Behind-the-scenes Tour at Disney World Shows Holiday Transformation!

Want to see how Walt Disney World Resort is transformed for the holidays? Now you can during this behind-the-scenes tour!

Explore this winter wonderland—brimming with dazzling displays, delectable treats and pure Disney magic!

During this festive and fun-filled 3-hour tour, you'll see firsthand the incredible artistry and logistics that make Walt Disney World Resort even merrier and brighter at this time of year.

You’ll:

• Discover how the Holiday Services Designers use themes to fashion the distinctive decorations that “deck the halls” throughout the Resort.
• Visit the Floral Department for an up-close look at the special displays created just for the season.
• Join a Disney Springs culinary artist to whip up a mouthwatering seasonal treat of your own.

In addition, each Guest will receive an exclusive holiday keepsake!

This tour is $149 per person. Theme Park admission isn’t required or included. If you are interested, let me know and I’ll get it booked for you!

Here's a Great Way to Have Some Halloween Fun - Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!!

Yes, I realize that Halloween is in just a couple of days so if you aren’t already on your way to Florida, you’re probably not likely to get to enjoy this party this year. But it’s NEVER TOO EARLY to start planning for next year! Here’s what’s happening this year and what to most likely expect when this spook-tacular celebration returns in 2020!

Get your favorite costume ready and make your plans to live it up—collecting candies, sweets and delightful treats—all while Magic Kingdom park thrills and chills you with special fireworks, eerie entertainment and Disney Characters that go bump in the night.

Best of all: since this event is “not-so-scary,” children of every age can enjoy the fun! But guess what - EVERYONE (including you adults) gets to trick-or-treat! And you’ll get POUNDS of candy!

The party starts at 7PM but you can get into the park as early as 4PM with your party ticket. The party goes from 7PM to midnight each night. This does require a separate party ticket - your normal park admission will not grant you access.

2019 prices - Party ticket costs are dependent on what day you’re going. Disney has placed a premium fee on more popular party nights like weekends and Halloween night. Party tickets start at $79 for adults and go all the way up to $135 for Halloween night.

One other money saving tip – if you buy at least a day in advance, you’ll save $10 per ticket! The only night the discount doesn’t apply is Halloween night. 

Park Attractions and New Additions

Bewitching surprises and spellbinding enhancements await at select attractions during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

Don’t miss your chance to see some of your favorite Magic Kingdom attractions like you’ve never seen them before!

• Space Mountain: Rocket through this popular attraction in complete darkness to the riffs and chords of a new Halloween-inspired soundtrack.

• Pirates of the Caribbean: Set sail for the high seas and discover a crew of live pirates engaged in a whole new adventure doing what pirates do best: search for treasure!

• Mad Tea Party: Spin yourself into a frenzy as special lighting and music effects enhance the fur-raising experience!

• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor: Follow a treat trail from our Human World into the Monster World and interact with a comic cast of monsters eager to learn about this holiday we call Halloween.

Come in Costume for the Occasion

There are some rules, though!

• Disney reserves the right to deny admission to or remove any person wearing attire that is considered inappropriate or could detract from the experience of other Guests.

• All Guests may dress as their favorite character, but may not pose for pictures or sign autographs for other Guests.

• Costumes must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable or violent.

• Costumes may not contain any weapons that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.

• Costumes may not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another Guest.

• Guests who do not adhere to these guidelines may be refused entry into, and/or removed from, the park unless his or her costume can be modified to meet the above standards.

GUESTS AGES 13 AND UNDER

• Costumes and some masks may be worn, as long as the mask does not cover the entire face and eyes are visible.

GUESTS AGES 14 AND OLDER

• Layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening.

• Costumes may not reach or drag on the ground. (e.g., full-length Princess dresses)

• Capes may be worn if the length does not go below the waist.

• Themed T-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts and hats are acceptable.

• Acceptable accessories include: transparent wings, plastic light sabers, toy swords and tutus. Headwear may be worn as long as it does not cover the face.

• Masks of any kind may not be worn.

All rules and regulations are subject to change without notice.

Magic Shots – NEW!

Conjure up some camera wizardry of your own—add an animated mirror or the park’s most popular poltergeists to your pics! Be sure to purchase the Memory Maker ahead of time for a savings!!

Who’s the not-so-scariest of them all? Magic Shots add Disney Characters to Disney PhotoPass photos—after they’ve been taken! Strike your most macabre pose, then watch as an all-new animated magic mirror, The Haunted Mansion’s grim grinning ghosts and other supernatural surprises appear right before your eyes.

Here are this year’s special party entertainment offerings:

Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular Fireworks

Gather ‘round as your host—Jack Skellington—delights with this not so scary-tale that proves anything can happen at Halloween!

During a frightfully fun fireworks display, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy are spirited away to a mysterious haunted house where they encounter dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and a sinister gathering of Disney villains!

Don’t miss this dazzling spectacular featuring state-of-the-art projection effects, lasers, light and fireworks during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party—offered select nights August 16 through November 1, 2019.

It’s a Spooktacular Procession

Get in the Halloween spirit as dastardly villains and ghastly ghouls float by during this spellbinding parade.

Twice nightly, this staple of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party brings forth a cavalcade of fiendishly fun floats, as each land of the Magic Kingdom comes together to celebrate Halloween. Parade highlights include:

• A flurry of favorite Disney friends, including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse—in all-new Halloween costumes—trick-or-treating down Main Street, U.S.A.

