BUSCH GARDENS HOSTS POKÉMON GO LURE-A-THON

I’m sure by now you have at least heard about the new Pokemon Go App. And if you have kids, I know you have definitely heard about it. I’m guilty. While my son is at camp, I keep an eye out for the little guys on my phone. With everything going on in our country and beyond, it’s nice to take a break and play! Here we are grabbing one at the local coffee shop **Note-we were already there…I swear I don’t chase these guys!

The theme parks have joined in too. Busch Gardens will host a Pokemon Go Lure-A-Thon this weekend. And you’re all invited.

DETAILS:

Are you ready to prove you’re the very best? Come put your skills to the test at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay this weekend for the ultimate Pokémon Go event! Pokémon trainers are encouraged to wear their team colors and try to level up as many Pokémon as they can! Be sure to check out BuschGardensTampaBlog.com and follow Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, for insider tips like gym locations, wi-fi hotspots and more! We want to see what you’ve caught! Share with us using #BuschGardens and #PokemonGo.

WHAT:                 Pokémon Go Lure-a-Thon – Details/RSVP HERE

More than 50 lure modules activated throughout the park including: Pantopia, Egypt, Jungala, Edge of Africa and Stanleyville.

                WHEN:                 Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

PARK ADMISSION IS REQUIRED. Parking is not included.

                WHERE:               Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Pass Members will get EXCLUSIVE access to seven PokéStops with activated lure modules in the Egypt area of the park from 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM during the Pass Member Cobra’s Curse exclusive ride time.

From Busch Gardens: The safety of our guests, animals and ambassadors is our top priority, so while we want our guests to have fun and catch them all, we ask that you continue to follow all posted safety guidelines and procedures, including not entering restricted areas.

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Leows Sapphire Falls Resort Now Open at Universal Orlando

I’m so excited to share that the BEAUTIFUL Leows Sapphire Falls Resort is NOW OPEN at Universal Orlando.

The brand new Caribbean-inspired hotel brings the number of Universal Orlando on-site hotel rooms to 5,200. A destination within itself, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort has scenic rivers and waterfalls of the Caribbean and immerses guests in a highly-themed resort environment using traditional island styling and modern touches.

Guests can experience exceptional amenities and benefits that include:

• Snapping a photo from a water taxi of the hotel’s dazzling lagoon waterfalls lit up at night, welcoming guests to an island paradise
• Sliding down a water slide into the largest on-site pool at Universal Orlando Resort, complete with a children’s play area, two sand beaches and fire pit
• Sampling innovative, Caribbean-inspired food including the signature mojo marinated rotisserie chicken at Amatista Cookhouse, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Taking a one-of-a-kind cocktail journey with a rum captain and sampling some of the 75 rums being poured in Strong Water Tavern
• Easing into ‘island time’ in the tasteful, relaxed design of the hotel’s guest rooms and suites, and just outside awaits the excitement and adventure of two incredible theme parks
• Enjoying Early Park Admission to the Universal Orlando theme parks one hour before the theme park opens, along with complimentary resort-wide transportation and other benefits

The FIRST family checked in today and we’re given a ROYAL welcome:

Summer season rates start at $172 per night for a seven-night stay and value season rates start at $117 per night for a seven-night stay. To learn more or to make a reservation, call 1-888-273-1311 or visit www.universalorlando.com/sapphirefalls.

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20th Annual Crustacean Celebration in Key West | Lobsterfest August 11 – 14

Every year our family heads down to the beautiful Florida Keys during lobster season. We rent a great place on the water and get our boat into the water. We usually scope out the area for a day before lobster season actually starts. Then, it’s on!

I wasn’t aware of Lobsterfest that takes place in Key West each year. (We usually stay in Marathon) But this year, we will be heading on down to check out the 20th annual Key West Lobsterfest. The festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 11-14th. The events salute the seafood delicacy following the Aug. 6 start of the Florida Keys lobster season.

Known as spiny lobsters, the Keys’ clawless crustaceans offer sweet and tender meat. Many “foodies” savor them steamed or boiled with melted butter, while others enjoy their lobster baked and stuffed, blended into rich chowder or chilled in salad.

Lobsterfest activities are to kick off at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, with a mouthwatering lobster boil at the Sunset Tiki Bar & Grille, 617 Front St. As well as lobster, the feast includes shrimp, andouille sausage, crawfish, corn on the cob and new potatoes. Other attractions include live entertainment and libation specials.

Friday’s schedule features a three-hour “Reef & Ritas” sail and snorkel trip beginning at 1 p.m., plus a lively 8 p.m. Duval Crawl with stops at a dozen watering holes in Key West’s historic downtown.

