Category Archives: Disney

Halloween Time at Disneyland

15 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Disney

≈ 15 Comments

One of  the most wonderful things about Nevada, besides the tax breaks of course, is that we get to celebrate Nevada Day! Ever since I was little I thought Halloween was a National Holiday. What? You don’t get Halloween off? Nevada officially became a state on October 31, 1864. Several years ago, the people of Nevada voted to declare the Friday before October 31st as a Federal Holiday, meaning that government’s down, bank’s are closed and school is out. As long as I have been a student myself, that 3-day weekend meant packing the bags and heading to Disneyland, with the hope that the park wouldn’t be as crowded because all of the California kids would be in school. Ah…the perks of being a Nevadan.

With all this in mind…if you are a Las Vegas local, you have a 3-day weekend ahead of you. How are YOU going to spend it? Do you mind if I suggest piling the kiddos in the car for a fabulously, villanous time at Disneyland? That is where we are headed at the end of this month, and I will be happy to share, what I know will be a ghoulishly fun time! Not to mention, my kids have not stopped asking me about the new Cars Land at Disney California Adventures. We will definitely be getting our kicks on Route 66 as we head into Radiator Springs for the latest adventure!

CarsLand at Disneyland

There are several ways to enjoy #HalloweenTime at Disneyland.

First…if you’re feeling lucky, (and who doesn’t in Vegas?) be sure to enter the Frankenweenie Sweepstakes going on now! One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a 4 day/3 night vacation for four to the Disneyland® Resort and Disney California Adventure Park to experience the world of Tim Burton and FRANKENWEENIE during Halloween Time! Here are the deets:

Frankenweenie Monstrous Sweepstakes:

Disney_Frankenweenie_Sweepstakes

Enter the Frankenweenie Monstrous Sweepstakes for a chance to win a spooktacular vacation for four to experience all the fun of Halloween Time at the Disneyland® Resort. Plus, don’t miss The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibit only at the newly expanded Disney California Adventure Park, where you can get an up-close look at the amazing world of Frankenweenie through sets, puppets, props and more. And for a limited time Guests will be treated to a special 4D extended preview of the film at the Muppets Vision 3D Theater before Frankenweenie comes to theaters in 3D October 5th!

Visit www.disney.com/frankenweeniesweeps to enter the Monstrous sweepstakes and you could win Halloween Time at the Disneyland® Resort for some frightfully family-friendly fun!

Dates:

August 23 – October 7, 2012

Entries:

Online: www.disney.com/frankenweeniesweeps

Mobile – Text EDGAR to DISNEY (347639*) to enter for a chance to win. *Msg and data rates may apply. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

Prizing:

One (1) Grand Prize – A 4 day/3 night vacation for four to Disneyland® Resort and Disney California Adventure Park to experience the world of Tim Burton and Frankenweenie during Halloween Time.

Five (5) First Prizes – An Autographed Frankenweenie movie poster

Second…not feeling the love of the sweepstakes? No prob…check out the Disneyland Park’s Special Offers happening around the time you want to go. I would highly recommend staying at the park in one of the three Disneyland resort hotels. My two favorite spots are the Grand Californian and the newly renovated Disneyland Hotel.

Third…get yourself an awesome costume from BuyCostumes.com who supplied the kids and me with our festive Disney-themed costumes for the Mickey’s Halloween Party. BuyCostumes.com has this new interactive tool that allows you to “try on” the costume before your purchase it. I didn’t have the chance to check it out myself, but I can assure you, the costumes are top notch. They even fit true to size, and my kids are considered small for their ages. I, myself, went with the Deluxe Snow White costume, and am quite impressed with the way it fit, looks and feels. Not only does BuyCostumes.com have plenty of costumes to choose from, they are also a Upromise merchant, meaning that you should feel pretty darn good about purchasing your kids’ Halloween costumes from there as a portion of the sales goes toward their college savings!*

buycostumes.com

{We will be rocking these great Deluxe picks from BuyCostumes.com- Disney’s Merida, Disney’s Snow White and my son insisted on being the Black Ninja, go figure.}

Whichever way you choose to go, just get on it! Tickets to the Mickey’s Halloween Party sell out fast even though there are several dates to choose from: Sept. 28 and Oct. 2, 5, 9, 12, 15, 19, 23, 26, 29 and 31.

