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5 Tips For Surviving Halloween Horror Nights Plus Haunted House Reviews

Halloween Horror Nights Survival Tip 1

Arrive at Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 28 early. The lines to get through security can take quite a few minutes but it’s once you get to the gates of Universal Studios you’ll wait. It took us an entire hour to stand in line to pass through the turnstiles. This was the opening weekend so probably won’t happen again but I recommend you arrive at least an hour before opening and make a night of it. Eat dinner at one of the spectacular City Walk restaurants. Have you visited Toothsome yet or if you aren’t especially into sweets but you love sports you could grab a huge pretzel at NBC Sports. Another thing to mention is if by chance you’ll need to pick up tickets you will need even more time. The customer service line can take upwards of an hour depending on how many reps they have working.

HHN 28 Tip 2

If you are visiting on Friday or Saturday night purchase a Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass. Honestly purchase one for any night. Halloween Horror Nights is hopping and lines can get long. There is so much to see and do with 10 houses this year and you want to do it all. The way to do this is cutting the line and I don’t mean illegally. That’ll get you in big trouble and no one wants to deal with that. An Express Pass sends you down a different line, a shorter line. Now don’t get me wrong, there is still a wait but it is much less. It’s worth the money and you’ll be glad you bought it when you’ve hit more than half the houses, all the scare zones and seen the Academy of Villains show. Not to mention it will get you on the rides as well.

Tip 3

Cover your Eyes. That sounds strange, right? But these haunted houses have so much “decor” hanging from the ceiling and it all gets in your eyes. Consider how many people have walked through each house and touched the hanging fabric I just think about the germs. You all know me and you know my germophobia. I’m certain I’ll catch 50 diseases from flu soaked gauze melting into my mascara. I wear my reading glasses to protect myself from germ-ridden fabric, can’t lie won’t do it. You laugh but I’ve shared this tip with so many friends and they all thank me later!

Survival Tip 4

Stay Hydrated. You can always get free cups of water where they serve fountain drinks. Halloween Horror Nights serves up some delicious alcoholic beverages that you’ll want to budget for. I don’t just mean monetarily, it’s hot in Orlando basically the entire time HHN is taking place and you don’t want to make yourself sick. Drink plenty of water so you can try some of these drinks with the good stuff.

Halloween Horror Nights Survival Tip 5

Be strategic. If you can get inside the park close to the time it opens I’d recommend immediately hitting the house you want to see most. Some people say head to the back of the park first and that’s a good strategy, but at the end of the night, you’ll be disappointed if you miss something you wanted to see. So if Poltergeist is your favorite movie, go straight to that house first. With our Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass we still missed out on one house and it broke my heart. We thought we’d miss another but luckily we got into the line right as they were closing down. So I say go straight to your priority and then do those around it and work your way around from there. Especially if you don’t have an Express Pass.

Finally here are my reviews of some of the houses and the one you can probably skip if necessary. As always there is no bad haunted house. Universal Orlando works far too hard for anything to do poorly.

Scary Tales Deadly Ever After – Tim and Jason agreed this haunted house was the best. I realize Universal wants us to favor the branded houses but almost every year I end up head over heels for an original house. This time Scary Tales, full of horror straight out of Mother Goose and Grimm. This twisted fairy tale house allows you to look around and enjoy the scenery so keep an eye out for your favorite characters. Also be sure to take a moment to enjoy the opening show, there’s more to it than the usual entryway.

Trick r Treat – If you’ve seen this movie you’ll love this house. I could have used more Anna Paquin but that’s just me. The house pretty much follows the movie and Sam the sack haunt pops up throughout. Everyone got a thrill out of it and agreed Trick r Treat was one of the best houses of the night. If you haven’t seen the movie (which you should it is excellent) you might be confused. That said, you can look at it like an original house and just get spooked out by the offered haunts.

The Horrors of Blumhouse – Okay everyone knows Jason Blum is one of the only men I’d leave my husband for. Obviously I thought this house was brilliant. Unfortunately, Jason had never seen Happy Death Day or The First Purge so this Universal Studios Haunted House was lost on him. The baby face killer chased us from room to room replaying the movie for half the house and then we were placed inside The First Purge for the last half of the house. Lots of scary masked terrors involved which is always a blast!

Stranger Things – While I realize this is Universal’s bread and butter this year it wasn’t exactly my favorite house. It was fantastic, it just wasn’t my favorite. If you’ve seen the show you’ll recognize the players immediately. The Hawkin’s town kids pop out to give you a fright and of course, the Demogorgon is around every turn. I especially enjoyed the scareactors trying to look like 12-year-old children. Keep an eye out for the Winona Ryder look alike, she does such a good job, huge kudos to her. And the finale is something to see for sure!

Seeds of Extinction – This house would be the skip it house for us this year. It was so dark we couldn’t get anything out of it. It was themed around plants taking over the world but I swear through the entire house I never really got a glimpse of the creature inside because it was just black. There was some neat floor work, where you had to walk in a sideways attic, that I thought added a nice touch but I was so busy feeling around in front of me fearing I’d fall over it wasn’t worth the wait. If you can’t hit a house, skip Seeds of Extinction. Our entire family agreed.

