Go on these Disney-Inspired Dates!

July 30, 2015

Summer loving is here! What better way to celebrate this hot season by going on some Disney-inspired dates with your significant other? Now before you say, “well, I don’t have a Disneyland pass,” hold your horses and let me just tell you that you do NOT need to go to Disneyland to go on any of these dates! So all you annual pass holders who are blocked out this summer or people who don’t have a pass at all, “you’re welcome.”

In the span of two months some of our wonderful DisneyExaminer staff members went on dates inspired by some classic Disney films. Our dates are located in California, but we’ve picked general places that are probably easily accessible to you and your partner, wherever you may be. We bring you the essence of these romantic Disney duos that will make you just say, “awww.” Here are some great spots to take your lady/gentleman that have the flare of some of Disney’s most memorable love stories!

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I’ll start off this date list with a splash! What better way to have a Little Mermaid inspired date then by going to the aquarium? One of our writers, Max and his date Melissa, explored the Aquarium of the Pacific, and had an awesome time together. If you don’t live by an actual ocean the aquarium is the next best thing to go to. Not only do you get to see some of these beautiful sea creatures, you also get to learn about them as well! From experiencing sea life up close and personal to even getting to touch some of these amazing ocean animals this date will surely make you feel like you were under the sea.

General Tip: The aquarium is a great date to have during the hot summer! You and your date can stay cool in this air-conditioned, indoor venue.

Aquarium of the Pacific Tip: The Shoreline Aquatic Park right next to the aquarium is a perfect place to take a stroll. The calm water, big boats, and lighthouse make for a romantic scenery for you and your beau.

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A museum is the best place to take your date to if you want to be seen as classy and cultured! DisneyExaminers Veronica and Martin spent a Sunday afternoon strolling gorgeous gardens that transported them back to ancient Greece and Rome. The Getty Villa’s beautiful architecture and exquisite art really showed that the ancient Greeks were not playing around. Anybody who walks into this museum will feel like a god/goddess. Museums that have tranquil gardens that you and your beau can stroll in are a prime date spot! You will truly go from zero to hero when you take the apple of your eye to a place like this one!

General Tip: Going to a museum gives you so many conversation starters for a date! There are so many artifacts, architecture, and artwork that surround you that there are loads of things to talk about with each other.

Getty Villa Tip: Don’t confuse the Getty Villa with the Getty Center, which is just down the road from it. The Getty Villa primarily focuses on Greek art and architecture. So just think Hercules when it’s the Getty Villa.

Sometimes a simple picnic can become an epic adventure when you go with someone you love. Our writer, Alyssa and her sweet heart, Matthew, went to the Huntington Beach Central Park where they had a classic date that your grandparents could have gone on back in their day. A picnic is the perfect lunch date to go on for you and your other half. Doesn’t laying under the lush green trees, listening to music in the background, cloud watching, sipping soda pop, and having a stroll around the lake hand-in-hand just scream ROMANCE! Your relationship can only go up from here after having this successful date.

General Tip: If you need some ideas on what food to pack for your special picnic here are some recipes that you can try to make at home for your date!

Huntington Beach Central Park Tip: If you don’t want to pack your own picnic, stop by Park Bench Café that is right in the park. It not only serves delicious breakfast and brunch, it also has a menu for your Dug…I mean dog!!!

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Let’s get down to business with the next date on our list! Two of our staff members, Kevin and Veronica, visited The Huntington Botanical Gardens, a location filled with elegant art, collections of rare books, and gorgeous botanical gardens. They walked through the Chinese gardens where it basically looked like the Fa family’s backyard! This is a beautiful place to take your warrior princess/hot army captain. An outdoor date is always a good one to have during the summer season. The sun is shining out, so why not enjoy nature with your lovely one?  Any venue that has buildings based off of ancient architecture and a beautiful garden surrounding it is a place worth visiting. If you and your significant other are ever in a fight, bring them here and you will surely win the battle together!

General Tip: BRING WATER! When you have a summer outdoor date where there is a lot of walking remember to hydrate yourself and wear something light.

The Huntington Botanical Gardens Tip: Not only do you get to explore the garden, there are also little booths where you can do activities like Chinese calligraphy, making masks, and learning about herbs that ancient apothecaries used.

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If you are just like Belle and reading is your thing, going on a date at LA’s The Last Bookstore will not disappoint you. A bookstore is an underrated date spot to go to. What is great about going somewhere where books are all around you is that an adventure is literally right at your finger tips. Our real-life DisneyExaminer couple Jordan and Tami went to this funky bookstore that was filled with an array of books, Vinyl Records, and artwork from local artists. This is the perfect place to woo your significant other by reading some verses from Shakespeare and Lord Byron. Book “lovers” are bound to fall in love with The Last Bookstore. If you’re not Facebook official yet just bring your crush here, and then they’ll see that there may be something there that wasn’t there before.

General Tip: The children’s section is always a fun one to visit! Grab one of your favorite childhood books to read to your loved one aloud. Reading a kid’s book together is fast, simple, and sweet.

The Last Bookstore Tip: One great spot with good lighting to take pictures is the room next to the children’s section at the bookstore. The MUST photo op to get there with your “corazon” is the famous book tunnel!

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And at last I see the light…in your eyes. Our newly dating DisneyExaminer couple Lance and Vannyda went to the Urban Lights at LACMA for their Tangled-inspired date. Visiting a famous landmark with your partner is always a fun thing to do. There are many photo opportunities that you can post on your Instagram that will get you many likes! This famous LA landmark is a perfect place to visit on a first date if you live in California. The simplicity of this romantic venue is a great way to get to know one another and share stories!

General Tip: If you can’t find a venue like the Urban Lights at LACMA, why not try to make some lanterns yourself? DIY lanterns is a great date activity that you and your significant other can do together!

LACMA Tip: During the day there are food trucks right across the street from the Urban Lights that you and your darling can go to. I recommend going here after the sunset to see all the lamps light up!

Many Disney movies have shaped our views on relationships and romance. They make us yearn for that moment when you meet your true love, or find that “happily ever after” in real life. With these Disney-inspired dates you are able to do a variation of those romantic moments seen in these memorable movies. So go ask that special someone out on a date, and make it a Disney-inspired one this summer!

Have an idea for a Disney-inspired date? Let us know which movies you’d like to see as dates and we just might include them in a future article!

I just wanted to give a special thank you to all of the members of our DisneyExaminer Staff who volunteered to go on these dates! Thank you for being great sports and doing all the cheesy, romantic poses that I asked from you. You are are all amazing!

If you want to find out more information about the places that our dates were held at here are links to each venues’ website:

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