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Walt Disney World Holiday Guide 2022

Beginning November 11 Walt Disney World invites guests to celebrate the spirit of the season with festivities, magical memories and seasonal decor and treats throughout all four parks and even one of its water parks. With so much merriment happening this season, let’s list off all the fun with a Walt Disney World Holiday Guide so you can get the most out of your visit:

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom always makes things merry and bright during the holiday season. This year the park will bring its usual bright lights and joy with a bit more magic thanks to the continual celebration of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary.

  • Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – We couldn’t be more excited for the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Tickets. The beloved holiday event brings back Mickey and friends for a festive celebration with live entertainment, spectacular fireworks, a parade and more. The party takes place on select nights in November and December. Keep in mind this is a separate ticket.
  • Castle Projections – Cinderella Castle is gorgeous on its own but during the Castle Projections it turns into something from the movies. Cheerful holiday projections makeover the Castle for a sight sure to fill you with joy. The show rotates with the Beacon of Magic projections (presented on nights when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is not offered).
  • Seasonal Décor – As always from the moment you walk into Magic Kingdom you will be transformed to a magical wonderland with festive decor and theming throughout Main Street, U.S.A.
  • Limited-Time Treats – It’s not the holidays without some treats! Indulge in holiday-inspired food and beverages available for purchase at select locations.

Epcot

Epcot continues to take you around the globe this holiday season with holiday traditions, decor and cuisine, as well as plenty of family-friendly experiences.

  • EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth – Beginning just after Thanksgiving on November 25, 2022, Epcot kicks off the International Festival of the Holidays with seasonal sights, sounds and flavors. The event will include themed Holiday Kitchens and a delightful Holiday Cookie Stroll.
  • Candlelight Processional – Celebrity narrators will tell the story of Christmas in this beautiful processional. The celebrities will be accompanied by an orchestra and massed choir. The Candlelight Processional will perform nightly from November 25 to December 30. Stay tuned for the celebrity lineup.
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Overlay – Catch seasonal tunes on Epcot’s newest ride – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. As you whir through the universe enjoy an awesome holiday single.
  • More Holiday Entertainment – As you meander through the park make sure to stop at World Showcase for a number of festive performances including the Canadian Holiday Voyageurs, Las Posadas with Mariachi Cobre, the Chinese Lion Dance and holiday storytellers.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, experience the holidays amongst your favorite Disney characters and Hollywood glamor. The Disney theme park takes guests on a yuletide adventure sure to be full of memories.

  • Sunset Seasons Greetings –Watch in awe as the Hollywood Tower Hotel is transformed nightly by holiday projections, alternating with the Beacon of Magic.
  • Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine – Minnie Mouse gets into the holiday spirit with her merry mealtime at Hollywood & Vine. Reservations are strongly recommended.
  • Santa Claus Motorcade – What is the holiday without St. Nick? Don’t miss Santa cruising up Hollywood Blvd in his Merry Motorcade, aka his candy-apple red convertible, packed with a sack of presents!
  • For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration – The loveable snowman Olaf will bring the holiday spirit with an unforgettable holiday finale during the popular For the First Time in Forever: A Sing-Along Celebration.
  • Dazzling Holiday Décor – Discover seasonal style everywhere you go – including special holiday touches in Toy Story Land.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Let nature sweep you up into the joyful season as Disney’s Animal Kingdom brings animals, lands and nature to life in a magically festive way.

  • Merry Menagerie – Step into a winter wonderland at Discovery Island and check out the arctic animals  created through artisan-sculpted puppets. Marvel at the penguins, reindeer, foxes and polar bears.
  • Santa Claus Festive Flotilla – Keep an eye on the Discovery River. You might just spot Santa Claus cruising along listening to a jolly, world-beat holiday soundtrack.
  • Discovery Island Drummers Festive Flotilla –Speaking of holly jolly music, a colorful group of percussionists will perform from the water, playing a joyful noise for all to hear.
  • Tree of Life Awakenings – Holiday Edition – Animal Kingdom’s beloved Tree of Life will be dressed in holiday decor and shimmer and sparkle each evening as a heartwarming musical score plays in the background.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach

There’s no better place to experience a winter wonderland in Florida than at Disney’s Blizzard Beach. During the holiday season, the Orlando water park will continue to bring the splashy fun with a merry twist.

