So when Chris and I started to talk about our “couple-time” at Disney World for this blog update, we talked about many, many things that we enjoy doing together as a couple while visiting the mouse. We enjoy dining, going to the spas for a couple’s massage, riding certain rides, but we also enjoy the simple pleasure of time together that we sometimes can’t get at home because of his work schedule and my travel schedule. And that is what this week’s blog is about – simple things you can do as a couple to relax and enjoy your time at Walt Disney World together.
One of the simplest things we enjoy doing is taking a walk. For example, after dinner on the Boardwalk we will get some ice cream at Seashore Sweets and walk around Cresent Lake, hand in hand, listening to the music or to Illuminations. Sometimes we will grab a spot for the evening Boardwalk entertainers – magicians, jugglers, etc., and partake of the show. Who knows you may even get to be part of the show! How about a walk along the shores of the Sassagoula River at Port Orleans Riverside, or a walk from the Boardwalk area to Disney’s Hollywood Studios early in the evening as the sun goes down and all the lighting in the resorts and parks begins to turn on?
Boardwalk evening entertainment
You could also finish dinner at either the Kona Café or ‘OHana and then go sit in a swing, lie in a hammock or just sit on the sandy beach at the Polynesian and watch Wishes across the Seven Seas Lagoon. I love the idea of having my shoes off and my toes in the wet sand while listening to the music and watching the fireworks of Wishes. Toe curls in the sand over and over while having the Wishes soundtrack playing. AHHHH. Now that is relaxing.
Wishes fireworks over the Seven Seas Lagoon
We love to get many, many photos taken by Photopass photographers in lots of different locations, funny photos when we can let down our guard and goof around. Since we often travel as a couple, the only way for us to get photos together is to use a tri-pod and timer, or to utilize the photopass photographer. In addition to having them take “official” photos, we will also give one of our cameras and they take photos with that as well. Often these photos are as good (or better) than the Disney photos.
Miss Tinkerbell surprised us!
On our last trip to Disney World, on our last day we were in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’d spent the morning touring, and then after lunch, found a bench across from the American Idol Experience and sat together and talked. I think we sat there for over an hour surrounded by the hubbub that is DHS. We did a little people watching and quite a bit of relaxing, delaying our departure and return to the real world. Sometimes I think we (or at least I) are in a hurry to commando tour from ride to show and show to ride and “get it all done”. At that pace, we miss the little things that make WDW a magical place. So – I think you should always make some time to just sit together, talk to each other, even maybe hold hands like you did when you were first dating.
Another no cost, easy to do evening “couples-time” activity is a soak in the hotel spa (hot tub). You could even grab a nice Frosty Adult Beverage from the nearest pool bar (if you are so inclined) to help keep you cool while you soak away any tension from a long day of touring in the hot tub. I prefer my grown up “tubbing” in the evening, as it does tend to cut down on the number of younger folks also in the spa and makes it feel more like “couples-time”. You can also grab a couple of loungers by your hotel pool, soak up the warm Florida sun while reading a great “vacation” book on your Kindle, Nook or Ipad.
Wilderness Lodge spa
One other thing that Chris has done when I have visited WDW solo (sometimes I can get off work and he can’t) is to have Disney Floral deliver flower arrangements to my room. They don’t have to be big (and frankly they don’t have to be from Disney) but I think it is truly wonderful to come back to your room and open the door to the lovely scent of flowers with a little card telling me how much he loves me and hopes I am enjoying my time at the “Happy place”.
Disney Flowers on a Solo Trip
There are so many things you can do on your trips to Walt Disney World to capture that magical time with your significant other/spouse. Sometimes it means setting aside the touring plans, the fastpasses and all the ADRs to just relax and reconnect with that special person in your life.
Thanks for reading, and we will see you in the happiest (and most romantic) place on earth.
Terri & Chris!!
We always go over to the Ticket & Transportation Center just before dusk to find our 6 sided “Walk Around The World” brick that we purchase when we got married. We we find it we kiss and hug. Then we go to the Polynesian Kona Cafe or Contemporary’s California Grill for sushi, or Grand Floridians Narcoossee’s for seafood. Great start to a romantic evening or a great ending to a another great day at WDW.
Thanks, Terri and Chris, for the suggestions, some we have done, some to be done.
My husband and I are in our late 60’s and early 70’s and enjoy our couple time now without the kids. You see a whole different “World” and we choose to enjoy it in little bits and pieces. Spending time relaxing in our room, walking around the lake outside our door and eating at all the places our children would never have wanted to go. Each day we visit a different park and hit the highlights we’ve grown to love over the years and as we slowly move from venue to venue we’ve discovered many very special little areas in every park that are lovely and relaxing and often great for people watching. As we see tired families with disgruntled children we look at each other and say “been there, done that” and enjoy our current station in life’s cycle even more!
A couple of activities I would suggest are the Segway tour at Epcot and snorkeling in the big tank at The Seas! While these aren’t exactly “quiet time” activities, they’re some of our most treasured “couple memories” at WDW! Oh, and if you ever get out to Disneyland, you should definitely spring for the VIP package at Fantasmic! It’s a bit expensive, but it’s an indulgence that’s definitely worth it!
I totally agree! So many of my friends don’t understand why Randy and I keep going to WDW. We are DVC owners, passholders etc. If it is Disney we are there! The reason is the service, the wonderful memories we have shared with our children and now without. We have 4 beautiful grandprincesses but we don’t always take them! We go alone. We both work long hours and it is our time to unwind and enjoy. Some trips we only ride one or two rides but truthfully there is so much more to Disney! We love the cruises too!!! I always say, “Some people go to the mountains every year, some to Vegas, but our second home is Disney!”
My husband and I just returned (in January) from our first trip to WDW. We really enjoyed Animal Kingdom – less crowded (and fewer kids) than MK and beautiful animals from all around the world! It’s the perfect combination of Adventureland and the zoo. Since we can’t have kids, we got to do some things that families might not be able to afford/participate in with kids. Our favorite was the African Safari tour – a three hour guided (small group) tour behind the scenes of Harambe and Kilimanjaro Safaris. We also did the “Behind the Seeds” tour at EPCOT – very cool! Hopefully we can get back to WDW soon (we usually visit Disneyland/California Adventure every other year); it was great fun and we’d love to do it again.
Thanks for a very nice column. My husband (Eeyore Grumpy) will be making his first every trip to Disneyworld and I’m hoping it will be a positive experience. I’ll keep your words of advice in mind. Thanks again.