Laughing Lindsay

Travel Reviews, Giveaways, & More!

Fall in Orlando Theme Parks

By Leave a Comment

While it may seem a little early for this post, the theme parks are beginning to celebrate the autumn season later this week! So, I thought I would do a fall in Orlando theme parks post to kick-off the fall season. If you are wondering about summer in the theme parks, here is my post on it from two months ago.

Fall in Orlando

Fall in Orlando

Personally, fall is one of my favorite times to visit the theme parks! You can typically expect a bit cooler temperatures, which I consider a huge win. However, I would encourage you to keep an eye on the extended weather forecast if you plan a fall trip as it’s prime hurricane season. I’ve been lucky in that only one trip has been impacted by a hurricane. It is something to keep in mind though. On another note, I love fall and all of the theme parks have some fun/Halloween events to look forward to! So, I think it’s worth planning a trip during the fall months as long as you pay attention to the weather.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival

If you are visiting Walt Disney World in the fall, you can expect to experience the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! Taking place from August 29th to November 23rd in 2024, it’s a fabulous festival with lots to enjoy for fellow foodies! I don’t drink much, but I love eating! I enjoy walking around this festival and trying different dishes. They also have some cool concerts planned as part of their Eat to the Beat series. If you are visiting during these months, I highly recommend a visit.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

If you are visiting Walt Disney World from August 9th to October 31, 2024, then on select nights you can attend the separately ticketed event Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. I was supposed to attend last year, but the hurricane cut-off my WDW portion of the trip. Unfortunately, I haven’t attended this party since 2019. However, prior to that I attended it several times. It’s one of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World! I love the special parade as well as fireworks! I’m hoping to attend this year’s bash. FYI: it’s not a scary event. It’s a family-friendly event including trick-or-treating for kids of all ages!

SeaWorld Orlando Halloween Spooktacular

Last year, I was lucky enough to visit SeaWorld Orlando and enjoy their Halloween Spooktacular event. In fact, you can read my SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween post from last year to get a better idea of what to expect at this event, including my review of the Count von Count Spooktacular Breakfast. This seasonal event takes place on weekends from August 31 to November 3rd. This is one of the few Halloween events included with regular park admission. It also takes place during the day, which has its pros and cons. It’s a family friendly event with mermaids and dancing scarecrows. You can also trick-or-treat around the park for an additional cost.

SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream

Now, we are moving on to the scarier, more adult Halloween events in Orlando. While SeaWorld is child friendly during the day, it takes a turn for the scary on select nights from September 6th to November 2nd with their Howl-O-Scream event. A separately ticketed event meant for adults, it features several haunted houses, scare zones, shows, roaming haunts, and themed bars. It is cheaper than the OG scary event at Universal, but seems to be in the same vain. I haven’t ever attended this one, but I’ve heard good things about it.

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights

Lastly, we have the premiere Halloween theme park event, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando. This is the top tier scare event. It features 10 highly themed haunted houses, including popular IPs. It will take place on select nights from August 30th to November 3rd.

As of May 2024, Universal hasn’t officially announced any IPs for this year’s event. If you are on the fence, I recommend reading my Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando: Tips for Anxious Folks post. I attended in 2023 by myself and did a post Halloween Horror Nights Solo Tips for anyone considering doing the same. I also booked a 2023 HHN Daytime Houses Tour and reviewed it. Lastly, I posted a separate Halloween 2023 at Universal Orlando Resort Guide to give you an idea of what to expect.

Orlando Theme Parks in Fall

As you can see, there are several fun events taking place in fall in Orlando theme parks. From the haunts to the scary good food, there’s something for everyone! So, which of these events are you planning on visiting this year? Or, which of these is your favorite to visit each year?

You can view my other seasonal theme park guides here:

Last Minute Disneyland Trip Tips

By Leave a Comment

As you may know, I booked a last minute Disneyland trip a few months ago. Having done that, I thought I would share a few tips in case someone else decides to do the same.

Last Minute Disneyland Trip

Last Minute Disneyland Trip

I planned and booked my last minute Disneyland trip about 5 weeks out. Seeing as how the Wondrous Journeys fireworks show is showing for the last time this year later this month and Halloween starts next month, I thought now was the perfect time to create this post. I know lots of people plan their trips months in advance. That’s why Disney allows you to book dining reservations 60 days in advance. However, that’s not who this post is for. I’m talking 3-6 weeks out in this post. Here are my tips for planning your last minute trip!

