Have a Date at Downtown Disney

Walt Disney World can be a really romantic place. Sure, you wouldn’t always think of romance when it comes to Orlando theme parks but certain places can be a great place to have a date. Downtown Disney is especially couples friendly with its variety of entertainment options that make for a lovely date in the Orlando area. There are about 70 entertainment establishments at Downtown Disney. This complex surrounds the shores of the Village Lake and is divided into three sections: Downtown Disney West Side, Downtown Disney Marketplace and Pleasure Island. While the clubs of Pleasure Island have closed, there is still plenty of do in that area as construction continues on the new shops and restaurants. At the moment Raglan Road, Fuego by Sosa Cigars, Curl by Sammy Duval and Orlando Harley-Davidson are still open for you to check out. Downtown Disney is always changing and improving, adding new restaurants and stores for you to shop.

Start off your date night at one of Downtown Disney’s great restaurants. You have plenty of choices, from places to grab a quick bite to nice sit-down restaurants that will make you forget all about theme parks and Mickey Mouse. If you’re a seafood lover, you and your date will love the Fulton’s Crab House. Go there at night to dine on a riverboat replica featuring fresh seafood that is flown in daily. You’ll love the twinkling lights of the riverboat as you splurge on crab and lobster. If you would rather dance the night away, check out Bongo’s Cuban Café. This restaurant, owned by Gloria Estefan, brings the best of Cuban music and food to Downtown Disney. For a more relaxed, yet still fun dining experience, head over to Raglan Road for a taste of Ireland in Orlando. The food is great and the live music is even better!

You might want to hold off on dessert at your restaurant, because Downtown Disney has a Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop. Everything from milkshakes and coffee drinks to incredible ice cream sundaes and hot chocolate are available at this sweets paradise. For a quick stop there is also a Wetzels Pretzels/ Haagen Dazs stand for sweets on the run. Downtown Disney also features an AMC Theatre for you to catch the latest movies on the big screen. This 24 screen theatre features comfortable seats and amazing sound. Check out what’s playing during your date night.

For the ultimate way to impress your date, why not check out Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba? This permanent show is the only house show on the East Coast of the United States. Experience the amazing performances by the Cirque cast as they dance and fly about the stage with amazing acrobatics and live music. No matter what you decide to do at Downtown Disney, it’s a great place to have a date night!

Love is in the Air at Walt Disney World

If you’re panicking because you haven’t yet made plans made for Valentine’s Day – which, by the way, is this Saturday – don’t fret. Simply take your significant other to the magical place on earth, which can easily become the most romantic place on earth come February 14. At Walt Disney World, not only can you treat your significant other to a day of carefree fun, but the two of you can also share in unique and romantic experiences that only Disney can provide.

Whether you’ve only been dating for a short while or have been married for years, any couple can enjoy a relaxing and unforgettable morning at one of Disney’s resort spas. The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, for example, features a couple’s room where guests can enjoy specialized spa treatments with their significant other. From a Grand Romantic Couple’s Massage to a Detoxifying Body Wrap, this tandem spa experience is the perfect way to get in the mindset for a day of enjoyment and romance at Disney.

Then, it’s off to the parks for some fun with your loved one. Magic Kingdom is a particular favorite among couples; you can snuggle close to your honey during attractions like the Haunted Mansion, and feel like a kid again together as you enjoy the thrills of Splash Mountain. Then at night, the Wishes fireworks spectacular caps a day of romance – and provides the perfect backdrop for a special question, should you choose to ask it.

Epcot is also popular for twosomes, as it has many attractions that appeal to the older crowd. You’ll enjoy holding hands as you walk around and see the sights of different pavilions like Japan and Norway. Be sure to stay close to each other during dark rides like Spaceship Earth and The Seas with Nemo & Friends. And at night, grab a dessert at the Boulangerie Patisserie in France and settle down to watch IllumiNations for a lovely Valentine’s Day finale.

When the parks close down, there’s still plenty of romance to be had at Disney resorts. Enjoy a moonlit horse-drawn carriage ride together at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, or, if it’s still early enough, an adventurous tandem parasail over Bay Lake at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. You can even go for a simple walk together on the beach or through winding forest trails.