This has been 5 tips for surviving Halloween Horror Nights 28 at Univeral Orlando Resort. I’ve been doing this since I was about 15 years old so I know or a thing or two cuz I’ve seen a thing or two! Let’s not forget to check out all the Scare Zones on your way from haunted house to haunted house. This year Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Revenge of Chucky have streets to themselves. The Harvest is an original Scare Zone reminiscent of Pumpkinhead you won’t want to avoid. Great photo opportunities with absolute talent filled fabrication makeups.

Purchase your tickets and Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass on the Halloween Horror Nights website now!

The Safest Place To Trick Or Treat In Central Florida – Walt Disney World

The Safest Place To Trick Or Treat In Central Florida

As I mentioned above Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is not held during normal park hours. This Disney Halloween event begins at 7:00 pm select nights now through October 31st. It is well worth the ticket price which includes unlimited candy and you can wear a costume! The ride lines are a fraction as long as during the day and of course, it is so much cooler out. The special entertainment you can only see during the event is must see as well. The Boo To You Parade includes scenes from The Haunted Mansion, special Halloween themed floats and the characters are all in costume. A recent addition, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular is a stage version of the movie starring Bette Midler. Fan favorite!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – Fun Family Time

If you are looking for a little something extra for your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party I recommend the Hallowishes Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant. This way you’ll have front row seats to the magnificent fireworks show that takes place above Cinderella Castle while you eat yummy treats. There is an actual dessert buffet covered in cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, cookies and more. There are fancy drinks being served as well. The cost for this private party is $69 for ages 10 and up and $41 for ages 10 and below.

The photo opps alone are a reason to get out to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom sometime between now and Halloween night. Check the calendar to find out when the event takes place and buy your tickets before they are all sold out. You will not be disappointed. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the safest place to trick or treat in Central Florida and the most fun as well!

*Big thanks to Disney for the tickets into the special event so I could tell all my followers about the great time we had!

Cool Down Before Summer Ends At Disney’s Blizzard Beach

Blizzard Beach – Water slides

I blame old age seeing as how I am pushing 40, but I’m not as into the water slides as I once was. However, the boys are still crazy about the attractions. They spent the majority of their day enjoy slides such as:

Slush Gusher

Summit Plummet

Snow Stormers

Teamboat Springs

Toboggan Racers

The different slides are all entertaining in different ways, whether you are dealing with a huge drop or racing your brother to see who will finish first! And of course there are family slides and I’ll ride those. A special perk of Blizzard Beach water park is the ChairLift to take you to a few slides high on the summit of Mount Gushmore. Just like at a ski resort you jump on, ride up and jump off a huge covered chairlift. Be aware it does still get pretty hot and sunny up there so be sure to apply sunscreen before going for a ride!

If you have small children you can grab a chair over in Ski Patrol Training Camp or Tike’s Peak. Both of these areas are specially made for kids of different age groups (Tike’s Peak being for under 48″ only) and include smaller thrills so everyone in your family can enjoy the day. A true favorite in Ski Patrol Training Camp is the Fahrenheit Drops zip line. I see children waiting in line over and over for this attraction.

Spencer will spend all day in the Cross Country Creek. This is the 3,000 foot long lazy river with numerous tricks up its sleeve. It does move slowly and you need to devote about 30 minutes to go all the way around but it is worth the time! You can float in an innertube or swim, it is your choice.

Food You Would Not Expect

Did you notice I mentioned food you would not expect? Of course, Blizzard Beach offers the obvious burger and chicken nugget options which is smart. Kids can be picky and parents like to know the basics will be available to them. But would you expect to get a mouthwatering rice bowl? Water parks can make you mighty hungry and a beef short rib rice bowl was just what I needed while hiking through the sand. You’ll find this and many other treats at Lottawatta Lodge. Over at the Warming Hut you can get a Chicken Salad Sandwich “which” is a favorite of mine as well. My kids enjoy the loaded potato barrels. And for those of you who enjoy healthy eating, there is fruit available just about everywhere. Nice cold fruit selections sure to cool you off.

There is something for everyone at Disney’s Blizzard Beach so put on your bathing suit and sunscreen and head on out! Leave the roller coasters behind for the day and take up a waterslide instead. You’ll be glad you did, plus it gives you a chance to cool down before summer is over!

*Thanks to Blizzard Beach for inviting the family out for the day and covering our park admission and food. We always appreciate what you do for us. My review is always honest.

Spencer Is Sporting Ceramic Braces And We Love Baptiste Orthodontics

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We don’t exactly know why, but Spencer has had what orthodontists call a flair in his front teeth for years. There wasn’t much doubt it would need to be fixed as it continues worsening. I mean seriously y’all, it looked like he could hang from a tree branch by those front two teeth alone, I’ve included a picture as an example. See below and notice the difference between his front teeth and the teeth beside them. Luckily we have a new orthodontist in Central Florida, Baptiste Orthodontics, and Dr. Baptiste knew exactly what Spencer would need to make create a brand new smile.

