Get into the holiday spirit at the Magic Kingdom by attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party runs on select nights in November and December in Magic Kingdom. It is full of unique holiday shows, a holiday parade (twice per night), stage show, dance parties, and an exciting holiday themed fireworks show. You can also enjoy plenty of treats and beverages at treat stations throughout the park.
This party is a special ticketed event that starts at 7pm on select nights, however you can enter the park as early as 4pm with your special ticket. Note that the special party, shows, and treats do not begin until the 7pm start time. We arrived early and enjoyed rides and snapped photos before the party started.
We love all the extra holiday decorations located throughout the park. Main Street is the best. Shop windows are full of holiday decorations, lamp posts have Mickey wreaths, and more! Don’t miss that awesome Christmas tree, it’s a perfect photo opp.
Don’t miss out on the treat stops. They are listed in the map of the park. There are delicious chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, snow cones, and much more. Make sure you stop in Adventureland at Tortuga Tavern where you can grab a Snowman Soft Pretzel! Yummy. Many restaurants are also offering special treats to purchase, like the delicious frosted brownie ornaments pictured above. It was so good….and we gobbled them up in no time!
The attractions are open and the wait times are notably less than your regular Disney visits. I walked onto Buzz Lightyear and the People Mover. We waited about 10 minutes for the Pirates of the Caribbean and 15 for Thunder Mountain. Yes, please! The only ride with a semi-long wait when we attended the party (30+ min), was the Mine Train. And that is always worth the wait!
Entertainment
There are so many specialty shows, I didn’t quite make it to all of them this year. My top faves are Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and the fireworks display. Disney never disappoints with their themed parades and light show.
The parade happens twice per night. 8:30pm and 11:00pm. We chose the earlier parade and planned to ride the rides during the 11pm parade.
Arrive early to get your spot for the parade. 30min is recommended, but if you want a really great spot, arrive 45min-1hr before the parade. I grabbed my spot on Main Street about 45min prior to the parade starting. I’m so glad I did! Also, take lots of pics. You will want to remember this event. Perk to being on Main Street? IT SNOWS!! So, like I said, find that perfect spot on Main Street early.
If you have little ones, shoot for the early parade so they have energy. Prior to the parade starting they can dance with elves! There were hula hoops and huge bouncy balls for the kids to play with. So much fun and excitement!
You will see your favorite characters in the parade. Cinderella, the cast of Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, and of course Mickey & Minnie are all part of the show.
Not only will you see holiday decorations and hear holiday music, you will also get all the smells of Christmas when the cast of Wreck it Ralph appears. Ralph’s gingerbread house smells like gingerbread and candy. Yum!
A Disney parade can’t be complete without Olaf.
Character meet and greets:
Enjoy character meet and greets with your favorite characters dressed up in their holiday best. You may even get to see Jack Skeleton and Santa Claus himself!
Have you been to the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail yet? I am embarrassed to say that I didn’t even know this was a thing! Apparently, this is the 3rd year in a row that they have been on display, and this is the biggest year yet. With 27 decorated trees, that’s 7 more than last year and 12 more than it’s opening year, you’re sure to find your favorite character themed tree! Each tree is decorated with ornaments surrounding a specific Disney character or Disney movie.
I heard about the trail just this year.. and knew I had to take the family to go check it out. We love Disney Springs and have a great time visiting a few times each year. We try to head there during off-seasons (we avoid Spring break, Thanksgiving week, etc). As soon as the weatherman said “40 degree weather is coming”, I knew that was my cue to plan our trip to see the trees. Disney Springs is about an hour from us depending on traffic, so it took a little pre-planning.
Our plan was to leave after dinner and leave room for a sweet treat at Ghirardelli, the Candy Cauldron, or Erin McKenna’s, and some hot chocolate and coffee from Starbucks to enjoy on our leisurely stroll through the trees.
Just a note, the tree trail is on the other side of Disney Springs, closer to the train and the Rainforest Cafe, not near the large parking garages. So, you may want to park on ground parking on that side. We parked in the garage since this was my son’s first time to Disney Springs in a few years. He wanted to see all the new shops and restaurants they’ve added.
