My 3 year old daughter is obsessed with Halloween. We talk about it all year long and when that time of year gets near she can hardly contain herself. So, what’s a mother of a Halloween obsessed 3 year old to do? It obviously meant that I had to take her to Disney World to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!

Last year one of my good friends and I decided to take our daughters! Our girls were 3 and 4 years old at the time, but I honestly think this party is suitable for children and adults of all ages! It is, hands down, my favorite Halloween memory of all time.

The party is held on select days throughout August, September, and October at Disney World inside the Magic Kingdom park. It’s important to note that the price of the party tickets will get more expensive the closer you get to Halloween, so keep that in mind when deciding on dates. The park closes early for the party and only guests with a special wristband, issued specifically for the party, can stay in the park past 7 PM. But those who are attending the party can enter the park as early as 4 PM! This is a great way to get extra Disney World time in without have to spend the extra money on a regular park ticket! Another benefit of the party is that less people = less crowds and shorter lines. If there was a ride you missed during the day due to wait times you can just go during the party!

Next, I’ll go over some of the highlights and our favorite attractions from the event!

7 Things Not to Miss at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Costumes and Trick-or-Treating

Almost everyone, children and adults, was wearing a costume… Disney themed of course! My daughter and I were Ariel and Ursula from the little mermaid. I put our costumes together from different pieces I found on Etsy and Amazon to avoid spending a fortune on them. Dressing up was a fun way to feel like you were part of the magic! Just make sure you check Disney’s official costume guidelines before you purchase or make one. You can see my nieces and nephews costumes when they went a long time ago. 
There are several trick-or-treating trails throughout the park for the kids to enjoy! They even provide allergy-free options for the kids who need to steer clear of certain items. Disney thinks of everything!

Character Meet and Greets

While trick-or-treating throughout the parks, we came across several Disney characters that the girls got to meet. This year they’ve added Moana to this list! You can find her in Adventureland.
Our favorites were:

• Jack Skellington and Sally in Liberty Square
• The Seven Dwarves in Fantasyland
• Lots-O-Huggin Bear (aka Lotso) in Tomorrowland

Cadaver Dan’s Barbershop Quartet

This funny and interactive singing quartet performs popular Halloween songs at specific times throughout the party in Frontierland! They are a must-see!

Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball

You can’t have a party without dancing! Join Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc on the Tomorrowland stage for an epic Halloween dance party!

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular is definitely a favorite amongst party goers and should not be missed! The Sanderson sisters are back amongst mortals throwing an epic Halloween party with a little help from some of the scariest Disney villains! You can catch this show at the Castle forecourt stage several times throughout the party.

Happy Hallowishes Fireworks Show

A special, Halloween party only, fireworks show featuring songs from our favorite Disney villains at 10:15 PM. The best place to view the fireworks is from Main Street.

Boo To You Halloween Parade

The parade kicks off with the headless horseman followed by Disney characters and stars from the Haunted Mansion! There are two available times to choose from so be sure you get to one of them!

There is so much more to see at the party than I can possibly cover. For example, the entire park is decorated. I’d definitely recommend going! We all had a wonderful time and I’m already looking forward to planning the next Halloween trip to Disney World!

Read Next:

• Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland
• 8 Ways to Have a Blast at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
  

  

The post 7 Things Not to Miss at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party appeared first on Mommy Travels.

10 Free Things to do at Aulani the Disney Resort in Oahu, Hawaii

You’ve splurged on a hotel stay at Aulani Disney. So, now you need to make the most of the included activities because lets face it, you’ve paid for them. I’ve seen many refer to these as free activities, but considering how much you paid to stay here I’m just going to go with calling them included activities. We were able to do many of the activities, but we didn’t come close to doing them all. For example, they offered a wide range of fitness classes that were included in the price, but we didn’t go to any of them. Here were some of our favorite included activities.

1. Disney Family Fun Animation

Animation classes are available off and on throughout the week and they are always free. In this animation class your family will learn to draw one of the popular Disney characters step by step like Donald Duck or Goofy. You also have the chance to paint another character. You have to get to the family room early to sign up and do not be discouraged if you get wait-listed. We were on the waitlist and we got into the class.

The teen program offers late-night drawing classes that only teens can go to. My kids went one night and had a great time, even though we had already taken the family animation class. Noah enjoyed the teen class way more than the family class. Go figure!

2. Shake a Shaka Pool Party

Two or three times a week they have a full on pool party at the main pool. Much to my surprise the characters came out and participate almost the entire time. This is impressive because it is hot! They lead kids in dances and pool games. Characters would take turns leading and then stand off to the sides for pictures.

3. Ohana Ho’Okani Pila

That means family ukulele lessons. Sadly, we missed the family lessons, but my teens got to go to the one just for teens and they raved about it. They teach you 4 or 5 main notes and after that you can play all kinds of songs. After one lesson Noah and Eden can both play basic ukulele songs!

4. Fire Pit Story Telling

Every night of the week a guy everyone calls uncle tells stories while kids and parents sit around a fire pit. They do this four times a day. He doesn’t always tell the same stories so you can go more than once. If you have older kids like I do wait until one of the late night story times, because there’s no crowd.

5. Uncle’s Kahakai Canoe Racing

During this family activitym you and your family will learn about the different parts of a canoe and put one together and decorate it. Moana even shows up to help you finish it and take pictures with you. Then all the families Head out to the beach to race each other. You get to keep your family canoe as a keepsake. This was one of my favorite activities all week. They only offer it twice a week, so be sure and get to the family room early in the morning to sign up. This is another activity we got wait-listed on, but we got in.