  • Meet Santa Claus—Santa has escaped the harsh winter conditions and has set up shop right at Dsey’s Blizzard Beach. Guests can pose for a holiday photo with a tropical dressed Santa.
  • Snowfall –  That’s right there will be snowfall in select locations throughout the park so make sure to be on the lookout.
  • Seasonal menu items – Spice up the holidays with some seasonal menu items that are only available at Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Indulge in such cool holiday treats as a Peppermint Milkshake, Orange Bird Santa Cone and more.
  • Yuletide touches —As with Disney’s other parks, Blizzard Beach will glisten this season with some yuletide touches, including holiday themed inner tubes!

Check out all are Disney World Ticket deals here and save!

Your Guide to Scary-Good Deals on Halloween Fun

Looking for a haunting way to celebrate Halloween? Or maybe your kiddos would appreciate something not-so-scary? However you choose to celebrate, we’ve got a deal for every occasion. Here is your guide to the best deals on Halloween fun for every member of the family. 
 
Discover spooktacular employee savings for Halloween events, ghost tours, at-home celebrations and more!

For Scary Halloween Haunts:
 
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights — The world’s premiere Halloween event, Halloween Horror Nights has returned to Universal Orlando and it’s as terrifying as ever. Now in its 30th anniversary, Halloween Horror Nights knows a thing or two about haunting its guests. This year is no different as some of the event’s best haunted houses return alongside some new frights you won’t want to miss, including houses based off of Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House,” the adored Halloween film “Beetlejuice,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and more. Mix these haunted houses with outrageous live entertainment, Universal’s usual lineup of thrill rides and the always terrifying scare zones, and you’ll have a night you won’t forget. The only part that isn’t scary is how much you’ll save: Get up to 60% off gate prices!

Busch Gardens Tampa’s Howl-O-Scream — Busch Gardens Tampa is also scaring its guests this October with its annual Howl-O-Scream. The killer event welcomes back fear with two new haunted houses that are sure to leave you breathless. Once you escape, beware of the streets as zombies, deranged clowns, werewolves and more that lurk in the dark, ready to pounce in the event’s eight scare zones. The haunts don’t end there either. Howl-O-Scream keeps things spooky on stage during the show “Fiends!” while “The Rolling Bones” band keeps things creepy as performing rock covers at Dragon Fire Grill. Save up to 60%. 

SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream — For the first time in SeaWorld Orlando’s history, the park will cater to ghouls and goblins as it celebrates its first ever Howl-O-Scream. The Halloween haunt has washed ashore at SeaWorld Orlando and it’s one you don’t want to miss. Something sinister has emerged from the lake and it’s taking over the park with angry haunts, houses of horror, thrill rides and a monstrous live show. SeaWorld Orlando’s Howl-O-Scream runs now through October 31. Experience the newest Orlando haunt with savings up to 60%

 
For Family-Friendly Frights:
 
Legoland California’s Brick-or-Treat — Families can enjoy their own Halloween thrills during Legoland California’s Brick-or-Treat. Grab your littlest trick-or-treaters and head to the park’s annual family-friendly Halloween event for trick-or-treating, live entertainment, Halloween decor and more! Brick-or-Treat brings the fun of Halloween without all of the spooks. And right now you can get a resort hopper ticket and save up to 25% or combine the thrills with SeaLife and save up to 30%. 
 
SeaWorld’s Spooktacular — Enjoy more treats than tricks at SeaWorld parks nationwide during the annual Spooktacular. Now through October 31, families can enjoy everything you love about Halloween like trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, Halloween shows and characters, creative costumes, and a hay maze, without any of the scares. This is a perfect way to celebrate the season with little ones. Enjoy one more treat right here and save up to 40% on tickets

The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place — The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place invites families to some not-too-spooky fun this October. Come dressed in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating around the park, Halloween shows, an interactive Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite furry friends dressed up in costume and much more! Plus, now you can enjoy the Halloween fun twice with a limited time deal on a Sesame Place 2-day ticket! Don’t miss this limited-time offer of up to 55% savings.

By Jena Pugh

5 Ways to Stretch Your Paycheck

Whether you’re saving for a big purchase or simply tightening up your budget, finding ways to stretch your hard-earned paycheck can make all the difference in hitting your target. With a little planning and a lot of patience, the following strategies can help you become a savings pro in no time. 

