V-Day in the Magic Kingdom

Photo, courtesy Liliane Opsomer

Valentine’s Day at Walt Disney World is a weeklong celebration of romance and enchantment. So for travelers who will be in Orlando on February 14, here are my recommendations for a magical, romantic time in the Kingdom of the Mouse.

The Magic Kingdom is the place to be, as Disney will be celebrating Valentine’s Day for an entire week. From February 11 through 17 Disney Princes join their Princesses to meet park guests in special settings, prix fixe menus turn up at select restaurants and Valentine’s collectibles will be offered for the week. Cinderella’s castle will blush nightly in pink and red and if you are thinking of popping the question the castle is a wonderful backdrop when proposing. There are always Disney photographers close by to capture the moment. Need flowers? That too can be arranged.

If you plan on having Valentine’s Day dinner inside the Magic Kingdom there is no better place than the newly opened Be Our Guest restaurant inside the Beast’s Castle. The Master of the House is available for pictures after dinner and if you can score a table at the window you will be mesmerized by the snow softly falling down while dining. I recommend Layered Ratatouille, a vegetarian dish and the Pan seared Salmon on Leek Fondue.  Both dishes are excellent.  For desert, presented and served tableside, I would go for the Lemon Meringue Cupcake and the Chocolate cream puff.  Entrees are $16 to $30 per person.

Victoria & Albert’s is where dining meets luxury. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, is home to the premier restaurant in Walt Disney World. The prix fixe meal comes with a price, starting at $125.00 per guest with an additional  $60.00 per person for wine pairing.  It is pricy but certainly a once in a lifetime experience. Some of the most romantic dinner available at Walt Disney World Resort is at Narcoossee’s Grill. On the deck of the restaurant, which is also at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, you can watch the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom and listen to "Wishes" while enjoying the best seafood inside Walt Disney World. Entrees are $30 and up and the Steamed Main Lobster will set you back $68 per person.

Another fabulous place to be outside of the parks is the California Grill. The restaurant is inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort and has a rooftop overlooking Cinderella’s Castle. The restaurant nightly dims the lights and pipes in the music for "Wishes", the nighttime fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.  I recommend Oak-fired Filet of Beef with horseradish whipped potatoes ($48) and the desert trio ($12).

If you love the feel of a seaside resort the Boardwalk area is one of the most romantic places inside Disney World. Here I suggest Kouzzina by Cat Cora (Entrees start at $15) for your meal but not without riding the two-person Surrey Bike ($22 for 30 minutes). After dinner you can walk around the Boardwalk and take a complimentary boat ride to the Yacht and Beach Club for desert at the Ice Cream Parlor. If you want to end the night on a musical note go for the dueling piano’s at Jellyrolls.

Located at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Ohana specializes in Hawaiian and Chinese inspired dishes. Here too guests can watch the fireworks from the dining table and the resort itself is one of the most romantic places to stay. Dinner entrees range from $36 to $40 per person. If you chose to stay at the Polynesian Resort you can stroll along the beach nightly and watch the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom. Standard rooms start at $475.

Another great place for celebrating Valentine’s Day is Sanaa, at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Go for lunch and make sure to ask for a table at the window, which offers great views on the Savanna. I loved the vegetarian sampler, which at $15 is a bargain. The desert trio of Chocolate Cake, Tropical Fruit Kulfi, and Chai Cream was a steal at $6.99. If you want to stay at the resort book a Savanna view room. You won’t regret the view onto the savanna from your private balcony. Savanna view rates start at $403.

Romantic and free of charge is the boat ride from Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts to Downtown Disney. The two and a half mile boat ride on the Sassagoula River winds past the Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside, the Treehouse Villas and the Saratoga Springs Resort. My favorite resort here is Port Orleans Riverside. It is a moderately priced resort and has the feel of the picturesque Louisiana towns along the Mississippi. Room rates start at $182 per night.

Downtown Disney is home to the Cirque du Soleil (tickets start at $73) a magical show that is sure to impress your date. As for restaurants my favorite is Bongo the Cuban Café offering reasonably priced fare in a lovely setting and the romantic The Fulton Crab House where seafood is King. Go for a Louis Fulton’s Ultimate Crab and Lobster Experience (Two whole pound and a quarter Maine lobsters, Alaska snow crab, Pacific Northwest Dungeness crab is priced at $92 for two). One of my favorite romantic things to do Downtown Disney is to go up in the world’s largest tethered hot-air-balloon. The ride with Characters in Flight is $18 per person and provides great views over Walt Disney World.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is the latest addition to Disney’s value resort portfolio and I really think it is a romantic place to be, especially the Little Mermaid section. The rooms are beautifully decorated with bathtubs that make you feel "under the sea". The section has its own pool but the Big Blue located smack in the middle of the resort surpasses any expectation.  Rates here start at $113 for a standard room.

by Liliane Opsomer

Liliane Opsomer is the co-author of the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids." The guidebook provides detailed planning and touring tips for a family vacation. Liliane is passionate about all things Disney, travel and Hobbits. Some of her favorite destinations are Orlando, Middle Earth, Belgium, Sydney, Dresden, Patagonia and Hawaii.

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