adults-only, all-inclusive situated on the beach, but trust us, there are ways to incorporate enchanted moments with your special someone at the most family-friendly vacation destination. You don’t believe us yet, do you? Join us on this Friday Fives blog to explore romance at Walt Disney World!
Food & Wine Festival
Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival is Disney’s most adult-oriented event - because of all the food….and wine. What can be more romantic than sharing small bites of delicious food and sampling delightful wines, cocktails, mimosas and beers? Bonus: you don’t need a passport for this epicurean adventure! The festival is included with park admission. You do have to purchase the food and beverages (or use credits if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan), but there are plenty of free activities like the Eat to the Beat Concert Series which features popular bands from a few years ago, book signings and talks by culinary authors, and the Back to the Basic Series, workshops led by food professionals.
There are also opportunities to elevate the festival experience, including: the increasingly popular Party of the Senses; beverage and cheese seminars, food and drink pairings, and culinary demos; hands-on seminars led by professional chefs; and interactive experiences with celebrity chefs - like those you’ll see on the Cooking Channel, Top Chef and Food Network.
Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World exclusively to experience the Food & Wine Festival, your hotel of choice should be one of the Disney resorts on Crescent Lake: the Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk Inn. These hotels are within walking distance of Epcot with a convenient Epcot entrance directly into the World Showcase!
Dates for the 2019 Epcot Food & Wine Festival have not yet been released, but we’ll keep you updated on festival announcements.
Highway in the Sky
Located on the Monorail line, the Contemporary, Grand Floridian and Polynesian are among the best in all of Walt Disney World. There’s nothing more romantic than vacationing in a finely-appointed hotel with premium amenities and dining options. Whether you book a stay at one of these resorts or not, you can take advantage of a special dining experience, Highway in the Sky Dine Around. Think of it as a restaurant/lounge hop along the Monorail line. You’ll check in at The Wave… of American Flavors at the Contemporary, and enjoy a specialty cocktail and welcome bite with fellow diners.
The Monorail leaving the Grand Floridian
The first stop is the Polynesian Village Resort where you’ll indulge in the hotel’s tropical ambience with island-inspired appetizers and libations. You’ll then move on literally to the Grand Floridian, and figuratively to the Victorian era. You’ll savor champagne and an artisanal selection of cheeses or charcuterie. Grand Floridian is home to the award-winning Citricos where you’ll relish a special main course amid the restaurant’s elegance and refinement. For your last stop, you’ll return to the Contemporary at a private patio to cap off your wonderful night with desserts, cordials and coffee - just in time to watch the Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After fireworks show from this exclusive location. The cost of the Highway in the Sky Around event is $170 per person plus tax, gratuity included; Disney Dining Plan credits cannot be redeemed. Advance reservations are highly recommended.
Spa Sessions
Not unique to Walt Disney World, spa treatments are a romantic addition to any couples trip. But luckily, two of Disney’s resorts - Grand Floridian and Saratoga Springs - feature incredible spas in which to relax and rejuvenate. The spas offer luxurious treatments like massage therapies, facial treatments and body wraps. Just what you needed after non-stop, busy park days.
Senses - A Disney Spa at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
Carriage Rides
Romantic carriage rides aren’t limited to New York City’s Central Park or the historic French Quarter in New Orleans. You and your sweetie can enjoy a dreamy outing together along the picturesque pathways and banks of the Sassagoula River in the Port Orleans Resort area. For only $55, you can board a horse-drawn carriage for a 25-minute ride starting at the Riverside Levee Marina at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside. Reservations are recommended and can be made up to 180 days in advance of your visit.
After your ride, stay a little bit longer in the Port Orleans Resort area and quench your thirst at River Roost. Open until 12:30 am, the lounge offers southern-style adult refreshments like Sazerac and hurricanes, and will entertain you as living legend Yehaa Bob sings and plays Disney classics on the piano. If jazz is more your style, take a leisurely and romantic walk to neighboring Port Orleans French Quarter. There you’ll find the lively Scat Cat’s Club where you and your lovey can share a plate of boozy beignets.
Port Orleans Riverside Marina
Disney Springs
Because the Port Orleans Resorts offer water taxi service to Disney Springs, you can extend your night at Disney’s entertainment district. With many restaurants and bars open until 2 a.m., Disney Springs is a happening late-night destination Thursdays through Sundays. Oenophiles will want to check out Wine Bar George which offers more than 130 handpicked vino selections by Master Sommelier George Miliotesrom from esteemed wineries and emerging regions. For the late-night crowd, Wine Bar George offers wine, champagne and charcuterie boards from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. For a livelier experience, Raglan Road is an authentic pub where you can toast to smooth pints of beer and tap your toes to Celtic tunes.
Morimota Asia at Disney Springs