DISNEY WORLD

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July 29 2024

2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) What To Know Before You Go

Haley Bradley Epcot DISNEY WORLD, magic kingdom

Halloween is approaching quickly for the Walt Disney World parks and It’s my personal favorite time of year in the parks between the decorations, food and Parties. I just can’t get enough of it!

Magic Kingdom throws the best Halloween party with Mickey and his pals as your host! Below I will go over the essence of the most coveted party at Walt Disney World.

When is it:

This MNSSHP runs from August 9th until October 31st 2024.

(happening on select nights only, they are listed below)

August – 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 and 30
September – 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27 and 29
October – 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29 and 31

before you go:

This Party is a special ticketed event with a required separate ticket purchased. Ticket prices for this event range from $119 to $199. the price will vary depending on the date you choose to attend.

The limited-capacity, nighttime event starts at 7 p.m. and allows guests to experience shorter wait times for attractions, special entertainment, merchandise and more. Below is a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide for everything you need to know before you go.

*you may enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4pm during this specialty ticketed event*

Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass service will not be available during the official party times of 7:00 PM to midnight.

Event HIGHLIGHTS:

Guest may Dress up. That is right even us kids at heart can dress in costume! LINK HERE official guide lines on costume
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular! Catch the Sanderson Sisters and their Disney Villain Friends in this musical show performed on the Cinderella Castle Stage. *Tip: This stage show happens several times throughout the night and tends to get less and less crowded as the night goes on with the least crowded show happening at Midnight.*
Bust a move at the DescenDANCE Dance Party at Rocket tower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland * Available throughout the entire party.*
Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular: Hosted by Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, this Halloween Fireworks Show includes classic scenes from Disney films on the castle, haunting music and pyrotechnics galore.
Little ones can get their jam on at the Disney Junior Jam at Storybook Circus.
Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade-*BEST PARADE WDW OFFERS!*(IMO)
Halloween Ride Overlays at select rides
A Trick-or-treat Trail featuring loads of candy. These treats are included in the price your party ticket.
Meet Disney Characters in Halloween Costumes, and rare Character Visits! such as Cruella, Jaffar, Hades, Jack and Sally etc..
Guest without a ticket will be asked to leave the park @ 7pm!
Opportunity to buy Exclusive Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Snacks
Opportunity to buy Exclusive Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Merchandise

Rides that get a Halloween upgrade EXCLUSIVELY during the party.

Mad Tea Party Tea Cups. The teacups on the Mad Tea Party will now have a cool new lighting effect for riders during the Party. The light will change colors and you might even too! Sound a bit mad? Nah, we are excited about this fun little addition to this classic ride.
Space Mountain. On Space Mountain, riders will be treated to a new soundtrack. So if you’re already a huge Space Mountain fan, you’ll definitely want to check that out during the party.
Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor. complete with a Halloween theme, the laugh floor gets extra spooky during the evening’s shows.
Haunted Mansion. While the ride itself doesn’t change, the cast members get dressed up in their best Halloween garb. and be sure to keep an eye out for Ghostly performers on the lawn of Haunted Mansion throughout the night.
Exclusive to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2024, TRON Lightcycle / Run, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be available without a Virtual Queue! Meaning you can enter the standby line at any point during MNSSHP.

Best day to go?

Tuesday is the best day to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, offering the cheapest party ticket costs, and lower crowds. When planning for a special event at Magic Kingdom Park I always recommend weekday evenings as your best bet. Since locals and vacationers typically attend on weekends, the weekday crowds tend to be less.

Best month to attend?

September is typically the best month to attend this Disney Party at Magic Kingdom. Weather is still hot, but it won’t be as hot as August. As soon as October arrives, there are often higher crowds.

Hours & Entry

In 2024, MNSSHP Hours are from 7:00 pm- 12:00 am. So you have a full 5+ hours However, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party guests can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 pm. Be sure to grab a wristband as soon as you get to the park. Disney Vacation Club Members (DVC) can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 2:00 pm. Note, that if you are heading to rare character meet and greets, lines for these characters sometimes open early! *If you want to meet Jack & Sally I recommend getting there at4 asking a cast member where they will meet and head straight there to wait this line can become LONG and you don’t want to waste party time waiting in it*

Discounts: Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members can save $10 per ticket to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party—valid only for event nights in August and September. Cast Members can also save on select nights. More details can be found on Cast Life Web or My Disney Today.

Where to check in for the party?

Magic Kingdom Main Entrance Gates
Near Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland
Near Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland
Fantasy Faire Gift Shop near Mickey’s Philharmagic in Fantasyland
Liberty Square Ticket Office in Liberty Square

WHEN YOU CHECK-IN, YOU’LL RECEIVE:

Event Exclusive Wristband: You’ll want to wear this for the entirety of MNSSHP as it lets Cast Members know you’re a part of the fun! The seperates you from the guest without a party invite
Trick-or-Treat Bag: provided with a Halloween-themed treat bag to fill up with as much candy as you’d like from the trick-or-treat locations all throughout Magic Kingdom!
- If you have an allergy, let a Cast Member know and they’ll provide you with a special teal trick-or-treat bag!
- Consider bringing a more substantial and sturdy treat bag. *Bag is very small*
Official Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Party Map: This will be your guide to everything happening at MNSSHP! Here you’ll find:
- Showtimes for parades, fireworks, and stage shows, Character meet-and-greet locations, Trick-or-treat locations, Parade routes, Photo Pass locations, Specialty food & beverage locations, Event-exclusive merchandise spots

FIREWORK TIPS

1. To view both the whimsical castle projections and the full fireworks performance, you’ll want to be close (but not too close) to the front of Cinderella Castle.*Look for unobstructed views in the Cinderella Castle Hub between the end of Main Street, U.S.A., and behind the statue of Walt and Mickey.*

For an up-close view of Jack Skellington with a minimal view of castle projections and fireworks, you’ll want to be close to the very front of Cinderella Castle.
Plan to arrive at least 30-45 minutes prior to showtime to secure your spot.

Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade

The BEST no contest parade WDW has is the “Boo-to-You”, parade and you better be prepared to have this song stuck in your head! This parade starts with the Headless Horseman riding horseback down the parade route and continues with festive floats filled with favorite Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best!

appearances from countless rare characters like Disney Villains, spirits from the Haunted Mansion (EPIC don’t miss), and even Pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean. Truly, this parade is not one to be missed!

Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party Character Meet-and-greet Tips:

You do not have to wait for the party to officially start to get in line for these exclusive character appearances!
Consult your MNSSHP map for your list of must-see characters and head to their location before the party begins to be among the first to visit them.
the first parade showtime is so popular, use this time to visit with characters.
Don’t forget your autograph book
Know that most character meet-and-greets close before the party finishes around 11:00 PM, so don’t wait to get in line if they’re on your must-do list.

MNSSHP Trick-or-treat tips

Consider bringing a more substantial and sturdy treat bag.
Save trick-or-treating until later during your party to avoid having to carry around heavy candy bags.
Trick-or-treating is unlimited

Allergy-Friendly Trick-or-Treating

If you have a food allergy, you can ask a Cast Member for a teal-colored treat bag. When candy Cast Members see your teal bag, they’ll issue you a teal token that can be exchanged for allergy-friendly treats at designated areas called Allergy-Friendly Centers. You’ll find the Allergy-Friendly Centers located on your MNSSHP map. MNSSHP 3

*Allergy-friendly treat options include Beanfields Bean Chips, Enjoy Life, free2b, and YumEarth Organic Candy Company. There are even non-candy-related options available!*

Things to keep in mind if you have small ones.

This is a 7pm-midnight party I suggest doing the party on your day “off” from the parks
let your little one take a late nap so they are recharged for this party
make your next day a later park day say like Epcot and don’t go until 11-12pm!

If you loved this 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) What To Know Before You Go, post and found it helpful and if you know someone traveling to Walt Disney World soon who would benefit from knowing these tips, please share my post with them! you can also find us on Instagram @haleyeverafterco_ & on Fb at Haley ever after co!

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March 11 2024

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2024 Edition

Haley Bradley Epcot DISNEY WORLD, Epcot, epcot festival, festival, flower and garden

The most beautiful time of the year has finally arrived at Epcot and it is the Flower and Garden Festival 2024. This is the longest running festival at Epcot and it’s my personal favorite. The whole Aesthetic of Epcot changes and becomes this immersive botanical garden that comes to life with the buzzing of bees, the silent flap of butterfly wings and the aroma of spring in the air. I want to briefly go over the essence of this whole festival and also include in this post a complete list of the topiaries and where you can find them.

When is it:

This festival runs from February 28th until May 27th 2024.

Know before you go:

This festival is not a special ticketed event with the price of admission to Epcot You can participate in many of these activities for free. If you want to enjoy the special food, merchandise, demonstrations, etc., those come at an extra cost.

I recommend if you can to avoid attending the festival opening weekend and the last weekend those times typically are the most busy.

Flower and Garden is full of activities for everyone to participate in. Just a few to mention are (the ones listed below are free)

Topiary Displays, Exhibits & Gardens

Discover spectacular topiaries of beloved animals and Disney characters, cultivated with care by Disney horticulturists. Fun fact: Disney horticulturalists work for around three months per topiary and they make multiples of the same one so if anything were to happen to one while on display they have one to replace it! Has your favorite character been turned into a plant? See below!

Asha, Valentino, and the Wishing Star from “Wish” – *NEW* – Main Entrance
Butterflies – Main Entrance, Scentsy Garden, Butterfly House and World Showcase
Figment – World Celebration Plaza near Imagination!
Huey, Dewey, and Louie – World Celebration Plaza
Donald Duck – World Celebration Community Garden near Connections Cafe’
Bambi and Friends – World Discovery near Imagination! and Refreshment Port
Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy” – *NEW* – Near Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Buzz Lightyear – Near Mission: SPACE
Woody, Bo Peep and Her Sheep – Near The Land Pavilion
Simba and Friends (Rafiki, Simba, Mufasa, and Sarabi) – Between Imagination! and The Land Pavilion
Pumba and Timon – Between Imagination! and The Land Pavilion
Goofy – Rosewalk
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip, Dale, and Pluto – Bridge to World Showcase and World Celebration
Mirabel, Antonio, Isabella, and Luisa from “Encanto” – World Showcase
Miguel and Dante from “Coco” – *NEW* – Mexico Pavilion
Anna and Elsa – Norway Pavilion
Troll – Norway Pavilion
Pandas – China Pavilion
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Germany Pavilion
Lady and the Tramp – Italy Pavilion
Princess Tiana – The American Adventure Pavilion
Dragon – Japan Pavilion near Torri Gate
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy – Between France and Morocco Pavilion
Beauty and the Beast – France Pavilion
Lumiere and Cogsworth – France Pavilion
Butterfly and Flower Towers – International Gateway
Winnie the Pooh and Friends (Rabbit, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger) – United Kingdom Pavilion
Tinker Bell’s Fairy House Garden – United Kingdom Pavilion
Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and Tick Tock Croc – Between the United Kingdom and Canada Pavilion
Geese – Canada Pavilion

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2024 Edition

Butterfly Landing Presented by Advent-Health

Observe many species of butterflies up close in a kaleidoscope of color. Located near Imagination! in World Nature. This enclosed space is absolutely breathtaking you can spend hours here watching butterflies hatch and admire their beauty. Great experience for all ages.