The festival’s undisputed highlight is the tastebud-tempting Key West Lobsterfest Street Fair, set for noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, in the 100 through 500 blocks of Duval. Lobster lovers can sample offerings ranging from tantalizing appetizers to traditional dinners with all the trimmings. All lobster served is caught by Keys lobster fishermen and dishes are prepared by chefs from leading local restaurants.

The festival’s savory schedule concludes with a Sunday lobster brunch at Tavern N Town at the Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel, 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Reservations are required.

Key West Lobsterfest events benefit a scholarship fund for Key West High School students.

Check out our other lobster season related posts:

5 Tips for Finding Lobsters During Lobster Season

How To Store And Prepare Lobsters #LobsterSeason

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If you have Fall Travel Plans, keep reading!

HURRY on over and check out these amazing prices at Frontier.com. With prices starting as low as $24 each way, and plenty of destinations to choose from, you’re sure to find a deal.

HERE—> Frontier.com

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Frozen Ever After has been open for over a month now inside Epcot’s World Showcase. I had the chance to ride it before the park opened with other press and media outlets a few weeks back. Ladies and gents, let me tell you, it was SO GOOD. So, so, so good! After I got off the ride and took a few outside pics, I jumped right back on again to make sure I didn’t miss a thing.

Frozen Ever After is located in Norway over at Epcot. The ride took the place of the Maelstrom boat ride. And it actually follows very closely to the same ride track as the Maelstrom. The visuals have obviously been replaced. And, wow, the animatronics are amazing. Unfortunately, photos inside the ride were restricted, so I don’t have any personal pics to share at this time. But Disney has provided some to share:

photo credit: WDWNews.com

The Story….

The story for the Frozen Ever After ride is a continuation of the first film. You are taken to Elsa’s beautiful castle for a big royal celebration. You get to see all the popular characters including Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Hans, Kristoff, Sven, the big Marshmallow, even the adorable trolls.
While traveling along in your boat, you will hear your favorite songs from the movie. Be sure to check out the faces of the characters. They are so life-like it is mind blowing! Many of the faces are video projected.

photo credit: WDWNews.com

Favorite Moment…..

By far, my favorite moment of the ride is when you arrive at Elsa’s Frozen Castle and Elsa is belting out “Let it Go”. I literally got chills. The walls around you come to live with frost and snow flakes and lights. It’s just beautiful.

 photo credit: WDWNews.com

Snowgies…..

I fell in LOVE with Snowgies from Frozen Fever. I’m happy to report that you WILL see these cute lil guys during your Frozen Ever After ride. They are as cute as ever.

Final thoughts….

Don’t miss this ride. Make it a priority on your next Epcot visit. You won’t be sorry. Then, come on back and tell me about it.

ALSO, don’t miss the meet and greet with Anna and Elsa. This is also located at Norway in the World Showcase. Look how beautiful….

Disclosure: I was provided with a day at the parks to help facilitate my review.

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Pete’s Dragon Under The Stars at Walt Disney World Resort’s Fort Wilderness

This week I had the chance to visit Walt Disney World Resort’s Fort Wilderness to experience a prescreening of Disney’s Pete’s Dragon, in theaters August 12th.

The evening was full of surprises and of course Disney magic!

photo credit

We arrived at the Outpost Depot at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and boarded a bus to Mickey’s Backyard BBQ. We enjoyed a delicious BBQ meal including salad, cornbread, pulled pork, potato salad, desserts, and more. Once we were finished, we received our first surprise!

Park Ranger Donald Duck stopped by to say “hi” and take a few photos.

After some hugs and a little more dessert, we received our second surprise.

The star of Disney’s Pete’s Dragon, Oakes Fegley, arrived to speak to us and took time out to meet with us individually for photos. Oakes plays main character Pete. We learned that he enjoyed 3 full days at the Walt Disney World Resort before joining us for the special prescreening event. His family was with him and this was their first viewing of the movie. What a special night!

We headed on over to the large outdoor screening area to grab our seats. We were kept entertained by the awesome writers from the Disney Parks Blog as well as trailers from upcoming Disney movies. Once the sun was down, the movie began. I can’t give my full review of the movie yet….stay tuned for that! But, I can say that it was awesome. We laughed, cried, and were completely glued to every scene. My 8 year old said even though she cried, this was her favorite movie this year!

PETE’S DRAGON flies into theaters everywhere on August 12th!

Follow along on social media:

Like PETE’S DRAGON on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyPetesDragon
Follow PETE’S DRAGON on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneypetes
Follow PETE’S DRAGON on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneypetesdragon/
Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/
Visit the official PETE’S DRAGON website here: http://disney.com/petesdragon

Disclosure: I was provided with dinner and the prescreening. All opinions are my own.