Each and every tree is decorated with specific details around the character and/or movie it represents. I just loved all of the trees and could not choose a favorite.
However, my son had no problem choosing his favorite tree. The Haunted Mansion themed tree was a the top of his list. Funny thing, I didn’t notice the ghost at the top of the tree until I took the photo and looked at it on my phone. So cool!!
As we walked along listening to holiday music with our hot chocolate, in the 45 degree weather, we were feeling quite Christmassy! Definitely got us into the holiday spirit. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, it started “snowing”. Florida snow of course.
These glass enclosed ornaments were on almost every tree. They were gorgeous. They can be found to purchase in the Disney Springs Christmas Store at the end of the trail.
I know I said I couldn’t pick a favorite tree. But I will say the Star Wars Tree was definitely pretty darn amazing. Check out that light saber!
The last tree on the trail was this one. I absolutely love the monorails running around the tree. This has inspired me to kick up my Christmas Tree decorating skills at home.
At the end of the trail, do not leave without stopping by the Christmas Store. You can find plenty of holiday decor and all of the ornaments seen on the trail. There is also a chance to see Santa! Sign up to reserve your spot at the beginning of the trail.
Be sure to check out all the other events going on at Disney Springs. We found plenty of music throughout the area while there. Many restaurants had live music. The main stage had live music. There were also performers on the street.
Find more details on hours and entertainment schedules on the Disney Website .
Calling all baseball and softball moms. Pick up some fun tees to cheer in from the stands for a great price. I had so much fun picking out tees. I found some adorable tees in our team colors!! I found THREE great sales. You can check them out: Here
Y’all know I’m at the ballfields every…single…day. There are no days off in our hectic schedule. With 3 kids playing on rec and travel teams (plus high school teams) we are busy. I love to have new fun tees to help support all the kids!
Family Friendly Tips For Visiting Pandora – The World of Avatar
Disclosure: I was provided with entry to the park to visit Pandora. All opinions are 100% mine!
Are you visiting Animal Kingdom’s Pandora – the World Of Avatar with your family? Pandora – The World of Avatar opened in May of 2017 in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. This is the largest addition in the history of Animal Kingdom. And it is absolutely spectacular. The attention to detail is just amazing. Whether or not you have seen the movie, I highly recommend visiting Pandora while you’re in the parks. Check out our Family Friendly Tips For Visiting Pandora – The World of Avatar
Have I seen the movie? Yes, I did watch it back in 2009, but honestly do not remember much about the plot. I blame the toddlers and newborn on my lack of memories from that time period of life, ha! I do remember the scenery and of course the blue Avatars. Who could forget that? So, when I headed to Pandora – the World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, I was a little prepared, but I probably should have brushed up and refreshed my memory a little and watched the movie again. Regardless, I was blown away by every part of this new attraction.
Take In The Scenery
The World of Avatar transports you to the moon of Pandora where you can explore floating mountains and bioluminescent rainforests. Yes, there really are floating mountains and bioluminescent rainforests! We all know that Disney imagineers can create anything and this is no exception. The World of Avatar is breathtaking. There are so many photo opportunities throughout the World of Avatar. I recommend snapping family photos throughout!
Don’t Miss This
When you enter Pandora, check out the huge, beautiful flower. Pound on the open hole of the flower and watch the magic! Steam will flow out and welcome you to the land! Also, under the floating mountains you will find a winding set of rock drums. Let the kids pound away. This is another great photo opp!
Fly On A Banshee Above Pandora on the Avatar Flight of Passage
This ride is not to be missed. The Flight of Passage is an exhilarating 3D ride above Pandora on the back of a Banshee! This is one of the most popular rides at the Disney Parks right now and once you ride, you will understand why. It reminded me a bit of Soarin, but much more intense. Again, Disney outdid itself with the graphics. I promise you feel like you are actually flying, swooping, and diving down toward the land. If you’re bringing little ones, keep in mind that this is a thrill ride. It is a simulation ride that can be intense at times. Guests must be 44in to ride, however child swap is available!
Fast Pass – Or Not!