Baptiste Orthodontics Offers A Wide Range Of Treatment Options

Since Spencer is pursuing an acting career I was hoping he’d be able to use Invisalign or ClearCorrect. Both of these options can be removed at certain times of the day or as needed. Unfortunately, this was not an option for treatment with his issue. Instead, Dr. Baptiste and I decided he would receive ceramic braces with the Pure Sapphire Bracket System offering the most invisible option available. He’d be in braces for just about 6 months. The good news is his teeth are pretty straight, it is just the way they stick out that needed to be fixed. I’m confident whatever orthodontic treatment you may need Baptiste Orthodontics will be able to assist you. Of course they offer free consultations which you can book online.

Getting Braces On Wasn’t Painful But There Were Big Changes

The day he was getting his braces on Spencer was a bit apprehensive which is to be expected. People had told him it might hurt or that a lot of foods would be off limits in the future. Dr. Baptiste quickly explained there was good news and bad news. Getting the braces on would not hurt but there could be some discomfort later. And the really bad news was that yes, many of his favorite foods like gummy candy and hard chips were off limits until the braces came off. Getting the brackets, bands and wire on was a quick process taking about half an hour. The next day or two weren’t comfortable while Spencer became used to things rubbing against his mouth. But he handled it like a champ, took some Tylenol here and there and slept a bit more than usual.

The team at Baptiste Orthodontics worked hard to ensure the entire braces experience went smoothly. Between paperwork, scheduling appointments, financing and the procedure itself I was left worry free. The best thing about them is how involved they are with the community and the local school. Baptiste Orthodontics actually travels to local schools, which is how I met them, interacts with the students and helps in any way they can. Our local Wekiva High School is home to the Baptiste Orthodontics Stadium!

The Apopka location which is their 3rd will be open on September 10th. Visit their website to book an appointment at any of their offices!

*I received a financial discount on Spencer’s braces however charges were incurred. A huge thanks goes out to Baptiste Orthodontics.

Is Toy Story Land Worth A Special Trip To Walt Disney World?

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The day has finally come, Toy Story Land is open for playtime at Hollywood Studios! Toys from all over the world are planning their vacation’s to Walt Disney World and I’m sure you are wondering “Is Toy Story Land Worth A Special Trip To Walt Disney World Or Can We Just Wait Until The Next Big Vacation?” and I’ll be honest, the answer is both yes and no. Technically speaking it’s a “small world” no pun intended but if you are a big fan of Toy Story, Pixar or Disney the Slinky Dog Dash is reason enough to come on out! But new lands at Disney are always so much fun and can’t be missed!

Slinky Dog Dash

I don’t ride roller coasters as I’ve told you all time and time again. However, when I saw the new Toy Story Land coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, I thought I could probably handle it. It reminded me of Barn Stormer and Mine Train which I have no problem with whatsoever. Luckily, I was right because it was the most fun I’ve had in years. Slinky Dog goes fast but not too fast, up and down but without the type of drop that makes one sick and has enough twists and turns to keep the action alive the entire ride. Also Slinky Dog Dash lasts a while, it isn’t as quick as some of the more recently built coasters. Undoubtedly this is my favorite ride at Walt Disney World. Or at least a close tie with Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Toy Story Mania

Once you’re finished with the coaster you can head over to Toy Story Mania! for a bit of a tummy break. This ride has been around for a while and is a favorite for many. On this ride you get in a 2 person vehicle and get prepared to play all sorts of midway games. By pulling a string in your car you’ll shoot different types of plates, balloons, bullseyes (no not that Bullseye) and more with Disney magic! At the end of the ride your score will be tallied to find out who wins! Fun times.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Your next and final stop for rides will be Alien Swirling Saucers. My honest opinion is this ride wasn’t worth the Fast Pass we used to ride. It’s a perfect ride for small children as it does not go fast or do much of anything at all. Jason and Spencer assumed it was like tea cups, because as the name suggests it swirls and or twirls around, but it does so at such a slow place and the length of the ride is so short you barely notice it happened. My opinion is to ride it once to say you did, have a good look at the fantastic props Disney created for the Alien theme and then skip it in the future.

Woody’s Lunch Box

When you get hungry you must try the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever had in my entire life at Woody’s Lunch Box. It contains provolone, cheddar and a cheddar cream cheese spread that is worth demanding your toys back from Sid. It’s creamy and oh so delicious. It is also quite filling but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try the Totchos, a tater tot nacho combination including chili and cheese. For dessert you should bite into a Lunch Box Tart, either flavor will do, there is both Raspberry and Hazelnut Chocolate. Be aware seating is limited at Woody’s if you go during peak hours and you may find yourself waiting for a table or standing while you eat. The food will be worth it!

Personally, I can’t wait to get back to Toy Story Land for Slinky Dog Dash and the Grilled Three Cheese Sandwich. Jason loved Toy Story so much, wore his Buzz Lightyear costume night and day and had to have all the toys. Toy Story was a huge part of our lives so this land is meaningful to us. I hope it will mean a lot for all of you as well. Let me know what you think once you arrive.

*Thanks to Disney for the tickets so we could experience Toy Story Land for ourselves and tell you all about it.