Global Gardens 2024 at Epcot:

These gardens are a way to learn something new and immerse yourself into different cultures. Tip: Check the daily time’s guide for when the Global Gardens are open as many of them close at dusk.

*NEW* China Penjing Garden: “Discover ancient Chinese art that recreates miniature landscapes”
- Located in the China Pavilion
*NEW* Gnome Garden: “Discover topiary versions of magical garden gnomes, originating from German folk tales.
- Located in the Germany Pavilion
Blossoms of Fragrance Presented by Scentsy: “Follow your nose to six scent stations and form lasting memories with the help of fresh, unforgettable fragrances”
- Located on the World Showcase Bridge
The Community Garden: “Connect with the earth and each other at this celebration of a diverse and thriving communal garden plot.”
- Located at World Celebration
Songbird Meadow Presented by Wild Birds Unlimited: “Songbirds are an important part of many ecosystems—including the one in your backyard! Discover simple steps you can take at home to help these feathered friends thrive.”
- Located in World Discovery
Floating Gardens: “Peer upon more than 150 petite plots drifting on the ponds that border the bridge to World Showcase”
- Located at World Nature
Bonsai Collection: “Learn about the art of bonsai, some of the finest living sculptures. Bonsai masters carefully shape and tend these miniature works of art, creating pace and balance with the earth”
- Located in the Japan Pavilion
English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings: “Unearth the history and art of tea-blending at this elegant English tea garden featuring plants used in some of Twinings® finest blends”
- Located in the United Kingdom Pavilion

Family-Friendly Camp Get Out ‘N’ Play Garden Presented by OFF! – World Discovery

Explore a camp-themed garden where little ones are invited to jump, play and climb.

PLAYGROUND LOCATIONS

Outside behind Creation Shop towards Test Track
Outside walkway between the Canada Pavilion towards Figment and Disney & Pixar Short Theatre
Inside Mission: SPACE ride queue
Inside Test Track’s ride exit

Songbird Meadow – World Discovery
Songbirds are an important part of many ecosystems—including the one in your own backyard! Discover simple steps you can take at home to help these feathered friends thrive.

Free Concerts:

Move your feet to some of the hottest beats during Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Concerts take place at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion. Check this link to WDW official site for list of bands and when they are playing. If you want to guarantee yourself a seat check out the WDW site for their concert packages! Bands range from Simple Plan to Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone

Additional Festival fun (Participation may require a purchase)

There is a Garden Graze activity you can participate in by Using your Festival Passport which you can pick up for free at different kiosks throughout the park. This passport will be your guide on this food journey featuring 10 tasty dishes. Once you’ve tried at least 5 Garden Graze items and collected a stamp for each you can bring your Festival Passport to Pineapple Promenade, where you’ll receive a specialty treat! In addition to the Garden Graze Activity there will be festival-exclusive Outdoor Kitchens all around Epcot, each offering a specialty menu of creative cuisine and libations. Last year the Specialty treat was a Mango-Lime Dole Whip which you can not get anywhere else and is only available by completing this challenge.

click here to direct to WDW website for the full Garden Graze menu

Outdoor Kitchens, a.k.a. food and beverage booths do not open at the same time as Epcot – They open at 11:00 am daily.

Some menu items may sell out so be sure to prioritize your must-try items earlier in the day. You can note what you would like to try inside your Festival Passport which will list the menus for all the outdoor kitchens!

Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration

Spike, the cute little bumble bee and Flower and Garden Festival Mascot–can be found hidden in the Global Gardens during the festival. Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration is a fun scavenger hunt throughout Epcot where once completed, you win a special prize! Searching for Spike is a fun activity for everyone in your party–even if you don’t want to pay $9.99 to receive a completion prize.

This year you may also participate in the Egg-Stravaganza Hunt: Embark on the hunt for eye-catching eggs each resembling a beloved bunny; this experience only lasts till Easter and a little bit after.

Image from WDW website

Exclusive Merchandise:

And of course Disney has Merchandise exclusive to the festival that changes every year. EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival merchandise is Typically features Figment, Mickey and Minnie, Spike the Bee, and Orange Bird.

*NEW* for 2024

Orange Bird Collection: Spread the sunshine with adorable Orange Bird keepsakes in this collection featuring apparel, accessories, garden décor and more.
Coco Collection: Keep the inspiring words “Seize Your Moment” top of mind with this Coco-themed collection that includes apparel, headwear and home décor.
Butterfly Collection: Flutter through the butterfly garden alongside Minnie Mouse with items from this flowery collection.
Annual Passholder Collection: Enjoy Festival treasures featuring Spike the Bee on apparel, accessories and trading pins exclusive to our Annual Passholder family.

Disney Hack: You can purchase a gift card for your snacking & drinking around the world. This is the best way to keep yourself on budget! Details on this hack below.

Purchase a Disney Gift Card featuring a unique festival-themed design.Scan your mini festival gift card to pay for food, merchandise and more. These cards can be activated with as little as $15. You can find mini festival gift cards at any festival kiosk throughout the park, Disney Gift Cards can be reloaded at any merchandise location owned and operated by Disney.

Spaceship Earth Show During Epcot Flower and Garden Festival

Each night at Epcot—even when there isn’t a festival going on—you’ll find a nighttime light show projected on Spaceship Earth (aka the Epcot Ball).

