We are just days away from the opening night of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! Today I'm sharing some fun, creative, and simple Disney-themed costume ideas that will make you stand out and keep you comfortable! Some links on this website are affiliate links. This means, if you click on a link to one of these products and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Tower of Terror Transform into a Tower of Terror Bellhop with this Hollywood Terror Hotel patch from Etsy, which can be ironed onto a tank or tee. Add these Tower of Terror themed ears, and you are set to go! This "Take the Stairs Shirt" pairs great if you want to add a little humor! Sassy Princess Crew Grab your girls and give a nod to your favorite princess with a sassy tank and a princess-themed set of ears! Cinderella Has anyone seen my glass slipper? tank Ears Snow White Original Princess tank Ears Aurora Being a Princess is Exhausting tank Ears Belle My Weekend is Booked tank Ears Moana Hei Hei is My Spirit Animal tank Ears Ariel Mermaid Hair Don't Care tank Ears Rapunzel I Have Magic Hair That Grows When I Sing tank Ears Jamine World Traveler tank Ears Tiana Tired of Kissing Frogs tank Ears Haunted Mansion Happy Haunts Feeling spooky? Dress as one of Haunted Mansion's 999 happy haunts! With the help of a Cricut Explore 3 you can DIY your own shirt or tank with glow in the dark heat transfer vinyl or wear this cute Haunted Mansion dress or Beware of Hitch Hiking Ghost Shirt. Accessorize with creepy claw clips! Wilderness Explorers Channel your inner camper with this Wilderness Explorer t-shirt or tank and accessorize with a hat and bag. (The bag is a great place to stash extra candy as you are trick-or-treating around the park!) Visit my Amazon Storefront for more Disney and travel ideas. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here. Have you subscribed to my blog yet? It's free and packed with resources to help inspire and simplify Disney travel. Visit my home page and subscribe and never miss a new post!

Florida weather can turn a Magic Kingdom day into a survival strategy fast. One minute you are happily walking through Fantasyland, and the next you are searching for shade, air conditioning, or any place that keeps you out of a downpour. With the right planning, a little inconvenient weather doesn't have to ruin your trip. Practical tip: If you are caught in the rain walking down mainstreet know that all the shops on the left side of the street if you are facing the castle connect on the inside. This means you can stay dry and shop down Main Street until the rain passes. To make the most of your visit to Magic Kingdom it helps to have a short list of indoor attractions ready before the weather gets rough. The best picks are not always the biggest headliners. When heat or rain is the problem, the real winners have a few things in common: A mostly indoor queue A show, ride or queue that lasts long enough to feel worth it This ranking is based on comfort first. Yes, ride quality matters, but the goal here is simple: get out of the sun or rain and enjoy something fun while you recover. Here are my top five Magic Kingdom attractions to beat the heat and rain. 1. Mickey’s PhilharMagic Mickey’s PhilharMagic takes the top spot because it checks nearly every box for a heat or rain break. The wait is often short, the theater holds a lot of guests, and the show gives you a longer sit-down break than most rides. That combination is hard to beat when everyone in your group is hot, tired, damp, or all three. This 3D musical show is also easy to enjoy with a wide range of ages. It features Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and scenes inspired by classic Disney animated films. The biggest advantage is the length of the experience. A quick ride can be fun, but it may not cool you down enough on a brutal afternoon. Mickey’s PhilharMagic gives you time to sit in the dark, relax, and reset. That matters more than people think. When the heat starts wearing everyone down, a longer indoor show can save the mood of the day. It gives kids a chance to calm down, adults a chance to stop sweating, and the whole group a chance to get off their feet without feeling like they are wasting park time. Why it ranks first: short waits, high capacity, a long show, comfortable seating, and dependable air conditioning. Practical tip: If you are near Fantasyland and see a short wait, do not overthink it. This is one of the easiest attractions to use as a quick recovery stop, even if it was not on your original plan. Monster's Inc Laugh Floor Monster's Inc Laugh Floor is a close second. Like Mickey's PhilharMagic you get a nice long show. There wait for this one is often longer. You may be standing in the queue for some time before you enter the show. The waiting space in the queue can be a bit tight at times as they try to get as many people inside as possible. This show is interactive and will keep everyone laughing. Do know, they do use audience partipation and can put people on the spot. Practical tip: If some of your party is up for the laughs and some want to sit this one out, Monster's Inc Laugh Floor is located right across from Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies. Auntie Gravity's serves ice cream and floats and has indoor seating! Pirates of the Caribbean Unlike the attractions that took the first and second spots, this attraction is not a show, so the actual ride itself is not going to last as long. However, there is a large section of the outside queue that is covered and it does have a long inside queue. Pirates of the Caribbean is one of Disney's more popular rides. Do expect a longer wait for this ride especially if there is rain coming through. Practical tip: If you are in Adventureland and don't want to wait in line for Pirates of the Caribbean, head across to Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. This is an indoor animatronics bird show. It's not one of my personal favorites, but offers seating and has a large capacity. Do note, the holding area is outdoor, so if it's pouring and you are waiting for the next show, it' may not be the best option. Each show is 16 minutes long. