I took pictures of some of the Halloween decorations at the Magic Kingdom to share with The Disney Traveler readers, and I’m posting half of them today and half tomorrow.  I hope they help you to get into the Halloween spirit!

As you approach the entrance to the Magic Kingdom, the train station and the Mickey Mouse in the grass in front of the station are covered with decorations!

Can you guess what that Mickey Mouse is made of?  Instead of flowers, it’s made of pumpkins and gourds!  Check it out below!

Check out the adorable pumpkin figures in front of the train station!

I love the Mickey Mouse jack-o-lanterns that are found throughout the Magic Kingdom.

Even City Hall got a makeover!

The shops lining Main Street USA are brimming with the colors of Halloween.

Many of the store windows got makeovers, too.

My daughter particularly loved this Minnie Mouse window display.

Check back tomorrow for more pictures of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World dressed up for Halloween!  You can also subscribe to The Disney Traveler, so you don’t miss a thing!

9/9/08: Edited to add link to Part 2 for more pictures of the Halloween decorations at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

Images: Susan Gunelius

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You can see the Disney Dreams Come True Parade by checking out the pictures below!

First up, Aladdin!

Next, a variety of characters from from the Country Bears, Robin Hood, Brer Rabbit, the Lion King and Stitch!

Peter Pan and Wendy ride on the next float.

Next come the Disney Princesses!  First up is Cinderella with her Prince and Fairy Godmother.

Belle and the Beast follow.

Ariel and Eric from The Little Mermaid arrive after the Beauty and the Beast float.

The final float is huge and carries many characters and crowd favorites, including Chip and Dale,

Pluto and Donald Duck,

and Goofy, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

It’s actually a very simple parade, but it’s filled with Disney characters, so children really enjoy it.  At least, I know my 3-year old triplets did!  It’s hot watching this parade though, particularly in the middle of the summer.  Grab a bottle of water, and find a shady spot to watch it!

You can follow the link to read more Walt Disney World reviews on The Disney Traveler.

Images: Susan Gunelius

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From the moment your child steps into the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, she is treated like royalty.  The staff of Fairy Godmothers-in-training works closely with each child to help them create the perfect makeover.  Your child can choose her own look, makeup and nail polish colors, and costume.  The makeover process is so much fun and the results are spectacular.

Your child can choose from three hairstyle choices (with hair accessories) offered through three different packages (each with a different price tag).  Check out the details below:

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Hairstyle Choices

• Fairy Tale Princess: The ultimate princess look with hair pulled back into a spectacular bun and a tiara perched on top.
• Disney Diva: Less fairy tale and more modern, this hairstyle pulls the hair back but rather than creating a bun, a ponytail hairpiece and hair accessories are added to complete the look.
• Pop Princess: The hair is pulled up with a colorful hairpiece and Mickey Mouse-shaped clips added on top.  This look is more punk than pop.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Makeover Packages

• The Coach Package: Includes hairstyle, shimmering makeup and a princess sash for $49.95 (plus tax)
• The Crown Package: Includes everything in the Coach Package plus nails for $54.95 (plus tax)
• The Castle Package: Includes everything in the Crown Package plus the child’s princess gown of choice, a crown, shoes, a wand and a photo package with one 6×8 and four 4×6 photos with a themed holder for $189.95 and up (plus tax – price varies depending on the princess gown and shoes selected)

Exclusive Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Packages

• Disney’s Secret Star Makeover: Available only at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Downtown Disney, this makeover will turn your child into Hannah Montana.  The package includes a Hannah Montana wig, a microphone headset, a Hannah Montana guitar purse, a choice of a pink or blue T-shirt, a backstage pass/make-up kit, and a secret star photo shoot with one 6X8 photo for $109.95 (plus tax).  You can also add a Hannah Montana costume with a jacket and pants and additional photos to this package if you’d like for an additional cost.
• Cool Dudes Package: Available only at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the Magic Kingdom, this package is just for boys and includes colorful hair gel and confetti for $7.50 (plus tax).

I have to be honest and say that the Castle Package makeovers are incredibly beautiful and create photos and memories to last a lifetime, but I always feel bad for the children who have to wear the costume and makeup all day at the hot Disney theme parks.  Also, the later in the day you book your child’s makeover, the less time she has to enjoy wearing it!  Those are just a couple of things you might want to consider before you book your child’s princess makeover at one of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques. 

Also, keep in mind that children have to be at least 3-years old and must be accompanied by an adult during the entire makeover process.  One last note – if you book a makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the Magic Kingdom, remember that you’ll have to pay park admission to get in.

You can book a princess makeover at either of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques by calling 407-WDW-STYLE.  You can make reservations (highly recommended) up to 180 days in advance, and you’ll need a credit card to secure your booking.  Keep in mind, if you cancel your makeover session within 24 hours of the appointment, your credit card will be charged a $10 penalty fee.  That’s tough since you never know what might come up during your Disney vacation that might make you want to reschedule.

Bottom line, princess makeovers at Disney’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique are fun and beautiful.  Take some time to decide upfront how much you want to spend, what your child would enjoy and how the makeover will affect your vacation plans before you schedule your child’s princess makeover.

Follow the link to read more Walt Disney World Reviews from The Disney Traveler.