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What a whirlwind of a week! We just returned from 7 long, hot days in Jensen Beach, Florida with the Longwood Rage 14U Softball team. They were playing in the Babe Ruth World Series. What an amazing opportunity, achievement, and experience.

These girls played their hearts out. We played a total of 13 games not including 2 full warmup games. The last game we played was a full 12 innings!

It all started on day 1 with “media day”. We met with the media for interviews, had our pictures taken, checked into our hotel, and checked out the local fields we would be frequenting over the next week. Day 2 started our warm-up games to get us in game mode.

Day 3 brought the last of the warmup games and opening ceremonies.

Day 4 began with our first real game. We battled and won quite a few games. The days were long and hot. They consisted of a quick breakfast at the hotel, an hour of team braiding in one of the girls rooms, and then off to the fields for the day. Some days started at 530am, others at 8am. We were back in our rooms by 10pm each night.

Two of the hardest things to keep on top of was hydration and keeping the girls fueled. With some games back to back, there were many days that we couldn’t leave the park to grab a meal. We had a cooler full of waters and Gatorade. As concerned parents, we racked our brains the weeks leading up to the games to figure out how to keep the girls fueled and hydrated. We didn’t want them buying sugary drinks, candy, or chips at the concession stand.

I was very grateful to Crispy Green for  providing a large box of crispy fruit for the team. The girls fell in love with them and snacked on them on the way to the game, between games, in the dugout, and even in the hotel room!

What is Crispy Fruit? 100% pure fruit, nothing else! This mom LOVES the fact that nothing else is added to the fruit. Yet, it’s easily transported, not needing to be refrigerated or kept in the cooler that gets packed with ice and water, leaving little to no room for anything else.

Crispy Fruit snacks are 100% freeze-dried fruit slices that are made of real fruit and nothing else. The taste in Crispy Fruit comes from the fresh fruit itself. There is no sugar, sweeteners or other additives used to enhance the taste or appearance! Crispy Fruit is truly guilt-free snacking.

While there were 7 delicious flavors for the girls to snack on, their top picks were apple, pineapple, and mango. The apple was gone the second day. Yes, they really enjoyed it!

We had other team parents asking where to purchase these handy snack packs. I caught quite a few strangers picking up the bags and reading the nutrition facts and ingredients. Then asking where to buy!

All in all, we had an amazing time. We stayed hydrated and fueled. We played hard, fought hard, and made a lot of new friends. We didn’t win first place, but the experience was unforgettable.

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Need to take a vacation and get away for a bit? Looking up airplane ticket prices and grimacing at the high prices? We’ve got the perfect deal for you! Right now you can score select one-way flights from Jet Blue Airlines for ONLY $39 (includes taxes and fees)! Book your tickets now while the prices are low as this deal is only valid today and tomorrow.

Note that flights must be booked by tomorrow, August 10th with travel dates from August 23rd to November 17th. Blackout dates are from 9/1 – 9/5 and 10/8 – 10/10/16 (all cities); plus, 11/10 – 11/14/16 (JFK, LGA, EWR & HPN). What a great way to save on travel!

thanks hip2save

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If you’ve been following us on social media, you’ve probably seen all of our posts about the beautiful princess Elena of Avalor! We joined in welcoming her to Walt Disney World Resort last week and it was an unforgettable event.

photo credit

If you missed her arrival on August 11th, no worries! “The Royal Welcome of Princess Elena” is a live performance that will be presented several times daily at Magic Kingdom Park. In the special welcoming ceremony on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage, Cinderella and Prince Charming will host their newest royal friend and invite her to share her amazing story with park guests. As part of the show, Elena will recount her magical adventures and triumphant return to Avalor through the song, “My Time.”

photo credit

Sing along and interact with Princess Elena and her entourage each day at the Magic Kingdom. For the daily schedule visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/magic-kingdom/princess-elena-royal-welcome/

Her coronation was a very special event. Girl Scouts of America were represented in full force. Princess Elena is an amazing role model for girls and the Girls Scouts recognizes her strength and positive influence. We learned at the event that Elena of Avalor has been picked up for a second season on the Disney Channel! Congrats!!  I have included the video of her very first arrival at the Magic Kingdom below. But, there is nothing that compares to being at the show in person. Your children will absolutely love this unforgettable event at Disney.

photo credit

About Elena of Avalor:  Set in the enchanted fairytale kingdom of Avalor, the stories of “Elena of Avalor” incorporate influences from diverse Latin and Hispanic cultures through architecture, traditions, food and customs. Magic, mythology, folklore and music also play an important role, with each episode featuring original songs spanning an array of Latin musical styles including Mariachi, Latin Pop, Salsa, Banda and Chilean Hip Hop. The series airs Fridays at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Disney Channel and weekends at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Junior.