This ride has been known to have up to a 3 hour wait. You may be thinking that is your sign that it’s time to get a Fast Pass. While I completely understand that 3 hours is a long wait, I encourage you to go through the regular queue to see some amazing scenery and exhibits. Instead of a Fast Pass, possibly make this ride your first stop when the gates open at Animal Kingdom? If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Hotel, use that early entry to head to this ride. The queue begins outside where you will see breathtaking views and then the majority takes you inside, which is much needed during 90% of the year here in Florida. Once inside, pay attention to detail. And guys, even the details have details. You’re going to see everything from fun and a little creepy Avatar handprints to a lab with an avatar inside and so much more. Have the family with you? We always have games ready to go on our phone to pass the time.
Ride the Na’vi River Journey
This was a breath of fresh air that the entire family enjoyed. There was so much to look at. And my feet enjoyed taking a break from all the walking!
Glide down a gentle, mysterious river and feel a sense of wonder as the full beauty of Pandora reveals itself. Located within the Valley of Mo’ara, Na’vi River Journey offers explorers an experience that has to be seen—and heard—to be believed!
Family Friendly Eats
Satu’li Canteen offers food for the whole family. My kids loved the cheeseburger pods, yes pods! Their cheeseburgers were wrapped in delicious dough, aka bun. It was adventurous, but not too adventurous for little ones. I enjoyed the Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken Bowl.
Don’t forget dessert!!
VISIT Windtraders
This is one of my favorite stores of all the stores in Animal Kingdom. The store had Avatars that sit upon your shoulder that the kids absolutely loved. The scenery in the store kept the kids oohing and ahhing which rarely happens when mom is shopping.
The weather is not the norm this Spring Break. Our beach and pool plans have been cancelled. It’s too chilly to swim or head to the water parks. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun!
We headed out last night to take advantage of their “Monday Madness” deal. The Main Event at Point Orlando was a blast last night. The pics I’m including are from a trip we took awhile ago. That’s simply because I was having too much fun with the kids to take any pics.
Unlimited arcade games from 4pm until close for $10.95 per person. That is a SWEET deal. We had so much fun. Some of the kids favorite games were pac-man, air hockey, basketball, crossy road, Bat-man, and more.
We also grabbed dinner at the restaurant inside the arcade. We had wings, pizza, and chicken tenders. Everything was delicious and the service was great. Our bill for the three of us (1 adult, 1 tween that eats adult portions, and a child) was around $30. Not bad!
MONEY SAVING TIPS:
*Check out their SPECIALS page here. The individual games cost between $1.50 and $2 per play, so the SPECIALS are the way to go
*If you go to Monday Madness, get there RIGHT when it starts at 4pm. Around 7pm it gets VERY busy.
*There are plenty of restaurants nearby if you choose not to eat at the arcade
*Get your parking validated if you eat at the restaurant in the arcade (Other restaurants in Pointe Orlando probably offer the same)
There are specials also available for the bowling alley, laser tag, and more.
To continue on our Spring Break Series, we have some more fun family activities for Spring Break that won’t break the bank.
Tonight we headed to our local university to watch the girls softball team play. I brought my 3 youngest kids along. My girls both play softball and my son plays baseball, so I knew this would be something they would enjoy.
If you’re local to Orlando, there are quite a few colleges with sports teams. UCF, Stetson, and Seminole State College are just a few schools in our area where you can check out games. The prices are great! Even for our family of 6. UCF Softball tickets are $5 for the kids (up to 17!!) and $7 for adults. Bring along a glove and you may get lucky enough to catch a foul ball. There is fun music and some interactive games, including the easy slots games between some of the innings to keep younger kids entertained.
Most of these fields also offer free parking. Parking at UCF was right at the field. We found this out after parking at a parking garage half a mile away. Whoops. On a positive note, I got my steps in today! And we were able to get a peek at the football stadium (Go Knights!) on our walk, along with the restaurants, and stores on campus. My oldest son is attending in the Fall, so it was nice to get a mini tour.
If you prefer baseball, you can grab tickets to UCF games for as little as $5. I’m sure other colleges in our area are right around that price as well. Another option are Spring Training games. The cost is higher for those, but you’re going to pay less than an MLB game and they are so much fun!
