Walt Disney World is often referred to as the most magical place on Earth.
But is it as magical if you're a single Orlando, Florida, local whose favorite date spot is the world-famous theme park?
Insider spoke with Casey Maute — a lifelong Disney fan and the host of the highly-rated "Single Rider Podcast" — who is looking for her Prince Charming to learn what makes dating at Disney different than your typical night on the town.
Editor's note: Walt Disney World's website warns guests of the " inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19" that "exists in any public place where people are present." In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not currently recommend nonessential
Maute's family would go to Disney World nearly every summer when she was in elementary school. She returned to Disney World for a high-school trip and visited Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in college — which reignited her interest in the theme parks and led her to create her Disney accessories business, ParkBound Buttons.
Then, over two years ago, Maute moved from Arkansas to Orlando.
In addition to selling Disney-themed accessories, she divulges the highs and lows of dating at Disney every week on her podcast.
"I think once I started dating more here, it was very apparent that the kind of situations I was getting myself into were interesting and funny and I would always tell them to my friends," Maute said. "My friend RJ had me on his podcast to talk about my dates I had been on and he said, 'This is so funny, you should do a podcast.'"
"The people you are dating could really be from anywhere because Orlando is such a tourist destination. You could end up on a date with a guy who's in the 'Finding Nemo' musical or a tourist on vacation," Maute said. "If the person you're out on a date with doesn't live here, you could have a really good time together and then they're going back home and you have to decide, 'Do I keep talking to you or do we just call it a fun two dates and never talk again?'"
Maute has also found herself in the opposite situation. Maute said that once, after a romantic evening watching the fireworks at Magic Kingdom, she found that her date had a hard time parting ways.
"There was a guy I hung out with a couple of times and when I dropped him off at his hotel, he was crying because we weren't going to see each other again," Maute said. "That Disney magic did something to him."
With tens of thousands of guests visiting each day, there's also a risk of running into people you know while on a date.
"One time, I was hanging out with a guy at the parks and I was posting that I was there on my Instagram stories like normal," she said. "Another guy messaged me and was like, 'Oh, I'm at the parks, too, let's say hi.'"
Not wanting to upset either of them, Maute told her date that her "friend" was nearby and they said hi. "I was trying to tiptoe around it," she added.
Maute has found that the not-so-magical Orlando weather can be another obstacle.
"There is just no way to look cute during an Orlando summer day," Maute said. "If you decide to go on a date with someone at Disney, most likely your hair is going to look bad from the humidity, you're going to be sweaty, you're just going to be gross."
Maute said it's also important to be prepared for every possible weather situation, including showers which can often pop up without warning.
"I always have a handheld fan with me and rain gear because a big issue with Disney is it's all outdoors and we live in Florida," she said. She'll also often suggest meeting after sunset, when things cool down a bit.
Maute said that she's always felt safe dating at Disney because of the comfortable environment and security team.
"I feel like being at a bar at Disney World is miles better than being downtown at a bar," Maute said.
Going on a date somewhere that she already considers her "happy place" is an added bonus.
"To be able to have fun with someone in a space I enjoy is really important for me," she said.
Maute likes to show her dates who are less familiar with the parks her favorite "insider" spots like BaseLine Tap House at Hollywood Studios and Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar or Splitsville at Disney Springs.
"Just walking around Disney Springs is a really good first date," Maute said. "You don't have to pay for parking or a theme-park ticket, but you still get that themed experience."
Her ideal Disney date, however, would include some time inside and outside of the parks.
"A really fun date would be going around Epcot's World Showcase in the evening and trying the food during one of the festivals. After that, going over to the BoardWalk and finishing the night at AbracadaBar or grabbing a slice of pizza or a drink along the BoardWalk resorts and just walking around there. The area is just really nice with all of the lights and the BoardWalk feel," she said.
Maute recently relocated to Austin, Texas, though she says there are more dating stories (and podcast episodes) to come.
Some listeners reach out to tell her they just started dating again and that her stories both crack them up and provide good advice. Others are married and listen simply because they love Disney, and get to live vicariously through Maute's dating life.
This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author(s).
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