How to Save Money at Aulani and turn it into an Affordable Family Vacation

6. Take Family Photos

This freebie made me so happy. I’m a single mom and I never have anyone around to take a family photo of us and I am not the best selfie taker. Around the resort are PhotoPass cast members. We took total advantage and ask them to take our photo down on the beach in front of the beach. They will take it with your camera or cell phone and with their nice camera. I ended up with quite a few great photos like this one. If you want to buy the photos they take it costs $99 and they put them on a CD for you. They put all the photos they take of you during your stay onto the CD.

7. Teen Program

The teen program at Aulani is fantastic and I can say this because both of my teenagers loved the program. They went to a handful of the events they offered the week we were there and enjoyed all of them. In fact, one of the days I was hustling to get back to the resort in time for their activity. When we got there they took off. I can assure you this has never happened before and I felt like that said all that was needed to say about the program. Teens rarely get excited to go do anything!

In the teen program, my teens learned how to play 4 or 5 notes on a ukulele, took an animation class, attended parties, participated in a physical challenge down on the beach, make leis, techniques for building sandcastles, and more.

8. Beach Fun

Boogie boards and sand toys are complimentary for guests. All you have to do is check them out for the day and turn them back in at the end of the day. My kids used the boogie boards as skim boards and they worked pretty well. Lucky for us it isn’t one board per family. You can check out as many as you need. They do have waiters that come down to the beach if you want to order food and drink. The chairs and umbrellas are first come.

10 Things You Need to Know Before Your Trip to Aulani

9. Board games and Disney Movies

There is a family room with an assortment of board games available for checkout. We checked out a couple of games and kept them all week. At night we sat around playing games together. You can sit and play the games in the family room as well.

Also in the family room is a movie library with every movie Disney has ever made! You can check these movies out and take them back to your room. The rooms are nice here, so you will definitely spend some time hanging out in them!

10. Kid’s Club

There is a kid’s club program for children ages 3 – 12 at Auntie’s Beach House. All kids must be potty trained in order to participate in the program. Many of their extra activities are included and a few cost an additional fee.

My son is 10.5 and didn’t love the kid’s program, granted he only went once to make slime. That’s him as a mad scientist during Stich’s Goo class! During Stitch’s Space goo workshop, kids make slime that they get to keep. Jonah had fun but thought they drug out the class a little too much.

Sadly, they only offer a few activities just for tweens. If your child is younger they will love this place. There is always something going on. They can even eat meals here for a fee while parents have a date!

Depending on how old your child is they can check themselves in at Auntie’s Beach House, but cannot check themselves in. The day Jonah went he checked himself in. I was so surprised when they called to let me know he arrived safely. How nice for my peace of mind. Granted, as I sat poolside, having a frozen cocktail I wasn’t really that worried. I could see him walk over from where I was sitting.

**Are you ready to book your Disney Aulani vacation? Check Rates Now!

Conclusion:

All in all, Aulani is the perfect getaway for families. With its variety of offerings and commitment to providing an amazing vacation experience, it’s no wonder why Aulani has become one of Disney’s most popular destinations. Whether you choose to lounge on the beach, explore local restaurants or explore the rich Hawaiian culture on a guided tour, you’re sure to find something that will make your vacation truly magical. So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and book your stay today for the chance to enjoy these 10 free activities at Aulani! Who knows? Maybe a little Disney magic can help make this year’s vacation the best one yet.

Disney Aulani One Bedroom Villa Tour

Oahu Travel Guide

11 Things to do in Oahu with Kids

Hiking Diamond Head in Oahu, Hawaii with Kids

Cinnamon’s Restaurant the Best Breakfast in Oahu

The post 10 Free Things to do at Aulani Disney Resort in Oahu, Hawaii appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Disney Nail Tutorial – Mickey Mouse Nails

You will need:

• Red Fingernail Polish
• Black Fingernail Polish
• White Fingernail Polish
• Red and Silver Glitter Fingernail Polish
• Dotting Tool

Directions:

1. Make sure fingernails are completely clean of old polish.
2. Begin by painting your pointer finger black. Use 2-3 coats.
3. Next, paint your middle finger red. 2-3 coats.
4. Paint the rest of your nails using the red and silver polish. 3 coats or until desired coverage is met.
5. Next, go back to your pointer finger and paint the tip red. Make sure you give yourself a wide enough tip to add some design work later on. Place 2-3 coats of red on the tip for the best coverage.
6. While the pointer finger is drying, use your dotting tool to place random white dots on your middle finger.
7. Lastly, use the dotting tool to make two white dots slightly spread apart from each other, but centered in the middle of the red strip.
8. Finish by covering each nail in clear coat.

Here is another way you can do Mickey Mouse Nails! They are similar but slightly different. For these you will need:

• Red Fingernail Polish
• Black Fingernail Polish
• White Fingernail Polish
• Gold polish
• Dotting Tool

Directions:

1. Make sure fingernails are completely clean of old polish.
2. Begin by painting your pointer finger and your ring finger black. Use 2-3 coats.
3. Next, paint your middle finger gold. 2-3 coats.
4. Then paint your pinky finger and your thumb red.
5. Next, go back to your pointer finger and paint the tip red. Make sure you give yourself a wide enough tip to add some design work later on. Place 2-3 coats of red on the tip for the best coverage. (If the red doesn’t show up well you will need to paint the tip white, let it dry, and then paint it red.
6. While the pointer finger is drying, use your dotting tool to place random white dots on your pinky finger.
7. You will use the dotting tool to  create a Mickey Mouse head on your ring finger with white polish.
8. Lastly, use the dotting tool to make two white dots slightly spread apart from each other but centered in the middle of the red strip on your pointer finger.
9. Finish by covering each nail in clear coat.