Last year, Disney debuted “What Else Can I Do?” from Encanto to replace the former “Colors of the Wind” Spaceship Earth show from Pocahontas.

The “Encanto” nighttime show is exclusive to Flower and Garden Festival and should be at the top of your must-do list!

The best spot to view the Spaceship Earth Show each night during the Flower and Garden Festival is from the World Celebrations gardens. These are a part of the new area located behind the Epcot Ball with World Showcase Lagoon to your back. Here you’ll be able to see pylons that coordinate with the nighttime show as well as lights in the floor tiles. It just elevates an already spectacular show into something even more special.

After you watch a few cycles of the soundtrack, be sure to grab one more festival snack before heading to your spot to watch the “Luminous – The Symphony of Us” fireworks taking place around World Showcase Lagoon.

Taken during visit of Flower & Garden 2022

Conclusion:

This is a festival you won’t want to miss, I promise. It has a little bit of something for everyone in your group! This is a festival that will embrace all 5 of your senses! You can see all the beauty of spring as far as the eye can see, hear the sound of the gardens coming to life with nature, smell all the delicious foods and flowers, taste something grown right in Disney World, touch the world around you and take some of that feeling of prosperity and growth home with you to your own flower pots and gardens!

January 31 2024

Walt Disney World GENIE + UPDATE 2024 EDITION

Haley Bradley More Disney Hacks DISNEY WORLD, genie, genie +, HACKS, Hollywood studios, magic kingdom

This system is no longer valid at the parks please check our NEWEST blog post on the NEW lighting lane multi-pass & single pass system for WDW parks click here

updated Genie + 2024

Disney has not made it easy on us with all the fine print of using Disney Genie+ Service and I’m afraid that has continued to ring true into 2024. This brief post will go over the changes and updates to Genie+ service for 2024. I will link to our blog post here for the complete instructions, hacks and tips on navigating genie plus.

The Major Changes to Genie + are as follows:

Prices will vary by park. As per when Genie+ first came out at Walt Disney world the price was $15 no matter what park you went to. it changed later to $20 a day and now in its current state it varies on the “popularity” of that park and each given day. Magic Kingdom will always be the most expensive due to its popularity and over the holiday season in 2023 the price shot up to $39 per person. It is anticipated to see this number as high as $45 in the 2024 holiday season. Animal kingdom will always be the cheapest with Epcot in next place and the Hollywood studios under Magic Kingdom for Price.
Genie+ service can sell out, This typically happens during peak seasons, for example Christmas and Thanksgiving. If you plan to go during this time and you want to purchase genie+ you can do this at 12am the morning of your intended park day. I recommend purchasing it as soon as you (12am of your park day) as you can get it for a lower Price than what it will be at 7am, which is when most folks go on to purchase.
Anyone staying on Disney property or off property may now book their first Genie+ experience at @ 7am. This is a great improvement for those staying off property to also get the opportunity to get lighting lane passes for popular rides.
Only Disney resort guest can purchase the Individual lighting lanes starting @ 7am. *Individual lighting lanes are à la carte rides.* This is primarily the most popular or newest ride in each park. You would purchase this ticket separate from your Genie+ service. You do not have to purchase both Genie + and the Individual lighting lane (ILL) to be able to do either. The Disney Resort guest do get the upper hand here as the Rise of the Resistance is the most popular Disney World ride, which is located in Disney’s Hollywood studios. The Rise of the Resistance is worth the purchase of the ILL or even the stand by as this is a 22 minute experience. This Attraction is number one for any star wars fan! This Individual lighting lane typically sells out right at 7am. Do not lose hope, always periodically check your app to see if more become available. You can also ride this by joining the standby line now available instead of the previous virtual queue.

The Virtual Queue is still available for either Tron in Magic Kingdom or Rise of the guardians cosmic rewind in Epcot. The Queue opens up twice a day once at 7am and then 1pm. This gives you a virtual spot in line and the app will send you a notification when it’s your turn to go to the ride and stand in line. This does not mean you will not have to wait in an actual line. I have done the virtual queue and still stood in line for about an hour.

Below is a list of all the Individual lighting lanes(ILL) for each park.

Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarf Mine Train, Tron (Also offers virtual queue)

Animal Kingdom: Avatar Flight of Passage

Epcot: Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind (Also offers virtual queue)

Hollywood studios: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Also offers Standby)

Individual lighting lanes for non Disney resort guests can be purchased at the time the park opens.

*pro tip be sure to be up and book your first Genie+ attraction at 7am*

7am this needs to be your priorities: depending on your preferences and where you are staying

Join the virtual queue
Purchase genie +
Purchase individual lighting lane

The above is only a recommendation if you are not interested in the most popular rides you don’t need to worry about the virtual queue. Purchase your Genie+ and book a Lighting Lane for what you do want to ride.

Genie+ can run out of lighting lane spots so when booking at 7am be sure you are picking your top priorities.

These attractions below are going to be priority lighting lanes as these will run out and can be harder to get later in the day. I highly recommend if these are on your must do try to schedule these first.

Slinky dog dash in Hollywood Studios,

Jungle Cruise. Peter Pan’s flight in Magic Kingdom,

Remy’s adventure in Epcot,

Na’vi river journey in Animal kingdom.

