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Disney from a Twenty-Something: Traveling to Disney with Singles, as a Couple, or with Family

by Caitlin Corsello

Depending on who you are traveling with, you can experience numerous different things throughout Disney World that can cater to your party type. In the past, I’ve traveled with my family, when I was single, as well as with my boyfriend and have found that each time I experienced something new which enhanced my trip. So in this post, I would like to share my ideas of what the best activities and experiences are for each party type so that no matter who you are traveling with you can have the most amazing time in Walt Disney World! As with everything in Disney from a Twenty-Something, most of the following activities are either included in your vacation price or have minimal to no cost to enjoy!

Singles

For those traveling in a group of friends, I recommend taking a fun approach to your vacation at Walt Disney World. Take as much time as possible to explore the numerous offerings Disney has to offer, especially the nightlife.

  • If you are staying on property, utilize the Extra Magic Hours each day. One park will be open an hour early, and another park will be open up to three hours late. The nighttime Extra Magic Hours offer an opportunity to experience shorter wait times and smaller crowds. Plus, being in the parks late at night just makes the whole experience that much more exciting!
  • Another fun activity to do with a group of friends would be to Drink Around the World in Epcot. This involves sampling drinks from all eleven of the countries in the World Showcase. (I’m going to dedicate an entire post to this topic in the next few weeks, so stayed tuned for my tips exclusively for that!)
  • Exploring Downtown Disney is a great opportunity to engage in Disney’s nightlife as there are numerous places offering unique drinks, fun crowds, and live music. I recommend stopping by the House of Blues and Raglan Road Irish Pub.
  • Another great way to check out the nightlife is through exploring the surrounding area of the Boardwalk Resort. I highly recommend stopping by Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar where the crowd has great energy and interaction with the entertainment.
  • For those traveling with friends, I would also suggest visiting the resort pools later at night after most of the families with young children have gone to bed. This offers the opportunity to have a little more room as well as quiet while enjoying a late night swim.

Couples

Disney World has no shortage on romantic activities for couples to engage in ranging from dining experiences to quiet moments exploring together.

  • Nothing is more romantic than watching fireworks together, and one of the best places to do so is from the beach at the Polynesian Resort. Located directly across Seven Seas Lagoon from the Magic Kingdom, this spot offers fantastic views of the fireworks in a serene and romantic location.
  • Another wonderful location to watch the fireworks from is the California Grill on the top floor of the Contemporary Resort. If you make your dining reservations far enough in advance, you can have the opportunity to be seated along a set of large glass windows offering sweeping views of the Magic Kingdom and Wishes. However, the California Grill can be pricy, which leads me to my next tip for couples…
  • Consider splurging on a romantic meal. Disney offers from very romantic places to dine ranging from relatively inexpensive to very expensive (Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort). Find something that fits into your budget, and treat yourselves to a romantic dinner you won’t soon forget.
  • Strolling through the countries of the World Showcase can also be very romantic as it offers you the unique chance to explore far away regions without even leaving Epcot. Enjoy the ambiance, soak in the culture, and enjoy the experience together.
  • As I recommended for singles, couples seeking a quieter time to both visit the parks and swim should do so at night, when crowds are smaller.

Families

For those traveling with families, Disney World offers some amazing experiences to make your vacation extra special- no matter the size of your party!

  • Look into whether your party is large enough to have a Magic Gathering! If your party has eight or more members, your family can take part in Disney’s equivalent of a family reunion. You will also have special opportunities to experiences exclusively for Magic Gatherings such as character breakfasts at Tony’s Town Square in the Magic Kingdom. Be sure to mention any special events or occasions you may be celebrating when booking your vacation!
  • Another great activity for families to experience together is a character breakfast. Depending on which characters your family would like to meet, there are many options to choose from. Character breakfasts are also great not only for children, but adults as well as everyone gets in on the action when the characters arrive at your table! My favorite character breakfast is located at Chef Mickey’s in the Contemporary Resort, it’s definitely worth experiencing at least once!
  • If your family is celebrating a special event such as a birthday or anniversary, be sure to stop in at Town Hall on Main Street and pick up a free pin announcing your celebration. While wearing one of the pins, don’t be surprised if Cast Members and guests alike congratulate you or wish you a happy birthday! You never know what special things may result from your celebration!
  • Finally, a great way to make a family trip even more special is to get creative before leaving home. On my last family vacation, my mom made matching shirts for all eleven of us announcing our family vacation and featuring our individual names on the back. We had numerous people approach us and ask about the shirts, and it made our visit that much more special. So get creative!

Those are my tips for some amazing opportunities to experience in WDW no matter who you are traveling with. Of course, there are many more to experience, so I recommend exploring everything in the parks and on property, you never know what you may encounter to make your vacation special!

Do you have certain activities that you like to enjoy depending on who you are traveling with? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!

 

Caitlin Corsello was born and raised in New York. She graduated from Adelphi University with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling in 2012. Her love for Disney started as an infant and has continued to grow with family vacations to Disney parks almost every year since. She holds a particular interest in WDW’s parks and attractions, never passing up an opportunity to visit. She looks forward to continuing to explore and learn about all things Disney and to share that passion with readers.

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About Lou Mongello

Lou Mongello is a former attorney who left the practice to pursue his passion, and is now a recognized Disney expert, author, speaker, and host of WDW Radio. Learn more…

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