Lindsay, Author at Laughing Lindsay

My Favorite Christmas Activities

December 4, 2024 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

I previously posted about the best things to do in different seasons, but today I’m honing in on my favorite Christmas activities!

My Favorite Christmas Activities

I’ve now posted my favorite things to do in fall, spring, winter, and summer! However, I realized that the holidays are their own special time of the year. So, it deserves its own post!

List of Things to do at Christmas

Travel – I love to travel and see the holidays at different locations. My favorite place is probably Walt Disney World (shocker, I know). However, I’ve always enjoyed Christmas decor and lights. So, I enjoy seeing those just about anywhere.
Watch movies – I enjoy getting into the holiday spirit with a good Christmas movie! I have several movies that I have to re-watch every year, including A Christmas Story and Elf.
Bake – We started hosting the holidays back in 2019. So, I’m responsible for the vast majority of the holiday treats for my family. The good news is I enjoy researching new sweets and making old favorites every year. Nothing says Christmas Eve to me like baking!
Listen to music – I tend to resist listening to Christmas music until Thanksgiving. However, after that I will listen to it when I bake or get ready to go out. I still listen to rock/pop music when I workout though.
Decorate my house – Even before we hosted the holidays, we put up a tree and a few lights outside. However, now that we host, we tend to go all out. It takes us a few days to get everything set out, but it’s worth it.
Puzzles – In recent years, I’ve taken to completing at least one festive puzzle while watching a movie.
Wear holiday clothing – Yes, I probably seem insane. However, rotating my clothing for the seasons makes me happy. So, I do it.
Buy presents – I enjoy surprising my husband with the perfect gift. We use a gift list for everyone else. However, I do buy stocking stuffers to add some fun. I also may hit up deals to purchase stuff for myself. Haha!

What do you do to get in the spirit?

Is there something you enjoy doing around the holidays that I left off of my list?

Epcot Festival of the Holidays Guide

November 27, 2024 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

The Epcot Festival of the Holidays begins on Friday! So, here’s a little guide to help anyone planning a trip there!

Epcot Festival of the Holidays

This limited time event held at Walt Disney World usually begins on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and lasts until near the end of the year. In 2024, that’s November 29th to December 30th. During this time, you can expect to encounter special holiday entertainment and food booths scattered around World Showcase. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect.

Holiday Kitchens

Personally, one of the biggest draws of any festival held at Epcot is the addition of the food booths. This festival refers to them as Holiday Kitchens. The kitchens are mostly themed after specific countries and reflect their holiday food traditions. Last year, I enjoyed the Japan booth with the sushi tree and the potato latkes at the L’Chaim booth.

Additionally, there’s always a Cookie Stroll you can participate in. There are several cookies available for purchase at the booths. If you purchase select ones, you can complete the challenge and earn a free reward! The prize is typically a special cookie and maybe some milk!

Entertainment

During this festival, there’s lots of special entertainment to enjoy. Several of the countries have their own Holiday Storytellers or cast members from their respective countries telling the stories and traditions of the holidays in their home countries. It’s so neat to walk around the park and hear festive stories from different countries!

There’s also JOYFUL!, a show that celebrates Christmas and Kwanzaa. You can also meet and get your picture taken with Santa at the Odyssey Pavilion this year.

Lastly, there’s also the holiday scavenger hunt around the park. This year’s Olaf Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt involves purchasing a hunt map for $9.99, going around the park to identify the holiday traditions and placing the sticker in the corresponding spot on your map. Then, you return the completed map for a prize!

Candlelight Processional

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Candlelight Processional offering. It’s one of the most popular seasonal entertainment offerings at Epcot. I wrote a whole post last year on the Candlelight Processional Dining Package at Epcot Review. While it was an expensive evening, it was delightful to have a good meal at a restaurant at Epcot and guaranteed seating for the show with a celebrity narrator. My mom and I were lucky enough to see John Stamos on the night we went.