Disclosure: I was provided entrance to the park to cover the new show as well as lunch. All opinions are my own.

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Planning a trip soon or just desperately need a vacation? You’re in luck! Today only you can score select one-way flights starting at ONLY $20 from Frontier Airlines! This offer is valid for travel from August 29th through September 30th. Keep in mind that the price shown is for domestic, nonstop travel for specific dates and destinations. Blackout dates also apply so make sure you read the fine print.

thanks hip2save

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If you’re looking to get away with the whole family than The Great Wolf Lodge Water Park Resort is the place for you! Every family member, no matter the age, will have tons of fun at this resort. PLUS, for a limited time you can save 59% off rooms!

Adults and older kids will have a blast at their 33,000-square-foot indoor water park. Splashy rides such as Alberta Falls—a four-story double-raft water slide—and a winding lazy river surround the park’s iconic hub: a four-story treehouse with a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket. Younger kids, meanwhile, will have a blast on the water slides and gentle spray features of Whooping Hollow.

The water park isn’t the resort’s only family-friendly space. You’ll also find an arcade with more than 100 games and Scooops Kid Spa, complete with ice-cream-sundae pedicure chairs.

If this sounds like the vacation for you than you’ll want to HURRY! For a limited time you can score 59% off rooms! When traveling with family, saving money is a must and this is a BIG discount!

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Today only, head on over and check out some amazing airline fares from JetBlue. These MUST be purchased today (last day to save). 

Flights start at just $39! HUGE savings. 

GO HERE–> JETBLUE

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It’s back! Rock the Universe comes to Universal Orlando September 9th & 10th. Rock, ride and rejoice at Rock the Universe™ only at Universal Studios™. Experience two nights of soul-stirring songs from Christian music’s hottest stars, alongside awesome rides and attractions. It’s an unforgettable weekend of faith and fun.

Check out the line up:

When you’re not rocking out, you can enjoy the awesome rides and attractions of Universal Studios Florida™. Plus, experience Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ and the whole weekend of Rock the Universe™ with a Rock Your Weekend Ticket!!

You can find more information HERE

I will be there on Friday night rocking out to my fave bands and riding some awesome rides. Come and join me!

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TAMPA BAY’S PREMIERE HALLOWEEN EVENT, HOWL-O-SCREAM, NOW OPEN AT BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY

Can’t get enough Halloween thrills & chills? Head to Tampa Bay’s Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream for extra screams this year.

Check out their SEVEN creepy haunted houses, two of which are new and creeper than ever:

NEW! Motel Hell

Nightmares become reality at this deserted motel once you realize why it’s conveniently vacant. The paranormal presence of its former owners still lurks on the untouched property, mysteriously preventing the brave souls who are attempting to tear it down. Guests who dare to enter will find themselves face-to-face with their worst nightmares and inescapable fate.

NEW! The Black Spot

When Saw Tooth Silas, an infamous pirate, decides that one should no longer exist, he marks them for death. Victims are then sent to The Black Spot, where they meet their horrifying demise. The trick lies within the dimly-lit corners of the mysterious hideaway, holding the secret to escape… or demise.

Howl-O-Scream’s roaming hordes have heard the cries loud and clear. The infamous mobs are back and bigger than ever:

NEW! Inescapable Roaming Hordes

Throughout the park and in between haunted houses, every corner will be deemed inescapable.  This year, roaming hordes are infesting Howl-O-Scream at an unstoppable rate as the infamous scare squads return bigger and more horrifying than ever. From their screeching welcome at the front gates to the eerie traps in the depths of the park, no corner is safe from these relentless roaming hordes.

This year, 4-Pack Ticket Deals start at $35.99 per person, plus tax. Additionally, out-of-towners can take advantage of great vacations packages, like the Overnight Fright or Wild & Wicked Weekends packages. For more information, visit HowlOScream.com.

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I’m so excited to announce that The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen are finally open at Universal Orlando! The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium is a diverse, radically innovative menu that also raises the art of chocolate to an entirely new level.

The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium is unlike anything ever created at Universal Orlando.  The 19^th Century Steampunk-themed restaurant offers guests a unique dining experience that offers something for everyone – and takes one of the world’s most popular confections to the next level.