Keep in mind that the concessions are probably going to be pricey. And you’re not allowed to bring in any outside food or drinks. Even water is confiscated at the door. We were sure to eat beforehand. Some of the prices I saw at our game were a little crazy: $4 for water, $4 sunflower seeds, and $6.50 or a Smart Water. They did run a $1 hot dog special in the middle of the game which we took advantage of!
The Daytona is perfect for families, groups, racing enthusiasts, beachgoers, and more. Located directly across from the Daytona International Speedway, this brand new Marriott Autograph Collection property features 144 guest rooms, a full-service restaurant & bar, on-site shopping, a heated pool, an area called ‘The Grid’ with show cars on display year-round, and an outdoor terrace/viewing deck overlooking the high-energy Victory Circle at ONE DAYTONA where guests can catch live entertainment.
Need to relax? Head down to the pool and enjoy a cold drink. Or drive over to Daytona Beach just a few miles away.
The rooms are spacious and comfortable for single travelers, couples, and families! Enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi while you relax or work in your room. Choose a premium king suite and enjoy views of One Daytona and The Daytona International Speedway.
Palisade, Colorado may be famous for it’s peach orchards, but the arealos has a huge lavender crop. You will find fields of beautiful purple flowers blooming in each summer. The distinctive scent and gorgeous fields are perfect for photos and some serious aromatherapy. As a mom all I can think of is what a great photo backdrop this would be. Look at those colors. And the mountain backdrop. Is it bad to plan a vacation focused on family photos?!
Really, you don’t miss the annual Lavender Festival in Palisade. During this unique and fragrant festival, you can tour lavender fields, attend workshops and seminars, and sample an array of lavender-related goodies. And don’t forget your camera.
The Colorado Annual Lavender Festival first stated in 2011 and has continued to be successful. This years festival takes place on July 20th. For more information, head on over to the Lavender Festival Website
What a whirlwind the last 2 weeks have been. I drove 2 of my kids (13 and 16) to Cooperstown, NY for my sons baseball tournament. That’s an 18 hour drive as a single driver. We spent 6 nights in Cooperstown where my husband and our youngest daughter (11) met us after their softball tournament in Tennessee. Once our baseball tournament in Cooperstown was over, we started the trek back home together. The 5 of us….in a sedan. First tip, don’t drive 18 hours with 5 people in a sedan. Ha!
We made two tourist stops on the way back. New York City and Washington D.C. These were semi-planned trips. We booked the hotels just before leaving Cooperstown. We had the kids make lists of what they wanted to see in each city. As my husband drove from Cooperstown to NYC, I googled and tried to map out our plan of action. The drive was right around 3 hours.
I wanted to share some tips we learned along the way. I highly recommend having a plan of action instead of winging it last minute like us. And of course if you can have more than a day and a half in the city, do it. There is a lot to see and do. However, we were able to see quite a bit in our short 1.5 days in the city.
Wear comfortable shoes
Wow my feet and legs were burning after the first day in the city. Although, our Cooperstown trip required a lot of up and downhill walking, so I was already a bit sore from that. If you’re like our Florida family, your closet is full of flip flops, slides, and sandals. Not going to fly in the city. My oldest daughter only packed sandals and she was regretting that choice. The rest of us wore sneakers and were grateful for them by the end of the day. First day? 8.2 miles of walking.
Pack water
We traveled in the hot summer month of July. I carried a backpack with 2 waters per person. This was not enough. We ended up purchasing more. Keep in mind, prices are higher for almost everything in Manhattan. Plan accordingly.
Walking vs sightseeing bus
I have been to NYC many times without my kiddos. I have done the sightseeing bus tours and I’ve traveled in taxis, subways, and even a pedicab…P.S. I don’t suggest that in NYC traffic! If you’re short on time, walking is so much better than the sightseeing bus. I know that sounds backwards, but the lines waiting at all the sightseeing bus stops that we passed were extremely long. I’d guess you’d have to wait about 3 buses to get on one. No good for my kids. They wanted to go, go, go. So we walked it out and used the subway for anything that was over a mile or 1.3mi away.
