Blizzard Beach Archives - On the Go in MCO

Halloween Activities at Walt Disney World

Halloween is upon us, and for some of you, you may be wondering what there is to do at Walt Disney World since Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is sold out for tonight. You’re on vacation, or maybe you live here and aren’t going trick or treating, but you’re still looking for something fun to do. Well, you are in luck! I’m here to help you take a look at the activities at Walt Disney World. If you are dead set on still making it to MNSSHP at the Magic Kingdom, as of right now (1am on Halloween), there are still tickets available for the last Halloween party on November 1st.

At Downtown Disney, DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park is hosting a Halloween party of its own from 6 – 11pm. In addition to regular DisneyQuest access to all the games and attractions, there will also be trick or treating, costume contests, dance parties with DJs, games and characters. Tickets are $54. plus tax for guests age 3 and up.

Blizzard Beach Water Park is even getting into the Halloween spirit with their own party from 11am – 2pm. The party is included in the regular water park admission cost. Like DisneyQuest, there will also be a dance party, character meet and greets, and there will be a chance to judge a pumpkin carving contest.

Each of the Walt Disney World Resorts will offer some sort of activity for Halloween. These include Disney movies under the stars at night with a Halloween theme like Hocus Pocus, Tower of Terror, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloweentown, Monsters University, Haunted Mansion, or Frankenweenie. During the day, arts and crafts and games take place at each resort in some fashion. There are a variety of afternoon and evening happenings with several of the resorts offering costume contests, trick or treating and dance parties. For more information about the specific activities for Halloween, consult the recreation calendar at your resort or call 407-W-DISNEY to get schedules.

If you get an opportunity, I highly recommend spending time at Walt Disney World for Halloween. I’ve gone trick or treating at resorts, voted on pumpkin carving contests, attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and watched movies and played games under the stars. It is a lot of fun to spend Halloween at WDW and if I weren’t working tonight, that is where I’d be since it is frowned upon to go trick or treating elsewhere when you are in your mid 30s. 😉

Happy Halloween! Have a safe a fun time tonight!

Spring into Adventures

Spring is in the air. Hopefully the pollen and my allergies will clear up soon and it is heating up and starting to feel like summer here in Florida. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some of the things I’m most looking forward to over the next couple of months instead of doing that spring cleaning that I probably should be doing. Now that I’ve found out my schedule for the rest of the spring and beginning of summer, I thought I’d start planning some weekend adventures. The parks across the area have some fantastic special events this time of year, and before the kids are out of school it is a great time to get away while the crowds are lower.

At Epcot we are already more than halfway through the International Flower & Garden Festival. I love this event each year and have been attending since 1998! I dearly miss Davy Jones of the Monkees, as his was always my go to concert for the Flower Power Concert Series. The thing I think I am most excited about (aside from the newly added food and beverage kiosks) is that my favorite HGTV celebrity, David Bromstad, is going to be hosting presentations May 17 – 19 and I’m now off that weekend!

Another of my favorite things that I will get to do for the third year in a row is Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This fabulous event has quickly become a must do for me! I still have so many things I haven’t done yet that are on my to do list. I need to get up early enough and get to the park to see the Stormtroopers on top of the entrance to the park above the turnstiles. Also, I really want to get my picture taken with as many of the characters as possible and go to some of the presentations and shows. And then, of course, there is Hyperspace Hoopla, my favorite of all! My apologies to anyone who now has that song stuck in their head (Hoooooooopla, Hyperspace Hoopla…).

Busch Gardens and Sea World are playing host to an awesome special event that I got to experience last year for the first time: Viva la Mύsica! This great offering is one that features Latin American food, merchandise, cuture, and of course, music. I got to go just for an hour or so to Busch Gardens after work last year and got to try to some amazing food, but was too late for the concert. This year I was hoping to catch at least one weekend at Busch Gardens and Sea World each. I was so excited when I found out that my favorite salsa band, El Gran Combo, was going to be playing at both parks. I know where I’ll be that weekend!

One of the greatest things about these three events is that they are all included in park admission. Food and beverages of course are extra, but the entertainment and most of the presentations are free of charge with your ticket. These add tremendous value to your vacation or even just a day in the park for us locals.

Water parks are definitely on my list for the next few months. I’ve lived in Florida for almost 20 years and I’ve only been to Typhoon Lagoon for a couple hours and did the lazy river and snorkled with the sharks before the park closed due to weather. This needs to be rectified. I’ve visited Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach for functions, but haven’t done a single water slide. This is a travesty! I also would love to check out some of the other area water parks like Sea World’s Aquatica and Adventure Island in Tampa.