Guests can enjoy everything from twists on classic steaks, seafood and pasta entrees to gourmet burgers and sandwiches to an “all-day brunch” menu featuring French toast, crepes and more.  Guests can also satisfy their sweet tooth with an incredible dessert selection that includes artisan milkshakes topped with delicious items such as Key Lime Pie, Red Velvet cupcake and chocolate-covered bacon – as well as a variety of sundaes and additional sweet treats that are a chocolate-lovers dream.

Guests will also be able to watch the preparation of dessert and shake creations– and interact with Penelope and her trusty robot companion Jacques, the proprietors of The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium.

The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is located near the entrance to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. For more information, visit www.universalorlando.com.

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The nation’s best Halloween event, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, is now open at Universal Orlando Resort, with more event nights than ever before. You won’t stand a Chance, as the twisted right-hand woman of Halloween Horror Nights legend Jack the Clown steps into the spotlight as the star of this surreal world of horror.

Nightmares come to life in nine disturbingly-real haunted houses based on some of the most terrifying legends in pop culture. Guests will:

• Become the next doomed residents of Murder House, tortured performers in the disturbing and twisted Freak Show, and victims of the otherworldly, death-dealing Hotel from FX’s groundbreaking anthology “American Horror Story”

• Desperately try to escape Leatherface’s lethal chain saw in “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”

• See, hear, feel – and even smell – every iconic levitating, head-spinning, vomit-wrenching, skin-crawling moment from “The Exorcist”

• Fight to survive the return of masked killer Michael Myers in “Halloween II”

• Fend off packs of flesh-hungry walkers in instantly-recognizable scenes from Seasons 1 through 6 of AMC’s “The Walking Dead”

• Encounter the evil ancient spirit of the dark shadow of Saint Nicholas in “Krampus”

• Step inside the twisted minds behind the nation’s best Halloween event in three haunted houses based on original stories – Lunatics Playground 3D: You Won’t Stand A Chance, Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch, and Tomb of the Ancients

And there’s even more horror lurking in the streets of Universal Studios Florida, with five unique scare zones and two live stage shows.

Beginning Sept. 29, guests can witness a whole new generation of psychological horror with a brand-new, cutting-edge entertainment experience – The Repository. A blend of custom virtual reality technology, real-life characters, incredible immersive storytelling and intensely-themed environments, this exclusive experience will terrify, thrill and amaze like never before. This highly interactive horror experience can be purchased for $49.99 plus tax, per person, by calling 407-224-7840. Halloween Horror Nights admission is also required.

For 31 select nights through Oct. 31, guests can experience theme park thrills by day and become victims of their own horror film by night at Halloween Horror Nights. For more information, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Orlando

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I remember one of the highlights of my Disney trips as a child was the Main Street Electrical Parade. I remember lining Main Street with thousands of other guests, holding my Mickey Ears Ice Cream Bar, and wearing Mickey ears waiting for the parade to begin. Then ooh-ing and ahhh-ing at all of the beautiful lights on the floats holding my favorite characters.

Years later, I was able to take my children to see the same parade. Updated with their favorite characters and even more beautiful lights. I would then carry my tuckered out kiddos to the monorail where  we would head back to the car and sometimes get a glimpse of fireworks in the sky.

The classic Main Street Electrical Parade, will take its shimmering farewell trip through Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Florida on Oct. 9, 2016. The parade has been around since 1977 and has been a favorite of many.Families will have one more chance to see the parade and share this special memory, on select nights, before it departs to travel cross-country to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., for a limited engagement beginning early next year.

ABOUT: Brought to light in the early 1970s, the original Main Street Electrical Parade helped establish a Disney Parks reputation for innovative, trend-setting live entertainment. As lights go down along the parade route, the parade brings a variety of beloved Disney animated feature films to life through three-dimensional floats covered with approximately half a million colorful LED twinkling lights. The parade’s iconic musical theme, the electrically synthesized “Baroque Hoedown,” is interwoven with favorite Disney themes. It all adds to the unique upbeat excitement of the procession.

PHOTO CREDIT

Some of the parade’s most impressive scenes are the 23-foot-tall Clock Tower over Cinderella’s Ball, complete with elegant ballroom dancers in light-covered costumes; the smoke-breathing, tail-wagging Pete’s Dragon; and the 108-foot-long red, white and blue flag finale. Other characters who make appearances include Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and, of course, Mickey Mouse.

The Main Street Electrical parade at Walt Disney World Resort will not appear during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights. Walt Disney World guests interested in seeing the parade before it departs on Oct. 9 can check for the latest parade dates and times on WaltDisneyWorld.com or in the My Disney Experience app.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY WORLD MEMORIES?

Disclosure: I was provided with passes to the Disney Parks to help assist my posts. All opinions are my own.

