Monthly Archives: October 2024

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Posted on October 31, 2024 by crystalburney

For this year’s Halloween trip, we decided it was time to go back to Walt Disney World, to enjoy another Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

I love both Halloween and Disney, so to me, this is the perfect Halloween event! Plus, it is the only time you are allowed to wear a full costume as an adult at the Disney Parks, which just adds to the fun!

This year, we brought friends a long and decided to go as Disney Villains- perfect for this time of year!

We went as Ursula, Cruella, Captain Hook and Oogie Boogie and had a villainously good time making our way around the park.

One Cast Member even voted us Best Costumes!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a limited ticket event running at Magic Kingdom select nights from mid August until Halloween night. The official party runs from 7 p.m. until midnight, but with a party ticket you are able to enter the park as of 4 p.m.

You pick up your wristband and enter through another section of Magic Kingdom to pick up your Trick or Treat bag.

From 4-7 p.m., you can enjoy the rides etc and then by 7 p.m anyone who doesn’t have a party ticket has to leave the park and the Halloween party festivities begin!

There is exclusive party merchandise and food available around the park. This year, I got the Minnie Winnie Sipper, the Madame Leota Seance Candle (red velvet cake with cookies and cream mousse) and the Grave Yard Milkshake (Chocolate milkshake with a dipped graveyard jelly doughnut and candy!) In my opinion, all worth it!

There are numerous treat stations around the park to go trick or treating at. For a bit of extra fun, be sure to ask the cast members what their bat is named!

There are lots of character meet and greets with characters like the Winnie the Pooh gang and Mickey all dressed up in their Halloween costumes. It is also a great time to meet some of the villains who you usually won’t find around the parks, as well as Jack and Sally, from The Nightmare Before Christmas, who are only found during this time. Wait times for the characters vary, with Jack and Sally usually being at least an hour wait (we had met them the last time, so didn’t bother waiting again.)

One of my favourite parts of the party is the Halloween entertainment.

Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular firework and laser show on Cinderella Castle happens at 10 p.m each party.

Mickey’s ‘Boo-To-You’ Halloween parade happens twice a night, featuring Disney characters in their costumes, all the villains and more, with the Headless Horseman leading the way.

The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, is my favourite, with 3-4 shows a night on the castle stage.

The Sanderson Sisters are back and need help from their Villainous friends to cast a spell!

As it is a limited ticket event, the wait time for rides is a lot less. Many of the rides were walk on and the longest we waited was 15 minutes, which is a nice change from regular park visits. Of course a visit to the Haunted Mansion was the perfect way to close our night of spooky fun!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is definitely one of my favourite places to celebrate spooky season!

Happy Halloween!

Categories: Blog, North America, Photo, Where in the World | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Surfing in San Juan del Sur

Posted on October 14, 2024 by crystalburney

Not too far from the border with Costa Rica, along the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, lies San Juan del Sur, a once quiet fishing village that became a hub for those looking to explore or surf the awesome beaches both to the north and south of town.

The town is small and easily explored on foot. While San Juan del Sur itself doesn’t have a great beach, it does have a lot of great restaurants and bars along the waterfront. It also has a party scene, especially on weekends during the dry season and has only clubs in the area.

As I left my clubbing days behind me years ago, I opted to check out the local brewery, Nicaragua Craft Beer Co – Cervecería San Juan del Sur, the first craft brewery in Nicaragua.

They have a few beers on tap, a beer garden out back and Open Mic night every Wednesday. They also have amazing ‘Drunken Nachos’ with pair perfectly with a flight of their beers!

As we were here in rainy season, we spent most of our day in San Juan del Sur finding places to duck into each time it started to rain!

La Tostaderia, was the perfect place to stay dry while enjoying a latte (with the cutest little latte art!) and watch the waves crash in across the street.

And no trip to San Juan del Sur would be complete without surfing! There are numerous places in town offering surf lessons and board rentals as well as rides out to the other beaches.

My sister joined me on this trip and we opted to stay only one night in San Juan del Sur and the other two nights outside of town at the Dreamsea Nicaragua– a sustainable eco-lodge located in a tropical paradise!

You can sign up for the week long surf camp or if you aren’t staying that long you can just take surf lessons or rent a board.

The resort was gorgeous, with delicious meals and morning yoga with a beautiful view!

There are also lots of group activities, including a sunset beach picnic at Playa Marsella, a good swimming beach with gorgeous sunsets!

We signed up for a surf lesson, which included one hour of surf theory, that day it was in the pool, followed by 1.5 hours in the water and all equipment. We headed to Playa Remanso, a nice little bay which has a smaller beach break, making it ideal for beginners.

It had been about a decade since I last tried surfing, so my goal was to get up and ride a wave….and I was able to do that on the first try!

Our instructor, Luis, was great and helped the 3 of us find our waves. What an incredible feeling it is to ride a wave into shore. Feels like you’re flying on water!

After our lesson, we walked along the beach and watched as those with a lot more skill caught some waves. I will definitely need more practice before I can surf like these guys!

The whole atmosphere in this area is very relaxed. The perfect spot for those looking to learn how to surf or just relax at the beach, while still being able to enjoy a great meal. If you’re heading to Nicaragua, be sure to add San Juan del Sur to your list!

Categories: Blog, Central America, Photo, Where in the World | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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