List your must see attractions and map it out before heading out
Each of our kids listed their must-see places. On the list: a subway ride a ferry ride Battery Park Times Square The Vessel / High Line Shopping for souvenirs 9-11 Memorial China Town Little Italy Broadway
Foods to eat: NY Pizza Canolli NY Bagel NY Cheesecake
I’m happy to say that we visited everything on the list except the Vessel / High Line, but we did see it from afar! We had time to see it at the end of our trip, but the kids were so exhausted that they each agreed they’d rather get back to the car and rest.
View from New Jersey
Where to Stay
By now, you all know that I’m thrifty. I like to save as much money as possible, yet still want my kids to have great experiences. This took a little planning when choosing where to stay in NYC. If you’re looking to save a little money, keep reading. NYC offers many, many hotels. When I did a search, not one hotel offered free parking. Parking started at right around $30 per day. We had our car, so this was a big deal. 2 days = $60+ just for the car. Not good. Plus, who wants to fight the traffic to get to your hotel in NYC? Not these Florida drivers. Also, hotels in New York City collect a city tax on top of their already higher tax rate. I also had a hard time finding a good hotel with breakfast included, which is a great savings for a family of our size. Also, to reserve a quality (3 stars+) in NYC, which is what we were looking for, the prices were just not in our budget.
Our solution? Stay just over the water in New Jersey. We saved on taxes and parking. Our car was safely in a parking garage the entire trip, free of charge. Our hotel in New Jersey was across from the bus stop that would take us to Port Authority in NYC..and it was only a few dollars. Or they had a free shuttle over to the ferry boat..which was on the kids to do list (and kids are free!). Our hotel was perfect. It was clean, in a good area, walking distance to shopping, and had a Starbucks in the lobby. Also, it was about $50 less than any hotel I found in NYC that had similar ratings/stars BEFORE taxes! And, we were able to sleep soundly. No honking horns and sirens all night long like my past stays in Manhattan. This is a huge perk if you have kiddos. The only drawback, no free breakfast. We all wanted a fresh New York Bagel anyway, so this worked out great.
Tips on Riding the Subway
First things first. The subway is safe in NYC. I remember going for the first time and being terrified thanks to things I’ve seen in movies and on TV. I felt very safe on the subway every time I’ve visited New York City. If I didn’t feel safe, I would not have brought the kids. The only issue that we had, which turned out just fine, was the very first time I visited New York City as an adult. I was just 20 years old. I got off on the wrong stop. I walked up the stairs, walked about a block and turned right around to go back. It was not a good neighborhood and I was not welcome. Now 20+ years later, I know most of the neighborhoods have vastly improved!
Tip #1: ASK FOR HELP! If you’re not familiar with the subway system, navigation can be quite a feat. There are so many – A train, B train, P train, Yellow, Orange, blue, etc etc. I had been on the subway before and knew that you need to have a plan before getting down those steps. ASK. In my personal experiences riding the subway, I’ve always had the best luck asking the front desk employee or bellhop at our hotel for subway directions. They are patient and very helpful. Or if you find a police officer, they are also very helpful. The subway employees were not as helpful and seemed quite annoyed with tourists. This was just my experience. Also, our phones now have public transit info on google maps. But, be careful, we were having a hard time with ours down in the subway. So, my tip is, ASK and get directions BEFORE going down those steps. Once you’re down there it’s busy and loud..also hot and stinky in the summer. Tip #2: Beware of locking out your credit card! You are not able to purchase your tickets in bulk. We had 5 people with us, so that meant 5 transactions back to back. Our bank card did not like this and after the 3rd it locked us out of our account. Transactions back to back like that I suppose our card was flagged for fraud. Not good on a vacation. We used a second card for those last 2 tickets, then had to call our bank and iron that mess out.
Let’s Eat!
If you’re trying to get the best value, my best tip is, find restaurants away from the most popular attractions. Our first stop was for pizza. Times Square/Broadway had plenty of places for pizza, but it was 3x as much as the pizza that we saw on our way from the ferry. I wish I had written down the name of the pizza place we found. We were able to snag a slice and a canned soda or bottled water for $2.50! YES it was an A rated restaurant! This beat the $4.50 slices and $2.95 sodas in Times Square. And it was DELICIOUS! Looking for cannoli’s? Shop around in Little Italy. The further we walked down the street, the better deals they offered. I learned this the hard way the first trip to Little Italy. I paid $6.50 for a cannoli, only to walk further and find 2 for $5! Yikes. I haven’t had a cannoli that I don’t like in Little Italy. Not a fan of cannoli’s? These NYC bakeries have amazing cheesecake, lobster tails, and gelato. Try one of each.