Read Next:

How to Participate in Pin Trading at Disney

Breastfeeding At Disney World: What Every Nursing Mom Needs to Know

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post Disney Nail Tutorial – Mickey Mouse Nails appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Disney Packing List

Packing for a trip to Disney is a little different than packing for a family trip somewhere else. We should know, we’ve been at least 60 times. Yes, we are those people. Your welcome. 

Magic Bands – MagicBands are an awesome tool for all things Disney. If you are staying on Disney property they will mail them to you ahead of time so don’t forget them! 

Mickey Ears – You can get the traditional ears or you can just get the headband ears. Etsy has so many amazing Mickey Ears.

Disney Pins for trading – if you want to participate in pin trading I recommend ordering some inexpensive Disney pins on Amazon! before you go. Paying a dollar or less for a pin is much cheaper than buying them in the parks. Not sure if you want to trade pins? Check out our Disney Pin Trading Tutorial. 

Mister fan or Handheld travel fan

Autograph books

Pen for signatures

External battery

Band-aids

Tylenol or asprin

Hats

Disney hair bows

Disney jewelry

Light backpack – This is to take what you need into the parks with you. You can see what I put in my backpack here: Disney Backpack Expert Packing Tips.

Disney shirts – I highly recommend getting matching Disney shirts. They are fun and it makes it easier to spot your family in the crowded parks.

One pair of jeans – Orlando is hot pretty much all the time, so you will only need one pair of jeans at the most.

Rain jacket or poncho – It may rain, it may not. But if it starts raining you will get to pay top dollar for a poncho inside the parks. If it does rain make sure to read this post: 22 Things to do at Disney World On A Rainy Day.

Umbrella

Flip flops or slides – At some point, you will be spending time at the pool, so make sure to have some shoes you do not mind getting wet like flip flops. 

Bathing suit – You will want to cool down at the hotel pool or at one of the waterparks in Orlando like Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Volcano Bay, or Aquatica Orlando Water Park.

Swimsuit cover up

SPF shirt

Water shoes

Beach bag

Inflatable life jacket

Sunscreen – get the sport cause you will be sweating a lot.

Chapstick with sunscreen in it

Tennis shoes – You are going to be walking miles each day and will need comfortable support shoes.

1 or 2 nice outfits – If you decide to go out for a more upscale meal at a restaurant like California Grill or Flying Fish you will need something a bit nicer to wear than what you wear into the parks. They are not strict on this, but a collared shirt or a dress would be best.

Clever Items to Pack for Disney

I pack some of the most random stuff when we go to Disney World each year. But there’s a good reason for all of them.

Hair Glitter

Colored Hair Spray

Outfits for Disney

Costumes – My kids liked to dress up sometimes for the park. Buying a costume inside the park is extremely expensive. If you are doing the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disney World and don’t already have a costume you are going to spend at least $75 on one. 

Standard Stuff Needed for Any Trip

• ID
• Insurance cards
• Medicine
• Travel documents
• Passport (if needed)
• Cash & Credit Cards
• Insect repellent aka bug spray
• Dry bags
• Camera
• Waterproof Camera
• Charger
• Memory cards
• Waterproof cell phone holder
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Workout clothes
• Shirts with collar
• Dresses
• Linen pants
• Sandals
• Socks
• Underwear
• Face wash
• Q-tips
• Fingernail clippers
• Razor
• Toothbrush
• Brush

And there you have it, fellow Disney adventurers – your ultimate packing list for conquering the most magical place on earth. Remember, a well-packed bag is your secret weapon against the forces of chaos that inevitably come with a Disney vacation. Whether you’re dodging rain showers with your trusty poncho or recharging your phone for that perfect castle shot, you’re now armed with everything you need to make your trip smoother than a Dole Whip on a summer day. So, pack smart, stay magical, and may your line passes be plentiful!

Read Next:

Create Your Disney World Budget

Disney Nail Tutorial; Mickey Mouse Nails

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post Disney Packing List appeared first on Mommy Travels.

6 Benefits of Getting a Disney MagicBand for Disney

1. Check Into Your Disney Resort Hotel Room

2. Charge Food and Souvenirs to Your Disney Resort Room Bill

3. Access to The Fast Pass Lane

4. Get Entry to Multiple Parks

5. Check Your Photos Linked To Your Account

6. Accessorize Your Trip

MagicBands FAQ

Since I originally wrote this article many of you have asked me questions. Some of the questions are similar, so I thought I would just go ahead and add some of them here. If you have a question I have not gone over feel free to ask.

How much do MagicBands cost?

If you are staying at a Disney World hotel they are free, otherwise, you have to purchase them. They start out at around $14.99 and go up from there.

Are MagicBand accessories worth it?

I actually bought my kids some accessories for theirs and we lost most of them, so I am going to say no. However, there is a wide assortment of MagicBand accessories that are stuck on and cannot come off. I would recommend trying those instead. 

Do you need paper tickets for the parks if you have a MagicBand?

No, you will not need your paper tickets.

What should I do if I have a problem with my band at the park?

Visit guest services and they will help you.

Can MagicBands be reused?

Yes, we have reused ours, multiple times.

What should I do if I lose my MagicBand?

Head to guest services where they will deactivate the old band and issue you a new one. This happened to use once on a ride and it was replaced quickly. However, the custom name inside the band was gone.

Can I swim in my MagicBand?

These bands are completely waterproof, so yes, you can swim with them on.

More Disney Info!

Flying Fish Cafe at Disney World

• Best food to bring to Disney World
• Beaches and Cream Soda Shop – A Disney World Restaurant
• Disney pin trading tips

Disney packing tips

Best Disney World souvenirs 

Best desserts at Disney World

Disney Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Disney World

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post 6 Benefits of Getting a Disney MagicBand for Disney appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Best Disney Activities and Games for Kids on a Disney Road Trip including Disney Games for free!