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Similar to Pirates of the Caribbean, this is a ride, not a show, so the experience will not last as long, however the queue is mostly indoor. The line here can be long at times. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is an interactive ride. You control a joystick that allows you to spin the vehicle and shoot at targets. The ride itself lasts about 5 minutes. Practical tip: If the line is too long for this one, or extends outside into the rain, head over to Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies for ice cream and floats or The Lunching Pad or a hot dog or pretzel. Both are very close by and have covered seating. Space Mountain Space Mountain made the list due to the very long indoor queue. Space Mountain is one of the more popular rides at Magic Kingdom. It is a very fast rollercoaster that usually has a long wait. If you hit this one when the line has reached the indoor queue (it often extends outside), the indoor queue is long and the air conditioning can feel very nice on a hot day. Do expect to wait in line for a long time enjoying the company of your travel party. Practical tip: If you suffer from neck or back pain, this is not the ride for you. It offers little support and has sharp turns. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here

Get ready, Halloween season has almost arrived at Magic Kingdom! Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween parties are right around the corner! The spooktacular fun awaits you on select nights at Magic Kingdom. Guests who are gearing up for a visit will be treated to: Trick-or-Treating throughtout the park Mickey's Boo-to-You parade Disney's Not-So- Spooky Spectacular fireworks show Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular show Moonlight Melodies dance parties throughout the park Attractions with themed overlays Halloween themed photo pass experiences Characters in costumes....and more! I'm thrilled to share with you my top tips for making the most of the party! Dress up! You don't have to go in costume, but chances are you won't regret it if you do. It adds to the fun. Just be sure to dress for the weather and comfort. Check out Creative Costumes for Mickey's Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party for inspiration. 2. Arrive at Magic Kingdom by 3:45. The party ticket allows you entry at 4:00. Lines start to form outside of Magic Kingdom for the party well before this. Cast members will start scanning tickets a little before 4:00 and begin allowing guests in at 4:00. Upon entry you will want to grab your Halloween treat bag and your first treat. 3. Consider making a dining reservation for 4:15 or 4:30. When you first arrive the park will be busy. The guests who have arrived for the party will be entering. They guests who have been at Magic Kingdom for the day are not ushered out until 6. This overlap creates a bit of a crowd and its the perfect time to relax and fuel up for the evening. You can also use this time to view the party map that is provided when you arrive. 4. Make a plan and prioritize your time. As you can see on this previous year's party map, there is a lot to do. There is limited capicity and lower crowds so you should expect much shorter wait times for attractions, however lines for characters can get quite long. There will be characters you typically don't see during normal park hours as well as some regulars dressed up in their Halloween costumes. 5. Don't get in line for the most popular attractions such as, Seven Dwarfs or Tron when the party first starts. The lines will be long. These lines will be shorter during the parades and the end of the night. Take advantage of the large crowds at these lines and hit other attractions on your list. You may even find yourself the ONLY rider on an attraction! I was the only rider on Buzz Lightyear! 6. Try a specialty treat! There's a lot of Halloween treats to choose from. You can check menus ahead of time and make a list of your must try items! The Candy Corn Sundae at Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies takes just like Halloween! 7. Go to the second parade. There are two parades one at 8:15 and one at 11:15. If you can go to the second, skip the first and do this. The first draws a larger crowd. Use this time to get in line for a busier ride like Tron, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train , or Tiana's Bayou Adventure. The parade starts in Fronteirland. This is a great spot for viewing for two reasons. You will be the first to see the start of the parade (and the end), and Fronteirland has a Halloween vibe which offers the perfect backdrop to the parade. Parade viewed from Frontierland 8. Be sure to check out Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. Although not noted on the party map, typically a Halloween twist is added to these attractions. Haunted Mansion Haunted Mansion Ghosts 9. Take a backpack to carry your treats. You will be given treatbags when you walk in. These are for trick-or-treaking around the park. If you want to gather candy and be hands free, you'll want a backpack to hold this bag in while you are walking around. Halloween Party Candy 10. Looking for great fireworks photos? Step behind Prince Charming's Carousel. Look up to view the fireworks. They will be directly over you and all around. You will not see the projections on the castle, but if you are looking to avoids a crowd, this can be a great spot for pictures. Fireworks viewed from behind Prince Charming's Carousel Fireworks viewed from behind Prince Charming's Carousel 11. If you can, stay on property. This party runs until midnight. After a fun filled evening, you won't want a long ride back to your hotel. Disney resorts offer a variety of complimentary transportantion options to and from parks and some resorts even offer walkability to parks. Ticket sales open early for resort guests and resorts are a great place to hang out and relax prior to and after your party night. You can enjoy more than just beautiful pools at a Disney resort hotel. You may find arts and crafts, movies under the stars, trivia, campfires or even a glow party! Pick up recreation activities at the front desk when you arrive! Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here If you are looking for more costume inspiration, be sure to check out my Amazon Storefront. Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Chances are, if you have planned a trip to Walt Disney World for the the Fall or Winter months you have considered buying a special party ticket for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs select nights at Magic Kingdom beginning early August this year through Halloween, then Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party kicks off after Halloween and runs through the Christmas season, also at Magic Kingdom park. The party tickets can be pricy. When added on to an already expensive Disney vacation, it can sometimes be difficult to justify this additional cost. The truth is, these parties can be a great way to pack a LOT of extra magic to your Walt Disney World Vacation, and adding on the party doesn't have to break the bank. Below are a few of my dos and don'ts to save money and make the most of these special events! Don't purchase a park ticket for the day of the party. The party ticket allows you entry into Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. Spend the morning sleeping in and enjoying resort activities. This will leave you and your family with more energy to enjoy the late-night party. By eliminating a day of park tickets (and Lightning Lane, which is not needed or even available for special events), you save money, and the cost of the party ticket is often not that much more than you had already planned to spend that day. Additionally, with the smaller crowds and shorter wait times, you will get more done during the evening party than you would during the day at the park. Do plan your outfits ahead of time. Not everyone will dress up in theme, but it definitely makes the experience more fun. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a great opportunity for matching sweaters or Christmas PJs. You can use Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as an excuse to dress up as your favorite character or even ride like my family did! Don't miss out on special ride overlays! I'm not a fan of Space Mountain. In fact, that might be a little bit of an understatement. I don't enjoy being on a very fast roller coaster in complete darkness. The rest of my family likes the ride, so I always reluctantly end up riding. During Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, I was able to ride Space Mountain with the lights on and Christmas music playing. It was a completely different experience, and I loved it! There are overlays for select rides during both parties. Check the party map or your My Disney Experience app for details! Do bring your own glow! There are plenty of opportunities to buy overpriced light up toys at the park. If you plan ahead and bring your own glow toys you can save a lot of money. I purchased light up necklaces from the local craft store for $2.50. These were very similar to the ones being sold at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for $20. Don't go to the first parade if you can make it to the second. There are two parades, an early parade around 9:15 pm and a later parade around 11:15 pm. The early parade tends to draw a larger crowd. If you can make it to the second parade, skip the first parade and take advantage of the lighter crowds elsewhere. My family likes to use this time to go on our favorite rides! When it's time for the parade, you don't have to be directly in front of the castle for a great view. The parade starts in Frontierland and turns by the castle then travels down Main Street. There are some great viewing areas in Frontierland. You can also get a nice view by the bridge leaving Liberty Square heading towards the castle. Do take advantage of the FREE extras! There are many extras that are included with the price of your party ticket and you don't want to miss out! During Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party each member of our group was able to pick up a beautiful ornament and commemorative print. There were also plenty of places to grab a cup of hot cocoa, cider and cookies. At Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you will receive a bag upon entry to stash all you candy. There's plenty of stations to grab candy as you move around the park. We left with a ton of candy, including many new flavors of our favorites we had not seen or tried yet, which was super fun! Don't miss the fireworks! Unlike the parades, the fireworks only run once a night. They are in-between the two parades, around 10:15 pm. Be sure to check the time and arrive early to get a viewing spot. I like to set a timer on my phone as a reminder. For the fireworks the best viewing areas are in front of or by castle. This will allow you to see projections on the castle. You won't want to miss the holiday themed show! Do grab a map when you enter the party. The map and your my Disney experience app will show you where you can find ride overlays, special party treats, dance parties, showtimes and more! Below are maps from Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. My family likes to have an early dinner reservation, around 4:30 pm so we can sit down, enjoy a meal, look through the map and discuss our plans for the evening. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Do book your Walt Disney World Vacation with a travel agent. Travel agents can save you money and time. Most travel agents will not charge you anything extra than you would pay if you were booking your trip on your own through Disney. Good agents will price monitor your trip and rebook it when offers become available that can lower the price of your trip. Agents can provide you will as little or a much assistance planning your vacation as you like. Hi, I'm Irene! I'm a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! Request a no obligation quote here. Looking for outfit ideas? Check out my Amazon Storefront!

Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa is located on the beautiful island of Oahu and is a premier destination for family vacations. This resort celebrates the culture of Hawaii and showcases Disney storytelling. Similar to other Disney destinations and cruises, many experiences can be booked ahead through Aulani's personalized app, including excursions, so be sure to set up an account and link your reservation once you have booked your stay. There's so much available, and some experiences do require advanced planning. Today, I'm sharing the booking windows to help you make the most of your stay! 180 days in advance of the desired date of attendance KA WA‘A Lū‘au Laniwai Spa and Painted Sky 90 days in advance of the desired date of attendance Cabanas and Casabellas 45 days in advance of the desired date of attendance Aunty’s Beach House(kids club) Pau Hana (crafts & more) Disney PhotoPass Makahiki (dining) ‘AMA‘AMA (dining) 10 days in advance of the desired date of attendance Fitness Classes Day of arrival through the desired date of attendance Rainbow Reef (swim with tropical fish) Reserve your spot in person at the Rainbow Reef desk. Line up at 8:00 AM to secure a spot. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, and I would love to help you plan a vacation that meets your needs and budget! My planning services are free, and I price monitor, saving you time and money! Request a no-obligation quote here. Have you subscribed to my blog yet? It's free and packed with resources to help inspire and simplify Disney travel. Visit my home page and subscribe so you never miss a new post!

There is much to see and do on a Walt Disney World Vacation it's important that you make the most of your time. It's no secret that there are often long waits for many popular attractions. In recent years Disney has introduced a new service called Genie + to help guests manage time. Below are answers to some commonly asked questions and answers about Genie + and tips on how to use this service strategically to make the most of your vacation. What is Genie +? Genie + is a newer system designed to help you save time waiting in line using what are referred to as "lightning lane entrances". Lightning lane entrances are separate entrances to attractions where Disney limits the number of guest that can enter a lighting lane each hour, so waits are shorter. How do I purchase Genie +? Genie + can be purchased through your my Disney experience app the day of your visit. You can purchase Genie + for one park or multiple parks. The price will vary by park and day. Rates are higher on days parks are expected to be busier. Simply open the mobile app, click on the "purchase" button on the "Disney Genie + Service" section, then scroll to the bottom and click "Get Disney Genie + Service", then select the park you will be visiting that day. There is also a multiple parks option for guests using park hopper tickets and visiting more than one park. Walt Disney World App Home Screen Does Genie + Include all Walt Disney World Attractions? Genie + includes most attractions, however there are a few attractions that can only be purchased individually. These are referred to as Individual Lightning Lane, or "ILL" attractions. How do I book rides with Genie +? After you have purchased Genie + you may begin selecting attractions by going to your tip board as early as 7am if you are staying at a WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, or when the park opens if you are staying off property. Your tip board can be found by clicking on the menu button on the lower right corner of the app (3 horizontal lines), then you will see the tip board button on the top left of the screen. On your tip board you will see the next time available for each attraction or show. You will be able to book one Genie + attraction at this time. (You can also book a Individual Lightning Lane (ILL)"attraction at this time. You will see these attractions listed on the tip board and marked with a price. Most rides are included with Genie +, but there are a few attractions that are "Individual Lightning Lane (ILL)". You would purchase these rides separately.) When can I book my next Genie + attraction? You can book another Genie + lightning lane attraction after you have scanned a lighting lane attraction at the attraction queue or if it's been 2 hours since you booked your last lighting lane (and two hours after the park has opened). This means you can hold more than one Genie + lightning lane attraction at a time. You will see the next time you can book an attraction listed at the top of your tip board. Here are a few tips when booking attractions -Book the most popular rides first. These will have later return times, but that's OK. When the park first opens everyone goes to the most popular rides. The lines for other attractions will be shorter. Use this time to wait in the shorter lines. Then later in the day when it's your turn for the more popular attraction you can skip the stand by line using your booked Genie +. You may also be able to experience one of the attractions you enjoyed earlier in the day a second time by booking it through Genie + and skipping the stand by line. -Genie + allows you to book a lightning lane each for each attraction only once based on availability. Some of the most popular attractions may not have availably by the end of the day. Prior to your visit, you can view wait times on the app to see which rides have the longest waits. -You can modify rides after you book. Just click on the 3 dots in the right corner. This will not change the time you can book your next ride. -Be sure to book your next attraction as soon as you are able to! Don't forget you can book an attraction after you have scanned an attraction or if it's been 2 hours since you booked your last attraction. The time you can book will be listed on the top of your tip board. -If you have trouble or questions with Genie + while at the park, look for a guest service blue umbrella. Cast members here can assist you. I'm only going to the park for half a day, is it a waste to purchase Genie +? NO! You can still purchase Genie+ and begin booking attractions at 7 am. Be sure to modify the times so you are moving the times to later in the day. Continue adding on attractions every 2 hours. You will arrive at the park with a few