Disneyland is the ultimate date location. With one of the biggest date days coming up on February 14th, I sat down with my friend Jessica to ask her to help come up with 5 Perfect Date Ideas for the Disneyland Resort for those of you who are looking for Valentine’s Day ideas or for any other special time as well! Here are a few date ideas with different prices((Price estimates do not include tax or include cost of admission to Disneyland Resort. They also do not include Annual Passholder discounts that may be available.)) and romance levels to set you up for success for the perfect Disney date!
1. Snow Date
Romance Level: First Date to New Couple
Go to Ghirardelli and buy hot chocolate. Go to Olaf’s Snow Fest and build a cookie, play in the snow, and get a photo together with Olaf. Keep the date light, fun, and stress free. Don’t think to much about it. A really cute add on would be a gift that is a scarf that could be given while in the snow. Double cute factor would be a cute little card that says “you melt my heart.” Did we mention it was cute?
Price:
Do You Want to Build a Snowman Cookie Kit – $5.59 x 2 = $11.18
Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa – $3.50 – $5.00 x 2 = $7.00 – $10.00
TOTAL: $18.18 – $21.18
2. Super Cute Photo Surprise Date
Romance Level: Steady Relationship
Before going on the date, make between 5 and 10 heart signs (8×10″) with each having a label that says something you love about your loved one. Put them in a folder to keep them flat and then in a backpack or bag when you go to the Disneyland Resort. Once in Disneyland you will find (or use the ones we have provided) 5 to 10 locations to take your picture together at. The key to making this work is you holding the camera. Find either a Photopass photographer or random nice person to take your picture. After you hand the person your camera and go back to pose together, take the backpack off so it won’t be in the picture (let’s face it, it doesn’t look good anyway). As you put the backpack on the ground, grab one of the heart signs and hold it off to the side so your date doesn’t see it. The other option is, hold it in front so your date can’t read it. Obviously, after a few photos they will pick up on how this works but it is still cute as they won’t know what each one says and they don’t get to until the photo is taken!
Finally add your favorite place to eat because food is always a good idea for a date. We suggest Flo’s V-8 Cafe in Disney California Adventure or Plaza Inn Restaurant in Disneyland.
Disneyland Photo Locations
- Floral Mickey Mouse at Disneyland’s Entrance
- Partner’s Statue
- Matterhorn
- It’s a Small World
- Rivers of America
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Space Mountain
- Second Floor of Innoventions
- Haunted Mansion
- Splash Mountain
Disney California Adventure Photo Locations
- Carthay Circle
- Restaurant
- Storyteller’s Statue
- Fountain
- Paradise Bay (Mickey’s Funwheel in the background)
- Paradise Pier Entrance Sign
- Cars Land
- Ornament Valley
- Flo’s V8 Cafe
- Route 66
- Mini Tractor by Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
- Wharf Entrance to Ornament Valley
- Tower of Terror
- Hollywood Backlots
- Grizzly Peak
Price:
Plaza Inn Restaurant – $15 to $29.99 (approx.) x 2 = $30 – $59.98
Flo’s V-8 Cafe – $14.99 (approx) x 2 = $29.98
Photos Printing – $10 or under
Target 10 Picture Collage Frame – $29.99
TOTAL: $39.99 (without frame) – $69.97 (with frame & Flo’s) – $99.97 (with frame & Plaza Inn)
3. Journey of the Heart Date
Romance Level: Stable Relationship
This date follows a set course. Follow this order (even if the wait is long, it’s a good opportunity to talk) and the date will build to the big reveal.
- Start with It’s a Small World and give a small heart valentine “you rock my world.“
- Then go on Pirates of the Caribbean and give a valentine that say “You’ve Stolen My Heart.“
- Go on Haunted Mansion and during the seance (Madam Leota) scene hand over a heart valentine that says “Ghost friends and furies, old friends and new, blow in a horn, so they know I love you.“
- Next is Snow White’s Scary Adventure. Give the heart valentine at the end “The Queen didn’t get Snow White’s heart, but you have mine.” Then give a heart locket((Do not procrastinate, buy this NOW!!!)).