Few things can beat a family vacation to the Magic Kingdom, but, if you live far away, the long car ride to Walt Disney World can be as exhausting for your kids as it is for you. Therefore, once you’ve secured your hotel reservations, made note of the local repair shop (in case of car emergencies), and packed everyone’s suitcases, it’s time to figure out how to keep the kids from growing bored during the drive. The following guide is a list of fun activities to keep your children occupied and happy while you focus on the road.

8 Disney Games and Activities Perfect for a Road Trip to Disney

1. Disney Sing-a-Long

A great way to engage your kids and lift their spirits when they’re sitting for long periods is by singing songs. When they’re jamming to great tunes from their favorite animated movies or television series, they’ll forget about how long they’ll have to wait (and sit) before meeting Mickey Mouse.

Most Disney series and movies have original soundtracks you can purchase and download to your phone or are available on streaming apps. Disney even has a Disney’s Greatest Hits albums. If your car has a CD player, you might consider going the old-fashioned route and filling a nylon CD binder with soundtracks from your son’s or daughter’s favorite Disney productions.

You can turn something as simple as picking and listening to music into an exciting activity by helping them decorate the binder with stickers of their beloved Disney characters before you leave, and letting them choose their tunes during the trip.

2. Disney Themed Bingo

Another fun activity to captivate your kids on the long car trip is bingo. While you can purchase ready-made bingo cards online, if time permits, you can make your own so they are specifically tailored to your kids’ tastes. You can find printable, Disney-themed bingo cards online or print blank ones and design them with your kids. For added fun, use small candies, gummies, or stickers for markers. If the road trip takes more than an hour or two, print coloring bingo cards for your children to enjoy.

3. Walt Disney Matching Card Game

Your kids will love playing a Disney-themed matching game during the long car trip. As with bingo, you can purchase a Disney-themed set of cards from most retail stores or design them yourself using printable online templates. Matching games may seem a little less engaging than bingo, but they come with a bonus: Playing matching or number games helps your child develop their memory and communication skills.

4.  Lap Desk & Organizer

Wherever the children go, messes and messiness are sure to follow. However, you can minimize the necessary clean up by providing a desk for them to work on. You can use a flat, metal cookie sheet as a surface for playing games that involve cards or paper, for coloring, or for holding snacks.

Although you’ll probably need to clean stray crayon marks after the trip, a cookie sheet is an inexpensive alternative to most retail car-seat lap desks. Moreover, the desk doesn’t take up a lot of space and is easy to store when not in use. Younger children might enjoy using the cookie tray to play with magnets, so be sure to use baking trays with magnetic properties (check the labels; some metal sheets are not magnetic). If you can’t get your hands on magnetic trays, consider using adhesive magnetic strips instead.

5. I’m Going on a Picnic … in Disney World

Teaching your kids to play the “I’m going on a picnic” game is easy and will leave them laughing for hours. The original game starts when one player says “I’m going on a picnic.” The player follows by saying “… and I’m taking …” and listing an item that starts with the letter “A.” The second player will repeat what the first person said and add something that starts with the letter “B.”

The game continues as each person repeats what the previous individual brings to the picnic while adding an item of their own. Each new item must start with a different letter of the alphabet. To keep consistent with your Disney-themed car adventure, you can choose a specific Disney movie for the picnic’s setting and bring items related to the characters or worlds you’d find in that film.

For example, you could start the game by saying “I’m going on a picnic in Wonderland, and I’m bringing … apple jam,” or “I’m going on a picnic in Neverland, and I’m bringing pixie dust.” Adding a setting will make the game a bit more difficult, but your kids will enjoy thinking up picnic items they can bring from their favorite Disney works.

6. Counting the Miles with Mickey

For exceptionally long trips, you can make tickets with numbers on them to help your kids keep track of how long you’ve been traveling. First, cut a piece of black construction paper into Mickey Mouse’s signature silhouette, and then assign a number to each ticket for every hour you’ll be on the road. Every time an hour passes, say “Tickets please!” and collect the Mickey tickets from your kids.

If you live conveniently close to Disney World, you can use tickets to keep track of the miles you’ve driven.  Your kids will feel like they’re on a train adventure rather than a long car ride and will anticipate each hour with excitement.

7.  Who Am I: The Disney Edition

The “Who Am I?” game is usually played as an icebreaker at school or camps, but you can easily adapt it to meet your road trip activity needs. The original game involves writing the name of a character or person on an index card and taping it to your forehead. Other players would be able to see the name of your persona.

The point of the game is for you to ask a series of “yes” or “no” questions to help you guess who you are. To play the game in the car, write the names of Disney characters on index cards, or, if your children are too young to read, print and cut out pictures of Disney characters for them to choose from. Let them decide the number of questions you can ask and guess accordingly. If you win, you get to choose the next guesser. If you lose, you’ll have to spend another round guessing the name of your character.

8. Disney Spelling Bee

Last, but not least, is another simple, yet exciting, car brain game for your kids. Hosting a Disney-themed spelling bee in your backseat is a fun way for children to practice their spelling skills while passing the time. You can use cards from the matching game or “Who am I?” to choose which Disney movie title or character’s name they’ll spell. 

9. Disney Audible Books

Listening to an audible book is a great way to pass the time and there are lots of audible Disney Books! Pretty much any story Disney has ever told is available as an audible book.

• Disney*Pixar Storybook Collection

• Disney Junior Storybook Collection: Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Mickey/Minnie, Henry Hugglemonster

• Moana

Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks

With these 9 Disney games and activities for kids, your next Disney road trip is sure to be entertaining and a lot of fun. From bingo to spotting license plates, these creative ideas will likely lead to family bonding and laughs along the way. So why wait? Grab some snacks and add a little magical sparkle to your road trip by busting out these Disney games today!