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I’ve been officially BOO’D! And I LOVE it!

What does it mean to be boo’d? And how can we boo someone else? I’m glad you asked! I received my very own boo kit thanks to our friends at Ghostbusters and Walmart. My package consisted of a fun Halloween bucket, delicious candy, and the Ghostbusters Blu-ray, now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Now it’s MY turn to “BOO” one of my friends with a fun package like this. Here’s how to BOO your friends and family:

All of the supplies including your bucket, candy, treats, and even FREE BOO CARDS can be found HERE. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Ghostbusters now on DVD/Blu-Ray! 

Check out the Ghostbusters trailer below, then head out and grab your copy!

WHO WILL YOU BOO?

I was provided with my own Boo kit and movie to share the details with all of you!

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What could be better than watching an early screening of Disney’s new MOANA? Watching MOANA with my favorite girls on the beach of Disney’s Polynesian Resort after meeting MOANA herself and screenwriter Jared Bush!

This all happened this past weekend at the Polynesian Resort inside Walt Disney World Resort. My girls were giddy with excitement as we waited in line to enter the luau area at the Polynesian. Did you know the Polynesian Village Resort is celebrating 45 years?

Once inside we enjoyed a delicious meal featuring mahi mahi, chicken, rice, vegetables, bread, and a delicious array of desserts.

After dinner we took advantage of the beautiful backdrops and snapped photos of the girls. We also walked around outside to enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights the resort had on display throughout the trees. Disney always goes above and beyond with their gorgeous decorations all year long.

Disney is truly magical. We were given some extra magical pixie dust with a huge surprise! A visit from MOANA herself and the screenwriter, Jared Bush.

Jared Bush is also known for his work on Zootopia, another one of my favorite Disney movies…. pretty sure all Disney movies are my favorite, but Zootopia is pretty darn close to the top. However, now that I have experienced MOANA I’m afraid I have yet another favorite!

We took a quick tour of the Polynesian Resort Bungalows which are completely amazing. I’m going to save all those details for another post. These gorgeous suites definitely deserve their very own post. So much to tell!

Ahhh the huge movie screen….on the beach…at the Polynesian Resort. Such a perfect place to enjoy MOANA. Popcorn in one hand, hot chocolate in the other, we were ready. We were entertained by the Disney Parks Blog and caught a few previews of upcoming movies including Beauty and the Beast and Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Another amazing film I can’t wait to watch!

Next…the main event… MOANA

ABOUT: An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she always sought: her own identity.

What a perfect film to take my girls to. Especially my teenage daughter and her friend. They are knee deep in their own teenage identity searching right now. Making big decisions and figuring out just who they are and what they want to do. MOANA teaches a lesson that I know these girls will never forget. Do what you love. Don’t give up. Be your own person. Live your dream. Whoops, that is four lessons. And it doesn’t stop there. MOANA has both the intelligence and wisdom, even as a teenager, to respect her people’s traditions, yet she is brave enough to follow what her heart is telling her to do.

I give this film a huge thumbs up for adults and kids of all ages. Why the PG rating? There are a few frightening moments where even my 8 year old covered her eyes for a moment, but it was no more scary than the snow monster in Frozen. She covered her eyes and bounced right back with a huge smile and tons of giggles.

MOANA In Theaters Everywhere November 23rd

Follow along on social media:

Like MOANA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disneymoana

Follow MOANA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneymoana

Follow Disney Animation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneyanimation/

Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/

Visit the official MOANA website here: http://movies.disney.com/moana

Disclosure: I was provided with a meal and tickets to screen MOANA to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

The post MOANA Event at Disney’s Polynesian Resort + MOANA Review appeared first on Florida Bloggess.

Tips For Your First Snow Vacation | Snow Vacation With Kids

Each year our family travels up north to spend a week enjoying cooler weather and snow. All six of us pile into the family minivan and travel 8-9 hours to the mountains of North Carolina. We have made this a family tradition. This year was our fourth trip. And it was the coldest and snowiest trip yet. We thought we had become experts from the last three trips, but that was not the case. We learned a ton this trip and I wanted to share it with all of you! First, let me tell you the ages of the kiddos, 16(in 2 wks), 14, 10, 8.   So, for our first trip, they were 13,11,7, and 5!

Choosing a location

We have headed to the same area the last four years. The mountains of North Carolina are gorgeous and tend to produce a decent amount of snow. Our choice is Boone, NC and the surrounding areas. We have stayed in Banner Elk, Boone, and now Beech Mountain. (all of these are just outside the main city of Boone) Our favorite of the three? Definitely the small town of Beech Mountain. The views were amazing, the ski resort was walking distance to our cabin, and there was a free sledding hill right in the center of town. The Visitors Center was extremely helpful and accommodating. The perfect little mountain town.