And no Valentine’s Day is complete without a romantic and glamorous dinner. At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the California Grill serves the best of California Fusion cuisine along with a panoramic view overlooking Magic Kingdom, perfect for watching the sunset over Cinderella’s Castle or the Wishes spectacular. Or, make a reservation for Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, where soft harp music, personalized menus, elegant china and silver, and stellar service sets the tone for a truly sophisticated and romantic dinner. Plus, every lady receives a long-stemmed red rose.

And for a meal that will really blow your date away, make arrangements to board the Grand Floridian’s Grand 1, an elegant 45-foot yacht, which provides a stunning view of Wishes along with gourmet meals and private butler service. Guests can also arrange for a private dinner on the resort’s beach.

Regardless of how you choose to spend your Valentine’s Day at Walt Disney World, you’re sure to have a magical holiday that neither you nor your partner will forget for a long time. Start planning your day of romance by booking your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com, and get ready to sweep your loved one off their feet.

Valentines Day at Walt Disney World

Valentines Day is a day set aside for fun, for romance and for spending quality time with loved ones but it can also be a stressful time for those trying to think of ways to incorporate all three while being original and creative at the same time. If that rings a bell with you, or if you are having trouble thinking of somewhere to take your loved one this holiday, we have one suggestion that will include lots of fun and even more romance – the Walt Disney World Resort. Upon first glance, Disney may seem like a place only for families and small children, but further inspection reveals that the Walt Disney World theme parks are just as much – if not more – for adults than for kids. And if you decide to spend Valentine’s Day at any of these world-class theme parks, we are sure that by the end of the day you will agree with us!

First things first, however – to make your day at Disney possible, you are going to need tickets to get into the four Walt Disney World theme parks. If you are planning a vacation or a romantic Valentine’s Day getaway to Central Florida, DWTickets.com is the place to purchase your discounted Disney tickets to make this happen! DWTickets.com is your No. 1 online source for discounted tickets to Walt Disney World, the Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World Orlando and tons of other top attractions in and around the Orlando area. Click here now to purchase your tickets now to get started planning your Valentine’s Day activities!

Now that you have your tickets in order, it is important to plan ahead on what activities you may want to do and what parks you would like to hit on the big day. On February 14, 2008, the Magic Kingdom Park will be open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., with Disney’s Pirate and Princess Party being conducted that night from 7 p.m. until midnight (this party is a separate ticketed event). If you plan on a trip to this park, you can even get your Valentine’s Day started an extra hour early if you are staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels, as the Magic Kingdom Park will open at 8 a.m. for those guests only for Extra Magic Hours. This park is a beacon for romance, as you can pose for a picture in front of Cinderella Castle – or even eat inside at Cinderella’s Royal Table! This restaurant also offers a separate character dining experience for breakfast or lunch with members of the Disney royal family, and you can also dine with your favorite characters at the Crystal Palace (breakfast, lunch and dinner with Winnie the Pooh and friends) or have dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern with Minnie and her pals. If you are looking to keep your Valentine’s Day at a budget, then you may want to stop by the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A. for some special Valentine’s Day merchandise that is only sold once a year!

Epcot is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day 2008, with IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth lighting up the World Showcase that evening at 9 p.m. sharp. Epcot may be the ideal place to spend this romantic holiday, as it is the most adult-oriented park at Walt Disney World. This park also gives you tons of options for your perfect Valentine’s Day meal, as you can pick any of the 11 countries around the World Showcase to dine in, meaning you could be eating authentic French cuisine in the France pavilion or dining amongst the stars at the San Angel Inn in the Mexico pavilion. But wherever you do decide to eat that evening, make sure you are finished in time to catch the amazing fireworks/light show that is IllumiNations.

If you are planning a trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Valentine’s Day, you can enjoy all of the action of Hollywood from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on this day, with the can’t-miss Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade passing through the streets at 3 p.m. and their nightly showing of Fantasmic! taking place at 7 p.m. If you are planning on having a nice dinner before the show (The Hollywood Brown Derby is their signature restaurant), you may also want to look in to the Fantasmic! dinner package, which gets you priority seating at both a restaurant in the park and special guaranteed reserved seating at the show that evening.