Festival of the Holidays Tips

Plan for at least one full day – We spent an entire day in Epcot last year and still didn’t see everything at the festival. I could see popping over to Epcot if you have a Park Hopper ticket to enjoy some evening entertainment or to grab some food.
Space out the meals – We ate breakfast for the dining package, skipped lunch, and ate dinner from the booths. That worked well for us.
Get a gift card – Personally, I always purchase a Disney gift card to use at the festivals so I don’t have to keep track of receipts after visiting the booths. Also, those gift cards are a good way to earn fuel points at Kroger. Alternatively, Epcot usually has a special themed gift card on a bracelet for each festival that’s especially handy.
Check the schedule – It’s good to go in with a rough idea of things you like to see and their times. However, I also recommend just leisurely strolling World Showcase for the holiday vibes.

So, have you ever visited the Epcot Festival of the Holidays? What are your tips?

Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood Review

November 20, 2024 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

On my most recent trip to California, I was able to take the Warner Bros Studio Tour! Today I’m doing a little review of that experience.

Warner Bros Studio Tour

As I mentioned in my Walt Disney Studios Tour review, there are three big studios in Burbank: Disney, Universal Studios Hollywood, and WB. On this trip I was lucky enough to fit in all three! Having already posted my review of the other two, it’s finally time for the Warner Bros. one.

While there are several tour options here, I did the standard tour due to time constraints. I would love to return for a longer tour some day though. It’s $73/adult and has several time slots available most days. It’s advertised as 1 hour guided tour and 2 hours self guided. I spent around 2.5 hours in total here. So, that’s not far off.

Guided Backlot Tour

Following a brief introductory video, the groups are split up and paired with their tour guide for a 1 hour backlot tour. This was hands-down my favorite part of the experience. It was so neat to see where lots of popular movies and shows have been made over the years. Abbott Elementary was filming while I was there and we got to drive past their elementary school facade. The new show Pitt was also filming. In fact, we had to be quiet near its building because the red light was on, indicating it was actively filming. So, that was super neat!

The tour guide drives you around the lot on a golf cart. However, you get off at various points to explore a little. We got to see houses used for Pretty Little Liars (including the garage and the church). We also got to see the houses used for Gilmore Girls, as well as the famous gazebo and place used for Luke’s Diner. It was neat to spot the bank from Gremlins as well.

We drove by the studios used for Friends and The Big Bang Theory! We even drove through the shop where they make walls and other wood items! It smelled great!

Friends

This experience is ideal for any fans of the show Friends. Phoebe’s guitar is on display in the lobby! There’s a set photo opportunity after the guided tour. There’s also a Central Perk Cafe where you can actually get a coffee and something to eat! I got a pizza cone thing, a Phoebe drink (cookies and cream), and Rachel’s trifle without meat (chocolate version). I enjoyed eating those items in a replica of the sitting area of the cafe. There was also some costumes worn on the show to look at. After eating, another golf cart took me to get a picture of the fountain used in the show!

The Big Bang Theory

This tour is also great for fans of the show The Big Bang Theory. They had another set photo opportunity for the show as well as costumes on display. It was cool to see the apartment come to life!

Harry Potter

There’s a whole section dedicated to the Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts films. It was cool to see the spot under the stairs that was Harry’s room. It was also great to experience that after visiting Universal the day before. Plus, we could see Hogwarts from the WB lot!

Game of Thrones

There’s currently a small section showcasing some costumes and props used on the series Game of Thrones. I took pictures of all of that to show my husband since we watched that show together and he’s read the books.

Exclusive Merch

There’s a gift shop in the lobby of the main building that you see when you arrive and leave. So, I recommend shopping there at the end of the tour so you don’t have to carry stuff around. I purchased a Warner Bros Studio Tour shirt to mark the occasion. There’s additional exclusive Friends merch at the Central Perk Cafe. If you spot something there you like, you should get it as I didn’t see much of an overlap.

