Laughing Lindsay

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Winter in Orlando Theme Parks Guide

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I feel like I just started this seasonal theme parks guide series, but it’s my last post. I just did Christmas in the theme parks, so now it’s time for winter in Orlando theme parks! FYI: I will be considering January and February as winter for this post. As in, the period of time after the holidays but before the spring festivities start.

Winter in Orlando

Winter in Orlando

If you aren’t familiar with the theme parks, you probably wonder why I’m doing a separate post from the holidays guide. That’s because there’s a couple of months wherein the holidays are over but the parks are still open and have some special events! Typically, the crowds are smaller during this time of the year. So, the parks host special events to draw people in.

Winter in Disney

The Christmas decorations usually come down in January, around/after the marathon weekend. You enter the half of the year where the Magic Kingdom looks normal without any holiday decor. The majority of the parks are somewhat quiet and feature special After Hours events to entice people to visit. I plan to visit in February and attend an event at Magic Kingdom, so be on the lookout for a review of that experience. However, in previous years it was a great time to ride the rides with minimal waits.

The other big thing that happens in January and February in Walt Disney World is the Festival of the Arts at Epcot! You know from my Epcot Festival of the Arts Guide that I love this event and it’s my favorite seasonal event at Epcot. The weather is cooler, which makes it easier to enjoy the food around World Showcase. Plus, there’s lots of fun entertainment to enjoy. Festival of the Arts ends on February 19th and Flower and Garden begins February 28th this year! So, technically your winter trip could coincide with either or neither of these fun festivals!

Winter at Universal Orlando

Once again, we encounter another one of my favorite theme park events. This time, it’s at Universal Orlando resort and I’m talking about Mardi Gras. I posted a Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando guide previously, but suffice it to say it’s a fun time! The event begins the first weekend in February and goes until the beginning of April. Since it’s so long, I’m covering it in both winter and spring guides. I highly recommend riding on a float if you can. If not, enjoy catching some beads when you watch the parade.

Winter at SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld tries to draw in visitors during this time of the year with several limited time special activities. For instance, there’s an Inside Look event taking place over two weekends that offers a behind the scenes look at how the animals are taken care of at the park. Just for Kids Weekend takes places one weekend in January. There’s also an Elmo’s Birthday celebration lasting one whole week. Additionally, from February to May, they have the Seven Seas Food Festival! We enjoyed a few food items from it one time and think it’s good for any foodies in the area.

Where are you headed?

So, that’s an overview of what you can expect to experience in the Orlando theme parks in January and February. Are you visiting any of the parks this winter?

You can check out my other seasonal theme parks guides here:

Disney World Princess Room Review

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In December I was lucky enough to spend a few nights in a Disney World princess room at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside! Here are my thoughts on staying there.

Disney World Princess Room

Disney World Princess Rooms

Technically, these are called the Royal Guest Rooms as it pays homage to Tiana and her prince/princess friends! However, I’ve always thought of them as the princess rooms. So, that’s what I’m calling it. Ha!

These rooms are located at Port Orleans – Riverside. I intend to do a separate post reviewing the resort itself at a later date. However, it’s a sister resort to the Port Orleans – French Quarter that I reviewed last year. That means it’s a moderate with more upscale touches than a value but less amenities than a deluxe.

Amazing Theme

My mom and I loved the theme of this room! There were little touches everywhere that made these rooms feel extra special. From the carpet with the Magic Carpet from “Aladdin” on it to the faucets shaped like the Genie’s lamp, it was so nice to take it all in. You can tell they put extra time and money into these rooms.

Similar to the headboards at Disneyland Hotel, they play a fireworks show. Unfortunately, these are silent fireworks. However, it was a really nice touch that I appreciated.

I think most Disney fans would enjoy spending at least one night in these rooms just to experience the beautiful details. I found myself just sitting in the room and taking it all in a few times.

Luxurious Vibes

Having most recently stayed in a value at WDW in October (Pop Century), this was a breath of fresh air! The room was significantly classier. Plus, we heard very few people while staying here. It was a much quieter experience and we slept great! The beds were definitely more comfortable than the ones found at a value resort.

The theme really made for a luxurious vibe. Even the shower head and faucets are fancier since they are gold in color. These are some of the best themed rooms on property, in my opinion.

Is a Disney World princess room worth it?

As I mentioned above, these rooms are more expensive than a typical room found at this resort. Thankfully, we used a Disney+ discount to stay here, but it was more expensive than a value resort. I would say a stay here is worth it for any Disney film fan, particularly fans of the princess movies. It’s so neat to look for all of the little touches around the room.

I will provide one word of caution on these rooms: they are far away from the lobby and bus stops. The trek to our room at the end of the night was longer than we liked. However, I’m happy we were able to stay here once.

