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Shenandoah National Park is one of a handful of major national parks on the East Coast, just about an hour southwest of Washington, D.C. It encompasses the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains and is most famous for the Skyline Drive, a 100-mile scenic route along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains with many gorgeous overlooks of the surrounding mountain scenery.
Join us on our visit to Shenandoah National Park.
Please contact me if you would like to chat about planning a National Park trip.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio is another lesser-known park worth visiting. This park was created 50 years ago to provide a natural oasis amidst the surrounding suburban sprawl and preserve the historical significance of the Ohio & Erie Canal that passes through the park. It also encompasses the Cuyahoga River, providing many opportunities for outdoor recreation. You can drive, bike, or hike through the scenic natural forests and farmlands to 30 waterfalls!
Join us on our visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Please contact me if you would like to chat about planning a National Park trip.
Most people may have heard of Zion National Park, but many may not know about the Kolob Canyons district of Zion. To kick off National Park Week 2025, let’s visit Kolob Canyons!
Kolob Canyons is about one hour northwest of the main Zion entrance in southwest Utah. It has a five-mile scenic drive with great views of towering red rock canyons and access to several hiking trails. Since this area of Zion is somewhat more remote, visitors often miss it. If you’re looking for a serene drive or hike with fewer crowds, Kolob Canyons is your hidden gem. It’s a good stop in addition to your visit to the central part of Zion National Park.
Join us on our visit to Kolob Canyons.
Please contact me if you would like to chat about planning a National Park trip.
Universal Orlando finally released single-day tickets for its newest theme park, Epic Universe! On sale now!
This amazing new park opens on May 22, 2025!!!
Initially, the only tickets offered were 3+ day tickets or packages that allow multiple days at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure (and Volcano Bay, if included), plus one separate day at the all new Epic Universe. All ticket lengths only allow one of those days at Epic Universe. You don’t have to specify which day you’re going to which park, but you may only enter Epic Universe one time during that timeframe.
Now, as of March 13, 2025, you can buy single-day tickets to Epic Universe without buying a ticket package that includes the other parks! I know a lot of people have been waiting for this option.
However, if you want to go to the other parks also, you may want to do the math to see which combination of tickets will be most cost effective. If you want to visit Epic Universe for more than one day, which will likely be necessary if you want to do everything in that park, you can buy multiple single-day tickets or buy them in conjunction with a multiple park ticket package so that you can visit all of the Universal parks.
Are you excited about this new Universal theme park? When it opens in 2025, it will join the two current theme parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, and the Volcano Bay water park for an epic vacation!
Visit my other post on Epic Universe for more details about this incredible new park.
Contact me if you want to chat about planning a Universal trip. Subscribe to my blog and follow my Instagram and Facebook to get future updates on this new park.
Pics © Universal Studios
The 2025 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival at Disney World has started! It will be held March 5th – June 2nd this year!
We love this festival! Its most unique feature is the amazing topiaries. There are so many incredibly detailed and lifelike floral topiaries of Disney characters and various other objects all around the park. If you go, definitely go around to find them all.
Another favorite is the different food kiosks with creative foods and drinks to try. It’s fun to go with others so you can share something from each kiosk. There’s no way you can eat everything yourself, at least not in one day. Check out this Food Kitchen page for a complete list of the food offerings this year.
The Garden Rocks Concert Series also returns to the America Pavilion Theater with a long lineup of artists. View the concert lineup here often, as the performers can change. Some popular performers can fill up fast, so line up early.
If you want to guarantee yourself a seat, you can also reserve a dining package, which will get you a meal during that day and guaranteed entry to the concert show of your choice. The concerts occur at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM on select nights and are included with your EPCOT admission ticket. You can listen and watch from the back of the open-air theater as you walk by the America Pavilion, but if you want to go in and sit down, you’ll need to line up early or book a dining package.
There will also be scavenger hunts, a butterfly house, themed garden areas around the World Showcase countries, play areas and other activities for the little ones, photo ops, and plenty of merchandise. For more details, view this page for the festival:
There’s no shortage of things to do at EPCOT for the next few months. Hopefully, you can make it to Orlando to check it out.
Please contact me if I can help you plan your next Disney trip.
Pics ©Disney
Beginning February 25, 2025, Disney World guests can experience Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT through a standby queue or as a Lightning Lane experience. The Virtual Queue will no longer be used for these or any other rides.
Virtual queues are helpful with the launch of new attractions and experiences, so they may use them again in the future.
Please visit my Lightning Lane page for more information on using Lightning Lanes during your trip.
Feel free to contact me if you want to chat about planning your next trip.
Disney Cruise Line has announced its sailing itineraries for Summer 2026, offering family vacations to Alaska, Europe, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. Bookings open Monday, February 10, 2025!
From the pristine shorelines of Alaska and the charming cobblestone streets in the British Isles to sun-drenched beaches in the Bahamas and the vibrant, historical cities of Italy to the endless opportunities for exploration onboard the Disney Adventure departing from the shores of Singapore, these Disney Cruise Line sailings will offer every flavor of vacation.
Alaskan Adventures from Vancouver
Beginning in May, both the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder will embark on seven-night voyages from Vancouver, Canada. Ports of call will include Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan, all famous for their prehistoric glaciers, rich histories, and eclectic shopping. In addition, you’ll sail up close to Dawes Glacier, a majestic tidewater glacier that towers over 600 feet tall.
