PassPorter.com Feature Article
Original article at: http://www.passporter.com/articles/romance-at-walt-disney-world.html

Valentine's Day at Walt Disney World: Romance and Relaxation

by Sue Kulick, PassPorter Guest Contributor
Last modified 3/22/2007

Happy Valentine's Day! Happy Anniversary! Happy First Vacation Without the Kids! No matter what the occasion, it's a great time to tell that special someone how much you love them, and how much they mean to you. And what better place to spend a romantic holiday than Walt Disney World?

Walt Disney World is overflowing with wonderful ways to spend time with that special someone. Your romantic adventure can start from the moment you arrive! You can use one of the many local florists to have flowers, champagne or chocolates delivered to your room. These wonderful gifts can be pre-ordered and will be delivered to your room shortly before or after your arrival. Try Walt Disney World Florist for some truly magical gifts!

Start your special day with a romantic breakfast for two. Grab your coffee and a chocolate croissant at the Main Street Bakery and head out to one of the quaint tables next to the Plaza Restaurant. Enjoy a latté from the Fountain View Bakery in Epcot while you sit outside and watch the Fireworks Fountain work its magic. Sip your coffee while you enjoy each other’s company in a way that too few of us get to do during our hectic everyday lives.

What did you have in mind for your romantic day? How about a spa treatment? The Grand Floridian Spa and the Spa at Saratoga Springs offer couples massage and couples relaxation treatments, as well as many other soothing therapies. These treatments must be booked in advance. The spas are operated by Niki Bryan Spas, and the web site for information is Relaxed Yet.

If you'd rather get in some park time, the Magic Kingdom offers Cinderella's Golden Carrousel. Try to catch the horse with the gold bow on her tail…this is Cinderella's horse! Take a slow ride on the Liberty Belle Riverboat. Enjoy a stroll through the Rose Garden. Take a trolley ride down Main Street. In Epcot, wander through the shops at World Showcase. Enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese platter in France. Take a Friendship ferry across the lagoon. Walk through the Streets of America at the Disney-MGM Studios ... you'll feel like you and your "honey" are experiencing several mini-vacations! And take some time to enjoy the animals at Animal Kingdom. Whatever you do, the key is to keep it slow and relaxed. Take a languorous pace that would never be possible when on a family, commando vacation!

Did you know that Walt Disney World offers Horse and Carriage Rides? You can enjoy these at Port Orleans, Fort Wilderness and Saratoga Springs! You get a romantic ride for the two of you along the pathways of the resort. Your driver is knowledgeable and competent, and the horses are beautiful, well trained and well cared for. There's a blanket in the carriage if you and your sweetie want to snuggle up. These fill up fast, so reserve early at 407-WDW-PLAY.

Night is falling on your romantic day, and you need a place to watch the sunset. You can take the monorail over to the Contemporary (ask to ride in the front) and watch the sunset from the Bay Marina. You can head over to the Polynesian and watch the sunset from the beach, or, my personal favorite, you can make an Advanced Dining Reservation for dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table and watch the sunset from a table by the stained glass windows overlooking the Magic Kingdom. Of course, Cinderella's Royal Table is not the only place for a special dinner for two. Try Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge, and ask for a window table. California Grill at The Contemporary offers great food as well as spectacular views. San Angel Inn, in Epcot's Mexico, lets you dine in an "open air" Mexican plaza with a million stars overhead, and the Yacht Club's Yachtsman Steakhouse offers the ultra-indulgent chateaubriand for two!

After dinner, you definitely want to see fireworks. Disney fireworks that is! And what better way to see them then a Specialty Cruise? These should be booked 90 days in advance, especially the Illuminations cruises. These are extremely popular and sometimes difficult to book, but they are well worth it. The cruise is booked per boat, not per person, so you're sure to have a romantic cruise for two (plus the skipper, of course)! There is no better way to watch either Wishes or Illuminations than with the one you love on a specialty cruise at Walt Disney World!

Still not ready to call it a night? We love a nightcap at one of the many resort lounges. Our personal favorites are Territory Lounge (Wilderness Lodge), The Belle Vue Room (Boardwalk) and the Outer Rim (Contemporary). Martha's Vineyard (Beach Club) is another romantic lounge, and Francisco's (Coronado Springs) makes a great margarita.

Your romantic day is coming to an end. Take the bus back to your resort and take a slow stroll, hand-in-hand, around the grounds. Stroll the beach at the Poly, wander around the lagoon at Coronado Springs, and enjoy the beautiful view at the Boardwalk. I think you'll agree that Walt Disney World is the place to be for a romantic and lovely getaway!

About the Author: Sue Kulick is a resident of the Pocono Mountains and an avid Disney fan. She and her husband, Steve, live in a log home with their Golden Retrievers, Cody and Belle and their cat Tigger.

This article originally appeared in the PassPorter newsletter -- subscribe to our popular newsletter today for free at http://www.passporter.com/news.htm


Updated 3/22/2007

Check for a more updated version at http://www.passporter.com/articles/romance-at-walt-disney-world.html