Will you help me make our "romantic" trip AMAZING?

[ATS57]

Hey, everyone! I'm here on the recommendation of some other mom boards I am on.

Some backstory. I live in San Diego and have been to Disneyland many times growing up. My boyfriend also grew up in San Diego, but has only been a couple of times. I have two children, but they are not going on this trip. Its my first kid-free, adult only vacation since I became a mom lots of years ago, so I'm really excited.

Anyway, my boyfriend and I are going to Disneyland in July. We are planning on getting a three day park hopper pass, and as much as we WISH we could, I dont think we are going to be able to swing staying on site.

Now, having said that I've been there many times before, I wanted to see if you guys had any tips to make this trip extra special. I've always been with my kids or with family, so its always been very child oriented. I really want to add a few special touches to make my boyfriend feel special, and show how much I appreciate everything he has done for me and my boys since he's come into our lives.

The kicker in this is its my boyfriends birthday when we go (hes a few years younger and he is turning 21. Also, its right around our anniversary.

Thanks in advance for any tips/hint/must sees!

 

[peterpanandwendy]

We went to Disneyland for our honeymoon, so to us it is the most romantic place on earth

1) try to budget to have one sit down dinner in a beautiful location like napa rose, carthay, steakhouse 55... Even wine country trattoria is nice! Have some wine and sit back and relax!

2) Tell the first cm you see that you are celebrating your anniversary. They will either give you an anniversary pin, or tell you where to get one. When you wear your pin you get instant upgrades and freebies. When we were there for our anniversary we were suprised with complimentary champagne at some restaurants in down town disney, and free desserts in disneyland!

When we were there for our honeymoon we had just married pins, and Merlin picked my new husband to be the dashing knight for sword and the stone, and we were taken out of line at taste pilots grill and given sit down service at a reserved table with white linens and complementary milkshakes!

3) relax! Take the time to ride the mark twain and just people watch and enjoy being with each other...

 

[zap]

Park Vue Inn has I think 4 rooms with king beds and Jacuzzi tubs. Stayed there in February this year and they were great! Went on adults only trip for my birthday and hotel gave us a coupon for free ice cream cake from on-site Coldstone Creamery. Room prices are higher than other rooms at this hotel but WAY less than any Disneyland hotels. We will definitely be staying here again. Also, VERY close to main gates.

 

[Carolynleanne]

We went to Disneyland for our honeymoon, so to us it is the most romantic place on earth

1) try to budget to have one sit down dinner in a beautiful location like napa rose, carthay, steakhouse 55... Even wine country trattoria is nice! Have some wine and sit back and relax!

2) Tell the first cm you see that you are celebrating your anniversary. They will either give you an anniversary pin, or tell you where to get one. When you wear your pin you get instant upgrades and freebies. When we were there for our anniversary we were suprised with complimentary champagne at some restaurants in down town disney, and free desserts in disneyland!

When we were there for our honeymoon we had just married pins, and Merlin picked my new husband to be the dashing knight for sword and the stone, and we were taken out of line at taste pilots grill and given sit down service at a reserved table with white linens and complementary milkshakes!

3) relax! Take the time to ride the mark twain and just people watch and enjoy being with each other...

I think this posted gave you awesome tips! We celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary there last month and had ONE evening of the trip child free. We had dinner at Blue Bayou (waterside table) and was sure to tell people it was our anniversary. We got a free dessert and a special button. After dinner we took our time just walking around the park and getting pictures with the photopass photographers wherever we saw them. For me it was super special

 

[debdreamsofdis]

I agree with many of the previous posters, there are some great tips here.

Since you will be there for multiple days, have you considered maybe doing a split stay, half off site and half on site to save some money? Maybe even surprise him by staying just the last night on property? My husband and I just spent our 18th anniversary at the Grand Californian sans kids and it was wonderful! It was more than I like to pay for a hotel, but we did have a discount code, and I will say that for us, it was worth every penny. Not something we can do all the time for sure, but since we were married on the 18th, we figured this was kind of a "golden" anniversary for us.

I surprised my husband by arranging an "in-room celebration" by Disney Floral. The look on my husband's face was priceless when we came into the room. The bed was decorated with rose petals, and it included spa robes, a treasure chest of lotions and candles and a small chest of candied chocolate strawberries. The lights were dimmed when we entered the room. It really was very romantic.






(Confession time here: This is not an inexpensive package, but I was able to get a discount due to a website glitch that Disney honored, kudos to them) You could probably call and talk to someone at Disney floral to create your own romantic package. For example, if you didn't include the robes, which are priced at around $60 individually , it would substantially reduce the price. Or maybe just arrange to have some chocolate dipped strawberries and champagne glasses waiting in the room when you check in.

Another option might be to arrange a spa treatment at the Mandara Spa at the Grand Californian. Travelzoo has a $99 voucher, which could save you a little bit. http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Orange-County/Spa/114163.

In the parks, you could surprise him with reserved dessert seating for Fantasmic. No matter what you choose, I'm sure just holding hands walking down Main Street, watching the fireworks and just being together without another care in the world will create some special memories.

 

[krispin41]

I also did the In-room celebration for my DH for our first wedding anniversary, however you have to be staying on site for it. Pics are linked in my signature.

We got buttons (at check-in at PPH) and had free desserts at both Cafe Orleans and Goofy's Kitchen.

Have fun and let us know what you do!

 

[CassieF]

2) Tell the first cm you see that you are celebrating your anniversary. They will either give you an anniversary pin, or tell you where to get one. When you wear your pin you get instant upgrades and freebies. When we were there for our anniversary we were suprised with complimentary champagne at some restaurants in down town disney, and free desserts in disneyland!

I agree, get buttons, just don't ask the very first person you see, as in the parking attendant or main gate CM. I've seen both (and been stuck behind both!) and you can literally get them anywhere, so don't block up the lines while they ask you to spell out your name, how old you are, etc. I still can't believe DLR stocks buttons at these locations, having them direct guests to other locations wouldn't decrease customer satisfaction but you should have heard the people waiting to get into the park as the CM is filling out a birthday button and the line stops dead while all others continue to move....

 

[kangamama]

Time rides on things like Astro Orbitor and the tea cups for when the fireworks will be going off overhead. SUPER romantic! Also on fireworks, find a spot in fantasyland to watch them, you'll miss a little, but they will be coming from all around you in that spot, and very few people think to watch from that area, and it is really amazing to be that close to fireworks.

 

[JasonShannon76]

Dinner reservations at Steakhouse 55 in DLH. Best Creme brûlée on earth!

Dinner Reservations at Blue Bayou too....

 

[ATS57]

Thanks so much everyone for the replies!!

We are so excited! We will probably end up staying at Park Vue in the jacuzzi suite, but I REAAAAAAALLY want to see if I can swing the disney hotel. He would DIE if I could get one of those in room celebrations. He would literally die. He'd the type of man that would just EAT THAT UP and think it was the greatest thing to ever happen to him. Lol.

I guess I should start scouring this website for how to get deals on the resorts. For someone who has been to DL so many times, I sure am lost with this. Im just used to driving up for a day, riding some rides and heading back home. Staying up there and going multiple times is out of my comfort zone.