For more road trip games, check out these 11 Road Trip Games that can be played in the car.

Guest post by Jordan Smith. She is obsessed with Disney, her beautiful family, and cars. Her career as the lead mechanic for ActionGatorTire.com. It is both challenging and rewarding, but she loves getting to do what she enjoys every day. Having a creative outlet, like blogging, and planning future vacations are the best ways she knows to deal with the pressures of adulting!

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post 9 Disney Games and Activities for Kids on a Disney Road Trip appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Families will enjoy staying at Saratoga Springs Resort a kid-friendly hotel while in Orlando. This is where we stayed when we vacationed in Orlando with my parents and it so far has been our favorite out of all the places we’ve stayed. (Summer Bay is our 2nd favorite and it would also be an excellent place for families to stay.

Saratoga Springs features one and two-bedroom condos with full kitchens and living rooms. Plan to stock your room with food for breakfast each morning that way you can get your children fed quick and be off to the theme parks.

6 Day Orlando Itinerary with Grandparents

Here is a day-by-day Orlando itinerary with lots of suggestions. I’ve thrown in suggested activities and restaurants. Take it and turn it into the ideal vacation for your own family. If you are on a budget be sure to read our post 22 Ways to Save Money on an Orlando Vacation.

Day 1: Discovery Cove & Tex-Mex

Kick-off your Orlando vacation by spending your day at one of the neatest theme parks you will ever visit, Discovery Cove. Today you will eat breakfast and lunch buffet at Discovery Cove because it is an all-inclusive experience. They even offer all-you-can-eat snacks and drinks. With multiple snack stations spread out throughout the park, no one in your family will ever have to go hungry. Discovery Cove also provides animal-safe sunscreen as well as life jackets, snorkel sets, and wet suits.

• Get to Discovery Cove before they open. The earlier you get in the line, the earlier you get into the park. (I’m serious about this. The line is ridiculous and moves slow.)

During the day Discovery Cove offers kid-friendly animal encounters like petting a sloth and meeting a marmoset. Not only is it educational, but your kids will remember it forever. My kids loved getting to pet a sloth!

For an extra fee, you can swim with two of the dolphins that live here. If the whole family is participating in the dolphin swim, consider splitting into two different time slots so you can take pictures of each other. They will take pictures for you, but it will cost you! Also, make sure that your dolphin swim doesn’t interfere with any of the other animal encounters.

Grandparents and kids alike will love floating along the lazy river. Halfway around the river, there are spots to get out of the river and enter the bird sanctuary. Here you will have up-close interaction with all kinds of birds as you hand-feed them.

• The lazy river is deep. Put your kids in a life jacket if they are not a strong swimmer.

Discovery Cove closes early each day typically around 5:30. This leaves your family plenty of time to do something else during the evening. Purchase Discovery Cove tickets in advance. 

Tonight, enjoy excellent Tex-Mex in Orlando at Chuy’s. Indulge in a plate of enchiladas and a large specialty margarita. Chuy’s can be a rather loud restaurant. If someone is hard of hearing (like grandpa), be sure to ask for a quieter part to be seated in or maybe pick a different restaurant. Warning: if you are from Texas you may feel angry that the food here is not as good as the ones in Texas. It is still good though.

After dinner drive over to Disney Springs for live music and shopping. You could also pick out one of the free activities at Disney to do. Free Things to do around Disney World

Day 2: Sea World & Tapas

Today you will be spending most of your day at Sea World. Your admission to SeaWorld is free because it was included in the admission to Discovery Cove. SeaWorld is a great place for multi-generational families to visit because there is a little bit of everything. For younger family members there are huge roller coasters. For older family members there are lots of animal shows to enjoy. Of course, kids will love both of those but there is also a special area just for them at Sea World with small rides, a splash pad, and a massive climbing structure.

• SeaWorld has a rider switch program for families that have children too short to ride a roller coaster.
• SeaWorld offers free admission to military members and their families. 

Evening: Sea World closes around 7 PM most days, so hold off eating dinner until you leave the park. Sea World is close to International Drive where you will find lots of great kid-friendly restaurants. Cafe Tu Tu Tango is the perfect place for a large family to dine. The menu is all appetizers, so families can order a little bit of everything and share. Plus, depending on which night you visit there will be palm readers and belly dancers.

Purchase SeaWorld Orlando tickets in advance. 

Day 3: Sun, Swimming, & City Walk

Today is a down day because although the kids can go and go, parents and grandparents need a day of rest! Saratoga Springs has multiple pools and hot tubs as well as several poolside bars and cafes. Enjoy the day by a pool or two, play table tennis, or basketball, hit the arcade, or take the kids to the playground. You will find all of these activities on-site.

For dinner drive over to City Walk and eat at Cowfish a Burger and Sushi Bar, one of City Walk’s newest restaurants. If possible, make a reservation in advance or at least earlier in the day for 6:00 PM. Here you will enjoy incredible sushi combinations like Dion’s OMG? Roll made with tempura coconut shrimp, kani, English cucumber, coated in tempura flakes. Topped with fresh mango, avocado, spicy honey marmalade, and coconut flakes as well as original burgers like a Black Truffle cheeseburger made with beef, black truffle cheese, roasted shallots, sautéed mushrooms, roasted garlic aioli, and lettuce on a brioche bun.

After dinner walk around the lake to the Blue Man Theatre. Blue Man Group performs at 8:00 each night and this kid-friendly show is one that grandparents will love too.

Day 4: Epcot

Today you will be spending a full day at Epcot. After breakfast, head to the park. In front of the park, you will find some excellent ride experiences like Test Track and Soarin that the whole family will enjoy.

