Girls Trip! Plus details about Halloween in Disneyland

Hi friends! I hope you are enjoying the last few months before Summer hits!  My kids don't get out of school until Mid-June, so we still have about 8 weeks of classes left.  I can't wait until the kids are home all day!  I am looking forward to summer travel plans to Lake Chelan and (hopefully!) San Francisco.   If you haven't finalized your summer travel plans, please let me know if I can help with anything!  I do specialize in Disney travel packages, but I can also plan travel throughout the world. This past weekend I had a great girls' weekend in sunny Las Vegas! We stayed at the beautiful Palazzo hotel, and visited several hotels on the strip, and ventured down to Fremont Street for the Fremont Experience.  I'm not much of a gambler, but I do enjoy the people watching and all the entertainment Las Vegas has. (and all the YUMMY food!) We've even gone as a family a couple years ago and loved doing that side of Vegas. I'm getting back in the swing of things and busy making all those dining reservations!  I'm currently doing dining for late October, so if you are thinking of going to Walt Disney World in October (My FAVORITE time in the parks) let's start talking now! Have a magical week, sweet friends! If you are waiting for Fall Discounts, fill out a quote request HERE and ask to be notified as soon as those discounts are released.  Or better yet, get your quotes started now - clients that are currently booked get first priority for discounts when they are released.  If you are thinking about a trip for 2017, please sign up HERE to be notified when the 2017 packages for Disney World and Disneyland are released.  Last year packages for 2016 were released mid-summer, so we anticipate a similar release schedule this year.   Facebook Website Email Instagram

Mark Your Calendars:  Upcoming Events from Disney Parks! March 2 - May 30, 2016 - Epcot Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Summer 2016 - Awaken Summer at Walt Disney World - unforgettable experiences in all 4 parks May 24, 2016 - Final day to book the Dazzling Stay promotion at Disneyland June 10, 2016 - Final day to book the Summer Promotion at Walt Disney World September 2 - October 31, 2016 - Mickey's not so Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World (Select Nights) September - October 31, 2016 - Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland (Select Nights) November 7 - December 22, 2016 - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World (Select Nights) Just announced: the Frozen Ever After attraction is set to open at Epcot in June! Frozen Ever After will take Guests on an adventurous boat tour through the kingdom of Arendelle. After disembarking, guests can top off their “Frozen” experience by meeting the royal sisters in their new Royal Sommerhaus greeting location. If you are traveling this summer, I will keep you posted as additional information becomes available   Halloween at Disneyland October is one of my favorite times to visit Disneyland.  It helps that my family has lots of birthdays in October (mine and my daughter's included) so it makes it a little extra special when visiting the Happiest Place on Earth!  If you prefer to visit Walt Disney World in Orlando, they have a party too!  They do it a little differently, but just as fun! The costume guidelines have changed for this year - guests under the age of 14 may wear a costume.  Guests 15 and over may not wear a costume, but you can still be festive!  If you are dressed up as a Disney Character, expect all the cast members to call you by your character name - before the new costumer guidelines went into effect, my husband dressed up as Captain Hook and was scolded for trying to get into Pixie Hollow to see Tinkerbell! (they were kidding, of course)  My daughter thought it was hilarious that they thought he was the REAL Captain Hook - my daughter still talks about this, even years later. Mickey's Halloween Party is a separately ticketed event.  This mean that Disneyland closes early to the general public that purchased the daytime tickets.  Depending on what time the party starts, Mickey's Halloween Party ticketholders get to enter the park 3 hours early.  So if your party starts at 6pm, be sure to show up before 3pm to start lining up to enter!  You'll get plenty of time to enjoy the park before the party officially gets started. Why attend the event?  Mickey's Halloween party is a fun time to see the special Halloween Parade and Fireworks show, as well as take advantage of some serious Trick or Treating!  The last couple of years my family has been we've walked away with way too much candy - my kids LOVED it!  My husband loves that the lines for the rides are usually pretty quick during the party -so while I go trick or treating with the kids, he can zoom from ride to ride and then catch up with us later.  The characters are also dressed up in their own costumes - which makes for some extra fun memories! What is different about the park during Halloween time?  Disneyland is transformed with hundreds (maybe thousands?) of Pumpkins and Jack-o-lanterns throughout the park.  They really do a fantastic job getting the place ready!  Jack Skeleton, of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas hosts the Halloween party and takes over the Haunted Mansion.  This is a great time to visit the Haunted Mansion if your kids are a little afraid of the original version of the Haunted Mansion.  One ride that has also transformed for Halloween time is Space Mountain - this transforms into Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy - which in my opinion is a scarier version - it has ghosts flying by and loud screams. Currently Space Mountain is known as Hyperspace Mountain with a Star Wars overlay - so I'm not sure if we will see Ghost Galaxy this year or not.   You are sure to find some extra special treats at the parks that you won't find other times during the year!  Even if you don't go to Mickey's Halloween Party, Halloween Time in the parks is a lot of fun!  You get to see more Villains out in the parks, and the fall décor is amazing! It isn't too late to book your Halloween trip for 2016, or it's a great time to start thinking about your 2017 Halloween trip!  Fill out a quote request at http://www.cupcakecastlestravel.com/kerry.htm and I will get back with you shortly to start planning your dream vacation!