The Florida parks are one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in America, and there’s plenty more to do at Disney World beyond whirl around on Dumbo and tell Minnie Mouse you’re newly married (though that certainly is fun).
Even with its emphasis on larger families, Walt Disney World can be a loved-up paradise, and the perfect spot to spend a once-in-a-lifetime experience with your brand new beau. Be sure to book things early and set yourself up for the dreamiest honeymoon possible by learning of these under-the-radar experiences and on-site escapes from cheerful children, and being in-the-know enough to truly have the time of your lives.
Escape from the many, many children
Escape the plentiful kids' food and indulge at Victoria & Albert’s, the epicurean gold standard at Walt Disney World, or book the five-course tasting menu at the newly refurbished Flying Fish, both of which do not allow children under the age of 10. For those craving post-park privacy, Waldorf Astoria Orlando will even bring the steakhouse directly to your honeymoon suite, offering waiter service, craft cocktails, and multi-coursed menus from in-house restaurant Bull & Bear. Guests of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort can even enjoy an adults-only pool, the only one of its kind on Disney grounds. Already booked a room elsewhere? Visitors partaking in an 80-minute spa experience in the Four Seasons’ luxurious couples treatment rooms can also gain pool access for a same-day dip.
Let everyone know you’re celebrating without saying a word
Matching ears, matching tees, matching accessories—sure, it’s corny, but Disney staff loves to help you celebrate when they know it’s a special trip. Peruse Etsy’s treasure trove of honeymoon-themed goods before you leave, or pick up official Disney bride or groom hats and ears upon arrival. If you can’t afford all new gear, opt for custom celebration buttons instead, which are modeled off the complimentary ones provided at check-in, only with extra personalization and wit.
Honeymoon around Disney—and the rest of the world
Only at Walt Disney World can you enjoy dozens of honeymoon typologies without stepping off-property. For a taste of tranquil island life, book a room at the lush Caribbean Beach Resort, and make special arrangements to swim with dolphins at Epcot. Get a taste of a luxury safari as you sip African wines at one of Animal Kingdom’s ticketed evening tours. Want to channel that crazy Vegas vibe instead? Grab tickets to La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil and follow it up with a round of shots at STK Disney Springs, where you're surrounded by lights, wait staff, and more attention than you had on your wedding day.
Go on an adventure steps from your room
If your honeymoon requires adventure, Disney World offers plenty. Enjoy a Cinderella castle view while parasailing in tandem outside the park, or book a personal watercraft tour to breeze past Disney’s waterfront hotels. You two can interact with animals, too, when you tour Fort Wilderness’ pine-and-cypress forest on horseback or observe elephants and rhinos up close with Animal Kingdom’s ticketed Wild Animal Trek. Experienced SCUBA divers can even drop into Epcot’s coral reef while newlywed novices can snorkel up top, experiencing a bit of Finding Nemo among the park’s thousands of turtles, rays, and various sea creatures.
Make memories to last a lifetime
Disney’s PhotoPass photographers are thankfully as omnipresent as glasses of bubbly at your reception, so keep the wedding hashtag alive with Memory Maker, which lets you download every photo they shoot, as well as those of you screaming on roller coasters, directly to your phone. Couples hoping to nab a picture-perfect start to their first joint holiday card as a family can book an early-morning, crowd-free photo shoot at Magic Kingdom with Disney Fine Arts Photography, or opt for smaller packages around resort hotels starting at $200 for more simple, coupled-up snaps. If you’re concerned about being stuck with a week’s worth of low-quality selfies—remember, extendable selfie sticks are banned—consider investing in a detachable wide lens for your camera phone, and don’t forget to Instagram the perfect photo of those shiny new rings against Disney’s best backdrops.
Most importantly? Relax!
Make your park days a breeze by booking dinner packages that allow for guaranteed seating at nighttime shows, and consider putting $100 aside to take cabs home at night, skipping out on the lengthy hotel bus lines. Smushing side-by-side with strangers to get a good Magic Kingdom fireworks view is not quite what romantic dreams are made of, so book Disney’s Ferrytale Wishes dessert cruise to enjoy explosions in the sky from afar while indulging in themed sweets. Or, if you’re newly flush from those wedding checks, take it up a notch and charter a private pontoon boat or yacht to sip champagne in solitude while taking in Epcot’s nighttime show.