Choosing a location doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Just ask yourself what activities your family enjoys and how far you’re willing to travel from your condo, cabin, or hotel to get there. Are you looking to ski or snowboard? Or are your kids smaller and you just want to let them play in the snow in your yard? Want a view? How about a creek or lake for fishing?

If you want to plan this out months in advance, you won’t have a guaranteed snow fall, so you’ll want to be sure there is a ski resort or hill nearby that produces the fake stuff. Which I promise is just as fun!

If you want to live on the edge and chase the snow like us, that is another option. My husband and I run our own business so we can make our own hours. We keep an eye on the weather beginning Dec 26th and as soon as there is a prediction of a decent snow storm or snow fall, we start making our plans. We use VRBO.com to find the perfect cabin for our family.

*BUDGET FRIENDLY TIP: Avoid traveling over the holidays as holiday rates are higher. Also, travel mid-week if possible as weekend rates are also higher. (Keep in mind, many businesses consider Friday the weekend!) Traveling Mon-Thurs is optimal.

Accommodations

Once you have decided on the city or town to visit, it’s time to choose your accommodations. There are many options out there. Hotels, condo’s, homes, and cabins. Or maybe you want to rent and RV and head up north? Our family has stayed in cabins during three of our trips, and a hotel during one of our shorter snow trips. Cabins win hands down in my opinion. Especially if you’re with children.

BUDGET FRIENDLY TIP: Ask for multiple night discounts.

Cabins

Why do we prefer cabins over hotels or condos? (A house would probably work as well, we choose the rustic style cabins because it feels more “mountain-like” I suppose). We prefer cabins because they come with so many comforts and amenities like a fireplace, multiple bedrooms for larger families, your own yard, a fully stocked kitchen, and my must-have amenity, a washer and dryer! They also have more space than hotels or condos, a must for our large family. Cabins can also save you quite a bit of money when it comes to food!

BUDGET FRIENDLY TIP: We stop at Walmart or Kroger on the way up and grab everything we will need for the week. We will spend about $150 on food, snacks, coffee, hot chocolate, extra toilet paper, etc for the six of us for 6-7 days. That is a HUGE savings over eating out 3 meals a day, for 6 people. that is 18 meals a day or 108 meals for a 6 day stay. We were well fed with home-made chili, lasagna, frozen pizza night, and more. You can also bring some pantry staples from home!

A few tips when choosing your cabin (or house, condo, etc)

*Ask if snow chains and/or 4WD are required to reach your home. Make sure you ask if they are required during a serious snowfall too, even if one is not predicted while you’ll be there. Weather is unpredictable.

*A Washer and Dryer is a necessity for family, or even for a couple, if you’re planning any outdoor activities. You need layers. Most layers will get wet.

*Mud Room – A mudroom or something similar at the entryway is a must. Walking in the front door directly into the house or cabin is difficult if you’re covered in snow and your boots are sopping wet. This year, there was no mudroom. When we walked in the front door, it was the living room. However, they had a place for all of our boots to dry which was nice!! They also had a fan set up to help dry the now wet floor. Without a mud room, cold air is rushing in the living room when you open the door (6 people entering takes time). Mudroom or entryway area with space is a big plus.

*Fireplace – this is up to you, but we love sitting by the fire as a family. A fire pit in the yard is a bonus too. The cabin we stayed at this time around had BOTH an indoor and outdoor fire. Loved that. *more on our cabin soon*

*Ask if there is a fully stocked kitchen. I cook all our meals during our trips. Be sure there are pans, spatulas, coffeemaker, etc.

*Ask about detergent. Is it included? (dish detergent, dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent)

*Ask if toilet paper, paper towels, and trash bags are available. We always bring extra.

Our yard had plenty of play room and a decent size hill for the kids to sled

*Is the backyard / front yard safe for children to play? There are many cabins that are located on a cliff. While that is beautiful, it’s not safe or practical for the kids.

*How far is the local ski resort? How far is the local store or market? While it’s fun to be away from town to relax and “get away”, it’s also not fun to drive 20mi to the nearest store if you’re in a pinch.

During our last trip, we were just 1/4 of a mile from the ski resort. This was a great family walk. However, plan to make a few stops to rest if you’re not used to the thinner mountain air or walking up a mountain. Being Floridians, we don’t spend too much time walking up mountains…or hills for that matter.

*Make sure there is heat! Our last cabin had individual heaters, not central heat/air. It worked great. Once we figured it out. There was no a/c in our cabin at all. Not that we would need it during the winter, but be sure to ask these questions! Also, we noticed that the heaters that they had in our cabin got extremely hot. Not a great idea for toddlers or young children.

