Need advice - how to make 10th anniversary trip special

[cbnsoul]

Ok, so I'm pretty bummed. We had to seriously curtail the 2011 vacation budget and I had to cancel a 4 day trip to BCV in January (I think I felt a tear well up while on the phone with MS! ) AND cancelled a 5 day Dream reservation all in the same day. The Dream cruise and 4 days at WDW were replaced by 9 days at WDW. This is our 10th anniversary trip and I wanted opinions on what we could do to make the trip special. I'm looking for activities that you might think are overlooked by most people that you really enjoyed. We used to live in Tampa so we've been to WDW A LOT but I'm sure there are things we've never heard of.


I would also love to hear anniversary night dining opinions keeping in mind we'll be going with a 4 year old. I was thinking 'Ohana because it seemed unique. Any opinions on that choice and any other dinner favorites are welcome!

 

[kamikazecat]

We did an anniversary dinner at California Grill and took our 4yo son to the Neverland Club at the Poly while we enjoyed our meal. He loved the Neverland Club and didn't want to leave when we went to pick him up.

If you are not comfortable with that option, we also took our 4yo son with us to Yachtsman Steakhouse for dinner and he absolutely loved it.

 

[TLPL]

Where are you staying this time? Maybe try a resort you haven't stayed at before, maybe rent bicycle / boat for some relaxe time. Maybe order a cake from Disney, there is a cake thread somewhere I saw they have very cool designs. Or maybe do a backstage tour or something that you have not done before.

 

[cbnsoul]

We are staying at BLT MK view for 4 nights (new hotel for us) and VWL for the other 4 (probably our favorite resort thus far). I think we will rent boats again as we did it once before and had a really good time. I would like to do a backstage tour but my son probably would get bored within minutes. I wish the tour of the MK trains was available to younger kids - he would love that!

The cake is a great idea. I don't know how much of it we'll be able to eat after going to dinner, though. (I would want to get it on our anniversary.). I will need to get some flowers, of course, too.

I don't think my wife would be comfortable leaving my son at the kids club, although she might. It is something to think about - we NEVER get to eat out as just a couple.

 

[jamn]

We did a backstage tour and loved it - but keep in mind that a lot of the tours have an age restriction.

 

[zalansky]

Ok, don't get mad but you NEED a night out without your child! If you've never had one date night in 4 years you are both long overdue. You need to nurture your relationship as a couple and not just be parents. Disney is the one place I'd trust my kids to for a few hours, I would never have an issue at any of their clubs. Have I used them? no, but only because we have in-laws who are kind enough to babysit.

That being said, DH and I are heading to BCV in 2 weeks for the weekend for Food & Wine for our 10 year anniversary without the kids and I can't wait! We all need a break sometimes and if my in-laws couldn't babysit I'd bring the kids and let them play in the club for a few hours while we went to a signature restaurant.

O'hana is awesome, but very noisy and busy. Of course its all personal preference but I'd lean towards Cali Grill, Yachtsman or Jiko for a special anniversary dinner. Even if you bring your child with you. Whatever you decide - have a great trip!

 

[dmoore22]

Ok, don't get mad but you NEED a night out without your child! If you've never had one date night in 4 years you are both long overdue. You need to nurture your relationship as a couple and not just be parents. Disney is the one place I'd trust my kids to for a few hours, I would never have an issue at any of their clubs. Have I used them? no, but only because we have in-laws who are kind enough to babysit.

That being said, DH and I are heading to BCV in 2 weeks for the weekend for Food & Wine for our 10 year anniversary without the kids and I can't wait! We all need a break sometimes and if my in-laws couldn't babysit I'd bring the kids and let them play in the club for a few hours while we went to a signature restaurant.

O'hana is awesome, but very noisy and busy. Of course its all personal preference but I'd lean towards Cali Grill, Yachtsman or Jiko for a special anniversary dinner. Even if you bring your child with you. Whatever you decide - have a great trip!

I can't really help on this one. We just celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary at the Wine & Food Festival and an evening at Mickey's Not-So-Scarey Halloween Party. It was topped off with a Celebratory surprise waiting in our room courtesy of our children who stayed back home in Missouri. That made a special evening that much better.

 

[cbh]

We went to WDW for our 10th anniversary this summer. We have akso been many times, and I was searching for something different to do for my husband's gift. I arranged a scavenger hunt of sorts for him through Gifts of a Lifetime. It was not cheap, but it was a very memorable experience, and it was something very different from what we had done before. They have many different options for themes and length of time of that they take. We had a pre-arranged meeting place where they staged a note to him saying that if he didn't complete the required tasks that I would be under an evil spell and run away with Goofy. I cant say enough about how wonderful the experience was, and I am sure that they would be able to come up with something that was fun for everyone.

 

[cbnsoul]

Thanks, everyone, for all the ideas. cbh, I had never heard of Gifts of a Lifetime. I'm going to submit an idea request and see what they come up with. If we can get our son to go off to the kids club, we may do that after all. It would be very nice to have some time on our own!

 

[gstew24]

the Flying Fish is great

 

[ccgirl]

We celebrated our 10th anniversary last October sans children. Our Anniversary dinner was at Cali Grill. It was amazing. My DH surprised me and got me a diamond wrap for my ring. He slipped it the waiter unbeknownst to me and they brought it out on a dessert plate all decorated and it said Happy Anniversary. We then watched Wishes on the outdoor deck. It was so amazing. Good luck with your decision. Maybe surprise your DH by arranging the Neverland club and a dinner? I believe the restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin also have babysitting when you dine there.

 

[CarmenPeteron]

Another idea is a romantic dinner at the on sight restaurant at the the Wilderness Lodge. I forgot the name of the restaurant but it is the fancy one with all the windows looking out to the pool and the lake. I would recommend one of the window tables. The views and the food are great as well as the service. Perhaps you could arrange a cake or a special dessert to be brought to your table.