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I mean c’mon there is not one reason, look at th I mean c’mon there is not one reason, look at this view from the top of the Kloof Corner hike! The biggest way we’re able to afford traveling so much is by letting the deals dictate where we go. Cape Town has been on our bucket list forever but with flights typically costing $1,200-$1,800 it hasn’t been a priority. But when Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going, I don’t like the new name but that’s besides the point) dropped this Cape Town deal for less than half of what it normally costs we jumped on it!

So often I hear “but there are no deals during school breaks”, YES THERE ARE! We went to Cape Town for Thanksgiving and the girls get the entire week off of school so they missed no days. Plus since there seasons are opposite it was late spring and the weather was amazing. Scott’s emails deals directly to your inbox for the airports you choose (we select our home airport and airports we can easily fly direct to and always have cheap flights because sometimes it’s worth flying to a city for a deal (known as a repositioning flight). They offer a free version but you don’t get all the deals so we have the Premium subscription which costs $49 for a year and you can tap the link in my bio and use code TRAVELINGCHILD20 for 20% off. They have an Elite membership level for business class seats. Because someone always asks, yes they give deals for nonstop flights but please remember you can’t fly everywhere nonstop. Beloved if you’re going to Thailand from the US you’re going to have a layover.

Anyway when in Cape Town you must hike, there are so many amazing ones! This Kloof’s Corner hike is perfect for sunset. It’s not stroller or wheelchair accessible as there are stairs but if Jordyn and Kennedy can hike it in 40mins (one way up) I promise you don’t have to be super fit!

P.S. when booking a flight from the US you have 24 hours to cancel & get a refund (on flights booked 7 days in advance). So many ppl told me they hesitated on this deal because they had to see if they could get off work/what dates worked for their travel partners. Always book first, think second & just cancel within 24hrs if you can’t make it work! What’s the best flight deal you’ve booked?
Hello from Cape Town, South Africa! Here’s every Hello from Cape Town, South Africa! Here’s everything you need to know about getting into South Africa (save + share this post):

1. Your passport must be valid for 30 days after your scheduled date of departure.

2. You must have 2 consecutive empty pages in your passport.

3. There is no visa required for US citizens for visits less than 90 days.

4. There are no shots required to travel to South Africa, unless you are traveling from or transiting through yellow-fever deemed countries, then a yellow fever shot is required. You can find a list of these countries online.

5. South Africa has opposite seasons than the US so our winter is their summer. December to February are peak travel due to the weather but if you visit in November like we did you’ll get good weather and avoid the massive crowds of peak season.

Have you visited South Africa? If so, which part? If not, is it on your list?
Because why do y’all do this to us trip planners Because why do y’all do this to us trip planners? Are you the one in your group that plans the trip or do you just show up? If you’re the planner tag your friends 😅. If you just show up do you look at the itinerary or ask all the questions even though the info was given to you 👀?

Original reel idea credit goes to @kryssedeal, sis really nailed exactly how I feel!!
#sponsored Last year we were able to cross some am #sponsored Last year we were able to cross some amazing places off our bucket list. We want you to do the same so we’ve teamed up with @vrbo to give you the opportunity to win $3,500 and turn your bucket list trip into a book-it-list one! 

Just head over to the giveaway post on @vrbo, make sure you’re following them and tag 3 people you’d want to join you on your trip! 

So what is your book-it list vacation this year?

*T&Cs apply – link in bio

 #VrboTogether #BookItList
Things to do in Istanbul (save and share this post Things to do in Istanbul (save and share this post):

1. Visit the various houses of worship like Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque. Suleymaniye Camii, Ortakoy Mosque, Chora Church and the Camlica Mosque

2. Tour palaces like Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace

3. Climb the Galata Tower for amazing views of Istanbul. You can even enjoy a meal here at the restaurant on the top floor.

4. Take a cruise of the Bosphorus to see both the European and Asia side of Istanbul.

5. Visit the cities Bazaars, the Grand Bazaar where you can shop your heart out and the Spice Bazaar where you can eat your heart out. Don’t leave without trying a Turkish delight!

6. If you want to go shopping Istiklal is the place to do so. They have a wide range of stores including international chains like Zara.

7. See a Dervish show at Hodjapasha.

8. Walk across the Galata Bridge to see fisherman at work and then walk under it to taste their fresh catches.

9. Take a day trip to the Princes’ Islands.

10. Experience a Turkish Hammam.

11. Explore the neighborhood of Balet, enjoying the colorful building and have some traditional Turkish tea or my favorite Apple Tea.

12. Turkey has some amazing food so go on a food tour or take a cooking class. If you don’t do either just make sure not to leave without having a traditional Turkish breakfast!

I recommend at least 5 days in Istanbul but you can easily spend a week or more exploring the city.

Have you been to Istanbul? If not is it on your list? For those that have been what was your favorite thing to do?

