We spent a week at WDW last September. Not being crowded, we had lots of great conversations with cast members. Our youngest, now 21, decided the Disney College Program was the place to be so when we returned from our trip she applied. In January we made another trip to Orlando to move her into her apartment. Loves it! Now she has decided she wants her car so Mom and Dad -aka Us- are making our third trip to Florida in six months.
We decided to make it a mini vacay for the two of us. We have been to WDW multiple times, but ALWAYS with kids starting from when they were toddlers to this last trip with young adults. We have NEVER been just the two of us. Combine that with the fact that this trip is now less then three weeks away and I am floundering.
So my question is what are your couple musts? Anything that absolutely cannot be missed, great places to eat, special things to see, do, etc. I know this is a broad question, but I have always planned our trips with the kidlets in mind.
Whenever I’m touring with DW I like to see one of the films in EP. Impressions de France is my favorite, but Canada Far and Wide and Reflections of China are good as well.
Also a fancy dinner, of course. There are so many good options, but we typically go a little more adventurous without the kids. Last time we went to Toledo, which was amazing. Flying Fish, Trattoria al Forno, Topolino’s, etc.
If you are there during a festival of some kind, look into live entertainment like Candlelight Processional or a concert. Or an after-hours event like MNSSHP or MVMCP.
Don’t forget the hot tub in the quiet pool at your resort. And don’t overplan your time.
I’d put Behind the Seeds on the list, if that appeals. Plus, Geo-82, which is adults only, of course. I’d look for things like trying to see an animal procedure down at Rafiki’s.
I thought it was just the petting zoo that was closing. Maybe I am mistaken.
Edited to addd: just looked it up, and you’re right. They are shutting down the whole train out there next week until some time in summer. Bummer, like they need less capacity in that park!
We enjoy eating, drinking, and hanging out at lounges. Sometimes we’ll hang for a couple hours, continuing to order of course and we always tip excessively well lol. We like to have one nicer dinner (last time Jiko, time before that was Jaleo). Dh is allergic to dairy (and a bunch of other things) so our festival booth eating is limited. We’ve done three tours—steam trains (this was years ago), Behind the Seeds, and Wild Africa Trek.
Dh always brings a travel sketchbook and charcoals or pastels or colored pencils with him. He sketches away, I watch people.
DH and I love breakfast at La Creperie de Paris and Trattoria al Forno. We also enjoy sitting at the outdoor tables and eating breakfast and mimosas from Les Halles while watching The Stroller Brigade rush past to get in line for Remy. Our trips are so much more relaxing now that our kids are adults!
We also love mid-afternoon lunch at Steakhouse 71 lounge. The bartenders are generally great and there are usually other couples there to chat with. Hanging out at Nomad Lounge in the afternoon is magical too. It’s a quiet and comfortable refuge from theme park chaos.
Recent great meals we’ve had include Tiffins at AK, Hollywood Brown Derby at HS and Jiko at AKL. We also love Citrico’s at Grand Flo.
Also, Cake Bake has a really delicious and not too pricey lunch option where you can pick half sandwich + soup or salad.
Anything on your bucket list that you haven’t been able to do before?
Yes! We backed into a Festival of Fantasy parade perfect spot (Sleepy Hollow queue) and then went to a super late lunch there. Bar was basically empty - super peaceful.
A couple of others:
Seeing everything in World Showcase without someone begging to go on a ride (shops, gardens, trains). We took the Skyliner from HS and entered Epcot via IG a little after open (like 9:30?) and wandered peacefully until a little after lunch (note: some of the shows like VoL, American Adventure might not open until after 11?).
I also solo shopped from Canada to Mexico (while he was getting something in Japan) and it felt super freeing, even though I love hanging with Mr WF.
Trader Sam’s (can go with kids - more peaceful without probably). I would 100% try Geo-82 also.
Late night hot tub
Visit resorts you haven’t seen before. We had a bonus morning (flight was rebooked to next day) and ended up going to OKW, having brunch at Olivia’s, then taking the boat to DS, walking back to SSR. Kids might have been bored out of their minds (although they do like boats).
One thing I would do this upcoming trip if we didn’t have younger kids along is watch Enchantment (shown during After Hours only) from someplace like Poly. Fireworks are at 11 and we’re at AKL that night, so the logistics don’t really work.
Narcoosee’s was great for Electrical Water Parade plus fireworks. (Unfortunately, not open late enough for Enchantment.). We also thought Toledo and Jiko were beautiful and a little romantic. We had later reservations, I think.
Stay in the parks late every night - the lights are my favorite. I need my Spaceship Earth light show time.
Lots of great suggestions. Thank you everyone! So far I have booked dinner at Sanaa for the night we arrive and we have reservations for lunch at Hollywood Brown Derby. Both are places Hubs and I will enjoy, but the kids, even as adults, would not. So many other good options.
No, no no. Don’t saddle that on me. I have always been upfront about my love of cruising.
As a matter of fact, DH, 5/6 of my children, and I would always prefer a cruise over time at Disney.
I guess I didn’t make my joke clear. My reply was a play on the word “lie”, not a critique of your comment. “I’d lie by the pool all day long” … meaning that you’d spin tall tales all day while at the pool, not your intended meaning of laying down by the pool.
Sorry I didn’t make it clear. One of those message/texts/internet misunderstandings
We had later reservations, I think.
