About a month ago, my husband and I visited Jamaica. While some of you may believe it is irresponsible to travel during this time, please remember that this is part of my job. I have many clients traveling over the next few months (quite a few to Jamaica) and part of my job to advise them. There is no better way to let them know what to expect than to experience it myself. That is why when Couples Resorts in Jamaica invited us down to spend five days learning all about their resorts, we jumped at the opportunity.

I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say that we had second thoughts after confirming that we would join them. It wasn’t being in Jamacia that worried me, but rather the plane ride. Flights were limited and we departed from Chicago O’Hare, connected in Charlotte, and continued on to Montego Bay, Jamaica. 

We had our masks and face shields and hoped for the best. O’Hare Airport was nearly empty, as was our plane to Charlotte. The connecting flight to Montego Bay was about 80% full but no one sat next to us, although we did have people in the rows in front of and behind us.

Overall the flights went really well. Most everyone stayed seated throughout the duration of the flights and practiced social distancing as best they could. There was no beverage service on any of the flights and instead, we were handed a bag upon entering the place with a bottle of water, biscoff cookies, and a hand wipe.

Jamaica has regulations to enter the country including an approved travel authorization, negative COVID-19 test depending on your state of residence, health screening upon arrival, and temperature checks. There are also restrictions on where you can go within the country. We were required to sign a statement agreeing that we would not leave the resort.

Traveling right now is not for everyone. There are lots of rules and if you do not yet feel comfortable doing it there is no rush. But if you are comfortable and willing to follow the strict guidelines you may find yourself in what seems like your very own paradise as crowd levels are very low. I had such a good experience that in a few weeks I’m off again, this time to Cancun!

There may not be a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom this year but that doesn’t mean that Halloween won’t be celebrated! From September 15 to October 31 you are sure to “fall” in love with Magic Kingdom Park all over again. You will be able to soak in the aura of autumn with Main Street, U.S.A. dressed in fall décor, and other seasonal offerings.  

There will be some bewitching surprises this year, including a special Halloween-themed cavalcade with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and pals wearing their favorite Halloween costumes. You may even spot those rascally chipmunks, Chip ‘n’ Dale, in costume over in Frontierland, and look for other Disney character friends dressed up and riding the horse-drawn trolley down Main Street, U.S.A. 

And speaking of costumes, you will want to get yours ready! To bring some Halloween party fun into the park this year, for the first time guests of all ages can wear their funniest, Disney-ist, most creative costumes during Magic Kingdom regular operating hours from September 15 to October 31. As an important reminder, costume masks are not permitted for adults; only children younger than 14 years old are permitted to wear costume masks. In addition, all guests are required to wear approved face coverings during their visit. 

Halloween is one my most favorite times to be in the Magic Kingdom! I LOVE pumpkin-themed wreaths that adorn lampposts up and down Main Street, U.S.A. We also love the specialty themed holiday Disney PhotoPass photo opps! Photographers will be available throughout the park for themed photo opps. But beware – happy haunts may materialize in the pictures! 

A holiday at Walt Disney World wouldn’t be complete without treats! Here is a list of everything the parks have to offer:

Magic Kingdom

  • Mickey Cinnamon Roll (Available at Main Street Bakery) – Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll drizzled with orange and white icing 
  • Cinnamon Donuts (Available at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café) – Served in a Hitchhiking Ghost Novelty container 
  • Hades Nachos (Available at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café) – Black bean nacho chips with “fiery” buffalo chicken, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, salsa, and jalapeño 
  • Constance’s For Better or For Worse Wedding Cake (Available at Liberty Square Market) – Citrus cake with raspberry Bavarian cream, whipped cream flowers, and a chocolate axe 
  • Pumpkin Spiced Waffle Sundae (Available at Sleepy Hollow) –Pumpkin spice-flavored waffled topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and sprinkles 
  • Poor Unfortunate Souls Float (Available at Storybook Treats)– Cream cheese soft-serve, black raspberry syrup, and Coke 
  • Pumpkin Spice Milkshake (Available at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies) – Topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, sprinkles, and a Mickey-shaped marshmallow straw
  • Pumpkin Spice Soft-Serve Sundae (Available at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies) – Served as a sundae topped with whipped cream, caramel, and sprinkles
  • Mickey Monster Mash Burger (Available at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café) – Burger with Meunster cheese, potato barrels, bacon, and sriracha aïoli 
  • Headless Horseman Rides Again (Available at Sunshine Tree Terrace) – Strawberry DOLE® Whip with Fanta Strawberry and a Headless Horseman Novelty Straw 
  • Not So Poison Apple Cupcake (Available at Pinocchio Village House) – A spiced apple cupcake with pecan crunch buttercream themed after a poison apple 
  • Orange and Black Sugar Churros (Available at Various Churro Carts and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café) 
  • Oogie Boogie Dice Novelty Glow Cubes (Available at Various Quick-Service Restaurants) 
  • Jack Skellington Sipper (Available at Various Quick-Service Restaurants and Outdoor Vending Locations) 
  • Oogie Boogie Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Various Popcorn Carts throughout the Magic Kingdom) 
  • Mickey Pumpkin Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Various Popcorn Carts) 
  • Halloween Base Popcorn Bucket (Available at Various Popcorn Carts)