1. Know Your Expenses  First things first: Plan a budget. Know exactly how much money you need to pay your necessities like rent, mortgage, phone bill, electricity, food, etc. Once those are covered, budget in nice-to-have things like clothes, entertainment, going out for dinner, etc. Knowing how much you spend will help you see any gaps and where you can buckle down on. 
 
2. Never Pay Full Price – Why pay full price when you have exclusive access to sites like this one here – brimming with employee discounts on everything you and your family need. From unforgettable family vacations to everyday essentials, you’ll find we have the best deals to help you save big so you never have to pay full price again. 
 
3. Plan for the Sales  Limited-time sales. Holiday sales. You name it, be on the lookout for our sales, offering even deeper discounts on your favorite brands and experiences. Beyond our online savings platform, make sure to plan shopping trips to brick-and-mortar stores around the sales. Plus, spend a few minutes looking up discount codes, coupons and ads online or in the paper to take with you for even more savings. 
 
4. Clip Coupons  Speaking of coupons, there is nothing like saving money via clipped coupons. You can find a coupon for just about anything these days. Look online and in local papers to find some great deals. Coupons are especially great for grocery stores. Many stores have coupon days where you can use multiple coupons at once. Find those days and take advantage! 
 
5. Sign Up for Rewards Programs – Many of your favorite stores likely offer rewards programs. Signing up for these is a great way to get extra discounts that aren’t offered publicly. The discounts usually come via text or email and can be upwards of 20% off.

By Jena Pugh

8 Off-the-Grid Fall Getaways to Unplug & Recharge

Sometimes, all we need is a digital detox to remove ourselves from the chaos and stress of our day-to-day lives. Luckily for us, there are so many places where we can take a breather and disconnect from our favorite distractions. From cozy mountain hideaways to beachside retreats, these unique escapes offer a chance to slow down, focus on yourself and reconnect nature. Let the following getaways relax and inspire you during the fall season and beyond. 
 
Explore all destinations and book your next hotel at employee-exclusive pricing
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1. Asheville, NC – Nestled in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville offers incredible fall vistas and adventures everyone will love. Quaint restaurants, snug cabins, shopping boutiques, nature hikes and even The Biltmore Estate make Asheville a must.  
 
2. Jackson Hole, WY – Avoid the crowds during the fall and revel in the colorful mountain foliage that awaits you at Jackson Hole. Located near some of the country’s best national parks and incredible ski areas, there’s an abundance of outdoor adventures without the summer season visitors. 
 
3. Sonoma, CA  If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, then Sonoma is the perfect place in California to find your Zen. Enjoy the natural reserves, lakes, rolling hills, and of course, Sonoma’s world-famous wine tours and tastings, that will help you unwind. 
 
4. Key West, FL  While not exactly off-the-grid, Key West boasts some of the most gorgeous beaches, snorkeling, diving and boating that will keep you occupied and off your phones. Not to mention, you can swap those boots out for sandals for a laid-back tropical getaway—where it’s summer all year-round.  
 
5. Las Vegas, NV – Much like the Florida Keys, Las Vegas is indeed a popular destination. However, Vegas offers much more than gambling and shows. For an off-the-grid experience, head outside of the city limits and find a gorgeous desert waiting to be explored. Go mountain biking in the Mojave Desert. Explore the beauty of the famous Red Rocks, and don’t miss stops at the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon.  
 
6. New York, NY  Soak in the New York City skylines and stunning foliage this season or embark on a quick journey beyond the city. Enjoy some quality time with family as you pick apples, take on corn mazes, hayrides and delight in delicious apple cider. 
 
7. Seattle, WA – Head to the Pacific Northwest for both nature and city adventures in Seattle. For nature lovers, hit the trails for a first-hand experience of the Seattle area’s beautiful scenery and wildlife, or set your sights on iconic attractions. The Seattle City Pass alone includes popular spots to visit like the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and so much more.  
 
8. Boston, MA – Known for its vibrant history, Boston is an excellent getaway for any historian buff. Plus, cooler temps and brightly colored leaves complement the city’s historic architecture for a leisurely getaway.

By Jena Pugh

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