Tips

  • Check park availability. As of 2023, Disneyland is requiring a park reservation to enter a theme park. So, before you book your trip, make sure that you can actually visit the park by checking their availability calendar linked above.
  • Book a room and buy tickets. If your dates at the parks are open, then you should get to booking your trip asap. You can stay at one of the Disney’s 3 official resorts or off-site. For my most recent trip, I stayed at the Sheraton Park Hotel, which you can read my review of there. You should know that the hotels closest to the parks (including Disney’s hotels) cost more. Additionally, there are homeless people around the Katella Avenue and South Harbor Boulevard corner. As soon as you buy your tickets, make the park reservations as well.
  • Book dining reservations. In my limited experience, only the most popular restaurants get booked up 60 days out. That includes Blue Bayou and Lamplight Lounge. Others may have availability a few days or weeks out. If you can’t get one you want, I recommend setting up a reservation finder. I’ve had some success with Touring Plans (more so with their WDW one, but still valid) and Mouse Dining. Additionally, you can continue to check back yourself. If all else fails, try some quick service locations for meals.
  • Book flights. Generally speaking, flights are cheaper 6-8 weeks out than they are 2 weeks out. So, book the flights asap as well.
  • Remain calm. Disneyland is typically seen as a locals park, versus the tourist parks of Florida. A Disneyland trip is typically more relaxed than a WDW one. Securing reservations is typically easier. Plus, the people at Disneyland are usually (not always) calmer than at Disney World.
  • Pack and enjoy the trip. A last minute trip can be stressful to figure out. However, you should make an effort to relax and enjoy the trip once you arrive!

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, it’s much easier to plan a last minute Disneyland trip than a Walt Disney World one. I had a much easier time getting dining reservations. Plus, Lightning Lane was very beneficial at Disneyland for skipping the ride lines. So, do you have any other tips?

Universal Orlando Tips for First Time Visitors

By Leave a Comment

I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me sooner to write a Universal Orlando tips post. However, I am finally posting it in case anyone needs help planning their first trip!

Universal Orlando Tips

Universal Orlando Tips

As of this writing, I have visited UO five times! So, while I won’t claim to be a true expert on the resort, I do have some experience in visiting it. Thus, these are things I keep in mind when visiting or wish I had known when I first started visiting.

General Information

As of 2023, Universal Orlando Resort consists of two theme parks and a highly themed water park. They are currently building a third theme park, scheduled to open in 2025. The resort also currently has two value resorts, two prime value resorts, one moderate, and three premiere hotels. I’ve visited both theme parks and stayed in all but one of the resorts. You can read my reviews of the Universal Resorts to see what I think of most of them.

Pro tip: I highly recommend staying on-site at one of their resorts as the free transportation is very useful. I feel safe using it, especially as a female traveler at night. Plus, you get additional time in the parks when you stay at a resort hotel.

Do You Need a Park-to-Park Ticket?

I suspect lots of people ask this question as theme park tickets can be expensive. Honestly, if it’s not in the budget, don’t fret. The only thing you miss with a single park per day ticket is riding the Hogwarts train between the two parks. While it’s a must-do for any Harry Potter fan, it’s not necessary for other folks. As a passholder I must admit that I enjoy starting at whichever park has early entry and then heading to the other one. However, that’s because I’ve visited several times now and have done most of what I want to do by now.

Now, if you can only afford one day at one park, that is trickier. Personally, I have spent the most time in Universal Studios Florida. However, that is also where the majority of seasonal events take place. It’s also where the new Minions Land just opened up. However, I also love Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure. I would recommend checking out the rides and lands in each park to determine which one is most appealing to you and your group.

Seasonal Events

If you are looking to add a little more entertainment or food options to your trip, then you may want to consider visiting during a seasonal event. There are three seasonal events at UO: Mardi Gras from early February to April, Halloween Horror Nights from early September until the end of October, and Christmas from early/mid-November to early January. I have written posts on each of them previously and they are linked above for further descriptions of each. Needless to say, I highly recommend visiting during these events if once catches your eye.

Universal Orlando vs Walt Disney World

Personally, I visited UO after WDW. So, if that’s you, then this section is for you. First, you should understand that UO is much smaller and more relaxed than WDW. No need to make dining reservations 60 days out here. However, you should make reservations for the more popular restaurants such as Mythos or character dining a few weeks in advance. Logistically, a UO visit is much calmer than a WDW one.

I would like to point out that UO has more thrill rides than WDW. UO rides also tend to be screen heavy, i.e. they rely on screens to show you stuff versus animatronics like at Disney. It’s definitely easier to experience motion sickness at Universal. While it’s never been a problem for me, I believe Universal’s rides may not be as accommodating for larger folks. So, if you get motion sick easily or are of a bigger stature, this may not be a place you want to spend several days in.

Additionally, I think it’s worth pointing out that Universal can be edgier than Disney. While it’s still a family-friendly park (aside from HHN), you can expect to see things here that Disney would never do. For instance, you may see some humor in the rides or on signs with jokes that Disney would never allow.