Consider eating lunch and dinner at Epcot since there are many desirable restaurants here. Be sure to plan ahead of time where you want to eat. No matter how busy the park is you can always get into Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie a cafeteria-style restaurant with amazing French baked goods that also happens to be one of the cheapest places to eat inside Epcot. Here each person in your family can pick out what they want like a ham and cheese croissant and an exquisite dessert.

Epcot Tips

Tip 1: Wear good shoes and if you need to rent a wheelchair because Epcot is non stop walking.

Tip 2: Make your dinner reservations at Epcot in advance.

Tip 3: Find a spot in France or Morocco for the best views of the nighttime fireworks show.

Day 5: Water park & Fancy  Dinner

Today hit a water park. Orlando has many incredible water parks, including Aquatica Waterpark, which happens to be included in your admission to Discovery Cove just like a visit to SeaWorld was. Aquatica Orlando is an incredible kid-friendly water park with all kinds of water slides, a wave pool, two types of lazy rivers, and an extremely cool kids’ area. Kids can run and play all through the kid’s area while parents and grandparents relax and soak in the sun. Purchase Aquatica tickets in advance. 

As far as lunch and snacks pre-purchase the Banana Beach Buffet online and eat whenever you like all day long. The buffet has choices like pulled pork, baked chicken, hot dogs, pizza, assorted salads and sides, and dessert and sodas. One price allows you to eat here all day.

• Another fantastic Orlando water park is Volcano Bay.

Evening: Aquatic closes fairly early so you will have plenty of time for a meal the whole family will enjoy. Since this is your last night in Orlando dress up and make it a special night by having a meal at the Flying Fish Cafe where you can dine on steaks and fish.

To get here park at the Boardwalk Resort, at the gate let them know where you are dining and you will be let in and can park for free. Walkthrough the resort to the back where the property opens up to the Coney Island-style boardwalk, the restaurant will be to the right as you walk towards the lake.

• You are allowed to split entrees at Flying Fish Cafe as long as you are not on the Disney Dining Plan.

You will definitely want to save room for dessert here. Flying Fish has one of the best desserts at Disney World for kids, a white chocolate Mickey Mouse puzzle kids put together and paint with sugar paints.

After dinner, go back out to the boardwalk and watch the fireworks. You will be able to see some of the fireworks from Epcot and Disney Studios. Hopefully, there will also be boardwalk entertainers out like the jugglers and magicians.

Day 6: Magic Kingdom

Today you are going to spend all day at the Magic Kingdom. If you like the Disney bus that will take you to the park. That’s one of the perks of staying at Saratoga Springs it’s a Disney resort so you have Disney transportation available to you. You can also drive yourself over if you like and park for free with your hotel parking pass.

There is so much to do inside the Magic Kingdom that you probably won’t be able to do it all. Attractions here include the popular Tron, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Pirates of the Caribbean rides.

• If your child wants to get their face painted, the best face painting in the park can be found by the bathrooms near Space Mountain. The cost is around $15 and it doesn’t take long.

For lunch, dine at Sleepy Hollow or Be My Guest. Sleepy Hollow only has outdoor seating, but their waffle sandwiches are awesome and they have a great view of the afternoon parade. Be My Guest is inside Beast’s Castle from Beauty and the Beast. Here, you dine on whatever they are offering, most likely sandwiches, and sit in one of three rooms in the castle. Sit in the darkroom with the magic rose and keep an eye on the Beast’s portrait.

• The nighttime parade and afternoon parade are completely different.
• Tips for a multigenerational vacation at Disney World.

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post 6 Days in Orlando with Grandparents appeared first on Mommy Travels.

5 Best Value Hotels Near Disney World

Finding the best hotels near Disney World is a must when you plan to spend the bulk of your time in the parks.  This makes them both convenient and comfortable for those long and fun days in the parks.

Wyndham Garden Hotel Lake Buena Vista 

Wyndham Garden Hotel Lake Buena Vista is actually on Disney World property and they have a shuttle that will take you to all the main parks. It is the closest hotel to Disney Springs which has been completely redone. They offer an affordable character breakfast buffet with characters like Pluto and Goofy. They have a nice large pool with a kids play area. There’s a pool side bar too!

Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista

Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista is super cheap and right outside the main gates of Walt Disney World. They offer a complimentary shuttle to the four main parks and have a free continental breakfast. Some of the rooms are designated family rooms with bunk beds. They have a splash pad and two pools. I have stayed here for as little as $29 a night before!

Sheraton Vistana

Sheraton Vistana is a sprawling resort located just across the highway from Disney property. Here you can find one bedrooms all the way up to three bedrooms at affordable prices. They have multiple swimming pools, a putt putt course, snack shack at the pool, free wifi, a 24 hour fitness center, and a walking trail. We really enjoyed staying at this property.

Summer Bay Resort

Summer Bay Resort is an award winning resort not far from Disney World property. They have multiple pools, a private lake, a game room, fitness center, and much more. Plus, they have a free shuttle to Disney World. They have hotel rooms, 1 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, and 3 bedrooms. This is one of our favorite places to stay.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is the best Disney value resort because it’s one of the newest hotels and it has the largest pool of all the Disney hotels. Of course staying on property means you have the add benefit of shuttles and extra magic hours at the parks each day. Plus, they have the free shuttles that will bring you back and forth from the airport to the hotel and free wifi.

This list is the best of the best hotels near Disney World!  You’ll love the accommodations and convenience when you book your family stay in one of these great locations!

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post 5 Best Value Hotels Near Disney World appeared first on Mommy Travels.

And third, Disneyland is the land of magic, where kids have the chance to meet their heroes, princes, and princesses, so you can’t deny them dinner with their favorite Disney character! Plus, they will want to buy lots of merch, costumes, and food during the visit, so you’d better be prepared!

