Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa all decked out for Christmas
Every year at this time you start hearing Andy Williams sing that great holiday classic,“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.“ And perhaps no where is this more true than at Walt Disney World, where at some point during the first weeks of November, magic happens. Overnight every Disney World park changes and Christmas at Disney World comes to life.
Each of the parks have special events and shows.
The Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom comes alive at the most wonderful time of the year. Every inch of the park seems to have a decoration on it. Events abound starting at Cinderella Castle, where over 200,000 lights create an icy effect that dances throughout the night. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a not-to-be-missed event that happens on selected nights during November and December. All around the park, you’ll see special holiday shows, parades and even a special holiday firework show to complete the day.
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Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World
Living in Orlando, we are always ready to attend family-friendly events at the theme parks. This year Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, which takes September through November, did not disappoint. Taking place at The Magic Kingdom, this special event begins at 7 p.m. (the park is closed early to guests without a special ticket) and goes until well after the usual closing hours.
We enjoyed the Halloween decorations and the cast members carrying the Happy Haunts Start Here signs. The mood is obviously a little spooky — it is a Halloween event, after all — but as the name of the event promises, there’s no need to fear your little ones getting too scared. Throughout the park all your favorite Disney characters are waiting to greet you in their own special Halloween costumes. We stood in line for at least 30 minutes to take pictures with Donald and Daisy. But that was the only line we stood in all night: One huge perk of purchasing a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket is that you can basically walk right onto all the rides. Once in a while you might have a 5-10 minute wait, but that never happened to us. We even walked right onto Tomorrowland Speedway, which usually has a minimum wait of one hour.
But what makes MNSSHP even more special is the candy stops! Throughout the park you can stop at designated Goofy’s Candy Company stops to receive a handful of scrumptious treats. Last year we visited the park near the end of Halloween, and the candy choices were disappointing, but this year we arrived earlier in the season and the candy was great!
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Goofy at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Orlando
Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Cinderella, Lilo and Stitch, Tigger, Pluto, Goofy … the list goes on forever. Everyone who has ever been a kid has a favorite character or two, and Walt Disney World is the place where they come alive. You can even eat with your favorites, and character dining has become one of the top restaurant attractions in the parks. Some of the most popular restaurants are the one where your kids can shake hands with their characters that otherwise only exist to them on screen.
What is character dining?
At selected restaurants all around the park there are special meals hosted by different characters. For example, at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Lilo and Stitch host Ohana’s Best Friends Breakfast every morning. These are meals where a specific group of characters are “hosts” of the meal. Some restaurants have character dining all day and some only have it for one meal.
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Water rides are just one of the many ways to keep cool while at Disney
It’s about a billion degrees in Orlando during the summer, so how can you stay cool while you visit Walt Disney World? As the poem goes … “Let me count the ways…”
Swimming Pools
The obvious way to stay cool at Walt Disney World is to jump into one of the great pools. Pools like the Hippy Dippy Pool at Disney’s Pop Century, or Nanea (the Volcano Pool) at the Polynesian Resort are – like all of the hotel pools around Disney World – great places to escape the heat.
Water Parks
Another way to get away from the Central Florida summertime furnace is by visiting one of the awesome water parks. Both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach (the world’s coolest water park) are great for getting out of the broiling sun and into a nice, cool lazy river.
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Orlando Gay Days is full of pool, parks, sun, and speedos
During the last two decades, Orlando Gay Days (June 1-7, 2010) has swelled into a weeklong, citywide celebration of love, life, sex, and everything G-A-Y. The right-wing protests have faded, and with over 150,000 attendees, Gay Days offers events and parties catering to all crowds: muscle boys, bears, butch lesbians, fem lesbians, families, pre-ops, post-ops, sports fanatics, teens. It’s the most anticipated annual event in Florida and a mind-boggling explosion of gay subcultures. Read More »
The fireworks show at Disney's Magic Kingdom
It’s without a doubt that one of the ‘must-dos’ in Walt Disney World is to find a perfect spot to watch Epcot’s Illumination Show or the Magic Kingdom’s Wishes Show. But the perfect spot doesn’t have to be inside one of these parks. If you stay at any of the Disney Resorts, there are several spots you can enjoy these fireworks without having to pay admission. Read More »
Universal Studios offers annual park passes for $140
Being a Florida resident definitely has its perks. Besides oodles of sunshine and great temperatures year round, residents are privy to irresistible offers for deeply discounted theme park fun in their home state. Most notably, cheap annual passes or multi-day theme park passes make a spontaneous trip to Orlando that much easier and hassle free. In order to get these tickets, you must be able to show a Florida driver’s license or student I.D. from a Florida school. Read More »
Downtown Disney in Disney World, Orlando
Orlando is typically a must-do vacation for any family with children. Parents might try to save money by searching the web for the best deals at Disney World, because we all know how expensive a family vacation can be, but they might not look into the numerous Orlando attractions outside the theme parks. To help keep your vacation within budget, consider these fun and free alternatives.
Downtown Disney Marketplace: Experience the Happiest Place on Earth without paying for it. Downtown Disney is a perfect spot for a relaxing day. You will enjoy walking along the boardwalk and shopping in various specialty stores like the Disney Mega Store and the Lego store. Afterward, you can reward the kids (and yourself) with ice cream from the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop. It’s within a short drive from Disney ‘s All Star Movie Resort, one of Disney’s most affordable resorts, or the pricier. Read More »