Have you ever stayed in one of these rooms?

A Look Back at 2023: Year in Review

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It’s hard to believe, but another year is coming to a close! Just for fun, I thought I would do a little look back at 2023!

Look Back at 2023

Look Back at 2023

Maybe it’s just me, but the last few months have flown by! I can’t believe 2023 is almost over! The end of a year always makes me reflect on what I accomplished or what happened. It also makes me happy to look ahead to the new year. So, here’s a brief look at my 2023!

Return to Solo Travel

Prior to the pandemic, I would travel a couple of times a year by myself. However, that all stopped during the pandemic. In May of this year, I finally resumed my solo adventures! I visited Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm by myself! This felt like quite the accomplishment as I had to fly across the country and navigate things all by myself. I also wrote a post Solo Disneyland: Tips for Going Alone in case anyone else is interested in doing the same thing!

I wasn’t initially planning to visit Universal Orlando this fall. However, I ended up taking a bit of a last minute trip to see the Stranger Things house! Attending Halloween Horror Nights by myself feels like another accomplishment since their slogan is literally “Never go alone.” I also wrote Halloween Horror Nights Solo Tips for anyone considering taking the plunge to do HHN alone.

Visited Some New Places

I kicked off this year with my first visit to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. My mom and I visited the park for two days and enjoyed doing many of the Busch Gardens Tampa Animal Tours.

Then, in March my husband and I made a last minute trip to Colonial Williamsburg! It was his first time visiting and my second. Although, my first time was on a field trip in fourth grade and it’s a blur. I’m already discussing returning to Williamsburg for the food alone. You can read my Colonial Williamsburg Food Guide to see for yourself how good the food is!

In June I managed to book a weekend stay in Mt. Airy, North Carolina with my mom. You can read my Andy Griffith Homeplace Review to learn about our stay. I also wrote a Mt. Airy Food Guide for Mayberry North Carolina that has gotten several views.

Returned to Some Old Favorites

In February, I was happy to return to Universal Orlando for Mardi Gras! In fact, my mom and I did the Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine and absolutely loved it! I was also tickled to visit my favorite festival at Epcot: Festival of the Arts! My Epcot Festival of the Arts 2023 Review details why I love it so much!

In September, my mom and I visited Disneyland for their Halloween festivities for the first time! You can read my Halloween 2023 at Disneyland Guide to see what I recommend. Suffice it to say that Oogie Boogie Bash is awesome!

Other Hobbies

In 2023, I also got into some other hobbies besides travel. I painted several door hangers and little home decor items. In addition to that, I also got better at baking. I made my first ganache for a chocolate peanut butter pie in September. In November, I made my first meringue for a pie for a family Thanksgiving get together. I realize these aren’t things most people would include in a post like this, but they are things I’m proud of.

Looking Ahead to 2024

You may have noticed a pattern in this year’s travels: I did several last minute trips. I prefer to have trips planned out in advance. However, that isn’t always possible. I’m not certain where I will end up next year, but I currently have one trip booked for 2024. I will be heading to UO for Mardi Gras and WDW for Festival of the Arts in February again! My mom and I are leaning towards canceling our UO passes and visiting some other places in 2024.

So, what was your 2023 like? Where did you go? Do you have trips planned for 2024?

Candlelight Processional Dining Package at Epcot Review

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If you ever plan a trip to Epcot during the holidays, you will immediately discover that many people recommend booking the Candlelight Processional Dining Package. After dealing with site glitches and trying again closer to our trip, I secured us a breakfast reservation at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall! Here’s my review of that experience to help you decide if it’s worth it.

Candlelight Processional Dining Package

Candlelight Processional Dining Package

As I stated above, when the advance dining reservations initially opened up, the site was very glitchy. So I wasn’t able to secure the exact restaurant and exact time we wanted. However, I grabbed a lunch at Garden Grill with a seat for the 7 PM show with John Stamos! Then, a few days out breakfast reservations with the princesses started popping up. So, my first tip is: keep trying! Set up a reservation finder and be quick!

The Food

We had a breakfast reservation at Akershus. One of the reasons I switched it is because we had just eaten and done a Garden Grill dinner review earlier this year. So, we wanted to try something different this time. However, I will say that we enjoyed ourselves. It was also the fastest character meal I’ve ever had. All 5 princesses had visited our table and we had all our food within 30 minutes! So, don’t go into this expecting a leisurely meal. Ha!

I also enjoyed that each of the princesses had a little extra something added to their outfit for the holidays. Ariel had a golden starfish hair bow, Snow White had some greenery/berries added to her headband. Little touches that added to the holiday feeling without being over the top were nice.