Is the Warner Bros Studio Tour worth it?

I really enjoyed this tour. It was definitely worth the $73. In fact, I wish I’d had more time to do the longer tour. If I ever return, I will be booking one of the longer tours. The guided backlot tour felt a little rushed and too short. So, I’d love a longer period of time on the lot. I think the tour is most enjoyable for people who like or are at least familiar with the shows featured. I actually started watching Friends for the first time to prep for this tour and I am glad I did so.

So, have you ever taken this tour? What did you think?

Walt Disney Studios Tour Review with D23

November 13, 2024 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

During my trip to California in September, I was able to take the official Walt Disney Studios Tour presented by D23! Just in case anyone was considering taking this tour, I thought I would do a review.

Walt Disney Studios Tour

Have you ever wanted to see where the magic is made at Walt Disney Studios? Thanks to the D23 fan club, you can! They are currently offering walking tours of the campus to members! I was very excited to do this tour and to walk around the campus where lots of things have been dreamed up and created!

Animation Building

The tour begins in front of the Hyperion Bungalow. Then, the guide goes over some general history of the Disney Company and the property. Gradually, you work your way over to the Animation Building. Once in the building, the tour guide walks you through the building and goes over several popular Disney films. There’s lots of artwork on the walls to correspond with this walk and talk about the company’s history. While it was interesting and nice to remember some childhood favorites, I think something interactive would have been nice here. In fact, a video showing how the films were created may have been nice. Nonetheless, it was neat to walk those storied halls.

Suite 3H: The Offices of Walt Disney

I think the real highlight of this tour is getting to see Walt Disney’s office. The company has painstakingly restored the office to reflect how it looked when Walt was alive. It was surreal to be in his office and imagine him dreaming up the theme parks that I love so much. It was also very odd to see so many ashtrays around the office. However, he (and many others at the time) were heavy smokers.

Legends Plaza

After touring Walt Disney’s office, we headed off to Disney Legends Plaza! It was so neat to look around and spot the handprints of many well-known folks.

The Archives

Next up, we visited the Walt Disney Archives in the Frank G Wells building. It was so cool to see historic pieces of the company. For instance, we got to see the desk where Walt worked on Snow White! The real cherry on top was getting to hold an Oscar! It was the real Oscar the company won for “White Wilderness”! Everyone got to hold and take a picture with the Oscar. So, that was awesome!

It Ends in the Gift Shop

Our tour wrapped up by walking around the lot a little more. We got to see the famous water tower and then came around the front of the lot again. Like a good theme park ride, we ended at the gift shop, aka Walt Disney Company Store. I will admit, it was neat to be able to purchase exclusive merchandise not available elsewhere. I may have bought a shirt to prove I was there.

A Word on Scheduling

There are three big filming studios in Burbank: Universal Studios, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney! So, it’s easy to visit the area and hit up all three in one trip. The tricky part though, is getting a ticket to Walt Disney’s tour. This tour is offered for D23 members on the events page. They add tours a few months at a time and only a few months in advance. I booked my September tour on July 19th. Also, the schedule for the tours appears almost random. I noticed previous months offered Wednesday tours on the third week of the month. So, I planned my whole trip around that and got lucky when the schedule came out with the third Wednesday being an option!

Also, my afternoon time slot had me sitting in rush hour LA traffic trying to get to Anaheim. So, if it’s an option, I’d recommend staying in Burbank (I liked the Hilton LA/Universal City Hotel) or pick a morning tour.

Is the Walt Disney Studios Tour worth it?

Currently, the site mentions that Walt Disney’s office is closed for refurbishment and the tour has a discounted price to reflect that. I paid $156 ($149 + $7 servicing fee) for this tour and thought it was expensive. However, as a once in a lifetime experience, it was worth it to me. It allowed me to geek out and fully embrace being a Disney adult. However, if you are having trouble getting a ticket or it’s out of your price range, I understand that too. It’s great for any Disney parks/animation fan, but the average person might not enjoy it enough to warrant the high price tag. I thought it was a lovely afternoon that I won’t soon forget.

