A Disney date night can provide parents with a much-needed break while on vacation at Walt Disney World Resort.

Every family experiences a meltdown at some point during their Disney vacation. It’s totally normal and happens to the best of us. Let’s be honest…most families don’t spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week together in the the Florida heat, with the added challenge of crowds, sugary treats and the fatigue that can sneak in. Mom wants to do one thing, while Dad disagrees. Suddenly, everyone is Grumpy and needing a break from one another. Oh, and don’t forget the additional pressure many families put on themselves to have a perfect, magical, “Instagrammable” experience. These expectations just aren’t realistic. Planning a Disney date night for Mom and Dad just might be the solution!

Where do the kids go while you have a Disney date night?

There are a lot of ways your kids can spend a fun evening at Walt Disney World without you. The simplest way to get trusted care for your children while you’re staying on site at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel is to hire a sitter from Kid’s Nite Out, an organization that has partnered with Disney hotels for child care services. We have used this service for our son, and he had a great evening with the sitter, who was focused on him the entire evening.

Another option is to hire an independent sitter to care for your children at the resort. We have also done this in the past, with a great outcome. Our sitter, Lori, came directly to our room to take care of our son while my husband and I went to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to ride Avatar: Flight of Passage and have a bite to eat together.

While we went on our date, our babysitter took our son to the arcade, to the splash park, for something to eat at the resort counter service restaurant and to check out the children’s activities planned there for the evening. If we had asked her to, she would also have brought him to meet us inside one of the theme parks. She was absolutely wonderful, and our son had a great time with her. We plan to use her services again in the future.

Here are a few more options for activities your kids can do while you and your spouse connect at Walt Disney World Resort.

Additional Activities for Children During Your Disney Date Night

(Subject to availability.)

Islands of the Caribbean Pirate Cruise at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

This experience will leave you and your spouse with a couple of hours together for a “day date” to have an uninterrupted breakfast together. This two-hour excursion takes place daily at Caribbean Cay in the middle of Barefoot Bay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, from 9:30 until 11:30 am. You do not need to be a guest at this resort to book this experience for your children, but if you’re not a guest, it might take a little bit of planning to get there. Children must be between the ages of 4 and 12 to participate. 

While the kids are having their pirate adventure, you will have a couple of hours to grab breakfast at Centertown Market or Spyglass Grill. You may even decide to venture over to Disney’s Riviera Resort for a cappuccino and pastry on the patio before it’s time to pick the kids up for the rest of your day together!

Albatross Treasure Cruise at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Your kids will go on a treasure hunt across Crescent Lake and even in the EPCOT World Showcase Lagoon! This adventure departs from the Bayside Marina in front of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

During their two-hour hunt for pirate’s booty, you and your spouse can take a leisurely stroll or rent a Surrey bike for a ride at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, or pop into EPCOT via the International Gateway for a pastry and coffee at the France Pavilion.

This adventure takes place weather permitting from 9:30 until 11:30 am. Children must be between the ages of 4 and 12 to participate. 

Captain Hook’s Pirate Crew at Disney’s Beach Club Resort

For $55 USD plus tax each, children can enjoy an evening at Captain Hook’s Pirate Crew at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Like the Pirate Adventure Cruise, you do not need to be a guest of Disney’s Beach Club Resort to make use of this fantastic service. 

You can drop your kids off as early as 4:30 pm, with pick-up at 8:30 pm. If your children are fully potty-trained, they’re old enough to participate. They will be fed dinner during their time there, and will even get to go for a pontoon boat ride out on Crescent Lake! Captain Hook will make an appearance, as well. For a character encounter, four hours of childcare and a meal, I think this is an excellent value. Reservations are strongly recommended.

For your date night, you can enjoy dinner at any of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn area restaurants or head into EPCOT to eat or to enjoy a cocktail or two in any of the world showcase pavilions. There may even be time for you to head into Disney’s Hollywood Studios to ride the thrill attractions there, such as the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith or the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This theme park is a walk or boat ride from Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

In this short video, you’ll find out more information about Captain Hook’s Pirate Crew.

Accompanying Family or Friends 

If you’re fortunate to be traveling with extended family members or another family, ask them if they would mind taking the kids for a few hours one evening. If you’ve got friends along for the vacation, offer to swap date nights!

Ideas to keep them busy:

• host a movie night and pajama party in your resort room
• take everyone down for dinner at the counter service location in your resort
• participate in planned programming for children at your resort, such as a movie under the stars–check your recreation guide for ideas
• go for a swim in your resort hotel pool!

Then your friends or family members can do the same for you.

I can’t stress enough how much fun you and your spouse will have when you plan a Disney Date Night during your Walt Disney World Resort vacation. And if you allow me to help you plan your Disney vacation, don’t be surprised to hear me ask which night of your vacation you want to spend without the kids in tow. It will be my pleasure to help find a way for you to connect as a couple at the most magical place on earth.

For more Disney Date Night ideas, check out Top 5 Date Night Activities at Walt Disney World over at Pixie Dust Fan.