The Show

We already had our Epcot day picked out when the schedule of celebrity narrators was announced. So, we were both tickled to discover our day was John Stamos. I grew up watching him on “Full House” and my mom also watched some of those episodes. So, it seemed like something we should really try to see. It would appear that lots of other people had the same thoughts as there was quite the line to see the show. We lined up a little under one hour ahead of the show as there was already a pretty long line to get in.

I had previously watched a different celebrity narrator online a few years ago and thought it was ok. However, the show was so much better in person! My mom and I thoroughly enjoyed this show. In fact, I had meant to record some of the show but I found myself so wrapped up in it that I didn’t get to. It is a beautiful way to get into the holiday spirit.

Of course, I expect that the narrator brings a lot the experience as well. I choked up when John Stamos mentioned losing Bob Saget and that pretty much set the tone of the show for me personally. It made me appreciate being there all that much more. So, I’m not sure that I would have enjoyed the show as much if there had been a different narrator.

Tips

  • Keep trying – if you can’t get the exact reservation time or restaurant you want, then keep checking back. About a week out is when I started noticing more cancellations.
  • Get there early – We went to the 7 PM show and got in line a little after 6. There was already a pretty long line at this point. So, get in line early for a good seat. If you can’t get a package reservation, you will need to line up hours in advance for a chance to see the show.
  • Wear layers – I wore a long sleeve shirt and ended up putting on my jacket while we waited in line. We felt a chilly breeze coming off the water. So, I recommend wearing layers for this nighttime event.
  • Get a reservation hours out – I wondered why I couldn’t book a dinner for the package. However, having done it now I understand why breakfast and lunch were offered. You have to arrive early to get a good seat and you don’t want to feel rushed at the meal. So, a lunch reservation might be ideal.

Is the Candlelight Processional Dining Package worth it?

All of the restaurants are expensive for the dining package. However, I think it’s worth it. This is the only way to guarantee you get a seat for one of the shows. Plus, you are going to have to eat anyways. I think it’s a splurge worth making if you are interested in the show and/or a specific narrator.

Have you ever booked one of these packages? Did you think it was worth it?

Mickey’s Very Merry Dessert Party Review

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You already know about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which I reviewed last year. However, did you know that you can also book a Very Merry Dessert Party for a seated view of the fireworks and a dessert buffet? My mom and I booked this add-on experience on my most recent trip, so I thought I would do a review in case anyone else is considering it.

Very Merry Dessert Party

Very Merry Dessert Party

Anyone who has ever visited the Magic Kingdom knows how crowded it gets for the fireworks. It’s not unusual at these special events to stake out a spot for the parade and/or fireworks 40 minutes or more in advance. In fact, that’s what my mom and I did last year. So, this year we decided to spring for Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Dessert Party! Basically, you get a reserved seated fireworks viewing area and a tasty spread of sweets!

Party Food

Unlike at the Oogie Boogie Bash Dessert Party where you are given a plate of food, at this one there’s a whole buffet to select from! My mom remarked that she really liked this one since she wasn’t limited to eating whatever items they gave everyone. There was an apple caramel crepe that was tasty! I also enjoyed the chocolate covered strawberries and some cinnamon doughnuts! There was a mini key lime tart that surprised me as I don’t typically think of key limes for Christmas, but it was a nice reminder that I was in Florida.

There was also a variety of beverages to enjoy! They had a nice sparkling apple cider as well as some hydrating water. I tried the sparkling wine as I typically like champagne, but it was just ok. My mom got some juice and water. They had plenty of beverage options.

The only complaint I can come up with is the fact that there are so few savory/salty items. They had some cheese and crackers, but everything else was sweet. So, this is definitely for the folks with a sweet tooth!

The View

We headed over to the Tomorrowland Terrace after waiting over an hour to meet the Seven Dwarfs. So, having a seat for the fireworks show was amazing after that! We checked in early, around 8:40 to ensure we got a table by the railing and we got an amazing view! Everyone is seated at the Tomorrowland Terrace with a view of the castle, but those who arrive early get the prime spots. So, I encourage you to arrive 20-ish minutes earlier than they tell you to for the best spots. You are free to come and go, so you could pick out your table and come back later.

I also have to say how nice it was to just sit and take in the show/view without a bunch of people pushing up on me. I was reminded just how nice this was when we left the terrace to get a spot for the second parade and was surrounded by pushy people.

Is the Very Merry Dessert Party worth it?

The Christmas Party is already an expensive separately ticketed event. Then, you add another $100+ for this dessert party. So, it’s a very expensive evening. It also takes time away from the party to sit and enjoy your treats. It also doesn’t leave any stomach space for the party exclusive treats. However, you can see an obstructed view of the parade and castle stage show from this area. Plus, the cookies they give out at the party come individually wrapped, so you can take some with you. My mom and I really enjoyed this experience and highly recommend it if you like desserts and want to sit down.

Have you ever done the Very Merry Dessert Party? What did you think?