• Hitchhiking Ghosts and a new addition—the spectral Bride, who glides among the waltzing spirits—representing the Haunted Mansion from Liberty Square

• A new Tomorrowland unit featuring The Incredibles and designer extraordinaire Edna Mode, followed by Buzz Lightyear and some alien explorers

• Wreck-It Ralph, Vanellope von Schweetz and the girls from Sugar Rush making sure there’s plenty of sweet stuff to go around

• Pirates sailing in from Adventureland, Clarabelle Cow hosting a square dance during a Frontierland hoedown and a wicked assortment of Disney Villains reigning over a Fantasyland-inspired grand finale.

Be sure to secure your place along the route early! You won’t want to miss the Headless Horseman’s daring ride through Magic Kingdom park just before the parade.

See Favorite Characters All Dressed Up

Meet and mingle with Disney friends—some wearing their own special Halloween costumes!

From spooky to spectacular, don’t miss the fun when Disney Characters step out in their “haunt-couture.”.

Halloween-Inspired Harm-onies

Venture into Frontierland and you just might encounter the ghostly group known as the Cadaver Dans. They really like "axing" Guests questions… and answering with puns as part of their "dead pan" humor!

Moseying back again in 2019 for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, this Dapper Dans-style “band” will have you howling in laughter to a bone-rattling bevy of tunes—which may include:

• “Boo”

• “Cruella DeVil”

• “Darkness On The Delta”

• “Ghost Riders In The Sky”

• “Grim Grinning Ghosts”

• “Happy Trails To You”

• “Home On The Range”

• “Lone Prairie”

• “Rawhide”

• “The Headless Horseman”

• “The Oogie Boogie Song”

• “Trick Or Treat”

• “Tumblin' Tumbleweeds”

• “WaHoo”

• “Why Do They Call Me A Tenderfoot”

It’s Fun to Be Bad

The mischievous Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus return in 2019 to throw a Halloween party.

With only a few hours to run amuck at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Winifred, Mary and Sarah decide to use their magic to host a decidedly wicked fun fest.

Enlisting the help of the Disney villains, the 3 sisters mix sinister shadows, terrifying nightmares and use the nefarious powers of their frightening colleagues to conjure the ultimate Hocus Pocus Party Potion—and cast a spell on everyone in Magic Kingdom park!

Look for appearances from Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie and Maleficent. Combine them and other great Disney villains with amazing dancers, wild visual projections and otherworldly special effects to make Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular a not-to-be-missed Halloween treat.

Call me and let’s get started planning your spooky fun trip for Halloween 2020!! It’s always free to use my booking and planning services!!!

Now More than Ever!

The most common question I receive from people considering a Disney World trip is “when is the best time to go to have the best experience?” 

Although I have written in the past about the best/worst times (take a look here), we’re getting to the point where crowd levels are going to be high no matter the time.  With Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening, crowds will be flocking to the parks in droves. 

Disney is currently running a marketing campaign called “Now More than Ever!”  and I couldn’t agree more.  I wouldn’t normally recommend visiting in the middle of the summer due to the crowds and heat.  But it will be a while until the crowds slow down after Star Wars opens.

So you’ve got until the end of August to get there and enjoy what is turning out to be a slower summer for the parks.  A lot of people are putting off trips until Star Wars opens and that leaves rooms open this summer.  Disney has even put out a rare summer offer to lower the costs of some rooms.  In fact, in looking at a quote for a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 kids, for 5 nights with a 4 day park hopper ticket in June, you’re looking at less than $3000.  That’s typically one of the higher priced times to travel to Disney so a great deal at the moment. Costs will most likely just keep going up from here with all of the new attractions/resorts/entertainment options heading to the World.

Need more reasons to travel to Walt Disney World Now More than Ever?   Here you go!

Join Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom Park!

Party with Pixar Pals to Celebrate 30 Years of Disney’s 
Hollywood Studios

Celebrate the Circle of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

Satisfy Your Cravings for Food, Entertainment and Fun at Epcot

Other Can’t-Miss Experiences at Walt Disney World Resort

Merry Christmas from Trips by Mouse!

Of course, it’s not quite Christmas yet, but Disney announced today that tickets are now on sale for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! This is just another reason to get your Disney World trip booked far in advance so that you don’t miss out on things like this!

The event transforms Magic Kingdom into a winter wonderland for a magical 23 days of the year!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates for 2019:

• November: 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24

• December: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22

Returning favorites include a special holiday-themed parade and fireworks display as well as magical stage shows such as “A Frozen Holiday Wish” where guests can get swept up in the holiday spirit when Queen Elsa transforms Cinderella Castle with glistening ice.

In addition to the wonderful, holiday entertainment, guests can also ride Magic Kingdom Park classic attractions, savor complimentary treats and enjoy a magical “snowfall” on Main Street, U.S.A.

Buy early and save! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets start at $99 for select nights after $10 advance-purchase savings. Here are the specific costs for adult/child tickets:

November 8, 15, 22: $109/104
November 11, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21: $99/94
November 24: $115/110

December 1: $115/110
December 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15: $109/104
December 6, 13, 17: $115/110
December 19: $129/124
December 20, 22: $139/134

Have a trip planned and want to add tickets? Call me! Or still thinking of a trip? Call me for that too!! My services are always FREE!!

5 Desserts Around the World

The 22nd Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is currently happening at Disney World.  It runs through November 13.  If you're lucky enough to be there during this time, I have 5 delicious desserts to try from the different locations.  

And if you don't have plans to get there this year, let me know so I can help you plan a trip for next year!!  

Here are some mouth-watering options to try:

Australia:

Lamington yellow cake dipped in chocolate and delicious shredded coconut.

India:

Pistachio cardamom bundt cake with chocolate coconut mousse.

Germany:

A festival favorite!  Apple strudel with vanilla sauce.

France:

New!  Creme brulee with fresh house-made raspberry jam.

Italy:

Chocolate covered cannoli with sweet ricotta cheese and candied fruit.