If that’s not enough to entice you, here’s more info on how the Happiest Place on Earth is about to get Spookier!

mickey's halloween party at disneyland

Mickey’s Halloween Party invites adults and children to dress up in costume and trick-or-treat at Disneyland. These revelers can also arrive before the party to “mix in” with regular Disneyland guests for three hours prior to the start of Mickey’s private bash. Highlights of Mickey’s Halloween Party include:

  • The special opportunity to play in Disneyland for up to three hours before the party starts; check www.Disneyland.com/Halloween for party hours.
  • Fun treat stations offering both candy and healthy treats
  • The “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington (presented exclusively for guests of  Mickey’s Halloween Party)
  •  ”Mickey’s Costume Party” cavalcade, performed twice nightly
  • Dance parties, where guests will “boo-gie” to lively music
  • An opportunity for everyone in the family to attend the park in costumes
  • Photo locations with some popular Disney and Pixar Pals, and Disney Villains
  • Favorite Disneyland rides and attractions, plus Halloween-themed attractions Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy
  • Parking for one standard-size vehicle

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party are $54* for select nights when purchased in advance, while tickets purchased on the event days and selected nights are $64.  All tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party on Monday, Oct. 29, and Halloween Night, Wednesday, Oct. 31, are $69.

We hope to see you and your family at Mickey’s Halloween Party! When you are there, share your Instagram photos with me and tag #RSMLVDisney.

 

*In order to gain full benefits of the Upromise site, you must sign up to become a member.

I have been invited by Disneyland theme park to attend their Mickey’s Halloween Party as a member of the media. I have also received costumes from BuyCostumes.com in exchange for product review. All thoughts, words and opinions are 100% my own.

Above photos of Mickey’s Halloween Party and Cars Land are courtesy of Disney.com.

4 Ways to Unlock the Magic at Walt Disney World

19 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by in Disney, Travel Inspiration

≈ 14 Comments

Since Disneyland is practically in our backyard, that’s usually my point of reference when I am talking about “Disney”. Except this year, my family and I were invited to visit Walt Disney World for the first time. Though there are many similarities, there are also many attributes that makes them both unique in their own regard. Disneyland, Walt’s first adventure, is a smaller, much easier space to navigate. I personally love the nostalgia and feel of the 1950’s found in the look and decor, with some modern updates adapted into the mix. I love knowing that I am riding in the same Tea Cups and pushing through the same turn-styles my mom did as a young girl, and that my kids are doing now. There has always been the allure of Disney World, however, imagining the differences of the rides, the shows, the castle…exploring the different parks and being enveloped in Walt’s dream. Mobile Magic App…The first two days there, the kind folks at Disney World treated us to world class meals, and access to major attractions with a behind the scenes perspective. With them, I was quickly able to work my way through 3 massive theme-parks in a matter of 48-hours. Magical, indeed. But there was the small issue of having to do it alone, with my mother and two kids for the remainder of our trip. I can walk through Disneyland blindfolded. I know the short cuts, how to avoid crowds, when to escape for a nap and in what order to hit up the Fast Passes. Disney World, however, is a whole other beast. My mom and I would stand there frustrated and lost; stuck in the crowds, wishing we knew the back way or a short cut. At first, we were like Disney tourists, pulling out our maps every few feet, standing on the sideline, hoping the crowds would die down a bit. Then, something magical happened…as we were riding on the bus from where we were staying, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, to the Magic Kingdom, I saw an advertisement that changed the rest of our trip.

disney mobile magic app

Faster than you can say, “They have an app for that?”, the Disney Mobile Magic App was downloaded on my iPhone. I want to tell you why this app is a fantastic resource for your next trip, and what’s even more amazing, it works for both Disneyland and Disney World.