attractions lined up or "stacked" and ready to go to. What happens if my booked attraction is closed during my scheduled time? Sometimes attractions close due to a variety of reasons. If this happens during your scheduled time your booked experience will change over to a "lightning lane-select experience". You can use this on any Genie + lighting lane experience (not ILL). Do I need Genie + for all 4 parks? Genie + is an additional add on and extra expense. This is not something that is required for your Disney World vacation, but I would consider the value of your time when thinking about the purchase. During less busy times you can get by without purchasing Genie + for Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Both of these parks offer many experiences that don't require waiting in lines. I would still recommend Genie + for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Both of these parks have many rides and the service will really save you time and allow you to experience more. Are there any other perks to purchasing Genie +? My favorite Genie + perk outside of the lightning lane service is the DisneyPhotoPass photos included for select attractions. Many attractions have photo opportunities. Prior to using this service I had fun with the pictures, but never purchased any. Now that they are included, my family has had a great time posing for pictures during the rides. You will also receive a PhotoPass lease app which gives you access to a ton of Disney filters through your phone, my kids have had a lot of fun playing with this during downtime in our resort room. All of this information is the most up to date at the time of the publishing of this blog post. Periodically updates are made to the Genie + service. For the most accurate information and strategies, be sure to check with your travel agent. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

The most special and unique souvenirs my family has brought back from Disney vacations have been items we have used to collect character autographs. Autographed souvenirs are one-of-a-kind and unusually inexpensive. With a little planning before your next Disney adventure, you can create something extra special to remember your trip. Some links on this website are affiliate links. This means, if you click on a link to one of these products and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Below are a few of my favorite items for autographs. A Canvas Pouch This pouch was found in the dollar section at Target. We used fine tip fabric markers to collect autographs. After the trip it has been used to store make up and jewelry. Amazon also has quite a Disney canvas make up bags for around $10. Photo Mat A photo mat can be a great place to collect autographs. This idea is best for cruises, as the photo mat is a little more difficult to carry around with you at the parks. After your trip, use the mat to frame your favorite vacation photo! A Baseball Hat This hat was purchased on sale online from ShopDisney. When considering a hat for autographs, find one with enough open space for autographs and use fine tip fabric markers. Another great place to look for an autographs hat is 15 Needles Embroidery. This small business is highly rated and owned by a former cast member. They offer a wide range of Disney designs and hat colors so you can make a custom hat that matches your style! Pillow Case You'll need a light colored pillow case and medium tip fabric markers for this creation. Be sure to put a piece of paper of cardboard inside the pillow case as the characters are signing so the autographs don't bleed through. For an added magic, have your favorite character or your name embroidered on the pillow case ahead of time. White Insulated Water Bottle This item does double duty. Grab a white refillable waterbottle to keep you hydrated during your trip, and use it to collect autographs! These were signed with a metallic sharpie and spayed with a clear coat to finish. You can purchase the Stanley Cup and the Metalic Starpie Markers from Amazon. Christmas Ornaments Ornaments are a great place to capture autographs, especially if you are only looking to prioritize visiting a few characters as you don't have much space to fill. I love these ornaments from It All Started With A Flag. They make hand crafted wood ornaments for virtually every Disney resort and destination. This highly rated small business is owned by a former cast member. Here are a few additional items to consider: canvas tote white t-shirt or tank (just be sure you are carrying it and not wearing it, characters do not sign clothing on guests) apron white backpack small white purse (you can wear this and carry your fabric pens inside) Disney story book, each character signs on their picture Character meals are an enjoyable way to meet a lot of characters in a short time with no lines. Read more about character dining in Character Dining, the 2024 Disney Dining Plan and Dining Discounts at Walt Disney World. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

I love Epcot. Since the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, it may be my favorite park. Epcot, however, isn't always thought of as a main attraction for pre-schoolers. Epcot is known for futuristic attractions and international food and drinks. Often times this park is dismissed when planning trips for preschoolers. I believe Epcot is truly a very versatile park. It's a great time for adults, kids, tweens, teens and pre-schoolers! Here are 5 ways your pre-schooler can enjoy Epcot: Catch a ride on The Seas with Nemo and Friends. As you exit the attraction be sure to pick up a complimentary scavenger hunt and check out SeaBase, a two story aquarium, home to thousands of sea animals! Located in the same building you will find, Turtle Talk with Crush. This attraction is an interactive chat with Crush from Finding Nemo! Guests can ask Crush marine life questions and learn what it's like to live in the ocean. The show is improvised, so it’s different every time. It’s an ocean full of laughs for all ages! 2. Take a walk through Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. Guests may choose to play in the water as it travels from the sky to the ocean and back again. 