So, you’ve been dating for a while now, and your significant other has checked off a lot of your boxes for a long-term partner—respectful, empathetic, good communicator, shared values. But there’s one more, and it’s a potential deal-breaker: Will they love Disney World as much as you do?
There’s only one way to find out: Plan a high-stakes vacation, the trip that will introduce your SO to Disney World, and maybe make-or-break your relationship.
So how do you plan the Disney World vacation that will win over your SO? We have some ideas.
Try to eliminate the biggest complaints
Most people who visit Disney World, even those of us who love it, will admit that it can be too much—too expensive, too crowded, too full of children, too hard to get around. So if you’re trying to win over your skeptical SO, it can help to tackle these crazy-makers head on:
Too expensive: Yes, Disney can be expensive. I could probably design a week-long vacation that would cost $40,000 without breaking a sweat (wouldn’t that be fun?). But there are still plenty of ways to plan a budget-friendly Disney vacation.
- Go at off-peak times (this will also take the edge off the “too crowded” complaint).
- Choose a moderate resort, like the Caribbean Beach resort (more on that later).
- Stick with single-park tickets instead of the more-expensive park hoppers. For 2 of you, this could save as much as $100 per day, depending on when you visit. I also think it makes for a less stressful visit, since you can focus your time and energy on one park per day.
- Booking a package with a dining plan can save you money, plus it eliminates that awful feeling that Mickey is picking your pocket every time you want a snack. It also frees you from thinking about the individual cost of things like park tickets. I always found that it was easier to swallow the cost of the whole vacation than the cost of each individual part.
Too crowded: One thing you hear a lot lately is that there’s “no more off-season” at Disney World. To a certain extent, this is true. It’s certainly more crowded than it used to be, even in the off-season. But there are still times of the year that crowds get lighter:
- September and early October
- January and February, as long as there isn’t a federal holiday
- Early May
- The second half of August, if you can stand the heat.
Even if you’ve scheduled your trip to avoid the peak times of the year, I always recommend avoiding the peak time of day, too. Midday in the parks is a madhouse. Get there super early in the morning to avoid the worst crowds and knock out some rides before the lines get too crazy. And then go back to your hotel or have a leisurely late lunch to avoid the worst crowds of the day. Later, you can go back out.
And, finally, avoid weekends if you can. Weekdays are always a bit lighter, especially during “off-peak” times of the year.
Too full of kids: As much as I’ve occasionally longed for adult nights in the parks or an adults-only resort, I know that’s not realistic. But there are some ways to enclose yourselves in a grown-up bubble.
- Schedule your visit when school is in session, and make sure you look at Florida’s school schedule, since this will impact the crowds.
- If you want to spend time at the pool, most resorts have a quiet pool in addition to their main, themed pool. These pools are much quieter and more sparsely attended.
- Avoid character meals at all costs. And choose table service restaurants with more eclectic menus; they tend to have more adult guests. (More on restaurants below.)
- We also love going to lounges and bars for light meals. Some of our favorites are Enchanted Rose at the Grand Floridian; Territory Lounge at Wilderness Lodge; and Dalia Lounge at Coronado Springs.
- Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, the popular themed bar at the Polynesian Resort, doesn’t allow anyone under 21 after 8 p.m.
- Plan to stay late in the parks—really late. Restaurants will allow you to make reservations after park close, which lets you meander out long after most people are gone. One of our favorite things to do is close down Oga’s Cantina at Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios. After DJ Rex, the droid spinning tunes in the corner, kicks you out, you can walk out of a very empty, very beautiful park.
Too hard to get around: Getting around Walt Disney World on the bus system can be painful, it’s true. So think about which park or parks you’ll want to spend the most time in, and choose a resort with an easy commute. It’s worth the splurge. If you’re leaning toward Epcot and Hollywood Studios, this is easy: The Epcot resort area hotels are all within walking distance of both parks, and there are several resorts at a variety of price points on the Skyliner. We routinely suggest Caribbean Beach Resort, a moderate resort on the Skyliner. The more budget-friendly Art of Animation and Pop Century resorts also have direct access from the Skyliner, but these aren’t exactly conducive to a romantic couple trip. If Magic Kingdom is your jam, consider splurging on a stay at one of the 7 Seas Lagoon resorts.
If you don’t want to use the buses at all, Disney has made using rideshare services very easy. If you want to drive and are staying at a Disney resort hotel, you receive complimentary standard parking at the parks for the length of your stay, but you may be paying to park at the resorts.
Lean into your SO’s interests
Now that you have a plan to tackle the most common complaints, it’s time to plan what you’ll do while you’re there. Beyond the theme parks, there really is something for everyone at Disney World. Golf? Absolutely. Spa day? Sure. Fishing? Yep, you can take a guided fishing expedition.
Think about surprising your SO with a special tour, or design your trip around things you think they’ll enjoy. Here are some ideas:
If your SO is a foodie, or someone who enjoys a nice cocktail or glass of wine, you’re in luck! It is easy to please a foodie at Disney World.
- The obvious choice is to plan your trip during the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, which is easy, because in recent years this festival has stretched from July into November.
- Disney World also is home to some extraordinary restaurants, and others that are truly excellent. At the extraordinary (and expensive) end, there’s Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian and Takumi Tei at the Japan pavilion at Epcot. AT the excellent (and more affordable) end, there’s the new Shiki-Sai Japanese restaurant at Epcot, the wonderful Jaleo at Disney Springs; and the Flying Fish Cafe at the Boardwalk resort.
- At La Cava del Tequila inside the Mexico pavilion at Epcot, you can join a guided tequila tasting experience ($160 per person). Or, there’s Sangria University at the Coronado Springs resort’s Three Bridges Bar and Grill ($69–$79 per person).
If they love going behind the scenes, look into the Keys to the Kingdom tour that takes you into the famous utilidors under the Magic Kingdom.
If they love animals, go deep into Animal Kingdom.
- Check out the Caring for Giants tour ($39 per person) to learn more about the park’s elephants and/or Up Close with Rhinos, which takes you backstage to the rhino enclosures ($49 per person).
- If your budget allows, the Wild Africa Trek ($219–$229) is one of the best experiences at Disney and includes a walk high over the crocodile enclosure across a “Disney rickety” footbridge.
- Of course, you can also consider staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s off the beaten track from the other three parks, but it’s a delightfully restful resort with LOTS of animals.
If your SO is a Harry Potter super fan, schedule a day at Universal. It’s so close, it seems cruel to deny them a visit to the Wizarding World.
If they want to do more than “just” Disney: Here are just a few suggestions for a day away.
- Go west about 2 hours to reach amazing Gulf beaches, like Siesta Key and Clearwater Beach. The closest beach is Cocoa Beach, about an hour east.
- Cocoa Beach is close to the Kennedy Space Center, where there are frequent launches for the space-obsessed.
- If you’re here in the winter, you can drive an hour north of Orlando to Blue Spring State Park, where hundreds of manatees congregate in the warm springs.
- If Disney’s water parks don’t offer enough excitement for you, check out the nearby Orlando Watersports Complex, where you can try waterskiing and wakeboarding.
If you’re a ride-or-die Disney World fan, you can definitely take it from here. But if this seems overwhelming, a travel agent can help you zero in on the perfect trip that will fit your budget and lure your SO into a lifetime commitment … to Disney parks.