EPCOT

  • Halloween Cupcake (Available on Halloween Day Only at Sunshine Seasons) – Choice of vanilla or chocolate cupcake with buttercream and a Mickey Pumpkin garnish 
  • Nemo & Squirt’s Noggin Concoction (Available on Halloween Day Only at Coral Reef Restaurant) – Chocolate brownie stuffed with a chocolate chip cookie topped with white chocolate-covered pretzels and a Mickey Pumpkin Garnish 
  • Halloween Sugar Cookie (Available on Halloween Day Only at Traveler’s Café and Garden Grill) – Sugar cookie topped with Halloween Sprinkles 
  • Liquid Nitro Cake Pop (Available on Halloween Day Only at Desserts & Champagne Marketplace in World Showplace for EPCOT Taste of International Food & Wine Festival) – Liquid nitro chocolate cake pop with Halloween sprinkles 
  • Oogie Boogie Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available Canada Popcorn Cart and Fife & Drum) 
  • Green Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Eats at EPCOT Experience and Mission Space Popcorn Cart) 
  • Halloween Base Popcorn Bucket (Available at all EPCOT Popcorn Locations) 
  • Tire Pumpkin Novelty Straw (Available at Sunshine Seasons and Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue) 

Animal Kingdom

  • Scar Cupcake (Available at Creature Comforts, Flame Tree Barbecue, and Restaurantosaurus) – Red velvet cupcake with toasted marshmallow filling, chocolate marshmallow frosting, chocolate pebbles, white chocolate flames, and an edible icing image  
  • Spooky Apple Punch Specialty Beverage (Non-Alcoholic) (Available at Flame Tree Barbecue and Isle of Java) – Sprite with Monin Apple Syrup poured over ice, garnished with a rocky candy apple straw, a gummy worm, a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube, and a sugar lime rim 
  • Rotten Apple Punch Specialty Beverage (Alcoholic) (Available Flame Tree Barbecue) – Angry Orchard and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky over ice, garnished with a rocky candy apple straw, a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube, and gummy worms 
  • Tire Pumpkin Novelty Straw (Available at Tamu Tamu, Trek Snacks, Restaurantosaurus, TriloBites, and Outdoor Vending Ice Cream Carts)  
  • Purple Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Trek Snacks) 
  • Halloween Base Popcorn Bucket (Available at Trek Snacks)

Hollywood Studios

  • Poison Candied Apple (Available at Trolley Car Café) – Apple and caramel mousse covered in red glaze with a crunchy candy base 
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake Cannoli (Available at PizzeRizzo) – Pumpkin cheesecake mixed with a hazelnut praline crunch in a cannoli shell 
  • Pumpkin Tiramisu (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café) –Layers of cream mascarpone and spiced pumpkin cake 
  • Box of Bones Chocolate Éclair (Available at Backlot Express)– Chocolate éclair with dark chocolate mousse and white chocolate bones Frozen Apple Cider (Non-Alcoholic) (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café, Backlot Express, and PizzeRizzo) – Served with a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube 
  • Frozen Apple Cider with Crown Royal Regal Apple (Alcoholic) (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café, Backlot Express, and PizzeRizzo) – Served with a Novelty Poison Apple Glow Cube 
  • Orange Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (Available at Anahiem Produce, Hollywood Popcorn, and Animation Popcorn) 
  • Tire Pumpkin Novelty Straw (Available at Rosie’s All-American Café, Backlot Express, PizzeRizzo, and Anaheim Produce) 

Who is ready to visit the most magical place on earth this Fall? Contact me today to start planning your next Disney World vacation!