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Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Tips

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is an exciting annual event for us. As soon as dates are announced, we feel a buzz of spooky anticipation! Lots of thoughts go through our heads. What will we wear? Will there be special food options? Which unique characters will be meeting guests? Will there be special party merchandise? Should we wear fake eyelashes or just mascara? Ok, maybe not that last one, but you all get our drift. 
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party map for 2017 in the Magic Kingdom!
Regardless of the zillions of thoughts flitting in and out of our brains, one stands out in boldfaced type: do everything necessary to have a great time! Because, after all, this is a special night that comes around once each year, so we want it to be fantastic. And because we’ve learned from party mistakes in the past, we want to share with you our top tips for having a spookytacular time!

1. Make a party plan ahead of time

This might seem unnecessary, but MNSSHP is unique. Along with the usual exciting attractions, characters, and shows that you’ll find on any regular day or night at the Magic Kingdom, on party nights that number is doubled. There’s the Boo To You Parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular show in front of Cinderella Castle, HalloWishes Fireworks show, Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball in Tommorowland, Cadaver Dans in Frontierland, Madame Carlotta and her Butler Broome in front of the Haunted Mansion, special characters meeting guests, lots of distinctive Halloween foods, and 14 treat locations. Whew! That’s a lot!
In reality, you won’t be able to do it all in one night. While the party officially runs from 7pm to midnight, you’ll want to make choices about what’s on the top of your party list in advance. With long lines for some characters and long waits for some shows, priorities are your friends.
Having a plan — especially a flexible one — will help you get what you want out of the party while avoiding stress and disappointment.

2. Plan to arrive early

Although MNSSHP officially runs from 7pm until midnight, your party ticket can actually get you into the Magic Kingdom at 4pm. That’s three whole hours before the party starts. That’s a great time to go on a few rides, or get in line for meeting either Jack & Sally or the Seven Dwarfs before the lines get too long. Make sure you get your party wristband when you enter the park as CastMembers weed out anyone not wearing one just before 7pm.

3. Eat a full meal before the party

Not all of the restaurants or quick services are open during the event, but even so, taking 30 minutes to an hour away from the party for dinner may not be the most efficient use of your time. Instead, we recommend you eat an early dinner before 4pm at a restaurant or quick service on the monorail route. That way you’re just a quick ride away from the Magic Kingdom when dinner is over. For a sit-down meal, we highly recommend the Grand Floridian Café or the California Grill. But if you’d rather not make dining reservations, the quick services at each of the three hotels (Gasparilla Grill at the Grand Floridian, Captain Cook’s at the Polynesian, and Contempo Cafe at the Contemporary) are very good as well.
Jack and Sally meeting with us in 2015 at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

4. Check out your favorite characters right away

Even though the party starts at 7pm, you can get in line as early as 4pm for some popular characters. For example, if you’re like us and love the Pumpkin King and his Queen, we strongly recommend getting in their line, which is located behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square, soon after you arrive at 4pm. Jack and Sally won’t start meeting guests until 5 or 6pm, but joining the line early will be a benefit to your schedule. This meet is hugely popular and fills up quickly, meaning your wait will only increase as the night goes on, so be sure to jump in early. The Seven Dwarfs are also very popular as they are only out for parties. However, don’t forget about Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pooh and his pals as they are all dressed to impress in their special Halloween costumes. 

5. Trick or treat once if at all

Each of the trick or treat spots are all basically the same in that they offer the same kind of candy. This year’s candy sponsors are Mars, Werther’s, and Enjoy Life. If getting candy is high on your to-do list, visiting a couple of spots are fine, just don’t spend a lot of time getting candy and miss out on the other party offerings. Candy lines can be extremely long and eat up your party time.
Princess Minnie Statue at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

6. Be sure to visit Trick or Treat Lane

Okay, that may not be its official name, but we like the way it sounds so we’re going with it. Trick or Treat Lane is the side street Disney opens for special events, just after you pass Tony’s Town Square Restaurant on the right in Town Square. CastMembers are here handing out treat bags and starter candy kits to get you going. They also have special event merchandise to purchase like shirts and pins as well as Mickey pumpkin treat buckets. PhotoPass CM’s are also available to take regular and Magic Shot pics, and the cute Halloween character statues located here are a great backdrop.

7. Ride the Haunted Mansion, skip other rides

Ok, we admit this sounds a little snobbish. But if your goal is to go on rides and skip over the actual Halloween activities, this party isn’t for you. None of the rides change during the party except the Haunted Mansion’s queue which gets extra spooky with ghoulish cast members, different lighting, fog machines, and funny characters like Madam Carlotta or Lady Renata. The whole attraction just feels that much more haunted during the party and enhances the whole experience. If you really want to do other attractions during your party (like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train), we suggest riding during one of the parades or Hocus Pocus shows towards the end of the night.