#istanbul #bucketlistadventures
Our Egypt Itinerary (save + share this post): 3 n Our Egypt Itinerary (save + share this post):

3 nights Siwa: Shali Fortress, 4x4 safari in the Great Sand Sea, sunset on Fatnas Island, emple of Amun and Temple of the Oracle, take a look or a dip into Cleopatra Spring, Mountain of the Dead, House of Siwa Museum, float in the salt lakes.

5 nights Cairo: Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx,  Egyptian Museum, Saqqara, Khal Al Khalil, Old and Coptic Cairo: Hanging Church, Mohamed Ali Mosque, Al Azhar Mosque and the Fortress of Babylon, see an Al Tannoura Egyptian Dance Heritage Show at Wekalet El Ghouri. For a break from the historical things with kids spend a day at Dreamland Park, Kidzania, or Ski Egypt. Stay at Marriott Mena House.

3 nights Luxor: Hot air balloon ride, Luxor Museum, Mummification museum, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Colossi Statue of Memnon and Hatshpsut

3 nights Aswan: High Dam, Temple of Philae, Nubian Villages, Sail on the Nile by Felucca, Nubian Museum, Abu Simbel

On the way to Aswan from Luxor you can also stop to see the Temple of Horus and Kim Ombo Temple. If you have extra time visit Alexandria, Bahariya Oasis, and White Desert National Park to see the White Desert.

Have you been to Egypt? Is it on your list? There is so much to see outside of Cairo! 

#bucketlisttravel #cairoegypt #luxoregypt #aswan
OUR MOROCCO ITINERARY (save + share this post):

🇲🇦2 nights Chefchaouen- painting class, hiking, enjoying the Blue City and more.

🇲🇦3 nights Fes- Royal palaces, Moroccan dance class, visit the tannery and more

🇲🇦6 nights Marrakech- Majorelle Gardens, explore the Medina, explore the various mosques, stay in a riad, take a Moroccan cooking class and more.

🇲🇦3 nights Sahara Desert- ATV tour, sand boarding, Bedouin experience and more.

For all the details of each trip tap the link in my bio for the itineraries of each city. Have you been to Morocco? Is it on your list?

P.S. the girls were 3 and 5 on this trip

#moroccotrip #thisisafrica #travellingwithkids

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8 Reasons to Go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Tips for a Great Experience

September 23, 2019      Destinations, Florida, North America

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

Living in Miami we frequently visit Orlando which often includes a trip to Disney World. However, we’ve never gone to any of their special events until this year when we were invited to experience Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. We’ve written about why you should take your toddler to Disney World, tips for a pleasant Disney trip, and how to plan a budget Disney trip. Now here are our 8 reasons to go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and what to expect on your visit.

8 Reasons to Go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Halloween With the Disney Touch

If you love Halloween and Disney you’ll love Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. The park is decorated for fall and there are so many little touches to bring the Halloween spirit alive. As the name says it’s also not scary. So if you have little ones they can have all the joys of dressing up and trick or treating at their favorite place without being scared. There are no employees popping out or chasing you with fake chainsaws. A lot of the rides also have special Halloween twists including the Mad Tea Party, Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean. 

Special Halloween Themed Menu Items

Disney cuts zero corners when it comes to playing out the theme of their events. Many of the restaurants offered Halloween themed menu items and there were plenty of desserts. From Headless Horseman cheesecakes to Pumpkin Spice milkshakes to Jack and Sully push pops the Halloween spirit can be found at many Disney restaurants and food stands.

Less Crowds and Shorter Wait Times

Disney World is known for its crowds which often lead to long lines for the rides. We were pleasantly surprised to open up the My Experience App and find the wait times the shortest we’ve ever seen them. We later learned that Disney limits the amount of tickets sold for these special events.

Hocus Pocus Spelltacular Show

If you’re a Hocus Pocus fan you have to watch the Hocus Pocus Spelltacular Show. It’s such a hit and for good reasons. Disney does so many things well and they didn’t drop the ball here. I won’t ruin the show if you haven’t seen it but now if you love Hocus Pocus you will LOVE this show.

The Characters are Dressed in Special Attire

During Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party the characters also take part wearing special Halloween costumes. Most of the lines to take pictures with the characters were quite lengthy, roughly 45 minutes wait. The girls decided to enjoy the DescenDANCE party instead of standing on line but still thought it was so cute and funny seeing their favorite characters dressed up.

Amazing Parades

I’ll be honest we normally skip the parades on our Disney visits and enjoy the rides instead. However, my girls love Halloween so I wanted them to get the full experience at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. I’m so happy we didn’t skip it, below are a few snippets from the parade. If you want a seat up front plan to head to the parade location at least 30 minutes ahead of the start time.