Photos: Susan Gunelius

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First, the Jungle Cruise is a family-friendly ride.  Your trip takes you on a slow moving boat ride through the rivers of three different continents.  Along the way, a Disney cast member will act as your guide pointing out animals, explorers, head hunters and more.  The guide will have you chuckling with many jokes and puns along the way. 

You’ll begin seeing snakes and elephants from the African region followed by the African safari.  Don’t be afraid when a family of lions is spotted eating a zebra.  Your guide will let the youngest passengers know the lions are simply playing with it.  And when a rhinocerous is spotted chasing a team of explorers up a pole, your guide will speculate that they’ll, “get the point in the end.”

The animals and people throughout the ride are all animatronic from the early days of Disney, but they’re great fun to see.  One of the highlights of the trip is when your boat travels behind a waterfall and you have the opportunity to see what your guide will refer to as, “the backside of water.” 

A word of caution for families with very young children – near the end of the ride, you’ll travel through an ancient Asian ruin, which is dark and might frighten small children.  The tunnel is filled with monkeys, hidden treasures and snakes.  Children with vivid imaginations could be scared, but gentle reassurance that the animals are pretend (and the fact that the cave is just a short tunnel that you’re out of within a few seconds) help to make it bearable for the easily frightened travelers on board.

Overall, the Jungle Cruise is a classic Disney attraction.  It’s not a thrill ride, and you won’t see real animals.  While it was cutting edge decades ago, today many guests are bored by it.  I still love it though.  I’ve heard rumors that the Jungle Cruise in Walt Disney World might be removed and replaced with a new thrill ride or more modern attraction.  I’d hate to see the Jungle Cruise go, but I can see where an updated attraction might be more interesting to new visitors to Walt Disney World who don’t have fond memories of the Jungle Cruise from their childhoods.

What do you think of the Jungle Cruise?  What do you think of the possibility of it being replaced?

Photo source: Susan Gunelius

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It seems some guests were offended by those classic lines which were generally ad-libbed by cast members, and those guests actually complained to Disney about it.  Disney’s reaction is to keep even the smallest minority of guests happy, so they’re writing a new script that the Haunted Mansion cast members will be required to follow.  Disney is even going so far as to hire an acting coach who will train cast members in Disneyland and Walt Disney World who work at the Haunted Mansion teaching them exactly how to act, deliver lines and move.

Naturally, Disney is saying the scripting changes are not a reaction to guest complaints but rather a planned enhancement to the attraction.  Whether that’s true or not is anyone’s guess, but the change is coming soon.  According to Jim Hill Media, the new script will be delivered to Disneyland and Walt Disney World this month.  No word on how long the training will take or when the new script will be put into action. 

Disney claims the changes will be great.  I have to assume they will be, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.  What do you think about the servants’ script changes at the Haunted Mansion?  Do you think the ad-libbed scripts should stay or are you looking forward to hearing something new?

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Check out the amazing fireworks at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom over Cinderella’s Castle to ring in 2008.  Happy New Year!

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The effect is unbelievably magical and I really wanted to share it with readers of The Disney Traveler, so I decided to cheat and post a picture from Walt Disney World’s professional photographers.

What do you think?  The ice palace holiday lighting effect was first created in 2005 at Disneyland Paris, and this year the castles at Walt Disney World, the Disneyland Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland joined the tradition.

Now there’s just one more reason why visiting a Disney theme park during the holidays is so special! 

Photos © The Walt Disney Company 2007

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The magic of the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade is best enjoyed from the comfort of your own home on Christmas morning.  Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa are the hosts again this year.  Kelly Ripa did an interview with the New York Daily News where she talked about the parade and her love of Walt Disney World.  When she hosts the Christmas parade, she brings her entire family to Disney World for a week-long visit, including her parents, her husband, her kids and her nephew.  Here’s what Kelly had to say,

“I remember the first time I went to Disney World,” said Ripa.”I believe it was 1973, and I remember cajoling my parents into buying me a balloon in the shape of Mickey Mouse. It was a blue latex balloon with mouse ears, and those are back now. People tell me, ‘Oh, those are vintage balloons.’ I’m like, vintage! Omigosh! You can’t believe you used to own something that’s now considered vintage.”

I have to agree with Kelly on this one.  I LOVE that those latex Mickey Mouse balloons are back!  When I was a kid, getting a pink Mickey Mouse balloon was always a highlight of our annual trip to Walt Disney World.  I clearly remember holding onto it for dear life even though my mother had tied it onto my wrist.  I was so afraid I would lose my beloved balloon. 

The Walt Disney World Christmas Parade always features Disney Channel and ABC stars as well as a handful of other celebrities.  This year’s performers include:

• Josh Groban
• Patti LaBelle
• Jessica Simpson
• Katherine McPhee
• The Jonas Brothers
• Dancing with the Stars couples
• The Harlem Gospel Choir

I know I’ll be watching (in between my 3-year old triplets asking me to help them put together new toys).  Will you?  What’s your favorite part about the Christmas parade at Walt Disney World?

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You have to enter on or before December 23rd.  The winner will be announced on December 24th, and you have to take your trip between December 29th and 31st of this year.  Follow the link to enter the contest to be the first family ever to ring in the new year from Cinderella’s Castle!

There wasn’t much notice for this contest that I saw, so you just might get lucky!

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