A feature so many of us die hard Disney goers missed was the modify button. Say you have a lighting lane for 4pm-5pm for Slinky Dog but you wanted to do late lunch around 4 and push the Ride window time back, before this modify option was added you would have to check the app and see if another slot was available. You saw there was another later arrival window, you would have to cancel your current plan go back in and try to get the 7pm-8pm slot that said it was available now this issue caused a lot of headache as you may or may not get that slot and now your out of luck because you canceled your original! Disney heard our pleas and gave us a modify button. Now you select the experience you want to modify, then it will take you to a screen that will display all Genie+ experiences with times available and display your current one and what other time is available for that one. if you “fiddle faddle” by refreshing this screen a few times you make be able to get a better or sooner time you are looking for!

PRO TIP

you can book your next Genie+ lighting lane when one of the following happens:

As soon as you have scanned your ticket into the first one
if you miss you window for the attraction
it’s been 120 minutes since booking your first one. (not 120 mins from the return time for your next one but 120 mins from when you booked it.) For example, you booked your first ride at 9am for a slinky dog and your arrival window is 1pm-2pm. You can book your next ride on Genie+ for 120 minutes from 9am which would be 11am. The my Disney experience app will have that time you can book your next one at the top but will not send you a notification to book one so i recommend putting an alarm on your phone for 120 minutes(2 hours) and that way you don’t miss your window.

If weather or technical difficulties occur making the ride shut down and you have a lighting lane booked for this ride during the time it is closed the app will take care of it for you. The app will issue you a “multiple experiences pass” which you may use to skip the wait when that specific ride is back up OR you can use it on another experience to skip a line. This pass does have stipulation and it will tell you what/if there are rides you can not redeem it on. You can not use it in any other park if you are park hopping. This “pass” must be redeemed in the park that the ride went down in. If you are having any trouble with your app or Genie + there are always cast members throughout the park who will gladly help you.

Pro tip: if a ride goes down for any reason and you are issued the “multiple experiences pass” you can instantly go back into your app and book another Genie+ attraction without having to wait.

Last Pro tip is pinning your favorites to the top of your pin board on the My Disney Experience App. You will go into the App and click on set up my day and you can pin your favorite attractions to the top of your list so when you open the app it will show your personal favorites first! If later in the day you have already completed your top attractions you simply hit edit selections at the top and change out for your next must do rides you have in mind!

This was a brief update for what has changed or been updated for the Genie+ i will again link here to the full post that explains how to best utilize and navigate genie+

November 3 2023

I Went To Disney ALONE And These Are My Pro-Tips For Your Trip!

Haley Bradley Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, More Disney Hacks disney tip board, DISNEY WORLD, Epcot, Hollywood studios, magic kingdom, money savings tips

Yes, you read that title right I went to Disney World alone but before I spill the tea on how I conquered Disney World alone below is a bit of background about myself for reference and then i will divulge how i picked my resort, dates, parks, and then finish with how my itinerary went for my stay!

I am a 28 year old wife, mama, blogger, content creator, small business owner and a full time employee. Last year in 2022 I took a trip with a girlfriend and she made the comment why don’t you come by yourself sometime. I instantly had a lightbulb go off in my head why had i never thought about coming by myself. I started making a pros and cons list in my head. I was filled with anxiety and excitement all in the same time. I discussed it with my husband and he fully supported my endeavor and with that here is how I made the most magical memories for myself on my solo Disney World trip!

First thing was picking when to go:

I knew i wanted to go in April due to its my personal favorite weather in Florida. My trip dates set for April 20th through April 25th. I made my plans 8 months in advance which gave me time to pay for the trip in payments.

Second Booking where to stay:

i knew i wanted to stay on a Disney resort due to how much safer i personally felt staying on property. I compared prices of resorts and landed on All-Star Movies! It was in my budget and i had not stayed there before.

Thirdly how to get to Disney World and to the Resort:

i knew i wanted to fly! I live in North Carolina which is about a 9 hour drive to Orlando and i did not want to drive that far alone and a flight is 1 hour and 45mins no brainier i was going to fly. i flew with Spirit airlines which offers cheap flights, i will add here that these flights can become more or equally as expensive as American airlines if you add on things such as picking your seat, multiple bags, in flight snacks ect. My round trip flight with 1 checked back and 1 carry on was $211.00. I also got ground transportation to the resort via Sunshine Flyer which i had used before and was highly satisficed with, i booked this 2 months in advance and was able to secure this for $15 round trip, due to they were running a special on their transportation prices. This trip usually cost $35. I know some folks swear by uber/lyft but traveling alone i personally wanted to use a trusted Disney Transport.

All Star Movies Resort Impression:

All Star Movies was fun and truly made me feel like a kid again with its exterior theming. The resort offers 5 different themed sections. i got the pleasure of staying in the love bug building which was themed to Herbie the Lovebug! i also wondered the resort and really enjoyed the interactive theming of each building. The resort also include a cafeteria which served an array of foods from hamburgers to pot roast dinner. it really had something for whatever you were craving. During my stay i did not spend much time at my resort due to i had packed my weekend trip with park time but the time i did get on my resort was a great experience.

Friday, Arrival day:

After unpacking and settling in i caught the Disney Transport bus from my resort to Disney Springs and grabbed a bar seat at The Edison which is steam punked themed with American cuisine. I had an exquisite time! My bartender was spectacular and I highly recommend the Strawberry Fields Forever drink this drink was so smooth and perfect combo of tart and sweet that i ordered 3 even with the $18 price tag! my main coarse was The Edison, which is their Signature Beef Blend of Sirloin, Short Rib, and Brisket topped with White Cheddar, Crispy Onions, Smoked Bacon, Pickles, Lettuce, Tomato, Special Sauce, with Fries and oh my goodness it was delicious.