New European Escapes
As the Disney Dream returns to Europe for the summer, it will invite guests to travel to picture-perfect ports across Italy, Greece, Croatia, Malta, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. It will kick off summer with a 14-night transatlantic crossing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to Barcelona, Spain. For the first time, the Disney Dream will call on the island city of Cagliari, located in Sardinia, Italy, a brand-new destination for Disney Cruise Line.
Tropical Getaways from Florida
Guests seeking a sunny escape can depart from Port Canaveral, Florida, on three different Disney Cruise Line ships for destinations in the Bahamas and Eastern or Western Caribbean, including stops at Disney’s tropical retreats, Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
The Disney Fantasy will primarily sail on four- and five-night Bahamian voyages, with one 10-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean.
The Disney Wish will depart on three- and four-night Bahamian voyages.
The Disney Treasure will embark on seven-night sailings to the Eastern or Western Caribbean, giving guests a chance to soak up rays on the beautiful beaches of Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Falmouth, Jamaica; Cozumel, Mexico, and more.
Disney Destiny Inaugural Sailings from South Florida
Departing on four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, the Disney Destiny, which launches in November of 2025, will visit Nassau, The Bahamas, Disney Castaway Cay, and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The Disney Destiny will also offer two seven-night itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean during the summer season.
Disney Adventure Inaugural Sailings from Singapore
The Disney Adventure will set sail in December 2025 and offer a lineup of three-night and four-night itineraries from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore from April through summer 2026.
On board the Disney Adventure, guests will unlock epic experiences celebrating beloved stories from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel. From three brand-new, Marvel-themed attractions at sea to an array of dining options and Broadway-style musical spectaculars, including “Remember,” developed exclusively for the Disney Adventure, there is much in store for guests to discover.
Visit my post on the Disney Adventure Inaugural Sailings for all the exciting details about the enchanting lands on this unique ship joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet!
Booking Information
Bookings begin on different days next week, starting Monday, February 10, 2025, for different levels of Castaway Cay members and other Disney affinity groups. General members (those who have never sailed on a Disney cruise) can book on Monday, February 17, 2025.
Costs are generally the lowest when you book during this initial release, and some of the more popular itineraries can sell out quickly. Expect long waits on the phone with DCL. If you don’t need to apply a placeholder or credit to your new booking, it’s definitely going to be faster to book on the DCL website starting at 8 a.m. ET or have a travel agent do it for you.
For more details, visit the Disney Cruise Line Summer 2026 Itineraries page:
We love Disney cruises, so let me know if you want to chat about them. If you want me to help with your bookings, please contact me ASAP.
©Disney Cruise Line
Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, Walt Disney World will expand the Lightning Lane Premier Pass pilot to all Disney World guests.
The booking window will be consistent with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, allowing guests to purchase this option in advance of their visit. Guests can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Passes for days they have valid theme park admission starting at 7:00 AM Eastern Time on their first day of eligibility. The pass continues to be offered in very limited quantities.
Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel or other select hotels can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Passes starting 7 days before the first day of their Resort stay, for their length of stay (up to 14 days). This early-planning benefit is available to registered guests staying at:
Guests not staying in a Disney Resort hotel can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Passes 3 days in advance. See additional details below, which vary based on admission type:
For more details about the Premier Pass, please visit my Lightning Lane Premier Pass post.
© Disney
This year’s EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is about to start on Friday and will run from January 17 – February 24, 2025 at Disney World. This festival will showcase the fine arts, performance arts, and culinary arts.
A highlight of this festival is the Disney on Broadway Concert Series where major Broadway stars perform songs from Disney Broadway musicals. Shows take place on select days at 5:30pm, 6:45pm, and 8:00pm at the America Gardens Theatre in the America pavilion. The list of performers is listed on the concert series page above. Check it often for the latest updates.
If you want to guarantee yourself a seat, you may want to book a dining package. Some shows will fill up fast.
Throughout the day around the World Showcase, other musical acts will also be performing.
Another key component will be the unique food booths showcasing dishes with a more artistic flair. Some look almost too pretty to eat!
One of the most unique features of this festival will be the many opportunities to see and participate in artistic activities yourself.
Artists will be showcasing their paintings and even painting live during the day. You can also join your fellow park-goers in painting a giant paint-by-numbers type wall mural.
Other artists will be drawing the most amazing 3D chalk art images on the sidewalks that you can then take pictures with. You really look like you’re inside that drawing. They’re incredible!
There will also be new photo ops, PhotoPass Magic Shots, plenty of merch, and many other fun activities. This is a short but unique festival and is included with your valid EPCOT admission. Try to catch it.
For more details, visit the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts page.
We’ve attended this festival in past years and it was one of our favorites. As always, feel free to contact me if you want to chat about planning your Disney trip.
Pics ©Disney
Beginning today, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, Walt Disney World will expand the Lightning Lane Premier Pass pilot to all Disney Resort hotels.
Guests staying at Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa, Moderate, Value Resorts, and other select hotels will be eligible to purchase up to seven days before the first day of their Resort stay – for their entire length of stay (up to 14 days).
For more details about the Premier Pass, please visit my Lightning Lane Premier Pass post.
© Disney
Adventures By Anne 