3. Enjoy a gentle boat tour through a greenhouse as you ride Living with the Land! Learn about innovative growing techniques. You'll even see some modified fruits and vegetables with jaw dropping effects! If you are visiting during the holidays, this attraction may be decorated with a special holiday overlay! 4. Travel through time as you ride on Spaceship Earth. Guests learn about communication from the Stone Age to modern day. At the exit of this attraction, there is an interactive play area called Project Tomorrow Wonders of the Future. 5. Check out a 4D movie! Vacation Fun Animated Short with Mickey and Minnie is not an only a great spot to cool off, but your kids will be amazed by the 4D effects as they watch the show! With plenty of seating, wait times here are generally very short! 6. Let your imagination run wild as you explore your sense with a Journey into Imagination With Figment. This attraction also has an interactive play area at the exit. Explore ImageWorks "What If" Labs on your way out! 7. Head over to Norway to ride Frozen Ever After. Voyage to Arendelle aboard an ancient Nordic vessel as you take a musical tour of the wintery world of Frozen. This attraction can have a longer wait, so be sure to check wait times on the My Disney Experience app or book a Lightning Lane pass. On your way out stop by to meet Anna and Elsa at Royal Sommerhus. If you want to plan a dining experience with Princesses, also located in Norway, you will find Arkershus Royal Banquet Hall, where Belle is the guest of honor. 8. If you are looking for a boat ride attraction with little to no wait, head over to Mexico and hop on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. This gentle boat ride is bright, cheerful and takes you through famous sights and cities in Mexico. 9. Experience one of Disney's newest attractions, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure located in France. This 4D adventure allows riders to feel as if they they shrunk down to the size of a mouse as they ride through a bustling kitchen. This attraction can have a longer wait, so be sure to check wait times on the My Disney Experience app or book a Lightning Lane pass. 10. Explore the countries throughout the World Showcase. In addition to being great places to find unique souvenirs and personalized gifts, each international pavilion around the World Showcase offers a Kidcot Fun Stop. This is a free activity station that teaches facts about the culture and traditions of each county. Visiting during The Flower and Garden Festival? Pick up an Egg-stravaganza scavenger hunt map (for a small fee) and search for eggs around the World Showcase. Turn in the completed map for a prize! 11. Meet favorite characters around the park. Character locations and appearance times can be found on the my Disney Experience app. Consider bringing something for characters to sign. Check out The Best Items for Disney Character Autographs for inspiration. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

Guests visiting Walt Disney World can now reserve certain attractions and experiences in advance using Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days before their visit! This updated system replaces Genie+, which previously enabled guests to make reservations starting at 7 am on the day of their visit. Discover all the details about this new system and get some helpful tips to enhance your visit! What is the difference between Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass? There are two pass types of Lightning Lane passes, a Lightning Lane Multi Pass and a Lightning Lane Single Pass. The Multi Pass allows you to reserve up to 3 attractions ahead of your visit. With the Multi Pass, however, the attractions you may select are limited. The attractions are also tiered. For your first three selections you may only select one attraction from the most popular attractions. For example, if you are visiting Hollywood Studios, below are the attractions you may choose from: Choose up to one experience from this group: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Slinky Dog Dash Choose your other 2 experiences—or all 3—from this group: Alien Swirling Saucers Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage Disney Junior Play & Dance! For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Muppet*Vision 3D Star Tours – The Adventures Continue The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ Toy Story Mania! You may also notice, one of the most popular attractions Star Wars Rise of the Resistance is not on the list. This attraction is a Lightning Lane Single Pass ride. In addition to purchasing the Lighting Lane Multi Pass, you may purchase Lightning Lane Single Passes. All Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass offerings can be viewed through your my Disney Experience app and on the website. How much do the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Signal Pass cost? Prices for the pass vary by date and park. You will be able to see prices 3 weeks in advance through your my Disney Experience account. When. you are eligible to purchase your passes you do not have to check out until you have selected your rides. Selections will stay in your cart for about 5 minutes. This new feature is different than what guests experienced with Genie + where you purchased then booked your experiences. You can now see what you are purchasing prior to checkout, which many guests may prefer. TIP You may not need to purchase the Multi Pass for every park during your visit. If you are visiting during a less busy time consider cost worth benefit by monitoring wait times on available attractions. If you are working with a travel agent they can assist you with this money saving strategy. If I have a park hopper pass can I book experiences in more than one park? Yes, you will purchase the Multi Pass at the first park you will be visiting and make your first three selections there. Then you will be able to book future selections at your current park or the next park you plan to visit. TIP If you have the park hopper ticket, after redeeming your first multi pass, you can look for availability at all parks to determine which park you would like to go to based on ride selections available, offering you more flexibility in choices. How many passes can I book? Once you redeem a selection, you can use the app to check availability for your next attraction. There is a limit to one Lightning Lane entry per day. So for example, after you have redeemed Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway you may not book this attraction again that day. TIP If you would like to maximize the number of passes you will be able to redeem, book your passes as early as you can. As the day progresses availability for passes will become more limited. Use the modify feature to check for earlier times after you have booked. When can I book my experiences? Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel and other select hotels (Swan and Dolphin and Shades of Green), can purchase passes up to 7 days in advance of their stay. This means you are eligible to choose experiences starting 7 days before the first day of your resort stay for the length of your stay. Other guests can purchase passes up to 3 days in advance of their park visit. Booking opens at 7am. You will want to book as soon as your window opens up. TIP If you are staying at a Disney Resort Hotel you can book passes for your entire travel stay (up to 14 days after your check in day) at once. You do not have to book your days in consecutive order. Consider booking the most popular attractions first, this may require you to book your days out of order. You can also have more than one party member booking at a time using multiple devices. How do I purchase passes? Passes are purchased through your my Disney Experience app, on your mobile device only. Be sure to connect everyone in your travel group on your Family & Friends list and make sure everyone has valid park passes linked to the my Disney experience account. TIP To save time, be sure you have preloaded your credit card information to your my Disney Experience account for purchases and that you have gathered your wish list of attractions and experiences so you are ready and organized. You will need to move fast when it's time to book. Once I book passes can I modify? Once passes are booked they are non-refundable, but they can be modified. You can change your selected park and/or date in advance (subject to availability) up until the moment you redeem your first Lightning Lane selection of the day. You can also change each selected experience and/or arrival window in advance (subject to availability) up until the start of the arrival window. TIP If you don't initially get the time you want, keep trying to modify your selection. If you want to maximize the value of you Multi Pass, try to get the earliest times possible. Once you have redeemed a selection, you may book another. Are there any additional perks to purchasing Lightning Lane Passes? Yes! When you purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass you will receive free digital downloads of select attraction photos and videos from your day, captured with Disney PhotoPass Service. Plus, access Disney PhotoPass Lenses. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

Disney's Contemporary Resort is one of the two original Walt Disney property resorts. This iconic resort was built in 1971 and designed to be "ultra modern". Disney's Contemporary Resort is a deluxe resort with a deluxe resort price tag, which could leave you wondering if it is right pick for your next Walt Disney World vacation. Below are six considerations that can help you decide. When staying at Disney Contemporary Resort you are walking distance to Magic Kingdom. This makes trips back and forth to Magic Kingdom quick and simple. It's perfect for families who want a mid-day break at the resort pool or have little (or not so little) ones who would like a nap back in the room. This easy park access is also really convenient for anyone who is planning on enjoying an evening special ticketed event, such as Disney's After Hours at Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. With parties ending as late as midnight, it's much nicer to walk directly to your resort rather than waiting around for a bus with overly tired family members. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party Disney's Contemporary Resort is one of Disney's three monorail resorts. The monorail transportation system will take you effortlessly to other monorail resorts (Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Polynesian Village Resort), opening up more dining options, and to the Magic Kingdom. Additionally, you can take the monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) and transfer to the Epcot monorail for a scenic ride over to Epcot. The monorail runs through the main tower of the Contemporary Resort. Garden wing rooms at Disney's Contemporary Resort are the most affordable rooms on the monorail. Disney's Contemporary Resort garden wing rooms are the most affordable rooms available with monorail access. While these rooms are set back away from the main tower and do not offer balconies, you still get monorail access and great walkability to the Magic Kingdom making them a good value for a deluxe resort. birds eye view of garden wing Main tower lake view rooms at Disney's Contemporary Resort are less expensive than theme park view rooms and offer beautiful dawn and dusk views. Main tower theme park view rooms are much pricier than the main tower lake view rooms. You don't have to feel like you are scarificing by booking one of these less expensive rooms. While you won't have a view of Space Mountain, you will wake up to a beautiful sunrise over Bay Lake and can enjoy gorgeous evening views as well. Disney's Contemporary Resort is home of two very popular restaurants, Chef Mickey's and California Grill. Great dining options will not be a problem if you are staying at The Contemporary Resort. This resort is home to two very popular resort restaurants, Chef Mickey's, a character buffet that serves breakfast and dinner right in the center of the main tower, and California Grill, one of the best firework dining experiences at Walt Disney World. Additionally, with easy access to other monorail resorts, you can enjoy character dining at Ohana and 1900 Park Fare ,fine dining at Narcoossee's and much more! (Be sure to make your dining reservations 60 days ahead of your stay) Rooms have been recently renovated! Keeping with the retro modern theming, rooms were recently renovated to Incredibles decor. Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to help you find the perfect resort for your stay! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.