Saturday:

I took a trip around the world showcase of Epcot. Epcot is a absolute breath taking park but especially at this time of year due to Epcot celebrating the Flower and Garden festival which brings nature to you right on a plate or in a drink. I took my time getting ready that morning after i had woke up at 6:55 AM and purchased Genie + for the day and purchase my Individual lighting lane ticket for Guardians of the galaxy rewind (need to understand Genie+ link here to our blog post). I took the resort bus to Epcot. I was not rushed for time this park day and the resort bus is free and i was fine leisurely arriving at the park. The buses arrive and depart about ever 15-20 mins give or take if any the buses are delayed. there was a coinvent board that would updated about every 5 minutes and let guest know when next ETA was for whichever bus. Once at Epcot I made my way to all the rides i wanted to complete. I wanted to get the rides done early so i could just enjoy the park. Epcot during flower and garden offers so many unique drinks, foods and exhibit i didn’t want to miss any time exploring those options by standing in line for a ride. My purchase of genie+ for the day was well spent. I enjoyed a variety of snacks and drinks throughout exploring the worldshow case. personally my favorite drink was the La Vie en Rose Slush which returned again to this year’s Flower and Garden Fest It’s made with Grey Goose Vodka Orange, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice. Its an expensive choice but well worth it! My favorite Snack was the Beef Tenderloin Tips found at the Canada booth, this was made up of a mushroom bordelaise sauce, and whipped potatoes with garden vegetables. It was mouth watering! I ended up leaving Epcot around 7:30pm as i had an early morning planned for Sunday at Magic Kingdom (MK).

Sunday:

I ventured to Magic Kingdom. Which is the one park most folks think of when they hear Disney world. Magic Kingdom is more family friendly with over 40 rides and attractions with not many of them having any height limitations. **I got to Magic Kingdom 1 hour before park opening** this is a huge pro-tip this is how i got some great castle shots before the park was overflowing with people! I had a breakfast reservation at the crystal palace to eat with Pooh bear and his friends. I was late for this by almost 30 minutes due to the resort bus had a break down and had to send another bus to pick up. This was frustrating but again when using a free services there is only so much you can complain. When going again i will use an uber or lyft when i need to be there on time.

The weather this day was astonishingly. It was sunny and 75 with a breeze i truly couldn’t have had a better weather day! Magic Kingdom is typically opened the latest so to prepare myself for that i went in that morning with a plan to do my top 6 rides and then head back to my resort at 2pm relax change clothes and arrive back at the park by 5pm and it worked out perfect sticking to this plan. I felt refreshed and no sore feet or overly fatigued. I really enjoyed engaging with others on their magical vacations. I offered to take others photos often and in return they would take a few for me. I met a lovely family with their daughter, who were visiting for their first time and we had great conversations waiting on the fireworks to start. Watching them watch their daughter as she took in the magic for the first time truly brought me to tears. I took photos of them before and during the show and airdropped them the images and the mom was crying with gratitude and i was just over joyed to be able to bring some magic to their trip! After the fireworks I wondered around the park and Let me just tell you if you can manage to hang around even just 1 hour after the fireworks you wont be disappointed! Mainstreet will be swamped with folks shopping and exiting the park but the other lands are empty and i was able to get amazing shots of the park at night. I also spent time just soaking in the atmosphere, people watching and just the magic that can be felt in the park itself. I headed towards the buses about and hour before closing as the line for resort buses at park close can be extensive.

Monday:

Hollywood studios was my last stop on my solo Disney trip! I started my day here with a warm hug from everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf. Grabbed a Joffrey’s coffee and a huge doughnut and sat Infront of runaway railroad and people watched. I also got to ride Mickey & Minnie’s runaway rail road for the first time and it was so adorable! A must do if you have small children or as a solo Disney adult as i did! Afterwards i spent the next 4 hours in Galaxy’s Edge. I had drinks at Olgas canteen which was fabulous. I did try nearly every drink but the outer rim was my favorite. I spent so much time in this area really living out my Star Wars fan girl fantasy. I had dinner at the new Woody’s BBQ Roundup in Toy story land. The food was impeccable but way to much food for just one person and i felt terrible leaving so much uneaten food. Toy Story Land is my favorite land at night. The auroras of the Christmas lights from above and the screams of laughter from Slinky Dog Dash pulls me back to my childhood and i cherish that feeling every single time i visit. In true Florida style it started to pour rain so i actually go a table Olgas again and had a few drinks. Olgas experience is truly above and beyond, Especially for someone whos’ a die hard Star Wars fan. I am not a fan of the bar food as it is more adventurous then my taste buds are but the drinks are amazing and the cast members go out of their way to make you feel special and truly transport you to another galaxy far far away. As i took shelter from the down pour at Olgas i met a plethora of other Disney adults and struck up conversations about the drinks, food and atmosphere of Galaxy’s Edge. Once the storm dispersed i headed back to my resort to prepare for my next day of traveling home.

Tuesday:

Departing day, because i used the Sunshine flyer for a round trip to and from the airport on the day prior to departing day they sent me a time as to when i should be at the front door for pick up and this time can be multiple hours prior to your departure due to they pick up from other resorts. This part was discouraging as i had a 1pm departing flight but i had to be on the bus at 7am. I believe my next trip i will use them for arrival but not departing as i would’ve liked to have slept in, enjoyed breakfast and shop some before arriving to the airport. I will also say that the bus will leave if you are not outside at your appointed time. on my previous trip i was literally one minute late and the bus driver was about to pull away and i had to bang on the door, so if punctuality isn’t your thing maybe look into alternatives transportation.