 

Beat the Heat

Florida is hot, even in the winter and summer days at Disney can be brutal. Still if you attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in August you’ll beat the heat if you don’t do Disney during the day. Even if you take advantage of the early entry time the sun won’t be beaming down on you as much as it is from 10AM-3PM.

Unlimited Candy

Let’s be honest even big kids a.k.a adults get excited about candy. Well Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is filled with  candy stations where you can fill up your own bag or one of the bags provided by Disney. There’s no limit to the amount of candy you can get so go back on line as many times as you’d like. A lot of the rides gave candy right before you got on or right after you got off as well.

Tips for a Great Experience at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

When Can You Experience Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party?

Although Halloween is not until October 31st, Disney kicks off the celebration quite early, starting in August, this year (2019) August 16th. However, the party is not every night so be sure to plan accordingly. We attended the September 20th party and as of that date these were the remaining dates were:

  • September: 22, 24, 27, 29
  • October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31
  • November 1

Ticket Pricing

Like all tickets at Disney World pricing varies based on the date you attend. Prices for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party start at $79, but go up to $135 per ticket like it costs on Halloween itself. The earlier in the season you go like August and September, the cheaper the ticket costs $85 per adult. Once you hit October you can expect to pay no less than $105 per adult, saving $5 on kids tickets. 

The Party Starts at 7pm but You Can Enter the Park at 4pm

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party lasts from 7pm-12am. Still with your special event ticket you are able to enter the park at 4pm, giving you an additional 3 hours of Disney fun. Just know the Halloween themes won’t kick off until 7pm. On these days the park closes at 6pm for guests that didn’t purchase the special event ticket so you’ll technically have an hour of time with even more limited guests.

Understand There are No Fast Passes

Disney only sells a limited amount of tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. This means there are no fast passes once the party starts at 7pm. Honestly with the low wait times there really isn’t a need for them. Even Space Mountain and Splash Mountain had max wait times of 30 minutes while we were there, a far cry from the often 90-120 wait times on regular days. However, if you take advantage of the 4pm entry time you can get fast passes until 7pm.

Show Times for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2019 Entertainment

One of the best parts of the Halloween Party are the special themed entertainment

  • Mickey’s “Boo-To-You” Halloween Parade – 9:15pm and 11:15pm
  • Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular – 10:15pm fireworks show
  • Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular – 8:30pm, 10:45pm and 12am (yes, even though the park closes at 12am there is a show that starts at 12
  • Zootopia Party Patrol- 9:15pm and 11:15pm
  • DescenDANCE Party- 7:00pm-12am: If you’re kids are obsessed with the Descendants Movie and know all the songs like mine do they will have a blast partying in Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe dancing to the movies’ soundtrack
  • Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam- 7:00pm- 12:00am: Halloween Dance Party with Vampirina and Fancy Nancy in Fantasyland.
  • Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Dance Ball- 7:00pm-12:00am: Halloween Dance Party with Mike, Sulley and other characters from Monsters, Inc at Rockettower Plaza Stage.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Costume Rules

Normally Disney does not allow guests over the age of 14 to dress up when visiting the park. However, during special events they bend the rules so kids of all ages can have fun. Still there are specific rules for those who want to dress up. Make sure you follow the below rules (directly from Disney’s website) so you aren’t denied entrance.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

General Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Costume Guidelines:

  • Disney reserves the right to deny admission to or remove any person wearing attire that is considered inappropriate or attire that could detract from the experience of other Guests.
  • All Guests may dress as their favorite character, but may not pose for pictures or sign autographs for other Guests.
  • Costumes must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable or violent.
  • Your costume may not contain any weapons that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
  • Costumes may not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another Guest.
  • Guests who do not adhere to these guidelines may be refused entry into, and/or removed from Disney parks, unless his or her costume can be modified to meet the above standards.

For Guests ages 13 and under:

  • Costumes and some masks may be worn, as long as the mask does not cover the entire face and eyes are visible. 

For Guests ages 14 and older:

  • Layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening.
  • Costumes may not reach or drag on the ground. (for example, full-length Princess dresses) 
  • Capes may be worn if the length does not go below the waist. 
  • Themed T-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts and hats are acceptable. 
  • Acceptable accessories include: transparent wings, plastic light sabers, toy swords and tutus. Headwear may be worn as long as it does not cover the face. 
  • Masks of any kind may not be worn. 

We had a great time experiencing Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you’ll be in Orlando for an extended period of time here are some things to do besides theme parks. We personally love staying at the Holiday Inn Vacations Club at Orange Lake. It’s only 15 minutes from Magic Kingdom and you can read our full review here.  Another option is  Margaritaville Resort Orlando, which is in the same area and has a waterpark on site. Did you find this post helpful? Please share it!

The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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  1. Devesh says

    September 24, 2019 at 12:22 pm

    Great post!
    Thanks for sharing a great tips..

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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