8. Be sure to see special entertainers 

Because they are not listed on the party map, it’s easy to forget about special entertainers. However, you can find the show times for the Cadaver Dans on the My Disney Experience app. The undead quartet is actually the spookyfied Dapper Dans in Frontierland who sing Halloween songs with ghoulish delight. If you like barbershop quartet singing, they are definitely a must see! Madame Carlotta and Lady Renata can be found in the front part of the Haunted Mansion’s queue and are hilarious ghostly characters who have impromptu conversations with waiting guests. This year they are joined by a deadpan butler, Broome, who makes the performances even funnier! 

What we did in 2017

Seeing shows, the parade, and special characters is something we always look forward to, so we focused on that while interspersing some tasty special event foods. We ate a meal at home, but we chowed down on some quick hot dogs and fries from Casey’s while we waited for the parade. Trick or treating was not high on our list as there were so many other things we wanted to do, so we skipped all the candy lines. Walking down Trick or Treat Lane was a blast! Halloween music was playing (“Thriller” and “This Is Halloween” were just a couple on Disney’s playlist), we got to take lots of photos, and that starter candy bag was perfect for us.
This year the parties run from August 25th through November 1st, and tickets are still available on the Disney World website.
Are you thinking of going to MNSSHP? What are you most looking forward to?
Need more Halloween inspiration? Check out our vlog of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party below!

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New Orange Bird Funko Pop! at Walt Disney World

Get ready to celebrate, Disney fans, because the Orange Bird Funko Pop! was released at Walt Disney World last Friday! Not only is he even cuter than we’d thought he would be, but this Funko represents the character very well. 
Orange Bird Funko Pop! and a citrus swirl float at Walt Disney World!

Isn’t he cute? We especially love how his head is textured to look like an orange peel! And did you see his tail feathers, head plume, and wings? The green leafy details are spot on.
 

Orange Bird Funko Pop! at Walt Disney World!

Purchase Details 

Disney’s newest collaboration with Funko Pop! is $19.99 plus tax and is currently only available at Pin Traders in Disney Springs and in the Pirate’s Bazaar in Magic Kingdom. Use your Passholder discount, which is currently 20% off for the remainder of September, and the price drops down to $15.99 plus tax. Sweet deal!
 Beautiful packaging for the new Orange Bird Funkp Pop! at Walt Disney World!
Keep in mind, there is a purchase limit of 10 Orange Bird Funkos per person, but due to the continuous popularity of this iconic character amongst Floridians and Walt Disney World regulars alike, we anticipate this particular Funko to be pretty popular and sell out quickly. If he does sell out, hopefully the stock on this little guy will be replenished so that he’ll always be available.

Orange Bird display at Sunshine Tree Terrace in Magic Kingdom

Why Orange Bird is so Beloved

At this point, you might be curious as to why we are so enthralled with this particular character. Truth is, the both of us have been charmed by Orange Bird since before his return to Magic Kingdom 5 years ago. Since his inception in 1970, he has been an optimistic and enthusiastic icon of the Magic Kingdom, specifically in Adventureland. Originally created to also represent the Florida Citrus Commission, this little burst of orange joy has remained a popular orange juice mascot to Floridians and Disney fans alike. On some of Florida’s roadside fruit and souvenir stands you can still find Orange Bird trinkets. Communicating his thoughts through puffs of orange smoke, this little cutie has gained a loyal fan base. Needless to say, we’re thrilled to add another form of Orange Bird to our sunny collection!

And for More Orange Bird…

Watch our newest vlog here to see our adventures meeting Orange Bird and where he took us in the Magic Kingdom! 
 
What are your thoughts on Orange Bird? Do you have any memories of him in Magic Kingdom? Are you planning to get a new Orange Bird Funko yourself?

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Disney's Hollywood Studios goes Vintage in Merch!

Walking down both Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you get that old movie star feel. The architecture of the buildings, the costumes worn by the Citizens of Hollywood (they’re a hoot!), and the details of everything from parked cars to storefront windows. It screams vintage! Well, now you can bring that look home with the new Disney vintage styled merchandise of shirts, accessories and decor!

Vintage styled bag? Yes, please!