But it’s not all doom and gloom, and your savings won’t be in danger if you know how to plan your visit. 

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you keep spending at a minimum while having a good time with the family! 

Purchase Your Tickets Early

The entertainment world was hit hard by the pandemic, and places like Disneyland, where crowds are part of the fun (so to speak), suffered a lot. This is why, when the gates reopened and people were free to crowd waiting in line for a ride once more, the ticket prices went up. 

Starting mid-October this year, the prices for single-day and multi-day tickets got up by 8-9%, but so did the ones for Park Hoppers. Also, the Genie+ ticket add-on went up $5 from its previous price of $20 per day. 

All these price increases add up when you have to pay for 4+ people, but you should know Disneyland plans more price increases in the near future. So, the best thing you can do to keep the costs down as much as possible is to buy the tickets now.

The next price increase is expected in January next year when Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is planned to open, and Disneyland Resort will organize the 100 Years of Wonder Celebration. 

To avoid paying more than you already have to, you’d better start planning your next year’s trip to Disneyland before you plan your Christmas shopping. In fact, you may use this chance to offer the kids tickets to Disneyland from Santa.

Use Membership Rewards to Get Deals

Disney offers a series of discounted tickets to members of select groups, such as active duty and retired military members and their spouses. However, the rules change from one year to another, and the same discounts don’t apply as a general rule. 

So, to stay up to date with the latest discounts, check out some of the best Disneyland ticket deals you can get based on your current situation. Also, if you’re staying at the Disneyland Resort Hotel and have a Magic Key Annual Pass, you may be up for a discount if you visit in a specific time frame. 

Therefore, the best way to check for discounts is to do a bit of research before heading toward California. It may take a bit of time, but it’s worth it when you’re on a budget!

Find the Best Times to Visit Disneyland

The most important piece of information everyone visiting needs to know is that Disneyland’s crowds are influenced by a series of factors such as:

• Holidays
• Kids are on vacation
• Local events
• Special promotions
• Season

Therefore, the parks are about to get full to the brim during the summer months, around Valentine’s Day, on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays. However, there are local events that also influence the level of crowds, such as conventions (the Anaheim Convention Center is right across the street) and special ticketing promotions for California and Southern California residents.

To summarize, you should be able to enjoy the parks without the pressure and craziness of the crowds in mid-January, the second half of February, the first half of March, most of May, September, and October immediately after a new school season starts, and right before the major holidays.

So, if you have a flexible schedule and the kids are not in school (or can take a few days off), make sure you are prepared for a road trip and plan your escape to the magic kingdom. Budget worries aside, off-season visits are a lot more relaxed and enjoyable since you don’t have to be on alert all the time. 

Plus, if you have small children, they’ll be more at ease when there isn’t a whole wave of people trying to get to various places. 

Where Will You Be Staying?

Most people plan their first trip to the magic kingdom in California by checking all the must-do things when at Disneyland off their list before. However, the best way to plan this trip is to first buy the tickets ahead of time and second, find the best accommodation. 

The great news is that you can find good discounts at the Disneyland Resort hotel (which is one of the best accommodation options) if you visit off-season. 

Disney usually categorizes the seasons as follows:

• • The least expensive and least crowded time (aka Value Season) spans almost all through January, February, and the first weeks of October, November, and December;
  • Times when the parks are moderately crowded (Regular Season) and mid-priced, starting with March, early and late April, continuing with most of May and June. Also, the last week of August and the first week of October;
  • Peak Season when prices and crowds are highest (holidays, events, summer vacation, mid-April, and the first three weeks of August).

The discounts vary, but as long as it’s not peak season, chances are you may find something at one of the Disneyland resorts. So don’t be shy and ask for details!

Save on Meals, Snacks, and Drinks

Just because you’re at Disneyland, this doesn’t mean you should let the kids have all the ice cream or cotton candy they want. The same goes for snacks and drinks, especially when you’re on a budget. 

Of course, you shouldn’t be too strict either. The best solution to save your budget and the overall experience is to look for loyalty programs, memberships, and discounts on everything meal-related. Many vendors will be happy to offer a discount if they know they’ll have your family as a customer again. 

And, if you don’t find anything to fit your taste, take a walk to Downtown Disney. The area is not that far away from the parks and is filled with restaurants, terraces, bars, kiosks, eateries, coffee shops, and more. Plus, the prices are lower than inside the parks.

However, if you’re going to be visiting during peak season, you may want to book your restaurants ahead. Actually, this is highly recommended by Disneyland staff since it’s difficult to find a table when the place is crowded. 

The good news is that you can book a table at most restaurants online. Overall, once you have your tickets and accommodation, it is good practice to start looking for places to eat. This way, it will be easier to navigate the crowds and avoid having to deal with hungry and tired children.

Wrap Up

A budget-friendly Disneyland trip takes serious planning, but it’s also a good way to organize your activities and have a plan for when things get crazy. At the end of the day, if you’re having a good time and manage to make some good memories, every expense will be worth it! 