Now we all know that sometimes with the spring come those showers that we need for those pretty flowers. What to do when it isn’t exactly park weather? Why not catch a film? Two movies I am ridiculously excited to see this spring are Marvel’s Iron Man 3 and Disney/Pixar’s Monsters University (visit this site if you haven’t already – it is hilarious!). I am a huge Avengers fan and loved the first Iron Man movie, enjoyed the second one, and adored the Avengers, so I cannot wait to see what they have in store for Tony Stark in this next installment. Monsters Inc was a great, feel good family flick and I think that this will be very entertaining to see some of Mike and Sulley’s adventures before they were best buds.

What are you looking forward to this spring? Did I miss any of your favorite spring special events? Have you been to any of these before? What are some of your favorite things to do in spring when the weather doesn’t cooperate? Hit us up and let us know.

Disney’s Water Parks Dive Into Summer 2012 with New Entertainment, Eats and More

From the Desk of The Walt Disney World Resort:

Typhoon Lagoon Packs in New Seasonal Offerings, Both Parks Offer Extra Magic Hours Through Late August

Summer 2012 brings a splash of fun for the whole family at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach water parks, with new entertainment and dining options at Typhoon Lagoon and Extra Magic Hours at both parks.

New Entertainment

The relaxing atmosphere at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is enhanced with new sounds of summer. For the first time, Calypso band “Tropicals” brings Caribbean steel drums to the park from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday through Sunday until July 15. The band can be found near the Crush ‘n’ Gusher water coaster pool area. Returning this year every day through September 8, characters Lilo and Stitch can be found just outside of the High N’ Dry sundries shop at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon; at Disney’s Blizzard Beach, guests can chill out with Goofy, who can be found roaming the water park.

New Dining Option

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon guests looking for summer fare beyond the normal park offerings may visit Tropicalamity. The new temporary food and beverage tent, located near Crush ‘n’ Gusher water coaster pool area, features a variety of eats, including chicken jerk pita wrap, citrus chicken salad, hot meatball sub and cold Italian sub.

Summer Extra Magic Hours

Guests staying at Walt Disney World resort hotels can take advantage of Extra Magic Hours on select days and times at both Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach through late August.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

Currently, Wednesday mornings before the park opens, from 8-9 a.m. through August 22.
Starting July 7, guests can take advantage of additional extra magic hours Saturday mornings before the park opens, from 8-9 a.m. through August 18.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach

Currently, Thursday mornings before the park opens, from 8-9 a.m. through August 23.
Starting July 3, guests can take advantage of additional extra magic hours Tuesday mornings before the park opens, from 8-9 a.m. through August 14.

About Disney’s Water Parks

Walt Disney World guests visiting Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park escape to a tropical paradise left behind by a storm. Surfboards, fishing gear, boats, including the iconic shrimp boat, Ms. Tilly, once strewn about by a typhoon, add to the ambiance.

Guests visiting Disney’s Blizzard Beach will discover a melting wonderland where a freak snowstorm hit Florida. Icicles, ski gear and steep slopes grace the ski resort landscape, home to some of the most thrilling water rides in the United States.

For more information about Disney’s Water Parks, guests can visit disneyworld.com/waterparks.

Who isn’t a fan of a Swinter Wonderland of Mini-Golf?

Playing mini-golf was always one of those activities that we always promised ourselves that we would do on on next trip, and I am so sorry we waited so long!!!

Of the two courses on property we chose Winter Summerland, located next to Blizzard Beach, for our mini-golf adventure.

The prices seem on par for mini-golf courses off property, and coupled with the Annual Passholders (and Cast Member) discount of 50% off it is an amazing value!!!!

Of the two courses available at Winter Summerland, we chose to play the Snow Course. It was not a super busy day, but for planning purposes the 18 holes took us about an hour to complete with 4 adults and 2 young kids, who didn’t play very many holes, in our party.

The holes are super themed! My favorite details were the bumper stickers on the elf sized trailers and the 18th hole!

Winter Summerland, a set on Flickr.

Here is a look at two videos of the 18th hole…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9YnycyG07Q]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNdSrF03u4]

It was an absolute blast, and I can’t thank Scarlett (@scarlettashley1) & her boys, Ben (@snowpup), and Betsy (@floridamingo) enough for the great morning!!! I especially want to thank Ben for knocking my ball into the hole twice!!! 🙂