Holidays at Walt Disney World Guide

November 6, 2024 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

I know it seems early, but the holidays at Walt Disney World start early! In fact, the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is on Friday! So, I thought I would do a little guide to the Christmas season at the resort!

Holidays at Walt Disney World

I’ve been lucky enough to visit the resort during the Christmas season multiple times. There’s so much to do here that I never feel like I have enough time to see everything. That being said, I will try to highlight what you can expect to see at each of the four theme parks, Disney Springs, and the resorts! Disney has said that the holiday season officially kicks-off on November 12th in 2024. So, you can expect to see special decor and entertainment after that date.

Christmas in the Magic Kingdom

I figure I’ll start with the one that kicks off the holiday season the earliest: Magic Kingdom. The park begins changing out the decor as soon as the Halloween party is over! You can enjoy the decor from early November until early/mid-January with a regular park ticket. However, if you want the full experience prior to December 21st, you will need to purchase a ticket to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! I linked to my review of the party above. It’s a good time with a festive parade and fireworks! In fact, I even did the Mickey’s Very Merry Dessert Party last year.

If you are visiting after the 21st, you should be able to see the parade and fireworks during the regular park hours. However, you won’t get free cookies or see the special characters. Plus, the park will be even more crowded.

Christmas at Animal Kingdom

Next up is the other kingdom, Animal Kingdom! I got to experience some of this for the first time last year and loved it! The Merry Menagerie is awesome! My mom really enjoyed interacting with the animal puppets! They are gorgeous and fun to watch. The Tree of Life gets a special holiday light show, which I’ve never seen but it sounds cool. Also, you can meet Mickey and Minnie in some special holiday clothing at Adventures Outpost.

Christmas at Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios has some fantastic retro decor for the holidays that’s fun to look at. There’s also the great Sunset Seasons Greetings nighttime projection show at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Toy Story Land gets a few additional decor pieces as do the characters. You can also eat at the only seasonal character dining experience on property at Hollywood & Vine here. I haven’t done it since before the pandemic, but it was a fun time.

Additionally, there’s also Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios. I attended the first year of it last year and enjoyed myself. I think they are even adding an ice skating show in 2024, so that should be fun!

Epcot Festival of the Holidays

Christmastime brings another fun festival to Epcot, the Festival of the Holidays. For whatever reason though, it doesn’t begin until after Thanksgiving. Beginning November 29th in 2024, it’s a fun festival filled with holiday traditions from the represented countries with Holiday Storytellers. There’s also the festival food booths! You also can’t forget the fan favorite Candlelight Processional show with celebrity narrators. I was lucky enough to do the Candlelight Processional Dining Package last year with John Stamos.

Disney Springs Christmas

Disney Springs is the separate shopping and dining destination at Disney World. It, of course, gets its own decor for the holidays. However, there’s also the Christmas Tree Stroll! They used to have the themed trees all in one spot but it was really crowded. So, now they are spread out across Disney Springs.

Christmas at the Resorts

As you would expect, each of the resorts gets specially themed decor matching each resorts theme. However, some of the resorts have gingerbread displays too! The Grand Floridian gets a huge gingerbread house that’s worth the trip over to see. Plus, it smells amazing and you can purchase little goodies. The Contemporary usually gets a gingerbread display as well. The Beach Club typically has a gingerbread carousel with a new theme each year. The Yacht Club has gotten a gingerbread lighthouse in recent years as well. Last year, Animal Kingdom Lodge even got some huge gingerbread animals!

Holidays at Walt Disney World: So much to see!

Shew! That’s a lot! Now, you understand why I have taken multiple trips and still haven’t seen everything. So, have you ever visited Disney World during the holidays? If so, what is your favorite thing to experience?