We fell in love with this bag immediately! Those Disney Imaginears are so clever… designing it like a magazine cover was brilliant, especially with Minnie as the centerpiece. Isn’t she the most darling starlet?! 
Disney's Hollywood Studios goes Vintage in Merchandise! | PixieDustChicks.com

Shirts and Jackets…

The flowy, raglan type shirt on the left is the perfect complement to a pair of black leggings or pants for a cool afternoon. Even better, pair it with red shorts to connect to Minnie’s dress and the flower on her head. And we’re loving the white jacket on the right with Minnie’s same vintage look!
Disney's Hollywood Studios goes Vintage in Merchandise! | PixieDustChicks.com
Minnie really knows how to glam it up on this pink v-neck shirt. Love the DHS sign and stars, too!! We would love putting this top with red or black shorts and topping it all with red ears!
Disney's Hollywood Studios goes Vintage in Merchandise! | PixieDustChicks.com

And for the Guys…

Not to leave the fellas out of the loop — what with all the girly tops and bag and such — here’s something to make you happy you read this whole post: a new DHS mug! Actually, we love it too, so it’s really an “everybody” mug. Covered entirely in silver sparkle, one side carries the classic Disney’s Hollywood Studios signage with those fabulous stars…
Disney's Hollywood Studios goes Vintage in Merchandise! | PixieDustChicks.com
…and the other side has Mickey in his director’s cap and holding a movie clapboard. The colors and design of this baby (with the underlying art deco look) are perfect and make this a must-have mug for any Disney fan! (You can find this mug in the Shop Disney Parks app!)
Disney's Hollywood Studios goes Vintage in Merchandise! | PixieDustChicks.com
So what’s your favorite item in this line up? 

Top 10 "Small World" Travelers

In all of Magic Kingdom, there is one ride that appeals to everyone: It’s a Small World. It attracts the young and young-at-heart, repeat visitors and first-timers, and draws in people of every culture. Recently, we took a break from skipping around Magic Kingdom to eat a quick bite in Pinocchio Village Haus. Can you guess where we sat? At a table overlooking the Small World ride, of course! We had a bird’s eye view of each boat as it rolled away from the loading dock and set sail. Whether it’s the brilliant colors, the relaxing boat ride or the repetitive song lyrics that lure them in, one thing is true about all Small World guests. They each fit into one of ten categories. Here are our top 10 Small World travelers…
Top 10 "Small World" Travelers! | PixieDustChicks.com

1. Selfie Peeps

These folks live for the selfie. They’ve perfected any number of pouty, fish-pucker, and blue steel looks to fill a high school IG feed. Now is their opportunity to add a kissy-faced selfie with an animatronic character in the background! Watching them is sheer delight. 

2. Groupies

Nope, not what you think. These people are here with their school group, cheerleading squad or family reunion. They get their whole party into one boat and then attempt to master a group selfie while not falling into the water. Sometimes, they might be considered the party boat.

3. On Parade

You know how great it is to wave at the characters in Festival of Fantasy as they go by, right? Well, some Small World guests have just as much fun as they wave at everyone staring at them from the restaurant above. The secret, though, is to see who has perfected the princess wave — these are the true parade fans.

4. Along for the Ride

Identifying these guests is easy. As soon as the boat begins to move, these peeps are stretching, rolling up a jacket for a pillow, and settling in for a leisurely nap. (One of the guys in our family does this. Once, there was snoring. True story.)

5. Destined to get Wet

Ok, you’ve seen them. The guests who feel the need to dip their hand into the water outside of the boat. And yes, we’ve seen both kids and adults doing this! We have yet to witness someone putting more than a hand in, but we wouldn’t be surprised to hear about someone taking a dip.

6. Photogs

Either by camera or phone, these lovers of the visual can’t help but snap pictures of everything. Once, we even observed a guy capturing a pic of the “exit” sign. (We quite often fit into this category.)

7. Diehards

You know these peeps (and you might just be one). They sing along during the whole ride. The whole ride. Now that’s dedication. But can they sing it in every single language from the attraction? That would be impressive!

8. Oblivious Chatterbox

You’ve boarded your Small World boat, sat down, and you’re set for a laid back experience. Until the lady behind you starts chatting about her sister’s boyfriend’s mother’s best friend’s daughter and how she wore something fairly hideous to the family reunion. And she talks on and on throughout the whole ride, never seeming to notice the colorful surroundings or playful music, or even the numerous strangers privy to her loud convo. Not even when you turn around and pretend to sneeze in her direction. (Note: spray bottles are quite useful in these situations…not that we would ever use one.)

9. Overwhelmed First-timers

There’s so much color and sound, all these folks can do is sit, stare and smile. If you’re with them, be sure to nudge them to get off at the end. They probably won’t want to leave.