What to pack

Here are some tips on what to pack for the snow (in addition to your normal items you’d pack for a trip)

Layers, layers, and more layers. The kids may fight it, but it’s necessary to layer them up. Walking to and from the car at times even required layers. Granted, our last trip was the coldest trip we’ve taken, you will want to be prepared. We had one day with -20 wind chill. Brrr!

Plan on at least 3 layers if you’re going to be in the snow. There were days that we wore 4 layers.

My girls for example wore a pair of leggings, a pair of sweat pants (or fleece pajama pants worked well), and snow pants. On the coldest day, they added a second pair of leggings! long sleeve top, sweatshirt or heavy sweater, and snow jacket. (sometimes a tank top too!).  Or, consider purchasing long john sets.

My boys wore long johns, jeans or sweats, and snow pants. And the same layered tops as the girls.

ADULTS need just as many layers y’all!

BUDGET FRIENDLY TIP: We found DEEPLY discounted snow pants, sweatpants, gloves, windbreakers at Academy right before we left. Also, check Goodwill, and Walmart for some amazing deals. If you’re from a warm state, like us, Goodwill may be hit or miss for winter clothing.

THICK snow-boot socks are a must. I made the mistake of wearing regular socks the first day. Bad idea. Not only did they slip off inside my boot, they did not keep me warm at all. MULTIPLE Snow boot socks for each person so that you can throw them in the dryer while wearing another set.

SNOW boots. Yes, snow boots. Not fancy fashion boots. Not cowboy boots. Not rain boots. You need the real thing. Trust me.

Sneakers. There were a few times that I wore sneakers in the car with thick socks on the first day or two before the heavy snow hit. Beware of ice. Sneakers + ice don’t mix well. Ask me how I know….

Gloves. Not mittens. Unless you’re wearing mittens under your gloves like we did for extra warmth. Make sure the gloves are waterproof. We had 1 set of gloves for each person, and a dozen pair of mittens total for the 6 of us. Why the extra mittens? If you’re like me and take photos, you will need to remove your gloves to take pictures. And those nice warm mittens will get wet. So bring a spare for each person.

BUDGET FRIENDLY TIP: Have kids? Buy a size too big so they can be worn next year too. The boots were a tad too big, so we layered 2 pairs socks and they were perfect. Jackets can be a size or two too big because of the layers. They can last 2-3 years. Then,hand them down to the younger kids!

Snow hats for everyone. Make sure they will cover your ears. This was a struggle with the kids at first. They didn’t want to wear them. The first hour in the snow, they were happy they had them!

Warm ski masks or warm scarves.

Ski / snowboarding goggles. Not everyone will need them, but my kids used these while tubing, snowboarding, and sledding.  Snow flies in your face. It’s not pleasant, I promise.

First aid kit My first run down the hill this year ended painfully. Another person ran into me and I hit the ice covered ground with my knees. Ouch. First aid kit should include band-aids, wraps, gauze, PAIN KILLERS, etc.

Chapstick

Shovel and ice scraper these are things we don’t have here in Florida. As soon as we got to the mountain, we grabbed these. The ice scraper was free thanks to the welcome center. The snow shovel was about $8. Not bad. SO glad we got our snow shovel before this happened:

See that white stuff behind our car? There was no plow service for our little road (or driveway of course) so the boys were busy shoveling. And this picture reminds me of another tip I learned during this trip. See those windshield wipers? Do that every single day. Pull them off your windshield if it’s going to snow or freeze. That would not be good to have wipers frozen to your windshield. Another issue we had was our trunk froze shut. I’m not sure how to avoid that. None of the cabins that we saw had garages….so that wasn’t an option.

Also, as mentioned earlier, you may want to bring trash bags, laundry detergent, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, paper towels, and toilet paper! Definitely the latter two as you will run out of what they provide.

SNOW CHAINS if you don’t have 4 wheel drive and are staying ON the mountain. We did not have either (snow chains or 4WD )and we had a heck of a time getting off the mountain on our last day. We will be purchasing a set to keep in the van for future trips. We attempted to purchase them at the last minute, when we were stranded, and they didn’t have our size. The nice company did give us the exacts on what we need to purchase for the future.

BUDGET FRIENDLY TRIP: BE SURE to get these ahead of time. When you’re desperate for them, they can be quite expensive. Amazon here I come!

I will share more about OUR cabin and Beech Mountain in another post.

The post Tips For Your First Snow Vacation | Snow Trip With Kids appeared first on Florida Bloggess.