Big take aways from this trip:

Using Disney transport is cost effective but can burn so much time, Next trip i will consider using uber/lyft for transport on the mornings I’m looking to get somewhere at a certain time. Buses fill up and they get delayed often, I was trying to stay on a budget this past trip and used the free options which did save me money but cost me some valuable patience and park time.

Spending time with cast members was a delight. I made it a point in asking them questions, advice or just small talk. I made keychains prior to my trip and put a little thank you note with them and I handed them out to cast members and it truly delighted them. It made my heart happy to give back to them as they do so much to make everyone else’s day perfect! I will definitely continue this tradition.

This was the very first time I ever went back to the resort in the middle of the day and took a rest. This was huge and so important for me on my Magic Kingdom day. I don’t believe i will do this when i have a large group due to how hard it can be to get people up and going again but with no one else to wait on but myself i will do this again.

Buying Genie + , I bought it for my entire trip and i bought two individual lighting lanes. My thoughts on this one are money over time spent waiting in line. I am someone who wants to be able to plan out my day and know what to expect next. I miss the FastPass system so much when it comes to this due to i was able to know 60 days prior to arrival what rides/attractions i had booked however i will say that i was able to ride more rides with Genie+ than the FastPass system but its such a give and take because i spent so much time checking my phone for availability which this wasn’t a big issue when it was just me but on my previous trip with my family i felt i was missing out on family time because i was looking at my phone constantly. I would still buy Genie+ again on my next solo trip.

I packed 3 park days into my 5 day trip and it left no time for relaxing or shopping. My next trip i will either do only 2 park days or book a late flight on my departing day so i can spend time lounging and enjoying Disney springs.

I will stay at a value resort again. I know some people swear by staying at a Deluxe resort but for me I would rather save the money to enjoy dinners, experiences or purchasing souvenirs then pay for a more luxurious resort.

This whole experience was so liberating to not wait on anyone else. When i wanted a break, i took one. I wanted to take 150 pictures of everything so i did. I wanted a snack, i got one. This trip was absolute bliss. I was so scared going into my first park day that i would be lonely or stick out among the multitude of families vacationing together but i truly enjoyed my time watching folks, exploring each country and taking in the atmosphere. If you have every considered a solo trip i highly encourage you to do it!

July 31 2023

Disney World Infographics

Haley Bradley Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, More Disney Hacks disney tip board, DISNEY WORLD, disneyworld info, disneyworld inforgraphs, Epcot, HACKS, magic kingdom, money savings tips

There are infographics all over social media, but they aren’t always easy to find when you need them. I decided to create a Infographic blog entry to give you a one-stop shop to find what you’re looking for.

Look through the list below and grab whichever one you are looking for! be sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly for new infographics!

**Infographics is a visual representation of information. Infographics examples include a variety of elements, such as images, icons, text, charts, and diagrams to convey messages at a glance.

Below Infographics for Rider Switch what to do while you wait!

Below are my recommend info Graphs of must dos in Magic kingdom and the attractions respected location.

Below are Toddler/Child Approved Rides with no height requirement/shows at each of the four parks be sure to screenshot these for quick reference on your phone

January 9 2023

10 Mistakes to Avoid at Disney World

Haley Bradley More Disney Hacks disney savings, DISNEY WORLD, Epcot, HACKS, magic kingdom, MISTAKES, TIPS

Everyone can make mistakes, but no one wants to make one that is going to affect their wallet or their magical vacation. I however have made many mistakes when visiting/planning my previous Disney World trips, but I have narrowed down a list of ten of the most easily avoidable mistakes made at Disney World. I will dive into each mistake with a pro-tip on how best to avoid making it, so without further ado let’s get to it!

Mistake #1

Not ordering off the kid’s menu, most people go to Disney World not just for the rides but for the diversity of food & snacks they have to offer. (Where are my foodies at?) The Kids menu will always have the basics of chicken tenders and burgers, but most places offer many of the adult options on the kids’ menu in smaller portions which is perfect for someone who wants to enjoy as many different foods as possible without breaking their bank.

In addition, when you order a kids menu item it comes with a drink and a side. The best example as to when I use this tip is at the Satu’li canteen in Animal Kingdoms Pandora. I mobile order a kids Cheeseburger Steamed Pod served with Vegetable Chips and a Cuties® Mandarin with Small DASANI Bottled Water for 8.59$ it’s a great light lunch for under 10$ and I typically keep the mandarin to eat later in the day. The adult portion of this entrée comes with two cheeseburger pods and a side of chips for $13.29 which does not include a drink so by getting off the kids’ menu here you can save $8.75!

This is something you can typically only take advantage of at a quick service or casual dining place but it never hurts to ask when at a table service if you are trying to stay on a specific budget.

Mistake #2

Not bringing a refillable water bottle! I know this sounds like such common knowledge, but this is a mistake I made often! I have spent so much on bottles of water during my trips. My issue was I didn’t want to keep up with the bottle, have it taking up space in my backpack, and I would tell myself I’ll just buy some when I need it. However, purchasing $6 bottles of water 6-7 times a day really adds up! I was determined to find a better solution for my next trip and I did with a collapsible water bottle! I was apprehensive at first but I took this on my last two Disney Trips and it worked so well! When it was empty I could collapse it into an easily storable size and refill it when needed. I will link to the one I used here.

PRO-TIP: at all quick service restaurants you can refill your water-bottle for free! Staying hydrated is so important in Disney World. Being dehydrated can truly hinder your trip so please drink the H2O!

