Thinking about having a date night at Disney’s BoardWalk area? Get this former Cast Member’s inside tips to have the best evening ever.

I’m not only a lifelong Walt Disney World fan; I’m a former cast member. I didn’t work there long—not even a year in the ’90s—but being able to wander freely throughout the resort instilled in me a passion not just for the theme parks, but all the things you can do without ever setting foot inside one.

One of my favorite places? Disney’s Boardwalk. This place is full of Disney magic, and you don’t need a theme park ticket (or park pass reservation) to experience it.

Why not let some of that Disney magic work its way into your love life? Here’s how to make the most of date night at Disney’s BoardWalk.

Have a Magical Cocktail

Photo by Timothy Moore

While you probably think I mean the type of magic the Walt Disney World Company is famous for conjuring, no. I mean AbracadaBar, a yesteryear watering hole for magicians.

The bar apparently up and disappeared, but suspend your disbelief and sip on a cocktail for a magical start to your evening. I prefer Pepper’s Ghost, because I’m a sucker for the Haunted Mansion, but you may also want to try the Seashore Sweet.

Are you a fan of the Haunted Mansion too? Then you know the scariest thing is not ordering our special Haunted Mansion collectible edition issue.

Get Intimate at Crew’s Cup

No, not that kind of intimate; Crew’s Cup offers a more intimate dining experience than its big brother, Yachtsman Steakhouse.

Grab a booth, get a bottle of wine, and order a New York strip. Not a steak fan? The Chilled Admiral’s Tower for Two offers you a shareable seafood feast. Linger over that second glass of wine and consider dessert.

Don’t order it—that comes later—but consider it. You’ll need to wait for all that food to settle before you’ll want dessert. While you wait …

Take a Moonlit Boat Ride

Photo by Laurie Sapp

After dinner, walk over to any of the docks and wait for a boat. The boats run between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with stops at Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, and the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel.

Grab the bench on the stern and watch the world go by, or gaze up at the night sky. If all else fails, of course, you can always look into each others’ eyes, too.

Share a Sundae at Beaches and Cream

You need some ice cream to fill in the cracks, so get off the boat at Disney’s Beach Club and stroll over to Beaches and Cream. The hardest choice here is which sundae you’ll share: the Old-Fashioned Sundae or the Snickers Sundae. Maybe get one of each; you’ll need your energy to …

Dance With the One Who Brought You

Photo by Laurie Sapp

At Atlantic Dance Hall, open to adults only, dance to music spanning four decades. Act like kids at prom and hold onto each other for the slow songs, then shake your groove to the fast ones.

To cool down from all that dancing, head out to the balcony to watch the water; the dance hall sits on the edge of Crescent Lake.

Closing Out Date Night at Disney’s BoardWalk

Of course, the BoardWalk offers a myriad of other ways to enhance the romance—maybe you want to sit outside while the movies play on the beach, rock out at the adults-only Jellyrolls dueling piano bar, or just take turns shooting hoops. Feel free to make this date night your own.

And, hey, if you decide you want your date night to last a few hours longer, there are plenty of Walt Disney World resorts along the BoardWalk.