Final Tips

It’s impossible to condense my Universal Orlando tips into a little list. Nonetheless, I hope you found some helpful ideas here. For what it’s worth, I think 2-3 days is an ideal amount of time to spend at this resort. So, have you ever visited Universal Orlando Resort? Do you have any tips?

Hersheypark Tips for First Time Visitors

By Leave a Comment

A while back, I posted a list of must try foods at Hershey. Today, I’m sharing a list of general Hersheypark tips, particularly for first time visitors. So, if you are planning a trip here, then keep reading for my advice.

Hersheypark Tips

Hersheypark Tips

While it may be one of the more chill theme parks to visit, I also think these tips were helpful in planning my trip to the chocolate themed park.

  • Utilize free Preview Hours – There’s a whole page on the website dedicated to getting the most park hours out of a ticket here. However, I wanted to draw attention to the fact that they have preview hours for every ticket holder the day prior to your first day visit! So, a one day ticket to the park is actually more of a 1.5 days ticket! My mom and I planned a day at Chocolate World and then hopped over to the park in the afternoon. Then, we spent all of the next day in the park too! I highly recommend that itinerary.
  • Get a Sweet Start – Staying at an official resort becomes even more worth it when you realize that you get additional hours in the park! When you have a park ticket and stay at either Hershey Lodge or The Hotel Hershey, then you can enter the park 1 hour early!
  • See the zoo – This is the only theme park that I’ve been to that has an attached zoo! Your ticket to the park includes entry to Zoo America too. In fact, there is a separate entrance from the park over to the zoo you can use. My mom and I enjoyed slowing down during the warmer part of the day and looking at the animals. It’s a smaller zoo, but still fun to look at.
  • Visit the water park – The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is the water park inside of the park! During the summer months, you can come and go to the water park with admission to the theme park! I didn’t go inside the water park, but I saw lots of people having fun there. I think it’s great for a longer trip and makes for a more affordable vacation to have an all-in-one destination.
  • Check the park calendar – While the park is open every day during the summer months, its hours are drastically reduced during the off seasons. It closes during the winter months and is open on the weekends in spring/fall/Christmas. So, consult the website for special events and operating hours before planning a trip here.

Other Hersheypark Suggestions

While there aren’t as many Hersheypark tips or tricks as there are for other parks, these are the few important ones I recommend keeping in mind. Also, I would like to point out that the elevation of the park varies from area to area. It’s not a flat park, so wear comfortable shoes and watch where you are walking. Also, keep an eye out for some adorable Hershey characters! Do you have any other suggestions I missed?

Tips for Visiting Colonial Williamsburg Virginia

By Leave a Comment

Since it’s been a few months since my trip, I thought I would do a tips for visiting Colonial Williamsburg post. As a reminder, I visited during a slower time of the year (March). So, my experience may be different than yours.

Visiting Colonial Williamsburg

Tips for Visiting Colonial Williamsburg

My husband and I spent the better part of a weekend exploring this living history museum. So, here are the things I think you should know before visiting.

  • Visit for at least one full day. My husband and I visited Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. Even then, we didn’t see everything. Of course, we are two childfree adults who enjoy history. Nonetheless, I think you can plan a full day here or more, depending on your group’s interests.
  • Stay close by. I can’t stress how nice it was to stay in a Colonial Williamsburg Tavern Room where we could come and go as we pleased during our stay. It was so convenient to just walk to breakfast or dinner!
  • Make dinner reservations in advance. Even though it was a less busy time, the dinner reservations were booked up. Thankfully, there were reservations the week of our arrival. However, I’m not sure if that’s normal or not. So, I would recommend booking dinner reservations as soon as you know where you want to eat and when. You can see my Colonial Williamsburg Food Guide for help in choosing where to eat! You couldn’t make breakfast or lunch reservations when we went, fyi.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. There’s a fair bit of walking here as you walk everywhere. Also, check the weather before you go. It was colder than I thought it would be. I ended up packing warmer clothes at the last minute and was very happy that I did so.
  • Stop and ask questions. There are tons of people practicing various skills around the town. Stop and watch them work. You are also free to ask questions. My husband really enjoyed watching the craftsmen and hearing about their work during the colonial times.
  • Have a rough idea of what you want to see. We consulted the events calendar in advance and had a list of things we wanted to see when we arrived. We managed to see the things most important to us. Then, we spent the rest of the time just walking around and entering buildings with a flag outside (which signals you can enter). Note: not every place is open every day.

Other Trip Ideas

I wish we had planned a longer trip to the area to explore Jamestown or Yorktown. Beyond that, I think visiting Colonial Williamsburg is a fun, interesting, and unique experience! Do you have any tips for visiting?