Tag Archives: Kids

Aug 12 2015

Book Minnie’s Holiday Dine At Hollywood & Vine Now

Last week I shared a little sneak peek into what Disney World will be offering during the upcoming holiday season. In addition to all of the traditional celebrations and decorations, Disney has added a new character dining experience for this year – Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests will be able to enjoy holiday-themed decorations, food, music, and activities with Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Santa Goofy. The holiday character dinner will be available on select nights beginning November 7 and running through January 3, 2016. The cost is $46.99 for adults, $27.99 for children (ages 3 – 9), or one dining table service credit on the Disney Dining Plan. There is also a Fantasmic! Dining Package available that includes the holiday character meal plus special VIP seating for Fantasmic! Prices for this package are $52.99 for adults and $31.99 for children. All prices exclude tax and gratuity. Reservations are available by clicking here or calling 407-WDW-DINE. Make reservations now, seating is limited!

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Are you visiting Disney World during the holidays?
Will you be dining with Minnie & friends? Please leave a comment!

Aug 4 2015

13 Fun Facts About Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Every year Magic Kingdom celebrates the Halloween season with the family friendly Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on select nights September through November 1.  There are special parades, exciting dance parties, stunning fireworks, and tons of trick-or-treating stations filled with candy for everyone! Adults and children alike really get into the spirit of the event by dressing in costume, trick-or-treating, and dancing the night away with all of the characters. Here are 13 fun facts about this celebration courtesy of Disney:

  1. 23 miles of parade route — that’s how far Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade will travel over the course of the season
  2. 2015 marks 21 fantastically fun years of Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween Party
  3. 586,000 photos of guests – that’s the number of images that the Disney Photo Imaging team took during last year’s Halloween event season
  4. 190 individually themed carved pumpkins adorn the balconies and windowsills of Main Street, U.S.A.
  5. More than 23,100 feet or about 4-1/4 miles of cable is installed for special lighting and sound effects that are part of the party’s Halloween entertainment
  6. A cast of 175, including performers, float drivers, costumers, cosmetologists, decorators and maintenance cast members, brings Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade to life
  7. 13 Disney characters are exclusive to Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade: Big Al, Captain Barbosa, Christopher Robin, Kanga and Roo, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed — the three hyenas from “The Lion King,” — plus three Hitch-Hiking Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion and Jack Skellington and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” — Jack and Sally are not in the parade, but instead available for meet and greets in Town Square.
  8. The Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular is narrated by the Ghost Host from the Haunted Mansion and features many of your favorite Disney Villains who go trick or treating in the night sky
  9. 999 Grim Grinning Ghosts enhance a not-too-spooky Halloween experience at the Haunted Mansion
  10. More than 245 tons of candy will be handed out to party guests during the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties
  11. 40 different kinds of brand-name candies, including Skittles, M&Ms and Kit Kats, are included in three trick-or-treat candy mixes offered during the parties
  12. Guests can visit 13 tasty treat locations including 2 treat trails with 3 times the candy (one in Frontierland and another that runs from Tomorrowland to the new Storybook Circus)
  13. 0 Tricks and countless treats make Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party a memorable evening for all!

Still need tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? Here’s all of the info:

  • September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; October 1 – Advance: $68 (plus tax) for adults; $63 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9); Day of the Event: $74 (plus tax) for adults; $69 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9)
  • October 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, November 1 – Advance: $74 (plus tax) for adults; $69 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9); Day of the Event: $79 (plus tax) for adults; $74 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9)
  • Halloween – $87 (plus tax) for adults; $82 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9)

The party is held at Magic Kingdom from 7pm to 12am. You’ll want to purchase your tickets as soon as possible if you plan to attend, because they do sell out. Please click here to purchase now!

Here’s a little video from last year’s party to get you in the spirit!

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Have you been to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?
Did you love it? Please leave a comment!

Jul 21 2015

Ice Palace Boutique Opens July 26

Ice Palace Boutique

A Flurry of Frozen Fun

Opening on July 26, the Ice Palace Boutique at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is a brand new wintry salon where kids ages 3 – 12 years old can undergo a special Frozen transformation. Here are all of the details courtesy of Disney:

The Ice Palace Boutique will be located on Commissary Lane across from ABC Commissary in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Unique to this location, guests can purchase select packages where families can also join in the “Frozen” fun. Additional party members can enjoy the exclusive Ice Palace Café, an immersive “Frozen”-themed café with included snacks while they wait for their Anna or Elsa.

Frozen CupcakesThe party will also get reserved seating at one show of “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” at Hyperion Theater.