Eat at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe at any point during the date whenever you or your date gets hungry. Some attractions may have longer lines than others and it might be hard to eat with reservations while also trying to keep the flow of the date moving forward. Also, you want to keep your date happy and comfortable so… eat when hungry!
Price:
4 Heart Valentines/Cards – Make Them Yourself for under $10
Necklace – $20 – the sky is the limit! (Classic/Safe Heart Locket
Jolly Holiday Bakery – $14.99 (approx.) x 2 = $29.98
TOTAL: $59.98 – $80.05 (or more depending on locket)
4. Dinner and A Show Date
Romance Level: Stable to Serious Relationship
This date does not take as much preparation and can be combined with other date ideas. This is the classic dinner and a show idea utilizing the Fantasmic! Blue Bayou Dining Package. Add a little extra romance by getting hot cocoa as waiting for Fantasmic! when things are a bit cooler. The Blue Bayou is one of the most romantic places to eat at Disneyland and is perfect for any special occasion. This dining package includes a 3 course meal at the Blue Bayou and a Fastpass ticket to a reserved viewing area for Fantasmic! that same evening. Get reservations ahead of time((For reservations, you can book online or call (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463 between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM daily. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. Please note: All reservations require a credit card guarantee. If you wish to cancel your reservation, you must do so at least 24 hours prior to the reservation time to avoid a $10 per-person charge. This charge will also apply to “no shows.”)).
There are also other dining packages for Fantasmic! that could be utilized. More information about them can be found here.
Prices:
Fantasmic! Blue Bayou Dining Package – $61 x 2 = $122
Hot Cocoa at Mint Julep Bar – $2.79 x 2 = $5.58
TOTAL: $127.58
5. Love Poem Date
Romance Level: Serious Relationship
Take your date on a trip around Disneyland. As you enter the following areas, have a card ready to go. As you progress around Disneyland, you can write/tape printed versions of the following phrases into the card to create a romantic poem. This can be done as slowly or quickly as you want. This could make for a fairly short adventure or as a full day trip. However it goes, the goal is to add each phrase to the poem after visiting each place.
- Toon Town “Like a Toon you are so Silly”
- Adventureland “An Adventure, your Heart is Strong”
- Fantasyland “A Fantasy of True Love”
- Any Favorite Iconic/Happy/Meaningful Place “A Happy Place Where We Belong”
- Frontierland “The Past Was Such a Dream Come True”
- Tomorrowland “To Many Future Days With You”
If a specific day add a personalized Valentine’s Day/Birthday/Anniversary message at the end of the card.
A good place to eat during this date would be at the French Market in New Orleans Square or Bengal BBQ in Adventureland. If this does end up being a big event day, you may want to consider adding a second meal at Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure or Napa Rose in the Grand Californian Hotel((Once again, reservations are a good idea for these two restaurants as well. Plan ahead if you really want to make this a special date!)).
Bonus ideas: This would be great for building up to a proposal or for a gift from Tiffany’s.
Prices:
Card – $10 or under
French Market – $14.99 (approx.) x 2 = $29.98
Bengal BBQ – $14.99 (approx.) x 2 = $29.98
Carthay Circle Restaurant – $30 to $59.99 (approx.) x 2 = $60 – $119.98
Napa Rose – $30 to $59.99 (approx.) x 2 = $60 – $119.98
TOTAL: $39.98 – $159.96
These are 5 date ideas that you can tweak to fit your exact circumstances and tastes. Be creative, have fun, and enjoy creating the perfect magical date at Disneyland! Remember, you don’t have to get everything perfect but you do have to put some heart into it. Breath, relax, and remember they’ll love it because you did it!
Make it a GREAT date!
- Mr. DAPs & Jessica Prell
Jessica Prell Bio:
Jessica had so much fun planning these dates, she’s secretly hoping her boyfriend will plan one. When she’s not dreaming up dates, she’s writing on her blog (jessicaprell.com), acting, singing, or taking photos of coffee for Instagram (@littleprell). She enjoys boba milk tea, sarcastic hashtags, and a great face mask. It would make her happy if someone other than her Mom followed her on twitter- so please follow her too: @jessicaprell