  • Lists daily operating hours and Magic Hours for each Theme Park and Entertainment Areas
  • Identifies times of each parade, show or special event
  • Map can be Virtual or by List identifying each Land, Ride and Hours of Operation
  • “Favorite” the attractions that are important for you and your family- they are then added to your list. From there, the app let’s you know Wait Time, which Favorite attraction you are closest to, and Fast Pass information
  • Characters are broken down into categories i.e.: Mickey and Friends, Princesses and Princes, Pixar Pals, etc., and located for you throughout the park
This app came in handy so many times, and added benefits are restaurant locations, weather and transportation. I was super impressed with how quickly it located and advised on our next best move. It was the closest thing to having our own personal tour guide, but this one is FREE.
Epcot…You may be asking what some of the differences are at Walt Disney World vs. Disneyland. My overall impression is that Disney World is big. Yes, it is big, and the rides and parks are set up differently. Since the weather in California doesn’t change much throughout the year, and Florida has a reputation for rain, many rides and lines are structured to be inside. One of my favorite rides at Disneyland, It’s A Small World, is glorified and given a beautiful setting and entrance, where as in Disney World, it’s just a ride at the end of a long, winding, uneventful line. Since Disney World has more space, there is a greater opportunity for shows and exhibits, and the luxury to position the rides better between each Theme Park. All that said, Disney World offers so much to do and see, as the entire property is truly a resort destination. Being there, I felt transported into my own Small World of many cultures, adventures, destinations and culinary delights. My favorite theme park is Epcot. I love how open and airy it feels, the visits to the many countries, and the food! We spent 2 days there, and I am anxious to go back again. I hear the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is something not to be missed. Here is a neat tidbit we learned while traveling through Epcot: Cast Members of each “country” are recruited from their homeland, making the experience even more authentic.
RSMLV Epcot Tips:
  • Epcot is configured differently than the other parks, leaving more room to roam, so it doesn’t feel as crowded.
  • Make sure to get your Duffy the Bear paper doll or Passport and have your kids visit the KidCot stations in each land where they will get a stamp and the Cast Member will draw a picture of that country’s flag.
  • Foods, treats and souveniers unique to each country
  • More availability of the characters and photo opps with them without too much hassle of the long lines.
Rides and Attractions…Epcot was one of our favorite places to visit, but the kids also enjoyed attractions from the other theme parks. I took a quick poll and asked my kids what their favorite things about Disney World were, and here is what they had to say:
Oliver: “I loved the ride Soarin’ and the Carousel of Progress.” -my little history buff; we always have something to explore together as we share the same passion for progress!
Stella: “I really loved going to lunch with Minnie and Mickey, and meeting all of your blogging friends. But my favorite rides were Splash Mountain and the Teacups.” -a girl after my own heart…she’s my little adventure rider! I know I always have a partner on the scary rides, just as soon as she is tall enough to ride all of them!
My absolute favorite attraction though, hands down,is the Rockin’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In fact, I’m going to say it is my favorite Disney attraction. Everything about it is exciting and fun from the line, to the theme, to hopping in the limo and speeding through the crazy roads and highways of LA. Without giving too much away, it seriously rocked my world. All in all, though, I just loved being there with two of my kids and my mom. It was a Disney trip of a lifetime for me!
aerosmith roller coaster
Travel Tips from the West Coast…For those of you on the West coast debating on whether or not to make the trip to Disney World, consider this: whenever you are a true fan of something, it’s always an exhilarating experience to visit the mecca. Disney World is a big trip for West coasters though, a lot of time and planning goes into making a trip like this affordable and enjoyable. Some things I found useful were knowing the following: (Learn a few more Disney tips to keep your trip stellar by reading my post Top 5 Tips for Luxury Disney Travel on Traveling Mom.)
  • Direct flight options on Southwest airlines from Las Vegas to Orlando
  • Utilizing Disney Vacations makes a planned vacation more affordable with payment plans and options
  • Meal and dining plans can be pre-paid to allow more availability of your spending budget
  • Park Hopper can be added onto your ticket for an additional cost
  • Resort hotels are available to accomodate every budget and every type of traveler (luxury, family, multi-generational, etc.)
Now that I’ve been, I would like to go back again. This time, my trip would be planned around a special event like Halloween, Christmas or the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. We have friends who live on the East coast, and this would be a great middle meeting spot with the kids. Only having been there for 5 days, there is stil so much more to see and explore, restaurants to eat at and hotels to stay in. The redesigned Fantasyland opens in early 2013, with a new roller coaster concept with a Snow White theme, Beauty and the Beast castle and restaurant that I can’t wait to see. In a few more years, I would love to go back with the whole family, and maybe even add a cruise onto our vacation. I found the weather in Florida to be quite comparable to that of Hawaii, and I have to tell you, Southerners know how to cook. We did not have a bad meal anywhere. Walt Disney’s vision of Disney World was to be a place full of magic. Where families could come to relax, no troubles, no worries. Escape reality for a bit and travel into a space and time that provoked good old fashion family fun and create memories for years to come. Can’t say he didn’t succeed…the whole time on our trip, I felt like I was no where else but in the happiest place in the world!
A special thank you to the Walt Disney World Public Relations division for inviting my family and me to experience Walt Disney World, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, experiences and special attractions. All opinions and statements are of my own accord.

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