Let’s shop!
NYC has everything when it comes to shopping. From top designer stores to cheesy tourist shops. They have it all. This trip with the teens was not about shopping, except for a few tourist items. And what better place to grab a deal than Canal Street. China Town didn’t disappoint. My older daughter wanted to experience China Town and we all wanted a little something to take home to remind us of our trip. I taught my girls how to get a bargain by deciding how much they wanted to pay for an item and then offering a much lower price. It worked! My kids were able to experience their first outdoor fish market. Or should I say they were able to smell their first outdoor fish market.
9-11 Memorial
Attractions
Buy your tickets online before you arrive. This will save you a few dollars. My kids were happy with just seeing the sites. They didn’t want to go into the Empire State Building or over to the Statue of Liberty, they just wanted to see them and take photos. This saved us quite a bit of money.
Times Square
So many sites to see are free. The 9-11 Memorial, the Vessel, High Line, Central Park, Battery Park, Times Square, all free! Another little tip if you can stay out late is to wait at the back door of the Broadway shows. I’ve done this in the past and seen quite a few celebrities. So much fun!
That’s all I have for now. Are you traveling to NYC? What is on your must see list?
Disclosure: Disney provided our family with Animal Kingdom passes to help facilitate the post. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is getting in the holiday spirit with new holiday decor and festive entertainment. We also found some delicious holiday treats on our Animal Kingdom visit.
Before you go through the front gates you can grab a photo with the massive decorated holiday tree. You will want a photo on the way out too when it is beautifully lighted. Once you enter the gates you will be greeted by life size artisan-sculpted animal puppets.
Life-size, artisan-sculpted animal puppets (including reindeer, foxes and polar bears) roam around by day while colorful rooftop luminaries light up the night.
David Roark, photographer
Once the sun sets you will not want to miss the Tree of Life Awakenings. The Tree of Life awakens each evening as a series of wintry tales emerge from within, complemented by a familiar and heartwarming holiday-inspired musical score. Between the tree’s Awakenings, the Tree of Life continues to shimmer and sparkle throughout the night, alive with the magic of nature and the spirit of the holidays.
As we headed to Everest, we were taken back by the beautiful luminaries throughout Discovery Island. The village was so festive that we decided to sit for a bit and take our surroundings.
We found a sweet treat to enjoy under the festive lights. Don’t miss out on the peppermint soft serve ice cream cones. Mint ice cream with crushed peppermint candies in a fresh waffle cone.
David Roark, photographer
DinoLand U.S.A. – Don’t miss out on the colorful holiday decorations throughout DinoLand U.S.A. Donald Duck’s friends gather for Donald’s Dino-Bash and get into the spirit with holiday decorations they have each chosen according to their own styles.
Pick up festive ornaments and more at the shops at Animal Kingdom
MORE TO SEE:
Asia – The residents of Anandapur have decorated the theater district in celebration of Diwali, India’s holiday festival of lights. Glowing flowers, lanterns and more illuminate the square between Anandapur Theater and the waterfront stage, home to authentic and colorful cultural performances.
Africa – The village of Harambe welcomes visitors with a unique holiday presentation, blending the inspiration and style of Western traditions with the colors and textiles of authentic African celebrations.
Pandora – The World of Avatar – The ex-pats living and working on the moon of Pandora bring a little holiday fun to their interstellar home, with a display at Pongu Pongu of holiday décor, combining vintage pieces from Earth with items handcrafted from materials indigenous to Pandora.
For more information on the holiday happenings at Animal Kingdom, head on over to the Walt Disney World Website.
Have you been to the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail yet? I am embarrassed to say that I didn’t even know this was a thing! Apparently, this is the 3rd year in a row that they have been on display, and this is the biggest year yet. With 27 decorated trees, that’s 7 more than last year and 12 more than it’s opening year, you’re sure to find your favorite character themed tree! Each tree is decorated with ornaments surrounding a specific Disney character or Disney movie.