Hey there! If you're heading to Walt Disney World, you can now grab Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Passes up to a week before your stay. The prices vary depending on the day and park. If you are purchasing passes for all days of your stay, the cost can really add up! On my recent trip, I decided to go for the multi pass at Hollywood Studios and skip the single pass for Rise of the Resistance. When we went in mid-August, the Multi Pass was $24 per person, so for our group of four, we shelled out $96. Check out the breakdown of our Multi Pass day to see if it's worth it and how we spent our time! Money spent: $96 Time saved: 360 min (6 hours!) Lightning Lane rides: 7 Additional rides/attractions: 5 8:30 am: Woke up, got dressed and checked the weather. Saw rain was in the forecast. Put ponchos in our park bag (this will be important later!) 9:30 am: Took the ferry to Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club Resort. 9:45 am: Arrived at Hollywood studios. Headed to first prebooked Lightnining Lane, Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. Stand by line was 65 min. After band was scanned, booked Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway for 1:30-2:30. 10:15 am: Ate breakfast at Fairfax Fare 10:50 am: Walked over to our second pre-booked Lightning Lane, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Stand by line was 90 min. After band was scanned booked Millennium Falcon for 1:30-2:30. 11:40 am: It was time to ride our third pre-booked Lightning Lane, Toy Story Mania. Stand by line was 45min. Booked Star Tours for 12:00-1:00 after band was scanned. 12:15 pm: Headed to Star Tours. Stand by Line was 15 min. We really didn't need the Lightning Lane for this one. 12:30 pm: Grabbed a funnel cake and drinks and headed to Indiana Jones. 1:15 pm: While waiting for Indiana Jones to start, modified Millennium Falcon Lightning Lane to 7pm which was after our dining reservation. We also booked Alien Swirling Saucers at 7:20pm. 1:45pm: Rode Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway using Lightning Lane pass. Stand by line was 65 min. 2:30 pm: Enjoyed drinks and snacks at Oga's Cantina. 3:30 pm: Exiting Oga's Cantina rain began. Took a break to put on ponchos and get out of rain. 3:45 pm: Walked over to Rise of the Resistance wearing ponchos, the rain was still heavy. The stand by wait time was listed as 40 min, most of this queue is indoor. We were able to walk right into the indoor queue area. Waited 20 minutes. 4:15 pm: When we exited Rise of the Resistance the rain had stopped. We head over to Star Tours and rode it twice. Wait time was listed as 10 minutes. We walked right in. (There are over 250 different storylines on this ride, so you are likely to enjoy a different experience each time) 4:45 pm: Walked right into Muppet Vision 3D. 5:15 pm: Headed to our dinner reservation at Sci Fi Dine in Theater. 7:00 pm: Rode Millennium Falcon using lightning lane. Stand by line was 45 min. 7:30 pm: Rode Alien Swirling Saucers using Lightning Lane. Stand by line was 35 min. 7:50 pm: Took ferry back to Yacht Club Resort and enjoyed a glow party on the beach and Epcot fireworks from our resort room. Pro Tip: Work with a travel agent who specializes in Disney to determine your travel party's priorities. Your agent can help you determine your lightning lane needs based on the time of year and your travel goals. Plus, they can give you strategies to help you get the most out of your passes! It'll help you save both money and time! Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to work with you! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here

May the 4th be with you! Unleash your inner Jedi and check out this list of fun Star Wars finds! Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run Some links on this website are affiliate links. This means, if you click on a link to one of these products and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Who doesn't love to be the creator of their own destiny! These books were a personal childhood favorite of mine, so I was very excited to find a Star Wars version to purchase for my kids! Check out these Star Wars Choose Your Own Destiny books! How cute are these Stackable drinking glasses by Joy Jolt? The Star Wars Stackable collection glasses are as versatile as they are adorable! The perfect glassware set for any Star Wars fan, whether they’re in use or on a shelf. Available in 5 iconic characters. Choose your favorite Star Wars character or collect them all! Looking for something cozy? Barefoot Dreams makes the softest blankets. This Star Wars throw will keep you cozy and warm! This Corkcicle Droid Gift Set is perfect for morning or night keeping coffee warm and wine chilled! Pair with Joffrey's Coffee Star Wars Dark Side Blend or Once Upon a Vine Wine! Looking for a cooler backpack for your next park visit or summer outing? Picnic Time brand makes a great Star Wars cooler backpack in a variety of Star Wars designs! Take this bag along as you explore Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. Read my recent blog post Tips for Making the Most of Your First Visit to Oga's Cantina to prep for your visit! Ready to start planning your next Disney adventure? I'm Irene, a travel agent with Mouseketrips, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and I would love to help you plan an amazing Disney adventure! My planning services are free and I price monitor saving you time and money! Request a no obligation quote here.