Read Next:

Disneyland Hotel Resort at Disneyland Review

Star Wars Characters in Disneyland: Where to Find Them

The post Travel Off-Season For the Best Disneyland Deals appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Frankenstein Minnie Mouse Cakesicles 

Makes 12 cakesicles 

Purple Fondant Bow ingredients (Only need to make about 12 bows):

1 package of Wilton Purple Fondant 

1 Wilton bow fondant mold 

1 C cornstarch 

1 cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat 

Directions: 

Dust your hands and the fondant mold with cornstarch 

Work the purple fondant to where it becomes soft 

Pinch off about 1 tbsp of the red fondant and mold it into the small size bow Remove and place onto the cookie sheet 

Allow to air-dry overnight 

Vanilla Cupcake: 

1 box of french vanilla cake mix 

1 C of whole milk 

½ C unsalted sweet cream butter softened 

3 large eggs 

1 16 oz container of vanilla frosting 

2 – 14oz bag of lime green candy melts 

1 – 14oz bag of black candy melts 

1 silicone cake popsicle mat

1 cookie sheet with a wire rack 

1 disposable piping bag 

Cupcake Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with liners 

Using a large bowl, beat together the cake mix, milk, butter, and eggs until combined and smooth 

Fill the cupcake liners ¾ way full 

Bake in the oven for 21 minutes 

Allow to cool completely 

Once the cupcakes have cooled, remove them from their cupcake liners and crumble them into a large mixing bowl 

Making the cakesicle cake dough directions: 

Once all the cupcakes have been crumbles into a moist sand-like texture, scoop in about ¼ – ½ C of the vanilla frosting. 

Using either your hands or a rubber spatula, mix in the frosting into the crumbs until a dough-like mixture forms.

Decorating directions: 

Remove 24 round black candy melts from the bag and set aside. These will be used to make the ears. 

Using a microwave, melt the lime green candy melts in 30-second increments, mixing after each time to ensure smooth melted candy melts 

Once the candy melt is melted, spoon about 1-2 tbsp of the melted candy melts into the cakesicle molds 

Move the cakesicle mold around to ensure that the sides are coated in the candy melts 

Place the mold into the fridge for about 10 minutes

Once the chocolate is set, remove it from the fridge 

Take about 1-2 tbsp of the cake mixture and carefully press into the mold, make sure the side of the candy melt does not break 

Remelt the leftover lime green candy melt 

Once remelted, spoon on about 1-2 tbsp of the 

chocolate onto the top of the cake mixture into the mold 

Place mold back into the fridge for another 30 minutes 

Carefully remove the cakesicle from the mold 

Place onto a cookie sheet 

Repeat steps with remaining cake dough 

Using a small bowl, melt about 1 C of the black candy melts 

Once melted, scoop into the piping bag and cut the tip off 

Decorating Minnie Directions: 

Pipe the hair and stitching of Frankenstein onto the cakesicle. 

Carefully remove the purple bow from the cookie sheet and place in the center of the hair.

Carefully cut the bottom off of the black candy melt that were set aside earlier.

Pipe a small line of melted black candy melt onto the bottom of the candy melt.

Carefully place the ear on one side of the cakesicle and allow it to dry.

Repeat step with the other ear. 

Enjoy!

More Halloween Treats

Eyeball Cupcakes

Monster Donuts

Halloween Caramel Apples

Yield: 12

Frankenstein Minnie Mouse Cakesicles Recipe

Print

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 21 minutes

Additional Time 40 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 31 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 package of Wilton Purple Fondant 
• 1 Wilton bow fondant mold 
• 1 C cornstarch 
• 1 cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat 
• 1 box of french vanilla cake mix
• 1 C of whole milk
• ½ C unsalted sweet cream butter softened
• 3 large eggs
• 1 16 oz container of vanilla frosting
• 2 – 14oz bag of lime green candy melts
• 1 – 14oz bag of black candy melts
• 1 silicone cake popsicle mat
• 1 cookie sheet with a wire rack
• 1 disposable piping bag

Instructions

Dust your hands and the fondant mold with cornstarch 

Work the purple fondant to where it becomes soft 

Pinch off about 1 tbsp of the red fondant and mold it into the small size bow Remove and place onto the cookie sheet 

Allow to air-dry overnight

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with liners 

Using a large bowl, beat together the cake mix, milk, butter, and eggs until combined and smooth 

Fill the cupcake liners ¾ way full 

Bake in the oven for 21 minutes 

Allow to cool completely 

Once the cupcakes have cooled, remove them from their cupcake liners and crumble them into a large mixing bowl Once all the cupcakes have been crumbles into a moist sand-like texture, scoop in about ¼ – ½ C of the vanilla frosting 

Using either your hands or a rubber spatula, mix in the frosting into the crumbs until a dough-like mixture forms 

Remove 24 round black candy melts from the bag and set aside. These will be used to make the ears 

Using a microwave, melt the lime green candy melts in 30-second increments, mixing after each time to ensure smooth melted candy melts 

Once the candy melt is melted, spoon about 1-2 tbsp of the melted candy melts into the cakesicle molds 

Move the cakesicle mold around to ensure that the sides are coated in the candy melts 

Place the mold into the fridge for about 10 minutes

Once the chocolate is set, remove from the fridge.

Take about 1-2 tbsp of the cake mixture and carefully press into the mold, make sure the side of the candy melt does not break 

Remelt the leftover lime green candy melt 

Once remelted, spoon on about 1-2 tbsp of the 

chocolate onto the top of the cake mixture into the mold 

Place mold back into the fridge for another 30 minutes 

Carefully remove the cakesicle from the mold 

Place onto a cookie sheet 

Repeat steps with remaining cake dough 

Using a small bowl, melt about 1 C of the black candy melts 

Once melted, scoop into the piping bag and cut the tip off 

Pipe the hair and stitching of Frankenstein onto the cakesicle 

Carefully remove the purple bow from the cookie sheet and place in the center of the hair Carefully cut the bottom off of the black candy melt that were set aside earlier Pipe a small line of melted black candy melt onto the bottom of the candy melt.

Carefully place the ear on one side of the cakesicle and allow it to dry.

Repeat step with other ear.  

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  KitchenAid kp26m1xqbs Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 680Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 521mgCarbohydrates: 124gFiber: 3gSugar: 75gProtein: 5g

Nutrition facts are an estimate.

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