The “Frozen”-inspired packages include:

  • Frozen Summer Fun Boutique Package – This package includes Anna or Elsa-inspired shimmering makeup palette, face gems, nail polish, a braided hair piece with sparkling snowflake accessory and an exclusive photo opportunity. Package retail: $75, includes tax.
  • Ice Palace Boutique Package – This package includes the items offered in the Frozen Summer Fun Boutique Package. It also includes access to the Ice Palace Café and reserved seating at one of the “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” shows. Package retail: $175, includes tax.
  • Ice Palace Boutique Deluxe Package – This package includes an Anna or Elsa costume plus the items offered in the Ice Palace Boutique Package. Package retail: $240, includes tax.

The Ice Palace Boutique Package and the Ice Palace Boutique Deluxe Package is for up to 6 guests, including the child getting the magical transformation.

Reservations can be made in advance and are highly recommended. To book your appointment, please call 407-827-7400. The location may be able to accommodate guests without reservations on a limited, first-come, first-serve basis each day.

There is also an Olaf-inspired package available that includes a glitter hairstyle and Olaf t-shirt. Reservations are not required for this package and will only be available on-site at the location. Package retail: $19.95, plus tax.

Ice Palace Boutique will only be offered during Frozen Summer Fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios which continues through September 7, 2015.

501 WaysHeading to Disney World soon?

If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, be sure to check out these valuable resources to help you save time and money:

Will you be visiting the Ice Palace Boutique this summer?
Have you made a reservation? Please leave a comment!

Jul 10 2015

TouringPlans – Tips For Making Rope Drop With Young Kids

If you are planning a Disney World vacation you’ve probably already heard the all important tip…”If you do nothing else, you must make it to Rope Drop!” Frequent visitors to Disney World will tell you that those first two hours of the day in the parks are absolutely critical to maximizing your vacation fun. If you are anything like most of us parents after you heard this, you thought to yourself…”How the heck am I supposed to get my entire family up, ready, fed, out the door, and to the park so early in the morning? This is never going to happen!” Well, stress not, fellow parent! Click to read my latest TouringPlans article – Tips for Making Rope Drop with Young Kids to learn simple tricks for an easier morning and an awesome viewing spot up front at the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show.

Do you make rope drop with your young kids? Do you have any helpful hints for your fellow travelers? Please share; we would love to hear from you!

Jun 24 2015

Zuri’s Sweets Shop Now Open And The New Poop Treats

Zuri's Sweets Shop

Updated June 27, 2015: It is being reported that Disney has removed the new poop treats from Zuri’s Sweets Shop as of today.

Have you heard the news? Zuri’s Sweets Shop is now open in the new Harambe Marketplace of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Here are the latest details courtesy of Disney:

Guests can take their taste buds on a mouth-watering safari with a visit to Zuri’s Sweets Shop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This new merchandise location at Harambe Market in the Africa section of the park offers an assortment of wild new treats and eats.

Zuri's Sweets ShopZuri’s Sweets Shop features 80 exclusive food items inspired by the sights, sounds and flavors of Africa. Guests can purchase themed decorative candy apples, assorted bulk trail mixes, uniquely flavored chocolate bars and delectable popcorn with a touch of African spices. Guests with a taste for barbeque also can find the signature sweet and spicy sauce from the park’s popular Flame Tree Barbecue.

This unique location also includes a colorful confectionary case filled with a variety of candies and baked treats. Guests with a sweet tooth will be thrilled to find tiger-shaped sugar cookies, elephant-shaped caramel apples and colorful giraffe marshmallow pops alongside Disney confectionary classics, such as Mickey Mouse chocolate chip cookies and tasty chocolate fudge.

In addition to the festive themed food items, Zuri’s Sweets Shop also offers items for the home, such as decorative “Blessing Baskets” and African-inspired dinnerware and décor.

Now what Disney’s press release doesn’t happen to mention is that Zuri’s Sweets Shop is home to the new poop treats. That’s right folks, if you haven’t already heard this unbelievable news, Disney is selling treats that look like animal poop! The official name is “Match The Species Treats” and they come in elephant, giraffe, hippo, and cotton top tamarin varieties. From what I hear, if you can get past what they look like they are all tasty chocolate desserts. Here are the descriptions:

  • Zuri's Sweets ShopElephant Poop – Chocolate peanut butter fudge with sweet rolled oats and coconut flakes.
  • Giraffe Poop – Rolled chocolate fudgy brownie and freshly made caramel.
  • Hippo Poop – Chocolate fudge caramel brownie with peanut butter and rolled oats.
  • Cotton Top Tamarin Poop – Pretzel pearls coated in chocolate peanut butter fudge with sweet rolled oak flakes.

Zuri's Sweets ShopThese treats are just $3.99 a poop (I mean, a pop 😉 ) or one Disney Dining Plan Snack Credit. My money is on the giraffe variety. I think it is the only one I could get myself to actually try!

Will you be trying Zuri’s Sweets Shop on your next visit?
What do you think about the poop treats? Please leave a comment!