Mistake #3

Not bringing in your own snacks. This is a huge one that I feel so many people don’t know they can do. Disney understands many people have food restrictions, allergies and budgets so they do allow people to bring in their own food & drinks. You can even bring in a cooler. The cooler needs to be smaller than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18” high. I love eating meals at Disney but I still bring myself and family a few snacks, nothing worse than a hangry family, am I right? A few items to bring that I highly recommend are uncrustable sandwiches that are frozen and thaw overtime, cereal bars, nuts, and fruits.

Below is a direct quote on Outside food from the Walt Disney World website.

“Guests are allowed to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverage items into the park for self-consumption, provided they are not in glass containers and do not require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration or temperature control and do not have pungent odors.”

Mistake #4

Not buying Disney gift cards before your trip. Did you know you can use a Disney Gift

card anywhere on property in Disney World. Starbucks? Yes! Disney shops? Yes! Dining? Yup! Purchasing Park tickets? Yes! Using Disney gift cards is a brilliant way to keep yourself and the family on a budget! I recommend buying a gift card ranging $50-$100 every time you get paid up until you go on your trip and then you can use those cards for all your purchases. This can truly help keep you on budget instead of using a credit card and not keeping track of speeding.

PRO-TIP: if you have the Target Red Card you can save 5% off your Gift card purchases! Costco and Sam’s also run sales on gift card purchases, but you will need to research when those are to take advantage of the sale.

Mistake #5

Not planning a day off. I know you are in the most magical place on earth, and you want to do it all but schedule a break in the middle of your trip rather it be an entire day just lounging by the pool or taking a midday break from the parks every day, schedule it and stick to it! Your feet and family will thank you! I am an open to close girl but when we went on our most recent trip with family and a toddler, I scheduled two days of leisure in our week and they all thanked me for the time to relax, unwind and be ready for the next park day. This is also a great opportunity, when in a large group for everyone to get some space and do their own thing, which can also really make for a happier family when back in the parks together.

Mistake #6

Not familiarizing yourself with the “My Disney Experience” app & Disney Genie.

My Disney Experience app is an encyclopedia of information that will be useful to you. You can find park maps, park times, bus times, menus, wait times, and much more on this app! This is also where you could make and modify dining reservations and complete your mobile order food. Also within My Disney Experience app this where you can utilize Disney Genie which is a free service and help plan and prep your day. This application is also where you can purchase Genie+ ,which is Disney World’s replacement of the old FastPass system. I highly recommend you take some time to explore the app before you leave for Disney. if you wish to go more in depth with Disney Genie and get some real Pro-tips on using it check out our detailed post about it here

Mistake #7

Not making rsvp for dining 60 days in advance. You really want to make those must have dining experience reservations as soon as you possibly can! i highly recommend for first time visitors to get a Disney travel agent. They are specially trained on how to get you the best dining experiences and make this part of your stay smooth. If you are not using a travel agent and staying at a Disney World resort you can make your dining reservations up to 60 days in advance for your entire stay at one time. If you are not staying at a Disney resort you can make your reservations 60 days in advance but for each day at a time.

If you’re interested in a travel agent, I am linking to McKenzie Choate , who would be happy to help you in planning your entire trip!

Mistake #8

Not being prepared for the weather. Florida is unpredictable, you can pretty much guarantee it is going to rain at some point during the day and always anticipate it is going to be hot and humid. June 1st through November 30th is hurricane season, some years they see multiple hurricanes and other years such as 2022, hurricane season was oddly quiet with only 8 compared to 2021 which had 37 hurricanes.

Be aware of what time of year you’re planning to go. If you are going in July, bring cooling towels, battery fan, and plan time indoors to cool off. If you’re going in September, be sure you’re aware of any upcoming hurricanes and if there is one approaching during your stay, be alert on park closures. No matter the time of the year, the best rule for Florida is to be prepared. PRO-TIP: always pack the following ponchos, cooling towels, battery operated fan, sunscreen. Bonus tip: BUY A STROLLER PONCHO! it sounds crazy but you will thank me!

Mistake #9

Not using mobile food order for quick service meals. Mobile food ordering was something Disney started in 2017 but it didn’t really blossom until the reopening of the parks after covid 19. I will say I absolutely love this feature! you can Mobile order right from your My Disney Experience app. It’s simple and the app will walk you through the whole process, this truly saves you so much time from waiting in line and you don’t have hangry family members or kids waiting in line either. You can order your breakfast for whatever park you’re going to and pick your arrival window and once you’re there, prepare my order and you pick up from the kiosk window. It’s that simple and then you and your family are off onto your first ride. I will link here to Disney World’s official site if you want to see a play-by-play instruction on how to complete this!

Mistake #10

Not thinking about giving yourself “cushion” time for travel between parks/resorts. Getting from your resort to the parks can take a lot of time whether you’re staying on site or offsite. Some days a 15-minute drive can take 45 mins then you have to park, walk or catch a bus to the park, go through security check in then navigate through the park to your first reservation.

If you plan to utilize Disney transportation, give yourself up to 1.5 hours for “cushion” time. I know it sounds insane but rather be early then late. Your dining reservations will hold for 15 mins over, but your Lighting Lane will only hold for up to 5 mins after your arrival window and I don’t want you to miss that! If you plan to drive/uber, still give yourself and hour. Please note this one is a guideline and depending on the time of year of your visit this will change that “cushion” time greatly, say you were visiting during new year’s, I would say give yourself up to 2.5 hours of cushion time for travel.

Conclusion:

I tried to really narrow down this list to the 10 things I truly thought could hinder someone’s visit to Disney World. I want everyone who plans a trip to this magical place to feel that when they enter the gates, they have the knowledge to navigate their trip and make memories that they will cherish for a lifetime. Save this post for your next trip to be sure to avoid these mistakes