10. Love Cruise

You’ve seen them and wanted to be them. These are the couples who beam love out of every pore. Joined at the hip, they’ve been holding each other’s hand since before they got in line. Snuggled in close on their boat, they sit and smile, glancing at each other around every turn, and occasionally steal a kiss. She might even have her head on his shoulder, and he definitely helps her in and out of the boat. (These are our favorites.)
So where do you fit in? Or is there another category that we missed? We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments below!
Love you!
Top 10 "Small World" Travelers! | PixieDustChicks.com

Attraction Closures at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Remember the news last summer at D23 that caused a stir of excitement? That Disney’s Hollywood Studios is going under a huge expansion to accommodate two new areas, Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land? Well, now comes the hard part: closing several beloved attractions this spring to make way for the new expansion.
Attraction Closures at Disney's Hollywood Studios | PixieDustChicks.com

What’s Closing…

…

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens Movie Review

Have you seen it? Oh, you know what we’re referring to. Only the most talked about movie to hit the screen in ages… Star Wars: The Force Awakens!!!

The Experience

For the two of us, seeing SWTFA was an epic adventure. First of all, the location was everything! We watched it at Regal Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 and IMAX on International Drive, the only location that has real IMAX as well as a giant screen. Yep, we said giant, as in 5 stories high! Plus, you have amazing sound and stadium seating…it’s like we were the only ones in the theatre!
Second, the other point that made our viewing so epic was seeing it together. SWTFA is the first movie in the Star Wars series that our whole family has watched together in a theater. It might seem silly to some, but considering that one of us saw the original trilogy in theaters as a little girl while the other one has watched only via a tv screen at home, sharing our love of Star Wars by watching a new episode on the big screen was awesome for us!
Star Wars The Force Awakens movie review! | PixieDustChicks.com

The Movie! (no spoilers)

Now, as for the actual movie itself, we were floored! From the first moments of the familiar text crawl, we felt completely engulfed in the story. The crawl quickly got us caught up on what has happened over the last 30 years in the Star Wars universe, and then we took off for a wild ride.
Along the way, we met new characters Rey, Finn and Poe as well as a new and charming droid, BB-8. Speaking of this spherical new astromech friend, let’s just focus for a moment on the amazingness that is BB-8. He is equal parts cute-overload and cunning sidekick. Seriously, so much to love!
As for the new humans, Rey is the ultimate, super-cool, strong female character. We’re excited about her journey in the upcoming movies! Finn came across as a man who strives to do the right thing even at the cost of his own life. We feel that there is way more to his story than meets the eye. And Poe? Poe is the greatest pilot in the galaxy. Enough said!
We loved seeing classic, favorite characters from the original trilogy and how their stories have developed over the decades. This installment was a fantastic bridge from the main players we first met in Star Wars in 1977 to the new generation of galactic heroes and villains.
It’s difficult to discuss more without giving away too much, and we would never want to spoil this experience for anyone who has yet to see this film. So stay tuned for a deeper discussion next month when we hash out more details and get your perspective on this blockbuster! We’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below, but please remember…no spoilers, sweeties!
Star Wars The Force Awakens movie review! | PixieDustChicks.com

The Ganachery at Disney Springs!

So many changes have been happening at Disney Springs in 2015! First, there’s been quite a bit of construction around signaling that more exciting new shops and restaurants are on the way. Second, a brand new parking structure is open with a second one soon to follow. And most importantly, we have a brand new name and branding of Disney Springs to replace the former Downtown Disney. Isn’t it thrilling?? Well hang on, because one of the most exciting additions, The Ganachery, is now open!
The Ganachery at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World! | PixieDustChicks.com
The Ganachery is located in The Landing section of Disney Springs, right across from…

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Giveaway Winner! Time for Christmas Fun!

We have a winner!! First, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in our Christmas giveaway! The positive response was so sweet and much bigger than we had anticipated. You all are awesome and we love you!
Christmas Giveaway! | PixieDustChicks.com
So now, drummer boy drumroll please…pa rum pum pum pum… …

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Wordless Wednesday: Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios! | PixieDustChicks.com

Giveaway! Time for Disney Christmas fun!

Christmas is almost here, so we wanted to share the holiday spirit with a giveaway! We’ve had so much fun getting to know many of you through our various social media accounts, and one thing we’ve discovered is that everyone is so excited for the holiday season. So we decided to make this one all about Christmas!
Christmas Giveaway 2015! | PixieDustChicks.com

Giveaway Goodies!

One winner will receive all of the following goodies:

  • Starbucks Disney Christmas mug
  • Santa Mickey Mouse plush
  • Santa Minnie Mouse plush
  • Christmas lights necklace
  • Christmas stocking krispy treat
  • Holiday lollipops

What you need to do…

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ABOUT US

Hey there! We are Shawnee and Susan, a daughter and mom duo. We’re into a lot of things, but it’s way too much for this tiny square. Feel free to pour a cup of something tasty and hang out with us for a while! For more about us, go here…

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Disclaimer: The PixieDustChicks.com is an independent blog. The opinions expressed here represent our own and not those of anyone else. We are not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.

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